4 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, January 30, 1996

SE NitRig &dilg

420 Maynard Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Edited and managed by
students at the
University of Michigan

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RONNIE GLASSBERG
Editor in Chief
ADRIENNE JANNEY
ZACHARY M. RAIMI
Editorial Page Editors

Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of a majority ofthe Daily's editorial board. All
other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily.
FROM THE DALY
The science of Eve
'U' slowly improving study of women's health

iNOTABLE QUOTABLE,
'Collective society puts ... Importance on certain
events, and when something goes wrong it affects
everybody. ... The Challenger was one of those events.'
- Psychology Prof Stanley Perent commenting on
space shuttle Challenger, which exploded in 1986 while
carrying the first teacher in space, Christa McAuliffe
IATT WIMSATT MooKE' s D.EMMA
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~<SL P?EARS
POPULAR
OPINION POLL . "
LLEmRs TTHE EDITOR

wo LSA undergraduate women recently
compiled a resource guide with more
than 300 courses related to women's health.
The students aimed to raise the visibility of
women's health issues in most University
departments - a subject often ignored.
While an Individual Concentration Pro-
gram is available through the Residential
College and LSA for undergraduates, the
University lacks a pragmatic
response to the women's health
initiative at the graduate level.
Graduate degrees in women's
studies and nursing are the clos- -
est link to an extension of
.women's health studies. To fur-
ther the education in women's
health issues, the University.
should approve women's health
graduate certificate in the de-
partment of women's studies.
The study ofwomen's health
is rooted in medicine, but the
interdisciplinary nature of the
field should not be overlooked.
. Cross-curricula of the diverse departments
of sociology, political science, biology, psy-
chology, law and public policy enhance the
study of women's health issues. Research,
charting behavior patterns and studying al-
ternative methods of protection for women
against diseases like HIV can be provided at
the undergraduate level by combining fields
of study.
For now, ICP is a viable major for under-
graduate students pursuing a degree in
women's health. The resource guide pro-

(~o
f

vides the framework for an ICP, focusing on
environmental, psychological and physiologi-
cal characteristics prevalent among females.
The program is a necessary response to years
of inattention to the field and inadequacy in
addressing women's health problems.
Last November, this disregard began to
change. After much urging from women lead-
ers, University President James Duderstadt
established the Agenda for
Women to address issues of
concern for women on cam-
pus, including women of
color. The resource guide is a
step further. It appeals for
more curriculum on women's
health among minorities and
will act as a catalyst to create
a more inclusive study on
women's heath issues. The
Michigan Initiative for
Women's Health provides the
resource guide to heighten
awareness and examine
women's health issues from
an "interdisciplinary and multicultural per-
spective." However, the course guide lacks
courses geared toward specific groups, par-
ticularly women of color and lesbian women.
The Agenda for Women encourages a
curriculum with more opportunities for fe-
male students. But the University cannot
confine its work to Duderstadt's plan. Incor-
porating a women's health degree at the
graduate level is a progressive step toward an
increase in knowledge, research and imple-
mentation of women's health education.

THE ERASABLE PEN
Latest 'Star
Trek' writers
displayfear of
sexual bonds
Premiering in 1966, the original
Star Trek series revolved around
the travels of a mostly male space-
ship crew who flew around the gal-
axy looking for adventure. Captain'
James T. Kirk usu-
ally found it, often
seducing some
space urchin or
another,
Barring that, he
could always be f
depended upon for - .t
a good fistfight or
two. Spock looked
on with his Vulcan
logic, his spatsJ
with the always JEAN
skeptical Dr. TWENGE
McCoy providing
much of the dramatic tension of the
show. And at the end, it was always
off to another planet, another victory
and probably another woman. It is no
surprise that the show was once
dubbed "Wagon Train to the Stars.".
When Star Trek: The Next Genera-
tion (TNG in Trek-speak) aired its
first episode more than 20 years later,
it brought many welcome changes.
The same thoughtful sci-fi plots en-
dured, but the fistfights and the se-
duction of space babes had thank-'
fully disappeared. With the excep-
tion of Commander Riker's few
memorable adventures, the new En-
terprise is a place ruled by foresight,
diplomacy, supreme logic and
most notably - the lack of intimate
relationships.
Next Generation is a great show. If
you watch enough episodes, though,
you'll be convinced that nobody on
the Enterprise ever gets laid. None of
the main members of the crew are
married or otherwise paired up. The
few relationships which once looked
promising - Riker and Counselor
Troi, Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher
- are relegated to the tepid realm of
platonic friendships. Things weren't
initially intended to turn out this way?
in fact, Gates McFadden, who plays
Dr. Crusher, was originally cast to be
Picard's love interest. But for most of
the show, all they do is sit and drink

Sf

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Visit the renassa ce
Tax zone proposal must address loopholes

Critics of Gov. John Engler and the Re-
publican Michigan Legislature often
complain that the lawmakers lack compas-
sion toward citizens in need of government
assistance. Last week, the state Senate ap-
proved the governor's plan to end the vicious
cycle of poverty by means of tax breaks for
businesses and property owners. The bill
calls for eight "renaissance zones" to be
established within economically depressed
areas. Although Engler and the Senate de-
serve commendation for their innovative pro-
posal, they leave several unanswered ques-
tions. If unaddressed, the plan's pitfalls will
undermine its desired effect.
The proposal has the potential to provide
a needed infusion of capital into economi-
cally devastated areas. Within each zone,
state and local taxes would be eliminated,
with the exemption of the local millages and
the sales tax. The city and county would not
be compensated for lost revenue. However,
school districts would be reimbursed by the
state. The plan's benefits would entice busi-
nesses and potential homeowners to move to
these areas.
In its present form, the legislation con-
tains gaping loopholes that have the potential
to make its main beneficiaries corporations
and politicians - which could only worsen
economic depression. Studies done on exist-
ing enterprise zones have found that as little
as 15 percent of the workers in enterprise
zones actually reside there. The importation

of labor from outlying districts defeats the
purpose of the bill: to provide jobs for those
within the area.
The legislation should include a clause
providing for a minimum percentage of local
employees. If a firm decides to import its
workers, then it should lose the tax breaks
provided. The provision would ensure im-
proved industry and commercial business in
the renaissance zones, as well as increase the
standard of living.
Another concern is zone placement. Cer-
tain well-placed lobbyists in Lansing could
have undue influence. The current legisla-
tion could allow some wealthier businesses,
with a few well-placed campaign donations,
to choose where the state will establish re-
naissance zones.
To control corruption, the Legislature must
set up a bipartisan commission to evaluate all
submitted proposals for the zones. The com-
mission should be allowed to police the zones
both during and after their implementation.
Social spending alone has not revived
many of the state's economically depressed
areas. The renaissance zone legislation prom-
ises to be a kick-start for urban renewal. But
measures must be taken to make the main
beneficiaries the people living within the
zones, not the legislators in Lansing or the
coffers of large corporations. Anything less
would prove that the proposal is not a sign of
genuine compassion, but merely a Republi-
can political ploy.

Daily editors
maintained
professional
transition
TO THE DAILY:
Kudos to the outgoing
crew for an excellent job this
past year, and for not
behaving like the cheap
immature staff that exited
the previous year by
turning The Michigan
Daily into a forum for their
own insider jokes and
contrived stories. You know
you have done a good job
when no one notices the
transition.
Good luck and Go Blue!
CHRIS WILLIS
UNIVERSITY ALUM
BSU leader
misdirects
comments
toward 'U'
TO THE DAILY:
I was shocked and
appalled by some of the
things said in your article
"Minority alliance group
outlines demands for 'U"'
(1/22/96) on the alliance of
minority groups. That any
member of the University
community would issue a
slate of demands is bad
enough - it detracts
horribly from the civil tone
that is supposed to be
maintained in university
discourse. But far worse
were the comments made by
Black Student Union
Speaker Sherise Steele
regarding the restaurant
selection on South Univer-
sity Avenue.
Her comments about not
being able to find food that
speaks to her ethnicity were
not only patently offensive,
they also were misdirected.
If Steele has a complaint
about the business makeup
of Ann Arbor. she should
direct her comments to the
Ann Arbor Chamber of
Commerce, not the Univer-
sity. The University rightly
has no control over which
restaurants are present off-
campus. I hope in the future,
Steele will be more careful
when speaking, especially
when she is on the record.
JOSHUA S. TURNER
UNIVERSITY ALUM
Editorial
ignores sick
boy's 'right
to die'
TO THE DAILY:

in the right of parents to
make medical decisions for
their children, to clearly
define when the state should
have the right to step in.
Should the state have the
right to force medication -
or, for that matter, nutrition
and hydration - on a
terminally ill child whose
parents want their child's
suffering to end? If so,
when? While the Lundman
case is a clear example of a
parent ignoring a child's
medical needs, I wouldn't be
so fast to entrust the state
with my well-being - or
that of a relative.
States should intervene
in personal medical affairs
only in the most extreme
examples of child neglect.
The Daily has repeatedly
stated in the past that the
state should not have the
right to deny anyone, child
or otherwise, the right to die.
Unless you have changed
your minds, your editorial
should have been much
clearer in making this
distinction.
ANDREW LEVY
UNIVERSITY ALUM
Single-sex
institutions
afford men
opportunities
otherwise
neglected
TO THE DAILY:
Why must some femi-
nists be so closed-minded to
publicly funded single-sex
institutions and ruin chances
for young men to grow in
maturity and realize that
there is more to being a man
than impressing the ladies?
Why are chances for young
men being ruined and not
chances for young women
being created?
I talk of three institutions
in particular: The Citadel,
the Virginia Military
Institute, but most impor-
tant, Malcolm X Academy
in Detroit.
First, why must all
public institutions be co-ed?
Women are not denied the
right to go to college, not
excluded from higher
education; merely from two
public colleges in Virginia.
Are not men excluded from
some opportunities?
There are single-sex
female institutions, scholar-
ships for women only and
here at the University, I am
not allowed to reside in
Stockwell, Betsy Barbour or
Newberry because of my
gender. Do not women live
in these dorms so that they

may be solely among
women? This opportunity is
not granted to men at the
University.
Second, these institutions
provide great opportunities
to men because of their
single-sex nature. I went to a
single-sex Catholic high
school. I feel I benefited
greatly from this experience,
both in academics and
freedom from competition
for women and other
distractions, and in learning
about what is entailed in
being a man of character. I
did not feel excluded from a
co-ed world. I worked with
women and under women. I
was in co-ed clubs and
groups. But I enjoyed an
educational environment free
from pressure to be in the
cool crowd (or gang) or to
constantly have a girlfriend.
The cost of this high
school education was more
than $18,000, $10,000 of
which 1 personally paid
because it was that important
to me.
The young men who
were to attend Malcolm X
Academy, a school for
Detroit's inner-city male
youths, cannot afford my
opportunity. Their opportu-
nity to escape from drugs
and gangs was closed down
by some self-centered
women, believing that in
destroying opportunities for
men, women will be able to
compete better. Why did
they not open up a school for
inner-city female youth?
It is only when we begin
to recognize and value
gender differences, realize
that both genders are
important for success in
business today, and respect
each other enough to allow
growth as men and women,
that we will become a nation
of equality.
JOSHUA RAYMOND
ENGINEERING SENIOR
Daily runs
photograph
TO THE DAILY:
It really wasn't very nice
of you to choose to run the
picture you used on the
cover (1/25/96). It's not very
newsworthy, nor is it
visually interesting, and it
has nothing to do with the
University or any story in
your paper. Think, however,
how that poor girl must feel
having a picture of her fall
on the cover of a newspaper.
Shame on you for not
thinking of it.
ERIC MYERS
RACKHAM STUDENT

tea.
"Humans don't own each other
anymore, Mother," Troi tells her
matchmaking mother, as ifthat's what
love means.
When someone does feel desire on
TNG, it almost always spells trouble.
One ambassador, Troi, hooks up with
"feeds his negative energy" to her,
causing her to age rapidly and nearly
die.

01

Ardra, a con-artist "devil" who tries
to enslave a planet, shows her evil
side to viewers when she tries to
seduce our noble Captain-her char"
acter quite literally equates a sexu-
ally aggressive woman with the devil,
Sex is even trouble when it's
wanted. When Picard takes one ofhis
rare vacations, he meets a spirited
woman named Vash, a woman who
he's sure is up to no good.
Afterhekisses her for the first time,
she asks him playfully, "Still think
I'm trouble?"
"I'm sure of it," he replies.
It's a rare glimpse of Picard's char-
acter, who seems to spend the major-
ity of his free time reading large,
dusty books. Picard is the ultimate
hero for his obvious intelligence, his
studied diplomacy, and his unruffled
demeanor, but within the ethos of the
show he's also the ultimate hero for
his supreme isolation. Picard works
well with other people, but it's obvi-
ous that he doesn't need them.
Although the crew has close friend-
ships, strong links between others are
absent. In fact, the Federation's grew-
est enemy are the Borg, half-human,
half-android beings who share
thoughts collectively and cannot func-
tion as individuals. Although their
culture is an extreme case, the Borgs'.
vilification is yet another example of
the TNG fear of closeness to others.
Emotion in general is also usually
trouble on TNG. Not even the death
of a crew member elicits tears; when
Geordi won't accept Data's supposed
death in a shuttle accident, he's told
to "get some rest" and then get back
to work - no mourning allowed.
In an earlier episode, Data "repro-
duces" when he activates a new an-
droid named Lal. However, Lal dies
when she feels too much emotion and
overloads her circuits. Spock's fa-
ther Sarek has a similar experience
- he is the victim of a rare Vulcan
disease which causes him to lose con-
trol of his feelings. Taken over by his
raging pathos, he eventually dies. The

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HOw TO CONTACT THEM
MICHIGAN INITIATIVE FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH
ROOM 4222 SCHOOL OF NURSING BUILDING
300 N. INGALLS
ANN ARBOR. MI 48109

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