4 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, December 2, 1996 UWbe £iignT 1§ilg 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan >, :. , r. y: , ; RONNIE GLASSBERG Editor in Chief ADRIENNE JANNEY ZACHARY M. RAIMI Editorial Page Editors NOTABLE QUOTABLE, 'Someone is boring me, I think it is me.' - Oscar Wilde Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of the Daily :s editorial board. All other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily. FROM THE DAILY Welcome aboard Bollinger's early arrival will benefit 'U' ]IM LASSER SHARP AS TOAST T his old ship will have her new captain sooner than she thinks. President-select Lee Bollinger will become an employee of the University on Jan. 1. One month later, he will take the helm. The arrangement couldn't be better. Although Bollinger was dean of the University Law School, he has been away at Dartmouth College, serving as its provost, for the last couple of years. The month of January will give him time to get back into the swing before plunging into a difficult and time-consuming job. Bollinger deserves commendation for working with Dartmouth to arrange a quick arrival at the University - one that will benefit the whole community. Former University President James Duderstadt did not undergo such a transi- tion period. However, he was provost at the time of his promotion, and had been interim president during Robert Shapiro's tenure, so he was quite familiar with both the University community and the administra- tion. One of Duderstadt's predecessors, Robben Fleming, spent four months on campus before assuming the position. Bollinger's previous experience here makes such a period unnecessary. Fleming, howev- er, got to shadow then-president Harlan Hatcher - Bollinger will not have the chance to shadow Duderstadt. However, interim President Homer Neal, a capable leader, should be able to show Bollinger the necessary ropes. Bollinger will have the opportunity to sit in on Neal's meetings, meet with student and faculty campus leaders, and begin forming rapport with his core staff. As Neal can attest, the job contains a great deal of upkeep work, such as public relations, keeping in touch with the administrative staff and many daily decisions. In that type of atmosphere, long-range goals can be dif- ficult to achieve. While Bollinger is learn- ing the daily tasks of the University presi- dency, it would behoove him to formulate some of his long-term goals. Bollinger already has articulated plans to give the deans a larger role in University deci- sion-making. His experience as a dean puts him in a position to strengthen the relation- ship between the positions. Moreover, deans - including LSA Dean Edie Goldenberg - have spoken in favor of his idea. Their sup- port will help Bollinger as he reaches out to other deans. While Provost Bernard Machen commu- nicates regularly with the deans, the presi- dent's involvement would bring input to a new level. Plus, Machen has said he plans to step down as provost when Bollinger can fill the position. Bollinger's direct experi- ence with the deans will help the new pres- ident stay in touch with them after Machen and help the new provost ease into the job. Ultimately, Bollinger must provide the top of the academic leadership tier, consid- ering the input of the provost, deans - and the faculty. Bringing the deans closer to the administrative process also means bringing the faculty closer. Faculty members have wanted more input for a long time - Bollinger seems to have listened to them, finally. What is left, of course, is the student body. In addition to teaching a course after his first semester, Bollinger must have a game plan for keeping in touch with student needs. January is a good time for him to dis- cover the best ways to go about it. DON'T You KNOW W-T HAPPENS To SEXUAL HARASER5?/ PRINCIPAL .p omJONES' L - T LETTERS TO THE EDITOR YEAH WE SENID TH EM iTO CONCRESS, ELECT THEM PRESIDEN T, OR TRAIN THEM TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY. racurricular tests Barring activities could increase drug use A t Burlington High School in the state of Washington, giving a urine sample precedes marching band practice - and play practice and football practice and choir rehearsal. Burlington administrators recent- ly implemented a $30,000 program to test all students for illicit drug use before they are allowed to participate in any extracur- ricular activities. Besides the expense and inefficiency, the program is a serious infraction of constitutional rights. Other school systems across the nation may view Burlington as a model for similar programs -but implementing other programs like Burlington's would be a leap backward for students' rights. Burlington should discon- tinue its mandatory drug-testing program - and state legislatures across the country must not allow schools to create new pro- grams like it. The high school's program uses standard urine testing to screen samples for marijuana and other illicit drugs - alcohol and nico- tine are not among the sought-after chemi- cals. The tests allow for habits that are illegal at most high school students' age - if administrators simply wish to isolate illegal behavior among high school students, their so-called cure is already faulty, at best. The tests are inefficient - they seek out drug use the wrong way at the wrong time. Habits, like extracurricular activities, tend to occur in students' after-school hours. The most serious effects of drug use would arise in the classroom. If Burlington administra- tors are looking to regulate students' perfor- mance, would they have students take drug tests before walking into school each day? A sident can he excluded from an after- academic standing. However, if students are subjected to mandatory drug tests simply because they want to join a group or team, the results of those tests could have a nega- tive impact on students' academic standing within the school district. Students may face sanctions although the test results may be no indication of the student's academic performance. Students experiment with and use drugs for a number of reasons, including some serious social factors. The student who abuses drugs as a temporary escape from a difficult home or family situation might rely heavily on extracurricular activities as a nonchemical way to escape rough situa- tions, build positive social interactions and increase self-esteem. Children who depend on drugs to lift them up are the kids who need activities like band and sports the most. Excluding them from after-school groups means the students have nowhere to go and nothing to do - except more drugs. Administrators do not have the students' best interests in mind when they enforce mandatory drug testing before allowing extracurricular participation - they misin- terpret the function of the activities. After- school programs are meant to engage, involve and build students' confidence and interests. Mandatory drug testing turns pro- grams - which could be focused on posi- tive processes and outcomes - into a reward for the worry-free and a bane for students with drug problems. Administrators at Burlington and other dis- tricts across the country must refocus and give students with drug problems the onnortuniv to increase their sense of self- OSU win gives Blue false hope TO THE DAILY: Congratulations to the football team on its win over Ohio State University, but it's too bad. I'm glad for the football players on this year's team, but I fear for the future because of this win. With this one win over, OSU and the New Year's Day bowl that may very well come with it, this season became "a suc- cessful season." That is a problem! The team and the football program have shown some glaring weaknesses over the past few seasons, and espe- cially this year. But, since we had "a successful season," there is no reason to make any changes to a program in need of some serious changes. The old saying is true - if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'm really afraid that this one win will give those in the football program the feeling that it "ain't broke." That will be unfortunate! STEVE CLARKE RACKHAM Thanks for recognition TO THE DAILY: Thank you for publishing a story about our Micro Truck team in the "Campus Notes" column last month ("Engineers place in truck race," I1/18/96). Our team, along with the society, appre- ciates the publicity. Thank you. WILL PUDYK TEAM LEADER ENGINEERNG SENIOR LaLonde is too risky as blood donor TO THE DAILY: Poor Ryan LaLonde can't give blood because he's homosexual ("Red Cross dis- criminates against gays," 11/13/96). Here's an idea: When Ryan stops engaging in an activity that puts him at a high risk for AIDS and other communicable diseases, he will be allowed to give blood, because he will no longer pose a risk of passing those diseases into the nation's blood supply. With all due respect, I would rather hurt LaLonde's feelings than have one inno- cent person get AIDS, simply recognize it as a sensitive issue. But after reading the letter, "Cartoon was insensi- tive," (11/14/96) 1 find that maybe it is possible to be too sensitive. In the letter, the writer attacks the cartoon "Ground Zero" (11/12/96) for the car- toonist's assertion that with the coming of winter, the "bluebook exams were not named for their color, but for the color of your skin." The letter further goes on and says that blue-skinned people equate light-skinned people, and the cartoonist's implica- tion that the community only consists of these people is offensive. I seem to recall that our school color is blue. Does that imply that the University has only light-skinned peo- ple? Obviously not, consider- ing the amount of minority students that attend this school. And so far, the little colony of Smurfs, that I seemed to be totally unaware of, haven't spoken up about this particular cartoon. Furthermore, I don't see how what the weather does to your skin has anything to do with race and color. Yes, skin color is discrim- inated against in society. But if we nitpick every little thing that comes even remotely close to the issue, we may find that the cause against discrimination may just take a little bit longer. Perhaps the writer should keep their contempt for the Daily and their views on color and race separate. And then get a sense of humor. LEE CHANG LSA SOPHOMORE Men's soccer deserves attention TO THE DAILY: As a member of the University of Michigan men's soccer club (the only University men's soccer team), I've become accus- tomed to a lack of University support and recognition. However, the club's recent achievement at the National Collegiate Soccer Association National Championship Tournament in Phoenix mer- its attention. Led by seniors Dave Colliver, Mike Milman, Kris Wiljanen, Eugene Chang and Gronthik Chatterjee, the team rolled through its first five games. Among its prey were Wisconsin-Lacrosse (1-0), Texas (3-1) and Colorado State (1-1) in preliminary action, and Georgia Tech (3- 1) and Southwest Texas (1-0) .n itntnron . c :i fn Coleman gave the club the lead. It remained 1-0 until the Longhorns scored two quick goals in the final 15 minutes. The club's second-place fin- ish was its best ever, improv- ing upon last year's semi- final appearance. It exceeded this year's expectations and raised them one step higher for next season. But should the club's expectations be raised to a different level - varsity sta- tus? Such a strong perfor- mance by a motivated group of unsupported student ath- letes definitely begs this question. Unlike a national champi- onship next year, however, achieving varsity status seems to club members to be beyond their grasp. Respect and congratula- tions are, due to the University men's soccer team for its performances on the playing field, in the class- room and in the University community. BRIAN LISHAWA LSA JUNIOR Salt team welcomes comments on salt vs. sand TO THE DAILY: Two recent letters were sent to you by students ('"U' should salt walks instead of using sand," 11/14/96, and "Using mud on sidewalks is foolish," 11/19/96) complain- ing about the University's use of sand as a de-icer on cam- pus sidewalks. In 1995, the Salt Team was formed at the University. This M-Quality interdiscipli- nary team was charged to study the University's use of de-icing compounds on its walks, parking lots and streets to determine the appropriate guidelines for applying de-icing materials. Our goal is to make it safe for pedestrians and - motorists, while protecting the environment and preserv- ing University buildings and structures. On that day, sand was felt to be the best de-icer avail- able given the weather and the particular sidewalk condi- tions. While the team has not recommended the elimination of the use of salt as a de-icer, the corrosive effects of salt have led us to look at viable alternative de-icers that do not appear to have the same damaging effects as salt. Sand, too, can cause dam- age to building interiors and may degrade water quality when it is washed into the storm sewer system. -, +,,- .~.. t, Ad; Te joys of lfe at the U' "'A university should be a place of light, of liberty; and of learning." - Benjamin Disraeli T his past weekend, thousands of University students returned home to the sleepy streets of suburban America. Ten minutes after walking through the door, I can imagine, a wave of ennui hit and never left. Yes, the return home after months in a university set ting is a bit of a culture shock especially if you live in calm and courtly suburbs After you say ZACARY hello to parents, M. RAIMI siblings and pets there is nothing much to do and not many places to go. You glance through' your mail, skim the local newspaper,. chit-chat with your mom and dad, and then there is a wasteland of time. Thanksgiving Day is not much bet- ter. You can watch football games al day to pass the time, but then comes dinner. All of your relatives, whom you have not seen in many months, ask you the same boring questions over and over again. Notice the questions. are never about what you have learned, what new ideas you are discussing in. your classes, or what great works of literature you have read. Instead, you get bombarded with more topical and practical questions that lack the intellectual depth t which we've become accustomed. Your distant cousin may ask what yout major is, and then he may proceed to tell you a long, boring story about what his major was when he was in college 40 years ago - and why his was better than yours. And then someone asks the dreaded question: "So, what are you going to do next year," a question that send lightning bolts of fear through the hearts of seniors. They mean well, of course. But it is annoying. Thanksgiving dinner reminds us that suburban life lacks a spark of creativi- ty and excitement that this city - and most other university towns - culti- vate and possess. I went home last Wednesday talking about Shakespeare and FDR's New Deal and returned here Sunday talking about strip mall and the neighbor's new dog. I shudder to think what I'll be talking about after Christmas break. There are many benefits to growing up and living in the suburbs. The crime rate is low, there are many decent schools and strong families, a: wholesomeness abounds. Shoppuin establishments and eateries are clode - after all, suburbs are the heartla of American consumer culture. As I ate my turkey, cranberries and Jell-O mold (which, Mom, was quite! good) Thursday evening, I could not help but be thankful for attending the; University and spending most of the year in Ann Arbor. This may sound like blasphemy to some, and not so long ago, I wanted nothing more than to return home and escape this town. After all, college is often tough, gritty, lonely and hard The teachers assign so much home- work, papers are due every week and exams consistently lurk around every: corner. There is no escaping this unpleasantness. But after visiting home, I realized how much I've grown to like this place: Disraeli was right. A university is a place of learning. And through learning' comes a sense of liberation --a freeing' from old ideas, stereotypes, attitude and notions. And with this liberation; the whole world looks lighter and brighter. Suburban America rarely chal lenges one to find this liberation. Think about it: A university setting is one of the only places in America - perhaps the world - where ideas count. People thrive on deep discus- sions about the meaning of life, the existence of God and the fundamental role of government. It is hard to fin , such topics of conversation on the sidewalks of your suburb's strip malls or the booths of your town's coffee shops, if it has any. There is always something happen- ing at the University. Famous lecturers from around the world give talks on all sorts of topics - some interesting, others shockingly terrible. There are always film and music festivals at the local movie theaters or parks. And, i bars are your thing, I hear that you can indulge your alcoholic needs in many a watering hole around town. This university, in particular, has taken great strides in the last decade to diversify its student body. I have come .o - - :.r - .t thi :.ii :.cit ne pa II i 01 01 p 0 I