4- The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, December 3, 1996
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2 $([tgatt trig
420 Maynard Street ...RONNIE GLASSBERG
Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Editor in Chief
Edited and managed by ADRIENNE JANNEY
students at the ZACHARY M. RAIMI
University of Michigan Editorial Page Editors
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
Upping the ante
Faculty pay raise will improve education
" NOTABLE QUOTABLE,
I went crazy trying to see all of my friends at once.
I got to see them all, but for very little time.'
- LSA first-year student Michael Cooper
explaining what he did over Thanksgiving vacation
Yuvi KUNIYUK GROUND ZERO
Aawu~r (.uC'1*S AJO k A I)35-cAU
S HAD 7TOHrE N EH/M
H-O
UrTTRs TO TmE EDITOR
GRAND ILLUSION
The Michigan
Party's secrets
to building the
winning team
4
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T his year marks the first time in recent
history that average salary increases
for University faculty have outstripped
those of top administrators. The Nov. 25
release of the annual Faculty and Staff
Salary Record revealed that the faculty's
average 4.4-percent pay raise surpasses
administrators' 4.1-percent raise. This
year's pay hikes sharply contrast those of
last year, when administrators enjoyed a
5.8-percent raise while faculty collected
only a 4-percent increase. The University's
decision to make faculty salaries a priority
was wise. With higher salaries, the
University will attract top faculty - there-
by increasing its quality of education.
Many colleges contend for the top facul-
ty candidates, using high salaries to lure
instructors from competing institutions.
Though the University's faculty salaries are
competitive with most institutions, the
salaries at several rival institutions are high-
er. For instance, the American Association
of University Professors' annual survey
revealed that the University of California at
Berkeley's $86,500 and Rutgers' $90,800 to
$96,500 topped Michigan's 1995-96 profes-
sor salary of $85,000.
Moreover, most private schools - those
with which Michigan competes academi-
cally - also surpass Michigan's pay rates.
Faculty wage increases further enable the
University to compete with these institu-
tions for the nation's best professors.
Acquiring such high-quality faculty
improves prestige - and makes the
University's academics even stronger.
The University decided to use state
appropriations to grant faculty a blanket pay
increase rather than to secure a few promi-
nent professors. This will ultimately prove
beneficial to a broader range of students.
Luring a few renowned professors would
only improve the quality of instruction in
the new professors' fields. Therefore, only
students enrolled in those fields - with
those professors - would enjoy an
improved education. By awarding faculty
with a general pay raise, the University will
entice superior professors of all specialties
- benefiting the whole student body as
well as future students. Consequently, the
caliber of instruction will increase in all
fields, affording a broader range of students
an enhanced education.
The latest increase, however, constitutes
only a step toward filling the gap between
University wages and competing schools'
salaries. State appropriations for faculty
funding are limited. Therefore, the
University should investigate ways to sup-
plement direct wage increases.
By placing new emphasis on increasing
faculty salaries, the University is better
equipped to contend with other schools for
the country's most talented professors. The
wage increase should be part of an ongoing
effort to attract and retain high-caliber fac-
ulty - and provide Michigan students the
best education possible.
Reo act mmhing out
Symposium will attract minorities to 'U'
M ost members of the community were
pleased when the University
announced last month that its minority
enrollment had surpassed 25 percent. It's
the largest percentage of minorities to
enroll at the University and twice as many
as there were a decade ago. However, the
University must not get too comfortable. It
can and should continue to increase the
minority enrollment - and it seems to be
doing just that. Last Tuesday evening, in
Dearborn, Mich., the University continued
its community outreach by holding the 14th
annual Minority Student Symposium. The
program is an example of the University's
commitment to the recruitment of minori-
ties - the symposium, and pro-
grams similar to it, should con-
tinue.
"The Pursuit of Excellence"
attracted more than 300 minori-
ty high school students from
across the state of Michigan.
Officers from the Office of
Undergraduate Admissions, fac-
ulty members and University
students attended the event to
speak to the high school stu-
dents. Having a wide array of
University representatives at the
MATT
the state, giving back to the state what tax-
payers put into the school. Such public rela-
tions can positively alter the University's
image - and secure state appropriations
down the road.
In addition, the University is welcoming
students of all backgrounds into its commu-
nity - which then creates a future prece-
dent, fostering diversity in University
admissions. The event showed the
University's strong commitment to recruit-
ing minority students to increase the diver-
sity at the University. A range of back-
grounds among students will benefit the
entire community. It provides all students a
chance to learn more about different back-
grounds. Plus, having several
views and voices in the
University community helps
enhance the intellectual climate.
Moreover, not all of
Michigan's high schools have
' - the same resources for potential
college students. This type of
event ensures that all high
school students have access to
one of the best higher-learning
institutions in the state.
WIMSATT/Daily In 1987, former University
President James Duderstadt cre-
ated the Michigan Mandate, a program
committed to recruiting and retaining
minority students. Nearly 10 years later, the
mandate has dramatically altered the stu-
dent body for the better - minority enroll-
ment and presence on campus has
increased. The Minority Student
Symposium is simply an extension of the
N. Campus
feels like
part of 'U'
To THE DAILY:
As I was strolling from
the parking lot at North
Campus toward the Media
Union for yet another long
evening of project debug-
ging, I got to hear the
Carillon playing. I decided
not to take the closest
entrance into the building but
walked to the main doors so I
could hear the bells just a
few seconds longer. At last it
felt like I was attending one
of the most respected univer-
sities in the country.
I spent four years of my
undergraduate career think-
ing of North Campus as
nothing more than a group of
buildings in which most of
my classes were held. The
most noticeable features of
the campus were the sand
volleyball courts and that
white heap of twisted metal
in front of the Dow Building.
To get a daily break from the
lack of visual stimuli I made
sure to schedule at least one
course each semester in
humanities or something sim-
ilar so I'd have an excuse to
go to a real campus.
Then someone decided to
build a bell tower. Of course,
the first thing people did was
complain about it. "It looks so
ugly,"or "It cost too much"
No one could understand why
millions of dollars would go
into the construction of a
mammoth structure to hold a
bunch of bells! I must admit I
couldn't see it either - until
the first time I heard the bells
play. I don't know what music
it was, or who composed it,
but it had a strange effect on
me. I slowed my gait and
closed my eyes so I could
focus on the echoes and vibra-
tions emanating from the
tower.
It's true that engineering,
art and music are not as easi-
ly associated with ivy-clad
buildings as law or literature,
but I'd still like to have an
atmosphere that I can associ-
ate with the "college experi-
ence," and I think the Lurie
Tower will help. Maybe in a
few years I can visit the cam-
pus and see the copper
cladding has turned green
with oxidation and the newly
planted trees have grown to a
respectable height. Then
again, there might just be
another shiny glass building.
SAAD MONASA
ENGINEERING GRADUATE
STUDENT
EPA plan may
not work well
These current standards
require ozone levels to be
below . 12 parts per million.
Reportedly, the new standard
is set at .08 ppm. But inter-
estingly, natural emissions
from plant life can produce
.07 ppm. Levels as high as
.072 ppm have been recorded
in North Dakota's Theodore
Roosevelt National Park -
by no means a smog pit.
Other new standards for
"particulate matter" or fine
particles are being proposed.
Yet according to the chair of
the EPA's Clean Air
Scientific Advisory
Committee, there are "many
unanswered questions and
large uncertainties" between
connections of the suspected
particles and actual health
risks. Anticipated results of
such a proposal are not
promising. A study of New
York asthmatics calculates
that their hospital admissions
would drop six-tenths of 1
percent under the .08 ppmn
standard. The error with the
EPA's evaluation of health
problems is that it treats asth-
ma as no different than a hic-
cup - that is why its claims
of health problems appear
larger than they truly are.
And hard hit would be the
automakers and counties of
Southeast Michigan. Jobs and
capital would be encouraged
to export at a time when we
work hard to keep the local
and national economy thriv-
ing. Smog in Los Angeles is
not pretty, but neither is the
failing health of an economy.
These facts are all just tidbits
from the news that I've
picked up, and would like to
share to anyone else who has
been following this issue.
JAMES YOUNG
LSA FIRST-YEAR STUDENT
Carr is a
great coach
To THE DAILY:
We lose three games in
the regular season and people
call for Coach Lloyd Carr's
head. Michigan fans do not
realize how great a head
coach we have.
First, Carr cares more
about his football players
than he does about a football
game. This is rare to find in a
coach. He places a strong
emphasis on academics,
honor and class. What Carr's
athletes learn will affect
every area of their lives, not
just their time on the grid-
iron. He understands that
some things are more impor-
tant than football. Proof of
this is what happened with
Chuck Winters. Other coach-
es may have played him
rather than risk losing the
biggest game of the year.
Carr cared about his player.
head coach, our offense will
become more consistent.
Fourth, in Carr's years we
have been 8-3 and 9-3 in the
regular season. Compare this
to Gary Moeller's last two
years of 7-4 in the regular
season. I have been a
Michigan fan all my life and
believe Carr is of University
head coach caliber. Carr is
one of the classiest coaches
in the nation and the right
coach for University.
JOSHUA RAYMOND
ENGINEERING SENIOR
Writer fails to
use logic
To THE DAILY:
I am writing in respond-
ing to the short-sighted, irre-
sponsibility presented in
Manuel Magana's letter "'.U'
should salt walks instead of
using sand" (11/14/96) and
David Sirna's response
"Using mud on sidewalks is
foolish" (11/19/96). In partic-
ular, there are three points I
would like to bring up in
response to Sirna's poorly
thought-out letter.
Upperclassmen are
responsible to set a positive
example for underclassmen. I
am saddened that Sira, a
junior, has yet to gain even a
basic notion of environmental
common sense. It worries me
that it is not obvious to
everyone that dumping bag
after bag of salt onto our
sidewalks is anything but
beneficial to our campus
environment. We should take
pride that the University's
ideal of environmental
responsibility has produced
such a beautiful campus.
Also, Sirna, by his own
admissionshas lived in this
area at least two and a half
years. Does he mean to tell
us that in all this time he has
yet to purchase a pair of
boots? Requiring the
University (or any other orga-
nization) to keep conditions
perfectly uniform year round
is ridiculous! Will Sirna be
writing another letter some-
time in mid-February com-
plaining that the University
has yet to install campuswide
space heaters so that he can
wear a bathing suit to lec-
ture? While I empathize with
his distress at his shoes' mud-
diness, mud washes off and
he should have known better
anyhow.
Finally, whatever made
Sirna believe that the salt-
slush solution, prevalent on
the sidewalks in less thought-
ful areas, would be better
than good old mud? Unless
his clothes consist entirely of
synthetic plastic derivatives,
a little mud made from sand
is infinitely preferable to cor-
Tt should come as little surprise to4
j1 any observer of student government
that the Michigan Party once again
captured the most
seats in the recent
Michigan Student
midterm election.
Picking up five ~.
out of eight open
LSA seats, with
the next closest
party managing to
win only one, the
Michigan Party SAMUEL
once again GOODSTEIN
demonstrated that
- as a pary - it is electorally
unbeatable.
Since it has won an unprecedented
four consecutive presidential elections
dating back to its foundation in 1993,
not to mention most of the midter4
elections since then, it is worth look-
ing into how and why the Michigan
Party maintains its hegemony.
The Greek Connection: Perceived,
correctly for the most part, as the party
representing Greek interests, the
Michigan Party has been able to mobi-
lize and turn out the Greek vote. Greek
houses are far and away the best orga-
nizational weapon in any student elec-
tion because members are convenient-
ly grouped into close-knit houses
which, with a little nudging, can be
mobilized en masse. Simply by getting
a group of fraternity and sorority lead-
ers on the ticket, the Michigan Party
can ensure itself hundreds of votes -
no other party has been able to match
the Michigan Party in this category.
The only catch is that the party must
run enough Greeks on its slate to pre-
empt any serious Greek party froni
a eforming; with a few exceptions, this
has been easily accomplished.
The Silent Majority: Using this
expression in the context of an MSA
election is a trifle absurd because the
true silent majority is so silent that it
doesn't vote or care what goes on -at
MSA. Nevertheless, the Michigan
Party has successfully avoided becom-
ing associated with any particular
group or issue - be it on the right or
the left - which might shrink its base
of support. While parties designed pri
marly to representminorities or cer-
tain ideological perspectives are
important, by avoiding close associa-
tion with any particular group or cause
the party has been able to draw from
almost all elements of the student
body. Another result of this pattern:
The Michigan Party almost always has
the biggest slate, which guarantees at
least a respectable showing.
e Dictatorship at the top: Since the
beginning, the Michigan Party has
been run entirely by the president and
vice president in office at the time.
While other parties often attempt to
make decisions democratically, the
decisions in the party have traditional-
ly been passed down from the top -
while they don't get points for egali-
tarianism, dictatorship has served the
Michigan Party well. This is because
party leaders have the authority to
choose the most electable people to
run on the party slate, instead of peo-
ple whom party members personally
like. Sometimes these overlap, but iny
the case of the executive candidates,
they often do not. While the Michigan
Party may be less dictatorial now than
in years past, the power remains con-
centrated at the top.
If you can't beat 'em, swallo
'em: By looking outside its ranks for
new members, and new candidates, the
Michigan Party has been able to avoid
what has plagued so many other MSA
parties: When party leaders graduate
lose or quit, most parties are left with
a few hangers-on who can't run the
show. When this predicamenthas'
threatened the party, it has looked to
other parties or other student groups
for new leaders; the current executiv
officers are only the most recent
example of this phenomenon.
x Good Governance: While the
Michigan Party has surely made its
share of questionable calls, the fact
remains that it has, for the most part,
served students well. Through a will-
ingness to confront the administration
in a judicious and respectful manner,
the Michigan Party has earned kudos
from both the administration and stu
dents who pay attention to campus
politics. If the party can avoid a split
due to a power struggle currently
brewing at the top, it should handily
win the presidency again - whoever
the candidate is. The question remains,
01
01
7
event was wise. The high school students
could learn about the admissions proce-
dure, classes and student life - all in same
spot. Having University students present
was especially important - one the tough-
est challenges any student faces in his or
her first year at the University is adjusting
to the new lifestyle. The high school stu-
dents could bounce their concerns off of the
current University students.
The symposium, and other similar
events, are important to the University for
many reasons. First, the event holds sym-
oilic weiaht Through the advent of the'
mandate.
President-select Lee Bollinger must con-
tinue to encourage the University to host
such symposiums and he must stay true to
the ideals of the mandate. Fortunately, he
has oiven verv indicatinn that he will The
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