4A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 19, 1996 arhje S dc i grn &ilu 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan RONNIE GLASSBERG Editor in Chief ADRIENNE JANNEY ZACHARY M. RAIMI Editorial Page Editors Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of the Dailys editorial hoard. All other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily. FROM THE DAILY Rock the vote Bipartisan campus groups register students The idea of a campus voter registration drive is nothing new. In previous elec- tion cycles, campus groups, such as the College Democrats and College Republicans, would stage their own drives, targeting students likely to vote for their side. This year is a different story - Voice Your Vote, a bipartisan student group fea- turing volunteers from across the campus political spectrum, is trying to register any- one it can reach. Affiliated with the national "Rock the Vote" campaign, Voice efforts have already netted 3,200 newly registered student vot- ers. In an era of diminishing student activism and political interest, it is an impressive accomplishment. Voice will sponsor a number of special events next week - including a speech by the Rev. Jesse{ Jackson and a Diag appearance by the MTV "Choose or Lose" bus - and the tally is sure to grow Voice's success may lie in the fact that it does -not advocate any political philosophy - it exists only to register students. Before, eligible students might have shied away from biased recruiters. Now, they are sim- ply $resented with a form to fill out, and allow*ved to safely retain whatever political beliifs they may hold. legardless of the approach, registering student voters is important. The young (under-25) vote has declined in nearly every majbr election since 18-year-olds obtained the flight to vote. And yet, the student vote is verb important to presidential and congres- sionil elections - students are a large seg- menat of the electorate. By providing access to registration - a crucial first step in the political process - Voice is performing a necessary service to allow the youth voice to be heard. As a result, its work is not only relevant to the current election, but also to the future of the nation. However, the benefits of Voice's efforts do not end at the national level. By register- ing students to vote in Ann Arbor, the group gives students a chance to influence their lives in the city. Besides voting for Bill Clinton or Bob Dole - or neither - in November, students also can cast ballots for the local state representatives. Even closer to home, students can vote for candidates to the Board of Regents, the body ultimately responsible for running the University. Once registered, students remain eligible to vote in other elections, including City Council elections, which directly affect stu-. dents' lives. . Due to the relevance of local elections to the University community, students current- ly registered in their hometowns should consider re-registering to vote in Ann Arbor. They live most of the year in Ann Arbor, and this will allow them to exercise elective muscle in the city where local poli- tics will affect them. Moreover, registering to vote by absen- tee ballot is often an added hassle that many students avoid. Voting in Ann Arbor would ease the voting process, thereby encourag- ing participation. Voter registration remains one of the most critical and overlooked aspects of the political scene. As the Oct. 5 registration deadline approaches, students should take advantage of the simple registration proce- dure that Voice offers. As the MTV saying reminds us, either "Choose or Lose." It's that simple. NOTABLE QUOTABLE, 'Everyone has the right to walk where and when they choose, and Safewalk helps to preserve that right.' Andrea Lee, coordinator for Safewalk, the University s campus-wide walking service YuKI KUNIYUKI GROUND ZERO VIEWPOINT What academic advisers don't tell you BY RON STEIGER And if my first theory was around several times. After OK. Time's up. It's time to wrong, what else could it be? walking through countless let me into the big room. Is it that at some point during hallways - and getting Being a sophomore, I feel the year the answer is just almost as excited as you that I've been here long going to hit you like the would if you heard "Get a enough to answer the question "thunderbolt' (you know, like Life" was releasing new that we all come to college to in "The Godfather," Michael episodes this fall - you will learn: What am I going to be? in Sicily, whatever)? Some of once again hear your leader's I always figured that the my sophomore friends have voice. It will speak the words way one goes about obtaining told me they just think it'll "free pizza." While enjoying this knowledge is to take a work itself out, sort of taking this heavenly slice you will be whole bunch of classes in a the thunderbolt approach. But taken into a large room that's plethora of different depart- personally, I think that completely black. The only ments and eventually onesub- approach is just a bunch of light in the room is provided ject will grab your interest baloney. I have my own theo- by stars randomly placed on like Lorena grabbed John. ry. Basically, this theory con- the walls. Then you'll know that is what sists of two major concepts. You are taken into this you want to study, that is what First, all juniors and seniors room and the blindfold is you want to do with the rest of are in on a conspiracy. taken off. Then a person sit- your life. Well, after taking Second, there is a secret room ting behind a huge oak classes in sociology, econom- somewhere on campus. judge's bench looks down at ics, statistics, goat herding, That's right, first-year stu- you and tells you what you English, psychology, history, dents and sophomores, you will study for the remaining beer tasting (therguy told me heard it here first. At some two yearsat the University. it was three credits, but I point during your sophomore You are also told what you swear I worked hard enough year here, you will one day be will do when Ann Arbor is for five), political science, approached while walking just a pre-graduation memory. philosophy and Macarena harmlessly around campus. Then you are sworn to secre- dancing, I still have no clue This man or woman who cy, so no first-year student or what I want to do for a career. accosts you will whisper into unworthy sophomore will First-year students aren't your ear to stay silent and go ever find out. expected to know and juniors with him or her. The two of To me this idea is much and seniors have already you will walk into a building more plausible and much less decided. But us sophomores (one that I'm pretty sure is scary than deciding by are stuck right in the middle. University property), a blind- myself. So to all the powers - Steiger is an LSA fold will be slipped over your that be, this message is for sophomore and a member eyes, and just to make you out you: I'm ready, so bring on oftheDailv's editorial board. of sorts, you will be spun the ruckus. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Colum n unfair Jesus Christ would be doing just that, family values attacked by the coalition's are being promoted. Logic to Christian leader. Bakopoulos apparent- truly abounds ... ly left his uncracked, dust- Reed, like his critics, Coalition laden Gideon's Bible at home minces no words, but since when he set out to become a he cannot crack a smile as cross between Dave Barry large as Arkansas, he is TO THE DAILY: and Howard Stern, armed labeled as a scheming cynic I would like to take this with a mean, non-ethical dag- who would starve a newborn opportunity to respond to a ger largely drawn from the by his liberal counterparts. column written by the quite latter. Hopefully, Dean will start unsound, though perhaps To his credit, he largely rolling up his sleeves and furious Dean Bakopoulos succeeds in making conserva- doing some real research ("The gospel according to tive Christians seem the very before he begins his prose, Ralph," 9/5/96) that appeared devil themselves. Being a which, despite the blatant in the welcome-back issue of Christian, however, does not lack of any hint of objective- the Daily (yes, Faulkner is mean that you condone all ness, towers above that of his turning in his grave). conduct, no matter how sentence-challenged, column The piece shamelessly grossly it debases name-happy colleagues at the attacked Ralph Reed and the Christianity. Daily. Christian Coalition in a most Any amateur student of I do not condone all (or non-objective manner - Christian theology knows that necessarily any number) of even for the Daily. being a sincere Christian the Christian Coalition's Unfortunately, Dean does not means you understand, or try actions, but I do understand know much about Reed or to understand the behavior from where Reed and they his ideology beyond what he and then work from there in a are coming, as I do with reads in Rolling Stone or fair and loving manner. Dean Bakopoulos and the hears from Tabitha Soren on It is no surprise that Daily. MTV Bakopoulos attacks those He dares to claim (as who stand for family values CHAUNCEY HITCHCOCK opposed to argue) that even and implies still, that by LSA SENIOR First you had Must-see TV'... Now check out our fall lineup! Monday: Zachary M. Raimi/ "Smoke & Mirrors" and Adrienne Janney/ "Community Chest" Tuesday: Samuel Goodstein/ "Grand Illusion" Wednesday: James Miller/ "Miller on Tap" Thursday: Mpatanishi Tayari/ "Powerful Mpat" POWERFUL MPAT Don't wait until graduation to get 'stoned' I remember moving into Alice Lloyd 1dormitory for the first time three years ago. As a first-year student, the' University campus was new to me anc I knew few people coming in. Although begin- ning a new and independent life from my family was exciting it was scary at the same time. It took our entourage nearly 45 minutes to get from Stockwell Hall to Lloyd and that particular trip, MPATANISHI alone, made the TAYARI University seem even larger and more imposing than ever. The rain that day bore a gloomy dis- position to "move-in day." A day that will always be remembered as the first day of my crazy life. As a senior, today, I look back over subsequent years at the University and find myself choking back tears. Everyone always says that college years are the best of your life, and it seems as if I spent most of my time worrying whether or not I was making the best of my time here. " A few days ago I was compelled to reread an essay that was introduced to me by one of my colleagues. It was self-told tale about a man who, for rea sons unknown to him, found his way back to his alma matter after several years of dire avoidance. The writer remembered his first day at college as being traumatic, and subsequent years as being "punctuated by adversity." After graduation, Dennis Ernst didn't care if he ever returned. Ernst was actually driving to another destination when he found himse back on campus. "Why am I here?" h asked himself. As the befuddled alum looked around his old stomping grounds 10 years later, he began to recognize a beauty that was never before noticed amidst running to classes and dodging people on the way to the library. And then he knew. He noticed "The Rock" sitting directly in front of him. "The Rock" was a four-foot-tall boulder similar to the one we ha here at the University. At the college Ernst attended, however,° it ws described as "a campus symbol o' pranks and high jinks"; it was where late-night pranksters would paint obscenities or political statements, tar and feather, or even tee-pee the object. But years later, Dennis Ernst was taunted by an object that reminded him of all that he had missed durin his college years. It is because Ernst's regretful memories that Y encourage first-year students - and others - to make it a priority to get the most out of your college experi- ence. It is during these four or five yearV (or more) that you not only grow, through academic success, but also through community involvement and building lifelong friendships. If one of your friends is in theate' don't turn down opportunities to go his or her performances. As Dennis Ernst looked around his alma mater, he noticed the athletic field where football and intramural games occurred without him. Instead, he went home on weekends. In the spring his fraternity had annual picnics, but he always found something to stud} instead. Similarly, don't let these Michign years pass without singing "Hail T The Victors" at least once during bas- ketball season. Or make time to visit Michigan Union parties when Black' Greeks are "steppin." Years later, Dennis regrets knowing "a lot of equa- tions, but not many students." Or memorizing "formulas, but forgetting to have fun." Dennis Ernst also never painted his rock. Alternately, there are several peopl who have painted their owvn rocks their lifetime. Specifically, I remember and respect my recently deceased and dearly loved grandmother for all she had accomplished through her 90 years of life. Mama Thelma Garrett helped me realize the importance and virtues of selfless acts of involvement and commitment. I think people like my grandmother, who have lived fuH- and colorful lives, are the soundest g us all. Dennis Ernst went back to his alma mater to encompass this "soundness" and "add color to a ... gray fragment of (his) life." And so, according to Ernst, it took 10 years for him to real-, i One on one commission excludes Perot from debates It he road to the presidency is often a lonely path and Ross Perot's jouiney has gotten lonelier. The Commission on Presidential Debates decided to exclude Reform Party candidate Ross Perot from this year's debdtes. The commission based its decision on Perot's low standing in public-opinion polls - critics charge that his standing indicates no victories for the Perot-Choate ticket in November. If this is the only criterion, perhaps the committee should disinvite former Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.) as well. While the commission's efforts to pro- vide a debate for public viewing are appre- ciated, excluding Perot's ticket is partisan prejudice. The commission considered Perot's support before deciding whether to invite him to the debates; it planned to pro- vide a forum "from which the American people will actually choose the next presi- dent." But the nonpartisan commission silenced Perot. To construct debates as a battle between two parties undercuts the commission's responsibility to sponsor gen- uine political discussion. One of the benefits of including Perot in the debates would be the American public's opportunity to listen to a third candidate - one who is a refreshing change from the tra- ditional politician. Some believe Perot's thirst for attention is a mockery of legiti- mate political debate. However, critics over- look the Reform Party's goals and its con- tribition to the political debate. For exam- ple, :the Reform Party is calling for cam- pai, finance reform, an issue that the othe'r two narties have evaded. more entertaining than President Clinton or Dole. Some ridicule Perot's use of charts and infomercials. Although comical, they helped to convince the American public of the national deficit's severity. Moreover, Perot's exclusion undercuts the national commitment to democracy. Perot's name will likely appear on the ballot in all 50 states. His presence adds a new dynamic to Americans' voting practices. Furthermore, he is eligible for about $30 million in federal funds because of his strong showing in 1992. Unlike other polit- ical parties, the Reform Party's recent emergence proves it to be a viable political force - another reason to include it in the debate. Most political observers give Perot little chance to win the presidential election. Even so, he is not a marginal candidate. Within the last four years, Perot has devel- oped an independent electoral base - first with United We Stand and now with the Reform Party. By inviting Perot to debate, the American public may have another alterna- tive to "politics as usual." In 1992, Perot gained stature as a respectable leader - perhaps one worthy of the presidency. The candidates for other potential third parties have not crossed the threshold. Americans' desire for change and anger with the politi- cal process is widespread. Politics is volatile, and no one can predict how many voters will back Perot in November. Restructuring the candidate selection process for debates would be fairly simple. The commission should not bar people from the debates whom they presume to i