4A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 26, 1996
U tw S itr# ?§i
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
Unleis 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
Doctor's office
NOTABLE QUOTABLE,",
'Because the society in general has become more
violent, adults have become more violent and
kids imitate adults. Our job Is to teach them that
violence is not an acceptable response.'
- Judge Nancy Francis of the Washtenaw County Probate Court and
member of the council coordinating SafeMichigan Children's Initiative
YuKi KUNIYUKI GROUND ZERO
LB4TI'M P AYIN G Kro r-53- -6
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7>TTERS TOE OELEDDIT
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
New position will heal search problems
T he University Board of Regents and
interim President Homer Neal recently
announced the formation of a new executive
position. The "executive vice president for
medical affairs" will oversee the Medical
School and University Hospitals operations.
Neal and the regents deserve commenda-
tion for creating the position.
The new position comes in wake of last
April's announcement that University
Hospitals would be downsizing. Then, last
July, John Forsyth, the executive director of
the: Medical Center, and Giles Bole,
Medical School dean, announced their res-
ignations.
Earlier this week, Neal told the Senate
Advisory Committee on University Affairs
that "the hospital center is more oriented to
making money and the (Medical School)
dean is more committed to the academic
mission." The differing interests between
the two are the main motivation for creating
the position. The new position should pre-
vent bickering between the two entities. It
also will give the Presidential Search
Advisory Committee more leeway to select
candidates for University president.
While the financial contribution of the
hospital is important, the focus of the
University's medical programs must remain
on education, not on profits. The University
is a school - not a business. The new exec-
utive position should be able to solve the
differences between the hospitals and the
school, and promote academics over finan-
cial gain.
The change is also significant because
the committee can now focus solely on can-
didates with academic backgrounds, rather
than those with administrative experience in
Cras i
State moves to p
L ast week, the Michigan Senate voted to
revamp driver education regulations.
The bill aims to increase privatization of
driver education programs. It also makes
obtaining full driving privileges more diffi-
cult. The bill appears to be another vicious
Republican attack on public schools, at the
expense of all of Michigan's citizens.
Under the legislation, some students
would not have the opportunity to learn to
drive. States would give $80 per student to
each district for driver's training, and the
districts would be required to
match the state's contribution. 4.
If the cost of the lesson"
exceeds $160, the district
could charge the students. .
Traditionally, schools pay for
driver's education with tax dol-
lars. The bill amounts to a new
tax on families - a tax that
many cannot afford.
A higher percentage of stu-
dents in private driver's train-
ing classes would lead to a"
decrease in educational quality. According
the medical field. The committee is current-
ly conducting a search to replace former
University President James Duderstadt,
who stepped down last June.
E. James Potchen, chair of radiology at
Michigan State University, and M. David
Low, also a medical doctor, were both
approached about the University presidency
- the first proof that medical administra-
tive experience was a possible requirement
for the new presidency. Regent Shirley
McFee (R-Battle Creek), co-chair of the
committee, said the new president should
be an academic with business savvy. She
also said that considering the Medical
Center's massive downsizing, the new pres-
ident should have "knowledge of health
care facility management."
An unfortunate side effect of this quali-
fication is that it limits the committee
slightly. The committee should find candi-
dates who would best serve the entire
University community, not just the Medical
Center. The new executive would eliminate
the need for University presidential candi-
dates to have medical backgrounds. The
new president will not be overburdened
with the Medical Center downsizing and
could then focus his or her attention on
broader interests.
The new position fills a hole in the
framework that will give the medical
departments of the University a common
focus. The new office also will prevent the
Medical Center reorganization from bur-
dening the new president. The creation of
the office is good for the University as a
whole - the regents and Neal have wisely
developed a creative solution to significant
problems.
vatize driver's ed
exceed $100, would have temptation to pass
an unqualified student rather than face the
wrath of his parents. An unbiased party
should administer the driving test.
The bill would require students to drive
50 hours with a parent, 10 of which must be
at night. Although requiring more driving
experience is admirable, the new law would
be virtually unenforceable. Also, some par-
ents do not have the time to honor such a
large commitment. A more sensible option
"
Daily misses
late-term
abortion
facts
To THE DAILY:
Editorials are supposed to
present evidence-supported
opinions, not incorrect facts.
After reading Tuesday's edi-
torial ("Abortion Showdown"
9/24/96), I'm convinced your
newspaper went out of its
way to ignore the truths
about partial birth abortions.
First, your newspaper
claims that partial birth abor-
tions are only performed
when "doctors discover
severe abnormalities with the
fetus." Perhaps you have not
heard of Dr. Martin Haskell,
a prominent late-term abor-
tionist who performs partial
birth abortions. In an inter-
view with the American
Medical News, Haskell said
about the procedures, "most
of my abortions are elective
in that 20-24 week range ...
1n my particular case, proba-
bly 20 percent are for genetic
reasons. And the other 80
percent are purely elective."
Nowhere does he say any
abortions are performed
because "the mother has seri-
ous health problems" as is
claimed by your newspaper.
Furthermore, your newspaper
claims "abortion is a freedom
that is protected by law." The
Supreme Court decision Roe
v. Wade makes it clear that
abortion can be prohibited by
government, specifically dur-
ing the time that Haskell has
stated that he performs par-
tial birth abortions.
I would also like to
address the main point of the
editorial. Your newspaper
claims that conservatives are
playing election-year politics.
Frankly, I don't understand
your reasoning. If conserva-
tives are failing in the polls,
wouldn't a controversial vote
be the last thing on their to-
do list? Also, your newspaper
interestingly switches from
using the term "conserva-
tives" to "Republicans" in
identifying the supporters of
the bill, forgetting that many
Democrats voted for the
override, like Anna Eshoo of
California, who is hardly a
conservative or a Republican.
What a service your newspa-
per provides. I'm glad I don't
have to pay $5 for a Sunday
edition of The Sacramento
Bee to be provided with this
kind of amusement.
DAVID GRANDA
ENGINEERING SOPHOMORE
Jackson's
audience was
, ,.
for a peaceful future of love
and friendship? Hope for
what, exactly?"
After missing Jesse
Jackson's visit to the
University, I wonder what
aspects of hope for diversity
and acceptance were actually
in the audience on Sept. 23.
What did Jackson see?
Laurie Mayk writes
("Jackson touts the impact of
student vote," 9/24/96):
"Jackson commented on the
diversity of the Ann Arbor
audience - an aspect of
campus life on which the
University prides itself."
Then Mayk quotes Jackson,
"You look like what (Martin
Luther King Jr.) lived and
died for - you look like a
little United Nations here."
Funny, but I don't remem-
ber being at Jackson's sched-
uled meeting.
But then again, those
Jewish students who were
worshipping at Yom Kippur
services would neither be at
his "rally" nor in class doing
academic work. To me, as a
Jewish student, spirituality on
this most holy day forgoes all
my academic and other com-
mitments. I could not be pre-
sent. Neither could any other
spiritual Jews attend
Jackson's rally or the lectures
of their professors.
This conflict in schedule,
and obvious contradiction in
terms, (i.e., pride in diversity)
does not have me stunned.
Instead, this aspect of life is
normal for me. Somehow I
believe that the Yom Kippur
article on Page 3 would have
served a better purpose by
being right next to the
Jackson article in which he
assumes the diversity of his
audience.
When I consider the fact
that visible minorities are still
discriminated against every
single day, I wonder what
invisible minorities are
ignored or overlooked every-
day as well. I know some of
the answers because I experi-
ence them.
Considering that the
politicians are still talking
about "family values," con-
sider that I - and many
other students - as Jews, as
Muslims, as Hindus and as
member of other religions
cannot go home to their
"families" to celebrate the
most sacred holidays with
them. Unlike "Christmas
break," there is no "high holi-
day break.' Furthermore, it is
difficult to commit spiritually
without suffering the conse-
quences of missed classes.
The University campus
continues to overlook the
importance of Jewish or
other "diverse" holidays of
"diverse" religions. The
respect granted to Catholic or
Christmas-worshipping stu-
dents and often taken advan-
tage of, is not given to the
many students, who similarly
University, are to "pride"
ourselves on diversity, we
should be able to walk the
walk.
In addition to the
University's blindness to the
religious importance of spiri-
tual holidays to students,
there is blindness to diversity.
Many academic programs
continue to use the old ver-
sion of the Affirmative
Action Statement. Is this not
promoting continued discrim-
ination? Similarly, the presi-
dential policy on sexual ori-
entation is many times over-
looked.
Finally - and most dis-
couraging - is the
University's inability to
update the literature to the
current and present names of
different groups, support sys-
tems or program offices (i.e.
the Lesbian Gay Bisexual
Programs Office).
The University cannot
seem to "walk the walk"
despite its intense desire to
be such a diverse campus.
Visibility, change and reform
are not moving quickly
enough to take the pride in
our diversity that Jackson
commented about. Our cam-
pus still has a long way to go.
Funny enough, those who
want to argue - political
correctness isn't even the
issue. Instead, the issue
remains promoting accep-
tance and tolerance of all.
The only way to begin along
that path of hope is to put
one foot in front of the other
with our minds and eyes
open wide.
Hopefully Jackson meant
to say all that and more, so
that we could spiritually con-
nect at at least one level
together on that Yom Kippur
day.
POWERFUL MWA
Getting back to
the grassroots
"With a good conscience our only
sure reward, with histor the final
judge of our deeds, let us go forth and
lead the land we love, asking his bless-
ing and his helps but knowing thai here
on earth, God s work must truly be our
own." - John Kennedy
H e was crunched in a 15-person
capacity van with 24 other peo-
ple and several chickens to go to an
area he knew nothing about. He was
instructed to stay _______
at his isolated
destination for
three days, then
make his own way
back home. To
use the bathroom
he would have to
squat over a hole
in the ground, and
as he walked
through the area, MPATANISHI
people shyly
peered at him TAYARI
behind their doors, wondering who
this strange-looking guy was.
No, this man was not a part of some
bizarre fraternity initiation. Instead, hel
was part of a largerorganization
designed to promote world peace and
friendship through grassroots volun-
teerism. Steven was in the Peace Corps.
Two years later he found himself sitting
in hisroom with his dog and community
friends eating plantains and singing
songs. There were a lot of bittersweet -
but good - memories in Zimbabwe that
Steven would later take to law school with
him - along with maturity, flexibility,4
resourcefulness and technical expertise.
KENNEDY'S VISION
The 1960s and 1970s marked the
height of social awareness, activism and
volunteerism in the United States. In
accordance to this, it was in 1960 at 2
a.m. that the popular and persuasive for-
mer President John E Kennedy first
proposed the idea on the steps of the
Michigan Union. Ultimately founded in
1961 by virtue of an Executive Order o
former President Kennedy, the Peace
Corps currently places Americans in 94
foreign countries around the world.
The three goals of the Peace Corps
are: 1) Help people of interested coun-
tries meet their needs for trained men
and women, 2) Help promote better
understanding of the American people
on the part of people served, and 3)
Promote better understanding of other
people on the part of American people.
Volunteers serve in Africa, Central and
South America, the'Near East, Asia, the
Pacific, and Eastern Europe.
MINORITY INVOLVEMENT
When most people think of a Peace
Corps Volunteer a white, upper-mid-
dle-class, "long-haired" young man or
woman ready to save the world comes
to mind. In the hope of eradicating this
stereotype, it is important that citizens
of color also take upon themselves the4
challenge of being a "world citizen."
Most of us volunteer because we
carry some type of socioeconomic
privilege, whether it be acquired
through education, class or some other
social status. An African American
woman very active in American com-
munity service once expressed discon-
tent at Americans volunteering abroad
"when there are people who need help
right here" This can be reiterated
through the fact that while blacks haveE
a history of volunteerism, it has histor-
ically only been focused on their own
communities.
To this woman, I urged the understand-
ing that we live in a shrinking global
community. And since U.S. citizens
carry with them one of the greatest
socioeconomic privileges of the world, it
is important that we also reach out to our
brothers and sisters across the oceans.
As a country of immigrants, the
United States is, indeed, made up of
widely varied backgrounds found
across the seas. It is for this reason that
we also work to fulfill Peace Corps'
second goal: to help promote better
understanding of the American people
on the part of people served. We need
to demonstrate this ethnic diversity
rather than enforce false stereotypes.
Currently, 13 percent of Peace Corps
volunteers come from minority com-
munities; 4 percent from African
American communities and 3 percent
from Hispanic communities.
While these numbers don't reflect the
population, they show promise. Black
and Hispanic volunteers have more to
gain than technological and professional
enrichment from Peace Corps assign-
ments. Serving in Africa, the Caribbean.
or Central and South America gives
them better understanding of their own
ethnic, cultural and historical roots.
BENEFITS
Becoming a Peace Corps volunteer
is a challenge in itself. Applicants
should begin the application process at
least eight months before they would
m
I
I
would be to
MATT W'MSATT/Daily
increase the amount of driving
required in driver's ed classes.
Engler has agreed to sign
the legislation partly because
he claims that schools should
refocus their core mission -
to teach students to read and
write. In no way does offering
driver's education detract from
this core mission. Driving
classes are usually at night or
during the summer, and do not
replace an academic class in a
student's curriculum. Engler
MAGDA
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL
MSZA reps.
should
KONIG
WORK
to Stephen Barnes, program coordinator of
the Southfield Public Schools, "Not all pri-
vate courses follow the strict guidelines we
do. We'll see more students who are not
fully trained and more accidents." Public
schools have a strong track record in dri-
ver's training. Turning instruction over to
these whose primary aim is profit, and not
student safety, would make Michigan roads
more hazardous.
The driver's education bill does contain
a few positive, but flawed, provisions. Once
again, a road test would be required to
obtain a license. Either the police or a train-
should reconsider.
Attacking public schools has become a
hobby in Lansing. In attempting to privatize
driver's training, the Legislature would do
great harm to all Michigan citizens. Many
families would be strained by the financial
burden of driver education classes. Those
students unable to afford driver's ed would
be limited in their search for a job. The pro-
gram's decrease in quality would put more
inexperienced drivers onto the road. More
accidents would increase fatalities and
insurance rates.
In shaping policy, Engler and the
Republican-controlled Legislature need to
remain true
to parties
TO THE DAILY:
Michigan Student
Assembly representatives
need to chill out. Accusations
and protests about party poli-
tics and personal agendas do
nothing but make us mere
mortals (translated: the rest
of the campus that are not
members of MSA) turn to the
Daily crossword faster than
usual.
I personally have more
respect for those representa-
tives who were elected on a
party platform and choose to
show integrity by remaining
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