4 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 11, 1996 ZFIhz llitigan utg 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 Daily's editorial board. All other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily. fROM THE DAILY Wranging with rhetodc MSA resolution could restrict speech NOTABLE QUOTABLE 99 'Bill Clinton has made more strides In foreign policy than Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George Bush all added up.' - Former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard, a Democrat, discussing President Clintons foreign policy. Jim LASSER SHR AS TOAST NATIONAL COMING OUT DiAY r 10 PUyf/CA L.ETTERS TO THE EDITOR During the last few weeks, it's been nearly impossible to avoid the chalked messages on sidewalks across campus. The College Republicans began the new form of communication earlier this semester by writing pro-Republican messages in chalk. Then, last Sunday, the Queer Unity Project undertook the same actions, spreading its message of tolerance for the gay communi- ty. However, the two groups clashed Sunday evening, when some members of the College Republicans distorted some of QUP's messages. The Michigan Student Assembly passed a resolution Tuesday night, condemning groups that spread anti-gay messages and authorizing the assembly to charge groups who participate in such activities under the Central Student Judiciary. While the chalk- ing incident has led to an uncomfortable sit- uation for the groups involved, MSA has no business threatening to punish student groups who wish to exercise their freedom of speech. . Ryan LaLonde, QUP member and chair of MSA's Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/ Transgendered task force proposed the res- olution. The proposal does not mention any group by name, nor does it specifically allude to Sunday's chalking incident. However, LaLonde has said that the resolu- tion arose out of the clash between the two groups. The first part of MSA's resolution is not necessarily objectionable. It states that the assembly "strongly opposes anti-gay hate, rhetoric, graffiti, discrimination or vio- lence." In fact, it is important for the assem- bly to assert such convictions as it works to foster a tolerant environment for all University students. However, the resolu- tion also says that the assembly will work to uphold "the sense of community and respect among student organizations. This should be without infringing upon the rights of freedom of expression." Yet this clause could limit some groups' freedom of expression in an attempt to protect others'. Moreover, the resolution includes a threat, should such activities continue. It says that the student organization "will be brought in for a judicial review with CSJ. With possible sanctions including: revoca- tion of student funds or temporary/perma- nent suspension of student group status." CSJ is an independent judiciary body that has the authority to take punitive action against student groups. While QUP members have the right to be angry about the chalking incident, the College Republicans are entitled to express their speech in any way they choose. Freedom of speech and expression is one of the most basic tenets of American democra- cy - MSA must take part in protecting it. By threatening punitive action against such groups, MSA is doing the opposite - it is diminishing -free speech. The clause will cause student groups to think twice about exercising their protected freedom of speech. While it could cut down on the amount of hate messages that some groups spread, it effectively threatens their rights to express their messages. If any group's speech is limited, then a precedent would be set for further incidents - and could set the University community on the slippery slope to censorship. While MSA and members of the University community have the right to voice their opposition to student groups that spread messages of hate, they do not have the right to try and limit such messages. Instead, they should allow freedom to flour- ish and let the marketplace of ideas weed out hateful and ignorant rhetoric. SHAKING THE TREE Heterosexuals must deal with other people's homosexuality always disregarded the snippy litt messages inside the bathroom stal at Angell Hall. Not only were some of them completely revolting, but some were sad reminders that racist and homophobic attitudes still exist - even in the minds of a few morons who like to write on bathroom walls.'e I was obviously naive in this thinking. On a politically correct campus, it is easy r. to forget about the : bigots in ourKTI midst, because they're too afraid HUTCHINS to voice their views in the open. They write on bathroom walls. They tell jokes to their bigoted friends whenno one else is around. They talk behir people's backs. They make nasty con- ments to lesbians holding hands or to peopleswho "appear" to be gay based on dress or mannerisms. But in class, they're all for tolerance. They wait until late on a Sunday night to voice their opinions in idiotic alterations of pro-gay chalk messages. doing nothing for this campus but show it that it has a long way to go before it's tolerant. There are no anti-gay rallie Nobody dares put down the demon- strators at the annual Valentine's Day Kiss-In - an admirable display-of respect and love on the Diag when gays and bisexuals can feel comfort- able kissing in public, if only for a moment. Sometimes I think it might be easier to know who the enemy is. In Zimbabwe homosexuality is expl ici6 ly illegal and "un-African accordin to the country's president. At least the gays in Zimbabwe know where they stand. There's a written policy to fight against. Here, just as homosexuals and bisexuals often have to hide in the shadows, so do the homophobes. And the invisibility of both groups makes it difficult to address the issue. How can you fight against an enemy who won't even show its face? And with allies who are afraid to show theirs? College Republicans should claim responsi- bility for the hate messages. The renter's friend AATU's Maurer leaves a legacy'of advocacy T hroughout the past four years, the Ann Arbor Tenants' Union has seen a vast improvement in its structural and adminis- trative organization. Pattrice Maurer, AATU's coordinator for the past four years and a Rackham student, has had a tremen- dous impact on AATU's improved organiza- tion and stature on campus. The entire University community - and especially students who rent in Ann Arbor - will greatly miss Maurer's leadership. AATU is a student organization that helps University students settle disputes with landlords at no cost. AATU helps to inform students of their rights and responsi- bilities in rental housing. With an estimated 40 percent of University students living in local houses or apartments, AATU's service is a valuable asset. Most students would be ignorant of their rights without this service, and students would be at the mercy of their landlords. AATU works to ensure that land- lords treat their renters with respect - and that landlords follow tenant laws. Maurer was a dedicated director who never spared effort in fighting for renters. One of her main legacies was working with the Michigan Student Assembly to increase its funding. In 1993, some MSA members wanted to dramatically slash funding to AATU - allegations of misappropriate usage of funds surrounded the tenants' union. The result of several audits revealed no wrongdoing on the part of AATU; MSA still allocated less money compared to pre- vious years. After the 1993 incident, II I , A AT'T lobbied for increased funds from the stu- dent government. Maurer was responsible for organizing AATU's administration and making sure that everything ran smoothly. AATU is now in better shape than it was before she became coordinator. She developed a strong network of staff and placed an emphasis on phone counseling with dis- tressed tenants. As director, Maurer often dealt with a great deal of stress. Often, coordinators do not last as long as four years. The coordina- tor is faced with continual conflict - trying to help students deal with feisty landlords is not an easy job. By all accounts, Maurer kept her cool under fire. Moreover, Maurer went out of her way to meet many University administrators and Ann Arbor City Council members. Such initiative helped the union develop better relations with the community. She continually fought against tenant discrimination based on sexual orientation. Maurer, who is a lesbian, withstood attacks on her sexual orientation - but never caved in or gave up. Her tough stance for equality allowed groups who often go under-repre- sented to have a right to live in rented hous- ing, just like any other student at the University.. Filling Maurer's place at AATU will not be easy. Her strength, determination and ability to resolve conflicts will be hard to match. Under her leadership, AATU increased in strength, respect and reputa- Opening the tunnel will be beneficial TO THE DAILY: Justification for the recent violence in Israel has been unjustly and falsely blamed upon Israel's opening of an entrance to an archaeological tunnel in the Old City of Jerusalem. The tunnel passes alongside the Western Wall in the Jewish Quarter and termi- nates with the newly opened entrance 250 yards away from the Al Aksa compound in the Muslim Quarter. Lies and fears were fabri- cated that this tunnel "threat- ens" Arab sovereignty over their holy sites. Religious holy sites in Jerusalem are freely accessible to people of all religions and creeds, which is in sharp contrast to pre-1967 conditions when Israel did not have sovereign- ty over all of Jerusalem. This tunnel has been excavated for the past 17 years by archaeologists and tourists of all nationalities have had access to the tunnel in the past. I have visited many archaeological sites in Israel, including this particu- lar tunnel, and tourism to these places strengthens one's appreciation for the histories, cultures and religions of the region. A more accessible passage to the tunnel would allow more tourists to fre- quent the site and therefore providing an economic boost to all four quarters of the Old City: Christian, Muslim, Armenian and Jewish. The tunnel does not, in any way, pose a harm to Muslim holy sites and violence cannot and should not be attributed toa this tourist effort. Just as the United States would never succumb or yield to violence, so Israel should not be expected to close the entrance in light of the recent events. Reality shows that an opening of an archaeological tunnel in the Old City has been used as an instrument of incitement and a catalyst to spark violent Palestinian protests, which should not and will not fur- ther any significant peace efforts. SABINA KAZINER SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH A solution for 'U' parking TO THE DAILY: Recently I was wandering the North Commuter Lot in search of a parking space. (No, I didn't find one - there aren't any between 9 a.m. and noon, but I kept try- where he's going? It's a 15- minute walk to the edge of campus (or a five-minute skate for me.) I don't even want to know how long that would take on crutches. There are buses available, but the image of a guy on crutch- es trying to get up slick bus steps after waiting 20 min- utes in the wind, snow and rain isn't a pleasant one. So here is my solution: If somebody has a handicapped permit, let them park on cam- pus near the building where they are going. You might have noticed that those lots are never full. Then eliminate the handicapped spots in the commuter lots. This would help alleviate the severe park- ing shortage there. Is anyone in the parking division out there listening? Let's have some action on this. IAN CUMMINGS EECS GRADUATE STUDENT Daily skews funding facts TO THE DAILY: As a student newspaper, the Daily has a responsibility to ensure that it reports the facts accurately when pub- lishing an article. This is especially important when the Daily publishes an opin- ion in its name, because this opinion may have an influ- ence on students who are attempting to make an informed opinion regarded a certain issue.Writing opin- ions before examining the facts is nothing short of poor journalism and a disservice to the University community. This was the case in the Oct. 8 edition in the Daily's opin- ion titled "Dubious Dollars." The opinion was predicat- ed on two assumptions. The first assumption was that the ballot proposal to raise the student fee $1.50 would go to two student groups, Project Serve and the Black Volunteer Network. The sec- ond assumption was that it would be appropriate for these two student groups to approach the BPC for funding. The Daily was misin- formed on both accounts. The ballot proposal actually creates four funding cate- gories. Besides allocating money to Project Serve and the Black Volunteer Network, the proposal would establish a community service grant fund similar to the BPC and it would establish a new University scholarship fund. Both of these funds would be accessible to all students in the University. Furthermore, Project Serve isrnotha student group but is part of a University department, the Office of Community Service Learning and, as Don't let Cain leave SAPAC quietly TO THE DAILY: I appreciate your refusal in your editorial of Oct. 8 about Debi Cain leaving SAPAC to let Cain go quietly after last year's event ("Looking for a leader"). Her dismissal of Janelle White - a decision in which several staff members who will con- tinue with the center partici- pated - compromised SAPAC's already question- able ability to serve people of color and of sexual orienta- tions other than straight. It also cost the Peer Educator program an accom- plished, hard-working, com- passionate leader. It is White who was "competent" and "inspiring." She might have made it possible for SAPAC to learn to serve the needs of every member of the University community. She was specifically and actively working toward that end. Cain's violation of the confidentiality of a survivor of violence who had received counseling at SAPAC (a vio- lation I witnessed), compro- mised SAPAC's ability to serve anyone. When confi- dentiality is not preserved by such organizations, there is no trust and no room to heal. In failing to investigate such serious allegations, SAPAC's other staff members aped some of the worst enemies of the movement against sexual violence - the people who refuse to believe a survivor's word against that of authority figures. I and many of my fellow volunteers decided to break with the organization at this point. Staff membersrwho did not follow our lead or demand investigation are sus- pect at best, and you were right to advocate the intro- duction of a leader from out- side. Thank you for keeping last winter's events on Cain's record. Thank you for keep- ing them on the record of SAPAC and of the University of which it is a part. KATE EPSTEIN UNIVERSITY ALUM Loving ITD, hating ITD TO THE DAILY: It is my pleasure to announce the recipient of the 1996 Michigan Review "Bill Clinton Award for Waffling on the Issues." The winner this year is none other than the Daily, which, in a master stroke of indecisive journal- ism, published an editorial College Republican President Nicholas Kirk refuses to take respons bility for the actions of his gri' Sunday night. He flippantly refers to his group's personal, degrading chalk attacks as getting "a little rambunc- tious." He attacks Queer Unity Project - the group responsible for the Coming Out Week chalkings -, as "overblowing this." It certainly isn't overblown. And the College Republicans need to take responsibility for their views and their actions. But they need not be a scape goat for the others who are intolera9 - but not vocal - on this campus. The in-your-face tactics of the Queer Unity Project were commendable. Very few people walked around cam- pus this week without considering the plight of homosexuals and bisexuals in this community. And everyone should be honest with themselves about how those messages made them feel. If they were offended or uncomfortabg they should acknowledge it - and deal with it. Anyone who is heterosexual - and many who are not - has at least a few residual feelings of heterosexism that must be confronted and changed. Because we still don'tahave to face such feelings - not even when we're public figures. The U.S. president and Congress have shown us that with the Defense of Marriage Act. So has Kirk. And the general public isn't behind t gay-rights movement - yet. Coming Out Week has been a great success on campus this week. While it is a time for celebration - with posi- tive events such as today's rally on the Diag and last night's appearance by Wilson Cruz of "My So-Called Life" - it's also a time for opening our eyes. What we saw this week isn't pretty. But at least we have a better idea who the bigots are and where thie stand - even if they only come out at night. It's time for amity and change across the nation. Tonight's national rally - sponsored by the Human Rights t anaan- is exnecgted to draw2Uhun-. i i