4- The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 18, 1996 I Zee 9 r ttn ttilg 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 NOTABLE QUOTABLE 'When I am president of the United States, I will keep my word. My word is my bond.' - Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole, speak Wednesday evening's debate in San king at Diego i Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of the Daily; editorial board. All IM LASSER other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily. SHARP AS TOAST 1 FROM THE DAILY A pub ic Judge's wise ruling he spotlight on the presidential search will now shine brighter, as a result of a ;judge's ruling Tuesday that requires the regents to conduct almost every aspect of the search in public. A joint lawsuit - filed by The Ann Arbor News, the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News last week - temporarily postponed the search; the law- suit argued that the regents' plans were in violation of the state's Open Meetings Act. Washtenaw County Judge Melinda Morris agreed and ruled that most of the regents' search plans violated the law. Morris' deci- sion was justified and proper - the regents hould conduct the search in public, not in secrecy. Yesterday, the regents signaled that they will make an effort to comply with the rul- ing. The Presidential Search Advisory Committee released more than 300 names of potential candidates and its top four rec- ommendations at a public meeting. The recommenced candidates will visit campus beginning next week. Regents will inter- view them in public. Throughout the entire search process, the regents claimed that a public search would deter qualified candidates from pur- suing the presidency. However, as the four recommended names demonstrate, the regents' argument was weak. The four are top administrators at prestigious universi- ties. Lee Bollinger, for example, is the :provost at Dartmouth College and Carol Christ is provost and vice chancellor at Berkeley. Publicity did not frighten these candidates - instead it affirmed that their interest in the University presidency runs deep. It is unfortunate that the regents did not declare that all meetings would be open from the start. Final four do not fi $og TxLE : .=NV -roUGCH WITH THE AMERICAJ PEOPLE. scolding 'CAUESF I SAT TIME VOU' D SAY , BOB DOL WAS opens pres. search Mou,, ATto ooOLD yOt) STArND FogK 2 4 The new public sessions are in stark con- /O\SANiO. trast to the regents' original - and illegal^ - plan. Initially, the regents were going to review applications in secret and allow" PSAC Chair Jeffrey Lehman and search ° consultant Malcolm MacKay to answer their questions. However, such an event is part of the deliberating process and, as Z 5uPffZ OMA says, should be conducted in the ( A F- open. Cd Morris' ruling will ensure that these dis- - cussions are open to the public, so that the 4 " Y l * University community will discover infor- mation about the candidates at the same LETTERS TO THE EDITOR time as the regents. Such openness will SAPAC must all cases a proRepublican cal future for themselves. keep the search committee accountable to comment was added to a the public by preventing them from making focus on ham s al statemen, not an ANDREWP SEROWIK preliminary decisions in private re tto open attack on the QJM L S POMORE e igina l s n pals w d orientationFurthermore, Hutchins is The original plan also would have guilty of stereotyping herself allowed regents to meet one-on-one with O THE DAILY: by stating that the College Christians candidates who requested such a session. I would like to second the responsibility for their However, Morris ruled this illegal. In court, Daily's call for the new head views' Several members should Peter Ellsworth, the regents' attorney, of the Sexual Assault within our group may dis- respect Jews argued that "individual regents are not a Prevention and Awareness agree with the homosexual public body." Center to come from outside agenda; however, this is not the organization ("Looking the view of the average group TO THE DAILY: Ellsworth should have known better - for a leader," 10/9/96), My member. This letter is both an apol- the OMA specifically states that such inter- reasoning, though, is proba- This stereotypical behav- ogy and a position statement. views cannot occur in secret. The state bly somewhat different from ior has been common on this First, I would like to apolo- Supreme Court's 1993 decision that that of the Daily. campus over the last few gize to the Jewish communi- The new head of SAPAC years. I personally have been ties of Ann Arbor for not declared the University's 1987-88 search needs to look carefully at the working with the leadership having written this letter ear. illegal states that one elected regent "must whole scope of the organiza- of the College Democrats, tier. I should have done so be deemed 'public bodies' within the scope tion. The goals of SAPAC are and they have come to under4 two weeks ago when the anti- of the OMA." Secret meetings could lead laudable, and its work is an stand that our group is not Jewish pamphlets on the high obvious (and unfortunate) made up of right-wing holy days occurred. Members the regents to make conclusions about can- necessity in today's society, i extremists, but a spirited of my own congregation, who didates and attain information to which the would, however, question group of students concerned have Jewish family members, public will not have access - undermining some of the ways that with restoring the American brought the issue to my atten- the purpose of the law, public deliberations SAPAC claims to be working Dream. tion. I waited to see how the towards those goals. I commend the Daily for local University Association and citizens' trust in government. Namely, I am concerned your concern regarding the of Religious Counselors Morris' ruling protected the purpose of with the University's orients- plight of the Queer Unity would respond. I know that the law - now the University must prove tion program and the role of Project and the homosexual many feel the way I do, but its ability to comply. SAPAC in that program. community. In the future, we have failed to respond to As do all incoming stu- please check your facts it publicly. dents, I had the unfortunate before launching attacks at Secondly, I must deplore opportunity to sit through freedom-loving Republicans the actions of certain groups SAPAC's Orientation who, despite what the far-left in the Ann Arbor community Indoctrination, In the 15 claims, oppose all discrimi- who passed out anti-Jewish months since, I have yet to nation, whether it be based tracts to those attending ser- t com m unity specs meet someone who felt that on race, gender, religion, vices on those evenings. The the presentation was of value. national origin and yes, sexu- "Christian" group that did so ask frank enough questions about the Rather, I have heard descrip- al orientation, on the evenings of Rosh University in light of the open nature of the tions ranging from pointless PETE RINATO Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Search. to plain-and-simplemalLSA SENIOR only denigrated the sacred But if a candidate cannot withstand a lit- SAPAC should focus on aspect of these celebrations and proved the callous insen- tle scrutiny from the University beforehand, working to inform students sitivity that still exists in our how could that candidate withstand a tenure on ways to avoid dangerous MSA needs society. Part of the American as University president? situations, improving safety ideal is that all people in the on campus, and advising St- improvement United States of America are Lee Bollinger, provost and professor of dents of the necessary proce-free to worship in peace. Had government at Dartmouth College, is the dures if one is victimized (to such an incident occurred only candidate who worked at the ensure that the bastard goes TO THE DAILY: outside of our church on one University. From 1987 to 1994 he was the to Jail for a long time). Congratulations are in of our high holy days, we If the new head of order to The Michigan Daily wolhaebnourgd dean of the Law School, Because of his SAPAC will ensure this for raising awareness of stu- Suh have been outraged. 8 . Suchan offense should not inside track, Bollinger has a better chance focus, SAPAC can do much dent fees with Will Weissert's be tolerated. All people are of landing the position -- however, the to protect students on this three-part series of atides entitled to their views, but all other three candidate are no less qualified. campus. If not, SAPAC risks regarding the Michigan people should not go beyond rendering itself irrelevant Student Assembly budget and phebolesou ld oleyn Stanley Chodorow is a provost and pro- and, thereby, endangering the Daily's Oct. 8 editorial, t ouns o civil n pole fessor of history at the University of students more than if it had "Dubious dollars." When discourse to condemn people Pennsylvania, Larry Faulkner is a provost, never existed. held up against the student fortable or perhaps even per- vice chancellor for academic affairs and JIM RISKE ge ceted on any day, especial- public universities. is quite se-te___ anyd,_ especia_ - professor of chemistry at the University of ENGINEERING SOPHOMORE clear that MSA doesn't na- t Illinois.suresp.dand special. Illinois. sure up. To the credit of The Carol Christ is a vice chancellor, provost The issue of the fee T herit of he and professor of english at the University of Hutchins is increaseinot the additional Assitn of Ricigan is $3 per year, almost insignifi- Association of Religious California at Berkeley. Her background is 'eXtrem ist' cant when put in the perspec- Counselors, the group which appropriate for an administrator, but the tive of total tuition. The issue officially represents campus regents would never rest their gazes on . here is the principle that is ministries and foundations, volved. Some may to those who perpetrated this Christ. As the token woman, she specializes am writing to defend the downplay the increase, but it most uncivil act are not in a subjective field; her publications are College Republicans against still remains that two organi- members. Thus, we have no largely about Victorian women's literature, Katie Hutchins' extremist zations stand to benefit far true possibility or internal Chances are the search committee included claims in last Friday's more than any others. With process by which we might Michigan Daily ('Hetero- funding received from the denounce their actions. her as a stooge intended to deflect charges sexual must deal with other additional fee, Project Serve Let me make it quite of a good old boys club - insulting her people's homosexuality," would see its budget doubled clear. As a Catholic priest, I accomplishments as well as the University 10/11/96). I personally made from last year's figures. have a very strong convic- community's intelligence, an apology to the Queer This does not mean am tionsabout what I believe Unity Project on WOLV opposed to additional fund- adaotwa hs h The advisory committee did not do Student Television, which ing for student organizations, adhere to the Catholic faith enough to meet the requests of the commu- aired Wednesday night. but a fee increase with such should be about. We make nity. Despite what the gay com- restrictions as this would the decision to belong to Now the regents must - in full view - mtunity and the campus left- seem to be unfair when a Catholicism through freedom Now he rgens mut - - i ful viw - wtng may think, Nicholas large number of other equally of choice and conscience, not examine the list in terms of what kind of Kirk did not, in any way, pro- worthy organizations receive through imitation or fear. leader will be good for the University-at- mote the defacing of the little or no funding. Members of the Jewish large QUP's chalk. Additionally, we should communities, who I pro- He stated to the group ensure that the money MSA foundly respect, should be before chalking that we need- is receiving is being used in allowed the same freedom to ed to stay positive because the most efficient way possi- make their own choices about Clinton supporters were bad- ble - which I believe it is faith, without fear or intimi- gering him for the negative , not. Approving a fee increase dation. The secular rhetoric of prior nights. such as the one on the ballot University campus should ' Although one or two chalk this November sets a danger- allow all people to make such rUALLY messages by our members ous precedent. decisions of faith. were in poor taste, they did But perhaps congratula- I thank you for your con- ;Y g not contain the hate-filled tions are in order to one other sideration, and to my Jewish M4ING SURE- bigotry that you claim. The group as well - the mem- colleagues, I say "Shalom.' r TPZY ALL altered chalkings were impo- bers of MSA who secured a REV. WIWAM F. WEGHER (TAY DAD lite and an apology was put place for the proposal on the forth. However the campus ballot, who have most cer- ASSOC. PASTOR a should note that in virtually tainly bought a bright politi- ST. MARY STUDENT PARISH hree white boys and one white girl.' : The University community asked the :search committee for more women and minorities, and the final four hardly qualify. The new president should be from the outside to breathe some fresh air into this campus - and three of the four are com- pletely from other universities. The regents could go back to the list of 300 names if they are dissatisfied with the four choices. However, the lopsided list included 249 men and 53 women, So much for diversity and recruitment of women. While the upper echelons of uni- versity administration's are filled by men, it is not completely dominated by them. The committee should have worked harder to include more women in the list of possible candidates. When the University Board of Regents appointed interim President Homer Neal, this page cautioned the regents not to make 'that move their only step toward diversity. Neal, who has stated that he does not want the presidency permanently, would be a great candidate - and he was a stable choice to lead the University in a time of transition. However, choosing a black man as the interim does not excuse the University from turning over every stone for more minority and women candidates. More diverse candidates could have brought to light many issues that an all- white group may overlook. While finding qualified candidates for the position is no simple task, the search committee would have benefitted the community to include mor candidates with diverse backgrounds. One mystery candidate turned down consideration - claiming to feel unable to i SHAKING THE TREE Campaign '96 is about weak bridges and tired slogans G uess what, guys? We are crossin a bridge into the future. Into t 21st century. And we need a president to help us do that. And if we make the wrong deci- sion, there will be no 21st century. Whatever. If we ?t believed that, it would be nice. If we could still be so easily deceived by catchy, say- nothing campaign KATIE slogans, perhaps HUTCHINS that would mean that we werea more naive, but more secure, America. If only we had the right leader ai the top, we'd all have jobs - whenI we graduate. We'll be able to get through graduate school without having to pay loans until we're 38 years old. We w' finally meet our soul mates, we'll have a house and a family and a career and peace and money. Unless, of course, we're gay - then we don't deserve to have families. But that's not the point. We're building that bridge for the other 90 percent of vot- ers. I think that's the No. 1 safest cam- paign promise. No matter how maby people starve or how many pre-teen start smoking or get pregnant, we'W still going to make it to the 21st centu- ry and that's the best we can promise to do. But that's not what we want to hear. I don't think there's anything the can- didates can say at this point that will Bill Clinton and Bob Dole are not dis- cussing issues that affect students make a difference in how we feel about them. Because we simply don't believe them. Both are guilty of false advertising, with Bob Dole claiming his proposed cuts in Medicare weren't really cuts and with Bill Clinton saying he hd 100,000 more cops on the street. 9 The candidates seem to know this. In the past few weeks, they couldn't even come up with any new material. How many times have we heard Dole tell us about the trial lawyer calling him on his cell phone before he hit the ground in Chico, Calif., saying, "I think we have a case here?" How many times have we heard about that damn bridge? How many times have we heard aboj poor Joe Normal, who can't get welfare (and fortunate Jane Normal, who could)? The only new thing we've seen isn't really new - the character attacks from Dole, which are about eight months late. Perhaps his childish snip- ing could've helped him win the cam- paign earlier this year, when 'it appeared as though anybody could beat the president. But - for whatev- er reason - America has already f ' given the Clinton for his little "burea cratic snafu(s)?' Let's face it - the biggest changes we want in our lives are not what the president (alone) could produce. 'It's the economy, the social structures, the law and the world. It's not that simple to - with a stroke of the presidential pen - end racism, poverty and crime in this country. It would be nice if we could belie in somebody. Because it is pretty sa to head into the 21st century with a first-rate education but without a job. Other than the engineering studehts, many of us will probably be waiting tables for a while. For those going into graduate school, we're freaked as hell about how we'll pay for it. And we're the lucky ones 'the ones who actually made it to college. And there's really little the preside can do about it; we're not pretendi there is. That's why the "bridge to the 21st century" won't get anyone elect- ed. That's why Bill Clinton was right with Wednesday's strategy and 'Bob Dole was wrong. Bob Dole is goi g to lose and Bill Clinton's not pressured to comeup with anything new - he sim- ply has to avoid a another fuck-up.' What exactly do we want out of our leaders? Of course, hones Transcending beyond the bull. We dim n't get it in either presidential deat and certainly not in the campaign and we're not going to. We demand details. We demand t4t they talk issues and not abstract- but that's not going to win an elction. We want to know that there is a leader who can control the economy. That there is some hope that everyone"in this country will get adequate medical care and education. That there tru someone who can walk with us acr that bridge to the 21st century, and guarantee that things will turn outdOK. But that takes overcoming our cy- cism to give us unqualified hope. That's something Bob Dole can't pro- duce, and it's something Bill Clinrop doesn't have to. We've made up our minds, and apparently, so have they. - Katie Hutchins can be read over e-mail at katieh@umich.ea u. POP CULTURE czmLnRY d x ,SlnS IVtE L&M .HPIN vw