.4A -- The Michigan Daily - Monday, November 4, 1996
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420 Maynard Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Edited and managed by
students at the
University of Michigan
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RONNIE GLASSBERG
Editor in Chief
ADRIENNE JANNEY
ZACHARY M. RAIMI
Editorial Page Editors
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
It's time for a national commitment to education.
It's better to spend $5,000 to educate
a child than $30,000 to incarcerate him.'
- US. Rep. Lynn Rimrs (D-Ann Arbo)
Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of the Daily : editorial hoard. AI/
other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Aail,
FROM THE DAILY
SY
Reelet Clinton
President works for the average American
resident Bill Clinton will beat chal- Discrimination Act, which would have p
lenger Bob Dole tomorrow - because tected gays from workplace discriminat
Americans will vote for Clinton. As well - many other groups are already protec
t4ey should. Clinton supported ENDA, but Conga
Despite loud complaints from voters - killed it. For the first time, these issues
often Democrats - these past four years, coming up for a vote - which puts
Clinton has accomplished much during his Clinton administration and its social p
presidency. Americans want it all: a perfect cies way ahead of Dole, George Bu
president with whom they can always agree. Ronald Reagan or the last Democratic p
Clinton takes stock of the national feeling ident, Jimmy Carter. Although Clin
on a subject, and picks a course for the could and should do more for oppres
.Country - not for special-interest groups. groups, he is one of the most progress
C linton may appear to cave, but it's not to presidents in modern history.
factions. In fact, he tends to ignore the lib- The president also upholds the le
$erals, the conservatives, the activists, the right to an abortion. Not only is he p
extremists. His stances are far too middle- choice, he vetoed a late-term abortion
of-the-road for some - but moderate that would have impacted mothers' heal
enough to get a few things done while he is On the other hand, he favors expans
in office, and stay in touch with the of a law like New Jersey's Megan's L
American people. which requires sex offenders to regi
Lost in the Republican "tax-and-spend with local communities once they
liberal" accusations is the fact that Clinton released from prison. The law is intende
lowered the deficit by 60 percent overall; protect children, but Clinton ignores
each year of his presidency, he reduced the infringement on the right to privacy. Clin
rate of growth. As part of his economic also signed the telecommunications b
plan, he also raised taxes - but the "and despite the vague clause to ban "obscen
spend" part just doesn't apply, especially from the Internet. He forgets that on the
since Clinton signed a bill to slash the safe- side of such issues is a slippery slope.
ty net. The Welfare Reform Act - a times, Clinton seems too willing to comp
Republican attack on the family - ousts mise individuals' civil liberties in orde
-recipients after a few years, but does not head off Republican attacks.
provide the tools to stay off welfare, such as The Brady Bill is among the preside
health insurance, job training and day care. accomplishments. Thanks to Clinton, th
Clinton, however, has promised to fix the with a criminal history cannot have guns
bill if he is re-elected - and put in some of addition, he pushed the assault rifle ban.
these provisions. Also, he is responsible for is tough on domestic crime, and weak
the Family Medical Leave Act, which foreign policy issues -- but not a disast
allows mothers and fathers to take time off Without the specter of re-electi
work for family situations without penalty. Clinton will be able to tackle some of
If re-elected, Clinton promised to expand stickier issues. Some might call his Mr
the act to include events such as Parent- record spotty, but the truth is, even the b
Teacher Association meetings. president cannot please every sector.
To do more for the American family, bigger shadow looming is the concept
Clinton should have vetoed the Defense of Bob Dole as president - his risky tax p
Marriage Act, which defines marriage as his incoherent vision and his negative ca
heterosexual - 10 percent of the popula- paigning do not bode well for Amer
tjon cannot define their own families under Dole in office would set back Clint
law. However, Clinton never had the chance progress for years to come.
to sign the Employment Non- Re-elect Bill Clinton for president.
Democrats for re gnt
Maynard could restore trust to board
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LrS^TOITHEEtOR
LETTERIS TO THE EDITOR
News article
shows effort
TO THE DAILY:
I am writing in response
to the article printed last
Tlhursday ("Leaders harmo-
nize with music groups.'
1I ( 24 9) highlighting the
accomplishments of Ramon
Johnson and Shervl Darden,
the first African American
drum major and USO princi-
pal in the University's histo-
ry, respectively. I find myself
regularly criticizing the Daily
for its lack of minority repre-
sentation in its articles, and
also the lack of effort to rep-
resent the diversity on cam-
pus in many of its highlights.
I do not find myself alone in
this criticism.
But strange as it may
seem, I was most pleased
with the article last week.
Not onlv was it a heart-
warming story (a nice break
from the political front page
madness) but it truly showed
an effort on the part of the
author to highlight the
accomplishments of students.
particularly African
Americans. It is sad that
there still exist "firsts" but
barriers are being broken
daily, and I commend the
Daily for recognizing this.
Thank you.
LOREN McGHEE
LSA SENIOR
PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY
CHAPTER OF NAACP
NW ROC
disrupted
debate
TO THE DAILY:
Last Monday, I attended a
debate between mayoral can-
didates sponsored by the
Michigan Student Assembly.
I went as an undecided,
someone who is not unsatis-
fied with Mayor Ingrid
Sheldon's tenure, but as a
lifelong Democrat and
activist, attracted to Council
member Christopher Kolb's
candidacy. I was able to learn
the differences in their visions
for a better Ann Arbor, and I
walked away with plenty of
good reasons to vote for Kolb.
I thank MSA for the opportu-
nity and the education.
I only wish more people
had attended. Of the 30 or so
people in attendance, about
half were associated with the
National Women's Rights
Organizing Coalition, and
were there to ask some tough
questions about the city's
response to the Ku Klux Klan
rally, the recent violence at
Huron ligh and the
increased tensions between
gang members and police in
the 1,oiith I iiest ra
ten. They could have learned
something.
I don't have much sympa-
thy for NWROC. I was at the
anti-KKK rally, and I was
physically and verbally
assaulted just for carrying a
sign that said I supported free
speech. I saw the violence at
the rally, and I know it was
provoked by NWROC.
Should they receive a bill
from the city? I'm not sure.
but I know that as a taxpayer
I resent having to bear the
monetary cost of their intol-
erance and violence.
But NWROC should get
some credit, though. At least
they were there Monday
night, getting involved (albeit
maladroitly) in their commu-
nity and in politics. They also
attend City Council meetings.
I wish more students had
attended the debate, because
it was a good one. And I
wish the NWROC members
had actually listened to the
answers to their (good) ques-
tions.
PETER A. CHURCH
RC ADJUNCT LECTURER
Clinton facts
were wrong
TO THE DAILY:
We are writing concern-
ing the information at the end
of the article titled "Clinton
to build 'bridge to future',"
(10/31/96).
At the end of the article,
there is a list of facts about
the president and one of
these concerns his military
experience. Technically, the
commander-in-chief is a
civilian and not a member of
the U. S. military.
Second, it is rather irre-
sponsible of your paper to
claim that a man who has at
best a questionable military
record is a member of the
armed forces. This implies
that he is in the same class as
people who have served their
country in combat.
Finally, the article stated
that Clinton served as com-
mander-in-chief from 1992-
present.tThis is incorrect as
Clinton took office in
January, 1993.
ANN CHIARAMONTI
ENGINEERING SOPHOMORE
JOHN DEBAY
LSA SOPHOMORE
Concerned
about safety
TO THE DAILY:
I am writing in regard to
the numerous crimes com-
mitted as of late. When I
think back to the types of
crimes I read about last year
anr thnva 'I r- dnnw I amI in
held at gunpoint that take up
the majority of the Daily's
criminal reports.
lt has become apparent
that a person, male or female,
is no longer safe to walk the
streets of this University.
"Student robbed on S.
Forest," (10/29/96) reported
that a victim was robbed at
gunpoint on South Forest.
The article also reports on
victims on Church Street and
East University, also involved
in armed robberies. While it
is not stated whether or not
the East University robbery
was committed in the day or
evening, the other robberies
were committed at night.
Human-contact crimes on
campus often occur during
the evening or late night
hours, despite the Saturday
morning assault reported a
couple of weeks ago. While
the University does provide
evenig safety -services, they
do tend to stop late at night.
Safewalk and Northwalk
are wonderful programs
Students can call and have
someone meet them and walk
them to their destination. The
Niteowl is also a wonderful
service running from 7:30
p.m. to 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. This
bus travels around campus
and even to Crisler, taking
students where - or close to
where - they need to go.
Only, both of these safety
reinforcements stop too early
for many University students
who study for long hours at
the library or in designated
meeting areas with study
groups.
We do have a free taxi
system that starts at 2 a.m.
and goes until the early
morning, where students can
catch a taxi for free to any-
where on campus they need
to go. However, students can
only catch it at the Shapiro
Undergraduate Library.
Where does that leave those
who are somewhere else, but
still would like a safe ride
home for free? I myself was
leaving Markley at 3 a.m.
one night and had to walk by
myself to South Quad, or to
the Shapiro to catch the taxi
service. I found myself afraid
to turn every corner.
While the University does
provide good safety services,
there is still room for
improvement. Making the
free taxi available from other
places besides the Shapiro
Undergraduate Library would
be a huge step in greater ser-
vice.
At the end of the previ-
ously stated Daily article, the
last sentence is, "No injuries
were reported in either case."
There may have been no
physical harm done in those
cases, but what about others
that may come? What about
the mental harm done to
those that were the victims?
What about the increased '
fear in students on campus?
Before the University again
SMOKE & MRmORS
Trash-talk TV is
a social disgrace
Jenny Jones came to Michigan last
week, and the eyes of the natin
followed her.
ler visit to an Oakland County
courtroom was the latest twist in a
bizarre murder case that dates back to
an episode of-The Jenny Jones Show
in March 1 995.
That episode's
theme was secret
crushes. Scott
Amedure went on
the program to
reveal that he had
a secret crush on..\
Jonathan Schmitz
an acquaintance.
Schmitz said he
had no idea that it ZACHARY
was Amedure
After it was M. RAIMI
revealed. Jenny
and her audience worked hard to licit
reactions from the surprised guest.
After Amedure revealed his sexual
fantasy that involved Schmitz, a ham-
mock and whipped cream, Schmitz
began gushing and put his face in his
hands. At the time, he looked sur-
prised but not enraged.
A few days later, in Metro Detroit.
Schmitz shot and killed Amedure. In
court, Schmitz's attorneys claimed that
he has a long history of mental illness
and that the surprise on "Jenny Jones"
-- that a man was attracted to him -
pushed him over the edge, causing him
to commit murder.
It's not my place, as an undergradu-
ate English. major, to determine
whether Schmitz was insane at the
time of the killing and what kind of
punishment he deserves. I'll leave that
for the lawyers and jury to argue.
But we shouldn't let this opportunity
pass without putting Jenny Jones and
the rest of her trash-talking clones on
trial. If nothing else, this trial illus
trates the shocking and outrageous
stunts that daytime talk show hosts
will pull for ratings. They must under-
stand that they have a responsibility to
their guests and the viewing audience
to conduct their programs with civility
and decency.
As ashamed as I am to admit it now,
I used to be a regular "Jenny Jones"
viewer. In fact, for nearly a month last
year, my apartment-mates and I would
drop everything we were doing and
race home by 12:35 a.m. to watch late-
night reruns of "Jenny Jones."
At first, we found it wickedly funny.
The show's topics ranged from biker
moms getting makeovers to the trivial-
ization of abusive men who can't stop
hitting their women. Throughout,
Jones would wear an annoying smile
and work hard to provoke guests into
revealing outrageous things.
Eventually, I found the show disgust-
ing. It asked us to laugh and ridicule
weak people who were in dire need of
help. Jones continually tried to turn
heartwrenching problems into enter-
tainment. Guests often looked deeply
pained while the audience laughed at
them.
In court last week, Jones admitted
that she rarely knows the topic of the
show until the night before. Also, she
and some of the show's producers have
admitted that it is fairly common to lie
to guests in order to cajole them onto
the set. Moreover, producers strongly
encourage participants to have drinks
to relax for the show. Essentially, Jones
made it sound that she simply shows up
at the TV studio, does the show, col-
lects her paycheck, and heads home.
She has bucked all responsibility for
the trash that comes out of her pro-
gram and into our living rooms.
Well, Ms. Jones, we're not going to
let you get away with it.
I am not alone in my disgust for
these programs - and I have powerful
allies. Last year, after the Amedure
murder, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-
Conn.) and others undertook a cam-
paign to instill responsibility into the
programs.
In a press conference, Lieberman
said, "The proliferation of perversion
on daytime television is affecting our
entire society by the example it sets, -
pushing the envelope of civility and
morality in a way that drags the rest of
the culture down with it."
Liebermansaidethatapproximately 6
percent of the viewing audience _is
between the ages of 2 and 11. These
shows may lead children to believe
that dysfunctionality is normal, racy
sexual encounters are without conse-
quence and people's feelings are less
important than entertainment.
Amedure's family can tell you other-4
wise.
This is not a call for censorship;
instead, it is a campaign to make the
talk shows understand that their poweir
is immense and that talk show hosts
must be responsible for the content-of
thenir nrfltrflflc i irf- veinto.inn thi
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omorrow, voters will elect two people
who will have a dramatic impact on
the University's future. Four candidates are
vying for the eight-year term of regent. The
two Democrats, Libby Maynard of Flint
and S. Martin Taylor of Grosse Pointe
Farms, are better choices than the two
Republicans, Deane Baker of Ann Arbor
and Mike Bishop of Rochester Hills.
'Of the four, Maynard is the strongest
candidate. Her extensive experience with
the University is a tremendous asset. She
has worked as a visiting professor in the
School of Social Work for many years and
serves on its National Development
-Committee. She has working relationships
with several regents. Moreover, Maynard is
(iitimately familiar with the workings of
state government. She was the Michigan
bemocratic Party chair from 1979-1983,
JAd she was director of the Michigan Office
of Services to the Aging in the 1980s.
Maynard's support of many important
University initiatives would improve stu-
dent life on campus. For example, she sup-
ports the University policy of giving same-
sex couples economic benefits. As regent,
she said she will look at all issues in "the
spirit of nondiscrimination" - an impor-
tant attitude for a regent to possess.
tionships with student leaders and campus
publications. Maynard's commitment to
students would ensure that their views are
represented on the board.
If elected, S. Martin Taylor must do a lot
of homework. During a recent interview, he
said he was unfamiliar with the language of
Bylaw 14.06, the University's non-discrim-
ination code; he has never read the Code of
Student Conduct; and he did not have a
grasp on the Open Meetings Act. However,
he is a better choice than either of the
Republicans. His diverse professional expe-
riences - ranging from a vice president at
Detroit Edison to director of the Michigan
Department of Labor - have helped him
work easily with others and learn the intri-
cacies of managing institutions. These
skills would benefit the board.
Deane Baker has served on the board for
24 years. Although his experience and insti-
tutional memory is an asset to the board,
these are not compelling reasons to re-elect
Baker. His strong opposition to benefits for
same-sex couples is provincial and does not
bode well for the University community.
Moreover, his blatant disregard of the Open
Meetings Act during the presidential search
is disconcerting - regents should obey the
law without needing a court order to force
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