4- The Michigan Daily - Friday, January, 31, 1997
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420 Maynard Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Edited and managed by
students at the
University of M ichigan
RONNIE GLASSBERG
Editor in Chief
ADRIENNE JANNEY
ZACHARY M. RAIMI
Editorial Page Editors
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
'I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker.'.,
-From TS. Eliots "The Love Song ofJ Alfred Prufrock"
JIM LASSERRSARP AS TOAST
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
Homer's odyssey
Neal gave much to the 'U' in his short tenure
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Today is the end and the beginning -
the end of Homer Neal's tour as inter-
im University president and the beginning
of Lee Bollinger's administration.
Neal embarked on this journey last sum-
mer after former University President
James Duderstadt stepped down. The inter-
im period could have been a rocky transi-
tion, but Neal made it a remarkably stable
era in campus history - and a progressive
one as well.
Neal took over the presidency and never
stopped working. One of his most important
accomplishments was the creation of the
executive vice president for medical affairs.
This administrator will oversee University
Hospitals and the Medical School. Since
the school is dedicated to teaching and the
hospital is more focused on profits, the two
entities often lacked a unified voice. As a
result, the ,two departments will have a sin-
gle representative before the University
Board of Regents; this is important now as
regents and administrators determine the
medical center's future.
Moreover, Neal created the New
Century Fund for Diversity -- a program
dedicated to creating a warm environment
for minority students. One of Duderstadt's
primary achievements was to create the
Michigan Mandate in 1987 in an effort to
raise the University's minority enrollment.
Since implementation, minority enrollment
has nearly doubled. But bringing more
minorities to campus is not enough - the
University must retain the minorities it
recruits. Neal signaled his awareness of this
by creating the new fund.
Even under pressure, Neal demonstrated
his leadership abilities. For example, many
regents and community members were out-
raged by Duderstadt's so-called midnight
deals. During his last days in office, the for-
mer president authorized paid leave and
other perks to entice administrators to stay
on during the transition. Neal calmly
explained that it was common procedure;
moreover, Neal said that it was healthy for
the University to keep the rest of its top
positions steady while the regents searched
for a new president. While many regents
balked, Neal gave an earnest defense of
Duderstadt's actions.
In fact, Neal's grace and forethought in
situations like these earned him the imme-
diate respect of the University community.
More important, his consistency - includ-
ing his constant forward motion - kept the
University afloat.
Bollinger assumes the presidency at a
time of great energy. Previous presidents
have positioned the University to succeed
and prosper in the 21st century. Harold
Shapiro restored the University's financial
system; Duderstadt oversaw a massive
physical renovation project and injected
more diversity into the student body; Neal's
actions solidified many of these accom-
plishments. Bollinger must continue to
steer the University in the same direction as
his recent predecessors.
But he will have to choose his own lega-
cy.
Many previous presidents did not pay
enough attention to student wishes and
requests, making their accomplishments
bittersweet. Bollinger must recognize the
student body for what it is: talented, intelli-
gent and committed to creating a better
community. Bollinger should meet with stu-
dents regularly - and not just the Michigan
Student Assembly president, no matter how
outspoken she may be. Unless Bollinger
places more emphasis on the process of stu-
dent-impacting policies, he risks alienating
the students and emulating the uncommu-
nicative methods of the regents.
The president's office gives its occupant
tremendous opportunities to shape, in part,
future generations. The up-and-coming
crop of leaders - though elders have
assigned it the derogatory name of
"Generation X" - knows what direction to
take. Bollinger needs only to engage the
students in dialogue to discover which way
to steer.
J
ea-
-'i. r
A VIEW FROM Wr*m*.
Moving forward
How will Clinton lead the Democrats?
MARK FRIEDMAN
Photo editor
THE MICHIGAN DAILY -
The joining of peoples to pur-
sue understanding. By the
achievements and direction of
the past, and by seeing oneself
in what they do, the Daily
begins to define life.
DAILY PHOTO - The
understanding creates the
vision that will always contin-
ue if that of the past is accept-
ed by the future. You must
master David Friedo.
RONNIE GLASSBERO
Editor in chief
Perhaps my most memo-
rable experience at the Daily
was receiving a call from
News Editor Tim O'Connell at
9:30 a.m. (I had gone to sleep
at 5 a.m.) telling me that our
paper had been "cancelled
today due to racism." It
shocked me that anyone would
express their own views by
silencing others.
BRIAN A. GNATT
Arts editor
My Daily memories are not
the countless hours I spend at
420 Maynard St. when I
should be doing my school
work. My memories are more
about the people. The time I
had B-Real from Cypress Hill
pass me the bowl on the band's
tour bus - that was a memory.
But it is more about the people
I rubbed elbows with at the
Daily that made my college
journalism experience more
memorable than drinking free
beer with Tony Bennett. It's the
people who spend their days
and nights writing articles
instead of papers; the people
who read articles for tomor-
row's paper instead of reading
articles for tomorrow's test. We
do it for you, Mr. and Ms.
Reader. I hope you enjoy it,
because I sure did.
JENNIFER HARVEY
Staff reporter
My favorite moment at the
Daily was catching the Rev.
Jesse Jackson's cold during
my interview with him. I was
sitting with him on his
Rainbow Coalition bus and he
was coughing and feverish. I
knew he was contagious, but I
didn't care - I was elated to
be that close to him.
ADRIENNE JANNEY
Editorial page editor
There's no such thing as
an unsigned editorial when
your name is on the mast-
head. The first summer I was
editor, Mary Lou Antieau
called me at 9 a.m., woke me
up, and told me exactly what
she thought of my editorial in
the paper that day. I was a lit-
tle scared of the woman, but
it felt good to know that peo-
ple read us. Besides, it wasn't
half as bad as the day
Michigan Student Assembly
President Fiona Rose tried to
November election
Unabomber undone
GEO walkout
Daily theft with a front-lawn
effigy, newsprint staining
the sky
from which tragedies crashed
Countless hours of daysides,
nightsides, just "hanging"
out.
Some year.
ANDY KNUDSEN
Daily sports writer
One my favorite Daily
memories was a road trip to
Sault Ste. Marie during its rare
no-snow season. While there, I
saw 13 hockey players crowd
into the penalty box, and I
earned more money in two
hours at a casino than I ever
made at the Daily in a month.
But most important, I received
great journalism experience
despite the University's deci-
sion not to teach such classes
anymore. I hope nobody inter-
ested in journalism feels their
only viable option is going to
Michigan State, as one
University administrator sug-
gested.
WILL McCAHILL
Sports editor
John Steinbeck describes
my experience at the Daily
better than I could ever hope
to: "Well, here's your box.
Nearly everything I have is in
it, and it is not full. Pain and
excitement are in it, and feel-
ing good or bad and evil
thoughts and good thoughts
- the pleasure of design and
some despair and the inde-
scribable joy of creation.
"And still the box is not
full."
TIM O'CONNELL
News editor
I will remember most the
Wednesday morning last year
when I arrived at work at 9 a.m.
only to find many of the papers
pilfered and replaced with a
message saying: "The Daily
has been cancelled today due to
racism.' My first thought was,
"What a poorly written flier.'
My second thought was, "Now
I know how Daniel Patrick
Moynihan feels."
GREG PARKER
Weekend, etc. editor
While I'm no Tom
Hayden, I'd say the Daily pre-
sented a second world to me
- a Daily world, where
everyone cares, as opposed to
the daily world, where few
care. I'd never trade being a
part of the former world -
thanks Daily.
ZACHARY RAImi
Editorial page editor
Before I came to the
University, my mother told
me it would be important to
find a "niche" at this large and
impersonal institution. I
began my search at the Daily
four years ago and never
ate education. I will miss it
deeply.
MEGAN SCHIMPF
News editor
Sitting around a table a
few days before the day the
country would elect a presi-
dent and the University would
select a president, the five
news editors tackled a news
puzzle unlike any that had
come before and unlike any
that will ever come again.
How we produced that
paper is the most valuable
memory I will take away from
the Daily. Working together
on that is worth more than our
successes apart.
Through all the long
hours and all the late nights
during the previous year, we
learned to work with each
other. But beyond even that,
we became close enough to
think with each other.
To the four of you, best of
luck in the many paths we
shall take from here.
BARRY SOLLENBERGER
Sports editor
Back in mid-September on
the Big Ten teleconference, I
began to ask Michigan football
coach Lloyd Carr about a par-
ticular play. But before I could
finish, Carr interrupted me.
"That's the play you called
me bonehead on!" he
boomed.
He, of course, was right. I
had chastised him in print just
a couple of days earlier. Only
on this occasion, I had no
response. I was dumbstruck.
Being thundered at by a big-
time college football coach in
front of the nation certainly
isn't my favorite memory of my
four years at the Daily But it's
my most memorable one.
MICHELLE LEE THOMPSON
News editor
It's 5:30 in the morning
and I'm surrounded by the
other editors, photographers
and reporters, drinking cham-
pagne. We had just finished
the best Daily I've ever seen.
We just found out that Lee
Bollinger was the next presi-
dent of the University, and
that Bill Clinton was continu-
ing as president of the nation.
We all wrote, edited and
placed the stories. We did it
together, and it was beautiful.
KATIE WANG
Staff reporter
Not a week passes me by,
when I don't think about the
angry 250 people clamored
outside of the Daily accusing
us of being racist. I remember
feeling torn and confused,
especially being one of only a
handful of minorities on staff.
I think that was one of the
most defining moments for
me as a reporter and as a per-
son, because it was a loud
reminder that the power of the
press may not be as strong as
the power of its readers.
SuUoGTE SBLNG
'It was the best
oftimes ...'
Z ack: Once again, Adrienne, we
find ourselves in front of a blind-
ing computer screen, desperately rac-
ing to meet our deadline. It's hard to
believe we've been doing this for one
year, and what a year it has been.
Adrienne: Zack. You're babbling
again. Get to the
point.
Z: I'm not bab-
bling. I find it
hard to believe
that one year has
passed. More pre-
cisely, it is hard to
imagine how
much has hap-
pened since we
began our jobs as AREN
editorial page edi- ADRIENNE
tors last January. AND ZACK_
A: Specifics.
Z: Well, we began this journey with
an editorial called "The next genera-
tion." In it, we wrote about the impor-
tance of the student voice.
A: The voice of our generation is a
lot different from those of our parents.
See all those funny windows in the
Fleming Building? No, they are not
the consequence of a really tacky
architect. The regents were scared of
our parents. We're not such a rowdy
group. We have to find ways other than
protest to structure our ideals and hold
onto them. So our expression takes a
different form as well.
Z: And, as you'll recall, we have
advocated the power of the press as
one suitable way to create an impor-
tant dialogue. Our first edit said,4
"Student concerns are the highest pri-
ority of this page. For this reason, we
reserve a space for your letters and
viewpoints. Tell us when we're wrong
and when we're right. Tell us some-
thing we don't know. But tell us." And
boy, Adrienne, did they tell us.
A: They told us until Godzilla told
me no one could tell us anymore.
Every time I opened my inbox, I saw
30 messages.
Z: Don't forget about all those view-
points. Students really cared about
many issues from the presidential
search to minority enrollment to
national politics.
A: But they didn't always agree with
us. Not at all.
Z: I think this was most evident on
that fateful spring afternoon this past
April when more than 250 students
protested in front of the Daily. Many4
students were angry at the Daily and
thought us to be racist - both in our
news coverage and editorial commen-
tary.
A: Remember, we sat in the bat cave
and watched? My stomach was in
knots. Still, I'd rather know than not.
I'd rather they tell us, no matter how
uncomfortable it make us.
Z: That day served as an important
reminder to me and my colleagues. Iti
showed us that the Daily has an impor-
tant presence in this community.
Whether you love it or hate it, what the
Daily writes and reports matters.
A: Agreed. I haven't been here all
106 years or anything, but Daily tradi-
tion has been impressed upon me since
I walked into the building.
Z: Hey, you're using passive voice.
A: Sorry. Do you think anyone's
going to read this column?
Z: I will.
A: I'll be too hung over.
Z: Well, you won't be much different
from many of our predecessors.
A: Perhaps we should enlighten our
very confused audience?
Z: Every January, the outgoing edi-
tors of the paper work together to put.
out the final edition. During this night-
side (and before everyone is totally
inebriated), the editors gather in theq
Daily's attic to look through momentos
and messages that previous editors left
in their journeys upstairs.
A: It's sort of a time capsule. We tip-
toe into this cold and sacred space of
our predecessors. And we bring the.
intangible back down with us. EEM,
we left you something. Some things.
Z: It was a fascinating look back at
the paper's remarkable tradition.
A: (Zack was mostly fascinated witr
the fear of falling through.) These arti-
facts are like words from the past.
Z: In a strange, Hillary Clinton-
esque way, I felt like I was communi-
cating with people from the past; I
respect all of these people.
A: I've learned a tremendous
amount from all the editorial page edi-
tors with whom I've worked. From
Steve, I gained a perspective on past
Dailys. From Flint and Sam, I got the
fight and the talent. From James and
Julie, the logic and the skills. From
Zack, the unending support and inspi-
ration. From Emi, hope for the future.
Z: That's very touching, Adrienne,
but we've got work to do here.
A= (Sigh.) [ 'm ilust not drunk enoh
01
7
01
Bill Clinton will deliver his fifth State of
the Union Address on Tuesday
evening,' giving himself yet another oppor-
tunity to share his vision for America.
While most Americans are familiar with his
themes - building bridges, personal
responsibility and deficit reduction -
many observers have begun to question the
vision of the Democratic Party. In his cam-
paign for re-election last year, Clinton co-
opted many traditional Republican posi-
tions - many of which directly contradict-
ed Democratic ideals. Without the con-
straints of another re-election campaign,
Clinton should seize the next four years to
redefine the Democratic Party.
Since the Republicans took over
Congress in 1994, Clinton has moved to the
right on many issues. For example, he
signed an unconscionable welfare law -
one that may toss millions of innocent chil-
dren further into the throes of poverty. In
addition, some of Clinton's crime legisla-
tion expanded the death penalty and tram-
pled civil liberties, betraying the traditional
liberal stances. And, in perhaps his most
vicious assault on civil liberties, Clinton
signed the Defense of Marriage Act, an act
to outlaw same-sex marriage.
In the process of reinventing himself,
Clinton at times seemed to forget about the
Democrats; but soon Clinton will fade from
cies need government assistance. For exam-
ple, with spiraling tuition costs, college stu-
dents rely on federal financial aid to help
fund their educations. Although students do
not have strong lobbying presence, their
cause is no less important. Democrats are
the party to protect student aid.
Republicans last year tried to scale back
the growth of Medicare sharply. Clinton, to
his credit, called the GOP on its plan, and
he positioned himself and the Democrats as
protectors of the program. Now, they must
seize the advantage and develop a reason-
able and effective plan to keep the program
solvent well into the 21st century. Clinton
and his party also must lead the charge to
reform Social Security, another massive
program near bankruptcy. Democrats would
be wise to reach out to the GOP to create
bipartisan legislation - but whatever hap-
pens, Democrats must not betray these vital
programs.
In the 1960s, the Democratic Party
linked its fortune with Martin Luther King
Jr. and the civil rights movement. Since
then, Democrats have been most closely
aligned with racial justice issues. Clinton
has articulated the need to pay attention to
the struggle for racial equality; for example,
he is a strong supporter of affirmative
action. The party's commitment to a more
just society is a central tenet to carry for-