4A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 13, 1997 ot £rbigbiun &ilg 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan JoSH WHITE Editor in Chief ERIN MARSH Editorial Page Editor NOTABLE QUOTABLE, 'This is a personal and political vendetta.' - MSA Vice President Probir Mehta, after MSA voted Tuesday night to investigate his allocation infiaction 'Kiss-In 'offers. freedom of expression - -{ 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 Atply a soltin w'U' must improve minority recruiting YU K KUNIYUKI Y __ , p> y he University Office of Admissions T faces a particularly trying problem with this year's applicant pool. Across the nation, the number of incoming applica- tions is down from previous years; colleges and-universities must choose from a small- er pool of qualified applicants. Along with the across-the-board drop, the University is seeing a significant decline in minority applicants - the low numbers impede growth in minority representation in future classes. Fewer applicants mean fewer enrolled minority students in upcoming years, jeopardizing the University's sup- pos'ed commitment to diversity. In the future, the University should discover the cause of low application rates and prevent them. from threatening the University's efforts. In' response to the sudden 15-percent drop in minority applicants, the University began contacting minorities who requested applications last year, offering them the option of sending the application and essay separately, delaying essay submission. While increasing minority enrollment is necessary, the University should not have to scraible in a last-ditch effort to meet enrollment precedents. The crisis shows the need for an orga- nized, planned method of attracting minori- ties t6 the University. The University should investigate the reasons behind the unexpect- ed applicant drought and attempt to solve it. If the sources are ascertainable, the University could be in a better position to prevent the problem. University admissions representatives often dedicate most of their recruiting time to 4high schools in economically wealthy communities. However, communities like these send a large number of students to the University anyway. Instead, the University should focus on qualified students in low- income communities that do not normally receive much recruiting attention. By offer- ing these students the opportunity to learn about the University as an option for higher education, diversity and student quality could both be augmented. Cultural and ethnic variance does not equal diversity - there must be an inter- mingling of sects to achieve that goal. Though demographically diverse, the University community often fails to be socially diverse - a problem that makes it difficult to attract minority applicants and to fulfill the goals of diversity. The University should highlight services welcoming minorities and promoting ethnic interaction. The University boasts many such programs, but it should check their effectiveness, considering the recent down- turn in applications. The foundation for a support network is in place, but it must grow to foster an environment conducive to ethnic and racial harmony. The University could improve its unfriendly atmosphere by focusing on social integration and multicul- tural efforts. The low numbers of minorities who want to attend the University cause a seri- ous problem for the cultural variety of the University community's future. Without bending admissions rules, the class of 2001 may lose some of its diversity - a sad change considering recent years' growth of minority representation on campus. A com- prehensive plan is necessary to eliminate repetition of the University's current plight. t t- D~fYa~L LArSrG.. tCErJS o gi-a r F . If jAgL46I &OT 6,E1 our OF 4441) LETTERS TO THE EDITOR e PzasN&As with care State should increase gas tax to fix roads P edestrians and motorists alike are familiar with the obstacles - some- times in the form of vehicle damage or per- sonal injury - of navigating Ann Arbor's broken and pothole-covered roads. It is no secret that a majority of Michigan's local anti intrastate roads are in poor condition. Gv. John Engler and the state Legislature have proposed a variety of solutions to help furnd road repairs. The best of their sugges- tions is a five to seven-cent gas-tax increase onithe current 15-cent per gallon rate. Even with the increase, Michigan's gas tax rate would come in well below the national average and would efficiently supply the fuinds necessary to repair the state's worn roads and bridges. A gas tax increase is not a new idea; state legislators proposed similar remedies last spring. The old plan included an 8-cent per-gallon gas-tax increase, as well as a proposal to terminate the 6-cent discount on diesei fuel for commercial truckers - pri- mary state road abusers. The proposed gas- tax increase would generate millions of dol- lar and the cost to drivers - especially in the day of ride-sharing and carpooling -- would be minimal. State Sen. James Barrymore (D-Adrian), who proposed the 8-cent increase last spring, claimed that Michigan drivers would pay about another 77 cents per gallon under his original proposal - literally pen- nies compared to the cost of new tires, re- alignment, or other road-related vehicle damage. Additional per gallon costs under the newer proposal would amount to even less. The whoo nnose the jgs tax helieve of gas tax revenue than they do now. Engler also maintains that before fuel taxes increase, lawmakers should exhaust every alternative. However, Engler's reasoning is not com- pletely clear. He has also proposed building projects that will have a hefty price tag - and that some legislators consider "frivo- lous." His proposal would allocate $70 mil- lion to road-building projects and a total of $290 million for bridge repair and highway maintenance. Concentrating efforts on expanding the existing road system would be inefficient when the funds could finance repairs on the decaying parts of the current structure. The state's road system has a stur- dy foundation - it needs only attention and repair. While the proposal promises to "increase efficiency of county and local road commissions," there does not appear to be sufficient proposed allocations for local road repair and maintenance. Some legislators say they would prefer to fix roads with funds raised by the state's existing gas tax - but a minor increase in the tax would produce such positive effects for such a low cost to consumers that it should certainly be the choice of action. In addition, Engler's suggestion to create a bipartisan commission to persuade feder- al government to return transportation funds to Michigan could be a waste of time. Very little money the state sends to Washington comes back in the form of transportation funds - there is little reason for that to change. State legislators should not attempt to lobby Washington when so many local road- ways and bridges need immediate attention 'U' should seek quality students TO THE DAILY: This letter is in response to the letter "Trickle-down education is wrong for 'U"' (2/11/97). While I may not agree with certain details of the task force's suggestions, I cannot comprehend how any- one would disagree with its general proposal of actively recruiting "exceptional" stu- dents to the University. It was recently reported that the University, in an effort to bolster minority rep- resentation, is considering allowing minorities to send in their applications late ("Low minority applications raise concerns," 2/11/97). Furthermore, the admissions office places personal calls to minority applicants to inform them of visitation programs. The office does all this in the name of a more diverse, and therefore stronger, education- al atmosphere. Such policies are beneficial and should remain. Now, why can't the same be said for an active role in recruiting prospective stu- dents who have purely excep- tional academic qualifica- tions? Would obtaining these students not also enhance the learning environment? Obviously, it would. In her letter, Fiona Rose states that former University President James Angell would be "troubled" over the policy of "diverting scarce resources to self-aggrandiz- ing recruitment efforts." Would he also be troubled, thei, at diverting scarce resources to the effort to actively recruit minorities, which includes extending application deadlnes? I don't think Angell would be trou- bled at either, as both are essential to and would improve the educational atmosphere of the University. While the University is public, and therefore has cer- tain responsibilities that elite private institutionsdornot, the University is still a premier research university with an exceptional undergraduate reputation. Therefore, it has a respon- sibility to ensure that its pres- tige and level of educational quality are maintained. One way to do that is to actively recruit quality instructors and highly motivated, intelligent students as evidenced by grades and test scores. And if allocating special funds and establishing a special school is essential to attracting such people, then so be it. GREG HILLSON 1 CA lJ nn.cn ai . _n To help contrast the preci- sion of science with the vagueness of the humanities, Hamilton-Wright described how the limit as h' goes to zero of (1+h)(/h) is precise- ly 'e.' He should have stuck with a simpler math problem, like 2 + 2 = 4, because the limit as h' goes to zero of (1+h) raised to the power (1/h), not multiplied by (1/h) as written by Hamilton- Wright, equals e.' For a proof, see p. 378 of "Calculus" by James Stewart (1991). In fact, the limit described by Hamilton- Wright 'does not exist' since the limits from the left' and 'right' sides yield different answers. To my knowledge, even the most vague humani- ties questions have answers of some sort that exist.' Hamilton-Wright, I agree that math problems often have one precise answer. Next time check your math and publish the right answer. You make me and the rest of the science majors at the University look bad. DAVIDJ. NAJARIAN LSA SENIOR Awards show did not meet ex pectat ions TO THE DAILY: As someone who has been a University of Michigan hockey fan since my freshman year (before they won the national title), I have seen some memorable moments. From Senior Skate last year with Hilton, Sakala, Sacka and Halko, to the emergence of Marty Turco in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association his freshman year, to what could be the diehards' favorite moment last year, when Brendan Morrison put the rebound in from Bill Muckalt and sent the campus (and Cincinnati) into a frenzy. I thought that Monday night would be a moment to add to that list, as I knew that Mike Legg would win "Outrageous Play" on the ESPY awards. What I did not expect was him losing the "Play of the Year" award. How many times a year do you see someone run back a kickoff return for a touchdown? A few more times than you see someone pull off a goal like Mike's. Packers fans may say, "that changed the tide of the Super Bowl," to which I respond, "Mike's goal changed the entire NCAA hockey tournament." The other thing that dis- appointed me was the fact that throughout the "Images of the Year" sequence, we Editorial missed pros of SSI cuts TO THE DAILY: I feel that the Daily has misled its readers with its editorial on reform of the federal Supplemental Security Income program ("Unkindest cuts," 2/11/97). The editorial raises the specter of needy children being "gouged" by govern- ment cost-cutters, but it does nothing to raise public aware- ness of the reasons for reforms in the SSI program. Last year, thousands of angry taxpayers contacted their congressional represen- tatives and President Clinton after seeing televised reports of abuses of the SSI program. These reports showed how some poor parents coach their children to fail tests and to feign disabilities in order to qualify for a monthly SSI check. Healthy children were instructed to act "hyperac- tive" or "stupid" when visited by caseworkers. Some fami- lies received more than seven SSI checks a month, in addi- tion to federal and state wel- fare support. These reports found that SSI fraud costs the public billions of dollars every year. I do not know if the reforms proposed by the President will solve this problem while continuing to help needy children. But it seems to me that flexibility in interpreting stricter guide- lines on a case-by-case basis is the only way to identify and reduce fraud in the SSI program. It also seems to me that the Daily should have report- ed these issues while making its impassioned plea to defend the truly needy. JOHN HAWKS RACKHAM 'U' invited to QU P's Kiss-In tomorrow TO THE DAILY: The University of Michigan's Queer Unity Project will again be holding its annual Kiss-In on Friday, Feb. 14, at noon on the Diag on the University's Central campus. All members of the com- munity, regardless of sexual orientation, are welcomed and encouraged to join in the public displays of affection in celebration of freedom that lesbian, gay, bisexuals and and of affection L ast Sunday night just after dark- ness overtook campus and the wind increased its strength and coo ness enn Howard got a painfu reminder of what it means to be a; homosexual in an intolerant world. After shopping at a local conve- nience store, the LSA sophomore was walking on East University Avenue with his b oyfr ie n d Jonathan, when a pair of men insult- ZACHARY M. ed the homosexual RAIMI couple. smo E & Howard said, M R R "We heard one of them whisper under his breath, 'If you're looking for a pair of fags, there they are.. Rebekah Blonshine, who is a le bian, has also experienced harassme because of her sexual orientation. The LSA first-year student said she received prank phone calls and death threats one evening about a month ago. After these calls, Blonshine left her residence hall room for a while. She said,"Icame back to my room and the person had crossed off my rainbow. gay pride flag. They wrote: Where did you go, bitch?"' Such instances of hatred and bigot$ are, unfortunately, common. Both Howard and Blonshine said the harass- ment increases when they are affec-. tionate with their partners in public. Howard, Blonshine and other same- sex couples will face even more cha- lenges on Valentine's Day.; Traditionally, heterosexual couples sojourn around town on the holiday, celebrating their romantic relation- ships and reveling in love Same-se couples who do this will undoubtedly face stares, rude comments and, possi- bly, acts of violence. Queer Unity Project is trying to combat society's decidedly anti-homo- sexual feelings; its members could not have chosen a more appropriate day to hold the fifth annual Kiss-In. At noon tomorrow, QUP is sponsoring the event on the Diag. For one hour. same- sex couples will kiss and act affecio ately toward each other. Also, som individuals will deliver speeches. The Kiss-In routinely attracts a lot of attention as students congregate aroundl the Diag to witness the event. And each year, several students become disgusted. Some critics of the Kiss-In say that homosexual behavior is wrong and immoral and therefore the event should not commence. Others say that they have no proble with the concept of homosexuality, but they do not believe homosexuals should publicly flaunt their sexual ori- entation. I say: to the contrary. The Kiss-In is a crucial event, one that has the power to reshape the community's percep- tions and improve the atmosphere for homosexuals. The Kiss-In brings the issue of homosexuality to the public eye. To often, it is easy for members of thV community -- and society in general - to ignore such issues. Various University offices, such as the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Programs Office, routinely sponsor events to make the community more aware of issues affecting homosexuals. But not enough students attend these events. The Kiss-In is in the middle of campus and is nearly impossible to avoid. One such issue is public affectio Blonshine and Howard said it is impor- tant to show the heterosexual communi- ty that same-sex couples are affection- ate. The Kiss-In is one of the most bla- tant ways for homosexualsto do this. The Kiss-In was created in the activist spirit -and there is no better time to be active. Homosexual rights are coming under heavy assault. For example, late last year, President Clinton signed into law the Defense 9 Marriage Act, which effectively bans gay marriage. Also, last year the state Legislature tried to prevent the University from receiving some state allocations because the University gives benefits to same-sex couples. The Kiss-In is an important opportuni- ty for the homosexual community to actively protest the government's fool- ish moral and provincial vision what constitutes marriage. In the end, the Kiss-In is a way to force this community to confront its feelings regarding homosexuality. If it serves no other purpose, the event will elicit reactions from all who witness it and hear about it.