4- The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, February 19, 1997 UM£4I019u &g 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, 'Iknow one of the Implications of the new law will be that women will be forced to stay in abusive relationships.' - Rita Henley Jensen, columnist for The Chicago Tribune, on the federal welfare reform package, at a University-sponsored panel on welfare and the media JiM LASSE R . . A .R AA 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 No voice without vote Ex-officio student regent is only a first step WF'J.L- TA- E -rWE DEFECToJR fs YOU CAN H-AVE THE IREST. CAZ SAO" The University community has debated the idea of a student representative on the University Board of Regents almost as long as the board has governed the institu- tion. In recent years - thanks to the efforts of Michigan Student Assembly leaders - the regents have allowed MSA presidents to sit at the table and speak on issues as an elected student representative. However, the so-called "student regent" has no vote and students have little or no means to influence the decisions that effect their daily lives. The current efforts to extend the scope of the student regent's position on the board have the interests of the student body at their core. Most of the regents are removed from daily campus happenings and few are involved with students in any significant way. A voting student regent could help connect the regents with campus issues, putting student welfare above partisan poli- tics. LSA Rep. Andy Schor, chair of the stu- dent regents task force, has drawn up a bill for presentation in the Michigan state House. The bill would allow a full student representative to be elected to the board with full voting privileges. Legislatures and voters in other states have seen similar ini- tiatives - Schor has modeled his bill on their successes. Schor hoped that the proposal would see the House floor in the near future, through Rep. John Schwartz (R-Battle Creek), a University alumnus and the chair of the Sub-Committee on Higher Education. Schwartz, who often sponsors bills on the University's behalf, declined to sponsor the bill because he is "uncomfortable with a full vote." Schor is currently lobbying other representatives to introduce the bill to the House and suggests taking other courses of action in the interim. When Schor presents the prospective bill to the regents, making them aware of MSA's efforts, they will likely discuss the issue of an ex-officio representative. The regents should approve such a measure; however, it should in no way settle the issue of a voting student regent. Ex-officio status, while a step in the right direction, would not com- plete the process. Students, as the largest constituency at the University, deserve a voting representative to make their voice heard - and count. Even many of the staunchest opponents to a full student regent support raising the current position to ex-officio status. The regents should vote to make the current stu- dent representative an ex-officio member - giving the student representative increased power to lobby and present issues to the board. University President Lee Bollinger is an ex-officio member and if the student regent position is classified as such, current MSA President Fiona Rose could voice student opinion similar to the way in which the University president voices his. A student voice - backed by voters - would benefit the entire student body. Students registered to vote in Michigan should write to their representatives and make it clear that University students have a right to affect the direction in which the institution travels - and that includes a voting student regent. Students are the ulti- mate purpose and product of the University; a voting student regent has the ability to focus that purpose and hold the rest of the board accountable to the same ends. HEAD. U'r+ L) , NORTH KOREAN COMPROMtS E LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Binding democracy House correctly dismisses term limits bill Term limits may be a popular notion among the American electorate, but they may be more trouble than they are worth. Recognizing that fact last week, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected a proposed constitutional amendment calling for term limits. The amendment, brought to a vote for the second time in three years, failed amidst rancorous debate over the exact terms of the proposal. Even the advo- cacy group "U.S. Term Limits" did not sup- port the bill. Whatever the rationale, Congress made the correct decision in rejecting an unnecessary shackle upon the business of politics. Those supporting term limits continu- ously bring up the specter of "career politi- cians" and their supposed trysts with special interest groups. What they fail to acknowl- edge is the political know-how and ability these long-serving officials bring to Congress. They are people who know how to work in Washington and in state capitals across the nation. Their experience gives them the skills necessary to guide legisla- tion through Congress. A representative who no longer serves his or her constituents has a built-in term limit: an election. Term limits would directly affect the leg- islative process. Gridlock often paralyzes Congress; what legislation gets through often does so through the work of skilled politicians. With term limits, gridlock would continue - term limits cannot remove con- flicting ideologies. It could increase, as new members of Congress, untrained in political give-and-take skills, fail to advance legisla- tion. Another deleterious effect might emerge great asset for lawmakers, gained only through years of service. Reducing public servants to short terms would reduce the weight of tradition in the legislative process. Proponents of term limits com- plain about special interests controlling Congress - but they cannot guarantee that inexperienced politicians can withstand the same temptation. A subtle, hidden cost lurks behind term limits. Currently, some of the "real" power in Washington lies in the hands of congression- al aides. These faceless bureaucrats, who conduct most of the research and develop most of the ideas presented by legislators, also provide a support network for new leg- islators. As newcomers arrive every few years, they would turn to these aides for help, deprived of experienced hands to guide them through the tangles of Capitol politics. If Washington faced constant turnover, unelected congressional aides could wield inordinate power. These hypothetical arguments may come true next year in Lansing, as Michigan's two-year-old term limits law takes effect. More than half of the State House of Representatives will find itself out of jobs after the election in November, including its most influential and respected senior mem- bers. Finding replacements who will capa- bly serve the state may pose an increasing challenge as lawmakers are forcibly retired. In the long run, term limits are an artifi- cial and potentially dangerous restriction on the political system. Beyond the coerced retirement of potentially excellent leaders, term limits reduce voters' choices. Voters have the chance to decide the worthiness of Oscars are not fair rewards TO THE DAILY: This is not so much a response to Ed Sholinsky's letter ("Oscars snub deserv- ing performers," 2/14/97) as it is a commentary to all peo- ple who go around wailing "travesty" this and "miscar- riage of justice" that every year when the Academy Award nominees are announced, and worse, when the recipients are actually awarded. Contrary to what people may believe, or to what the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences wants peo- pIe to believe, no such prize system is an infallible mecha- nism for awarding the most deserving artists and enter- tainers. Rather, the Oscars are doled out by highly partial groups of people who make up the voting population of the Academy, who are not inclined to have even watched the majority of the films for which they are voting. To make a comparison, someone once pointed out that the most successful movies at the Cannes Film Festival are the movies that French people like. We fool ourselves if we imagine that winners are chosen solely on the basis of technical or artis- tic merit and not popularity or personal prejudice. The fact remains that peo- ple have different tastes in movies, and it's the taste of the members of the Academy - and no one else's - that decide the awards. I hated "Lone Star." There is nothing superior about a screenplay whose only novelty is the ability to combine several cliched plot-lines semi-com- petently. In my opinion, that film is an over-long con- trivance masquerading as something artful. And how about Woody Harrelson? "Hey, have you seen my southern accent? You know, I've got a pretty good south- ern accent. You like southern accents'?" You get the idea. It's not as though the Academy Award is an indica- tion of the popularity or longevity of a particular work. Raise your hands, those of you who saw "Gandhi." Now, those of you who saw the movie "Gandhi" also saw it defeated for the Best Picture Academy Award by "E.T." In the end, people - and not little golden statues - decide the worth of a movie and allowing the Academy to dictate or influence your opinions of particular films is silly. If you dislike their choices, do what I do: Ignore them. Maybe they will go would like to address the issue of Michigan Student Assembly's allocation of funds to support an active student group on campus. We strongly feel the issue MSA needs to deal with is the legitimate problem of sup- porting and funding student groups. MSA is supposed to rep- resent all students and affili- ated groups. As a result, stu- dent groups look to MSA for theirsupport - be it for sim- ple advice or funding for pro- grams. What MSA needs to focus on is ensuring that stu- dent groups receive this sup- port all year round. We feel MSA is not living up to their responsibilities to the students in supporting their groups and activities. The fundamental problem is not with one individual or one student group. MSA is more concerned with general bureaucracy than they are with helping student groups. This summer, UAAO attended two or three MSA meetings in order to request funding for an event that was to be held early this past fall. Each time, UAAO was denied the opportunity to simply request for funding because quorum was not met. This severely impeded the organization from function- ing in terms of events to be held this fall. As it stands, all students can face this problem during the spring and summer terms. Because quorum is often not met during these terms, stu- dent groups are unable to apply for any funding from MSA for one-third of the entire year. This specifically puts all the students of the University at a distinct disad- vantage. We would like to see our representatives on MSA using their time more wisely to devise better ways to sup- port students at this University. Rather, what we see occurring is MSA spending a quarter of this entire Winter term dealing with a one-time mistake that has been respon- sibly acknowledged by Probir Mehta. In the past couple of weeks, we have lost sight of the real problem in this situa- tion. It is time that MSA real- izes that the current problem lies with student groups not being able to apply for fund- ing during certain parts of the year and takes action to solve it. PONNI PERUMALSWAMI LSA SENIOR, UAAO ADVOCACY CHAIR Run play reviews prior to closing If this is not enough time to get the piece edited and printed, then attend a dress rehearsal and print it saying that it was a dress rehearsal. PATRICK ELKINS LSA FIRST-YEAR STUDENT Executive MSA officers are 'corrupt and arrogant' To THE DAILY: I have made a point to try and accept the election of Fiona Rose and Probir Mehta as President and Vice President of MSA. Even for- getting the fact that Rose and Mehta are the flag bearers of increased student fees, I can- not remain quiet. Mehta and Rose represent the most extreme example of political corruptness and arrogance. Their very posi- tion on Mehta's misappropri- ations of funds reeks of dic- tatorship not representative leadership. I think all of the members of MSA and the student body need to look at the facts before they excuse Mehta's unethical actions. First, improper allocation of $500eby Mehta was not a "mistake!" This action was a conscious decision. Mehta first determined that a quo- rum could not be established. He then chose to take matters into his own hands and did what he wanted to do. It is clear that this action benefit- ted an organization that he subsequently joined. Second, the money Mehta allocated in full violation of MSA rules and guidelines belongs to the student body. That money comes from the taxation of the student body. Who the hell does Mehta think he is, Robin Hood? We must consider why Rose and Mehta think they should be allowed to unilater- ally allocate funds as they see fit. Rose claims, "1 would have done the same thing." Do the funds MSA collects from the student body belong to Rose or Mehta? No, those funds are not Rose and Mehta's personal bank account. But this attitude seems to explain why Rose and Mehta support higher fees. It is clear that Rose and Mehta see nothing wrong with was was done with the student body's money. That is why Rose and Mehta must now show some real leader- ship and resign from the MSA. Also, Mehta should pay back the improperly allo- Anatomy ofa University class discussion 'C lasses large enough to require discussions tend to be filled with all different types of people. In such an environment, one has the opportunity to see fellow classmates up close and personal and become privy to their innermost intellectual thoughts and personal emotions regarding the sub- ject matter of the class. cs.And it's scary as hell. Honestly. I think you could get a more balanced and level-headed group of people if you took 30 peo- JAMES pie at random MILLER from the West MILLER ON Virginia State Fair TAP and Gun Show. Haven't you ever wondered how the University manages to find such a huge crop of yo-yos for each class and what they do when they're not sitting next to you, doing a crossword puzzle and trying not to get drool on thei shoes? Well, somebody has to. And since I get paid to do this... Let's start off with my favorite: The Nietzsche disciple. Generally, they have a slow, vacant look on their face, apparently weighed down by their giant intellect. Theydhave a lot of stuff scribbled on their backpack and are covered with little pins from hang dog leftist causes that they rabidly support and barely understand. He/she wil usually reek of clove smoke and espresso and have a copy of "Beyond Good and Evil" hanging conspicuous- ly from their pocket, as if to scream "HeyI read complicated books of phi- losophy! I'm smart and all of those guys who beat me up in the eighth grade for painting my nails black are just tools of the establishment, man!" Favorite quote: "Yeah man, that's Just like what Nietzsche says in this boo I'm reading. It's by Nietzsche. He's sayin' that all those Christian weirdos are just sheep, man. He says you just gotta do your own thing, man. You know, like be your own God, or like, Superman, or something. Yeah man. Nietzsche." The Lost Stoner. This guy is easy to spot. A whiff of patchouli and the rustling wool of his Guatemalan sweater will herald his coming. His hair is in the horrid middle stage o dreadlock transformation and looks as if he spent the morning smearing it with rubber cement and putting those little rings in it. Kind of a Timothy Leary Christmas tree.. Favorite quote: None, really. The men of the species usually keep quiet. The women can often be overheard speaking in high, childishly excited voices that come from the joy of being bra-less Something about how they hugged a puppy in the Diag on a sunny day and will now be happy for the rest of the week and might even write a short story about it. Oh, by the way, they just spent their last $50 on a navel ring and are grubbingequarters in front of Stairway to Heaven, but that's okay because they're really cool. Like a Phish show, or something. The Apple Polisher (also known as Bobby Butt-Smoocher). The deadc giveaway of the Apple Polisher is the nod. They nod vigorously to every- thing the professor says, as if having a personal conversation. Often, he/she will have taken at least one other class with the professor and will use this previous relationships to foster a mis- placed sense of intimacy with them. Favorite quote: Given the fact that they have such a close relationship with the professor, they are given to addressin them by their first name, in that grat- ing, nose-first way that raises the hackles on the back of your neck. They make frequent comments like: "Well, Robert, my reading of Joyce here is that all of Western civilization is con- structed upon the supremacy of the phallus. I mean look, even the book itself is shaped like a penis, if you roll it up and look at it right. See, I'm an expert on the phallocracy because I leq the girls at the NOW meeting cut my hair. I'vesbeen to three whole Women's Studies seminars, so I know what's good for all women.' De facto Urban Outfitter employ- ees. Just look for a crossword puzzle. These are the ones (girls for the most part) who would rather be anywhere else but class. Their eyes move about the room nervously. They shift their clogs under the desk in boredom. I asked a direct question they will stare blankly and repeat the question back to the GSI, rephrased with a few hundred "likes." Most of the time they travel with a partner (because obviously, nothing is good if your friends don't 1 I 0 0 0 I I.