4A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 27, 1997
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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
Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of the Dailys editorial board. All
other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily.
FROM THE DAILY
Second ti
Repackaging does not
own but not yet out for the count, the
University's community service van-
guard again placed an item on the March
Michigan Student Assembly election ballot.
The $1 fee increase would go to UM.Serve,
Project Serve's new moniker, for further
disbursement to other campus community
service groups. Last fall, students defeated
a similar ballot proposal asking for $1.50
fee increase. In order to get a fee increase
or the ballot without assembly approval,
UM:Serve collected 1,159 signatures.
Wie community service programs are
inWprtant and deserve support, their fund-
in should come from MSA's Budget
Prt nties Committee, the University, or
program participants - not students who
do not participate in the programs.
Carmen Tomshack, a Campus Programs
Leadership Team member, stated that the
new proposal is more concise than its earli-
er counterpart. It uses the same structure to
handle the money and essentially serves the
same group of organizations. The only sig-
nificant difference lies in the size of the fee
increase - it is down to $1 this semester.
The proposal is another stab at getting an
already-rejected idea to come to fruition.
Stients should again defeat the proposal.
ZA 13-member committee, under the
gu sof UM.Serve, would manage the fee
reV ne - making the committee into a
cle finghouse for student and University
community service groups. BPC already
serv as a centralized hub for funding stu-
denfgroups - creating another would be
counterproductive and trounce over BPC's
jurdiction. The proposal would allow
UM.Serve to usurp some of BPC's power. A
A coi
FDA approval should
he Food and Drug Administration
declared Monday that high doses of
certan standard birth control pills are a safe
and effective way to prevent pregnancy
when used as "morning after" pills follow-
ing unprotected sex. "The best-kept contra-
ceptive secret is no longer a secret," FDA
Conmissioner David Kessler said. The
FOA was slow in approving the option -
European women have successfully used
the pill for years. However, while a valuable
option for crises, the pill is not perfect. It is
not an alternative to unprotected sex - the
pill will not prevent the spread of sexually
transmitted diseases.
While a leap for women's health and
reproductive rights, some companies won't
reveal dosage levels. Fear of litigation and
political and social pressures have kept
many U.S. pharmaceutical companies wary
of promoting or seeking approval for the
procedure. As a result, many doctors do not
kiow which pills work best for emergency
contraception, or at what doses. Women
have a right to information that will enable
them to address their health concerns.
Pennsylvania-based Wyeth-Ayerst
Laboratories said that it would not release
"morning after" dosage information for its
birth . control pills because it feared that
telling its customers of the regimen would
make the company subject to lawsuits.
Pharmaceutical companies should release
the "morning after" dosage levels for their
pills.. The FDA decided against requiring
them to release dosage information, but
without it, women may be in danger.
Because the word is out that taking multiple
birth control pills within 72 hours of unpro-
NOTABLE QUOTABLE,
'I believe we can now honestly write the final chapter of
this sorry period of the Second World War.'
- World Jewish Restitution President Edgar Bronfman, hailing a humanitarian
fund established by the Swiss government for Holocaust survivors
YU K KUNIYUKI .R...ER
tr ''Ltcore S 1vb6or E HT
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1"N'5 uo r A J a4t,5eA4Es 70 D C C S tv Y
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
change groups' intent
studentwide fee increase should go to BPC
to help the greatest number of student
groups.
Evading existing funding mechanisms
by establishing a fee whose scope helps a
small number of student groups sets a bad
precedent. In the future, student groups that
are dissatisfied with their BPC allocation,
or refuse to hold fundraising events could
also get their names on the ballot - elimi-
nating BPC's purpose and power altogether.
Student groups in need of financial
assistance can apply to BPC for help.
Community service groups such as the
Black Volunteer Network, one of the last
proposal's beneficiaries, are a great
attribute to the University community.
However, they should not have a separate
committee and fund for their sole use.
UM. Serve offers many valuable commu-
nity service activities and contacts to the
University community. However, UM.Serve
falls under the jurisdiction of the
University's Division of Student Affairs.
Like all other University programs and
departments, UM.Serve can appeal to the
administration directly for funding. It
should not resort to taxing students who
already face burdensome tuition bills.
Student participation in programs that
give back to the community is important.
Nonetheless, students face too many other
financial drains and should not have to pay
for programs in which only a small number,
take part. There are other options open to
student groups on campus - alternative
options could provide funding for the pro-
grams and save students money at the same
time.
oe move
spur information flow
usage could have serious physical and psy-
chological ramifications. At the very least,
women considering the "morning after" pill
should seek their doctor's guidelines for
usage, if not complete supervision.
It is socially irresponsible to give public
access to medical information and then not
give them the ability to use the information
- and the pills -- as safely as possible. A
Wyeth-Ayerst spokesperson said that the
company does not support the need for
American women to have more contracep-
tive choices. However, the choice already
exists. If their customers' health is not
incentive enough to divulge the informa-
tion, perhaps economics will sway them;
women may turn to manufacturers who
have a more active interest in their safety
and well being..
Studies have shown that the "morning
after" method is about 75 percent effective in
preventing pregnancy; reproductive experts
have predicted it could prevent as many as
1.7 million unwanted pregnancies and
800,000 abortions annually. Because it is
taken "after the fact," it is technically not a
contraceptive. Nor is it a method women will
want to frequently employ: Side effects of
the method can include vomiting and
extreme nausea. Irresponsibility could
emerge as a social side effect - the pills
should not be an excuse not to use contra-
ceptives in the first place. The "morning
after" dosage does nothing to prevent HIV or
other STDs. The pills are a good option for
emergency cases, such as when contracep-
tion fails, or for rape survivors.
While America should celebrate the FDA
approval and progress in women's health
Taub's critics
betray ideals
TO THE DAILY:
I was disappointed to find
that in the Feb. 24th issue
there were four letters repri-
manding David Taub
("Campus Jews should reject
Half-Shekel drive,"2/20/97)
but there was none to support
him. I haven't any idea why
this was the case; perhaps no
one felt inclined to voice any
semblance of appreciation, if
not sympathy, for his argu-
ment. I would like to main-
tain, as it were, an objective
stance in approaching this
debate, although I myself am
Jewish and champion the
intentions of the campaign.
As Sam Goodstein wrote
in his column ("The Half-
Shekel drive: Because every
one counts" 2/18/97): "This
is about ... grappling with the
question of what it means to
be Jewish." But, for all intents
and purposes, those who have
publically denounced Taub
have categorically and hastily
dismissed his argument with-
out having ventured to dis-
cern any underlying merits.
Yet even if all his contentions
were necessarily wrong - of
course none of us is so sure
of himself and his beliefs to
make such an assertion -
would not it nevertheless be
imperative that we applaud
his courage to go against the
grain despite the prospect of
public censure? To articulate
an idea that is to others so
unpalatable and unpopular?
For isn't this the stuff on
which Jewish identity is
founded - free thinking? Is
it not we who have stood out
among the majority, not suc-
cumbing to conform to the
crowd? (Hence the paradox of
non-conformity by means of
conformity.) If indeed this be
true, surely then, we would
think that his efforts epito-
mize the Jewish tradition.
I would concede that Taub
has been a bit careless - and
himself a little categoric -
in his rhetoric. But need one
wear a pin to feel Jewish? As
the campaign brochure itself
reads: " We can all be proud
of and true to who and what
we are without building walls
to shut other people out ..."
Yes. Hey, I'm not disposed to
agree with Taub's statements.
But neither was he with
yours, Is his voice then to be
suffocated? For hasn't he,
without wearing a pin, exem-
plified "what it means to be
Jewish" considerably more
successfully than have we?
ROBERT SHAFTON
LSA SENIOR
Partisan
..w w u. w . . - -
would lead an individual to
act in a manner like which
Kirk is accused. Deneweth's
attempt to place tired politi-
cal rhetoric in a letter pur-
porting to comment on Kirk's
actions is inappropriate.
JAMES KOACS
RC SENIOR
Rose is
committed
beyond MSA
TO THE DAILY:
Yes, Fiona Rose could
now buy a planner on close-
out at Borders, as suggested
("MSA should not foot
Rose's bills," 2/25/97), but it
is nearly March.
Fiona takes notes for deaf
and hard of hearing students
in addition to her regular hec-'
tic schedule. I offered to pay
for the planner to ease the
criticism, but she said she felt
it was a fair expense and rec-
ommended I donate the
money to the "Open-
Captioned Movie Project" for
deaf students.
JOAN SMITH
COORDINATOR, SERVICES
FOR DEAF STUDENTS
CRs face
unfair scrutiny
To THE DAILY:
With all the recent cover-
age of the internal affairs of
the College Republicans, it
seems to me that there are
many misconceptions about
the actions of the executive
board. The executive board
impeached Nick Kirk
because he misrepresented
the College Republicans and
usurped power from other
executive officers.
Some have alleged that
this is a vendetta against
Kirk, but that could not be
farther from the truth. The
truth is, Kirk has not repre-
sented the high standards that
are to be expected of the
head of the College
Republicans. Kirk's support-
ers are willing to overlook
his actions because he got the
job done. But what good is
the finished product if to get
there you lose all respectabil-
ity in the process?
Republicans on this campus
have a hard enough time get-
ting their point across without
being associated with corrup-
tion and totalitarianism.
But perhaps I'm wrong,
perhaps people are willing to
overlook Kirk's actions. But
the nunibers do not support
that. At the beginning of the
year, more than 140 people
message on campus.
MATTHEW KOSSEN
LSA SOPHOMORE
Film review
divulged
plot climax
TO THE DAILY:
The Daily's movie review
of the "The Empire Strikes
Back" ("'Empire strikes
again," 2/24/97) was one of
the best I have ever read.
However, it contained one
glaring flaw: In the future,
please refrain from giving
away the climax of the story
before others have had a
chance to view the movie. I
saw "Star Wars" last month
and was looking forward to
seeing "Empire" But now
that I already know the true
identity of Darth Vader, my
enjoyment will surely be
compromised.
JEFFREY KEATING
LSA SENIOR
Amendment
demonstrates
poor policy
TO THE DAILY:
It appears as if Bill
Clinton might have defeated
another bipartisan balanced
budget amendment proposal.
By demagoguing the issue,
he has managed to sway
many senators to weigh their
party loyalties heavier than
their civil duties.
Comrade Bill and his
politburo have devised anoth-
er scheme to manipulate the
American public against
good public policy. He cites a
CRS report that states that
the Social Security
Administration wouldn't be
able to spend more than it
takes in given the passage of
this amendment.
I realize that SSA is 20
percent of the total budget,
but it is not the only entitle-
ment - or for that matter,
progressive program - that
the government runs. So, it
naturally follows that SSA
would be limited to total U.S.
receipts.
This is an obvious, or at
least it seems an obvious,
ploy to revoke public favor
away from government fiscal
responsibility. He says all
that needs to be done to bal-
ance the budget is his signa-
ture and Congress' vote.
However, the U.S. govern-
ment has proven over the last
60 years that it prefers red
ink to black ink (Unlike Gov.
John Engler, who balanced
'Singled Out 'i
the single worst
show on TV
T he premise of MTV's dating/game
show "Singled Out" sounds inno-
cent and cute. A young person works
through a series of stages to get fixed
up with a member of the opposite s
Then, the newly formed couple go
on an all-expense-paid date and, pre-
sumably, they get
to know each
other better.
While this may
sound like fairy-
tale romance,
"Singled Out" is
one of the most
depressing and
disgusting pro-
grams on televi-
sion today. It
glamorizes super- ZRAIM
ficial relationships RM&
and appeals to our SMOE
generation's low- MiRRO
est common denominator of inteli-
gen ce.
The show is broadcast every week-
night at 7 and 1I1 p.m. on MTV. B'
times are perfect for college studej
-- few people study before 7 and after
1. The show-has become quite popu-
lar among high school and college
students, and the ratings continue to
rise.
The show consists of two parts; the
first features a female seeking a male,
and the second has the opposite. For
example, a young man sits with his
back to tons of screaming, scantily
dressed young women. One of 9
hosts has him pick a category about
female bodies, dating habits or related
subjects. The man says which quality,
from among the two choices, he
prefers in his dates. All the females
who fall into the other category must
leave the stage.
Then, when only a few women are
left, the hosts have them perform fool-
females are cheerleaders and they h
to yell the guy's name. The young ma
chooses three who will then partici-
pate in the final round. Here, the hosts
ask the ladies a series of questions
about the guy. For example, the cate-
gory might be "What is better: Cancel
a date or stand' up a woman?" The
females then choose what they think
the guy thinks (although they don't
know him). Whoever answers the most
questions correctly in the short
amount of time gets to go on a dae
with the young man.
After watching an entire episode,
don't be surprised if several of your
brain cells have died.
I first watched "Singled Out" last
summer when its popularity was grow-
ing. After viewing a few episodes, J
found myself depressed. I do not con'
demn this show because the partick2
pants look like they are having *
while I'm stuck in a stuffy librar.
reading torturous texts. I do not fau t
the contestants for being attractive adn
flirtatious. Instead, I become:
depressed because the show's host
conduct themselves like toddlers, th
actions debase human relations and
the entire program ignores intelli-
gence._
Jenny McCarthy, one of the hosts
(who has recently left the progra
used to parade around the set bobb
up and down, yelling foolish things
and making faces that most three
year-olds have outgrown. Her behaV
ior is so immature that she makes an
un-housebroken puppy look like .
saint. Immediately, her idiotic behav-
ior sends a clear message that the -
show is immature. When dating -
and by extension, sex - are its sub-
jects, MTV is doing its viewers a
service by portraying relationships
this fashion.
The way the. contestants get paired
together is even more depressing. For
example, a female contestant can pick
a category like "hair" and say she likes
blondes better than brunettes. Then,
later in the show, the males are sup-
posed to guess things about her. For
instance, does she like to wear mini-
skirts or slacks on a first date? T
young men have never met the fem
yet they are supposed to infer personal
things about her.
Moreover, the couple never interacts
except at the very end where they give
each other a forced hug and then begin
to dance to hideous music. The show
does not bring the couple back to tell
about their date.
Essentially, "Singled Out" is not
interested in fostering open, comnu
nicative relationships; instead, it gl
orizes the superficial "hook-up" and,
arguably, legitimizes this behavior.j
Such a scene is depressing.
While "Singled Out" does not have:
to be a Generation X version of
"TannnrAv" ~cnmp ntpl lprt, l nntpnt