4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, March 19, 1997 cbe £gkigu Dglig 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,, 'It is a political football in a game with constantly moving posts.' -Anthony Lake, on why he withdrew his nomination for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency after months of grueling and hostile confirmation hearings JIM LASSEER As T OAST , " -.. 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 Vote Students' Party Nagrant and Savic back a practical platform WHAT HAPPENED D espite the usual semi-annual barrage of banners and flyers, this year's MSA election campaign has not stumbled down the same worn path. This year's campaign saw the rebirth of one of MSA's traditional leaders, the Students' Party. After nearly disappearing from the assembly during the previous two elections, the Students' Party has taken on new members, a new approach to governance and become more issue focused. Recent Students' convert and pres- idential candidate Michael Nagrant and his running mate Olga Savic are certainly the strongest pair to lead MSA. Nagrant has a solid record as an MSA rep- resentative, elected under the Wolverine and Michigan Parties. Savic, who served as an MSA representative from Spring 1995 to Spring 1996 and ran for MSA vice president last year, is no stranger to MSA. Their com- bined assembly experience gives them the institutional knowledge and perspective that are key to a successful term of office. Their platform appears almost stark compared with the flowery overtures of previous Students' Party tickets, but what it lacks in flash, it makes up for in accessibility and focus. While the Students' platform is simple, the candidates set their sights high. First among their goals is streamlining MSA, which encompasses an itemized plan to real- locate 40 percent of the current MSA inter- nal operations budget for student groups, and the creation of a universal student group funding application, which would simplify funding requests to all the University's dis- parate sources. Second is the commitment to expand the role of the student representative on the University Board of Regents to fully utilize the representative's ability to lobby the regents on behalf of student issues. In the past, student representatives have sometimes placed personal agendas above students' needs. Nagrant pledges not to repeat that mistake at the regents table; the student voice demands such assurances. Nagrant also pledges to make a proposal to the regents that would guarantee tuition increases at or below the rate of inflation. A similar program met with great success at Michigan State University and may help keep University tuition in line. The Students' Party has also proposed a non-profit, stu- dent-run coursepack store to produce non- royalty coursepacks and facilitate an exchange program for unchanged coursepa- cks. Through these programs, Nagrant and Savic spell out tangible and achievable pro- grams optimized for direct student impact. The Michigan Party has experience in itsd corner. Presidential candidate Probir Mehta is a tireless worker and could effectively lead MSA. However, the ticket proposed and endorsed problematic ballot questions. The first would circumvent democratic represen- tation on MSA by implementing ex-officio members for large student groups; the sec- ond would allow some groups to avoid BPC by increasing student fees by $1. The Students' Party has the most experi- enced slate of candidates running for repre- sentative seats. School of Natural Resources Rep. Karie Morgan, Rackham Rep. Ray Robb and LSA Reps. Erin Carey and Andy Schor are among the assembly's hardest workers, most prominent student advocates and have earned re-election. The practicality of the Students' Party's plans - and the direct benefit students stand to gain - make it the best choice. Vote Students' Party. F THE ??ESIDENT EVER ASKS YOU kWHAT YOU) WANT TO fEAT, TPON'T.SAY ("CHIN r, Independents Jessica Curtin President Nikita Little Vice President Lewis Rosenberg LSA Ferris Hussein LSA' Aaron Freilich LSA Dale Winling LSA William QB Nicholson LSA Amer Zahr LSA Tej Shah Engineering Jon Malkovich Engineering Aaron Marx Engineering Matt Lafferty Art and Design Michigan Party Probir Mehta President Dan Serota Vice President Kamau Peters LSA Michele Menuck LSA vamsi Bonthala LSA Mehul Madia USA Rebecca Rosenthal LSA Jason Korb LSA Ryan Friedrichs LSA Hilary Rothberg LSA Heidi Lubin LSA Genna Solomon Art and Design Karen Fauman Medicine Irfan Murtuza Business Scott Siftn Law Russ Abrutyn Law Tamyra Rhodes Rackham Neel Chokshl Engineering Martin Lee Engineering Students' Party Mike Nagrant President Olga Savic Vice President Diana Econom LSA Trent Thompson LSA Erin Carey LSA David Singer LSA Rachel Schlenker LSA Becky Beamish LSA Rich Kovacik LSA Sireen Reddy LSA Andrew Serowik LSA Duncan Robinson Engineering Justin Wojdacki Engineering Ryan Kelly Business Matt Curin Pharmacy Raymond Robb Rackham Karie Morgan SNRE Mark Trafeli Law Liberty Party Martin Howrylak President. Elizabeth Keslacy Vice President Michael Enright LSA Michelle Williams LSA Boyd Sitt Engineering Dana Hanselmnan SNRE P.O.K.E. Party James Smith President Matthew Tomback vice President Adam Weber LSA Ryan Wolters LSA Sean de Four LSA Martin Cagin LSA Markus Gidlund Engineering Victors Party Jim Riske President Craig Myles Vice President Steve Waterbrook LSA Joshua Kirkpatrick Law Stephanie Windisch Nursing Lydia Yeung Engineering United Rebels Front Pak Man Shuen President Stuart Krein vice President Young Hee Kim LSA Allison Lane LSA R. Ryan Hanley LSA Jay Kwon LSA Marc Lau LSA Anthony King Rackhazn Yusuke Miyashita Engineering Lawrence Siva Engineering Attack ofthe vote-sucking resume packers W ARNING: These words are written with the presupposition that complaining about politics can be done only after examining the candi- dates and the issues. We're looking for critical thinking, not apathy. There is an awful lot about MSA that we do not talk about. What I do hear from candi- dates, members h and boosters is rhetoric and slo- ganism that is trite, dull and repetitive enough to make Walter Mondale look like Huey Long. JAMES All verbs are in MILLER the second person MILL, ON plural: "We must TAP act proactively now to ensure a diverse, healthy, homeopathic environment of holistic healing and wellness to guarantee that every student gets an education that prepares them for the 21st century t eta elyselsm g gets me that really swell summ internship that will finally allow me to get rid of some of my white liberal guilt." All the promises every semester remain the same: Lower tuition, a stu- dent regent, reduced fees, pot in every chicken, the sun, the moon, the stars and a whole bunch of other wonderful things that look great on cheaply Xeroxed flyers on the wall of Mason Hall. Lower tuition? Student regent? These would be lofty goals for even the strongest, most focused organiza- tion on campus. I don't think the cur- rent crop of MSA members could have found a hooker on Bourbon street with a grocery bag full of $50 bills and a Ziploc bag of uncut China White. But the point I'm trying to address is the disparity between what is on c paign posters and what is the meat potatoes of MSA's business. The student voter registration drive was an excellent idea and should be commended. The election information web page and online voting are great ways to serve the students better and should also be encouraged. But it is disheartening to see more of MSA's time consumed with spending our money and less time spent defending us from a political situation that is built to screw us. Folks come up to you with wory requests for money to fund their little slice of campus and you say "yes or "no" I could do that. You dole out money, rather mechanically, and that sort of thing requires almost no money, no politics and very little skill. Any bozo with a Franklin planner could do that. Okay, that last one was a cheap shot. Sorry, Fiona. The $125 for* Franklin planner is a drop in the buck- et at a university this large; it's poba- bly half of what the Assistant Director of Planning and Strategy for The Office of Multicultural Community Resource Education and Awareess spends on catering. Which brings me to my next point. Is MSA totally obsessed With itself? Can you think of one good reason why Probir Mehta giving $500 to a cai organization without going thro the proper parliamentary rigmarole is cause for an investigation? Wouldn't they have gotten the money anyway? It's not like he gave half a grand to Pedophiles for Affordable Child Care. It was just another student organiza- tion that wanted a little enclave tocall its own, which is what we all seem to want, I guess. When an organization this I wastes time, money and newspa r space playing congressmen and stuff- ing their resumes, they cease being a student assembly and become the prom committee. It's like that little plastic steering wheel you give to tod- dlers on long car rides. I don't mind the kid having something to keep him out of everybody's hair. But wheal he starts walking around in a Marlboro racing team jacket and putting S posters on the side of his crib, w crossed the line from cute diversion to dangerous delusion because, yo're not really driving the car! Stop strutting around, get the hell out of the way of the talented men of conscience you already have and stick up for us. If you're going to mince around and play barrister, that's fine. But you have one or two good lads who want to run a tight ship. Let thu, and find some other way to imp s your parents and get dates. MSA has an identity crisis that needs to be resolved immediately.. Are they going to be the well-funded con- science of campus? If this is the case, The candidates speak Parties tell 'U' what to remember at the polls Voluntary funding would legitimize the assembly To THE DAILY: With the elections for the Michigan Student Assembly upon us, I believe that itis necessary to com- ment on a few points of the platform of the Liberty Party. It is a downright tragedy that the University treats mar- ijuana possession and use as a crime. Smoking marijuana hurts absolutely no one and thus it is rather amusing, yet sad, to see the spectacle that the Department of Public Safety puts on for us each year during the Hash Bash. The Liberty Party calls for the eventual decriminalization of mari- juana on campus. The process can start by handling marijuana offenses in the same manner as the City of Ann Arbor: A simple $25 ticket. The Liberty Party is more than a pro-pot party. Indeed, the keystone of the party is our plan to change the funding structure of MSA from one that is mandatory to one that is vol- untary. Back in the early '70s, the student government got its funds through voluntary sources and it worked out quite well. The Liberty Party plan includes a provision for at least 90 percent of the collected monies to actually go to student groups, up from a paltry 50 percent (the current rate). Students will be able to check off the groups that will receive their money, too! We think that this is a great plan, and others should seriously investigate it. There is a great deal more to our plat- form, should you wish more informa- tion, please feel free to e-mail us at liberparty@umich.edu. bell tower to a bookstore on the web. We have pledged to take $35,000 from MSA's wasteful internal operat- ing budget and give it to student groups. We will negotiate with the Briarwood and Showcase theaters to create a student discount. Most of us have it at home, why not here, too? In addition, Craig Myles and Jim Riske, both students in the College of Engineering, will bring a new focus to making real improvements in life on North Campus. One of our proposals, Ann Arbor Project Promise, would bring together student groups, area religious organi- zations and city and state government to help the needy. This umbrella orga- nization could bring new effective- ness to efforts like the homeless shel- ter, food and clothing banks, soup kitchens and so on, while providing the counseling needed to make this a hand up, not a hand out. Finally, we will demand that the administration provide a full public accounting of tuition and dorm costs. We pay $38.30 a lecture here. Why are there lectures with 300 students or more? Why are the dorms more expensive than more spacious off- campus housing, when the University does not pay property taxes and is supposedly non-profit? I ask for your support in this endeavor and for your vote, so that we can make it happen. JIM RISKE CRAIG MYLES VICTORS PARTY Students' Party wants to make a 'real impact' trating on five major issues. Although under our leadership the assembly will still pursue projects focusing on campus safety, environmental issues, academic issues, minority affairs and campus life, we've chosen to concen- trate on ensuring assembly responsi- bility, cutting student costs and solid- ly representing the student voice. Cutting Student Costs Tuition guarantee: We will design and present a proposal to the regents that guarantees that tuition increases will be no higher than the rate of inflation. Coursepack store: Many campus stores overcharge students. To mini- mize student costs, we will develop a non-profit student-run coursepack store to produce non-royalty coursep- acks at cost and provide work study jobs to the university community. Student representation Regent and community relations: We will hold dialogues and reach out to student groups on a weekly basis in order to understand your concerns. We will organize more effective grassroots lobbying of the regents to get those concerns met. MICHAEL NAGRANT OLGA SAViC STUDENTS' PARTY Michigan Party leads 'campus renaissance' TO THE DAILY: The candidacy of Probir Mehta and Dan Serota for MSA Executive Officers represents students' opportu- nity to move forward on real campus issues. been cut. Direct loans and other financial aid have been defended at all levels of government. With a diverse slate of student leaders, Mehta and Serota are poised to lead the Michigan Student Assembly into a campus renaissance - a phase which will protect student well-being by combining fresh ideas with past successes. Under this rubric of "campus renaissance" are issues of campus safety; tuition cost control; parking; health and child care; com- munity outreach; better food on North Campus and the Union and academic excellence. The keys to making real progress on students' concerns are practical experience and dedicated leadership. Mehta and Serota have demonstrated their ability to lead the student body. Let's work together to strengthen campus governance. Elect Probir Mehta, Dan Serota and the Michigan Party to the Michigan Student Assembly. PROBIR MEHTA DAN SEROTA MICHIGAN PARTY URF supports MSA action TO THE DAILY: There are many issues that are advocated by our party. Many of the same issues are also advocated by other parties, but the difference lies in the way we are going to push your causes. Why has MSA, in one gener- ation, gone from a capital-building shaker to a quiet little pussy cat? It is time to say "Let's take a gamble and let's make a change." We are prepared to push for candidates "more of the same s***" Please vote today and tomorrow and tell them you still care. If you want an "industrial revolution" in MSA vote for the United Rebels Front. Do you trust your own power? PAK MAN SHUEN STUART KREIN UNITED REBELS FRONT MSA should build a student action movement TO THE DAILY: The Voice for Black Freedom and Student Power slate candidates want to win seats on MSA so that we can lead students in building a movement that can dramatically transform the University. We want to turn the University into a place that is free of racist, sexist and anti-gay discrimina- tion, where anyone can come to get an education regardless of how much money they have. We also think the University should exist to serve soci- ety as a whole, instead of primarily serving big business interests. Right now, the University is trav- eling in the opposite direction: Tuition goes up and up, as do hous- ing rates, and financial aid is threat- ened. Our campus is becoming increasingly elite, white and homoge- nized and is being closed off to an ever expanding section of society. Attacks against black and minority students, women and gay and lesbian students are increasing, while the University administration either sits on its hands, or more often, plays a role in the attacks.