4 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, March 21, 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
"NOTABLE QUOTABLE,
'I happen to think this generation of
students is outstanding. Obviously
there are many idealistic students.' -
- University President Lee Bollinger, in response to quotes
that appeared in a New York Times story last week
Reality bites:
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
Safety check
U' must aim for continued improvement
0
fraid of going alone to certain places
on or near campus after dark? If so,
you are not alone - 54 percent of the
University community agrees. Yet this rela-
tively high percentage is down 8 percent
from 1989. While the numbers certainly
reflect widespread concern, it is important
to note the significant improvement in the
perception of safety and security on cam-
pus. In the wake of the report, it is crucial
for the University to maintain close tabs on
the Department of Public Safety. It is also
important for the University to continue
their efforts to increase personal safety on
campus, for it is apparent that serious con-
cerns remain.
The Institute for Social Research, at the
request of the University Task Force on
-Campus Safety and Security, recently
released a follow-up survey to their 1989
study. The surveys traced community atti-
tudes, towards campus safety and security
over the past eight years in hopes that the
level of personal safety would increase.
After the ISR survey in 1989 - a year
when DPS heard 164 reports of physical
assault and the Sexual Assault Prevention
-and Awareness Center saw 85 cases of sex-
ual assault - the University decided to
expand DPS. The expansion added officers
who patrol campus and control access to
baildings.
-E-One ISR survey question asked if the
rispondent had ever entered a University
ntilding after normal hours. If they had, the
epondent was asked if University officials
sand employees treated them courteously.
inety-three percent of white respondents
said they perceived courteous treatment,
Y hile only 80 percent of black respondents
s fHelpin
w:Task force solutions n
and 67 percent of Hispanics reported
receiving similar courtesy. Although DPS's
presence may explain the increased level of
personal safety, the University must remedy
infractions of individuals' civil liberties and
rights. In several reported cases, DPS
infringed on these rights in the past; the
University must continue to keep close tabs
on its actions.
Another discrepancy in the survey
results appeared between male and female
responses. While 34 percent of the males
interviewed expressed fear of certain places
on or near campus after dark, 84 percent of
women expressed such fears. In addition,
when asked if there is any place on or near
campus where respondents would be afraid
to go alone during the day, 3 percent of men
and 19 percent of women - up from 17
percent in the 1989 survey - said yes.
While general trends may reflect increased
feelings of personal security, the University
must also explore reasons for the immense
gap between male and female responses.
In tackling the continuing widespread
concern over personal safety, the University
must take action to create a safer environ-
ment. An overwhelming majority of respon-
dents favored more outdoor lighting on
campus. Seventy-six percent of respondents
also favored the University providing more
visible police or security personnel pres-
ence on campus. While 87 percent of the
University community agrees that DPS
makes campus a safer place, the University
must maintain DPS oversight. In doing so,
the University must make certain that DPS
does not violate students' civil liberties, and
ensure that campus is a safe and comfort-
able place for everyone.
Shand
oust come to fruition
ous. Communities dealing with this prob-
lem have been "discussing" solutions for
too long while making few tangible
improvements. The task force now must
take action. Even Olaf Lidums, director of
the Washtenaw County Shelter Association
believes that the subcommittees' recom-
mendations, while positive, only scratch the
surface. Washtenaw County Administrator
Bob Gunzel said that county and city
administrators are looking into ways to
keep the Washtenaw County Task Force on
Homelessness a permanent part of local
government. This step could improve the
task force's legitimacy and overall produc-
I tivity. However, it must
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
T he reality of homelessness is all too
prevalent in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.
One encounters the effects of homelessness
by merely taking a walk through the Diag or
clown South University Avenue. However,
the Washtenaw County Task Force on
Homelessness recently released recommen-
4ations to curb the problem - at least
loally. While the task force and its propos-
ali are steps in the right direction, it needs
t6 move toward more solid commitments
for tangible results.
Last year, the county board of commis-
sioners and the city councils of Ann Arbor
and Ypsilanti created the Task Force on
Pomelessness to investigate
ways of better serving the Homele
area's homeless. The task force Ann
includes many subcommittees, A two-
necessary to investigate specif-
ic community issues, such as funding,
A 'Top 10'
list for 'U'
To THE DAILY:
No. 10. Union Basement
lighting. Brought to you by
the American Foundation for
the Promotion of Braille.
No. 9. Eight cents a
page. When we spend what
we spend to come here, we
should not see a little eight
cents per page sign every
time we print something out.
If you have to raise tuition,
do it. Do not insult students'
intelligence by disguising
tuition raises as printing
charges.
No. 8. DPS. Give little
men and women uniforms
with light blue stripes on the
side, and there is no telling
how important they will feel.
No. 7. Resource alloca-
tion. It would be nice if LSA
students had access to the
same quality of resources
(e.g. computers) as did stu-
dents in richer colleges (e.g.
the business school). We are
people too.
No. 6. Alumni sections.
Put them in the back -
somewhere where they can
sit during the whole game,
talk about the weather and
play bingo in peace.
No. 5. Nike. Why don't
we just rename ourselves
"Nike U?'" We might get
another $200,000!
No. 4. Advising. "Here's
100 handouts, look at them,
figure out a good major.
Have a nice day!"
No. 3. Career Planning
and Placement. "Here's 100
books, look at them, figure
out a good job. Have a nice
life!"
No. 2. Library. We have a
first-rate collection, but not
the staff to maintain it.
No. 1. An administration
with obsessive-compulsive
building disorder. Gotta
build ... gotta build ... gotta
build!
JED FRIEDMAN
LSA SENIOR
Mumia guilty
and should
be executed
To THE DAILY:
Last week, Micah
Holmquist rehashed the same
tired old arguments against
the death penalty that contin-
ue to give liberals the image
that they are bleeding hearts
and whiners ("States should
abolish the death penalty,"
3/12/97). Mumia is a convict-
ed cop killer. As cold-blood-
ed killers, Mumia and those
guilty of murder are deserv-
ing of capital punishment.
Here is why:
Nn I 1 At etrcn rthr
murderers on the streets tak-
ing away the lives of truly
innocent victims.
Do you really want mon-
sters like Richard Allen
Davis or John Wayne Gacy
alive and able to think and
communicate? Would society
be better off if notorious
rapist Ted Bundy was still
alive? The death penalty is
the states' ultimate tool to
prevent horrific crimes. It is
not fair that family of the vic-
tims have to live with the fact
that their loved one is gone,
but the man responsible for
that crime still is alive in a
prison cell.
The reason the death
penalty costs so much is the
numerous appeals made on
behalf of the convicts by
bleeding-heart lawyers. What
would happen if one of these
lawyers were successful and
it turns out after all that the
convict was guilty of the
crime that landed him on
death row?
Get a grip, people. If you
abide by the law and don't
murder anyone, you don't
have to worry about being
executed. The death penalty
is for those who murder with-
out remorse. Like Davis.
Like Mumia.
DAVID TAUB
LSA FIRST-YEAR STUDENT
APA show
celebrates
cultural pride
TO THE DAILY:
When I was in Ann Arbor
last Friday, March 14, I did
not expect to be taken on a
journey celebrating humor,
beauty, history, power,
strength and culture.
However, that is exactly what
happened when I attended the
Gen APA show. It was, in a
word, incredible!
As a Chicana, part of
understanding who I am and
my reality in this world is
understanding other people's
realities. I truly believe that
in order to truly know our-
selves, we must know others.
I liken this process to visiting
people in your neighborhood.
For example, I know my
house (my culture), up and
down, inside and out. I love
my house ... but I could and
should know my neighbor-
hood as well.
The Gen APA show was
like visiting my neighbors.
From beginning to end, I felt
like I was invited into their
home with open arms and
given a tour of not one home
but many homes. That night I
witnessed dance, music, the-
atre, video and song that
expressed history and moder-
nity, comedy and drama,
individuality and collectivity,
nnin ain czncnsa it a ri
miss the same opportunity I
did. She will be attending the
University in the fall and I
will be darned if she stays in
her house as long as I did.
MARISELA MARTINEZ
UNIVERSITY ALUMNA
Advertise
URL for ballot
To THE DAILY:
With the start of the elec-
tions of March 20th, it was
nice to see mention of the
online voting for MSA elec-
tions ("Online ballot conve-
nient for students," 3/19/97).
However, one thing that you
neglected to advertise was
the URL for these sites.
Whenever an article in the
Daily mentions something
online, I immediately scan
the article, looking for the
tell-tale "http" or "@" sym-
bol for e-mail addresses.
Instead, I am told the names
of the pages, but not where to
go. I do know where these
pages are, but I am an experi-
enced user of the University's
Internet site; what about your
average student?
The only reference to the
URL for voting that I saw
was a campaign flyer on a
wall this morning (the second
day of elections) on North
Campus.
Speaking of which, are
we North Campus people
going to be neglected again?
Judging by the lack of cam-
paigning on this side of the
school, the only issue that
appears to be on the ballot is
if the Lurie Bell Tower
should either get a clock or
be torn down, two highly sus-
pect goals by MSA members.
Certainly, some of the
same issues affect us (such as
the hike in the student fee),
so why aren't we told what
these are? The Daily's cover-
age of this election has been
relatively weak. Because of
this, I do not know who the
people are, what the issues
are, or whom to vote for;
hence, I do not plan to vote.
Maybe if the candidates
remember that North Campus
houses a significant number
of the student body, then I
will vote, but not this year.
MICHAEL NEYLON
RACKHAM
Talley is a
poor source
To THE DAILY:
If sports writers are look-
ing to inflame a situation,
Michael Talley can always
provide them with good
quotes ("'U' hires finn to
probe allegations,' 3/18/97).
t :a ;c .- fta A-...ar sih
Life after the 'U'
Al right, so I admit it. I have
become a virtual caricature of
that stereotypical, angst-filled senior
with graduation threatening to sneak
up on her and change her life. And let
me tell you something: It is not pretty.
People I know have gotten themselves
real live not-just-for-summer jo
They are getting location costs
move to different cities to begin their
ascent up the cor-
porate ladder.
People I know are
getting married.
I wish everyone'
all the congratula-.
tions in my heart,
but how on God's
Earth didlget old '
enough to have
working or mar-
ried friends? Sic HEATHER
weeks and count- GORDON
ing until I am a RIDE WITH
bona fide adult, ME
and I am left won-
dering how it happened to me.
Of course, I am convinced that I am
dealing with the impending Earth-
shattering transitions quite well.
fielding the ever-popular questi
about my intentions when I graduateI
sigh exasperatedly, snarl and bear my
teeth, glare at the questioner as though
he just decapitated my favorite aunt
with an ice pick, and inform him that I
do not have the slightest shred of a
clue. I used to think I knew, but all of
a sudden when the choice I had made
started to become real, I got cold feet
and decided rather to just be a mess of
frayed nerve endings with no el#
route to the future. So, instead of hav-
ing a fabulous career awaiting me like
a perfect sunset on an island vista, I
have some gigantic void in the shape
of a harrowing undirected job search
to cheer me up after I move away from
these halcyon days of my youth. Much
better than having my path all mapped
out for me, don't you agree?
Instead of having my own place, I
to live the dream of moving bac
with Mommy and Daddy. I know you
all wish you were me. I know many of
you are me. Four years of answering to
no one, and now I get to re-enter the
Eden-like existence of calling home to
announce my plans of being home for
dinner or detail the specifics of my
intended evening's debaucheries so that
my parents can alert the police when I
turn up missing. "Well, officer, first she
was going to 'foam night' at that clue
the Combat Zone ... oh, what was U
called? "Love and Pain," I think that
was it. And then she said she was going
to sleep in her friend Meatface's trunk
..." Fortunately, my parents are rea-
sonable enough to allow me my free-
dom in a very "don't ask, don't tell"
type of way, but that does not always
cut it when you just want a beer in the
fridge. I know I could quit my pissi
and moaning and make up my mi
Move tothe Yukon and bring religion to
the bears or something, right?
Right. And I will tell you that I am
trying. But it is so hard with all these
markers of The End glaring in my sad
little face. When I parted from every-
one I visited over break, they said with
a menacing grin, "See you at gradua-
tion!" I responded simply by spitting
at them. I look at all the Michigan
paraphernalia I seein all the stores
I realize with a sinking feeling th
can no longer take it for granted.
Pretty soon I will no longer be living
in the land where all clothes, folders,
pens, trash cans and houses have big
'M's on them. Every buffalo wing
from Mr. Spot's is my last buffalo
wing. Every beer I have at Mitch's is
my last beer. How can I exist in a
world undecorated by Michigan pot
holders, vacant of special sauce
totally devoid of any worthwhile b .
How, I ask you, can I go on?
I feel like a bizarre combination of
Ferris Bueller and Jesus (yes, the delu-
sions of grandeur are finally setting
in). Like Ferris, I am nearing gradua-
tion and about to probably never see
again some people that are quite dear
to me. As for Jesus, well, aside from
being your well-loved Friday colum-
nist, I also dabble in stage managing
and this term I -am workingU
MUSKET's production of "Jesus
Christ Superstar" (shameless plug: See
it tonight, tomorrow night, or Sunday
afternoon at the Power Center). Jesus
has some lines like "My time is almost
through / Little left to do" that sum up
how I am feeling right now quite well
(albeit on a much less grandiose scale).
Even this show, which has been my
life for two months, will be-over a
this weekend. Just another marke
how the time is rushing away from me,
every breath another precious second
gone. So, I am doing my best to enjoy
every second I can. I spend so much
time at Mitch's, I think I am getting an
honorary olaaue on my usual seat. I
essness in
Arbor.
part series
become and remain an active
organization.
Another obstacle the task
potential shelter sites and volunteer needs.
Tuesday, all seven subcommittees convened
for the first time to discuss the various
teports' results and proposals. Along with
presenting assessments of the immediate
heed of the homeless and reviewing current
programs and shelters, representatives from
the committees also offered recommenda-
tions they felt should be implemented to
improve the overall shelter association.
These recommendations included more
appropriate staff-to-guest ratios - which
ire currently 3:100 - separating substance
abusers from non-substance abusers in
shelters and more frequent meal distribu-
tion.
While the reports discussed the over-
uxhelmincr neeA n r more shelter mace-
I force faces is the lack of long-
term funding. Realistically, the ideas that
the task force would like to carry out
require money that may not be easily attain-
able. To acquire the necessary funds, local
government must remain supportive -
both politically and financially. Ideally, city
administrators should develop funding
plans on a long-term basis.
A communitywide effort would help
raise funds for improvement and give the
area businesses and individuals a chance to
contribute to the task force's goals.
Improving living conditions for members of
the community is a cause in which every-
one can take an interest. This entails a
strong commitment to the problem of
homelessness.
If there are to be any solutions, recom-
mendatinns or nronosalsc arriedo ut cnm-