4A - The Michigan Daily - Monday, April 7, 1997

Ulie Ftimgatig

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
'Justice Is not negotiable.'
- Latinas y Latinos Unidos for Change member Nora Salas, during last
Thursday's welcome reception for University President Lee Bollinger
JiM LASSER HARP 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
Welcome wagon
LUCha denied other students' rights to speak

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O n Thursday, members of Latinas y
Latinos Unidos for Change interrupt-
ed a welcome reception for University
President Lee Bollinger and student leaders
with pounding drums and angry protest,
demanding a personal meeting with
Bollinger to address Latino/a concerns on
campus. The president agreed to a meeting
this week, but when he refused to give a
specific time and place, the protest contin-
ued and the reception was cut short.
LUCha's concerns are valid and the
University must give more attention to per-
tinent Latino/a issues. However, LUCha's
disruption at the reception was detrimental
to other student groups on campus, elimi-
nating an opportunity for Bollinger to
establish ties with other student leaders and
quelling students' opportunity to speak with
the president.
' Bollinger designed the reception to be
an open forum to discuss student leaders'
concerns. The forum was an ideal venue for
LUCha to bring forth its list of 16 demands
they feel are necessary "to fulfill the
University's commitment to be a diverse,
multi-cultural institution." Instead they
chose to protest, blaming Bollinger for
problems that he did not cause - and, in
his brief tenure, has not yet had the time to
address.
There is certainly a place for student
activism on campus and protest is often one
of the best ways to get results. However, at
the reception, Bollinger intended to discuss
a variety of issues with a wide array of stu-
dents. By not expressing their concerns
within the framework of the reception,
LUCha unjustly prevented other student
groups from an opportunity to discuss their
ideas with Bollinger.
In spite of its inappropriateness, the

protest does highlight the need for
Bollinger to be accessible to students.
Protests often occur because people feel
that it is the only way to get their message
across to their intended audience. It is quite
possible LUCha had this same rationale -
after all, they did achieve their aim of a
meeting with the president. There is a way
to make sure that students feel that they
have ample opportunity to connect with the
University administration: Bollinger should
hold regular office hours to meet with stu-
dents.
LUCha's ill-timed protest should not
marginalize legitimate Latino/a concerns in
the eyes of University students or adminis-
trators. This year, the University admitted
fewer Latino/a students. This disturbing sta-
tistic reflects a need for admissions officers
to increase minority recruiting efforts and
especially within the Latino/a population.
Admissions is not the singular issue --
to keep retention rates high, the University
should work harder to make the environ-
ment more friendly to Latino/a students.
One way of doing so is to establish addi-
tional Latino/a lounges and cultural centers.
Currently, the only Latino/a lounge is in
Mosher-Jordan; securing meeting space is
often difficult on campus and these lounges
provide a welcoming locale for Latino/a
groups to meet.
Bollinger's new presidency provides a
rare opportunity to change the nature of the
relationship between the president and the
student body. If Bollinger makes himself
available to listen to and act upon student
concerns, he could make a profound differ-
ence. A more responsive administration
could greatly increase diversity and the
quality of the University's academic and
social environment.

L~lTERS TO TEE EDITO
as
IETTRS TO THE EDITrOR

Silver anniversary
Ann Arbor and LGBPO celebrate activism

E ver since the explosion of gay and les-
bian activism during the '70s, Ann
Arbor has played an increasingly vital and
colorful role in the development of commu-
nity resources and equal opportunity for the
gay, lesbian and bisexual community. This
past weekend honored that activism and
offered a bit of its own. The University held
a weekend-long symposium to honor the
25th anniversary of the University's
Lesbian Gay Bisexual Programs Office. In
addition to celebrating LGBPO's involve-
ment within the gay and lesbian communi-
ty, the weekend's events also showcased
Ann Arbor as a pioneering place for gay and
lesbian rights.
The symposium offered events such as
lectures from distinguished alumni and
guests, a presentation about gay images
from the 1950s to present the day and a
final dance in the Michigan League. One of
the symposium's highlights was a presenta-
tion given by historian Tim Retzloff. His
multimedia lecture on the history of gays
and lesbians in the Ann Arbor area repre-
sented a cross-section of the community's
groundbreaking activism.
As Retzloff's presentation made clear,
Ann Arbor and the University have several
notable firsts in the gay and lesbian com-
munity. For example, Ann Arbor was one of
the first cities in the nation to make a law
forbidding discrimination on the basis of
sexual orientation and to form a chapter of
the Gay Liberation Front. A little closer to
home is the fact that the University was the

and is going strong.
LGBPO has always had - and will con-
tinue to have - a compelling presence on
campus. From hosting speakers dedicated to
improving the atmosphere for gays, lesbians
and bisexuals on campus, to its close work
with the Queer Unity Project, LGBPO plays
a vital role in encouraging an environment
of safety and acceptance. LGBPO also
works closely with Ann Arbor's chapter of
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians
and Gays. The Ann Arbor's PFLAG chapter
is one of the largest and most active in the
nation. When the Ann Arbor chapter of
PFLAG was created in 1982, its founding
members had the benefit of LGBPO's expe-
rience, knowledge and support.
In a city like Ann Arbor, where an institu-
tion like the University attracts people from
all over the world, organizations such as
LGBPO are indispensable. Amid conserva-
tive politicians' angry and ignorant rhetoric
regarding gay rights, LGBPO has stood
strong against all types of discrimination for
the past 25 years. It offers the University's
gay, lesbian and bisexual population a safe
haven and a place for guaranteed acceptance.
While attitudes about gays and lesbians
have changed for the better since the '50s
and '60s, there is still work ahead. Anti-gay
sentiments exist in many forms, from local
prejudices to national legislation. However,
through its residents' dedication and
activism, Ann Arbor is a place that creates
and encourages equal opportunity. Through
organizations such as the University's

Don't blame
all problems
on Bollinger
To THE DAILY:
Am I the only student on
this campus who appreciates
our new president? No one
seems to acknowledge all of
the problems President
Bollinger has already faced.
He inherited the basketball
scandal, was crucified for a
misquote in the New York
Times and was blamed for
single-handedly ignoring the
concerns of the University's
Latino community. What a
way to start a new presidency.
Maybe in our society of
leaders being coupled with
financial and sexual scandals,
we have become inherently
pessimistic towards authority
figures. However, just listen-
ing to Bollinger speak about
the University for only a few
minutes makes you realize
his admiration for the
University and his respect for
the student body.
I found the incident on
Thursday to be the crowning
irony. A welcoming reception
was held in his honor. A large
portion of student leaders
attended to show support,
and the man was portrayed as
being the biggest Latino-
oppressing racist on the cam-
pus. Do not misunderstand, I
thought the protest was a
master-stroke for the Latino
community. The protesters
not only got their message to
administrators, but also to
some of the most influential
students on campus. What
upset me was the group's
underestimation of Bollinger.
After the group listed its
demands and made its point,
Bollinger agreed to meet with
the members to discuss it fur-
ther. He also commented on
how he admired their activism
and idealism (how ironic, he
found idealism in Ann Arbor).
The group, however, did not
seem to be satisfied.
My point: Bollinger is
one of the good guys.
Activists, by all means, speak
out and talk to him; you can
accomplish your goals with
him. But I want the student
body to remove the stick
from its orifice and give him
the respect he has earned.
JOE McNAMARA
LSA SOPHOMORE
Raimi used
faulty logic
TO THE DAILY:
The striking scent of mar-
ijuana floated over the Diag
on Saturday. While many stu-
dents find Hash Bash to be

has not been proven whether
cannabis is detrimental to a
user's long-term health. He
states that some "experts"
have decided it is. Therefore,
we should keep cannabis ille-
gal. Since when do consenting
adults require "Big Brother"
to hold their hand with regard
to their own health? Most
adults I know do not appreci-
ate being treated as children.
Restricting use of cannabis
simply because its users may
do something to harm others
is not justification for its pro-
hibition. If someone harms
another while under the influ-
ence of a drug, they should
take responsibility for their
actions. Alcohol intoxication
may have the exact same
effects on a person as Raimi
described cannabis having, yet
he doesn't seem to mind the*
fact that alcohol is legal. He
even has the gall to compare
one joint to one glass of beer.
What makes him think a
cannabis user will always
smoke one whole joint (even
if smoking is their preferred
method of ingestion)? Do
cannabis users have less con-
trol over their desired dose
than alcohol consumers?
How much of a threat to
this country are cannabis
users? I work in a bar and see
people get severely intoxicat-
ed every week. Fights are not
uncommon. Alcohol has been
directly attributed to death.
On the other hand, anyone
who knows a cannabis user
knows the likelihood of
aggressiveness coming out
while intoxicated is near nil
and there has never been one
death in recorded history
directly related to cannabis.
The gateway theory is rub-
bish. Sure, probably near 100
percent of heroin users used
cannabis first. However, I'll
wager all those same people
used alcohol before that, but
Raimi doesn't say alcohol is a
gateway to heroin addiction.
Furthermore, crime is not a
result of drugs. It is a result of
the prohibition of drugs.
Drug-related crime was non-
existent until the U.S. govern-
ment made some drugs illegal
and created a black market
demand for them.
There is nothing wrong
with an adult desiring to get
"high." To say otherwise is to
force one's morals down
another's throat. People are
fighting to realize their per-
sonal freedom of choice on
Hash Bash, not to "legalize a
drug."
ALEXANDER OEM ING
LSA SENIOR
Feminists
don't 'get it'
To THE DAILY:

wrong battle," 3/31/97) was
right on when she said
"Somewhere in the midst of
the struggle for equality, fem-
inism lost sight of the goal."
Rather than fighting for
equality, modern feminists
seem mostly to be interested
in special privilege and supe-
riority.
For example, take the
interrelated issues of welfare
and reproductive choice for
women. If one realizes that
most sex is consensual (rec-
ognizing the assertion by
some feminists that all het-
erosexual sex is rape as being
the nonsense that it is), then a
man's choice to become a
parent ends with sexual inter-
course. After intercourse, she
alone controls the parental
destiny of the man. With the
new welfare laws, the mother
is required to establish pater-
nity, a paternity based on one
instance of consensual sex
and on her unilateral deci-
sions after becoming preg-
nant. If he desires to become
a father and she chooses
abortion, the decision is hers.
If he doesn't want to become
a parent and she decides to
keep the child, the man
becomes a parent against his
wishes. And along with new
fatherhood comes the finan-
cial responsibility of child
support, as established by law.
This amounts to nothing less
than involuntary servitude.
The problem is that since
as a society we have become
comfortable with seeing men
as objects rather than people,
the debate has centered
around a woman's right to
choose and man's responsi-
bility to support the children
he fathers. Women are treated
as people (mothers) and men
are treated as objects (wal-
lets), in large part because of
our deeply seated biases.
I personally feel that a
woman has the right to
choose her own destiny, and
that a man has the responsi-
bility to support the children
he fathers. However, the
problem is that the debate is
a one-sided one, driven by
the feminist establishment
status quo, and thus there is
no talk of a man's right to
have control over his own
destiny and a woman's
responsibility to live with
decisions that she alone has
the power to make. It's really
very simple: With women's
rights come responsibility
and with men's responsibili-
ties come their rights.
However, many feminists just
don't seem to "get it'
No wonder women like
Schimpf are embarrassed by
feminism. Strong, able and
dynamic women like her do
not need the false protection
of feminism. The future of
gender equality rests with
women like Schimpf and not
with female supremacists.

The inevitable
truths of the 'U'
p recious few things are certain in
life. Something along the lines of
death, taxes and bizarre cults.
In accordance with the notion that it
is "a different world" from the "real
world," college has a different calen-
dar, a different sense of day and nigh
and a different set of truths to count
on. Can you handle the truths?
A sampling:
When you
wake up late and
almost kill your-
self getting to
class, it will
either be can-
celled, or it will
end 10 minutes
later. And you
will miss what
will be on the
exam either way. MEGAN
People will SCHIMPF
reply to all recip- PRESCRIPTIONS
e n t s.
Incessantly. And then ask to be taken
off a list that only exists because of
themselves.
*You wilfnever find a (legal) parki4
space. Especially if you're in a hurry.
Actually, even if you're not in a hurry.
t Once you find the quickest way to
walk around campus, a construction
company will dig a hole there.
Because, you know, there needs to be a
building there. With lots of fencing.
For the entire four years you are here.
The University takes a year to dig
a hole and a month or two to build the
actual building.
Grass does not exist. It is eith
mud or concrete.
Dorm food is almost preferable to
cooking. At least someone else picks
the menu, cooks and does the dishes.
Even if it is a casserole that retains its
cuboidal shape.
There will be rallies on the Diag for
reasons no one but those protesting
understands. For instance, we should be
outraged that, say, the sky is blue. a
The Fishbowl will be a zoo.
The underdog will win. Witness
the recent evidence: Boston University
in hockey, Arizona in basketball, the
Students' Party.
People who complain about the
Greek system have a close-knit group
of friends with whom they spend most
of their time and share activities and
interests. Membership in this group is
relatively exclusive. Sound familiar?
You will have one class in 180
Chem and never want to set foot in the
room - or the building - again. The
chemists concoct that unique chem-lab
smell just for this purpose.
CRISP will be a pain, even if you
can register by phone from bed. The
CRISP lady will either hang up on
you, cancel the one class you have
waited four years to take, or schedule
the class you need to graduate at
a.m. on the other side of the world.
The stairs are faster.
The weather will reverse itself by
afternoon. And again by night.
Basically, the only reliable thing about
Michigan weather is that it is unreli-
able. Corollary: On a beautiful day,
you will have to be inside.
If you're looking for something to
eat on North Campus, get ready for
Little Caesar's. And tomorrow -
Little Caesar's!
Six buses will come - each one
possible and some you swear they're
making up - before the one you want.
If it's freezing, snowing or raining,
count on the wait doubling.

The only lasting impression Hash
Bash will leave is a huge mess.
The Lurie Bell Tower will not
show you what time it is.
e You have something you're late
for. Or two things.
There are at least three people
with whom you've been meaning to
have lunch since September.
Good teachers never teach easy
classes. But somehow, you don't mind.
Easy classes are so easy, sometimes
they're harder. Because they can't possi-
bly be that simple, right? And if they
are, who needs to work? You end up get-
ting a worse grade than in the hard class
taught by the Golden Apple winner.
The scariest guy in the room wi
walk up to the prettiest girl in the room
and think he has a chance.
As soon as you know what you're
doing after graduation, multiple peo-
ple will ask you why you're going to
class or doing any work. Answer:
Because "I've already gotten into
medical school" is not the paper, blue
book, or report professors are looking
for. And it's rarely one of the multip
choice answers. Trust me.
Procrastination is sweeter than
work. It's also statistically favored -
look at all the things you could do,
compared to the number of assign-
mentsyou have to do. Corollary: It's

I