4A- The Michigan Daily - Thursday, December 4, 1997 Etiwg ib!n &ilg 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan :x , 9 . .. JOSH WHITE Editor in Chief ERIN MARSH Editorial Page Editor "NOTABLE QUOTABLE, 'We are confident that our admissions policy is constitutional.' --University Law Dean Jeffrey Lehman Medical school teaches the vitality of what lies beneath W e say good-bye to Elizabeth next week. The August moment we chose that name for our cadaver seems much longer ago than just four months. It was when we started as first- year medical stu- dents; it was when we pulled back the sheet for the first time. And there she was. 0 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 Double jeopardy Law School policies fit 'U' mission PURPLE HERRING Q)NEINIIE N (,E r the second time in three months, the . University faces a legal challenge to its affirmative action admissions policy. The Center for Individual Rights, a right-wing political think tank, filed a lawsuit yesterday against the University's Law School, alleging that it violated an applicant's 14th Amendment rights by using race-based pref- erences in admissions decisions. While CIR representatives claim that they want to fight discrimination, their goals negate efforts to increase diversity and equality. The University must stand steadfastly behind its affirmative action policies and continue to support the ideals that contribute so greatly to the University's academic mission. Now more than ever, learning about a wealth of other cultures and backgrounds is important in the job market. By providing a diverse academic environment, the University prepares students for future jobs in a multicul- tural setting. In addition, by bringing in stu- dents with a wide variety of backgrounds, the University helps bring a unique palette of per- spetives into academic discussions. In 1978, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bakke v. California that race could be a con- tributing factor in admissions decisions. In 1948, former University President James Duderstadt implemented the Michigan Mandate, the University's affirmative action program that helped minority enrollment increase from 12.7 percent in 1990 to 25 per- cent this year. Yesterday, CIR announced its new assault on ¢the University's admissions policy. The sui claims that Law School officials dis- critninated against Barbara Grutter '-en they did not grant her admission for this? ca- derhic year. Because the Law School adits such a small number of those who apply, it is forced to reject two-thirds of its appli- cants. But affirmative action should not be blamed for students not getting into the University - it is inherent in the highly competitive nature of law school admis- sions. The center's lawsuit claims that the University used race as an overriding factor in its admissions decisions. In reality, it is a mere portion of the large scheme that offi- cials look at when they admit students. The admissions policies also grant bonus points to children of alumni, students who come from underrepresented geographical areas and students with athletic and leadership abilities. The University's use of race-based factors is pursuant to the dictums estab- lished by the Bakke decision - the court system should dismiss CIR's lawsuit. Other universities that no longer use affir- mative action policies in admissions have seen a severe reduction in the number of minorities in their applicant pools and enrollments. The University of Texas Law School and the University of California system - whose board of regents discontinued all affirmative action policies a year ago - are having trou- ble maintaining any sort of campus diversity. The school's students will not benefit from the diverse experiences that are so important to workers in the multicultural job market. CIR officials view affirmative action as simply reverse discrimination. But if properly implemented, it is much more than that. Decades of legal and de facto racist policies have created a significant obstacle for minori- ties trying to reach high professional goals. Affirmative action gives underrepresented minorities the opportunity to overcome this "glass ceiling" - the University must contin- ue to defend its admissions policies. HE USED TO BE GREEN,__ NoW H JUSTACCEPTS IT. J I ~500 I5OQ r LETTERS TO THE EDITOR warming up U.S., Europe buckle down for a compromise very minute, humans are pumping approximately 48,000 tons of carbon diogide into the atmosphere. The United States - containing less than 5 percent of thej world's population - is responsible for 25 percent of CO2 emissions. CO2, often called a "greenhouse gas," is a leading cause of the greenhouse effect - a phenomenon mast climate scientists believe will spark drastic and devastating climate changes. While carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring gas, its concentration in the atriosphere has been rapidly increasing sine the industrial revolution. The cause of the increase is the use of fossil fuels: oil, cool and gas. The effects of the increase in greenhouse gas emissions are clearly visi- bl4 today. Since 1880, the Earth's average teriperature has risen by .5 to .6 degrees Celsius. This increase in temperature, wlich will continue if emissions continue to .ise, poses a threat to the intricate bal- ance of nature. In an effort to curb global warming, negotiators from 150 nations are meeting in Kybto, Japan, for the Climate Summit, which runs through Dec. 10. The United States - the major contributor of green- hoise gas emissions - is currently plan- niig a proposal to reduce emissions to 1990 leviels by 2012. In 1992, President Clinton plodged to reduce U.S. emissions to such levels by 2000. While conveniently pushing balk the deadline 12 years, the United States also lags behind the commendable proposal by the European Union, which cads for a 15 percent reduction below 1990 levels by 2010. The United States must take a serious step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions by accepting the stricter In 1992, at the environmental summit in Rio de Janeiro, Clinton and Vice President Al Gore accused the Bush administration of being the "lone holdout" and an "obstacle. to progress" when it came to reducing greenhouse gas emissions;:Yet with the pro- posed decrease by the United States, which lags behind Europe's commendable plan, it appears the Clinton administration is the new obstacle. To avoid a commotion from U.S. indus- try, Clinton pushed back his original time frame by eight to 12 years - at which time he will no longer be in office. Clinton claims he would face criticism either way, for setting the bar too low or too high. When it comes to reducing the real threat of global warming, there must be no room for doing too little, which is exactly what the Clinton administration is proposing at Kyoto. While politicians continue to dip their hands into the pockets of big industries - especially gas, coal and oil companies - it will be difficult for the White House to achieve a realistic reduction in the burning of fossil fuels. The money that industry groups put forth to derail emission caps throws a monkey wrench into the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Clinton once called for "a strong American commitment to realistic and binding limits that will significantly reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases." Yet as the Kyoto conference pushes onward, the United States continues to avoid making that strong commitment. As the largest pol- luter in the world, the United States must match the European proposal and prove they are truly committed to reducing global 'U' racial climate is uncomfortable To THE DAILY: The Michigan Mandate has advocated diversity as its underlying premise. It has operated much in the same way as the most traditional approach for increasing diver- sity. This approach adopts a mathematical formula and focuses on increasing the quantity of the racial compo- nents rather than taking a more quality-oriented approach. The University of Michigan cam- pus is viewed as diverse. There exists, however, a serious prob- lem: the quality of the relation- ship among the diverse groups. This campus is very segregat- ed. Not only are many students not open to other cultures there is also discernible tension and animosity. The degraded quality of the relationships is partially a by-product of a common assumption that all people are the same and have the same needs. The truth is that different groups are quite different and have distinct needs and expectations. The traditional approach toward diversity is the expec- tation that the minority groups should compromise their unique values, conform to the behavioral framework set by the majority and dominant group and assimilate in the big melting pot. The Michigan Mandate thus far has simply thrown some colored marbles into the jar, while providing least-effective mechanisms to ease the ever-increasing ten- sion and the current all- encompassing racism by all groups against the others. The quality of the relationships could be augmented not only through cross-cultural educa- tion and communication but also through increasing respect and recognition for other cultures. This can hap- pen by providing mechanisms to teach about why people are different, why they exhibit different behaviors and what these behaviors symbolize. This kind of education would be stimulating and thought- provoking. And it has a greater potential to change one's opinion and level of respect for differences. The University of Michigan administration should have the integrity to re-evaluate the merit of the Michigan Mandate and create an emer- gency task force to study the emotionally charged issue of diversity objectively and in an unbiased fashion. AFSHIN JADIDNOURI LSA SENIOR Thanks for AIDS Day among the most active orga- nizations on campus in com- munity service and overall educational opportunities and with great coverage like this, I am very certain that many will feel inspired to continue this work and hopefully more will get involved. Again thank you and continue your excellent work. NAUMAN AKHTAR LSA JUNIOR Juxtaposition of stories, ad is 'humorous' TO THE DAILY: I was amused by the irony on the back page of three recent issues of the Daily. On Nov.25 you ran two articles from The Washington Post: "No one knows how to stop youth from tobacco use," and "Tobacco companies may get subpoenas." Filling the better part of the remainder of the page was a brightly colored advertisement for Rooster snuff. When I read the Daily Monday, Dec. 1, 1 was almost equally entertained. Once again, you printed two articles pertaining to tobacco, one titled "Federal magistrate looks at tobacco lawsuit papers," and the other with a subheading of "According to a recent study, the five most serious environ- mental threats to children in the United States are lead, air pollution, pesticides, tobacco smoke and contaminated drinking water" The same lurid ad for Rooster snuff was prominently visible in all its yellow-and-green glory. Imagine my amusement yesterday when I turned to the back page and saw not two but three articles on the subject of tobacco, one of which concerned advertising, no less. If the editorial deci- sions to run these articles alongside this advertisement were made consciously, I applaud your sense of humor. NICHOLAS BRATTON LSA JUNIOR Ad reveals 'hypocrisy' To THE DAILY: I am struck by the irony of your half-page display ad for Rooster Snuff chewing tobac- co, which is strategically placed on the same page with an article titled "No one knows how to stop youth from tobacco use. Did you do that on purpose or are you com- pletely clueless? If you want to get young people to stop using tobacco, stop advocat- ing it through advertising! I know tobacco compa- nies will pay big money to magazines think that writing about it is enough. But then they turn around and print huge color ads for tobacco products, featuring attractive models, sandy beaches and other seductive images that convey the message: "Smoking is cool. If you smoke you will attract hot men and sexy women. You will find love. You will live on a beach. You will be happy."~ What a load of crap! And what hypocrisy on the part of the newspapers and maga- zines who do this: spending pages of articles advocating a healthy lifestyle and com- menting on the insidiousness of the tobacco companies agendas, while simultaneous- ly supporting the tobacco giants by accepting their money for ads and giving them a forum to spread their message. I'm disappointed that the Daily has no compunction about continuing this hypocrisy, despite the average age bracket of its readership. I think it's irresponsible to advertise tobacco at all, but it's even more ridiculous to do it on a page where you lament the use of tobacco by youth in an article. I hope you will take seriously your responsibility to your constituency to advo- cate a healthy lifestyle and that you will re-evaluate your policy on tobacco advertise- ments in your newspaper. I also hope you will pay more attention to what you're doing when you lay out your ads. It's embarrassing that an organi- zation that is supposed to reflect Michigan's fine intel- lectual tradition would display such stupidity and hypocrisy in full color on the second- most prominent page of its publication. MARISA BOND UNIVERSITY COMPUTER SYSTEMS CONSULTANT Wiggin's story was on target To THE DAILY: This letter is in response to the recent story you had on the front page about AIDS Awareness Day, Dec.y. I would like to thank you all (and especially Heather Wiggin for writing the story) for having a great front page on Tuesday. It was a good feeling to know that the University united against such a vile dis- ease. I would like to commend everyone involved with the tent and ribbon distribution because they helped spread the message that AIDS is nothing to be taken lightly, and we must be involved with the fight. The pamphlets were quite informa- tive and the ribbons will be constant reminders to all of us She was 67 years old. She died of a stroke. EGN The experi- SCHIMP, ence of anatomy PRESCRIPTIONS lab complete with cadaver, commonly regarded as a rite of initiation into medicine, has for- ever changed the way my class wilJ regard the human body, its compo- nents and its workings. That first cut is time to stand back, take a deep breath and make the first step toward the future. In one instant, a lifelong naivete is lost: Will the fat and fluid really ooze out? Could all her, demons come out? What if she moves? Preposterous, yes. But most people don'tahave a lot of experience cutting into a dead body.II Assign groups of four people to explore the human body during 42 three-hour lab sessions and then watc the evolution from methodical timidity to efficient assuredness. Suddenly the words we stumbled over in August - "down" means at least two direction and every name has 13 syllables - become second nature. Tiny nerves, and arteries appear out of nowhere, while in August they hid - really, T swear - under layers of fat and tissue Suddenly the students who didn't know how to hold a scalpel can imitate, the dissecting techniques of their; instructors. Suddenly we feel accustomed to, skinning and searching - because it's what we do whenswe go to class: Words and phrases that otherwise sound illegal, immoral or simply non-' sensical become logical and normal. " Suddenly, we make inside jokes," from puns to literal takes on figurative meanings. And we make outside jokes' too, because even a medical school mind can appreciate elemen'tary school humor. While it may be gru& some, a sense of humor helps keep, hold of sanity on the day when yoer open the stomach - or somewhere worse. It still smells - and that's not get' ting any better. The bodies still aren't" perfect, because some structures change after death, others change with age and others have been eaten away by disease or surgically removed. We know the bodies by their variations' from implants to cancers to large unidentifiable masses to missing parts. We marvel at the complexity of the human body and wonder why all its intricacies found their way to where they lie. And then we curse evolution for its vendetta against medical stu- dents. Yet we began to feel that even though the volume of material does- n't compare to the lack of time to study it, it's all worth it. As the initi- ation draws to a close, we've learned some of the secrets and seen most of the sights. Some are fascinating, oth- ers are revolting. But they're all part of the magical reason we showed up in August and survived until December. It was intriguing to look at the cadaver and pontificate on what she had used this body for. Then, in the instant you hold her head in your hands, you desperately try to separate those emotions from the stark outline of what you'll be tested on. Snip here, cut there, probe over here. Personality, not body image, defines the person. It's more comfortable that way. Then you don't have to wonder if you are anything more than just an organized collection of muscles; " organs and bones. As we've deco + structed the cadavers to beyond even bare bones, we've begun to construc our own body of medical knowledge, but we've also seen what lies beneath', everyone's skin, including our own. Emotional distance is almost neces- sary to not feel overwhelmed by the privileges you've been accorded as the "science people donate their bodies to. But as you gradually lose that August wonder, the conception of the cadaver as a person also slips away,. and that is dangerous. Wonder is what takes you through; the days when it's easy to forget the 0 0 r 0 r 7 0 I A k 1