4A The Megan
T g Monday, January 8, 1997
mtd71§un A' ad
420 Maynard Street
Ann Arbor, Ml 48109
Edited and marnaged by
students at the a
University of Michigan
ABLE QUOTABLE ,
hng out to as many people as possible ..those
and off, to explain clearly and as fuIy as possible
fel that a diverse student body is so important.'
Editor ii
ERIN MARs
Editorial PageE
s/cr? Aasor (~i'jl iou.' Vite P rcio,
thi. :('' Un/v ra/tv'a o//r,"''t i ,
"i/n ~c 111/11
Un/es! fleris. n .1 , nsi gned ediforiats r eflci th piin(inli of 1/he maj oriO ity of i/he 1)/5ii i!
A/<I e 01/i r x / /I 01. fir! <i d o0 1 C!!fai/' so//c 1 t/e OpiOn of I t /
FROM THE DAlLY
Holiday season is
' is the eason of term papers, final
AA exams and crowded airports. More
important, it is the season of giving. The hol-
idays are quickly approaching and while stu-
dents celebrate myrial traditions, many feel
the same sense of community. Still, while
students stress oe cchool work, other area
residents worry about having enough
clothes, providing presents for children and
being able to afford a holiday dinner. During
the few weeks before students return home, a
concerted effort should be made to step out-
side the comfortable setting of academia and
volunteer to help those in need.
The holiday season is the busiest time of
year for many charity organizations. Their
support services and fundraising efforts
intensify from Thanksgiviiig through New
Year's. The Salsatioi Army, for example,
depends on contributions during the holidays
to sustain its operations throughout the year.
If goals are not met during these winter
months, then cuts in charitable services
would be needed.
Many local and University-based organi-
zations host a wide range of charitable activ-
ities to benefit local residents, The
University's chapter of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored
People sponsors an Angel Tree, located in the
Michigan Union. Local children's holiday
wishes are written on ormaments. Donors take
an ornament, purchase the gift and return it to
the Union. In this way, parents in need of help
during the holidays can give their children the
presents they want without the children
knowing the gifts wuere purchased with help.
All programs and organizations, large or
small, depend on volunteers. Even though
students at the Unisersity are pressed for
a time for sharing
time during these last few sac f
semester, it takes only a few lhors't
a bit of warmth to someone ese's:
season. In addition, giving to those ess
tunate can contribute to an in.cre'sedrippr
ciation for the benefits that riianat
University possess.
The Salvation Army is in dir'nee
bell-ringers throughout the Ann A
Washtenaw counties, The .\
Association, Ann Arbor Jaycees and
Hospice - to name only a few -ss sk
volunteers to work helplinc, ptrovida
children and guide tours thrmaugla
facilities. All these social sers, i
tions need volunteers with si teas ar
time and the desire to make a difer
It is easy to become jaded during ifs
idays. It seems as though on es
another organization is asking for hai
It is impossible to give to all and mix Ii. a
er to walk away. But it is the spaic I a
that ends up at the bottom cif the vn s
machine or the two hours spcnt wi el
runs that nonprofit organ izations a
carry out their mission.
There is so much need and so i/Ic /
that some people may feel as if their
volunteering efforts are futile, Bo f
small contributions help bring a sali,
the larger problem. It takes only ti t i
to make the difference in someone I!
Before returning home, whethici n
the University community should na
presence felt within the orgaiiizitini
help those less fortunate. If each psi i;
students and faculty alike help a a
tribute to just one family or on or{
during the holidays, then it trul e a .
better season for all.
-. y '
__ .. -f
1\ :
ti A i
; T1TH EITR
P- pId tuitlo
MET increases college funding options
M ichigan parents will soon have the could not keep pace. In the proesth
opportunity to erase, with a single priced a University educattion ant at ni
check, more than a decade of potential students' reach. But, as of late, the siso i.
uneasiness. In 1998, following seven years of has changed for the better.
legal and financial difficulties, the state of The state allocation to the Uni ri y h
Michigan will reintroduce the Michigan risen more than 4 percent in each of the p
Educational Trust. MET, which was previ- several years, high tuition increases has e b c
ously available between 1988 and 1990, gives stymied and MET is once again fina I;
parents the option to pre-purchase tuition for viable. The state, in a period of isa I e
their children. With college costs continuing nomic times, has been able to sippart these
to rise, MET is an attractive and tax-free way increases. But when recessnan roI s
for parents to invest in higher education. around,and the state finds its budget a ie
Under the MET program, parents can buy tighter, higher education must naat ft c i
one- to four-year tuition contracts; each year backs. The state's allocations to
costs the average price of tuition at University must remain more thain h a s
Michigan's public universities at the time the inflation.
contract is sold. The contracts can be used The Internal Revenue Service has Ia 'ci'
anywhere in the nation, but the best return the other thorn in MET's side. The ' te
goes to those who stay in-state. University MET, claiming that parents inves iii V e
students benefit most frot MET because program should pay taxes ian their ,l
their tuition costs are higher than those at any The Sixth Circuit Court ruled itm ' "
other Michigan public aniversity. A parent favor, but MET should not have la a ;
buying a MET contract 10 years ago would precious resources to legal squabb:; J I
have paid $8,000 for a University undergrad- IRS would make a minimal timaiut p of.
uate education today. Such a return is guaran- from taxing MET returns, but iii do 'i;
teed and avoids any investment risk. would hamper the program s future ef a -
Michigan was the first state in the coun- ness. President Clinton has said p
try to establish higher education trusts. But Americans with affordable higher e J
an 8.5 percent annual rise in tuition spelled is one of his top priorities. Fifteet sa ;
doom for the program's continued liveli- trust programs like MEl and :in or t a
hood. MET invests only in risk-free assets, amend the tax code to guaratee Ie e -
and in 1990 the portfolio's rate of return of programs remain tax-free,
was not high enough tat continue offering MET's revival gives studenls ani
the program. The state holds much of the potential funding option for hign ed
blame for higher taititon costs and MET's Lion. But this is not nearly enough
financial woes. parents scrape from paycheck to psychek c
Throughout the I 980s, state allocations to pay the bills and cannot afford bu -
public institutions paled in comparison to the tuition payments years in advance P r if
rate of inflation for higher education. The MET could offer a payment plai
additional financial burden was transferred individuals. In any event, legislain
onto students' shoulders in the form of Lansing must continue to seek ways to itkt
tuition increases, and MET's portfolio return college affordable for all state residents
{~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ . .- ,.. .
students
itl- ' ree more
i Stuaident
iti.is could use
- : iitt at thile
, iidates
I?. In c( dl are
ii ,e at bes'.
I , ~dteargu-
rb' htMSA
to do to improve our
s a1a/aedures, and
<arniiisaire correct.
sA a tdo evers-
I/r. 14we knew
I a v . percent
tu ; ,w ould do it.
ir is, hiiwever,
-e 5a5nt ice ac/ stu-
i, m mnt rmet, ana
m a'! ethem t! vole.
e m iatin af Web
s a as
si xt1eMe y e e-sand
isr in M'vA ele c
i wect down on th
ol^ti tcsav iabl,
d ocold be
dlto sudetigrop
ri wiih he
_ rsUdtisiti)iui
n :J sVIsiOn, an
iton Website has been
d s, i candidates can
- u,'iis/id it/aira-
ialo, as;mselves with
ir n cast, harassment
ir sc involved. Yet,
it n I c ntirely
tic a tudeIls still
r tlake advantage
e se rttnities.
a tcadents I have
stre d hile campaign-
a ually laughed at
_. o v.ting, or
a_ me that they do not1
ru its. even the
ri csai ofthe DCaiy
rs : Iae enougha
to inorm themselves
elecions; you point
he iany candidates
the ihol of Natural
ae a evidence of the
r iprvnen, but
-';)f n i en thatthe
seit is lected during
e election only-
a, I a nlotomeait to
S. ta MSA elections
_ _ se improvement. In
--.re, hiwever, I hope
. ia have a canstruc-
eI/itu debate about
i bhn MA could do
p paricipa-
is capus rt iIcithan
asia on a problem
lready kncw exiss.
RIN CAREY
SA JUNIR, MSA
X TSRNAL R ELATIoNS
CHAIR
S bee wachingthe
ies 5 tousing's
es;tict ipper-
itt ihs ing. .sad of
nopins, horsing on
I h d be expanded.
pse thai we
th e ig building
Itdrm iuing points
ti ntapissible to
s d ii tinie t help
ctsudets, bni they
isy iav not looked
buidm stonversitsn.
Fleming vould be a per-
feet dorm. It is close to cam--
pus, ills already divtded ini
offices that could be roomns
and it is supposed to be riot
proof With a little renoa-
tion, the bathraoms could be
expanded to include showers
and a little paint would give
it a pleasing appearance.
To ensure that renvations
can be completed in time.
they would have to start next
semester. One consequencec
of this is that part of the
administration would lack
offices, but they cali work
out of their homes. The issue
of cost will Iundoubtedly be
brought up if this plan is pre-
sented. Another issue is that
Fleming might not house
enough students. These two
problems can be used to fi
each other.
The University could selt
oftextra first-year students
until they will all hit ithe
available housing. The mone
from the sale could be used to
pay for the renoaion of
lemng. Before anyone gels
too skeptical about the pssi
biity of finding a byer fyr
all those first-year sadelas, I
wold like to point ot hai
Nike is one of the larget
users of slave labor, and a
proad spnsor of tis
University. The Mivesiy l-s
a ready byer of all othe
excess sudens. It's a grei
plan, lbilk soal it.
GABRIEL FEUERBRN{
LSA SENIOR
'Lost' Rose
Bowl tickets
TO THE DAILY:
Why is it so hard on
University of Michigan a-
nzi to find a ticke to the 1991/
Rose Bowl?
Because some tickets arc
not counted for.
Here are the facts and the
math: Rose Bowl seating
capacity is around 100,090,.
and the largest crowd was
106,869 in 1973. Five hun-
dred seats are sold to
Pasadena residents, another
1,000 sold to the general
public and the majonity of the
seats remaining get split
between the two universities.
So let's say the seating
capacity is 100,000. T'here
would be 98,500 seats avail-
able, with the majority of the
seats going to the two univer-
sities.
What would the majority
be -let's say 75 percen to
be conservative. that would
leave the two schools witha
73,875 seats - the remain-
der of 24,625 going who
knows where (travel agents,.
sponsors of the bowl, players
and coaches, family and
whomever the Tournament of
Roses wants to give them t1).
Now, if we take the
"majority" of seats available
to the two universities, we
should have 36,936 seats
apiece. However, reports out
of the Daily and University
Alumni Association have
indicated that the University
has ont een alocated
28.000 sets, wi th the
Aimi A ssocitisgeting
10,000 o f those Reports
fcom the alimnii homepage of
the Cougars indicate that
WSkt has been allocated
35.000 sea If that is the
case, then where are
Michiian's 7,000 seats
tn a side note ahy
should alnmni in the fine
westeri states (Arizona.
( alirnia, Nevada,. Oregoni
and Wiashimgton) get fir st
cibs a liekets over someone
iving in Colorado? Didin't
we all g to the same school?
Ainother side note - why
shouii Michigan State law-
makers get tickets'? Didn't
they not san to give the
Universi money a few years
back lo not meeting the state
uoa oi instate students?
Let te Michigan law
makersla'a in Michigan for
the Motor City owli
COREY BROOKER
UNivERSITY ALUMNUS
U' theater
clssbenefits
criminals
To THE DAILY: .
f consider myself a conser-
sative. I openly admit that I
vised 1fic I/oh Dole. / even
have aliiationaawitha he
College Republicans. As a
mailer of fact the only reason
that / am not ivolved myself
is beasac1Ispetilla/Imy time
sarking on theater prodim-
huns. teing a theatrically
iivosed conservaive, Rep.
Daid Jaye (R - Macomb)
and other Republicans have
me conf/used and even upset
for their atiacks n the ains.
From attacks on the NEA
to their claims from Jaye, the
Republicans have been trying
to whip up hatred for the arts.
Theater is a strong medium
based highly rti emotions.
Theater majors are emotional
people who channel and draw
on that emation for their per-
formances Criminalsa on the
other hand often lack certain
emaotional responses and
become desensiized by their
lives and upbringing.
t is this idea thal supports
teaching criminals to act and
possibly become more in
touch wih the emotions that
they have surpressed. This is a
therapy, similar to that of psy-
choogy. However, we don't
hear Jaye saying that we
shouldn't al/ar criminals to
see psychologists because
they could use those tactics at
parole hearings.
'm conservative but I'm
often get scared by Republican
attacks on the arts. Nt
because I plan a career in the
ats and the cutning of the
NEA could cost me a job, but
because persecution of arts is
the first method of taking
away the First Amendment.
the very thing Republicans
claim to protec..
PATRICK ELKINS
LSA SOPHOMORE
Another year
ends and hfe
COntinues for
the living
ohn Letaon was killed 17 years
aga today, tmal exams are
approaching, my departure from
Michigan minnimnent and the tdome
ter in my ear is about to surpass
1/0,)00 mines.
Endings and
their respective
aninmersaries, i
'inms, ar- always
around ihe 'rner, -
and the stress of
December leads
me o rel'ct on
them.
In his book,
"The Undetak- JOSHUA
ing: Life Studies RICH
from the Dismal TRvil
Trade," Milford, Po tt cs
Mich., funeral
director Thomas Lynch discusses the
nature of death and how the living
cope with it. He writes, "... if you
love, you grieve and there are no
exceptions .- only those who do i
wel and those who don't."
Such has been the case in 1997, a
year that has seen the passg of an
extraordinarily high number of popu-
lar and dear people. While this should
therefore be a time of grieving and
reflection, I find it tragic that so many
dismiss celebrity deaths as inevitable
and unimportana: "If i didn't know that
person, then why should I care that he
ma dead?"
guess these are the people who
Lynch suggests grieve poorly.
Despite the name of this column,
death is not trivial. It is a double-edged
sword, both tragic and inspiring. We
mark the passing of those around us to
gain perspective nt life, to attempt to
extract some meaning from their tra-
vails or some lesson from their deaths.
We remember their lives to celebrate,
their endeavors, and to quell our pair
as we keep living in their absence.
Indeed, life goes on, as Johnt Lennoit
once said, just as my car will continue
runing long after it breaks its mon
menial barrier.
Hence, I recall a few recently -
deceased people, all of whom have in
sime way touched me - all of whom
deserve at least one last mention.
Pauml Tongas: the man who shoiid4
be in the White House now; a wonder-
ful politician who was also a trul
decent fellow - a historical rarity.
/red Zinnemann: one of the last of
Hollywood's studio directors who
made classics like "High Noon."
The Notmiriois B.G.: a man whose
music I unfortunately only grew to
appreciate after his deih.
A//en Ginsberg: the prophet of gen-
erations.
Pat Paulsen: a comedian who inject-
ed humor into the increasingl
depressing American political scene.
Harry Blacksone: the king of
magic.
Jarqiies-YFes Cousea: one of he
last true friends ofE he Farth.
Robert Mitchum: the original
Hollywood tough guy.
Jimmy Stewart: a man who will
thankfully live on in motion pictures
for centuries to come.
Charles Kuralt: a journalist like n
other - the only person for whom I
would have ever awaken at 9 a.m. on a
Sunday morning.
Gianni Frersuce: the fashion designer
to the stars, and a true trendsetter in a
world of dynamic styles.
Jeanne Calnnent: at 122, the oldest
person in the history of the world.
Brandon Taurtikofl: the young net-
work executive responsible for making
our Thursday nights entertaining.
Diana, Princess of Wales: a beautiful
enigma who touched millions.
Burgess Meredith: one of the
movies' best and most lovable charac-
ter actors.
Mother Theresa: a saint.
Tamara Williams: my fellow student
whose promising life was cut short it
a shocking display of rage.
Roy Lichtenstein: a man who truly
brought art into the 20th century.
John Denver: the troubadour who
always gave us a smile and a song.
James Michener: the prolific writer I
wish I could be.
Michael Hichence: INXS's quietly
troubled frontman.
Mrs. K: Jessie Klein, my kinder-
garten teacher; the best teacher I -
and thousands of others - ever had. -
Carrie Rich: my loving dog, whom
was lucky enough to know for near
13 years.
Happily, I look back at all these
beings - and all the hundreds of oth'
ers whom I could not fit in this space
- and I realize that they all led fruit-
ful lives of varying degrees. I realize
that death is something I need not fear.
I keep reminding myself: If life were
like a book, then the good parts would
undoubtedly come at the end.
So goodbye to another year. Farewell
1997, and farewell to its class of ou
standing souls. Since eloquence often
escapes me in times of passing, I'll let
the late Charles Kuralt have the last
word instead:
Remember; please, when / am gone:
'twas aspiration led me on.
Tiddly-widdly toodle-oo,
all I want/is to stay with you.
But ... here /go.
Goodbye.
- Joshua Rich can be reached ore4
e-mail at jmrich@umich.edu.
_. Os.
I ,
WHAT'S AFFECTING 'U THIS WEEK
MONDAY
Ann Arbor City Council meeting
City Hall 7:30 p.m.
TUESDAY.
MSA meeting
3909 Michigan Union 7:30 p.m.