4 -- The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, September 16, 1997
IfB citigrnt aEilg
420 Maynard Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Edited and managed by
students at the
*University of Michigan
.......................
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AN :>
JOSH WHITE
Editor in Chief
ERIN MARSH
Editorial Page Editor
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
r. 1 .
Take a note
Online notes give students extra options
any University students constantly
- perform a balancing act. Between a
:r=fll load of classes, a part-time job, a full
-Tialette of extracurricular activities and
: haintaining a social life, many students
=fid their time stretched, at best. Students
vtied help in whatever manner possible to
help prevent their active schedules from
overburdening them and threatening their
s Tlasswork. One unique study aid offered by
Three University students could help stu-
dents manage overactive schedules and
::w make their lives easier. Notes4Free, the
*ainchild of three LSA juniors, will post
totes for various classes on the World Wide
Web (http://www notes4free.com). The idea
of students putting their notes online offers
-,he student population interesting new
options for studying and saving money.
Students can benefit from the service in
several ways. If students feel that their notes
are inadequate or need help preparing for an
exam, they can access one more supple-
mental study aid with just a few clicks of
the mouse. In addition, if they have to miss
a lecture, students may be able to catch up
without having to copy from someone else's
notebook. The service could also relieve
students of the feeling that they must scrib-
ble every syllable during lecture, leaving
time to listen to what the professor is trying
to convey.
In addition, the service could save stu-
dents money. Many students opt to purchase
lecture notes from one of the many com-
mercial note-taking services on campus.
While it does offer them a study aid, it can
be a drain on students' checkbooks. In com-
parison, Notes4Free does not charge for
student notes, helping cost-conscious stu-
dents maintain their bottom lines. The stu-
dent-run service offers students the oppor-
tunity to help each other out and avoid cost-
ly bills from note-taking services.
Some professors do not like the idea of
their lectures being accessible by everyone.
As lectures are their intellectual property,
professors often refuse to allow note-taking
services the right to sell notes for commer-
cial gain - a block that also applies to the
Notes4Free service. Some professors argue
that students will forgo lectures and use
notes as a substitute for lecture attendance.
While students will probably find that notes
from any source are insufficient without
class attendance, the notes could enhance
the lecture environment by allowing stu-
dents more flexibility during lecture. If pro-
fessors are concerned about inaccuracies or
misrepresentations in the lecture notes, they
can offer their own notes to help students
get the most complete and correct informa-
tion possible.
University students have a lot on their
minds. Juggling their various responsibili-
ties can often be difficult - students usual-
ly feel that they need whatever help they
can get. The Notes4Free service could help
free up time to allow students greater flexi-
bility and the ability to manage their sched-
ules better. Students should support and
capitalize on this unique service.
NOTABLE QUOTABLE,,
'When I got here, they had three pages of
classes taped up outside the offices. I just
had to pick my classes off the wall.'
- LSA first-year student Jim Dudnick, referring to the scarcity of space in LSA
introductory courses that has left many new students scrambling for a schedule
YUKI KUNIYUKI GROUND ZERO
DANCE S W/thg
I1
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Boycott the term "gay" I have used in ing in Miami, Fla. I could
describing my sexual orienta- feel the defense's hits (in
Nectarine tion. For I wish to no longer Saturday's football game)
be a part of a group that is a down here. Bravo!
TO THE DAILY: minority within itself that is Brian Griese and the
Approximately a week reluctant when it comes to entire offense were great too.
axwe became aware of a family members of darker Still, some offensive calls in
racis nideneawae hues. I am assuming the posi- the second quarter were too
Nectarine Ballroom. As a tion of a Same GenderLover conservative. Coach Carr, let
Ndue"rinoalroom.n Ahsa (SGL), joining my other Brian air it out!
"double" minority m this minority brothers and sisters While I won't miss the
sciotyoI amahkamedg be who at one time were lesbian, Michigan winters, 1 already
lesbian, gay, bisexual and gay, or bisexual. miss walking to Michigan
transgender (LGBT) individu- This is nothing more than football games. Enjoy this
als who attended the estab- a wake-up call to the lesbian, Rose Bowl season. Go
lishment on Tuesday and/or gay, bisexual and transgender Blue!
Fridy nghta~ka Ga Niht. individuals on this campus
Unid thenit ationis esglveh and the Ann Arbor communi- DAN MATLOW
LGBT individuals attending racist, sexist and classist we
this establishment are a are within this community in
shame to the entire communi- arti ntiounbeint
ty and in particular those Particular. Until you begin to B drv
members who are of color. support and fight for other Blood dirive
As a leader in the LGBT rights besides your own, do
adAfrian Aerian c - Lnot expect anyone else to com es to
dfniAthesempeoleappalm- help fight homophobia and
munities, these people appall demand rights entitled to all cam pus
me. These individuals perpet- humans. Continuing to turn a
uate the myth that LGBT cul- blind eye on other forms of Thursday
ture revolves solely around oppression makes it difficult
sex and bars. It makes me to make allies when theo T DAIY
wonder if sex and bars are oppressors come for us.T THEDAILY
the only forms of expression Surprising as it may seem, I In response to Heather
in the LGBT community do not think they will come Wiggins' article ("Blood
These individuals displayed for us Same Gender Lovers shortage plagues region,"
how apathetic they are when (or LGBT individuals) last. 9/10/97)I would just like to
it comes to other forms of They are already here, inform Daily readers that
oppression that are not there is a blood drive being
specifically homophobia. KENNETH JONES held from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on
Whatever the case may be, LSA JUNIOR Sept. 18 in the Blue Lounge
it shocks and disappoints me in the G.G. Brown building
how uncaring some individ- on North Campus.
ual's can be. It makes me Alum nu There will be a sign-up
wonder if LGBT individuals Aum nus sheet in the EECS Atrium on
are deliberately making them- m ise 'IA' Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. - 2
selves blind when it comes to s p.m., but walk-ins are wel-
other forms of oppression. football come on the day of the
Truthfully, with all of the sex- drive.
ism, racism and classism
within the LGBT community, TO THE DAILY: CHRIS REILLY
I am fully denouncing the I am an alumnus ('97) liv- RACKHAM
10 YEARS AGO IN THE DAILY
Unfair silence
shmuds reali
I magine this: You are a member of a
large student organization on cam-
pus that routinely searches for, even
relies on, new membership. While
there are many eager new students on
campus who want to join your organi-
zation, you may not talk about your
group, promote your group or even
mention your group, lest it be loos
considered "publi-
cizing."
A gag order, of
sorts, has been
thrown around the
lips of you and
your fellow organi-
zation members,
and god forbid any
of you should
break the silence.
Reprimands, some
including the revo- JOSH
cation of privileges WHITE
to recruit even a JUMPING
single new mem- THE GUN
ber, hang over the
group like a dark cloud ready to burst,
While this may seem a bit Orwellian,
an all-too-real "silence period" has
befallen one of the largest student net-
works on campus, and few of
members can understand why. I
truly absurd aspect of the scenario is
that this is something that these same
groups deal with each and every fall
semester - most without questioning
the merit of the silence.
During their lengthy rush process,
sorority members and their executive
boards are silenced by the University's
Panhellenic Association, which is gen-
erally quick to point out that -the
silence is mandated from the natioi
Panhel organization. The buck
passed because no one wants to take
responsibility for a policy that only
makes sense on theasurface.
Sorority rush, far different from the
fraternity rush process, is shrouded
with silence. And this silence is so per-
vasive that the process is hidden from
public scrutiny, and members of the
Greek system are scared into keeping
their opinions to themselves. And t4
are scared for good reason. 1.
According to Panhel rules concerning
publicity and social events, "individual
sororities may not publicize during the
silence period. ... General publicity
includes, but is not limited to, any print-
ing, posting, singing, chanting or cheer-
ing outside of one's house that refers to
one's sorority or any sorority." Breaking
the rules can lead to varying sanctions,
from social restrictions to a ban on
ing new members. Stiff penalties
promoting your organization.
The justification for such a rule seems
to be that by limiting the speech of each
house - by preventing publicity or pro-
motion for each individual house - the
playing field is leveled. Panhel President
Shelby Brown said the restrictions make
rush a "fairer" process that doesn't favor
one house over the other. The line is hat
Panhel shows each rushee every ho
and lets them decide on their own, son -
thing that is assumed fair. (I find it
appalling that the word "fair" could be
applied to a process that parades gils
around in specified uniforms to silly par-
ties so that a large group of singingand
cheering women can take their pick of the
litter, but that is another topic altogether).
The assumption continues that a house
that publicizes will unfairly draw a larger
interest from a group of rushees --but
the rule doesn't stop at self-publcizin*
Sororities mentioned in The Michigan
Daily, for almost any reason during the
silence period, will be sanctioned for
having their names in print. A house I
won't mention (I wouldn't want to bring
them any more trouble) faces rush infrac-
tions because they were named in corre-
lation with Kimberly Stec, who was in
the Miss America Pageant last week.
Stec, a member of the house and c~lo
friend of the sorority's president, un
tingly brought problems for her house
simply because she achieved something
amazing. Her friends, quoted in this news-
paper mna front page story last Wednesday.
got themselves in hot water for merel
praising their friend. And, it seems, should
the Daily choose to write about any soror-
ity during this silence period, the house
will get infractions, whether they had a
part in the publicity or not.
That leaves us a lot of po
because we don't have to follow t
rules. If I were to list all of the sorori-
ties right here in this column, they
would all have to face sanction hear-
ings and a lot of people would have to
go through a lot of hassle - for noth-
ing other than a few words in print.
Maybe I should start now, Alpha -
Don't worry., ..
But the sororities take this very seri-
ously, or at least they live in fear@
breakingMthe rules toa point of pnic:
After a Michigan Daily reporter talked
to her for a rush article in progress, a
sorority president called the office,
apparently very afraid that we would
print her sorority next to her 'cbm-
ments in the story. She had heard what
had hannened with Stec's sororitvy
FighingI
Survivors face anoth
M ost of the social movements that stu- Prosecu
dents have seen throughout their life- of man
times have experienced some sort of back- least -
lash. The strides to curb domestic violence chology
prove to be no exception. The Shelter as these
Available for Emergencies House, or SAFE can be
House, discussed this backlash - stemming should
from batterers, lawmakers, and even the sensitiv
Washtenaw County judicial system - dur- Mack
ing a free seminar last week. Participants problem
said that domestic abusers are now fighting violenc
the organizations that protect survivors. lawyers
Susan McGee, SAFE House executive direc- cials wh(
tor, commented that even though communi- They fr
ty and government workers are increasing and pres
efforts to combat domestic violence, the any con
backlash is a well-financed and organized that ou
attack specifically aimed at domestic vio- together
lence organizations. One example is the force. E
ever-growing number of abusers who file survivor
lawsuits against organizations such as SAFE when en
House, taking up precious funding and time. To ta
Officials must work to quell this backlash so port for
that survivors can be helped to the best of the state she
abilities of both the organizations and the state pm
legislature. lence ca
Washtenaw County Prosecutor Brian nization
Mackie stated that the backlash is enabled ing such
by the Michigan legislature, which has no the fiel
clear-cut policy on domestic violence cases. knowle
For example, when batterers appear before closest
legislators, stories and grudges can carry a could b
case to court. Domestic violence must be between
treated as a serious problem from the out- organiza
set. While it might be difficult to alter the Laws
Michigan legislation surrounding domestic hope fo
violence, small steps can be made to create with fai
an awareness and sensitivity among the courtroo
people who work these types of cases. those w
How TO CONTACT THEM
mck
er challenge
tors and judges who hold the trust
yy battered women should - at the
- be educated about the basic psy-
surrounding abuse. In cases such
e, emotions run high and evidence
hard to come by. However, this
rnot detract from lawyers' or judges,
ity toward the case.
kie offered an example of the type of
as that further complicate domestic
e cases. He cited phone calls to
and testimony from religious offi-
Zo call on behalf of accused offenders.
equently offer support to the accused
ssure the family to stay together under
dition. Prosecutors should be aware
tside pressure to keep the family
can be a powerful, intimidating
ven more, they need to be aware that
rs must not be forced to feel guilt
nding an abusive relationship.
ake steps toward empathic legal sup-
survivors of domestic violence, the
ould mandate sensitivity training for
rosecutors handling domestic vio-
ases. Perhaps SAFE House, or orga-
is like it, could participate in teach-
Ih a seminar - certainly experts in
d would be willing to share their
dge and their time to educate those
to domestic violence cases. This
uild a positive working relationship
n the legislature and community
ations without draining budgets.
suits can be an abused woman's best
r safety. Survivors must be treated
rness and respect - especially in the
om. A first step should be to educate
hom women entrust with their lives.
Take advantage of '
Summer may officially
end September 20, but for
most students in Ann Arbor, it
ended yesterday.
While people still play
frisbee on the Diag and the
bars remain crowded, these
activities are only superficial-
ly as they were two days ago.
It's harder to be carefree when
a paper is due tomorrow or a
quiz takes place in an hour.
The school year lends
itself to considerations of
major, career, grades and
other unpleasant but impor-
tant subjects relating to one's
future. As tempting as it may
be to put off these stressful
thoughts, confronting them
now can make life easier later.
Here are some ways to begin
that process:
Don't treat your sched-
ule as a sacred, immutable
document. Courses are
designed to be dropped. Sit in
on a variety of different class-
es and take advantage of the
three-week period during
which you can drop/add at no
charge. The University has a
lot to offer, but you've got to
shop around to find it.
Frequently, it is impossible
to get into the best classes
because they were filled the
second day of CRISP. The
University needs to ensure
that places are available in
classes want to take and that
class size remains workable.
Pace yourself. Don't
take school so seriously you
forget to go to happy hour,
follow the Tigers, or, heaven
forbid, read the Daily. On the
other hand, there are few feel-
ings worse than contemplat-
ing an unstarted reading list
the night before a final.
Finally, get involved in
something outside of class. In
many cases, extracurricular
activities are an equally
important or more important
part of one's education than
course work.
The University harbors
many political groups, social
organizations and career-ori-
ented clubs which are worth
investigating.
Remember, while summer
is undeniably over unless you
follow your calender unques-
tioningly, the school year
offers its own unique plea-
sures. Like it or not, it is time
to move on and begin experi-
encing them.
This editorial was
originally published in the
Daily on Sept. 10, 1987.
GOV. JOHN ENGLER
P.O. Box 30013
LANSING, MI 48909
(517)335-6863
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