4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 24, 1997 Nbz £itwu flailg 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 Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of the Daily : editorial board. All other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily. FROM THE DAILY In memory of Tamara Fid support for domestic violence survivors "NOTABLE QUOTABLE 'This is a loss for the entire University of Michigan community - all of us grieve for her and her family during this very sad period.' - Vice president for University relations Walter Harrison, reacting to the murder of LSA senior Tamara Williams ,JORDAN YOUNG NE P 6)3C LETTERS TO THE EDITOR isabling shock and grief descended on campus yesterday as University stu- dents, faculty and staff learned of the horri- fying murder of LSA senior Tamara Williams. Williams was stabbed to death by her off-and-on boyfriend, Kevin Nelson, only six days shy of her 21st birthday. As the aftermath of the tragedy unfolds, Williams' family - including her baby daughter - and loved ones will be left to grieve. Students and neighbors may struggle with unanswered questions - and some may despair as they come to realize the danger of their own relationships. Now is the time for the University community to band together - across boundaries - to support, educate and assist one another in cherishing the memory of Tamara Williams and ensuring that no others need repeat her tragic fate. U.. "1Iknow that the decision on his sentenc- ing is in your hands but I wanted to express my concern whether or not you're aware assault charges have been brought against Kevin (Nelson) many times before." - From Tamara Williams 'letter to the Washtenaw County 15th District Court on Oct. 23, 1995. H.. Nelson had a history of abusing Williams and her 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Kiera. Ann Arbor Police Department records show two 1995 reports of domestic violence by Nelson against Williams. Nelson was brought up on domestic assault charges after one of those calls. Williams sent an impassioned plea to the Washtenaw County Courthouse, asking the officiating judge to remember Nelson's history of abuse. All too often, hindsight reveals the insuf- ficiency of penalties for domestic abusers. No one knows whether a harsher penalty for Nelson in 1995 may have saved Williams' life yesterday, but the fact remains that the young woman felt afraid, alone and unsure if she should trust the system that was sup- posed to protect her. Something must change. Perhaps greater support at the communi- ty level for survivors of domestic violence s a good place to start. Students should know that relationships like Tamara Williams' are not that rare, even at the col- lege level. According to the University's Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness ,Center, more than one in four high school- and college-age people said they had expe- rienced dating violence; as many as 50 per- cent of women involved in dating relation- ships at any age report physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from their part- ners. The statistics demonstrating the urgency of domestic violence are even more fright- ening: According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, about 30 percent of female homicide victims are killed by their hus- bands or boyfriends. About 6 percent of male homicide victims are killed by their wives or girlfriends. U.. 'Again Iask that you please don't be soft when sentencing Kevin Nelson because he s been tapped on the wrists one too many times. One would think after going to court once before for assault that he would learn his lesson but obviously he didn 't." .m. Increased protection for survivors of domestic violence and strengthened legisla- tion against abusers must become a reality. Courts across the country must be more receptive to cases against abusers and sup- port the survivors in their courageous steps to safety. Lawmakers must also fight the ever- increasing, disturbing backlash that rises among abusers. Members of the communi- ty who are interested in learning more about this backlash should attend the panel dis- cussion tonight titled: "Backlash: Are Gains Made by Women and Children Under Attack?" The forum is sponsored by CIVI- TAS Child and Family Programs at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Presenters will provide information on survivors' legal rights, the community's perception of domestic violence and sur- vivors of domestic violence, prosecution of abusers and community resources for sur- vivors. The forum will be held tonight at 6:30 in the Modern Languages Building, Lecture Room 1. Tamara Williams' tragic death should be a reminder to all members of the University community that none of us live too far away from someone who suffers the worst kind of betrayal: violence in the context of a rela- tionship that is supposed to provide love, nurturing and support. People who are involved in abusive rela- tionships must take action to save their lives and those of their children or dependents. Below is a resource list - if you are Queer Unity Project also boycotts the Nectarine TO THE DAILY: In response to the recent incidents of racism on the part of Nectarine employees, the members of Queer Unity Project would like to official- ly express our support for the Ramirez family and Rahul Patel. QUP is deeply committed to solidarity with people of color, and encourages every- one with an open. mind- especially keeping in mind the connections between all forms of oppression against the members of Ann Arbor's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities - to boycott the Nectarine until the demands of the Ramirez family are sufficiently met. NINA EUSANI NEELA GHOSHAL LSA SENIORS Publicize 'U' parking law changes TO THE DAILY: I have enjoyed the use of the South commuter lot for the past four years. During this time, parallel parking was posted/allowed within the lot along Stadium Boulevard. Recently the signs were removed without notification. By law, the only notification that the University is obligated to provide is the removal of the signs themselves. I certainly do not contest the right or the need for the University to have dynamic parking privileges. I do believe, however, that the University could have taken painless steps to extend a courteous notification to stu- dents and faculty alike who enjoy the use of this lot. A simple purchase of a 50-cent posterboard could have been used to indicate that parallel parking would no longer be allowed as of Sept. 20, 1997. Obviously, the receipt of a $20 parking ticket was the event that precipitated this let- ter; I would have gladly paid the 50 cents. Thank you for your effort on behalf of the people who have received non- contestable parking citations. MICHAEL MCCWRE RACKHAM Lose the 'tomahawk' people. I sure hope it does not take Michigan fans this long to lose the tomahawk. Let us show the nation that we who are associated with the University have more sense. CHRISTINA FISHER UNIVERSITY ALUMNA Gays must do more to support other minorities TO THE DAILY: The letter I sent to the edi- tor a few days ago was not to raise the issue of whether or not alleged incidents occurred at the Nectarine Ballroom. It was to simply raise awareness to the LGBT communities to stand up for other forms of oppression besides their own. Whether at one time I was an ally to the queer communi- ty or a full-blown gay man, I have accepted the term Same Gender Lover. This title is distinctly different than that of gay or queer. This term sets me apart from any group that has turned its back on any forms of oppression, and that is what the gay commu- nity has done. This is a community that I feel is not very accepting of people of color who still involve themselves with the people of color communities. This gay community has intentionally set focus on issues of solely being gay. As an African American gay man, I am more than gay, I am more than African American. The bad precedent set by the gay community is a wound they have left to heal, or they will ultimately run away its people of color. As for my fans who can mark my every word, I applaud you on your willingness to know more about me. Well, know this: I am not here to heal any wounds the gay community has self inflicted. I belong to no community where I need to leave my dark melanin- inflicted skin at the doors of acceptance. As an SGL, I can firmly say now I am an ally to the gay community, but I will never be a member in this community where I am not accepted, or where others feel I need to suppress my identi- ty, whereas to tighten the ranks of fighting homopho- bia. Lastly, as far as semantics go, you can call me an SGL. Use this as an opportunity to educate yourself more around the issue. We are at an insti- tute of higher learning, igno- rance is not acceptable. Those individuals that do boycott the Nectarine Ballroom enforce their endeavors to fight Crockett was a courageous 'crusader' for civil rights To THE DAILY: George W. Crockett Jr., a civil rights crusader who was never part of the establishment, died on Sept. 7 at age 88. Mr. Crockett left an indelible mark on the state of Michigan in his quest'for racial equality, and so I was surprised to not see any mention of his death in your newspaper. Mr. Crockett received a law degree from the University of Michigan before moving on to an eventful and productive career as a lawyer and public servant. He was the first black American to join the Labor Department, as an attorney during the New Deal era. During his time at the Labor Department, Mr. Crockett became convinced that black Americans and American workers were all too often victims of an oppressive society. Crockett moved on to the United Auto Workers, where he ran the union's fair- employment division. He was quick to criticize top officials at the UAW about the unac- ceptable tolerance for racial discrimination within the union, which ultimately led to his expulsion from his post. During this time, Crockett became a hero to civil liber- tarians. He defended four blacks accused of being Communists during the Smith Act political trials in New York in 1949-1950. His defense earned him a con- tempt conviction and four months in jail. He also helped found the nation's first integrated law firm here in Detroit, and later ran the legal defense arm of the Mississippi voting project. In 1966, Crockett was elected to Detroit's Recorder's Court, and became an outspoken advo- cate of equal justice, in a sys- tem that consistently exploit- ed the rights of poor black defendants. Crockett retired from the bench, and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Detroit in 1980. During his tenure in Congress, he became a force- ful advocate against many policies adopted by the Reagan administration. While serving as chair- man of the Foreign Affairs subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Crockett intro- duced several resolutions denouncing South African apartheid, and was arrested while picketing the South African Embassy. This is just a brief description of the many accomplishments Crockett We've been poisoned by thesefairy tales t's amazing what you can learn f you just pay attention. For exam- ple, this weekend, due to ESPN's College Game Day on Saturday and the Lions on Sunday. I watched a damn lot of TV I found out a whol bunch of things that I didn't know. Drinking Surge will make you tough and off-beat in that Bivouac sort of way Eating Doritos will make a party happen around you. The right skin care product . will attract a pret- ty young mate.AE with neat hair and AME a dentist's office MILE smile. And, appar- ItX ently, there are ON TAP several types of beer that will make strange, affection- ate women, with large breasts and small clothes, want to fondle you in bars. God, what an ass I've been, trying woo with Otis Redding albums and pilfered Byron poems. I'm not such a Pollyanna that I'm shocked at every half-truth and quarter-truth the adver- tising community hands to me. But)- am surprised by the feverish pitch at. which these nuggets of fiction are thrown at me. Does everything have to be a exercise in machismo? It's ba! enough that even college athletic have Nike's logo feces smeared a over them, intoning that skill, strength and hard work are dwarfed before the powers granted by a pait of $150 shoes held together by snot, staples and the 35 cents an hour sweat of a third world factory work- er. But pop? Is there anybody above the age of 12 who believes "a fully loaded citrus soda with carbos" is going to inspire somebody to scra ble over furniture, beat up thei friends and behave like an extra from "Quest for Fire?" Do people who parachute, climb mountains and bungee-jump really get a giant woody over Mountain Dew? Does owning a Buick make you intQ one of those puffy, suburban high- rollers with golf clubs in the truck and a trophy wife? Who believes thi stuff? Wedo Daily. We've gotten used to being lied to. lt started out small. Bryllcream will make all the girls pursue us. Pall Malls will make us sophisticated Successful people drive Fords. The small, innocuous lies of post-war prosperity. And then it grew. Choosy moms choose Jif. If you don't feed your children Jif, they just might turn into reefer addicts and join gans C'mon, I saw "West Side Story." know how this works. Are you fat? Buy this make-up, you whale. Here try a milkshake diet. Or just watch "Baywatch" marathons, and beat yourself in the head with the can. Advertising cuts to our insectrit s and exploits them to the nines. An for a while, women bore the brunt f the blast. Bull Gravy Wrinkle Cream will make you look younger, which is necessary because looking the a you actually are is gross - an women with wrinkles and (gaspG,. gray hair will die homeless, penniless old bags, and no one will ever love them. Now the fellas are getting it, and the plague comes to us in the form of extreme advertising. Whether it's soft drinks, beer, cars, motor oil or cloth- ing, they have us by the short and curlys. Every product decision is just a consumerist whim, it's a refer- endum on your manhood. Your every possession, action and nuance of your appearance has to be balls-out, hard- core, flaming proof that you are a Big Man, a GQ, mountain-biking kind of guy. Everything from driving to church to having a beer after work leas to be done with a kind of frenzied testosterone madness that makes .it seem like you've been. rubbin methamphetamine on your eyebal since breakfast. This cola is Cool! The guys who drink it are Cool! They do Cool things! They have Cool girlfriends who are buxom and do Cool things with them! If your pantry isn't full of the stuff, you have tiny genitals and the only woman who will look at you is the old bat from two paragraphs ago, who wouldn't buy the wrink cream! It used to be that men of good con'- science who loved their families, did their jobs well and were just, upright and decent were macho. Now, for rea- sons too sad and numerous to get into, we no longer respect that. It doesn't interest our sunken, microscopic involved with; honor Tamara yours. a domestic Williams' abuser, please life by saving you are involved in an abusive relationship, you are not one. Please find help - seek refuge with a neighbor, a end, or an emergency shelter. The Ann Arbor and niversity communities offer a number of resources to sist you. you know someone who is being abused, offer your help. you are not able to intervene, help the survivor find some- ie who can. Department of Public Safety 763-1131 Campus emergency 911 Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center