4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 15, 1997
i e £ihiggni 0a1ig
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 s editorial board. All
other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily
FROM THE DAILY
Banning discni nation
Ypsi council should vote for equal rights law
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
'I know of people accepted to Ann Arbor who were
less qualified, and my first reaction when I was
rejected was, 'Let's sue."
- U of M-Dearborn student Jennifer Gratz, a plaintiff in the lawsuit filed in US
District Court yesterday challenging University affirmative action policies
JORDAN YOUNG T U N E
. Lo
--- e
-- -
~~' l i
n the city ofYpsilanti, some forms of dis-
crimination still persevere. Legally. The
city currently does not have a non-discrimi-
nation ordinance; groups and individuals
who do not fall under federal and state equal
rights statutes have no legal recourse against
discriminatory practices. However, recent
events have shown that such a law is sorely
needed - and the Ypsilanti City Council
has responded by putting a draft on the table.
The council should overcome the ordi-
nance's vocal and determined opposition by
voting expediently to write the proposed
legislation into law.
National equal rights acts, drafted as a
result of the civil rights movement, continue
to have a gaping omission - they exclude
America's gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-
gendered communities. Companies can fire
employees, bars can kick out patrons and
stores can refuse service legally, and based
solely on sexual orientation. Last year, an
Ypsilanti copy shop's owners turned away a
gay rights organization, while unabashedly
admitting they do not want such a group
making copies on their premises. The own-
ers' decision was based on the conviction
that a gay lifestyle is "immoral." However,
such moral judgements should not give indi-
viduals free reign to discriminate, and are an
illegitimate reason to deny service or
employment. Sexual orientation must be
added to nationwide equal rights acts -
passing non-discrimination ordinances in
Ypsilanti and other municipalities is an
important, but not terminal, step in the
process.
Following the copy shop incident,
Ypsilanti's Human Relations Commission
advised the city council that a non-discrimi-
nation ordinance was not necessary.
Nevertheless, the council wisely realized
that without action, discriminatory acts
would perpetuate and continue to afflict the
community. In July, the council voted unan-
imously to ignore the commission's recom-
mendation, and draft a non-discrimination
ordinance. Members correctly decided,
regardless of what might be written in state
and national law, it was important for city
law to firmly state that discrimination
against any community member will not be
tolerated. In November, after ensuring the
new law properly suits the needs of
Ypsilanti's citizens, the council is expected
to release and approve the ordinance's final
draft.
Certain members of the community have
met the proposed ordinance with stiff resis-
tance. A group called Citizens Opposed to
Special Treatment is at the opposition's fore-
front. If the non-discrimination ordinance is
voted into law, COST members vow to over-
turn it through a ballot referendum. Cevin
Taylor, the group's leader, claims that "as a
group, (gays are) not a class of people that
we feel need special protection." Taylor fails
to recognize that the ordinance was not
drafted solely for the gay community - it is
designed to ban discrimination against any
segment of the population. In addition, his
statements only thinly veil the strong anti-
gay sentiment that is prevalent among the
ordinance's opponents.
Ypsilanti residents should let Taylor and
his supporters know that they live in a city
that will refuse to tolerate discrimination
against any of its members - gay or
straight. The Council should unanimously
pass the non-discrimination ordinance, and
should COST successfully get the issue on
the ballot, residents should flock to the polls
to give a resounding vote in favor of equal
rights.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
A full slate
Court decisions will have
his past Monday, the United States
T Supreme Court began its 12th term
under Chief Justice William Rehnquist's
leadership. The nation's highest court,
which has a conservative ideological major-
ity of 5-4, will be ruling on several signifi-
cant issues: race and California's anti-affir-
mative action movement, same-sex harass-
ment, third-party candidates, gays in the
military, government regulation of tobacco,
the Line-Item Veto Act, the Violence
Against Women Act and Megan's Law. The
Court's decisions will significantly impact
the nation - and will have widespread ram-
ifications for students and the University as
a whole. Due to the tremendous volume of
cases appealed to the Court this term, it will
hear only a fraction of the cases presented.
Some cases the Court has selected to
hear include the following:
® Piscataway Township Board of Education
v. Taxman: The case involves the divisive
issue of whether or not employers can give
preferential treatment to minorities in an
effort to promote racial diversity in the
workplace, when layoffs are necessary. The
case is centered around two teachers, one
African American and one white, who had
equal qualifications and seniority.
Arkansas Educational Television v.
Forbes: The case involves a public televi-
sion station's decision, in conducting a tele-
vised congressional election debate, not to
include third-party candidates whose candi-
dacies were deemed "not viable."
® Onacle v. Sundowner Offshore Services
Inc.: The case boils down to whether or not
federal civil rights laws prohibit sexual
harassment between members of the same
widespread ramification
In these three cases, it is very imports
that the Supreme Court forges a clear pa
toward the future - one that supports
diverse society, where all groups have
voice and are protected against harassme
in any form.
In addition, the Supreme Court must tat
a stand on legislation affecting the hum
rights of the country's citizens. The Cou
should hear the case involving the Coaliti
for Equality v. Wilson, which challenges
lower court's ruling to allow Proposition 2(
to be enforced in California. It is time f
the Court to take a national stand in favor,
affirmative action and diversity. The justic
should also hear and rule against a ca
challenging the Violence against Wom
Act, and should reaffirm the governmer
power to regulate tobacco. The Court shou
strike down New Jersey's Megan's La,
which punishes criminals after they hal
been rehabilitated and released. In additio
it is time to rule definitively on Preside
Clinton's "don't ask, don't tell" policy
gays in the military. The only factor dete
mining whether citizens should be able
join the military is commitment to nation
security, not sexual orientation.
The founders created the Supreme Cou
to put a check on the different branches{
government, and to determine what is cc
stitutional. While the court's interpretati
of constitutionality has changed over time,
is extremely important for Rehnquist ai
the Court to frame their decisions in a w,
that protects both America's diversity andi
citizens' rights. The decisions the coi
reaches this coming term will help reshal
the fabric of American society as it ente
+hj- ' 1 ct ntir
Swastika has
a 'hideous
connotation
TO THE DAILY:
This is regarding Musomi
Kimanthi's letter "Swastika
has a 'positive history"'
(10/13/97): Any merit the
swastika ever had was
washed away by the innocent
blood of 12 million "unde-
sireables." To those who
endured the concentration
camps, to those who lost rel-
atives and their entire com-
munity to the Nazis, the
swastika will always embody
unadulterated evil. Anyone
who tries to remedy the pain
that symbol causes people
today, by referring to its
"positive origins" should
speak to someone who knew
the horror behind the swasti-
ka first-hand.
When anyone, Hindu or
otherwise, sees the swastika
adorning Saraswathi or
Ganesha he or she should
reflect on the sad fact that
humans have the capacity to
take something representative
of good fortune, and turn it
into the mark of butchers.
The swastika should always
bear that hideous connota-
tion, and people who think
like Kimanthi should be
grateful it was only a mere
"part of the symbolism of
(their) tradition" that the
Nazis stole from them.
RYAN HUDSON
LSA JUNIOR
Hatred on
campus is
growing
TO THE DAILY:
On Oct. 11, 1 encountered
the fifth incident this year of
random people professing
their hate for me. I was walk-
ing down South University
Avenue with my best friend,
talking about random things,
doing nothing in particular,
when we met a large group
of men. As we walked by the
group, one of the men said
"Look at the faggots." I was
not sure if I had mistakenly
heard the man, so I turned to
look back.
The man who made the
comment also turned and
with an evil smirk, clearly
and loudly repeated
"Faggots!" I cannot imagine
what could have provoked
such a hateful response from
some stranger on the street.
We were not doing anything
different than the other hun-
dred people on South
University, yet this man sin-
gled us out. This really both-
ers me, as one of the previ-
ous incidents lead to violence
that sent a friend of mine to
the hospital.
Wh i it that nennie
root causes of hatred on this
campus. It is my belief that
hate is a growing problem
here that needs to be
addressed before it becomes
uncontrollable, or leads to
more violence.
BENJAMIN MUMFORD
ENGINEERING JUNIOR
Smokers are
'sucked dry
by moralists'
TO THE DAILY:
I was completely
intrigued at Yuki Kuniyuki's
Ground Zero on Thursday,
Oct. 9. Kuniyuki decided to
represent the tobacco compa-
nies as King Kong, and air-
line attendants as an airplane
attacking him. On first
glance, you think this is a
monster being killed by little
man, and, in the end, you
have a happy ending.
However, upon actually
looking at the King Kong
story, you see a different idea.
King Kong is a gentle crea-
ture who was kidnapped from
his natural environment, and
taken to New York. After
hours of being displayed like
an animal, he breaks free and
flees in terror to the one per-
son who showed him love.
Then his cruel captives hunted
him down and killed him for
being scared and lonely. I find
it interesting that Kuniyuki
has displayed the tobacco
company as being King Kong.
The tobacco companies are, at
present, being represented in
the media as a monster, and it
is a present fad for individuals
to attack this monster,
My parents, however, are
smokers, like many individu-
als on campus, and should
rightly blame tobacco compa-
nies, right? No, they know
that they chose to smoke, it
was not forced down their
throats. They do, however,
blame moralists, who think
they know what is best for
my parents, by making their
addiction so expensive. My
parents work hard for their
small paychecks, and find it
upsetting to know that a large
chunk is going to feed their
addiction. If there is anyone
in this world who is King
Kong, mercilessly being mur-
dered by society, it is the
addicts from the '60s and
'70s who know they are
being sucked dry by the
moralists in our government.
PATRICK EKNs
LSA SOPHOMORE
Williams
must not be
forgotten
TO THE DAILY:
on the front page, and contin-
ue to nurture and facilitate
discussion on this campus
around these issues.
However, we cannot allow
the death of Tamara Williams
to fade from memory.
Nevertheless, in many ways,
she already has. I believe that
the media coverage of Tamara
Williams did much to mar-
ginalize and distance her
from the "rest of us" in order
to make ourselves feel more
"safe." She was an African
American woman. She was a
general studies major. She
lived on the furthest corner of
University housing from
Central Campus. She had a
child. She had an older abu-
sive partner who was not a
student. In other words, she
was not one of "us so "we"~
do not have to worry about
dating/domestic violence hap-
pening to us on this campus.
This incident would have
been perceived entirely dif-
ferent if this tragedy had hap-
pened to a white woman on
South Forest Avenue. The
shock would still be ringing
in our ears.
Still, I am relieved by the
University's responses: the
forums, the vigils, attention
by the administration, etc.
The next challenge is to edu-
cate, reflect, learn, get
involved and gain a greater
self-awareness of our own
actions and stereotypes.
Finally, 1 appreciate the
numerous people who have
done what they could these
past couple of weeks to care,
cope and heal.
DAVIDDE SELA
LSA JUNIOR
Clean water
is in danger
To THE DAILY:
This year, we are celebrat-
ing the 25th anniversary of
the Clean Water Act. The
Clean Water Act was a land-
mark bill to ensure that our
rivers, lakes and streams
remain clean and free of pol-
lution. And the bill's success
in mandating the release of
pollution by big industries is
unquestionable.
It was not all that long
ago that the Cuyahoga River
in Ohio was catching on fire
because of the pollution
being dumped into it. And
think back to what Lake Erie
was like 15 years ago. The
difference is like night and
day. But astwe celebrate the
success of the Clean Water
Act, it is important to
remember that there are those
in Congress who want to roll
back, or dismantle it. There
are those in Congress who
think that any government
regulation is a bad regulation.
And that is what they tried to
do last year, when Newt
Gingrich locked arms with
the likes of Nick Smith and
nick rahrvcler to wan
soft money
gives voters the
sleazy elections
they crave
oxing fans are familiar with the
phrase "tomato can."
A tomato can is a really, really bad
boxer who is matched up against
someone faster and stronger than
is. With a consid-
erably brghter
future. The toma-
to can gets
knocked around
the ring for three
or four rounds
until his head
finally springs a
leak, or both of
his eyes swell
shut and the ref JAM
ends the fight. MILLER
The victor looks MLE
like a great boxer, oN T
and the tomato
can sits in the locker room for half an
hour trying to remember where he left
his car keys.
Editorialists do the same thing.
There are certain issues that look
great on journalistic pay-per-view.
you stick with one of the canards lie
domestic violence, the emptiness of
television, Palestine sucks or the ever
popular "America the beautiful, isn't
it a good time to count our blessings"
you are guaranteed to dominate your
opponent. But even better than that,
you will probably be able to churn out
one of those great, The New York
Times-kind of editorials, hands
clenched firmly around the obviou
Affirmative action, race relatios,s*
decline of real wages and the disap.
pearance of the middle class are way
too hard. Stay with the Cuban welter-
weight.
Which is why I didn't want to talk
about campaign finance reform. It's
too easy t be covertly mediocre.
You bash politicians (that's hard),
you take the risky position of being
against greed and corruption a
then champion the voter as the po
oppressed loser in all this and throw
yourself on the populist fires. See, it
took me one sentence. It takes the
Times their whole edit page. But I
digress.
There are two huge issues that
everyone has whiffed on over these
few monthstof pyrotechnics. The first
is that most voters don't really want
soft money (a large cash donation that
is routed through a candidate's pa9
to hide the trail) banned. And the rea-
son we don't want soft money banned
is that cheap campaigns no longer get
our democratic Jones, and the candi.
dates know it.
Think of the electorate as a fickle
high-maintenance date. Ice cream
sodas, walks on the beach and
homemade valentines just aren't
going to get Senator Briefcase inj
our pants. We want to be pamper
and impressed. Lavish commercials,
acres of TV time, buttons, rallies, T-
shirts, pithy speeches and intricate
strategies - that's the man for us.
This is what soft money pays for-
our amusement. If we didn't salivate
like Pavlov's dogs for slick, expen-
sive, assassinating commercials, they
wouldn't use them. Politicians do
only that which will win them the
most votes. Therefore, whatever it
they do to us, we have tacitly agree
to.
If the soft money sugar daddy
should happen to disappear one day,
who will provide for us in the manner
to which we have become accus-
tomed?
Which brings me to my next point.
TV and our own tastes in campaign-
ing styles has insured that every
office, from the U.S. Rep. of S
Pork, W Va., to the presidency, 17
hideously expensive to obtain.
If any meaningful and lasting
reform were to be passed by Congress
there would be a huge money- vacu-
um. All the amenities that soft money
buys would evaporate. No more Dick
Morris-crafted morality lectures, no
more "thousand points of light"
speeches. Nothing.
The only alternative is that we p
for our stupid, gladiatorial ca
paigns ourselves, which is laughable.
We, the people, don't even like vot-
ing. It makes us feel rebellious, like
Patrick Henry, to sit at home, smile
smugly to our spouses and ignore
our duties, as if not voting makes
you some kind of Bastille-storming
hero.
Given that we like our inertness,
and won't even make a detour aftg
work to elect the leader of the free
world and his minions, it's absolute-
ly foolish to think that we would
actually finance a campaign with our
own money.
Like nearly every other problem
with our elected officials, we share a
large slice of the blame. We have
I