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