4 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 17, 1997 ctwe £kbcliguntiI 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan ll JOSH WHITE Editor in Chief ERIN MARSH Editorial Page Editor " NOTABLE QUOTABLE,, 'We want the test to mean something ... it should mean more than just a mark on a student's transcript.' - State Rep. Kwame Kilpatrick (D-Detroit), on the state's High School Proficiency Test 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 Basketball daries 'U' mishandled distribution of report PURPLE HERRING E K is first few years at the University H boomed with success - Michigan basketball coach Steve Fisher brought one of the greatest college basketball teams ever to two NCAA finals. But that was then, and this is now. Last week, University President Lee Bollinger and Athletic Director Tom Goss released Fisher from his eight-year tenure after a University-sponsored investigation revealed numerous minor NCAA infractions. According to Fisher and Regent Daniel Horning (R-Grand Haven), Bollinger protnised to furnish them copies of the inv stigation's report before it was distrib- uted it to the media. Instead, The Ann Arbor News and other media outlets obtained a full copy before Fisher and the University Board of Regents. Bollinger refutes his part in the decision by stating that he did not have control over the coaching situation nor jurisdiction in this matter. "I said repeatedly I would not become involved in the employment of coaches and I certainly mean that," ollinger said. Therefore, the athletic department must solely rule on the practice of hiring and firing coaches, which in turn, mkes it a separate division of the University. If Bollinger claims that he removed himself from the equation, then he erred when he promised Fisher and the regents copies of the report before the pub- lic release. Aside from making promises for which he had no intention of being responsible, Bollinger's opting to exclude himself from the matter neglected one of his fundamental duties as University president. For example, it was Bollinger's decision to hire Athletic Director Tom Goss - if he so desired, he could fire Goss along with numerous other administrators, faculty and staff members. It is Bollinger's duty to uphold the University's image. In order to accomplish this, he must be keen about every issue affecting the campus community and every facet of the University - especially the ath- letic department and issues such as the bas- ketball investigation. By removing himself from athletic department operations, Bollinger is setting a dangerous precedent for his role in University affairs. Michigan hails its athlet- ic programs, placing them on the same level as its strong academics. It is the president's job to take responsibility for the entire University, not just certain aspects that do not cause him trouble. Furthermore, the regents have had a his- tory of tenuous relations with the athletic department and its dealings. In 1995, athlet- ic department officials sealed two major deals without consulting or informing the regents. Officials inked a $7 million deal with Nike and bought out the remainder of former Michigan football coach Gary Moeller's contract - and the regents learned about both after they were done deals. The president, athletic department offi- cials and the board of regents must now go forth to forge significantly better relations. They must also share responsibility for the University's most public spheres. Mutual respect and a shared sense of accountability will go far in presenting the University's image as cohesive, united and proud. The University's mishandling of the basketball controversy should be admonished, as it dangerously impedes the reliability and efficacy of the University's administration. MY~ DAD'S AN ALUM,-AN O A ES 0 0TA D - ?"o896 AoId1ITTED. IMV VA1/V6RSI7Y RESOOM -To ALrtMIAWVE wAyS 70 S6L6c7 APPLlfCANPI) IN AN A$SoLVT7&Y VLIMVIASED IAAI/ER. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Full house Rehabilitation programs quell overcrowding steady increase in the number of A inmates in the state's correctional facil- ities in recent years has filled them to capac- ity and forced the Michigan Department of Corrections to convert recreation rooms to cellsas state officials search for a long-term solution. But the state's options are limited - lawmakers are hesitant to increase an already exorbitant correctional budget. This creates something of a catch-22 for the law- makers; their policy of tougher sentences simply feeds the population growth in cor- rectional facilities, increasing budgetary needs. Finding alternative means of rehabil- itation is imperative to mend the imperfect corrections system and prepare offenders fqr their return to society. The implementation of "mandatory min- imum" laws for drug offenders, or a stan- dard sentence based solely on the quantity of drugs in the criminal's possession, has increased the number of inmates and caused an enormous rise in corrections expenditures. Seventy-one percent of the United States' correctional facilities' popu- lation are drug offenders who, on average, spend more time in prison than those con- victed of sexual abuse, assault and naanslaughter. Most of these drug offenders have no prior record and no history of vio- lencee - yet the government spends $22,000 annually to house each of these non-violent criminals who would be better served by a rehabilitation program. Gov. John Engler has endorsed the use of "mlandatory minimum" laws in order to "get tough on crime" - belying the many alternative methods of corrections avail- A E-s include intensive probation, drug rehabilita- tion, community service, non-military boot camps, "house arrest" supported employ- ment and day treatment care. All of these programs are less expensive than correc- tional facilities and better prepare criminals to return to society. As the facilities become less and less "correctional" due to massive overcrowding problems, it is important for lawmakers to see the financial and rehabili- tative benefits of alternatives to incarcera- tion. In one scenario, a first-time drug offender could be sentenced to five years in a correctional facility, costing the state a total of $110,000. For the same amount, that person could spend one year in a cor- rectional facility, one year in residential drug treatment and three years on super- vised probation and out-patient drug treat- ment - leaving $62,500 for other civic investments by the state. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the great majority of recidivism studies of federal prison releases report that the amount of time inmates serve in prison does not increase or decrease the likelihood that they will commit another crime. A reduc- tion in sentence length and an increase in the use of alternative means will not create an unsafe society, but simply benefit both the inmate and the citizen. There needs to be an end to "mandatory minimum" laws and a stronger focus on rehabilitation as a means of correction. Society spends too much money on an inef- fective system that targets non-violent criminals. Engler has to focus on the reha- ltsanr o nfana..e..rnh. thn - mpr.&... Money, not racism, drives large corporations To THE DAILY: I am writing in response to Richard Hofer's letter ("'Real world' workplace shows lack of diversity," 10/9/97). Now I am no expert, but I don't believe it is true to say that racism is present today because many companies are made up of and run by middle-aged white men. Understand that I am not denying that racism exists in the workplace today, only questioning the absolute causality of this argument. That they are middle-aged is very relevant here, for could not past racist privilege be the explanation sometimes (and not current corporate racism)? For example, in the past, white men held every advan- tage in education training and experience (and this is true today to some extent), so as a result of these unfair privi- leges, white males have per- haps achieved more creden- tials. Employers must choose who will do the best job based on credentials and while this indirectly con- dones past racist or sexist privilege, it is not necessarily present racism or sexism that is the cause (I suppose this is why many people support affirmative action - they believe it fights past racism). Again, I am not saying that company executives are not racist, but the fact that they are made up today of mainly middle-aged white men does not absolutely imply current racism either. Furthermore, to those unfamiliar with corporations, let me introduce you. First and foremost, the only inter- est of corporations is profit. They have stockholders who demand a good return, and that is their reason for exis- tence. With today's super- competitive global market, companies cannot afford to award jobs to people on the basis of anything other than merit if they expect to stay in business for the long haul. At one time, companies could afford to persist having racist policies, but increasingly, I think they realize that those which stick with race or gen- der privileges will certainly be annihilated. The time of reckoning is truly near for companies which persist in racist decadence, for no more is every door closed to talent- ed minorities. The corpora- tion that will triumph will not be that which is the whitest, but that which has the most qualified employees. Now all this has been somewhat theoretical and I an undArtnfd if nenle oppressed foreign workers now do jobs that have been taken away mainly from mid- dle-aged white men, how does anybody say the corpo- rations favor the middle-aged white man? Come on, they don't give a damn about the white man, the black man or women of any race either. They are corporations - it's about the money. JOHN LEHNING ENGINEERING JUNIOR Code hearing was biased against accused man TO THE DAILY: It is troubling to me that a woman with a history of passing out drunk at a frat house can up and decide she wvas harassed and bring very serious charges against another person. She doesn't sound like one who would be able to accurately recount the particular evening's events, and seeing as how she was told by the fraternity she was not welcome there because of her prior behavior, I fail to understand why she was even there. Based upon the reac- tions of the two people involved in this case, it would seem that the Code of Student Conduct is more eas- ily implemented in favor of females. This I find troubling as well. I also think that while frat parties may not be a breeding ground for sexual harassment in general, they are definitely a haven for flirting. While the beer is flowing, the music bumping, and the bodies dancing, the line between healthy flirting and sexual harassment can become mud- died to some. TIM MAUN ENGINEERING FIRST-YEAR STUDENT Swastikas have different meanings TO THE DAILY: As soon as I read the first article about the swastika inci- dent, I knew that many people (including those who wrote the letters to the editor) were very confused. Please let me clarify for everyone who still think that the evil Nazi swasti- ka has a "positive origin": Take a closer look first - they are different! The Hindu or Buddhist swastika is counterclock- wise, stands on one of its sides, and symbolizes the turning and circulation of someone say so makes me sick. HENRY CHOU ENGINEERING SENIOR Fisher did not deserve to be fired by Goss TO THE DAILY: I have been a Michigan basketball fan since the Fab Five era. To me, it's not Michigan basketball without Steve Fisher. Dealing with fans expecting to win the National Championship every year was only one of the few burdens Fisher had to bear throughout his coaching career here. The team was too often seen as overrated underachievers, but maybe the fans were too idealistic and overly expectant. I look at it as a parallel to the Red Wings.sWhen their season wasn't looking up and the team was packed with tal- ent, the fans and the media began their talks of the firing of Scotty Bowman. Why? Because-they wanted the Stanley Cup. They expected the Stanley Cup. Detroit waited more than 50 years to have their glory and they did it under the coach everyone wanted to fire. Couldn't Michigan have waited? I feel the University han- dled the situation poorly. The so-called "changes" that "need to be made" should not have been the firing of the head coach - one who is seen by the players as a father figure and by most people a good man. What were Tom Goss's true inten- tions in firing Fisher? Was it for the best interest and image of the University or was it to flex his muscles as the new athletic director? The department is failing to listen to the players who have taken a tremendous blow. They're saddened and con- fused by the loss of their leader whom some have deemed their "second father" and instead of giving them to a loving uncle (assistant coach Brian Dutcher), Goss is giving them away to a complete stranger - for the best inter- est and to maintain the image of the University, of course. I am highly disappointed and angered by the decision by Goss and all those that were involved. I am also plaintive to see such a great man treated so unfairly. Another parallel may be to Julius Caesar, a noble man betrayed by his own people. Caesar was a man of strong ambition and good intentions and he was a great soldier. However, there were always the conspirators whose mali- cious intentions fared better with the people and overtook C'aecar in tie eI His yhot 'Homogeneous' and other big words that don 't belong at the 'U" There was a time in my life when I would have cheered on the current efforts to end America's 30-year experiment with affirmative action. few years back, I probably would have been especially encouraged by; lawsuits like the one filed in U.S District Court this eek against th Of course there was also a time slightly earlier in my life, where I enjoyed eating the P PAUL dirt of potted SERILLA houseplants (hey,L everyone deals AF with adolescence in their own way). In both instances, I grw up and learned valuable lessons. First, despite being an excellent source of minerals, dirt and the human digestive track ar not simpatico. Second, despite the mounds of suburban lore surrounding the horrors of the mighty "double 'A,"' middle-class white boys (even particu- larly pale ones like myself) have some- thing to gain from affirmative action. Forstarters, let's get few things straight: It would be easy to charge out of the box and label opponents of affirmative action as un-cosmopolitan, racist, red necked thugs who have no busines* trying to write a complete sentence, much less a bill or legal brief. But 1, unlike several local militant factions, do not choose that route and even if it were true I think it does little for the quality of debate. It would also be easy to simply peg the backlash against affirmative action on frustrated honkies who, for the first time in their lives, are encountering political power that doesn't complete belong to them (I think many minori- ties would say, "Welcome to the club"). Certainly, for many whites the sud- den confusion of discovering that race is a factor that also affects them is part of the story. I grew up in a predomi- nately white suburb of Detroit and when many whites I went to high school with got letters of rejection from colleges, they blamed it on affr- mative action, discounting any ot possibilities. As many of you can probably guess, beyond the clean side- walks and wel I-manicured lawns of the suburban landscape lies a mountain of anecdotal evidence that proves affir- mative action is as wrong as mixing stripes and plaids. "Let's see, you got an 850 on your SAT, you have a 1.9 GPA and you mis- spelled .university' on your applica- tion essay - damn those reverse-di criminating, Ivy League snobs!" However, discounting the obvious impact of what happened to the nephew of your best friend's cousin's dog's dermatologist - chalking up current anti-affirmative action senti- ments to a few mildly frustrated teens downplays the issue's seriousness. The reason affirmative action is under fire is basically because its oppo- nents have a few basic misconceptions the first of which is easy to rectify. Many people have no idea what affir- mative action really is. They think of it in terms of quotas - a system that, for example, would demand a certain per- centage of African Americans, Asians, Latinos, etc. However, since Bakke v. Caliornia in 1978, quotas have been eliminated from affirmative action. Race is only one of many factors used in college admissions - -as often a that phrase is repeated, I still don't think a lot of people understand it. That is only heightened by the sec- ond misconception: I don't think affir- mative action opponents have a firm grasp on what equality really means. Their definition of equality isaincom- plete, is not completely incongruent with the Constitution, but it is one- dimensional. Equality is not simply a scenario that dsays equal SAT score mean equal consideration for admis- sion, because that doesn't account for years of inequality that may have led to the day the test was taken. It isn't equal to say that institutionalized racism doesn't matter or doesn't exist, because it does. Some opponents, like Prof. Carl Cohen, say affirmative action has served its course and is no longer a viable option for achieving a divers campus. Simply, racism still exists an I think the good professor's time would be better served trying to figure a "better way" to address that cultural reality. You need a plan to build before you tear down. Off campus, State Rep. David Jaye (R-Macomb) even found time to call I I