4 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 31, 1997 ol he 9. icl i tn jDat7lt, 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 NOTABLE QUOTABLE 'We always accept more students than we eventually enroll. (This year) we had more students send in enrollment deposits than we expected.' -Associate Provost Lester Monts, commenting on this year's largest class offirst-year students PURPLE HERRING G Unless otherwise noid, WlSlwsigned 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 Drug money Higher fines will not deter marijuana use From $5 to $15 to $25; how high will the Ann Arbor City Council raise the mari juana possession fine? The city has a reputa- tion for "marijuana-friendly" laws that, unlike many of their state and federal coun- terparts, are not excessively taxing on those; found in possession of the drug. Over the past7 20 years, the fine grew from $5 to the present rate of $25. A recent proposal before the Ann Arbor City Council would raise the fine again - exacting a severe financial penalty for using a drug whose illegal status is illogical. The city council should ignore the proposal. Marijuana is not as dangerous a drug as sub- stances that are already legal.I The intent is to keep minors from using marijjana and other drugs by increasing the financial penalty for such behavior. But arbitrarily increasing the fine will do little+ to prevent young persons' drug use. In effect, it will serve to punish adults more harshly for using a drug that should be legal. Taking marijuana off the list of illicit substances would allow officials to mandate tighter. controls and regulations for its sale - keeping it out of the hands of minors. Many argue that legalizing marijuana would promote its widespread use. But like a; child reaching for cookies that they are noti supposed to eat, many marijuana users are attracted as much to the drug's allure as an ille- gal substance as they are to its actual chemical: effects. After Prohibition's end, alcohol use did; not increase markedly - it is likely that mari- juana would follow suit. If pot were legalized, millions of dollars would be freed to enhance educational programs focused on keeping stu- dents off more dangerous drugs.+ Marijuana, unlike most of its companion illegal substances, is not addictive. The health consequences associated with smoking the drug are the same as those smokers of legal nicotine cigarettes incur - negating the argu- ment that pot poses a significant health risk. In fact, the drug does considerably less dam- age to the body than does alcohol, a legal and more socially accepted chemical. The government spends millions of dol- lars annually to incarcerate marijuana law offenders. Someone is arrested for possession of a cannabis substance almost every minute. These huge expenditures remove money from other important social programs that could use the funds, such as drug education programs. Present programs put an equal emphasis on all drugs - telling children that substances as diverse as cocaine, heroin, mar- ijuana and LSD all have the same effects and consequences. But marijuana has none of the other drugs' addictive qualities and is not associated with overdose deaths. In fact, marijuana proved itself useful in the medical setting. Arizona and California voters approved the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes more than a year ago. The drug increases AIDS patients' appetite as well as curbs vomiting in cancer patients after chemotherapy treatments. It can also be used in the treatment of glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. The drug has numer- ous beneficial medical applications - it is imperative that it be available to doctors in all states for continued use. Marijuana remains illegal in the United States, but Ann Arbor city ordinances do not exact a stiff financial penalty for the drug's possession. City council should maintain the city's reputation of social protest to marijua- na's illegality and keep the marijuana pos- session fine at its present low level. ff AL/I - YARt, QVsi N FS 7N i5)IN 6S MERGERS 4-. KNOW KIND OF LIKE TIGET ANA} MIB8E TA IWAN, _ .- r . r . _i s ,, r_- -wl ,, !f- , LETTERS TO THE EDITOR overseas visitor Meeings should focus E arlier this week, Chinese president Jiang Zemin donned a cowboy hat much like that worn by Deng Xiaoping, the last Chinese leader to visit the United States. In an attempt to win over Americans, the top Chinese communist official demanded red-carpet treatment and an official state dinner. But lying behind the pomp and circumstance are serious issues. The summit's agenda includes a dialogue about trade issues, human rights concerns and democratic ideals. President Clinton should use the visit as an opportunity to end America's empty threats against the country and instead take action. China is the only communist nation to which America grants "most favored nation" trading status. Due to its booming economy and cheap labor, America receives more Chinese exports than any other coun- try. But this amount of trade constitutes a $44 billion trade deficit. Clinton plans to discuss this problem, but a solution is not yet in the making. Jiang and Clinton hold separate agendas and the awkwardness that these two exude is quite apparent. Senior officials say that progress will be, at best, incremental. There is likely to be a nuclear agreement, a policy to provide U.S. assistance to clear China's air pollution and the promotion of a new age of economic cooperation. But it remains clear that the main accomplishment of this summit meet- ing is that it is happening at all. America's foreign policy toward China could constitute the single-most poorly handled policy of Clinton's administration. America simply does not get enough in return for ending its diplomatic quarantine of China after the riots at Tiananmen Srnare Clinton needs to demand results. on human rights, trade abuses need to end and political dissidents in captivity should be released. But instead, Clinton has made security issues like nuclear proliferation and restraining North Korea the most important justifica- tions for deepening U.S. relations with China - not human rights. For the U.S. business community, this could make way for $60 billion in contracts over the next 15 years. Clinton must not jeopardize ethics for money. It is time for Clinton to stand up to the powerful eastern nation. Economic sanc- tions should be enforced instead of just threatened. If China refuses to dismantle layers of protection and subsidies for its state enterprises that unfairly compete with American exports, Clinton holds the responsibility to exact punishment. At every prior meeting, Americans bring up prominent human-rights cases like well- known jailed dissidents and ask for their release. In addition, America wants Red Cross visits to Chinese prisons and an "official" institutionalized dialogue on human rights. Continued freedom in Hong Kong and the end of religious repression in Tibet are both goals of Clinton's agenda. But Americans have yet to receive ade- quate concessions - the Chinese have rit- ually responded that these are strictly inter- nal affairs and the United States should not interfere. When Jiang Zemin demands an official state visit, red-carpet treatment and a 21- gun salute, these issues no longer remain outside the United States' pervue. It is now up to diplomats to accomplish what has been overlooked for years. America needs to stand up and let it be known that China's economic and civil rights policies are unac- Workplace diversity is common TO THE DAILY: I have to submit a rebuttal to Richard Hofer's letter in the 10/9/97 edition of the Daily ('"Real world' work- place shows lack of diversi- ty"). As a fellow engineering senior, I have also worked in a number large of Fortune 500 companies. However, I have not experienced any of what Hofer contends is com- mon in the work place. Just this past summer, my upper-level manager was a minority and the head of the entire engineering depart- ment was a minority. In addi- tion, everywhere you walked in the building there were minorities and women work- ing together with middle- aged, white males. So although it is true that some companies still have glass ceilings, for the most part, that is not true of large corporations. In fact, the company I worked for had very strict discrimination and harassment policies. Therefore, Hofer should not use his discouraging experience to label all of the industry when I strongly feel his experience was the excep- tion rather than the rule. DAVID HUDYMA ENGINEERING SENIOR Attempt at Indian anthem should not be criticized TO THE DAILY: I sincerely congratulate the young group of people who took the initiative to cel- ebrate MK Gandhi's birthday on campus. It is unfortunate that I missed it as I had no knowledge about this cere- mony; the event could have been advertised better. I was very unhappy with the letter posted by Kumar Gopalakrishnan ("Photo of anthem was confusing,' 10/14/97). I would ask him to be more open-minded and less critical on matters like this. Some people (whoever it might be) took the effort to celebrate the birthday of this great leader who is probably one of the most well-known symbols of non-violence in the world. It does not matter at all whether sucha ceremo- ny was conducted as "perfect- ly" as Gopalakrishnan would want it, but someone took the initiative. I am probably as Indian as he is, but I did not find anything offensive or wrong about either the photo- graph or the celebration. I Constitution "requires a spe- cific posture," etc. for singing the Anthem is carried on in thousands of occasions in India. I hereby humbly request that Gopalakrishnan take the initiative and con- ducts the "Gandhi Jayanti" next year on this foreign land (here on campus at the University for example) in the "constitutional" way. It is truly unfortunate that although this world is flood- ed with critics, it has very few leaders and organizers. DHRUBA CHATERJEE UNIVERSITY STAFF 'Keepers' do not force their religion on people TO THE DAILY: In response to James Miller's column on 10/8/97 ("Keep God's code at home - and far away from legisla- tors"), I respectfully disagree with several points that were made and I believe that he misinterpreted the goal of the Promise Keepers and the Body of Christ as a whole. One thing that sets this group apart is the focus on the indi- vidual, or the working out of one's own salvation. These men participate in the Promise Keepers to get their lives in order, not to judge the next manrabout his lifestyle. As for the "queasy feel- ing" brewing in Miller's stomach, I doubt that the Promise Keepers or Christians are the cause. I do not see an agenda for these men other than focusing on becoming more Christ-like. That sure seems like a per- sonal commitment to me. While it is a desire of a Christian to see another per- son saved, no Christian or Christian group can force that on anyone - it's a per- sonal decision to come to Christ. Therefore, I fail to see how the Promise Keepers are out to use "that same oint- ment" (as Miller put it) to save the world. I am not, however, surprised at the recent attacks on the group or other Christians; but Jesus said, "Blessed are they that are persecuted for my name's sake ..." (Matthew 5:10). Trust me, it will be worth it. DAWN HARRIS LSA JUNIOR Lawsuit against 'U' is racist TO THE DAILY: By now, most everyone through what (she) went through." The main point of contention in the lawsuit is that race "was one of the pre- dominant factors used for determining admission" I can't get over the sense that we've heard all these things before. If [were to make a wild guess, 1'd say these were the same com- plaints issued by oppressed minorities before the days of affirmative action. Is that it. then'? Are these poor kids simply feeling that they are now in the same boat as stu- dents of color have been in for countless decades now? The comments that have been issued to justify this blatantly racist attack on affirmative action are either unbelievably naive or pur- posefully ignorant of a long history of social, political, economical and educational oppression. Affirmative action was created because race, in fact, has been one of the predominant factors used for determining admission. It was created because count- less other students of color have already gone through what Gratz claims is a new- found suffering. It was creat- ed because students of color have always been treated less favorably in considering their applications for admission to any and all colleges. Institutionalized racism in the educational arena has always existed, and it is amazing that such an uproar is created now that two white students find themselves at the receiving end of the race equation. The fact is that, for the moment, we need affirmative action. It is far from being a perfect system but it is all that we have, all that we have been graciously granted by the same system that has sought to oppress us at every turn. We need it because, whether peo- ple acknowledge it or not, racism and prejudice still abound in this society. There are still many people who, when evaluating two identical college applications, will give preference to the application who answers "white" in the "What is your ethnicity?" question over the other who answers "Hispanic," "African American" or "Native American." Without affirma- tive action, there will be noth- ing to stop the bigots in the admissions committees across the nation from doing just this. At the very heart of the matter is a racist attack on all of us of color by a group of law-spewing bigots who are covering themselves through the ludicrous cry of "reverse racism." To those of us defending affirmative action, we must draw the line here. Should the lawsuit win here as well, then there is no stop- ping them from reversing affirmative action across the nation. The time has come to make a definitive stand. To those who have launched and Commercialism turns Halloween into what you fear the most Tt's all Hallow's Eve, so every ghost, Igoblin and ghoul get ready to get down and celebrate this moment s insight to the darker side of huma nature that rarely rears to the surface of our collective psyche. Yep, only Christmas is scari- er. Halloween is a marketing and commercialization Cinderella story. I mean, what does it have? A little candy, a few cos- PAUL tumes and some SERILLA rotten eggs. Pow! RIA All of a sudden, it WARFARE blazes out of con- trol like a flaming bag of poop on devil's night. When did somebody trade in the Reeses Pieces for a multi- billion dollar industry (a pretty good trade if you ask me)? Halloween i now the second-biggest grossing holi- day, behind Christmas. Candy and cos- tumes account for a lot, but it is really the adults with decorations, parties and enough booze to make Halloween the third-biggest drinking day of the year that have pushed this once-quiet October night over the top. But why Halloween'? Are we just reliving a cherished childhood memo- ry? Maybe it's just the chance to pre- tend to be something we aren't or peri haps it's about participating in an ancient tradition that is a little against the grain and a little dubious. I think it could be any combination of those thingstbut more than anything else, I think it is about fear. On Halloween, you can face things that normally would make you jump out of your britches with a reasonable degree of safety. Butywhat makes something scary? was always really basic on the fright meter: The Saturday Thriller on the local UHF station and stories about the escaped psychopaths at summer camp were always enough for me maybe it is a little stereotypical, but growing up in the 'burbs during the '80s, Stephen King and Freddy Kruger were really hard to miss. But I realize that different things scare different people. For instance, when he was little, m youngest brother was deathly afraid of clowns and anything wearing a wig - I tend to think he thought that small furry creatures were praying upon peo- ple's heads, but who knows? My girl- friend's dog gets unbelievably scared by anyone wearing a hat - I tend to believe the dog thinks a change in hea gear equals a change in personality, but again, it is just a theory That's why Halloween is so coo~ because you can become your biggest fear. 1 can be a blood-drenched, knife- wielding maniac and my girlfriend's dog can be a beret or a sock cap. So this year I thought I would go down a few exam- ples of how some peoples' biggest fears have affected their Halloween attire. First up, from Wall Street to Hong Kong, stock brokers and other invest- ment bigwigs are taking the recent market slump in stride and enjoyin Halloween A popular costume anong market analysts this year is a South- east Asian currency speculator (shak- ing in your boots, aren't you?). Apart from the Armani suit, it is an easy gig, you just run around threatening to trade all your Thai bahts for dollars and send the global economy spiraling and technology stocks plummeting. Leave it to those financial whizzes to steal all the good costume ideas befor the rest of us even get to take ,,a crack~ Speaking of crack, there is a group on campus that has a surprising interest in Halloween - the coffee shop commu- nists. You know the type, black turtle- necks, over-used copies of the Communist Manifesto in one hand and miniature paper espresso cup in the other. Even the womenlook surprising- ly like Lenin ("Hey .Susan, nice goa- tee"). Yep, every Halloween the militant vanguard of pseudo-intellectuals dres up as the scariest possible thing in their rather limited world view. You guessed it: The commies are going as "the man!" Actually, they take turns dressing up as "the man" and everyone else is a co-conspirator. These cronies of "the man" go around creating strife, socio-political inequal- ity and generally just exercising their ability to keep everybody down Meanwhile, the lucky commie wh got to be "the man" sits comfortably at home laughing diabolically and plot- ting more ways to keep us down (ter- rorism, corrupting law enforcement, giving more parking tickets, etc.). Sometimes you run into several fears that just confuse what you really want to mal,,-. . a nv n 4llr. nian lFn~r nofnn-a I i