4 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, April 21, 1998
420 Maynard Street LAURIE MAYK
Ann Arbor,-MI 48109
Editor in Chief
Edited and managed by J SCH4LAC
students at the JACK SCHILLACI
University of Michigan 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
Hall hike
Fee distribution should be handled case-by-case
'You could take a picture of someone at the Naked
Mile and have It on the Internet In an hour.'
- Mike Steele, a University alumnus and spokesperson for www nakedmile.com,
on the publicity the Naked Mile is receiving on the World Wide Web
YUKI KUNIYUKI GROUN D Z ERO
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98-
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Students who live in University
Housing may soon see their fees
increase under a proposal recently passed
by the Residence Hall Association. The
student housing fee will increase $2 for a
total of $22. RHA will no longer receive
funds from the Housing Division; instead,
it will receive $2 of each student's fee
while multicultural councils will receive
$4 and house councils will receive $16.
Students will be billed individually for
these fees, rather than having each of
these services fall under a single fee, as it
does now. This amounts to an 80-cent-
per-student funding increase. But while
this money will be going to a good cause,
the distribution of funds should not nec-
essarily be the same in all of the residence
halls.
For some residence halls, the change in
billing will be very helpful. An increase
in funding would help these halls offer
more services to residents, and improve
race relations through the activities spon-
sored by multicultural councils. House
councils can help build a sense of com-
munity within the individual houses of
the residence halls - enhancing the
learning environment. RHA should
ensure that the many small-scale pro-
grams that house councils put on - from
barbecues to renting the CCRB - are
provided for in their budget.
But other residence halls, such as
Couzens and Alice Lloyd, will lose fund-
ing for their multicultural councils once
the change in billing takes place. This
should not happen, especially at a time
when multicultural concerns are at the
forefront of the University conscience.
This clearly shows a need for individual
fees to be determined on a case-by-case
basis. Residence hall councils should not
have to lose funding under the new sys-
tem.
In addition, RHA should provide more
tangible services to students. Presently,
many students may be unaware of the ser-
vices that the association provides. To
justify the increase in the housing fee,
RHA should both increase the number of
services and programs offered and make
them better known to students. Residents
of University Housing deserve to know
that the increased amount of money they
are paying will be put to good use.
The increase in the University
Housing fee should be used for purposes
that will, prove beneficial to the residents
of most halls. But considering the fact
that some halls will actually lose funding
for their multicultural committees, the
change should not be a blanket distribu-
tion of money in which funding is allot-
ted the same way in each residence hall.
Since different halls have different needs,
distributing the fee money differently on
a case-by-case basis would be more ben-
eficial. And although students may now
have a better idea of what their housing
fees are being used for, it would still help
for RHA to publicize its services to stu-
dents and even to offer more benefits.
These changes would help make resi-
dence hall life better for students at the
University.
ed truth
The
'U' helps protect Naked Mile runners
The annual tradition of University stu-
dents streaking through campus to
celebrate and mark the end of classes will
be taking place tonight. What had begun
years ago as an innocent expression of
college students letting loose and having
fun, the Naked Mile has since become a
nationally publicized event. Publicity,
along with non-participating spectators,
has added a negative element to the event
as well as created a potentially dangerous
environment for participants who bare all
in celebration of the conclusion of classes.
So while the City of Ann Arbor has active-
ly tried to discourage students from any
participation in the run so as to avoid a
potentially dangerous situation, this year,
the University administration has taken a
different and more realistic approach -
helping runners rather than leaving them
to fend for themselves. The University, as
well as the numerous student groups
involved, deserve credit for taking a
proactive stance and helping keep stu-
dents safe.
The University and student group rep-
resentatives have developed plans that
will improve the safety of the entire
event. Students and administrators are
working together with local police
departments to help educate students and
monitor the run. Women, especially, are
being educated about the potential threats
of sexual harassment and assault since, in
the past, runners have been videotaped
and fondled by onlookers. Also, student
monitors will be strategically placed at
high-traffic sites at which runners often
congregate to aid police officers; these
monitors will have access to two-way
radios that can be used to contact
Department of Public Safety officers if
necessary.
Student groups have also donated
money to be used to buy T-shirts that will
be given to runners as they reach the cen-
ter of the Diag. Organizers plan to print as
many T-shirts as they can afford, hoping to
make at least several hundred. While only
a small swatch of clothing, it will likely
improve the safety of students who would
otherwise be prime targets for harassment
or even'assault as they conclude the Naked
Mile and head home.
At this point, it is more logical and
effective for the University to try to
improve the safety of the Naked Mile than
for the city to try to ban the event outright.
This new plan is a very responsible
approach, both on the part of students and
the administration because it is a way of
reaching out to students for their own ben-
efit without restricting or killing the spirit
of the run. This approach of the outreach
will hopefully be more successful, at least
in educating and communicating to every-
one involved the important issues that
accompany the event, than attempts of the
past. The safest approach is, of course, not
to run. But as long as students are going to
run, it is important for the students them-
selves, as well as for the University
administration, to have a plan of action
that will help improve the safety of the
'K's represent
a student
group
TO THE DAILY:
I would like to clarify the
question of what the solitary
'K's that have been seen on
campus stand for. ("What is
with all the 'K's?" 4/9/98)
We hope people do not con-
fuse the Circle K with any
hate symbols or groups that
portray ideals unbecoming of
our community.
On the contrary, Circle K
is a premier service and lead-
ership organization with pro-
grams and events for the
entire community. Students
run the entire group with
assistance from Kiwanis (the
origin of the 'K').
The 'K's that have been
seen around campus were
made in part by our members
and also children from Ann
Arbor. Each one represents at
least one life being influ-
enced through community
service - we hope for mil-
lions more!
Circle K performs a
plethora of projects while
working with the elderly,
handicapped and peers, as
well as our focus on children's
events. We also have leader-
ship-development, team-build-
ing and networking programs
available. Our diverse mem-
bership reaches across every
part of the University, so that
is probably why you might
frequently see 'K's.
Anyone can join us for
our projects (ongoing, weekly
or arbitrary) and programs
(Thursday at 7 p.m. in the
Michigan Union). Our inter-
active Website sums up
everything that we do, so
check it out:
wwwumich.edu/~cki. Or mail
us at circlek@umich.edu to
get involved.
With an open atmosphere
and opportunity for each per-
son to make their own contri-
butions, we would love to
have you join the Circle!
RISHI MOUDGIL
FORMER PRESIDENT,
UNIVERSITY CIRCLE K
The 'U' needs
a backup plan
TO THE DAILY:
While there are probably
a lot of people out there who
would probably be quite con-
tent to never read another let-
ter arguing one side of affir-
mative action or the other,
this debate has made no gains
since the day the lawsuit
against the University was
announced. From that day on,
it has been an oversimplified
shouting match between two
camps of people, both of
whom are determined to put
that the only way schools can
find black people to attend
them is by asking their appli-
cants straight out what their
race is? Why does it seem
like all of the creativity in
dealing with race relations
comes from the bad guys? In
the '60s, when civil rights
legislation was up for vote in
Congress, southern represen-
tatives would get up and read
phone books from the podi-
um until everyone else left,
then they'd vote on the legis-
lation. When it became unac-
ceptable for country clubs to
say they they would not
accept blacks in their by-
laws, they instituted rules
that people could join only if
they were recommended by a
current member. The attitude
of the most vicious racists in
society has always been, "We
don't care what laws you
pass, we will find ways to
keep things as they are." It's
time for the University, and
others around the country, to
say, "We don't care what hap-
pens in this lawsuit. We are
the home of some of the
most intelligent, creative
minds in the country, and we
will find ways to keep our
University diverse, and to
provide opportunities for
those who would otherwise
have none. We're smarter
than you, we're as desperate
as you to win, and we have
righteousness on our side."
If I had any say, I'd take
the millions of dollars that
the University is about to
sink into a fight that Texas
and California have already
lost, and use it to subsidize
the educations of the top 5
percent of those graduating
from the poorest 100 schools
in the state. I'd offer guaran-
teed admittance letters to the
top 10 percent of the classes
graduating from any
Michigan high school from
which we've recruited a bas-
ketball player. These are
ideas that don't discriminate
against any race in particular,
and therefore should be legal
even if the University loses
its lawsuit, but like the coun-
try club admittance rules,
probably would benefit cer-
tain groups of people dispro-
portionately. If racism is as
bad people say it is (and it
is), than it should manifest
itself in some tangible ways
(and it does). The anti-affir-
mative action crowd is trying
to turn the tables on us by
using old civil rights meth-
ods, legislation and litigation
to accomplish their goals. It's
time to turn the tables on
them and use subtlety and
creativity to'accompish ours.
DAN MCKENZIE
UNIVERSITY ALUMNUS
Article on
hackers was
'biased'
wouldn't know an IP address
from his social security num-
ber.
The article was a one-
sided portrayal of hackers as
a devilish subculture.
Although there was a small
mention of hackers who
aren't interested in single-
handedly ruining the world,
the article's overall tone was
anti-hacker. Yes, there are
naughty hackers; but there
are many hackers that want to
learn about computers and
networks.
My point is this: The
Daily should endeavor to
delve into issues with a fair,
educated and evenhanded
stance. Go ahead and write
about negative aspects of
hacking. But make sure you
know enough about the sub-
ject, giving an equal amount
of coverage to the other side
of the story.
ANNIE TOMLIN
LSA SOPHOMORE
MSA has a
'negative
impact'
TO THE DAILY:
Regarding the viewpoint
"MSA has improved 'U' stu-
dent life"
Getting rid of the Wok
Express is not an accom-
plishment.
It has reduced the choices
available to North Campus
students. Perhaps it wasn't
the greatest food available,
but it was a choice.
What will be the next
"accomplishment" of MSA?
Getting rid of the parking
spots at the back of the lot
because they are too far
away?
MSA has had a direct
impact on my student life. A
negative one.
TONY WESLEY
RACKHAM
Letters to the
editor should
not be attacks
TO THE DAILY:
I always thought that the
whole point of a letter to the
editor was to address the editor
of a paper with concerns or
comments. Since when has it
become an arena for arguing
back and forth between
authors of letters? Unless
someone is looking for a little
piece of glory (as may be the
case in the angry engineers
upset about someone correct-
ing Pi) why not just send them
an e-mail telling them how .
unhappy you are with them.
Must we read everyone's bick-
ering everyday? People can
iust no on the X.500 and
Good and bad
memories make t
the 'U'strong
oday is the end. While it has been
long coming and there has been
ample time to prepare, there was nothing
that could have gotten me ready for today.
I have had a full four years of work, fun
and experiences I will never forget, but
why is it that I feel too young to be grad
uating yet too old for
college? Perhaps all
the seniors are right
there, at a place none
of us can describe.
While I feel that
my arrival at the
University of
Michigan was noth-
ing more than a mis-
take (it was the only
school that would
have me), it was JIs
nothing short of the WHITE
greatest thing that has ,1M 'N-
ever happened to me. T
If someone had sat
me down four years ago and told me that I
would have so much fun, meet so many
wonderful people and that I would be at a
Rose Bowl/National Championship game,
I certainly would have laughed. It was my
initial desire to transfer out of Ann Arbo
and quickly.
But this place grows on you, and it
grows fast.
And I wouldn't trade a moment of my
college career for anything, not one thing.
Sure, I have done stupid things (I am
doing another really stupid thing tonight,
when I run the Naked Mile - hint: If you
never wanted to see me naked, avoid
South University around midnight) but
each one of those things has added up t
the best experience I could imagine.
What has been difficult for me is that I
have lived a very atypical college life --
working at the Daily can do that to you.
The Daily stole me from my fraternity,
stole me from close friends, and stole me
from the normal day-to-day of college
life. Until February of this year, I did not
have a singe weekend free, did not know
what it was like to party on a Thursday,
and could not relate to all of those peop
who said they had too much work to do.
By my junior year, I was putting in more
than 80 hours per week, and I all but
ignored several of my classes.
But it isn't the time committment that
made working at the Daily a hard task.
Being a collegiate journalist is one of the
most frustrating things that I can imagine
- put yourself in our shoes for just one
day. Think about what it is like to criticize
your friends publicly, to bring out the bak
aspects of groups you really like, and
point out the shortcomings and malfeasons
of the sports teams and players you revere.
Take all of that"and combine it with all
of the mistakes that you are inevitably
going to make, the misspellings, the bad
quotes, the terrible layouts. Then, just
when you think it is getting to a point of
excruciating pain, put all of those mis-
takes around campus for 40,000 people to
read on a daily basis, and ask them
ridicule you on your own pages. It's like
putting out a term paper every day for an
entire year and asking the University com-
munity to critique not only your coverage
but your writing and editing abilities.
Imagine a professor giving you a 'D' And
telling the whole world about it - and
that's just what several of you did.
It is a hard position to be in, especially
when people think they have to walk on
eggshells around you, simply because you
work at the college newspaper. The co*
versations seem a bit hedged, people either
pretend to love you or they really hate you,
and there is the ever-present fear that
maybe something in your own personal
life is newsworthy, so even the reporters
and editors watch their own steps.
But all of that is something that was
exciting, that was offered only within the
confines of 420 Maynard St. To know
things about campus that no one el
knows, to be on top of the events that occ
here and to be behind the scenes at the
biggest and most spectacular events of our
time is unparralleled. To work with the
best up-and-coming journalists this nation
knows was a priviledge and an honor for
me that is ultimately quite humbling. To
write about the best college in the world is
a feeling that nothing else can provide.;
Most of my best memories are of the
arguments and the discussions and the
solutions we encountered in the dail'
grind. It wasn't publishing our book, it
wasn't winning a Gold Crown - it was
seeing the paper on the stands each morn-
ing with the knowledge that we were
upholding a 107-year tradition and that we
didn't miss a single day.
There are other memories that stand out
far beyond those I have had at the Daily,
from taking a train 52 hours to San Diego
with Delano and Stonge, to two Boston
trips to the blizzard at Penn State whe-
Evans and I left a fellow traveller at a
Citgo. But nothing comes close to getting
to know the University and to interacting
with all of you - from the good to the
bad, from the smiles to the fights.
If there is one thing that I ask of cam-
WALTER HARRISON
VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY RELATIONS
2020 FLEMING
ANINAP PRA MI 48109 .