4A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 12, 1998 G1ie ffiidlitwn BitaiIg The 'U'has some 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan LAURIE MAYK Editor in Chief JACK SCHILLACI Editorial Page Editor 'Students are a lot more likely to actually vote if they can walk down in their pajamas in their dorm to cast a vote.' - LSA junior Ryan Friedrichs, on a new program that will allow first-year students to register to vote when they send in their residence hall leases PURPLE HERRING CONVENIENCE A1Bo.N1 problems that 0 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 In the money Large allocations are good for state's economy T oday, Gov. John Engler will propose an annual budget to the Michigan state Legislature, outlining his plans to fund Michigan's state-supported programs and institutions. This budget must emphasize higher education, appropriating a substantial amount of money to maintain the high stan- dard set by Michigan's public universities. The conspicuous absence of higher edu- cation from Engler's State of the State address last month raised concerns that this year's appropriation to the University would not be on par with those of recent years. Associate Provost for Academic and Budgetary Affairs Paul Courant recently said, "We don't expect to do nearly as well as we did last year." That the University would receive less funding seems baffling given the prosperity Michigan currently enjoys. Engler reported in the opening of last month's address that the state's economy is at a level not equaled since World War II. The governor must rec- ognize that Michigan's financial success stands in large part on the shoulders of res- idents' ability to pursue higher education. If the Legislature cuts state-supported univer- sity's appropriations, fewer students will have access to a college degree. State resi- dents with such degrees generally pay high- er taxes once they enter the workforce - in the long run, the state's coffers will suffer as a result of smaller allocations now. In order to preserve the thriving status of which Engler spoke, the state must produce highly educated members of society to carry the torch. Cutbacks in state funding restrict the growth of Michigan's public uni- versities and in turn, the growth of the stu- dents at those institutions. At the University, the large appropria- tions of previous years resulted in keeping tuition increases at a minimum - a key fac- tor in the ability of many students to contin- ue their education past high school. Another important correlation to increased funding is the ability to maintain a faculty whose members stand at the forefront of their respective fields. Without this money, key members of the University's academic com- munity may take their talent elsewhere. Such a loss could be devastating to the University's academic programs. Michigan's public universities also play key roles in the economic health of the cities that surround them - this is evi- denced nowhere better than it is in Ann Arbor. University students provide a great influx of cash to Ann Arbor's businesses. Without large numbers of student con- sumers, many businesses would be unable to turn a profit. Also important in regard to the budget is how the University will use the money that it receives from the state. The University's budget request for this year concentrates on expanding its many programs, with an emphasis on living-learning programs. While expanding programs is an important part of the University's growth, the University should not favor any particular academic enclave. Such bias may result in an uneven degree of quality among the many different sectors of the University. The main goal should be to promote a uni- versal excellence throughout every depart- ment and program. With a large appropriation from the state government, the University and the state's other public institutions can continue to provide students with the best education available. Engler must provide the funds to keep the University at a high level, and the University must use these funds in a fair, logical way to maintain its tradition of excellence. sN LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Double jeopardy Criminals should have access to financial aid nyone who wants to get ahead in the AUnited States usually needs to pursue education past high school. Entrepreneurs may improve their position in society and pull themselves out of poverty, but school- ing is often the only viable route available to many people. Thus, the state should not use a person's criminal record against them when they apply for financial aid to attend college. In fact, allowing ex-felons to access student assistance provides a critical opportunity for them to rehabilitate and genuinely adapt to a law-abiding society. Although the Michigan State Senate has repeatedly encouraged rehabilitation in penal institutions, state Sen. Bill Bullard (R-Milford) proposed 11 bills on Tuesday that would deny financial aid to former criminals who violated anti-drug laws. Announced as an implementation of a larg- er anti-drug campaign, the bills deny tax dollars to those who participate in drug traf- ficking by either possessing or dealing ille- gal controlled substances. The bills' spon- sors claim that the proposals will further deter drug use; they also insist that funds for student loans must not reach those who violate the law. Essentially, lawmakers want to augment federal legislation that gives judges discretion to revoke federal student aid to offenders of narcotics laws. The eleven bills now in the state Senate auto- matically deny any state scholarships or aid to these same offenders, potentially leaving the convicted felon without any sort of pub- lic assistance for college. This, however, is an extremely problem- atic strategy for law enforcement. After all, nnmmittinva -,mall nrimp An- not nane_- rights as a citizen - for first-time drug offenses, significant jail time is rarely imposed. The judicial system must enforce the law and punish those who violate it, but this does not mean that society should figu- ratively mark the criminal for the rest of his or her life. After paying their dues to soci- ety, offenders ought to have their full rights restored and respected. A drug offense is certainly not sufficient reason to ignore cit- izens' right to seek a higher education with the state's support. Additionally, a journey through the legal and, perhaps, corrections systems might change a criminal's direction - turning an offender into an ambitious student whose future career would improve rather than harm society. Supporters of the bills want to help the federal government and local communities fight drug-related crime. But the state should not use a person's past criminal record when deciding whether or not to grant money for a college education. While the state uses a person's criminal record when considering granting gun per- mits, admitting candidates to police acad- emies and inducting lawyers into the Bar, these specific cases are strictly for the public's safely, not to further punish offenders. Chastisement and revenge seem to imbue the reasons offered for the 11 bills. Although drugs are certainly a prob- lem in modern society, the state ought to carefully guard citizens' rights, even over efforts to fight crime, if necessary. The Senate should not pass the bills so that all state residents may have a chance to recti- fy grave mistakes in their past by earning a cnllae decaree anti crentinu a hetter f;inre Community should defend free speech TO THE DAILY: Since 1973, the Community Television Network has operated as a forum for free speech with- out government-imposed cen- sorship as to content or time of broadcast. Under a new policy imposed by the City Administrator in August, four types of content must be identified by the producer. Programs that are self-identi- fied as having restricted con- tent may only be broadcast after 9 p.m. Failure to accu- rately fill out the form makes the producer legally liable and subject to penalties according to the contract that must now be signed. In practice, this policy could ban or discourage from daytime hours material such as Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn" for "lan- guage unsuitable for chil- dren," Michelangelo's David for nudity and Shakespeare's Hamlet for violence. Programs already on the air such as "Get Curious with Safety Girl" and School of Public Health Prof. Sylvia Hacker's "Sexy Minutes" have already been self-cen- sored to meet the restrictions on freedom of speech. At public hearings in November before the Cable Communications Commission 19 of 22 citi- zens who spoke opposed any restrictions on content. In December, the commission unanimously voted to recom- mendthat the new regula- tions be rescinded. Not withstanding the clear expression of public opposi- tion to the new restrictions, they have been kept in place by the City Administrator with the support of Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon and The Ann Arbor News. The Ann Arbor City Council will meet on Feb. 17 to consider a Democrat-spon- sored resolution that would undo the City Administrator's restrictions on the network. People who are interested in this issue can get in touch with the mayor and the coun- cil people prior to the meet- ing as well as coming and attending the meeting or speaking and writing on the issue. The Website http//wwwocean.ic.net/ car- ries information for people opposed to the new regula- tions. The city's Website is http://www ci. ann-arbormi. us/ People who are concerned with these regulations on CTN are encouraged to con- tact their council members at 994-3313 or over e-mail at council@ci. ann-arbor.mi. us. HENRY HARDY UNIVERSITY ALUMNUS ardent vocals of Elizabeth Callahan but also with the incredibly talented musicians. Iliev is right on when she writes that the "band's music doesn't sound mainstream" I have to disagree with her, though, when she said that "SafeHaven should be among the Christian Rock Top 40 charts." After the show, I pur- chased one of the band's CDs. No where in the record is there a mention of anything that connotes a religious theme or tone. The lyrics, combined with Callahan's vehement presentation, gave me the impression that the band's story is sincere. Iliev's article seems to be primarily a reprint of the lyrics without any reference to the band's music. I have to wonder whether Marquina actually lis- tened to the CD. Taken out of context without sound, lyrics like "Tryin' to get to heaven before they close the door" sung Bob Dylan could be considered "sappy" or "clich." It could even be characterized as Christian Rock. JENNY ESSLING LSA SOPHOMORE Column and editorial were 'illogical' TO THE DAILY: In Josh White's column "Violence does not offer res- olution to abortion debate" (2/3/98), he says that abor- tion is life threatening to women. In fact, a pregnant woman is more likely to die if she givesabirth than if she has a legal abortion. White, as well as the edi- torial on the same page, also consider the Alabama abor- tion clinic bombing illogical. Why'? If someone bombed a World War II death camp gas chamber, would that be illog- ical? No. Clinic bombers may see abortion as murder similarly sanctioned by an evil government. Pro-choice supporters need to be logical them- selves, and they need to explain their logic. A pro- choice supporter who does not condone murder can only be logical by believing that a fetus is not a person.The U.S. Supreme Court has not condoned the killing of per- sons by women and their doctors, but rather it repeat- edly has rejected the notion that a fetus is a person. In Roe v Wade and subse- quent cases the court received several "friend of the court" briefs dealing with the question of whether the fetus is a person. To me, the most relevant are those deal- ing with neurological devel- opment. As a biologist, I see that distinguish humans from other animals have not devel- oped. DAVID SIRKIN MEDICALDSCHOOL 'U' should take part in the National Day of Action TO THE DAILY: Jesse Jackson has initiated a call for a National Day of Action on Feb. 24 for the defense of affirmative action. On Jan. 29, a meeting called to coordinate the strug- gle on the campus with repre- sentatives from 17 student organizations voted over- whelmingly for this day of action and to support a class boycott and strike on that day. Instead of attending classes, students and GSs are encour- aged to attend an all day teach-in on affirmative action that is being organized for the National Day of Action. Before affirmative action, universities in the United States were segregated. Even with affirmative action, the University is only 8.9 percent black while the population of the state of Michigan is 14 percent black. Only one third of the Law School is female. Similar inequities can be found throughout our school and society at large. We have a long way to go before full social equality is achieved. The attack on affirmative action is an attempt to roll back the partial progress made by the Civil Rights Movement. If we can build a successful national move- ment to defeat the attack on affirmative action, this can also be the first step in renewing the fight for real and full equality. The lawsuits against U of M have given students here the possibility of playing a leading role in the national struggle over the future of affirmative action. On Feb. 24, U of M can be the turn- ing point in this struggle. While in and of itself, a one-day strike here would not single-handedly defeat the attack on affirmative action, the spread of such strikes nationally could. The University community should act as a leader for other uni- versities under threat of resegregation and inspire them to take their stand and become part of a growing student movement for the defense of affirmative action and for social equality. A successful rally and march on the National Day of Action will be helpful and extremely important. But only a boycott of classes or a strike will do the two key things that are necessary now: capture the attention of the nation and even the Master Plan can 'tfix I t was sunny this week - in February, even - and even the rain is revolu- tionary for the sludgy dregs of winter. Surely the groundhog was just jittery when he predicted six more weeks o winter. Wrong. Fine -- mustv be El Ninlo. Someone invent- ed El Nino to explain some- thing quirky - it sounds flashier than "global warming" - and now it takes theMEGAN blame or praise SCHIMPF for anything PR ESC IPTIONS labeled as a phe- nomenon. So it must be responsible. Wrong again. Like everything else that will now happen on campus, the weather is now regulated by Venturi, Scott Brown & Associates, the architecture firm con- tracted by the University to design its future. University President Lee Bollinger, who is said to be worried about the lack of cohesion of the University's physical appearance in the wake of a massive building spree in the last decade, has charged the company with charting the next 100 years of con- struction. It's the Master Plan. Get ready. It's coming. The masters of the plan are currently in what they call the "once-over-lightly" stage, which in English means "when we shudder at the color of the LSA Building and generally wince at the Frieze Building." Wait until they see the Lurie Bell Tower. After recovering from that trauma, the Committee to Master Plan the Universe known as Ann Arbor will face an unenviable task: Creating unity on campus. Look at East Quad, right acros the street from the School of Business Administration, of all things, and you begin to appreciate the magnitude of the committee's importance. In fact, several recent proposals have been tabled or await Master Plan approval, including the construction of a Hill-area cafeteria and the addition of high-tech scoreboards in Michigan Stadium. One might ask how score- boards in the footballastadium coul possibly impact the appearance of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, another area of the University under considera tion. Worry not - the Master Plan knoweth. One could also ask why this is a crit- ical question, considering the buildings are already built and there's not a free square inch to build anything more. Never fear - the Master Plan is here! It will resolve the question of wher* all the officials who "return to the fac- ulty" actually go. Why burned-out buildings apparently need to age before they can be torn down. Why each newly constructed or renovated building has an atrium. Why Dennison, the physics building, is rumored to be sinking. The Master Plan will call for the planting of grass.aFor not putting con- struction fences smack in the middle of the busiest walkways. For finding some- thing to do near North Campus that not Bursley or the Commons. For con- necting every other building around the Diag into the Tisch-Haven-Angell- Mason complex. To improve unity on the athletic cam- pus, the plan will call for the construc- tion of the Fisher-Moeller Building. It will house anyone upset with the Athletic Department, from Peyton Manning to anti-Nike groups to the M- 14 highway patrol. But if they can find affordable, easy- to-arrange housing off campus, it's all worth it. Maybe someone could even find some windows for the Fleming Administration Building. In the spirit of the School of Dentistry, it would be really neat to design buildings in the shape of what goes on inside. And actu- ally putting fish in the Law Library would validate that Orientation tale and unify the Law School with Angell Hall But why stop at physical appearance? The Master Plan promises to usher in an era where major exams and due dates will never overlap. Vacations will actu- ally be long enough to appreciate the time off. The CRISP lady will give every student the schedule they want without hanging up, denying the selec- tion or forgetting to e-mail. Classes will end on time. E-mail will always work. SU 0 Speaking of "cohesion," the Plan People could look into this whole in- state vs. out-of-state feud, and the grad- uate vs. undergraduate student division. Talk about an ugly scene. What exactly is cohesion? And why is