4A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, March 12, 1998
fz £ridiganatilg
420 Maynard Street LAURIE MAYK
Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Af
Editor in Chief
Edited and managed by JL
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' editorial board.
All other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily.
FROM THE DAILY
Bi botrb
Bill would deter illicit contributions
I would hope that when people vote,
they'll vote on issues Instead of faces. It
depends on the education of the voter.'
- MSA Representative Trent Thompson, a candidate for MSA president,
on how he thinks students should vote in next week's MSA elections
PURPLE HERRING
ABOUINDS,
oosters who interfere with university
athletics by offering expensive gifts to
potential recruits soon could be held liable
for their actions if a bill currently in the
state House of Representatives passes. This
bill would impose a minimum penalty of
$10,000 for boosters and agents who inter-
fere with the recruiting process. It would
also enable state universities to file lawsuits
against these boosters, which could force
them to give testimony about their interac-
tions with athletes. If the bill is passed, it
will be very helpful in solving the problem
of individuals interfering with college ath-
letics by using money to recruit players.
The bill should serve as a deterrent for
those who take too large a role in support-
ing their team. Since boosters would be
held personally responsible for their actions
rather than having the blame falling entire-
ly on the school they helped, they may face
considerable financial risk. In fact, the bill
is intended to serve as a preventative mea-
sure as much as a punitive one. It also is
better that those offering gifts to collegiate
athletes would be held personally responsi-
ble - recognizing that often, high-level
university officials have limited control
over such matters. But while it is important
that boosters be held accountable for their
actions, this in no way excuses athletic offi-
cials that look the other way when boosters
"make such transgressions.
Another important feature of the bill is
that it allows universities to sue boosters
and agents who are involved with their ath-
letic departments or individual athletes.
:This would not only defer part of the legal
fees the institution would face in an inves-
tigation but could compel the accused to
give information about their dealings with
athletes. Since it often is difficult to get
information in investigations of alleged
misconduct within collegiate athletics, the
bill could prove very helpful to universities
dealing with these cases.
If the bill becomes law, it is important
that it be enforced stringently. It is present-
ly unclear how the bill's new standards will
be enforced - presumably, someone
would have to allege that boosters were
interfering with collegiate recruitment.
Legislators should require that if an athlet-
ic program is in question, investigations
into possible third parties should also take
place.
The most important reason that this bill
should succeed is that it helps preserve the
principle of the student athlete. In highly
competitive collegiate sports, it is unfair if
one school has overzealous supporters who
are willing to contribute more than just
their cheers to support their team. The bill
could go a long way to help counteract the
appearance of impropriety that the
University, among other schools, has faced.
Boosters' expensive gifts have no place in
the world of college athletics - the sanc-
tions that would be imposed by the bill
could help keep individuals from tamper-
ing with collegiate athletics.
With the recent increase of allegations of
misconduct in athletic departments at vari-
ous educational institutions, it is necessary
that some kind of measure be taken to
decrease these types of actions as well as
make them easier to uncover. The bill would
help deter boosters' and agents' activities by
imposing financial sanctions and give uni-
versities more leverage in their investiga-
tions. Most importantly, it would help to
ensure that the atmosphere of university
athletics remains one of education as well
as sports.
VIEWPOINT
Acts of hatred cannot be tolerated
BY ALAN LEVY
In the week before spring break, we had yet
another reminder that the University communi-
ty has its share of the intolerance, prejudice and
bigotry that is still too often seen in society. The
door to the room of two African American
women living in a Hill-area residence hall was
defaced with racially and sexually derogatory
epithets and offensive symbols. Sadly, although
this incident is particularly repugnant, there
have been several other similar and equally trou-
bling instances since the start of the academic
year, including other door defacings and dese-
cration of personal religious objects. There is a
tiresome familiarity to these bigoted and hateful
acts, most of which occur under the cover of
anonymity unlikely to be breached. They usual-
ly repeat the same vulgar epithets or symbols in
the same intentionally intimidating fashion.
In response to this latest incident,
University Housing:
strongly condemns this act of hatred, both
for the harm done by its words and images to the
individuals at whom the hate was specifically
directed as well as to the community as a whole.
extends its support to the women sub-
jected to this callous and despicable display at
the entrance to their home.
strongly urges any individuals who may
have information regarding this incident to
contact a resident staff member, University
Housing staff member, Housing Security or
call the University's confidential Witness
Information Network at 1-800-863-1355.
As the Daily recently wrote in an editorial
regarding hateful speech on campus, "This kind
of intolerance has no place at the University"
("Intolerant acts," 2/25/98). At the same time
that we acknowledge that hate speech is usually
protected under the First Amendment, we
should state equally firmlythat the First
Amendment does not preclude our vigorous
condemnation of despicable speech. We want
these purveyors of hate to be put on notice that
our residential community and the University
will not sit silently by and permit them any sat-
isfaction resulting from their misdeeds or to
allow them to think that they can successfully
create rifts within our community.
More than five decades ago, Albert Camus
wrote, "We are asked to love .or hate such and
such a country and such and such a people. But
some of us feel too strongly our common
humanity to make such a choice." There are
many students, faculty and staff members who
are working tirelessly and diligently to make
Camus' philosophy a reality on this campus.
We encourage using this latest act of intoler-
ance as a spur to reinvigorate our collective
commitment to building and maintaining, as
stated in the Living at Michigan Credo, "a sen-
sitive, tolerant, and humane community.
Alan Levy is the director of Housing
Public Affairs. This viewpoint was written
on behalf of University Housing.
Aswegivwo
sibling rivalries
turn to bonds tha
tie us to the past
M INNEAPOLIS - Her litt
brother was bothering her. An
when you're 10 - and a half, real
and your little brother is two - a
three, really - a little bit of bother g
a long way. Even
though you love
him and he's fun
to play with -
some of the time,
really - that
doesn't mean
he's supposed to
be rooting
through your
closet and run-
ning around your MEGA
room when SCHIMP
you're trying to laf ' *u; i.'
be a grown-up.
The look on my 10-year-old cousin
face last week in the midst of the cha
called her little brother was of she
exhaustion. She was trying to take us o
a tour of the treasures in her room, an
he was stealing her show. She rolle
eyes in apology and frustration.
"They grow up," I said, looking at m
younger brother standing next to me.
"Taler than you," he reminded m
seven inches taller, yet three and a ha
years younger. Apparently they can sti
be a bit bothersome.
Yet my brother and I survived the I I
hour drive to and from Minneapolisi
the space of four days last week witho
killing each other. The plan was to
away from Michigan - even tho
Minnesota was supposed to be colder
and visit family. What we found was
big sister and a little brother. It felt lik
home, yet hundreds of miles and sve
al years away.
At some point, younger sibling
become allies instead of enemies. The
share more references in our lives tha
roommates. They become people t
visit instead of to run away from. T
like mosteof the same foods, mo
music and jokes. And they eventuall
stop embarrassing you in front of you
friends -dmostly because they becom
your friends.
Remember once whining to parent
about having a shadow always taggin
along the next time you now go out wit
the same sibling. Suddenly, you're in th
same activities, at the same meeting
and sharing the same friends. Fug
how genetics works out.
The next time you voluntarily atten
your brother's performance or your sis
ter's game, remember once complainin
about being dragged away from some
thing you really wanted to go to.
Remember how your argument
changed - from fighting over toys t
the phone to the car. Then call them an
laugh about all these things, along wit
what is new.
It's still not cute to look like
other, though.
While we might not live down th
hall from each other anymore, it's no
hard to find these - and more - con
nections. Everything our parents did t
shape our lives is neatly reflected in th
mannerisms and opinions of our broth
ers and sisters.
To discover that, spend time wit
some younger siblings. Watch how the
try to imitate everything their o
brother does. Read them the same bo
you once read their older sister. Finally
understand that annoying behavio
comes out of the simple desire to ge
attention.
Life is easier at 'two years old. N
decisions except what toy to play with a
what time. An older sister who has prac
tices and lessons and school, and s
very little time to spend playing wit
you. So you run in circles while she'
the phone and scream at the top of you
lungs.
Two-year-olds do that. Trust me.
We watched all this, both tired fro
midterm week, both just out of the ca
and four states away from home,-bot
thinking the same thoughts about th
events on our vacation. Having attende
the same high school, we thought. th
same thoughts about the one we toure
there. We tried to imagine what it woul
be like to be two again, and rememb.
what fifth grade was like. We experi
enced a bit of what having a little broth
er - really little - was like all ove
again.
And then we got in the car and drov
11 hours home.
At some point, this transition to
more adult relationship becomes obvi
ous, even as it continues to evolve fro
the pulling and tugging of childho
It's a long road to get there, just ask'.
older sibling who remembers the eye
rolling and sighing.
Now it's easier and certainly mor
fun. They laugh or bemoan old things i
new contexts along with you. They'r
good for (almost) unquestionable sup
asing the buck
Affirmative action is unaffected by court's action
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
0 Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court
refused to hear an affirmative action
case brought by Dade County, Fla. While
this action did not significantly affect the
state of affirmative action in the United
States, the high court missed an opportuni-
ty to solidify the policy type's constitution-
ality.
The case in Florida arose from the
county's attempt to set aside certain build-
ing contracts for minority-owned con-
struction firms. The county asserts that a
high level of discrimination occurs in this
field, causing minority contracting com-
panies to be smaller and have less-experi-
enced workers. Hence, these contractors
are unable compete fairly for county pro-
jects. In 1994, several construction trade
associations sued the county over this
plan, claiming that the county's policy is
discriminatory, and won in a federal dis-
trict court. In his decision to strike down
the program, the federal judge presiding
quoted a lack of evidence for past dis-
criminatory practices. A subsequent
appeal by the county to the U.S. Circuit
Court for the Eleventh District also met
with defeat.
By denying Dade County's case, the
Supreme Court essentially passed the buck
to the lower courts. Over the past several
years, the court generally took a strict per-
spective when dealing with affirmative-
action cases - requiring that such mea-
sures counteract specific, easily identified
discrimination. This decision falls in line
with its recent angle regarding this very
important issue.
T+ :+ + n A_ _ aian - i -: :-
refusal to hear arguments in the case does
not set a national precedent. They still will
hear many cases on affirmative action; in
fact, another case regarding the subject was
heard on Monday. The only truly disap-
pointing aspect of the dismissal - and the
court's past attitudes - is that the justices
missed the opportunity to strongly support
a necessary, constitutional program.
Affirmative action is not an cure-all for
racism and other forms of discrimination.
It is a remedy for difficult problems dating
far back into American history. These
problems cannot be solved overnight,
maybe not over a lifetime. In the mean-
while, affirmative action strives to level
the playing field when minority-status acts
as a hindrance. Despite laws requiring
equal opportunities for all people, vestiges
of past injustices make affirmative action
necessary today.
Questions of constitutionality always
arise in the debate over this hotly contest-
ed political issue. Many people see the
program as simply shifting discriminatory
practices from one group onto another.
The aim of affirmative action, however, is
to help work against discrimination.
Affirmative action is not unconstitutional;
rather, it counters, discriminatory actions
that are glaring examples of ,unconstitu-
tionality.
The Supreme Court must recognize that
all is not yet well in the United States.
Affirmative action may not always work
perfectly, but it is still a good weapon
against the prejudices of an imperfect soci-
ety. Because of this importance, the court
.1...1 o.2 ,.. air . - n . . .rtd a ... : n t rantn n
Student
regent would
benefit 'U'
To THE DAILY:
Getting the University a
student regent is one of the
most important things the
Michigan Student Assembly
could ever do. As an under-
graduate student, I went to a
school where there was no
student regent. During my
junior year,. we finally got a
student regent and the first
one was installed when I was
a senior. These are a few of
the positive results:
Our tuition level was
reduced to the rate of infla-
tion. It has remained near or
at that level since. The year
before we had a student
regent, tuition was raised by
13 percent.
3 Not only did the lines
of communication from the
students to regents improve
immensely but the lines of
communication from regents
to students were improved as
well. Our student regent met
with student groups often to
inform them of important
issues and get their opinions.
These opinions were shared
with the regents and often,
votes went in our favor. If
they did not, our student
regent was a wonderful
resource for finding out the
reasoning behind those con-
trary decisions.
Awareness. Just like at
the University, before we had
a student regent, there was a
very small minority of stu-
dents who could have said
who the resents were and
islature for things like money
for a capital funds project to
improve our education build-
ing, money for a multicultur-
al education program, a bill
that would have allowed us to
match a residency require-
ment waiver that adjacent
states had instituted (this
would have enabled us to
fight that state's effort to out
recruit us). Our regent helped
us to get time with legislators
who were dragging their feet
on these bills. In the end, we
got two out of three of our
requests for that year and
were the only school in our
state to have a capital funds
project fully funded.
® Influence over the presi-
dent of our university - the
board of regents are basically
the president's boss. Having a
student on the board makes an
administrator think carefully
about their decisions, especial-
ly when that are saying "no"
to meeting with students. I
like Lee Bollinger. I think he
really has students' interests at
heart, but Bollinger won't
always be around (do you
remember our last president?).
What happens when the
president refuses to even lis-
ten to our needs?
I ran for MSA expressly
for the purpose of working
on this issue. It is that impor-
tant. It is unbelievable that
with the amount of money
we pay to go to school here,
we have no say about how
that money will be spent. As
it stands, we don't have much
real leverage. A student
regent gives us that.
Please, please, please,
please vote "yes." No one is
going to give this to us just
haenm easkeicelyh,
was definitely worthy of
applause, it was definitely an
inappropriate place and time
to demonstrate. The last time
I checked, the University was
supporting affirmative action.
By calling for a walkout of
classes, the organizers of the
rally were interfering with
the day-to-day operations of
the University. The
University has done what it
has to do to maintain the sta-
tus quo, which is to keep
affirmative action here. Why
would anyone do that to a
staunch supporter of affirma-
tive action? Would the same
people walk out of a BAMN
meeting or an ACLU confer-
ence? I don't think so. Next
time, I hope, maybe the orga-
nizers would select a more
appropriate time and place to
demonstrate.
FRANKLIN YANG
ENGINEERING JUNIOR
Weekend
misattributed
'80s items
To THE DAILY:
As a University alumnus,
I am very greatful to have
access to the Daily Online to
keep in touch with the
goings-on in Ann Arbor. I did
want to point out, however,
that the Weekend, Etc. about
the '80s ("The Excellent
'80s," 2/26/98) seems less
directed than it could have
been - in terms of "defining
a decade" - considering that
you wrongly attributed the
i