4 -The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, March 31, 1998 c I e ,9llCitf igttn ttil NCAA 'rule' amounts to 0 420 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 'If they do come down In May, they absolutely will be driven out of town again.' - Shanta Driver, a member of the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action by Any Means Necessary, on the Ku Klux Klan's plans for a rally in Ann Arbor on May 9 YUKI KUNIYUKI GROuND Z ERO 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 UHlf ti e h iuIits 'U' should expand use of midterm evaluations c'rHCRTr04b TiTM) I- ,' _ Y S tudents at the University wishing to criticize their classes often lack a forum to voice their concerns during the semester. A group of LSA students, along with the LSA student government, recently pro- posed a plan to distribute midterm-evalua- tion forms that would give students an out- let to express their views on their profes- sors' performances. This initiative to increase the interaction between faculty and students should be implemented throughout LSA and expanded to the entire University. Students presently have only one University-provided method to express their concerns about a class - at the end of the semester. By that point, students can no longer help themselves -- helping out the next semester's class is the only incentive to fill out these forms. Without any self-inter- est, many students choose not to fill out the form. If students are unsatisfied with the course they are taking halfway through the semester, their only option is to talk to the instructor face to face. While this may not intimidate some students, others could find it difficult to summon the nerve to speak out and criticize the person who controls their grade. An anonymous form provides the security neces- sary for these students to contribute their opinion. Halfway through the term, students have time to positively affect their performance in each of their classes. Often, the greater por- tion of a student's grade stems from the sec- ond half of the semester. With the opportuni- ty these evaluations provide, students may alert their professors to such common prob- lems as breezing through material at too brisk a pace or concentrating on details that complicate important concepts. If such sug- gestions clear away problems felt early in the course, students will see the benefit in their GPA and how much they gain from the course at the end of the semester. Professors should welcome the views of their students: Through their students' sug- gestions, professors can fine tune their teach- ing methods. Those instructing a course may not be able to see a problem that distracts from their material. With a great deal of stu- dent feedback, professors can locate com- mon troubles their students experience. When evaluating a course, students should not overlook the opportunity to praise the aspects they feel strengthen a course and best represent the material being taught. Praising the instructor's ideas that facilitate learning can only encourage him or her to use these methods. A student paying a com- pliment anonymously can feel secure that they do not look like they are sucking up. The LSA administration supports the pro- posal to distribute midterm evaluations to students and plan to distribute the forms to faculty with the purpose of expanding the program. One important aspect of any form they choose to distribute University-wide - and a problem the current semester-end eval- uation system has - is that it should con- centrate on student comments rather than scantron answers rating pre-determined cate- gories. Bubbled-in ratings damage the credi- bility of the forms. Qualitative measures, rather than mere statistics, must be the goal. Students and faculty should recognize this as a mutually beneficial proposal. Instructors should voluntarily provide the forms, and students owe it to them to fill out these forms with thoughtful, constructive comments. If both faculty and students work together, the forms can streamline the academic experience to produce better, more fulfilling results for both parties. OC K- A T m e N t ow c, S' rM t? 9-R 1 NG.i u t- f TY a IV b 47 44 ---" cy '9',.1+ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To protect and serve AAPD, DPS must evaluate role in community T here is an old stereotype of police offi- cers who "walk the beat" for many years, get "flat feet," and ultimately move to jobs behind desks where their minds become more exercised than their legs. That old story has become associated 'with a long-gone era. In the past few decades, a new stereotype has come out, with cops spending their time eating doughnuts in their prowlers, only being removed from their beat after they wrongly abuse a citizen. Recently, allegations of racism and favoritism by the Ann Arbor Police Department and the University's Department of Public Safety have surfaced. These claims have damaged the generally amicable and peaceful atmospheres of the Ann Arbor and University communities. The alleged mistreatment of students of color by the AAPD and DPS has left an indelible mark on the minds of many citi- zens. For many, the image of the depart- ments may have changed from a group of role models who "serve and protect" to a band of racists who are given the power to do what they please. The AAPD and DPS must now try to regain the respect and stature they once had in the community. Both departments should begin by hold- ing discussions between leaders of minority groups and police officials. These groups should share their experiences and previous problems. They should then work to find a common ground, where each understands the other's stance and can learn from what is said. In the end, if there is a better under- standing of both parties' opinions, they can work together effectively. Law enforcement will not be effective if citizens and police better communication - the AAPD and DPS must change the role they play in the community, even if it means finding more officers and giving them new duties. The two police units must work to become more pos- itive and active members of the community. For many students, the police only become relevant when one drives over the speed limit, parks illegally or attends a loud party. The police therefore are always put in a posi- tion of regulation and unwanted surveil- lance. While these forms of regulation are necessary, they should not be the sole - or most apparent - function of a group whose purpose is to protect people from harm. The AAPD and DPS should spend more time walking the streets and policing residen- tial neighborhoods. With more officers visible, would-be criminals would become more reluc- tant to steal and harass - the chance of offenders getting caught becomes greater. Aside from the possibility of lower crime rates in many neighborhoods, citizens will feel safer walking the streets that are under thorough watch. The actions of the police will become more understandable if the police become a greater positive force in the community. What was once a department that seemed to only harass civilians could become a department that helps deter crime and in doing so, comes across as respectful and caring. Assuming that the allegations of police racism are true, it will take a lot of time and effort to ameliorate the situation. In the mean time, the police departments in Ann Arbor should spend more time performing two of their main duties: getting to know the citi- zens in the community and preventing crime before it occurs. Only through more visibili- MSA does not deserve any attention TO THE DAILY: Quite frankly, I am a bit irritated about the March 25 front page article in the Daily regarding the Michigan Student Assembly voting allegations ("Allegations taint MSA elections"). The reason for my concern is that I don't feel that the MSA is deserv- ing of a front page article ever! The facts are that a small portion of the student body actually voted in the MSA election, and of those people, a smaller portion were actually serious about their votes. Thus leading us to believe that the majority of the student body doesn't care about who won the MSA election. This is because MSA does very little for the student body. Let Trent Thompson have his ridicu- lous title so he can take office and play politician. PETER CHIARELLI LSA SENIOR Coursepack store needs faculty cooperation To THE DAILY: The closing of Michigan Document Service marks a great loss for this University. MDS has offered students a centrally located and effi- ciently run coursepack store. The store has spearheaded lawsuits aimed at eliminating royalty fees on educational coursepacks. The store's clo- sure gives the University community time to reflect on the future of academic course materials., The Michigan Student Assembly has been making significant efforts to start up a student-run coursepack store. This feat can only be accomplished with the coop- eration of the faculty and administration. We must begin by focusing on non- royalty coursepacks produced at lower cost and higher effi- ciency to benefit students. We must also be a com- munity: students, faculty, administrators and the stores. RACHEL SCHLENKER LSA SOPHOMORE MEMBER, MSA ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMISSION Editorial credited the wrong author Steinbeck, who happened to be a white, American male and an author of lasting genius. PATRICIA DRAGON UNIVERSITY STAFF Don't feed the squirrels! TO THE DAILY: I read with alarm but not surprise the caption under the picture of the University stu- dent feeding a squirrel that appeared on the front page of the March 27 Daily. It needs to be pointed out that chocolate is poison to most animals. Dogs will go into a coma if they ingest too much; it quickly kills birds of all species and will probably cause that squirrel a slow, painful death. It's true that most animals love chocolate (except cats, usually, who haven't got a "sweet tooth"), but it's deadly to them. It makes sense that it would be strongly addictive to people, since most poisons are (i.e. alcohol and drugs). If members of the University community must feed wildlife (and they shouldn't), choose plain pop- corn, unsalted corn chips or fruit and vegetables. But please, keep chocolate reserved for those who can tolerate it. LAUREN KINGSLEY UNIVERSITY ALUMNA Thompson deserved to win election To THE DAILY: I would like to write in response to the allegations that the Daily recently revealed against Michigan Student Assembly President- elect Trent Thompson. I am writing to support Thompson and Vice President-elect Sarah Chopp. The allegations that have been made corre- spond to a regulation that was written before online voting and are frankly unable to deal with the intricate issues that the Internet cre- ates. If nothing else, the con- troversy that the Daily article created highlights the need for reform in this regulation. The age of online voting has made polling sites out of dorm rooms, fraternity hous- es and apartments. When this happens, the laws regarding campaigning must adjust to fit the times. Clearly, they have not. Thompson should be allowed to campaign in his own house without violating election laws. Furthermore, there is not even any proof that Thompson did campaign paign. The unfounded accu- sations have created the "taint" that supposedly sur- rounds the election. It is clear that the Daily attempted to find some problem with the winning ticket and have only been able to come up with these unfounded and petty allegations. Thompson and Chopp received more than 1,700 votes from the stu- dents, and they deserved every one of them. While the controversy has highlighted the need for election regula- tion reform, it has not provid- ed any proof of wrongdoing on the part of Thompson or Chopp. CRAIG GARTHWAITE LSA FIRST-YEAR STUDENT Naked Mile is unpleasant for women To THE DAILY: Once again, the time of an annual student revelry is just ahead of us, the Naked Mile. For those new to the campus, this tradition has students celebrate the end of the term by running naked for one mile, starting at the Museum of Art steps, and running to the Cube along- side the Union. Although an interesting tradition, it is also highly degrading and dangerous to any women who run the event, not standing on the stairs or arriving at the cube, but the actual run, which is more like running a gauntlet than a festive celebration. Men line the sides of the route, allowing men to pass with no problems, but closing in on women forcing them to ,walk. Some women have 'been groped as they run and many men bring video cam- eras to film the events. Above all else, women are taunted and jeered as they run by a rowdy crowd of often drunk males. Many who go through it state afterwards that it was a mistake to run, for the crowd simply is out of con- trol. But the worse part is that the University does nothing to protect the runners; the only official protection is for the buildings, to keep runners out of them. So this year, I am calling for the University to take action and either pro- tect the runners from the crowd lining the route or arrest the runners for break- ing the law. Allowing them to run with no protection and leaving them to the tender mercies of a near mob is beg- ging for trouble to occur. As for the women think- ing of running the Naked Mile, I can only say, don't. If syou want to experience the fun, then stand on the steps of the Museum of Art and sing censorship W hile thousands of college hockey fans from as far away as Connecticut and New Jersey filed into Yost Ice Arena this past Friday to watch the NCAA West Regionals, thousands of copies of The Michigan Daily's "Road to Boston" special issue awaite them inside the arena. But fans who entered for the first game, Ohio State vs. Yale, couldn't get the paper, which '. presented thorough coverage of each team in the regional as well as setting the national stage JOS for the hockey WHITE championships. m : They couldn't get the paper because University Athletic Department offi- cials, acting under the banner of the NCAA, removed the papers from public; parts of the arena and put them in a storeroom under padlock. That this act was blatant censorship of the Daily clearly did not enter int these officials' minds when they picked up stacks of the papers and hid them under the stands. That the University and the NCAA stole the papers also did- n't seem to concern much of anyone. Simply, no one wanted to take blame for silencing the voice of the student body and no one could justify the action. When yet another official told the Daily's sports editors that they couldn't get the papers back until th next morning, there was no rational rea son for that either. Perhaps because none of it made any sense. It was easy for the University to hide behind the NCAA because it is pre- sented as the omnipotent god of any- thing sports related. That no one could name the NCAA official who ordered the papers to be taken seems a bit fishy - considering the University's Athletic Department had prior know edge that the papers would be distrib- uted. According to an NCAA pamphlet given to the hosts of regional tourna- ments, the "sale or distribution of news- papers" is prohibited at the site of the event, but that document is not available to the public. The same University that said all was peachy with the Daily's dis- tribution plan removed the papers with- out a word. And the only roadblock t distribution? Prior written approv from the NCAA. When taken objectively, distributing papers inside the arena was technically against the rules - rules that are in place to prevent commercial efforts to exploit a college hockey audience. But to stop a student effort to inform the crowd and present interesting coverage is an entirely different situation, espe- cially when the Daily's non-profit stati is taken into account.- The papers were eventually released by another University official to the cur- rent editors, who then called on several staff members to distribute the papers outside the arena on State Street. The' papers were well-received by the crowd (I found it both interesting and quite useful, a testament to a great job by all: who worked on the issue) and did noth- ing but promote college hockey and the NCAA. ol What bothers me is that no one coul say why they had confiscated the Daily, nor give a name as to who was respon- sible for making the call. Word came down from Bill Wilkinson, Western Michigan hockey coach and a member of the NCAA's Division I Hockey Committee, that he did not have the power to reverse the action. No one knew why, no one knew wh - and this is everything that is wro with the NCAA. If passing the buck had an NCAA tournament, these guys would be the undisputed champions. I can't see any good that can come of antagonizing students who are trying to learn a trade and trying to help a com- munity enjoy a few hours at Yost. The one thing on which everyone could agree is that something was amiss. Perhaps everyone was wrong and every- one was right at the same time -b for all of our sakes, the least the NCAO and the University could do is to get their facts straight. Phil Buttafuoco, NCAA senior assis- tant director of championships, was finally named as the only person alive who could do anything about the situa- tion and the only one on the planet who could give an answer. Where was he Friday night? Yep, he was doing what all of these crazy officials should ha4 been doing; he was watching a few games of college hockey. The problem was that he was in Albany, N.Y., not at Yost. Buttafuoco, the one on Earth w-a couild answer. later responded to e-mail'