4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, November 11, 1998
(Ibe ,irbigatn uit g
Are you a 'hot
prospect?
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
'The truth is, the vote is In.'
- US. Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Calif), talking about US. Rep. Bob
Livingston (R-La.) succeeding Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) as Speaker of the House
Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of the Daily's editorial hoard.
All other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily.
FROM THE DAILY
'U' students should donate and save lives
A LOOK BACK
MATT WIMSATT
While the Michigan football team gears
up to play Ohio State University in
two weeks, the entire student body is also
preparing for battle - the Blood Battle.
Every year, students at the University and
OSU compete for bragging rights over which
university can collect the most blood dona-
tions, and this year the competition has
already begun. Kicked off last Friday with the
Michigan Marching Band and the raising ofa
banner over the steps of the Michigan Union,
the blood drive will continue for two weeks
until Nov. 20. While the battle is a fun and
competitive challenge between two old and
steadfast rivals, it is
also benefits an
important cause. S Today: Mosher J
Blood banks L nge from I-7 p
nationwide are finding U TomrrOW Piert1
their blood stores in 9 a.m. pm; Busii
short supply. Hospitals Room from 12-6 p
usually prefer to keep W Friday: Mary M"
a three-day supply of Lounge from 1-7 p
blood available, espe- 1 Nov. 15: South Q
cially for emergencies American Lounge fi
and blood transfu- 0 Nov. 16: Micihig
sions. But because of Room from 1-7 p.i
the blood shortage, 0 Nov. 17 and 18:
especially in Southeast Pendelton Room f
Michigan, hospitals U Nov. 19: Michig
are forced to ration from 9 a.mI-7 p.m.
themselves to a one- soer: Campit aini
day supply. Not only is
this a dangerous alternative, but it could also
affect doctors' decisions regarding large pro-
cedures. In the Southeast Michigan area,
1,000 pints of blood are used every day and
the supply needs constant replenishment.
Giving blood is an easy and convenient way to
help save lives.
The Red Cross will be stationed at many
places on campus, making it easy for students
to donate. Along with donations, the Red
Cross needs volunteers as well. Giving blood
requires a pre-screening procedure that
checks a donor's blood for any disease or
abnormality that would make a donation
impossible. Further, after the blood is drawn,
volunteers are needed to help donors relax and
replenish their bodies with juice and cookies
- just some of the many benefits one reaps
from giving blood. To schedule an appoint-
ment to donate or volunteer, call 1-800-
GIVE-LIFE.
The Red Cross, students and all involved
should step up its commitment this year and
- make every effort to
1 collect 1,500 pints of
rdan, Jordan blood - the goal for
, I this year's Blood
Mt Commons from Battle. OSU has won
:ss School, Phelps the battle for the last
1. six years, but this
kiey, South should be the year for
r. the maize and blue.
act Afican Students should take
im 12-6 p.m. advantage of the ease
x Union, Anderson and convenience of
having the Red Cross
lichigan Union, on campus, and if
n 1-7 pm. able, donate their
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
blood.
The
donation
r>>_ process takes about
an hour and to
donate, one must be at least 17 years old
and weigh 110 pounds. While medical
conditions such as low blood-iron levels
and infections prevent many from taking
part, all other students who fit the guide-
lines should sacrifice an hour of their time
during the next two weeks. Saving lives is
only this fun, easy and competitive once a
year.
AUg dri tis nt
Underage drinking stirs national attention
n the wake of several alcohol-related
deaths on college campuses nationwide
- the most recent at Michigan State
University this past Thursday - the prob-
lem of binge drinking among students has
been very much in the national spotlight. In
fact, a national teleconference on the sub-
ject will be hosted this Friday by
Washington State University. A study con-
ducted by Harvard University recommends
regulating alcohol use on campus, limiting
student access to alcohol and enforcing the
minimum drinking age law. But while binge
drinking is a serious issue, it is important
that any kind of national effort to combat it
does not become a witch hunt aimed at
underage drinkers.
Although the end of abusive drinking
habits is a laudable goal, it is important
that the effort concentrate on education
about alcohol abuse rather than attempting
to monitor the activities of underage stu-
dents. Acting as a sort of police force is
not an effective way to stop binge drink-
ing, and it undermines the feeling of per-
sonal responsibility that students deserve.
The vast majority of college students are at
least 18 years old and should have the right
to drink in moderation without a universi-
ty task force looking over their shoulders.
The proper role of universities is that of
educator, and that is how they should act
with regard to binge drinking.
In addition, any national task force on
binge drinking needs to examine the accept-
ed definition of what binge drinking actual-
ly is. The current definition is five or more
drinks in a row one or more times during a
two-week period for men, and four or more
drinks in a row one or more times during a
two-week period for women. This defini-
tion is rather narrow and does not take into
account differing reactions individuals have
to alcohol nor the amount of time the bev-
erages are consumed in. Instead of having a
crackdown on college drinking based on
this definition, universities need to reassess
what constitutes binge drinking and make
an effort to inform students about the seri-
ous risks involved.
It is also true that the battle against
binge drinking is unfairly focused on
underage students. Excessive drinking is
as dangerous to a 21-year-old as it is to an
18-year-old. In addition, because 18-year-
olds are considered adults in nearly every
other aspect of life, they should legally be
allowed to consume alcohol. And decrim-
inalizing drinking by people between 18
and 21 would actually help to solve many
of the problems caused by underage
drinking. Eliminating its illegality and
negative social stigma would end the
thrill of doing something forbidden and
take away the mystique of turning 21 -
something which leads many to drink too
heavily and dangerously in a short
amount of time.
Although alcohol abuse is a serious
problem at universities throughout the
United States, it is also important that
university officials do not overstep their
boundaries in the effort to fight it. In
addition, the guidelines for what consti-
tutes binge drinking beg for revision with
consideration of the different ways alco-
hol affects different people and the focus
on underage drinkers needs to be scaled
down. Rather than policing the activities
of students in order to prevent excessive
drinking, universities should take steps to
educate students about its dangers.
Baron missed
sarcasm and
irony of letter
To TlE DAILY:
How brilliant! The mass
extermination of women in
the service of creating a mas-
ter race of men! 1 can see
now, Dror Baron, the error of
my ways ("feffer's letter did
not help women" 11/9/98). 1
cannot imagine why it was
that I originally targeted
issues such as wage disparity,
violence against women and
the unequal distribution of
power in society as the back-
bone of gender inequality.
Admittedly, these are not real
issues at all. I am ashamed of
my letter and realize now that
my beiefs parallel those of
Hitler's (which is, of course,
what Baron was truly trying
to make ear to that damn
feminist I used to be). If after
reading my letter, dearest Mr.
aron you have surmised that
what I really want is a society
of men and the systematic
annihilation of personal
choice, you must have a deep-
er insight than my own. I
agree with your implicit
assumption that men cannot-
an will not change and so we
should simply create a homo-
geneous society. Although I
do have some deep fears
about the insecurities that
such a society will provoke
within the darkest and deepest
recesses of his psyche.
But really, let's get down
to it I want to make this
clear so that those who do
not understand deeper mes-
sages embedded within sar-
castic irony (read: Dror
Baron) can process my point.
Choice is relative and
informed by gender (as well
as race, class, sexual orienta-
tion and ability). It is not my
choice to be paid less than
men, raped, battered or over-
looked as a viable presiden-
tial candidate. I do not, nor
have I ever, felt that the solu-
tion to this lack of choice and
opportunity is to "become"
men. This, of course, is a
sophomoric "solution" to a
globa and timeless problem.
I do not understand the logic
that asserts that those who
wish to create opportunity
and greater choice for women
are actually out to minimize
choice. These are the asser-
tions of the ignorant and
privileged. I guess it just
boils down to the question,
Baron, of which one of these
groups are you? If the ques-
tion overwhelms you, I sug-
gest you check "both."
CARLA PEFFER
LSA SENIOR
Confidential
adoption
laws hurt
adotees
To THE DAILY:
The Daily's editorial
"P ma ad he n
ents whose insecurities about
their own shortcomings have
led to the continued pain and
anguish of adoptees. These
people who either didn't want
or couldn't have children of
their own are the only social-
ly accepted remnants of slave
trading in the United States.
The ability of an adoptee to
find their biological parents
is important not only in med-
ical emergencies, but also for
their day-to-day mental
health. Adoption is one of the
most traumatic events that
can happen to a child, and it
has been shown to adversely
affect the adoptee throughout
their life. Many grow up
believing they were unwanted
and develop difficulties
maintaining relationships. I
can say from personal experi-
ence that finding one's birth
parents can go a long way in
resolving those issues.
There is absolutely no
valid reason to keep adoption
records confidential after the
child turns 18, when the
duties of the adopting parents
are, in the eyes of the law,
over. Just because some unfit
parents don't want their child
to know they exist is not a
good reason to keep other
parents from being able to
contact their child. And to
argue that this loss of confi-
dentiality eliminates adoption
as an option for young unwed
mothers is absurd. It only
means they don't get a clean
slate, that they might actually
have to take responsibility for
their actions, god forbid. In
conclusion, if the Daily is
going to argue that laws
should be enacted to save a
few people from embarrass-
ment then it should discon-
tinue reporting anything that
might be construed as embar-
rassing so that everyone can
"close those chapters" of
their lives and we can all live
happily ignorant.
CAMERON CHAPPELL
ENGINEERING JUNIOR
LSA-SG helps
students in
many ways
TO THE DAILY:
Susan Port's article in the
Daily on Oct. 5 ("LSA-SG
against administration on
Fleming move") was a mis-
representation of what tran-
spired in the government's
meeting on Nov. 3. While it
is true thatLSA-SG is taking
a stand on this issue, the arti-
cle is incorrect in two impor-
tant ways.
Port writes, "for the first
time in recent years, members
of the Literature, Science and
the Arts Student Government
are publicly expressing opposi-
tion to the University adminis-
tration's actions' The Student
Government has and will
always be committed to the
voicing student concerns
regardless if they are in oppo-
sition of the administration.
We have worked hard to advo-
cate for academic change and
have succedd in nur attemnt
stereotype
unfounded
TO THE DAILY:
We live in an age of stereo-
types. Now, however, it's not
just enough to stereotype
based on race, religion, gender
and age, we must also have
stereotypes based on our geo-
graphic origin. Such is the
conclusion of Ken Galica's let-
ter ("Michiganders should
leave the 'U,"' 11/5/98) con-
cerning the arrogance of New
Yorkers. Ken, I hate to clue
you in, but it's not like
Michigan residents are that
much less snotty and high-
falutin'. Just witness the
obnoxious female undergrad,
late for class and desperate for
a parking spot, honking up a
storm behind me in her Range
Rover because I refuse to mow
down the helpless pedestrians
who are crossing the street in
front of me by the Modern
Language Building. Guess
what? She had Michigan
plates. Is that what you call
friendly? I think not. Snotty? I
think so.
I could cite kids from
New Jersey as examples too,
but my Dad owns stock in
Nissan and I wouldn't want to
upset the consumer group
responsible for buying half the
Pathfinders made in the
United States. (Hey, Michigan
winters are rough, I know you
guys and girls need four wheel
drive to get to class!) The
point being, this type of arro-
gant behavior is pervasive and
not just a product of one geo-
graphic region. Arrogant stu-
dents here are more the result
of them having parents who
felt that buying them nice stuff
was more important than hir-
ing tutors to get them through
remedial math classes. I would
hesitate to attribute such arro-
gance to a specific geographi-
cal influence.
So stop giving New
Yorkers a hard time. I, for
one, have never owned a Jeep
Grand Cherokee but am con-
tent to drive around in an old
resulting in a diminished
quality of advising given to
students because of the lack
of privacy and inadequate
room and resources. We also
recognize that the relocation
of Honors as well as the
Registrar's Office will tem-
porarily inconvenience some
students. We are committed
to working with the adminis-
tration to ensure that LSA
students are not adversely
affected by these changes.
While it is important that
students know what their stu-
dent government is doing
through Daily coverage, I do
want to voice my concern
about this prematurely writ-
ten article.
SANGEETA BHATIA
LSA SENIOR
LSA STUDENT
GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT
New York
(Author's note. This column is dedi-
cated. in spirit if not subject matter. to
Sen. Daniel Movnihan, the last of the
Roosevelt Democrats.)
There are certain things in American
life that we treat as cultural curren-
cy. That is to say, things we're so famil-
iar with, that are so common to all of us,
that everybody uses them with varyin
degrees of fluency.
Books of green
stamps at the gro-
cery store used to
be like this.
Jukebox records
too. For people of,
our time, we have
big wheels, braces,
Mr. Rogers and
piano lessons.
There are ones AME
that are a bit more jILLER
risque, even sinis-
ter. Sneaking beer
at a high school
party, for example. The discrete on-
the-way-to-school cigarette in your
"thanks mom and dad"junior year car.
On the sexual side of things -I
won't get into a lot of the interesting
stuff because my parents read this
every week. So I'll stick to things tha
I haven't done.
The quizzes in the back of Cosmo.
It could be any magazine for young
ladies, really. "Rice Cake Quarterly"
"The Bra Stuffer" or "WHEN!? GOD,
WHEN!'?" are all big sellers, as is
"Safe Male Fantasy Magazine."
Guys don't realize that a very high
percentage of the with-it, mature, col-
lected, self-possessed college coed
females we know and love used to be
blushing adolescents who read
"Seventeen" and "YM" with zeal and
enthusiasm. Yes, even girls with plan-
ners and coffee mugs once cared way
too much about articles like "Ten Tips
for Terrific Lashes."
We see this in daily life more often
than we think; the ravages of the Cosmo
quizzes, I mean. If you haven't spent
your hideous formative years pouring
over multiple choice tests that deter
mine everything from your "impulsive
ness rating" to the infamous "Are you
two compatible?" you just can't under-
stand the horror.
Fortunately I'm here to help. For us
guys who have never had the pleasure of
being scrutinized, prodded and pinched
by the popular media, grab a pen, a pint
of Ben & Jerry's (whatever flavor is
your fav), put on that facial mask and
take this short quiz: Are you a hot
prospect?
1) The hottest girl from my discussio
section asks me to a party she and her
housemates are having. She tells me
"Oh, it's kind of formal - wear some-
thing nice." This means:
a. blazer or a suit, maybe without a tie
b. polo shirt or sweater with a collar.
underneath
c. turning the Blues Traveler shirt
inside out
2) Girls like to be treated with
respect, like they're special. To make an
impression on the lady at the above-
mentioned party, I:
a. compliment her on her dress/make-
up/hair
b. wait until she's not looking when
leering at her friends
c. don't spill anything on her.
3) The general condition of my house
or apartment is:
a. a little messy toward the end of thP I
week, but we run a tight ship
b. usually a good-natured mess, but
hey, it's college
c. on a good breezy day, you can't'
smell all the stains, especially on the
couch cushion we flipped over
4) I finally have her alone in my bed-
room, I walk over to the stereo and put
on:
is
a.
b.
c.
Sam Cooke
Sammy Hagar
Sam Kinison
5) My favorite author:
a. William Shakespeare
b. William Styron
c. William Shatner
6) I address my ex-girlfriends by:
a. first name, with a smile
b. "Satan"
c. restraining order
7) Which of these statements most
accurately describes my attitude toward
sex?
a. the physical expression of love
b. the blessed union of souls
c. what to do when you've run out of
things to talk about
8) SportsCenter is:
a. a funny show with great highlights
b. an institution
c. the blessed union of souls
9) A man is a homosexual if he:
a. has sex with other men
b. wants to have sex with other men
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