4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, March 10, 1999 Q7le Birbiggn & lg 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 daily. letters@umich.edu Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan HEATHER KAMINS Editor in Chief JEFFREY KOSSEFF DAVID WALLACE Editorial Page Editors Abusing power fo have problems. My girlfriend lives four states away, I don't really know exactly what's going to happen to me after I gradu- ate, I walk funny and my voice still cracks unexpectedly sometimes. 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. Consequently I try and conduct my life such that I avoid picking up new prob- lems. One of these prob- lems that I have man- aged to avoid for the last few years is the problem of subletting my house or apart- ment. In past years I found work in the area and that was that. This year, however, I am not so lucky. I found pretty good work in another state and have to blow out mencement. personal gain: I make me sick I AmbL I Domestic violence comes in many forms Miller tn ap of town after corm- already so much dishonesty in the sublet game, I almost feel like a plaid-jacketed used car salesman just for playing. There are certain, time-honored lies: "Close to campus." Interesting. "Close" is a relative term. Earth is close to Jupiter, depending on how you look at it. Beware of ads that just say "close to campus." Technically, the Blind Pig is close to cam- pus, but you probably don't want to walk from there to your 9 a.m. class at the Frieze building. You want specifics; buildings and walking times are good. "Five minutes from Angell Hall." That's a statement you can hang your hat on. Even worse is "great location." "Four bedroom house, great location ... near the sun. Perfect amount of heat and radiation. Photosynthesis on premises." "Great location ... upstairs from Mongolian Barbecue. Great location for people who like to smell like the wallpaper of a Chinese restaurant." A lot of lies are pulled off this way. That is to say, by leaving out the implied state- ment that follows. "Parking available ... on the street. Like everyone else, you bozo. Happy hunting." "Great view ... of the freeway." "Utilities included ... in the house. I mean it has electricity and water in the house. But you still have to pay for it sepa- rately." The one thing that is always a lie is any- time an ad tries to push some architectural or decorative feature of the house. I've been in lots of campus houses and some of them do have things like skylights, hardwood floors, yards, etc. But be leery of ads that sound too much like the for sale ads in the back of The New York Times Magazine. Any houses or apartments that are "charming," "quaint," "cozy," "gorgeous" or anything like that are not available for sublet because real people live in them and real people don't have to sublet their homes for a summer. They have real, regular lives. Watch out for the adjectives. If it sounds like you can't afford it, they probably could- n't either and are delusional or fibbing. There are certain types of people that you want to avoid renting to, as well. Anyone who mutters "This is perfect. They'll never find me here" while you show them the place, is not a good risk. Further, anyone with a "Coed Naked (blank)" T-shirt and a baseball hat probably has a propensity for lighting furniture on fire and leaving half- filled beer cans behind the toilet. You want meek, quiet renters, preferably grad student types; people who don't look Tike they have enough spare time to be a nuisance. On the other side of the equation, to all you seekers, there are the certain desirable people to rent from as well. Somebody famous, sort of, like some kind of college writer, or something. Somebody known and loved by the whole campus. Somebody with a large two-room suite in a house behind West Quad and the Union, and five minutes from Angell Hall and the Grad. Somebody who knows what "reasonably priced" really means. Somebody who's not afraid to cheapen him- self and his professional standards for his own ends. So e-mail this someone, his address is below. He's ideal and NOT KIDDING. Please. -James Miller can be reached over e- mail at jamespm(a,)umich.edu. anned, happy students returned to denied -- by society. But it is a reality - 1 campus last weekend after a wel- in society, in all types of communities and corned break from the daily chores of on campus. Almost one-third of all classes and homework. But a shocking, female homicide victims are killed by harsh reality greeted many upon their their husbands or boyfriends. But only a return. Not only does domestic violence handful of domestic violence cases result potentially plague the lives of students in death - countless men and women are like themselves, but it claimed the lives of victims of harassment, intimidation, rape, LSA senior Natasha Qureshi and her threats and physical abuse by a domestic I'm not sure if everyone else finds sub- letting their living space such an onerous task as I do. Most people probably don't. After all, one of the most prominent fea- tures of our particular demographic is that we move around all the time, house to house, city to city, country to country and life to life. Given that in a way college undergrads are hobos with flashier clothes and expensive educations, it seems totally logical that this is no big deal. Folks vacate. Folks arrive. Seems like we could come to an arrangement, doesn't it? Part of my loathing for this is that there is boyfriend, recent University graduate Christopher Groesbeck. The couple's deaths were classified as a murder-sui- cide by Qureshi's hand. Once again, it has taken a fatal tragedy - just a year and a half after University student Tamara Williams was killed in her campus apartment by an ex- boyfriend - to push the topic back into the media spotlight. These murders Fo2m2 inform.... SA~hoSi ....... ' 2 A n......... ... .....0< .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . Sexw~ ssaul P:...: :o >n' Aw essCe 50S Ke........... Arn .....A .... ..r...M. ..48 .... partner. This abuse often esca- lates and perpetuates itself over time. A single inci- dent of assault counts as abuse, and it is one too many. Victims of abuse are never at fault, although that is what their abuser sometimes - would like them to believe. Some people are puzzled why victims stay in a relation- ship with their abusers. There are no simple some may have low-self have evoked horror and disbelief from both friends and family of the victims and the University community as a whole. The recent murder-suic. 'e serves as a reminder not only of the existence of domestic violence, but that men can also be victims. Although more than 90 per- cent of domestic violence victims are female, domestic abuse permeates all lev- ela of society, rich and poor. It does not discriminate against race, religion, het- erosexual or homosexual relationships. Domestic violence is a taboo topic; its existence is often ignored - or even answers, but esteem and feel they deserve the abuse. The abuser may have control over other factors such as money or children. Others may have a family history of abuse and believe that it is normal or acceptable. Violence in relationships is intolerable and inexcusable. Organizations such as the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center and Ann Arbor's SAFEhouse, offer several resources to help educate, increase awareness and aid survivors in freeing themselves from domestic violence's dangerous cycle. Tragedy teaches many important lessons I appreciated Michael Grass's March / have learned to live with myself since then, but I wish 8 story reflecting on the murder of my next-door neighbor, the lateTamara l didn't have to wonder. Williams. Since that horrible September day in 1997, I have learned several lessons I think bear repeating. our courtyard and took over our parking Lesson 4: When in doubt, call 9-I-/. The day Tamara moved into her lot, getting in our faces, obstructing our Even though Tamara's killer is solely Northwood V 'apartment, I helped her sidewalks and, in some cases, pointing responsible for his actions, if police had carry in a few pieces of furniture. We their camera lenses through our apart- intervened on some of those other noisy then talked for about half an hour ment windows. nights, Tamara might be alive today. If regarding her future plans to go to law Lesson 2: If you must talk to the you hear your neighbors fighting, espe- school. She said she wanted to help bat- press after a tragedy, talk only to the cially if they scream or throw things or it tered women. I had no idea then that she local print press. I finally gave in to sounds like one of them is being hurt, had been in an abusive relationship. media harassment and spoke to a Detroit don't wait. For the rest of my life, I'll Even on the one occasion when I TV reporter. We had a good, frank con- wonder if my inaction cost Tamara questioned her about bruises on her versation, but because I didn't say what Williams her life. I have learned to live face, Tamara gave no hint that her ex- he wanted me to, his people did a hatch- with myself since then, but I wish I did- boyfriend had beaten her. Nor did she et editing job. This removal of context n't have to wonder. ever mention having had to get a distorted my comments and made me Lesson 5: There is no excuse for vio- restraining order against him. Although look foolish. lence against women. Even though the several of her neighbors heard loud Lesson 3: The University must make murderer shouted at Tamara as she lay noises from her apartment late at night, serious efforts to prevent the kind of dying, "Now look what you made me none of us pushed her to say what was media orgy that took place the day fol- do," he chose his course of action of his really going on or called the police lowing the murder. I and numerous own free will. Homicide is the greatest before it was too late. neighbors vainly called numerous obscenity imaginable, and now it has Lesson 1: People trying to deal with offices on campus to try to get relief. struck close to us again. We must work trauma should not have to hide in their Until 4 p.m. that afternoon, when I to change the attitudes that allow its houses with the shades drawn. The only finally demanded that University existence. members of the press not to behave President Lee Bollinger be interrupted There is no excuse for violence. boorishly in this situation were those in a meeting, they did little but defend Period. from The Michigan Daily, whose sensi- the reporters' right to be there and - This viewpoint was written by tivity to the neighborhood's trauma and refused to ticket the numerous news University Academic Adviser Joseph whose coverage of the tragedy were trucks that took over our parking lot. Henderson, who can be reached over exemplary. All the others camped out in This must never happen again. e-mail at jrhend@umich.edu. Bad sportsmanship Olympics Committee must begin reform "I look at the (Olympic) Games as a higher form of the human spirit. Its about the athletes, always about the athletes." - Bud Greenspan, filmmaker, as quoted in The New York Times. In response to scandalous and shameful nbehavior surrounding the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympic Games, an indepen- dent U.S. Olympic Committee recommend- ed a catalogue of reform ranging from sug- gestions to democratize the election of the International Olympic Committee members to public disclosure of its finances. Such reforms would prevent the corruption that threatens the principles on which the Olympics were founded. George Mitchell, the former U.S. Senale majority leader and chair of the panel, rec- ommended that President Clinton declare the International Olympic Committee a "public international organization," thereby making, the bribery of officials a punishable crime under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The panel also suggested instituting strict rules governing the responsibilities of the private bodied American committee so as to avoid a repeat of the ignorance demonstrated by the U.S. Olympic Committee in regard to over- seeing the Salt Lake City bid. The speculation that bribery helped guar- antee a host position to the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, undermines what all Olympic Games should represent - fairness and open competition. Hosting the Olympics has become a competitive sport in and of itself with large monetary sums influencing official decisions. According to USA Today, more than 30 years ago Salt Lake City made its first attempt to "win" the Games. When drawing international attention to the then- backwater town. Juan Antonio Samaranch took over as IOC president in 1980 and managed to fur- ther transform the Olympics into a prosper- ous business. History associates the Olympics with the ideal of amateurism - unpaid athletes competing for the love of the sport rather than for the money involved. Such abuse in capturing the honor of being the host city makes the Olympic idealism look forced. In the wake of the corruption of the once idealistic Olympics, the entire oper- ation has been critically degraded. The commission must now be reformed. Such behavior is embarrassing not only for the world of athletics but for the United States' general integrity. The United States was only one of 197 National Olympic Committees in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics - the centennial Games. That year, the United States had the largest delegation of athletes - about 700. The reform proposals are strong in their intent to prevent such atrocities in the future. Suggestions include opening meetings to the public, broadening the membership of the committee and prohibiting bribery by candi- date cities. But it is unfortunate that such drastic measures must be taken to amend the poor conduct that has been accepted in the recent past. The original ideal of the Olympic Games may be long forgotten, but the spirit and sport remains alive and should not be subject to such humiliation. Olympians serve as heroes for their countries. During the two weeks of tele- vised action that comes around only ScoTr RoTHMAN SOME KNUCKLEHEADS Cross-country bicyclists hope to raise funds To THE DAILY: Thank you to Adam Zuwerink for his article ( "Bike trip to raise money for lung cancer," 2/26/99). I will be representing the Michigan chapter of the American Lung Association in the 1999 Big Ride Across America. We will be riding from Seattle, Wash. to Washington, D.C. over 48 days. It is going to be an amazing experi- ence. My fund raising goal is $10,000. Donations will go to help fund research on lung disease. Please contact me via elec- tronic mail at erosier@dirnidr.nih.gov if you are interested in making a donation. Thank you! EUSA ROSIER UNIVERSITY ALUMNA Computer upgrades will include floppy disk drives TO THE DAILY I would like to take this opportunity to respond to the March 9, 1999 article titled, "Some students unhappy with computer upgrades." Nick Bunkley did a fine job presenting an objective view of the lack of Macintosh disk drives in the new machines at the Angell Hall 1'. .. ..... . . 1 i MENI I8ALJ pi a AG : I S j , ! ! " y y . r arm 0 drive for every three Macintoshes in the Campus Computing Sites. They will be installed when they arrive. For those unfamiliar with the Institutional Files System (IFS), we will ensure documen- tation is available on how to access the sys- tem. In response to the statement regarding IFS reliability, note that we haverecently upgraded our equipment and software signif- icantly to improve IFS performance. Sites staff will continue to work with students to determine their needs and requirements. We will monitor usage of the external disk drives to see if the number we have in place is reasonable. If it is not fill- ing the need, we will order more. It is our objective to provide equipment and ser- vices that help students do their work. JOSE MARIE GRIFFITHS CHWIFF INFORMATION O FFICERP intramural team for the past five years (that's right, fifth-year seniors.) We were called the Crazy Cooters and were better known for our beer drinking after games than our victories on the field. That is not to say that we did not have our moments, such as a head-on bloody collision in IM football that required 40 stitches, a fellow cooter throwing a football at an opponent's head as he ran for a score or once having a player foul out in basketball in a record time of 37 seconds. The team was not about winning, mostly due to the fact that we were unable to do so. This year, however, we had our most winning season in franchise history, actually winning a playoff game in foot- ball and going to the quarterfinals in basketball. Despite those wins, the hianaet v.,.nrv ar,,,c the frinrichn ni W I 1 I