4 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, January 12, 1999

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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

'(Their actions were) as stupid
as i could possibly imagine.'
- George Cantor; father of Courtney Cantor on underage Phi Delta Theta mem-
bers who purchased $347.07 of alcohol using a fraternity check
THOMAS KULJURGIS TENTATIVElY SP&AKING

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
Pick up the slack
Ann Arbor's snow removal job falls short

II

A Lor
FIRST LADY

t has been more than a week since the
winter season's major snowstorm
dropped inches of snow on the Midwest. As
both workplaces and schools faced no
choice but to shut down, and only in the
past few days have returned to their normal
schedules, Ann Arbor remains covered in
snow.
The city should be prepared for this
type of weather - severe snow and
unpredictable weather are common in
Michigan. The vast majority of students
are waking up early to attend classes,
bravely dodging cars and getting covered
in slush because walking in the streets can
often be faster and easier than tromping
through snow drifts. Many find them-
selves running 10 minutes late, skating
across the Diag and slipping on the 'M'
only to finally take a wet seat in a class-
room with a blackboard that states class
has been canceled because the professor
could not get his car out of the driveway.
Yes, these are obstacles students face
every winter, but it makes the city of Ann
Arbor and the University appear unprepared
for the severe weather of this season. Even
Duke University, located in the compara-
tively balmy state of North Carolina, could
be considered more prepared as it owns the
state's only snow plow.
Snowplows have been working with
snow as it falls - yet not consistently
after it has fallen. The effort is good, but
misguided - streets need to be plowed
after the storm as well as during it. It is
ridiculous that the University can be
somewhat incapacitated by the city's half-
hearted attlmpt at snow removal. With
only one quarter of University students
living on campus, the majority of students

need sidewalks and driveways to be
cleared to get around town. But residen-
tial Ann Arbor is not the only mess - the
University campus itself could use some
serious help.
Only narrow walks have been shoveled,
and even those are slippery. The snow is pil-
ing up. Several of the city's already limited
parking spots have become homes for drift
deposits. It is January - the temperature is
below freezing. The snow will not go any-
where on its own. Off campus, homeowners
and campus leasing agencies should take part
of the responsibilty of keeping their property
safe. It is the responsibility of the city and the
University to shovel their property - resi-
dents and students need to take the responsi-
bility to encourage them to do so.
Unlike primary and secondary schools,
attendance at college or jobs is often not
discretionary. Ability to leave the house and
go to work or school is not a luxury, nor is
the ability to walk or drive to that destina-
tion without risk of injury. These are neces-
sities. And the expectation that those
responsible should maintain safe conditions
is not unreasonable.
A story of Law students who sued the
University for canceling classes due to
bad weather is circulated every winter
season to explain why students must
brave the weather every day. But it is
unrealistic to expect all students to attend
classes when parts of campus are practi-
cally impassable.
The University community and city of
Ann Arbor need to work together so that
the season can be safer and more bear-
able. The forces of nature are powerful
and cannot be fought - but the conse-
quences are well within human control.

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LETTERS TO 7
Textbook list
would not help
TO THE DAILY:
I'm writing in response to
an Jan. 8 editorial ("Publicize
publications"), which proposed
that the University produce a
textbook list for all courses
offered at the University.
Although this piece offered
many nice ideas about the ben-
efits of having an official
University list of textbooks, it
would be virtually impossible
for such a list to be created.
The editorial claims that if
the University made a book list
available to the public, students
would have extra time to shop
for their books during semester
breaks, be it at a bookstore
near their houses or through
the Internet - this way, stu-
dents could avoid the book
rush lines and hopefully find
their books for less expensive
prices.
First of all, the bookstores
on campus have to wait for the
professors to call in their text-
book requests for every class
they teach each term by a spe-
cific date. But as easy as this
task might seem, many profes-
sors take their merry time in
turning in their textbook
requests, making it appear as if
the bookstores are incompetent
for not having the books in on
time. If such a list were to be
made, it would not be pub-
lished until the books were
already on their way to the
campus bookstores, making
the list completely useless. If
students have complaints about
their books being unavailable
at the bookstores, they ought
to blame their professors.
Bookstores surprisingly try
to get the books in stock as
quickly as possible. Also, the
editorial mentions that this
booklist would allow smaller ,
bookstores in the area to sell
textbooks and increase compe-
tition amongst the stores on
campus, thus lowering book
prices. If the Daily had any
idea of the hassle selling col-
lege textbooks can be (i.e. pro-
fessors who change their
books each week, problems
with publishers, etc), it would
realize that no small, indepen-

dent bookstore would want to
deal with it.
Sellingtextbooks at a large
university is not just a side
business that a store picks up
for the heck of it.
NIKKI RATAJ
LSA SOPHOMORE
Daily should
not print 'fluff'
TO THE DAILY:
As a faithful reader of the
Daily, I have enjoyed its hard-
hitting investigative journal-
ism, in particular the daring
acumen with which it attacked
the scourge of binge drinking.
But it is not unusual when
there is a lack of salient events
coming across the editor for
the Daily to stoop to the fluff,
the intellectual cheese puffs.
Thursday's claptrap about
some sap getting waylaid in
the airport is one such gem. I
think the Daily can do better
than relaying the story of how
some student burned through
batteries waiting for his air-
plane (doubtless, the weenie
was cranking the Backstreet
Boys or some derivation there-
of).
In the future, let the poor
guy save such anecdotes for
the duller moments at his
Bring Back New Coke Club
meetings (note the irony). The
Daily is compromising its edi-
torial integrity by printing such
tripe.
MATTHEW WEl.ER
LSA JUNIOR
Stereotypes
of Greeks are
'unfounded'
TO THE DAILY:
In response to overwhelm-
ing ignorance and imbecility
of those who oppose my insti-
tution, I hereby call for an end
to unsolicited Greek criticism.
It is understandable that all
students who bear such strong
distaste for fraternities and

sororities be entitled to their
own subjective opinions,
regardless of how ridiculous or
unfounded their ideas might
be.
The fact remains that even
the strongest carping of the
Greek tradition is more based
on scenes from "Animal
House" and a few fuzzy mem-
ories of first-year kegger par-
ties rather than direct experi-
ence by the individual.
Unfortunately, it is this pro-
clivity of certain students, the
tendency to stereotype and
ostracize a particular segment
of student society because
arriving at true means of com-
prehension would simply be
too difficult or time consum-
ing, that directs the uneducated
mind to a similar level of igno-
rance.
Contrary to belief
expressed by some letter writ-
ers and otherwise, we Greeks
are not all sponsored by our
parents until the age of 30, we
do not all dress the same, drink
keg beer, and engage in lewd,
insensible behavior (unless it
happens to be Saturday night).
And in no way will the fact
that I am a member of Phi
Sigma Kappa induce other Phi
Sigs who currently dwell in the
working world to offer me a
job, regardless of my qualifica-
tions.
These ludicrous stereo-
types, though amusing, have,
to some extent, become syn-
onymous with the Greek tradi-
tion and somehow have gained
popular acceptance as fact.
Shame on those who would
perpetuate such slander with
only a few frat parties and a
copy of "Animal House" to
back up their arguments.
Such behavior is unaccept-
able with any other segment of
student society, and Greek
bashing does not exonerate an
individual from providing a
lucid, sensible argument.
I personally encourage
everybody to ignore the hype
(Cantor, police "stings") about
the Greek system - the fact is
that you don't know what it's
all about until you've actually
done it.
Damn proud.
DAVID HODGE
LSA SOPHOMORE

Predictions for.
the last year of
the millenium
T he beginning of each calendar year
brings a barage of lists and summa-
tions of the year passed, not to mention
a healthy dose of predictions from psy-
chics on the "Monte Williams Sho*h
Never one to be outdone by an ov
mascara-ed charlatan with six-inch
nails, I have com-
piled my own list of
predictions for
national politics,
entertainment and
the University.
Most (if not all)
will not come true,
but my accuracy
probably won't be
any worse than any-
one you can reach JACK
on the Psychic SCHILLACI
Friends Network.- S AM 1T Ti
The media Ili
frenzy and "politics
of personal destruction" surrounding
the Clinton impeachment debacle, long
more damaging to Republicans than it is
to Democrats, will force the resignation
of several more top Republican offici*
a la Bob Livingston for letting their "lit-
tle friends" run afoul.
After a great deal of further discus-
sion about "the motion in Bill Clinton's
ocean," the president will either be
acquited or have the charges before the
Senate dismissed.
" BillGates will give up on comput-
ers, software and Gestapo trade prac-
tices and go into the dessert industry,
figuring he can get people to throw all
the pies he needs at him, mark them 4
and sell them on.
* Kenneth Starr will be seen outside
of Union Station in Washington, D.C.,
bottle of Wild Irish Rose in hand, wear-
ing a T-shirt that says, "I obsessed about
the president's hyperactive sexuality
disorder for a whole year and all I got
was this lousy T-shirt!" No word on the
contents of stains present on the shirt.
. Chief Justice William Rehnqui
will resign from the Supreme Coul
after the completion of the 1998-99
term to perform "The Pirates of
Penzance" on Broadway. Refusing to
wear a normal costume, he will walk on
stage singing, "I am the major model of
a modern major general. I have infor-
mation vegetable, animal and mineral
..." wearing his judicial robe with the
special "decals" on his shoulders.
Hillary Clinton will write a new
edition of her 1995 book titled "It Tak
a Village to Keep My Husband's Pants
On."
. Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.)
will try to write a book, only to find that
he can't stay awake long enough to
write a whole sentence.
Producers, directors and writers
will finally realize that Leonardo
DiCaprio has less talent than Kate
Winslet's breasts. Teen People
Seventeen, YM and Tiger Beat mag
zines will all put him in the "not" col-
umn of "What's hot/What's not," British
royalty will stop making references to
him in interviews, and Woody Allen
will direct his attention back to younger
people of the opposite sex.
In an attempt to ressurect his career.
DiCaprio will coax a talkshow out of
FOX and his first guest on its debut will
be Arsenio Hall, followed by a still-bald
Billy Zane. The show will last three
weeks and shortly thereafter, DiCapri
will announce the release of his new
album, "I'm the King of the World."
Elizabeth Taylor will get married,
again.

Some celebrity desperately seeking a
publicity boost will come forward with
the revelation that he or she has some rel-
atively obscure disease or disability.
Despite the fact that thousands or perhaps
millions of other normal people suffe
from the same affliction on a daily basiW
some stupid shit will go on television and
talk about how said celebrity's coming
into the open was brave and has done
wonders for the like-afflicted everywhere.
There will be TV Guide and People
Magazine covers and maybe even a
"Barbara Walters Interview."
t Calista Flockhart, better known as
the television character Ally McBeal,
will lose more weight, to the point that
she will become translucent.
Mr. Pib will make a comebacb
only to be cited as a symbol of oppres-
sion by campus feminists insisting that
it's Mountain Dew or nothing at all.
RC Prof. Carl Cohen will buy
Viacom International Inc., the Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and
The Michigan Daily. By the turn of the
millenium, his list of accolades will have
expanded to include Oscars for Best Actor
and Best Original Screenplay, an MT
Video Vanguard Award as well as a
for Video of the Year, a VH I Fashion
Award for Best Mensware Designer,
much to Helmut Lang's despair, and
recognition as the "Best Wings in Ann
Arbor" in the annual Best of Ann Arbor
edition of Weekend, Etc. In addition,

Sinisterste
Anti-abortion group goes after doctors online

[ he Internet has long been heralded as a
medium that will finally unite and
enlighten the world. "The Nuremberg
Files," a Website maintained by militant
anti-abortion extremists, is far more likely
to evoke images of the Spanish Inquisition
rather than the glistening techno-Utopia
dreamed of by many.
The site catalogues information on
doctors who perform abortions as well as
their friends and families and others who
believe in reproductive freedom. Included
in the retrievable information are the
names of the doctors, as well as their
physical descriptions, addresses, phone
and license plate numbers in entries that
resemble FBI wanted posters. Some
entries even contain the names of the doc-
tors' children. "Surveillance photos" of
the doctors' cars or homes are also avail-
able for some.
In October, the site gained publicity
when Barnett Slepian, a Buffalo, N.Y. doc-
tor who was listed on the site, was shot as
he stood in his kitchen. After hearing of his
death, the site crossed out Slepian's name
as they do with all individuals who are list-
ed and murdered. Also, if an individual list-
ed is wounded, their name on the site is
shaded in gray. The authors urge their sup-
porters to help them expand the list by giv-
ing them more names and information.
When the American Medical
Association condemned the page, the main-
tainors of the site responded with a press
release stating that "violence against the
unborn cannot ,be ignored without this
nation experiencing a crescendo of violence
. against every person in this nation who
collaborates with the legalization of such

of the "pro-life" movement is despicable.
Obviously, it is perfectly acceptable for
individuals to civilly protest something they
believe to be morally reprehensible.
Encouraging violence against people
who allow women to exercise their con-
stitutional rights drives far beyond the
frontiers of bad taste. Anyone with a
shred of human decency should realize
the right to life is universal and extends to
all people, including those who choose to
respect a legal right that was validated by
the Supreme Court almost 26 years ago.
Parallels to the Holocaust drawn by the
authors are equally ludicrous. The site's
authors charge those listed with various
"crimes" including "genocide," "torture"
and "crimes against humanity." No individ-
ual who is truly a guardian of the right to
life should be so insolent as to trivialize the
Holocaust and the images it conjures for the
sake of dramatic effect.
The rash of cold-blooded killing of
abortion doctors and clinic workers
around the country in recent years - and
the subsequent applause of some in the
pro-life movement - is a clear indication
that a sizable minority believes murder is
an acceptable means to further respect for
the right to life.
It is one thing to be emotionally
involved in a moral debate, but it is anoth-
er entirely to kill or encourage the killing
of people on the other side. Free speech is
protected by the First Amendment, and
"The Nuremberg Files" has the right to
shock and repulse. However, it con-
temptibly reflects a mentality that charac-
terized some of the darkest and most intol-
erant days in human history. Terrorism is

VIEWPOINT
Larry Flynt - from Hustler to hero?

BY THE INDEPENDENT FLORIDA ALLIGATOR
In recent months, America's political system
been turned upside down by its own players, the
very same representatives and senators sworn to
uphold the constitutional provisions that exist to
dictate how the country is run. The basic job of
government, according to most, is to handle the
daily affairs of a country, not to sensationalize the
sexual escapades of higher-ups. To pass laws, to
watch out for those without a voice. To provide
for the sick, the poor and the huddled masses -
as long as their purchasing power satisfies the
great corporate robber barons in the sky.
As far as mass media goes, ratings do not
allow the proper thing to be done. To shy away
from the perversions of the presidential sheets is
unacceptable. It might cut into the latest advertis-
ing campaign that we, as a society cannot afford

President Clinton in his darkest hour.
Now, the barrel of the gun is facing the other
way, and nary a congressman can seek the aegis
of the umbrella of righteousness or piety.
There is no shelter. Besides, they are
Congressman. If there is one adage universally
known to senators and representatives, it is this:
Money talks. And from here on, senators run.
Flynt, who made the extraordinary, unprece-
dented transformation from skin-mag publisher
to pseudo-respectable newsmaker and First
Amendment champion ran an advertisement in
The Washington Post offering $1 million to any-
one who "had an adulterous sexual encounter
with a current member of the U.S. Congress or a
high-ranking government official."
That offer led to the Speaker-designate Rep.
Bob Livingston's (R-La.) resignation after admit-