4 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, April 16, 1999 (e Lictigan 1 uiIg As we move on, the important lessons evolve with us i 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 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. A safer 'Mile' Participants should take precautions W e almost missed him. "Senator! Sen-a-tor!" He didn't look much like the old pictures - his hair was shorter, his suit conservative - and we just got a glimpse of him in the crowded United Center in Chicago. His staffers ushered him past us and through the hallway. "Senator! We're from The Michigan Daily!" Ah, the magic words., He turned around. The nose, the eyes. Yep, it was him. He just had to give Laurie The Michigan Daily, Mayk his old friend, fiveS minutes, he told his O aides (who had been Says S0 dodging our inter- view requests all week and didn't look too pleased). We grinned. Jackpot. The interview with California state Sen. Tom Hayden at the 1996 Democratic National Convention was part of my favorite story for The Michigan Daily: a feature on the politicians and activists who returned to the city and the party after a fiery and bloody 1968 convention. Tom Hayden was one of the ring leaders of throngs of protesters, and one of the infa- mous Chicago Seven, arrested for their part in the week's events. He was a journalist and an activist (back when you could be both) on this campus, and he helped Ann Arbor earn its liberal reputation as a hotbed for social activism. Berkeley, Greenwich Village, Ann Arbor ... this was the place to be. My brief encounter with Hayden at the convention in Chicago (more than subse- quent ones in Ann Arbor) revealed some truths about change and continuity that I will draw upon in the coming weeks before graduation. I have often mused about Tom Hayden's role on this campus 30 years ago, and about those who are now walking in his shoes (both in the Student Publications Building as Daily editor in chief and outside on the Diag with picket signs). I do this not because I particu- larly idolize the man, the particulars of his causes or his tactics in accomplishing his goals. Rather, I recognize him because of the powerful influence he had on this campus and because he had the courage to grow up and the skill to keep fighting. Hayden returned to Chicago as an estab- lished politician. He had his own floor pass, a title and a staff. He was part of "the system." But Tom Hayden was no sell-out. There were problems, he told us, in the Democratic Party and in the current White House administration. But there would be time later to deal with those. Then he quot- ed Thoreau and told us we had to vote if we wanted anyone to listen to our complaints. Hayden now chairs the California state Senate's committees on Higher Education and Natural Resources and Wildlife. He has written seven books on political philosophy and history. He has made a difference. And so I think of him when I think of the change in the air in Ann Arbor these days. Many of us are about to relinquish use of the term "student" before our names. With these new abbreviated titles - journalist instead of student journalist, activist instead of student activist, athlete instead of student athlete - come new responsibility, new clothes and new expectations. We graduate from papers of 40,000 circulation to those of 500,000, from sit-ins and protests to ref-. erendums and school board meetings, from Crisler Arena to the Palace. Like Hayden, we take our Michigan expe- rience with us. The causes we claimed here, the skills we honed, the people we met ... all are a part of who we are now. Hearing Hayden in 1996, with his wrinkles and his tie and his politician's handshake, talk about mobilizing young voters, protecting the environment and investing federal money in education reas- sured me that some things - the important things -- don't change. They simply evolve. And so the change in crisp spring Ann Arbor air doesn't seem menacing to me. In a few months, I will leave the state where I grew up - but I will return to the city where I was born to pursue the same profession my parents practiced there. In just a few weeks, I will graduate from an institution that I learned to love for its richness in diversity and energy and poten- tial. But sitting next to me at commence- ment will be my oldest and dearest friend who knew me as a child and who will some- day know my children as what she really is - family. Tomorrow, my parents pack up our belongings and move to a house more suit- able for their changing family. But there will be baseballs in my brother's room, newspa- per clippings in mine and two cats sprawled out on someone's bed -just like home. Today, my musings, observations and* byline appear in The Michigan Daily for the" last time. But I left a few things in the attic and the legacy of 420 Maynard, and the Daily will be a part of every word I write and every editorial decision I make for the rest of my life. -- This is Laurie Mayk' final columnfo The Michigan Daily. She can be reached over e-mail at ljmayk@umich.edu. GRINDING THE NIB For more than a decade, University stu- dents have celebrated the last day of classes in a short run of about a mile from the corner of South Forest Avenue and South University Avenue to the Cube. But unlike the runners students see on campus every day, the participants of this event run naked. In the winter of 1986, members of the men's crew team ran naked through the streets of Ann Arbor. Through the years, the simple celebration has escalated into a nationally and internationally recognized tradition known as the Naked Mile. Now, 14 years later, the Naked Mile attracts about 800 runners and 10,000 spectators to the University each year. Administrators are concerned that this tradition could develop into something tragic, as evidenced by University President Lee Bollinger's dis- couragement of all seniors from running in the annual event. There are definite safety concerns in running. The Naked Mile brings people from all over the world to Ann Arbor. Last year, individuals videotaped the event next to media from Germany. Student partici- pants face the possibility that pictures of their naked bodies might be featured in videos or on the Internet without their con- sent or knowledge. Also, runners face the possibility of being groped by onlookers. Some harassment is inevitable with an event of this size, though measures will be in place to minimize problems. Student volunteers plan to build from last year's effort to make a safer Naked Mile. Volunteers will canvas the event, again providing T-shirts and assistance to partic- ipants. The volunteers will also carry walkie-talkies to report problems runners may encounter. It would be unfortunate for an unruly crowd to ruin what should be a harmless University tradition. The throng of observers should behave in a respectful manner toward runners and provide a wide path. In past years, DPS and AAPD officers have done a good job maintaining runners' safety. While participating students are technically breaking indecent exposure laws, officers have not sought to break up the run. That pragmatic attitude should con- tinue to prevail this year - what amounts to a quick streak through Ann Arbor to cele- brate the end of classes should not result in legal troubles. But as much as student volunteers, onlookers and law enforcement can do to protect participants, the runners them- selves are largely responsible for taking steps to ensure their safety. The runners should bring clothes for the end of the race and be alert to their sur- roundings while they run. With a little thought on the part of runners and the coop- eration of others involved, safety can be upheld and the tradition should continue. Bollinger's concern for students par- ticipating in the Naked Mile on the whole is admirable. Most students, however, already have made their decisions as to whether they are planning to run. The Naked Mile has established itself as a part of the University; the responsibility now is to create a relatively safe environment for those choosing to participate. CHIP CULLEN Talk on trial Outside incident does not implicate show n a taping of the Jenny Jones show that never aired, Jonathan Schmitz appeared on the show after being told that someone with a secret crush on him would reveal it. Believing that the crush was from a woman, he agreed to do the show. But when the crush turned out to be that of Scott Amedure, Schmitz said that he felt incredibly humiliated. Three days later, Schmitz, who already possessed a troubled psychological history, killed Amedure. Schmitz was accused of murder and the Jenny Jones show was brought up in a $50 million lawsuit by Amedure's family. If the plaintiffs win, the ruling would be a devastating blow to the media, causing them to be overly protective in their actions, fearing multi-million dollar lawsuits. The "Jenny Jones Trial" as it has been called, has been a spectacle from the onset. Amedure's family contends that the show mislead Schmitz on purpose, resulting in Schmitz's public embarrassment and caus- ing him to commit murder. Schmitz himself was convicted of the murder, but his trial was overturned on a technicality. Lawyers for Jones's show maintain that the two men were romantically involved following the taping, and that the death was the result of some sort of relationship quarrel. Jenny Jones's show should not be con- sidered in the same group as respectable television news media, but this trial could have serious significance for both. It is unacceptable to hold a television program responsible for the behavior of those who appear on it after they leave the studio. This case raises many questions about how much responsibility a television pro- producers had no way of predicting such an extreme and violent incident. Appearing on a talk show alone does not cause one to be homicidal; there are many factors involved. For example, Schmitz has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression. But in the show's defense, that is not a valid reason to prevent him from appearing on television. Amedure's murder was an incredibly rare occurrence. But this incident has an added complication. By asserting that the show humiliated Schmitz, those suing the show imply that homosexuality is a mark of shame. Despite the lack of tolerance some members of society demonstrate, the court should not recognize homosexuality as a scarlet letter. If the court rules that Jones and her pro- ducers were responsible for Amedure's death, it will create a judicially sanctioned form of censorship. Amedure family attor- ney Geoffrey Fieger claims that when the producers convinced Schmitz to appear on the show, it was similar to shouting "Fire" in a crowded theater. This is illogical, because the producers did not intend to cause any harm by inviting a guest on their talk show - a routine event. The ethics used by the producers are questionable, but they did not do anything illegal. The question facing jurors in this trial is whether or not being on the Jenny Jones show caused Schmitz to lose control and murder Amedure. Fieger is trying to prove that had Schmitz never been on television, Amedure would still be alive. A talk show cannot be the sole factor in someone's decision to take the life of another person. The media isn't responsible for Amedure's People should tentatively trust their leaders To THE DAILY: I am writing in response to several recent letters that criticized U.S. foreign policy toward Iraq and Kosovo. While what I'm about to say might shock a student body with a such a strong tradition of activism, hear me out. There's an old adage: "Politics stops at the water's edge." Although this saying is primarily meant to remind us of the impor- tance of national cohesion when it comes to dealing with crises abroad, there's another reason why the political process is (or should be) unique when it comes to foreign affairs. The relevant policymakers - such as the National Security Council, the Joint Chiefs, and certain congressional commit- tees - by virtue of having classified intel- ligence, simply have access to much more information than the general public. Right or wrong, this is the way it is: I think it's safe to say that we know about 25 percent of what's going on in Iraq and Kosovo. Therefore, it's very important to trust and to defer to our leaders when it comes to foreign affairs; in other words, give them the benefit of the doubt. I realize that this might seem dangerous given our experiences with Vietnam. That's why it's important to question the long-term outcomes of foreign policy. But, in the short-term, we should at least acknowledge that we have very little information and therefore give a policy a chance to play out before criticizing. Actually, some argue that the failure of the American public to trust its leadership was a big reason why Vietnam was a disaster. Not trusting our leaders forces them, in an effort to placate public opinion, to do asinine things like telegraph our strategy. For exam- ple, announcing publically that NATO will never send in ground troops gave the Serbian leadership some pretty valuable information. Of course, giving up our democratic duty to question our leaders, giving them the benefit of the doubt and entrusting them with the lives of our sons and daughters assumes that we have a leadership that can be trusted, that is beyond reproach and with impeccable integrity. But that's a different discussion. Who said that the Monica Lewinsky affair wasn't important? GREG HILLSON LSA SENIOR Affirmative action helps prevent discrimination To THE DAILy: As the Rev. Jesse Jackson stated in his speech on April 9, "People can achieve when the goals are clearly defined, the rules are open and fair and the playing field is level" According to Jason Bourne's letter ("An open letter to the Rev. Jesse Jackson," 4/13/99), this t I Lk~oI~ 1 __4 ter. ' . : a r YOU ?ffAI T o WLU ME~ Citroh tLIg?( minority presence. As it is now, only about 8 percent of the student body is black, between 4 and 5 percent ofthe population is latino, and less than 1 percent is Native American., Obviously, minorities do not gain a significant upper hand in the competition with white stu- dents for the "same spots." In terms of stating that the playing field is slanted "against non-minority appli- cants," Bourne failed to mention that the playing field has historically been slanted away from minorities, in everything from the workplace to the classroom. In my opin- ion, attacks on affirmative action are racial- ly motivated. These attacks are rooted in sentiments that stemn from a belief that minority studentsare somehow stealing spots from majority students. However, the arguments against affir- mative action fail to mention statements such as "How is it fair that students of alumni receive boosts in their admission status?" or "Why is it that people who suc- ceeded on racially biased tests such as the SAT are sitting in my spot?" I ask the fol- lowing question: Whose spot are you sitting in? As an African American/Caribbean woman I take offense at the fact that people may perceive me as an occupant of a seat meant for somebody else "more qualified," etc. Obviously, if the playing field is to be completely leveled, such policies of admis- sion that favor white students should also be eradicated. So I say this - before a person attacks policies of affirmative action, one must edu- cate themselves on the historical nature of dis- crimination on this campus and how it plays a role in current University admissions. "Racial harmony" rests not in the ending of affirma- tive action - and the subsequent drop in already disparagingly low numbers of minor- ity students at this school. Instead, racial har- mony only occurs when those in privileged positions stop trying to further monopolize opportunities for higher education. SABRINA CHARLES LSA SOPHOMORE Courtesy at the movies is in short supply "funny" Chris Tucker is, you should have the right to speak. Be my guest. If you can't yell insults at the movie, you're just throwing away money. But a movie like "Saving Private Ryan?" Some jackass alternates audible war lessons for his girlfriend with another audio game - shout out your own Rambo-like one- liner as men are graphically blown into pieces (this is, or course dwarfed by my mother's experience of sitting next to a baby during the very same film, but isn't the stupidity in that one obvious?). Politely tell them to be quiet? I always do, and I carry a success rate of just over 40 percent. I plead with you all -- please don't talk. Don't even whisper. I can hear you, and so can. everyone else. If someone tells someone to be quiet and the person ignores it, join them in the public humiliation of the offender and make a scene. And please don't laugh hysteri- cally in movies like "A Simple Plan" because a shotgun blast throws someone against a wall. It's not supposed to be funny, and it probably isn't if you're the only one laughing while the rest of the people in the theater hold their mouths open in horror. People will say, "don't go when it's busy." I don't. I go in the afternoon and carefully select my seat away from teenagers and old ladies, but I'm always thwarted by someone. And it's probably you. I'm trying to watch a movie. LANCE ROBERTS LSA SENIOR Activism does not * have to exclude fun To THE DAILY: This is my response to the letter to the editor, "Feminist fair did not represent the true cause" (4/12/99). I was just curious if the author of the letter, Scott Behnan, even attended the Feminist fair. If he did, he did not pay very much attention. Between the dunk tank, balloons, and bean bags were many student and com- munity groups promoting female empower- ment, as was the goal of the organizers of the fair. Planned Parenthood, SAPAC and the Undergraduate Women's Studies Association were among the groups repre- t tiJ r w ' z ,, .; _.___.. ~LL I -A I