4 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, January 25, 2000 e lCit igttn ttil What's the State of the Union? Watch the Super Bowl,0 420 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. Study our studies Undergrad task force has no shortage of work T he two greatest spectacles of American culture occur in this next week as President Clinton gives his State of the Union Address on Thursday and Super Bowl XXXiV kicks off Sunday. You probably think there couldn't be two 1 more disparate things.° But if you really pon- der it, they might be twins separated at birth in that Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny DeVito kind of way. I'm not nuts. Consider this: If you've ever D watched either, you've David seen some elaborate Wallace introductions. At the Ex I Super Bowl, 350 lb.Maynard 'S players run through inflated helmets, high- five a gauntlet of curvaceous cheerleaders and plow into a swarm of waiting teammates, usu- ally injuring a backup kicker coughing the words, "Can't breathe." You only wish that happened at the State of the Union Address. Clinton runs through an inflated jackass, then slaps hands with a line of interns (let's hope hands) in routeto Al Gore, who Clinton hugs and affectionately head butts. He then chest-bumps the Speaker of the House. But no, Clinton's introductions usually require him to simply mention, by title, every member of the federal government. "Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of con- gress, honored guests, Bobby in the White House mailroom ..." It goes on and on. Likewise, the comparisons go on forever. It's eerie. For example, look at the running times. The State of the Union Address comes on at 9 p.m. Thursday and finally stalls out during "The Today Show" Friday morning. The Super Bowl pregame comes on about 9 a.m. Sunday and finishes at the game's kick- off a full trimester later. Of course, so much time leads to filler. During the Super Bowl pregame, analysts spend time explaining freak plays we'll never see. In hour three, Sterling Sharpe's head explodes while diagramming Tennessee's "Homerun Blimp Post, a play designed to take advantage of the surprised St. Louis defense should the Goodyear Blimp crash in the end zone. In the State of the Union Address, President Clinton explains school reform we'll never see. In hour three, Sen. Ted Kennedy's head explodes when the Scotch on his breath comes too close to an open flame. In another coincidence, both. the Super Bowl and the State of the Union Address involve celebrities most Americans cannot identify. At the Super Bowl, that's the halftime act, usually K.C. and the Sunshine Band or Peaches and Herb. At the State of the Union Address, that's the president. But these aren't the only celebrities involved. In both events, you can count on cheesy celebrities making appear- ances soggier than a Georgia Dome nacho. Hoping to associate the Super Bowl's popularity with new shows, play-by-play man Al Michaels will point out celebrities in the stands and say, "Oh, there's Andy Dick, star of ABC's new show 'A Direct Flight to Obscurity,' premiering after the game." As part of his State of the Union Address, Clinton will acknowledge celebri- ties in attendance, hoping their popularity and who knows what else will rub off on him. Let's move past the celebrities to other Tniversity President Lee Bollinger announced his intention to form two commissions last Thursday to investigate what he called "issues of major importance to the future of the University." The first commission will explore the relationship between the University and the Internet Revolution. The second will study the undergraduate program at the University. Considering the debatable "top-notch" quality of the University's undergraduate education, the latter commission is neces- sary. In a school that recently was reported to be the highest funded research university in the nation, it would be easy for the administration to overlook the undergradu- ate program. The University, as much as any school in the top tier of the undergrad- uate rankings, has gained major prestige :through its research efforts. Regardless of this, students who enter the University still have a right to expect to receive a top- notch education; this commission will .have an excellent opportunity to discover what aspects could improve the undergrad- uate educational experience. Another strength of the survey is that it will examine a broad range of topics relat- ed to the undergraduate educational expe- rience. These include ways to improve - recruitment, financial resources, the aim of the curriculum and the expansion of pre-professional majors. All of these are hot topics at the University; this commis- sion will inevitably help improve overall education at the University. It is encourag- ing that Bollinger is concerned with these Confederate flag' n Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a 6 J0long-standing controversial issue returned to the national spotlight. Nearly 46,000 marchers swarmed the South things Americans care about. Neither the State of the Union Address nor the Super Bowl may stray too far from the critical issue of healthcare. During his speech, Clinton likely will call for universal health care. A puzzled Seh Spencer Abraham will ask, "Can he do that?" In the next chair, Sen. Jesse Helms will fall asleep. In Atlanta during the fourth quarter, W vicious sack might cause the knee of quarter- back Steve McNair to buckle forward. A baf- fled Chris Berman will ask, "Can a knee dd' that?" In the next chair, Joe Theismann will pass out. But I must say these all pale compared to the most pronounced similarity: Both the State of the Union Address and the Super Bowl are boring. The State of the Union address sends most people to bed because it lacks substance Mike Tyson's last opponent had more teet' Ditto the Super Bowl. For 10 years, the simul- taneous Bud Bowl provided better entertain- ment. But let me identify a key difference between the two television behemoths. The State of the Union Address airs on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, CSPAN, CSPAN II, ESPNEWS, TNT, AMC, HGTV and Lifetime. No one watches. The Super Bowl airs on one network this year ABC. Everyone watches. Allow me to make one suggestion, as a kind of postgame or rebuttal. Presumably, the State of the Union Address is important. So given all it has in common with the Super Bowl, why not make one extravaganza? Clinton should give his State of the Union address as the Super Bowl halftime show. K.C. could sit in the Speaker's seat. -David Wallace can be reached over e-mail at davidmnw@umich.edu. G;R INDNG THE NIB issues. Doing so recognizes that students, programs and funding are all instrumental in the improvement efforts. Obviously, there will always be weak aspects of undergraduate life at the University. For example, a school of this size will never be able to offer the same student/faculty ratio smaller private schools can provide. Also, academic advis- ers are responsible for more advisees than at other schools. The commission needs to find ways to get around these hindrances. Instituting more seminars in the curriculum will allow students to learn from accomplished pro- fessors while actively interacting with them. Professors should receive incentives to teach seminars and undergraduate courses in addition to researching. Along those lines, the University should try to improve the terrible schedul- ing process and make it easier for all stu- dents to get into classes they want. The University should hire more'graduate stu- dent instructors, creating smaller discus- sion sections. While these changes may be somewhat costly, they would be worth- while since faculty are the most important resources in students' academic experi- ences. By following through on these sugges- tions and others concerning the student body, the administration could greatly improve the undergraduate experience. We applaud Bollinger's decision to look into the quality of undergraduate education, and we urge him to act on the commis- sion's recommendations. South must come down government first put it up to commemo- rate the centennial of the Civil War, but the issues current at the time had just as much to do with its appearance: It was a slap in the face to the civil rights move- ment. Intended or not, it continues to be a slap in the face today. This is not to say private citizens do not have the right to fly the Confederate flag - if they wish to commemorate their Southern heritage by showing it on their own property, that right is protected by the First Amendment. But the flag has no place on govern- ment buildings. While the government is run by majority rule, it also has a duty to protect the rights of minorities, and that includes not displaying the symbol of a government that wanted to keep blacks in slavery. University students can help in the fight to have the Confederate flag removed. The NAACP has called for a tourism boycott of South Carolina in order to demonstrate its disapproval of the symbol. Although the state is a popular desti- nation for people on spring break - par- ticularly cities such as Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach -- students should keep the boycott in mind when making vaca- tion plans in February. The government of South Carolina should acknowledge that the Confederate flag represents ideals that tear the coun- try apart and remove it from the capitol. While it would be a primarily symbolic move in the field of improving race rela- tions, the justified anger over its pres- CHIP CULLEN Carolina Statehouse in Charleston, demanding the state legislature remove the Confederate battle flag which has flown there for more than a century. NAACP president Kweisi Mfume called for a tourism boycott of the state 5until the flag, which protesters called a symbol of slavery and racism, is lowered. While removal of the Confederate flag alone would not be enough to heal the wounds caused by racial issues, it is still a highly divisive symbol of a racist past, and the South Carolina legislature should take it down. Defenders of the flag claim that the banner represents Southern pride and heritage and the cause for which their ancestors died. But it does not represent the heritage of all South Carolinians. No matter how strongly those who fought for the Confederacy believed in their cause, it remains one that called for the enslave- ment of other human beings. In spite of the argument that the Civil War was not really fought over slavery, it .was still the issue at the heart of the con- -flict, as the Southern agricultural economies depended on the enslavement of African-Americans to remain viable. Indeed, slavery was the key cause of the war and the Confederate flag is a symbol of the fight to keep it in practice. Whether or not a person views it that way, the flag remains a representation of a racist legacy. Delta Sigma Phi cartoon slap in face TO THE DAILY: I was completely outraged by the cartoon in the Jan. 20th edition of the Daily. Not only was the cartoon slanderous, but portrayed a false image of not only the Delta Sigma Phi chapter but the entire Greek community. As a leader of the fraternities at the University. I take great pride in all the chapters I represent. Steve Lezell, the president of Delta Sigma Phi, and his chapter went through a considerably stressful time during the alleged hazing incident (which they were later cleared of), and also with the harsh real- ity of finding a new chapter house for next year. After all this chapter had gone through, the Daily has slapped them in the face with this ridiculous cartoon. It even went so far to slander Delta Sigma Phi when they were not even remotely involved in the unfortunate shooting incident. With all the intelligent individuals who contribute to this newspaper, I can not believe that this cartoon was even consid- ered for publication. Whether it is done publically or privately, some form of apolo- gy must be given to Delta Sigma Phi. I would hope that in the future that no student organization has to go throughathis childish slander like the cartoon the Daily had printed. This is clearly unacceptable. ADAM SILVER INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT Sweatshop document is right choice for 'U' TO THE DAILY: Ironically, the aspects of the Workers Rights Consortium (WRC) criticized by the Daily in its editorial "Not Ready for 'U"' (1/20/00) are what make it the best option U- M has to enforce its anti-sweatshop policy. The Daily correctly dismissed the only alter- native to the WRC, the Fair Labor Association, as severely inadequate, but urged University administrators not to affiliate with the WRC until more "specifics" are fleshed out. But the details absent from the founding document can not and should not be enunciat- ed with out the participation of the University and the other institutions of higher learning. Since the process of enforcement to be employed by the WRC has not been defini- tively cast in stone, the administration will be able to actively tailor the plan to its own needs and expectations. Students and administrators alike should appreciate and demand this autonomy. If SOLE's position has been unclear up to this point, let me now clarify it: We urge the administration to join the process of develop- ing the Worker's Rights Consortium by devot- ing time, brainpower, and minimal monetary support to the project. SOLE does not expect the University to blindly and indefinitely commit itself to a Read the Bible: God is not pro-choice TO THE DAILY: In the three and a half years I've spent on this campus, I've heard a lot of people say a lot of things against God, but never anything so blasphemous as this. In response to Jesse Herzog's letter, I would first encourage every- one who does actually believe in God to read Rev 10:6, along with Gen 1:31, James 1:17 and a host of other verses to see that what GOD creates is good and perfect. Note also that Satan, although limited by the Almighty, does have the power to create and to capture human minds (check Ephesians 6:11-12 and II Tim. 2:26). So please, please, when we quote Scripture, let's try to do it in context and not randomly throw out passages. It grieves my very soul as a child of God to know that anyone could possibly think that God would institute the practice of aborting human life, especially in its most innocent stages. How is it not per- fectly obvious that this practice is not of God, but of the enemy? This notion should be as clear as a bell, unless, of course, you have your own little conception of Him that is not based on God's Word. In which case, you must also create your own heaven and transport yourself there after you die while simulta- neously avoiding God's judgement. Then you will have accomplished something. But until then, you accept God's will on his terms or not at all. This goes for abortion as well as every other facet of life. So you want a choice? Your choice is stated in Joshua 24:15. God is a pro-choice God, but not when it comes to pregnancy termination. It's completely up to you. Good or evil? Light or darkness? God's will or Satan's? This is the ultimate choice. (Great article, Mike! It takes a lot of courage to stand for what's right!) JENNIFER PRICE LSA SENIOR 'Idiots' slip through ' Il' rimiqinnc _ were right, and the only people that disagree with you have the IQs of a pet rock? Or is t that mostly morons write into the Daily? Or is simply to imply that there are idiots that si through the crack and do get into the University? TRIP FINNEGAN ENGINEERING SENIOR Herzog's letter devoid of logic TO THE DAILY: Upon reading Jesse Herzog's letter to the editor ("God's opinion on abortion unclear," 1/21/2000), I have to question oui University's admission policies. Herzog implies that abortion is not bad because "God created everything" and therefore "God created abortion." By this ridiculous logic we can assume that everything and all actions cannotl bad. I guess in Jesse's world Hitler, car jack- ing and Ohio State cannot be bad. I ch l- lenge Jesse to take a road trip to Columbus and see the truth. MARK WEST RACKHAM STUDENT Foster homes far better than choosing abortion TO THE DAILY: I am writing in response to Emily Aldridge's letter ("Pro-Lifers don't under- stand the difficult choice" 1/24/00): Aldridge justifies abortion by explaining that life in, foster homes creates too ma problems for a child. She writes, "I und stand why many women would be reluctant to put children through that." While I agree that foster home life is not the most desirable situation for a child, what right do mothers have to just decide to mur- der their babies because the kid might have