4A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, January 27, 2000
atefirtich41,gtttt tt r1
Silence won 't mute ignorance; we must speak up-
420 Maynard Street HEATHER KAMINS
Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Editor in Chief
daily.letters@umich.eduE
Edited and managed by JEFFREY KOSSEFF
students at the DAVID WALLACE
University of Michigan Editorial Page Editors
Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of the
Dailys editorial board. All other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect
the opinion of The Michigan Daily.
Too 'Code' for comfort
Hazing policy overstep s bounds
A nyone who knows me well knows that
I love to argue, and I hate to lose.
Although I ask a lot from people, I
expect twice as much from myself.
I have many of opinions, some of which
are probably wrong,
but still I usually am
quite persistent in
expressing them.
And although I am
shy, it takes a lot to"
leave me speechless.
A distressing con-
versation at a house y..
party this weekend,
though, silenced me
and paralyzed me
from action.
It was very late - Heather
about 3 a.m. - and a Kamins
group of 15 people,
tired from alcohol adid
and the hour, lin- a ins
gered on couches at
the party.
When the hour gets late and the most
important choice a partygoer can make is
whether to grab one last beer or head to
bed, it is a bad time to start philosophizing
on any subject.
I realize that at such a time, words
become slurred, arguments become dis-
jointed and obscenities are flippantly
spewed.
But conversation of course continues,
and in this case crossed the line.
A ranting partygoer began spouting
offensive terms - jerks, pricks, assholes,
etc. - to describe a few students at the
University whom he does not like. The list
of insults grew, eliciting laughs and nods,
until one four-letter word slipped out and
silenced the room.
"They're such Jews."
The members of the group being put
down are not Jewish. The speaker obvious-
ly is not Jewish. In fact, no one in the room
was a Jew, except me.
The University is a very diverse place.
There are nearly 6,000 Jews enrolled at the
University, a significant proportion mak-
ing it a very popular and comfortable
school for Jewish students.
So naturally, if a derogatory comment
against Jews slips out, people freeze.
Everyone stopped, the noise stopped and
all eyes turned to me. Several people
immediately piped in, "You can't say stuff
like that here."
I said nothing.
I'm pretty fortunate, I guess. That was
the first time in my 21 years that I have
encountered such a blatant anti-Semitic
comment. Of course I've heard the jokes,
and yes, I've surely laughed at same of
them too.
But this use of the single label "J1ew" -
the specific name of a people, my people
- as a synonym for scum, dirt or. trash
tore me inside.
At first I was just worried about the peo-
ple around me, my close friends, staring at
me. They meant no harm. I am sure of that.
But I was scared of being singled out, wor-
ried about being different, fearful of being
pitied.
"You can't say things like that," I meek-
ly sputtered.
A few witnesses tried to mitigate the sit-
uation with supporting words, and I appre-
ciated their efforts, but all further talk just
added insult to injury. So then a change of
topic came as a relief.
And then I forgot about it ... for a while
... until I started thinking about how I
responded.
JReports of hazing at the University
have surfaced multiple times during
the year. The fundamental problem of
reporting and controlling hazing raises
many concerns about student safety with-
in the Greek system. This recent rise in
incidents has led Interim Vice President
for Student Affairs E. Royster Harper to
work to "put more teeth" into the
University's hazing policy. She plans to
create an anti-hazing hotline and to
strengthen relationships with national
fraternity organizations. The
Interfraternity Council and Panhel are
also participating by appointing a joint
task force to create specific policies on
hazing violations. The University's
involvement in making policies for haz-
ing should be limited to prevention; it
should not punish alleged offenders out-
side of committing academic miscon-
duct.
The effort the University put forth to
deal with hazing seems ineffectual and
pointless. An anti-hazing hotline requires
the voluntary action of the pledge or per-
son being hazed to call and report the
abuse. But students pledging fraternities
and sororities are often unaware of what
constitutes hazing. Reassurances from
fraternity brothers of the tradition and rit-
ual in the hazing seemingly justifies the
mistreatment. Why would a pledge active-
ly object to poor treatment if it creates a
feeling of group unity and historical
pride?
The proposal of creating greater ties
with nationals may also prove meaning-
less. The national fraternity organizations
have limited power to regulate each indi-
vidual chapter on each separate college
campus. Unless the national fraternities
could place a 24-hour monitor in the
houses, any form of interference would be
looked upon as just that - interference.
But as trivial as the suggestions may be,
awareness is the first step in finding a
solution.
The recent hazing headlines are cause
for alarm, but the University must main-
tain its primary role as a learning institu-
tion. Contrary to what the administration
may believe, it is not a criminal justice
courthouse. Academic misconduct such
as cheating and plagiarism fall under the
University's jurisdiction.
But it is unreasonable for the
University to expel or suspend a student
for hazing when the police and courts
already such matters. The University's
purpose is to teach and educate students,
not fight crime and punish those who
break laws. This issue relays back to fun-
damental problems with the Code of
Student Conduct, which violates the doc-
trine of "double jeopardy." A student
should have the same rights within the
University as outside of it. Infringing on
students' rights is equally appalling as
hazing.
At times, the Greek system appears
only to make problems for the University,
in terms of alcohol regulation and hazing,
but it is an organization created for stu-
dents - not for the University. Even
though the new hazing policies seem
rather harmless, the University must
remain within proper boundaries. Laws
and rules created to punish those who
haze could also punish those who take a
stand.
Any regulation the University may
place on fraternities and sororities must
still abide by the rules set by the constitu-
tion. Lack of personal freedom is a prob-
lem that always takes precedence.
What is our responsibility to handle
ignorance?
We are all forced to interact with peopfe
who do not look like us. sound like us, talk
like us or pray like us.
We are forced to face situations in which
choices must be made Often we won't
know which choice is right.
I chose to stay silent, and have not y5
forgiven myself.
But really was there a better choice? I
could have spoken up. I could have gotten
angry.
Maybe I should have just walked away
in silent protest to show how disturbed I
felt.
Would that have made my point br
would I have alienated people further?
In the end, I found that really the most
hurtful part is that I was hamstrung, wit
no clear answer or solution.
Still, though, I blame myself.
I do not blame the speaker for being
ignorant. As simple as it sounds, he did not
know better. I do feel guilty though for my
silence.
I choked then, but I have a column and I
have a voice.
We all have a responsibility to stand up
to discrimination - against ourselves atid
others.
I was mad at myself that night becauser
knew my reticence made it impossible for
him to learn how wrong his words were.
I had a responsibility that day to stand
up against something I knew was clearly
wrong.
That is what I am doing now.
I only hope that next time, whether it Is
you or me, we won't let the opportunity
and responsibility pass us by.
-- Heather Kamins can be reached via
e-mail at hbk@umich.edO
GIND.N G TIEIN
CHIP CULLEN
Where there's smoke
Seton Hall tragedy signals 'U' needs changes
Tragedy beset Seton Hall University last
week as a fire in the Boland Residence
Hall claimed the lives of three students and
left five others in the hospital. The residence
hall was ill-equipped to handle the fire, as
no sprinkler systems were installed in the
dorm. Seton Hall's lack of sprinklers most
likely contributed to the magnitude of the
fire, as did the 18 false alarms at Boland
since the start of the fall semester. False
alarms are the norm and the vast majority of
dorms nationwide are without sprinkler sys-
tems - a dangerous combination, especial-
ly when the typical dorm crams 1,000 stu-
dents into its quarters. Just recently an elec-
trical fire in Mary Markley Residence Hall
caused severe damage to a room on the sixth
floor. Like Boland, Markley does not have
sprinkder systems. Not only should The
University add systems to all residence
halls, but the state should require them.
Several alternatives would not only pro-
vide safer dormitories for University stu-
dents but would also increase fire education
across our campus. The first of these is a
change in University policy that would
require all residence halls to install sprin-
klers. This change in University policy
would nicely complement a new piece of
Michigan legislation that would mandate
fire safety sprinklers in dormitories.
University residence halls must also provide
students with a clearer picture of what their
room's electrical outlets can handle. Not
when arriving at school each fall, have no
idea over-used electrical outlets provide a
serious. fire safety hazard. A simple
brochure at new student orientation would
provide students with a better understanding
of how wonderful the surge protector actual-
ly is. Even offering a discounted surge pro-
tector to each student would make it obvious
how well these handy items actually work.
Education is always the most preventive
method of fire safety.
One only need look at the staircases in
South or West Quad to see what not to do
architecturally when preparing a building
for fire evasion. If students were to try to
walk down to the ground floor on the stair-
case next to the sixth floor's elevator lobby
in South Quad, they would become frustrat-
ed. This is because that person would end up
on the fifth floor, terribly confused, as the
stairs stop on this floor, then start up again
on the third floor. If a person attempted to
escape a fire using these stairs, they would
not only be frustrated, but also in danger.
There are many examples of this staircase
situation in both buildings, not just on the
sixth floor. The most disturbing idea is that
both residence halls house at hundreds of
students, yet it can be quite confusing for
these students to escape a fire in their own
building.
Re-assessing the University's fire code
uncovers many faults with the lack of fire
sprinklers, fire education and dormitory
Michigan sports
fans are better than
OSU's
TO THE DAILY:
After watching the Michigan-OSU
hockey game on TV last Friday, I realized
one thing: Michigan has the best teams
and fans around.
I was appalled at the sad behavior of
the "fans" at Value City Arena (that name
- another thing I won't get into). Did
anyone else see this? Yes, someone from
OSU behaved like an ass on live televi-
sion. (Those in question were fortunate-
ly removed from the arena.) I am hoping
that the Yost regulars will show up in
droves next Saturday and show Ohio
State what being a fan really means.
We do not throw things on the ice in
an unsportsmanlike rage, we do not phys-
ically attack the other team when we are
losing. Friendly (or maybe not so friend-
ly) jocularity is a part of hockey, but the
obscene behavior of a few persons last
Friday night is unwelcome. I'm looking
forward to Saturday, and I hope that we
maintain our usual decorum. We have
such a great team, it's the least we can do
to uphold their dignity. So let's fill the
barn on Saturday and show them how it's
done.
ERIN OROURKE
LSA FIRST-YEAR STUDENT
Birth control
methods should be
pro-active
TO THE DAILY:
In response to Jesse Herzog's Jan. 21
letter "God's opinion on abortion
unclear," claiming God created abortion:
God did create abortions. They occur nat-
urally and we refer to them as miscar-
riages.
Humans created induced abortions,
which is the subject under scrutiny, and
these are unnatural and unnecessary,
except in rare cases when the procedure
can be used to save the life of the moth-
er. I, too, used to be avid pro-choice until
I choseto terminate a pregnancy which
could have and should have been avoid-
ed.
Here in the United States, with easy
access to cheap birth control, there is no
excuse for such destructive measures. A
better solution: be pro-active, not reac-
tive. Promote access to fertilization pre-
vention in places where abortion is ille-
gal, rather than passing laws to play God.
DAISY RATEAU
LSA FIRST-YEAR STUDENT
Letter's abortion
Y A
a
out several flaws in his argument. While
it is true that the Bible is unclear as to
"God's opinion" on the subject of abor-
tion, Herzog's assertion that God created
everything, and therefore, God created
abortion, is misdirected. Following his
line of thought, God must have created
sin, immorality and all of the negative
aspects of human life.
This illogical assumption is the result
of an improper interpretation of
Revelation 10, which is not mindful of
the context in which verse 6 is written.
The verse is speaking of "things" which
God has created. These "things," which
in other textual references refers to phys-
ical objects, include all that is in heaven,
on the earth and in the sea. Abortion is
not an object, but an act, an unnatural
intervention to disturb a natural process.
In all of nature, willful abortion of the
fetus by its mother is, so far, not
observed. To illustrate the shortcomings
of Herzog's interpretation, let me use the
example of divorce. Did God create
divorce? He may have created the people
involved in the divorce process, but to
say that God created the institution of
divorce is hardly an accurate conclusion.
To the contrary, God has laid down moral
codes throughout the Bible which show
His abhorrence with all sinful practices
Through Moses, He allowed for
divorce in the Pentateuch, but Jesus (per-
taining to Christians) said that divorce
was not an original institution, but rather
the product of man's sinful nature
(Matthew 19:8). Also, in Malachi 2:16, it
is clear that God hates divorce. To say
that a man made institution is God's cre-
ation would require that in any mental
and physical exercise, God's intentions
and thoughts are channeled through
man's intentions and thoughts. This
would be an abrogation of man's free
will, thus the two origins of institutions
must be kept separate.
Like divorce, abortion is not natural
(in mostdcases). Moreover, abortion is
unique to the human species, as is mar-
riage, and thus divorce (more complicat-
ed, but I must be brief). Like divorce,
abortion is a man made institution, not
originally intended by the laws of nature.
.! .-thpr it.isasin nr. not h niP.r1-Q -tnil
all the infants and "sucklings" as well as
their domesticated animals. It is difficu
to ascertain, doctrinally speakin
whether this inclusion of newborns is
equating their "value" with adults, thus
preserving their rights, or if it is, imply-
ing that any living being that is tainted
with sin is worthy of death.
Personally, I support the latter, since
contextually speaking, the prior conclu-
sion would imply that all humans are on
par with animals.
Yet I believe in pro-life in most
instances. This is my personal stanc
Publically, I think that laws basedo
moral principles have no place in a
democracy that doesn't want to abide by
them, especially in the form of sweeping
legislation. Rather, the decision to abort a
child rests solely on hearts and con-
sciences of the parent.
All who believe in a final judgement
should keep this in mind, as only God has
the right to "convict" sinners in the las
days. Remember that true freedo
includes not just the freedom to be
morally equipped, but also the freedom to
make mistakes.
JOSEPH KIM
SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY
Basketball team
needs to beat
Michiga State1
TO THE DAILY:
During the last week the Michigan.
basketball team has turned hopes of a
cameo appearance in the Top 25 to pipe
dreams of the NIT. In the game against
Iowa, their loss could be attributed to
missed free throws. The margin and sty*
of their loss to Indiana is not. Everything.
fell apart.
Ridiculous shot attempts, awful'
defense and zero intensity. As a maize,
rager, I would hope that this team can.
show some sign of life when Michigani
Sae mfes to town.
'{ Pkti M O ALL
I a k p <444#44 0 4444AA, f.OfA
I