4 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, January 7, 2000 .Iije £ritiu & IdQt 420 Maynard Street HEATHER KAMINS Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Editor in Chief daily.letters@umich.edu 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 Daily's editorial board. All other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily. There is more to Israel than falafel and conflict Dollars deserved University funding parallels progress was looking at silver candlesticks through a glass case in a small antique shop in Jerusalem. A small Israeli man with a bald head, brown reading glasses and a pretty good handle on the English lan- guage came over and asked if I need- ed any help. "Well," I said, "I< was wondering about these ..,"< He interrupted me to introduce him- self. "My name is Manny," he said. "Man-ny. It's like woman-ny, but more . eh ... masculine." Jennifer Just in case I still StrausZ wasn't clear on the. concept, he illustrat-P ed it some more. "Woman-ny," he said in a high-pitched voice, pointing at me and fluttering his gray eyelashes. Then he pointed at himself and said "Manny," in a deep voice, flexing the muscles on his free arm. I laughed with the nice man, ignoring his gender-based stereotyping. "Nice to meet you, sir," I said. "Manny," he said. "Manny," I said, and turned my atten- tion back to the case at hand. "You see, I think that my mother would really like these candlesticks ..." "These candlesticks?" he asked, his forehead wrinkling. "Are you sure? They are very old." Manny opened the glass case and carefully lifted them off the velvet display. There were discolored imprints in the crushed velvet where the candlesticks must have been sitting for decades. He turned over one of them to show me the price. They were way too expensive. Manny took my small gasp as a sign that I was not interested in purchasing the candlesticks, and he set them down on the countertop. I began to look through another glass case, and Manny began to ask me ques- tions about my first week in Israel (I was spending two weeks there over the semester break). I told him about the ter- rific falafel sandwich I had had the pre- vious night in Tsfat. I told him about the sunset at Rosh Hanikrah and the spray from the crashing water in the caves. Manny smiled at my descriptions. "See, they don't mention those things in the news, do they? They tell you about the problems and conflict in Israel. They tell you about how kids throw rocks at the people they are not supposed to like. They tell you about the arguments we are having about our land. Israel is always in the news, and it's always so serious. Nobody tells you, at least not in writing, that Israel is still a beautiful place, where people live and fall in love, where stories happen every day, every minute. Not the big stories you read about in the paper. Small, beautiful stories, like babies being born. I have a granddaughter, one week old," said Manny. "How can you find a better story than this?" He was playing with the candlesticks, sliding them around on the countertop, switching the placement of each of them like one of those street magicians who has hidden a ball under one of three cups and is making it so you can't guess which one. "You're a writer," he said, "right?" That caught me by surprise. "Um, yeah, I want to be a writer ... I like to write ..." "I can tell," he said. "You can?" I asked, feeling transpar- ent. "How?" "Your eyes," he said. He didn't offer any more explanation, and I didn't ask. "Do you know what nobody ever writes about?" asked Manny. He didn't let me respond. "You should write about this. It is my idea; remember this. Write about a man. Not a king. Money and power ... this is boring. This is unimpor- tant. What people want to hear about is a man who works hard to provide for his family. A nice man. One who cares about everyone he meets and one who shows it. Not a man who thinks that he is greater than all of mankind. Instead, write about someone who is part of mankind. Who knows that he is important because he is just as important as everyone else." Manny smiled, enjoying his idea. "Just an ordinary man," he said, "and his ordi- nary story." I ended up buying a small silver charm from Manny at a reasonable price, walk- ing back to the hostel where I was stay- ing, and sitting down to write a simple, sweet story that takes place in the not-so simple land of Israel. I wrote of someone ordinary who has made himself memo- rable - who probably had an interesting past and definitely has a promising future, but who right now is just a friend- ly old man in a musty old store, carefully placing some antique silver candlesticks back on the purple crushed velvet of a display case, exactly where they belong. ---Jennifer Strausz can be reached over e-mail at jstrausz@umich.edu. .TTtPE NGJ T he University community claims to be "the leaders and best," and the rest of the nation may start to agree. According to recent data published by the National Science Foundation, the University ranked first in the nation for research expenditures in the 1998-99 Fiscal Year with nearly half a billion dollars. This record figure represents a 1.7 percent increase from the previous year's record total. The high levels of fund- ing are extraordinary, and the members of the University should take pride in being financially supported as one of the nation's best research institutions. The University has been a perennial research powerhouse and it is recognized as such by important institutions. An over- whelming 68.5 percent of the money came from federal agencies. This means that stud- ies conducted within the boundaries of the University influence the rest of the world. Among the most celebrated areas of University research is the Institute for Social Research, which deals primarily with the social sciences. In 1996, it conducted a study on health and retirement, which became one of the preeminent studies on this topic anywhere in the nation with over 13,000 people involved. In 1997, the center, which is now the oldest and largest venue for social science research in a university- based setting, celebrated its 50th anniver- sary. Currently, the institute is conducting research in a wide range of areas from eco- nomics to race relations to the Holocaust. Another major area in which the University has been recognized is in medical research. The University's Medical Center was selected as one of three venues for the National Gene Vector Center in October 1995. The University was presented with more than $3 million in funding, in addition to further funding over the following four years to produce gene transfer agents for use by researchers. Benefits from research funding also extend to individual departments, such as psychology. According to the Institute for Scientific Information, from 1990-94 the department was the most productive in the nation. Out of the 100 most cited psycholo- gy papers, the University and Harvard each produced 19. But the University destroyed the competition in total citations with 759, compared to 611 from Harvard. Prestigious individual accomplishments have also been bestowed upon University researchers. In 1996, two professors, Vornie Mcloyd and Thylias Moss, were granted the highly regarded Macarthur Fellowships in the fields of Psychology and English, respectively. And last October, former University Professor Martinus Veltman received the highest honor possible: the Nobel Prize. The fact that the University is recog- nized for research across such a diverse range of academic fields is extraordinary. But its character shines brightest in attempts to improve upon a weaker area - life sciences. University President Lee Bollinger said last April that "as a University, we aspire to be at the top of every major area of research and teaching we engage in." With the building of the Life Sciences Institute, the University can put its funding to productive use instantly to pro- duce leading life science research. Heading into the new millennium, the University will continue to be a research powerhouse. The funding levels will pro- duce optimism as well as expectations for results. We need to work hard and indeed we will be "the leaders and best." ' m M a Y THOMAS KULJURGIS K0a vs 0 1999 A wage that works Living wage is a positive step W ith the City Council's approval two T weeks ago, Ann Arbor joined the growing number of cities across the nation pursuing living wage laws. The tentatively approved ordinance, which will be considered in its final form on Jan. 20, requires employ- ers that do business with the city or receive municipal help to pay their employees a min- imum of $10 an hour or $8.50 an hour if the employer also provides health benefits. The living wage is designed to keep full time workers above the poverty line, which the cur- rent federal minimum wage does not do. The implementation of a living wage in Ann Arbor is a welcome and responsible step. While we live in prosperous times, the feder- al and state government have both done little to address the widening chasm between the rich and poor that is causing an ominous shrinking of the middle class in this country. Many localities across the United States, such as Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, San Antonio and Baltimore, are responding to this problem with living wage ordinances. Despite dire predictions from some that business flight and increased unemployment would be the result of these laws, numerous studies have shown that none of those fright- ful economic predictions have come true. By ensuring that businesses benefiting from city contracts and subsidies pay their workers enough to keep them out of poverty, these cities are helping to establish the laudable principle that working people and their fami- lies should not have to live in poverty. How can individuals be encouraged to earn a living on their own if work is not rewarding? The nresent minimum wage of $5.15 an hour is neither rewarding nor does it provide a minimum standard of living for the health and general well-being of employees in Ann Arbor. Having workers who are paid as little as $5.15 an hour hurts the city and its businesses, because people who work in Ann Arbor, but make abnormally low wages, can't live in the city or buy the products and ser- vices that its businesses produce. When the minimum wage is too low, it also puts an increased burden on all taxpayers because the amount of money spent on public assistance programs increases. All this is not to say that the situation for workers in Ann Arbor is terrible and compa- nies that do business with Ann Arbor are not currently being fair to their workers. The cur- rent ordinance being considered by the city council is more of an assurance of the status quo than an agent of change because most companies that do business with the city already pay at least the living wage. Ann Arbor's living wage proposal and those of other cities are a good start for pro- moting the goal of protecting working people from poverty. It is encouraging to see local governments stepping into the void of inac- tion at the federal and state levels. Companies are not autonomous entities, they are a part of and have responsibilities to their communities. Asking those that benefit from lucrative city contracts and subsidies to fairly compensate their workers is an entire- ly reasonable request. While Ann Arbor's proposed living wage ordinance is only a small and largely symbolic step, it is an important one and-.a definite move in the right direction. University prepared for new millennium TO THE DAILY: Thank you for the positive article pub- lished in the Jan. 5 Daily titled, "Y2K preparations prove to be effective." The reporter, Jewel Gopwani, presented the Y2K story well. The Y2K planning was indeed an effort in readiness that had many positive results for the University of Michigan. We are now even better prepared to handle emergency situations. Additionally, we improved the functionality of many of our systems; enhanced our ability to communi- cate across the University community; and identified and eliminated redundant and unnecessary systems. Probably one of the most important outcomes from our Y2K preparations are the relationships we have built among our partners across campus. While the article accurately expressed the current situationkrelated to Y2K as non- eventful, I would like to offer clarification regarding the participants of this effort, which was a true, campus-wide collabora- tion. The article presented the Information Technology Division (ITD) as leaders of the Y2K effort. This is inaccurate. ITD was one of the many service providers involved in preparing for the Y2K rollover. Leadership and responsibility of the campus-wide effort forY2K prepared- ness and rollover was my charge from the Executive Officers in my role as the University's Chief Information Officer. Several talented individuals participated in leadership roles with all representa- tives involved as we prepared for the tran- sition. In addition, I'd like to offer an update on the information reported about the University's telephone grade reporting sys- tem, which was not recorded with an up-to- date date. Upon investigation, we learned that the voice message students heard when the system was accessed had been recorded prior to the holiday break. There were no technical problems with the grade reporting system itself. I would like to offer my thanks to all members of the University community for the support and encouragement of the work we undertook to resolve the issues sur- rounding Y2K. With your support, and the remarkable team effort of many dedicated individuals, the University of Michigan is well prepared as we enter the new millenni- um. JOSE-MARIE GRIFFITHS UNIVERSITY CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER Letter misrepresented Greek system TO THE DAILY: In response to David Curkovic's letter Jan. 5 - "Students need to accept responsi- bility for Greek system" - PRO**L1 F E I do with a conversation about any city in Mexico, but more with the feeling of true friendshipaand trust that was felt in that room. I have done this on more than one occasion, and they have been some of the greatest times at school, thanks to my friends. That is not all I do. I have also walked to some of the most challenging classes (I have missed only one in two years) this University has to offer, completely pre- pared and confident alongside friends that will no doubt be a part of my life when my children are in college. Also, I have received a very respectable GPA along the way. I have also spent many great hours caring and loving my girlfriend of two and a half years and never once has she seen me wearing a baseball cap. I have been to parties and met new people (both Greek system members and ones who choose otherwise) that have no doubt had a positive effect on my life and ability to communicate and articulate ideas (all of which I am sure will benefit me after col- lege) and I want to take this time to thank them. I have also spent many hours raising money for charities through fun events, and various other services that have ben- efited the University and the city of Ann Arbor. This is what I have done to con- tribute to the Greek system at the University, and I have learned respect for all members of this institution along the way. I now ask all members of the University, what have you done to have fun, help your friends, this great school and the city that surrounds you? This is th'e important ques- tion. The Greek system is an "experience," not a barrier; my advice to all is to enjoy this wonderful University and respect one another. Hope to see you on the Diag, my eyes will be raised, hope to see you there! ERIC GERSHMAN LSA SOPHOMORE Greek system is not for the ignorant alleged pledge hazing incidents," (1/05/00) I felt nothing but outrage. First of all, the details that were reported in the article about Delta Sig were inaccurate. Inot am in a position to speak on the behalf of Delta Sigma Phi, but I am confident that after Nationals visit this weekend to conduct an inquiry, the facts will be brought to light and Delta Sigma Phi will be cleared of any wrong doing. At that time I think it would only be fair for the Daily to write a follow- up article. In regards to Darid Curkovic's sarcas- tic and bitter letter, I think that he was ter- ribly off base with his opinions. In case you didn't read the articie, he portrayed the Greek system as an institution in this University that has "ignorant and weak" members. He then babbled on and said, "I look forward to the day when every frat house is razed to the ground." I think that often times the Greek system has sus- tained a great deal of criticism and has, in some cases, gained an undeserved bad reputation. First of all, there are lines at parties because theUniversity, more specifically the IFC, has set up a system where at parties fraternities have to limit the amount of people entering the parties in order to keep them safe. Secondly, I feel thatthe conception by a small minority of students that fraternity and sorority members think that they are superior to the larger non-Greek system population is a false one. Personally, I do not select my friends on the basis if they are members of any organization. I have friends in and out of my pledge class. Lastly, I would just like to reiterate the positives of the Greek system. Many stu- dents choose to rush for a variety of rea- sons. Most rush because they want to become a part of a very good social medi- um. Through rush, freshmen have the opportunity to meet new people their age and older. In most cases, these aren't stu- dents who are insecure and who have no friends. Many students rush with friends and eventually join the organizations together. By joining a house, students also have the opportunity to live in the frater- nity or sorority house and won't have to go through the hassle of finding a place to live sophomore year. I hope that in the future students learn to respect each other a little more. It's sad when you have a law school student reiter- ate stereotypes and whose hatred is the , - --.,. E ti . 0 0 r 2 0 0 I