4 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 8, 1999 Ulbe Ā£tigtm &itI 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 daily. letters@umich.edu Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan HETHIER KAMINs Editor in Chief JEFFREY KOSSEFF DAVID WALLACE Editorial Page Editors When studying is eI'calv should be studying right nOw. 'm in one of those open study carrels in the South stacks of the Graduate Librarv. I would recommend this as the perfect setting in which to et work done, Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of the Dai/y s editorial hoard. A// other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily. assuming t\ wo condi- tions are met': Condition l: You, have to feel like doine work. Condition ; 2You cannot have a song in your head. Since I don't exactly feel like doing work and I have had a great song stuck in my head all day, I am not getting much done. I've been on the same page in my English coursepack for two hours, while Maturity please? Students should not retaliate for vandalism boring, read the writing on the wall Jennifer Strauss cially works in the autumn. when you feel the coldness of the air filling your lunes, the magic of exhale and the calm that comes after taking a deep breath, and you wonder if it could have possibly felt the same way years ago. Or, um. maybe it's just me. Anywav, I started to get the feeling about this place when I leaned back in mv chair to stretch. I looked up, mid- stretch, still humming Ben Harper, to find that someone had written. "I am going to get an A on my econ exam," in messy handwriting on the wall behind rn e I looked more closely around the room and realized that every hidden surface is covered in writing. There is graffiti on the back of the door, the vents of the heater, the underside of the bulletin board. On the heating vents alone, there are 163 messages (okay, so I counted ... it's not like I'm getting any work done). "Mv Last Final!" says one message. It is dated, "4-30-80," "I'm 21t!!!" says another. "12/14/92." There are also the classic graffiti lines, like: "Justin + Valerie 4-ever," "I want Susie," and "CL loves DN, BT, RJ and RM." Then there's "I love mathematical proofs." There's one from 1990 that says, "I miss California." There is one written in the corner, with a special little symbol, and the inscrip- tion: J Joe, Matt, Bri, Dave 1986-? friends until the day we die. Wow. people I Nxonder iif Joe, Matt, Bri and Dave remember their promise. I wonder if the girl with the messy handwriting ended up getting an A on her econ exam. I wonder how much time she spent in this room, studying. I wonder if that guy is still as passionate about mathematical proof's. I wonder if it matters anymore. I wonder what that guy did for his 21st birthday. I wonder what he's doing now. I wonder if that girl still misses California. I wonder where she's living. I wonder if it's here. I wonder if that guy still wants 0 ew things last 101 years. Yet through the power of football and geographic loca- tion, the University of Michigan and Michigan State University have managed to maintain their century-old rivalry. This year's competition soured on Tuesday when the 'M' in the center of the Diag was painted green and graffiti was spray painted on the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library and area garbage cans. The damage was by no means the first time vandalism has occurred on either cam- pus, with vandals making destruction just as much a tradition as the annual football game. While acts of vandalism hurt the fun involved with Michigan-Michigan State competition, the University community must refrain from taking revenge on MSU and instead cheer on its team in a positive manner. Rivalries like Michigan-Michigan State can create an extremely positive situation. Competition motivates and encourages people to become more involved in their school, while bringing students and members of the University community together and uniting them for a common cause. MSU is a natural target - as the largest public university in Michigan and the only other Michigan univer- sity in the Big Ten. Much weight is also placed upon the game's outcome; with the winner receiving bragging rights that transfer into the overall prestige of each university. When rivalry turns from constructive to destructive, the competition's energy and excitement is lost. All gains made through this ongoing intrastate conflict are tarnished when mem- bers of either university community take it upon themselves to vandalize the property of the opposing university. I just can't help but wonder about these mr Even though destruction of University property is directed against the entire school, we must resist the temptation to condemn all of Michigan State. After acts of vandalism, students, staff and faculty are inclined to take the destruction personally. Despite Michigan State's enrollment of more than 40,000 stu- dents, the tendency to view MSU as a whole, solitary unit remains. The University commu- nity should not frown upon Michigan State for the negligence of a few reckless fans. Michigan State sanctions no violence against the University of Michigan. The graffiti's nature is the only true evidence to even sug- gest that anyone involved with MSU partici- pated in the destruction. While a majority on each side would like to see the competitive destruction stopped, they are powerless to control the actions of all their peers. While students might feel unfulfilled with- out some sort of reaction, reven-e o" accomplishes the vandals' goal to anger the University community. Instead, members of the University community should take the high road - by refraining from any acts of vandalism while still cheering on the team. Only in this fashion will both schools be able to enjoy a truly great intrastate rivalry The Michigan-Michigan State rivalry is eagerly anticipated each year both within the state and outside its boundaries. But the fact that the game is so highly anticipated does not justify acts of property damage. Members of both universities must remember that for all the importance placed on competition, it is still just a game. Any attempts to heighten the intensity through acts of vandalism only take away from an event that needs no extra hype. "Forev er" by Ben Harper plays on repeat in my mind. Like a ha/less clock with numbers, an infinite of time .. 'Vo not the forever /.unc on/i in the mind . I am strumming the chords on the key- board of my laptop. I have a good feeling about this place. It's like that feeling that vou get when you're at a place of historical signifi- cance and you are really conscious of it -- when you stop and take a deep breath and you actually feel the presence of what has happened there before. It espe- Susie, and I wonder how Justin and Valerie feel about all of this. I wonder how CL decided between DN, BT, RJ and RM. I wonder if she's happy. I wonder about that guy whose last final exam was in 1980. 1 wonder if he's married now, thinking about his kids' education instead of his own ... I'm getting goosebumps. It's the same M effect that the carpe diem scene from "Dead Poet's Society" has on me. The same effect as Robin Williams standing over roy shoulder, telling me that these people -- the ones who wrote on the heating vents, are not different from me. That the world is their oyster. That they believe they're destined for great things. And that I should lean in and listen close- ly as they whisper their legacy to me. That they want me to seize the day. To make my life extraordinary. - .Jennifer Stra us: can be reached over e-mail at jstrausz(umnich.edii. TEN TV' ' PE K 'N THOMAS KULJURGIS At the movies Students should support the Michigan Theater it's Friday night. You've got a little money unbelievable number of caffeine refueling sta- and a date in mind. What are you going to tions, a nice variety of stores and shops, as well do? Bowl? See a concert? Play pool? Go paint as two unique movie theatres all within a few Sparty blue? Oh, wait, the MSU marching blocks; that is, if you can scrape together band is guarding it. And the Daily doesn't enough change from your car. endorse that anyway. Where else can you see major movies from How about a movie? It always comes the balcony, in an intimate theater with a down to that. No matter what the plethora of group of your peers? The State Theater offers options available, a movie is always the easi- something you're never going to find in a est choice. So you jump in the car and drive chain movie theater. And it's comparatively down to Showcase and slap your last $10 on cheap. The Michigan Theater is even more the counter forgetting they don't offer a stu- unique. dent discount. You don't have enough. So you Open since 1928, the Michigan Theater is run out to your car and get enough change to a campus tradition and a landmark, as well as pay for the movie, but you're too late. The an organization committed to bringing you movie has already started. You didn't want to movies and shows that you won't see any- J r s s s MSU student: Criticizing vandalism is hypocritical To THE DAILY: I recently read the online version of the Michigan Daily's article entitled "MSU Fans Vandalize diag. Grad Library'' (10/6/99). Being an MS student myself 1can't say that I was too disheartened about the green graffi- ti. I was, however, amused to see the level of hypocrisy that your paper publishes. You quot- ed a University of Michigan student, Reza Breakstone, as saying that the vandalism was "childish." Reza went on to say that MSU stu- dents must have too much time on their hands if they can deface University of Michigan proper'ty. Well, Reza, does the University of Michigan teach you to be a hypocrite? I'm just wondering because later, in the very same arti- cle, you are quoted again saying that you and some friends have a "secret plan to get Sparty." Now who has too much rime on their hands" I also seem to recall an incident last year when some University of Michigan students threw paint balls at Sparty and the band mem- bers who guarded him. These students caused thousands of dollars of damage to personal property of the band members. So when you complain about some harmless paint on your sidewalk, remember that the rivalry and the "childishness" goes both ways. ALISSA ADAMS MSU STUDENT Reader thinks 'U, ought to 'relocate' preachers on Diag To THE DAILY: As I walked through the Diag today I said to myself. "Self remember the days when one could walk through the Diag, sit down and chat with a friend, have a cigarette on the steps of the Grad, and people watch in relative peace and harmony." Of courise there would be an individual convinced the world was going to end next Tuesday, but such religious ranting was a rarity. This year, the aforementioned "apostles" are out in force every single day. Wednesday I was especially disturbed for a number of rea- sons. As I approached the center of the Diag I heard the song "Grease Lightning," a person promoting Dance Marathon 2000 and a dozen young ladies dancing. This brought a smile to my face. The next thing I saw was a sign 12 feet by 12 feet that read, "You're all going to ' f . (,vO BLUE I I hell."This also brought a smile to my face, not because I found it to be comical, butubecause it is so ridiculous how far this Jesus Freak movement has come. There was a point when it was funny to hear one these Jesus Freaks speak nonsense. Now it has just become annoying background music. Another problem is that in their attempt to recruit University students into their cult, the Ned Flanders' of the group have been so kind as to grace us with the presence of their seven- year-old children. Shouldn't these kids be in school ? No, they are actually products of home schooling that will ensure that the brain- washed children will be preaching in the Diag for years to come. I am a huge supporter of free speech, but the University must do something to relocate these individuals so students can carry on without being told they're going to rot in hell due to overindulgence in booze and sex. GUY BARGNES LSA SENIOR Service academies offer alternative to affirmative action TO THE DAILY: As a 1978 Michigan graduate living in Virginia, I view the ongoing debate over the University's affirmative action lawsuit from a distance and with a different perspective. I have contributed to the Michigan Annual Giving Fund nearly every year since I grad- uated and I am annoyed that my University would chose to spend millions of dollars on high-priced lawyers in a futile attempt to defend an admissions policy that, in my opinion, is constitutionally indefensible. I agree that racial diversity is important to mvii -avui * ~ prepare students for careers beyond the campus, however this should not drive a policy that allows less qualified students preference in admission over more quali- fied. I am the product of a primary and sec- ondary urban school system which was pre- dominately minority in enrollment and did a less than adequate job preparing me for the University of Michigan. While I gradu- ated very near the top of my high school class, I was close to being overwhelmed academically when I arrived in Ann Arbor. Mixing students with even less academic preparation into the Freshman class for the sake of being stylish does not serve either the University nor the student. I offer that the answer to the dilemma of admissions based on racial diversity or most qualified students has been available for many decades. Ever since the services were ordered to integrate, the Service Academies have prepared minority students from meager academic backgrounds for the rigors of the Academy through the use of preparatory schools. Students who desire enrollment, yet are not academically quali- fied for admission, are sent to one of these schools for up to a year to raise their educa- tional background to equal the admissions standards of the college. This policy allows the Service Academies to admit qualified students and assure a racially diverse class. Perhaps the Uariversity of Michigan should hecome a leader an institute a similar pro- cram to prepare incoming students for the rii'ors of the University, rather than trying to force under-qualified students into an environment where they will feel academi- cally frustrated and inferior. Personally, I would prefer my financial contributions to the University go toward educating minori- ty students rather than lining the pockets of some high-priced law firm. RON RAYMER UNIVERSITY ALUMNUS X.. 1 Y ;*a r ~ ~ 0< I support a national theater chain anyway. So it's back to Ann Arbor where the State Theater is showing the same movie to accom- modate the student budget. With the movie paid for, you've retained car change to buy a drink and popcorn. Walking home, you notice the Michigan Theater is showing an interesting independent film in their new $4 million addition. Your date offers to make it a double feature. Where was this money at Showcase you wonder? Your significant other didn't want to sup- port a heartless national movie conglomerate either and came to this realization after seeing the cash drawers overflowing at Showcase. Local theatres are part of Ann Arbor's culture. Where else can you find two quality indepen- dent movie theaters that offer student dis- counts? Showcase doesn't care about stu- dents. Part of Ann Arbor's charm is the accessibil- ity of so many quality independent businesses that are tailored to the student population. They're alternatives to the mainstream. You can choose from a dozen or so bookstores, an where else in Ann Arbor. It's a restored '20s movie palace with the technology to show movie revivals. Simply stated, it is one of the great cultural centers of Michigan. The Michigan Theater also gives you a chance to get out of that movie rut with the Ann Arbor Symphony, University Music Society shows and host a number of other University organizations, plays and guest speakers. With their new addition, modeled after the original theater, there's nothing to stop you from seeing an independent film while the orchestra is playing in the historic section. They're always making improve- ments and they want student business. The Ann Arbor 1 & 2 closed its central campus theater last summer and moved to Maple and Jackson to cut costs and increase traffic. Let's not allow the same thing to happen to the State or the Michigan Theater. It's up to students and the community to realize these theaters' uniqueness. Save some gas and a buck or two by walking to the movies next time. It's a lot cheaper than painting a statue blue--- and probably a lot more entertaining. No apologies for what happened in South Korea By Aaron Woell Iowa State University War is hell, especially when you are over- whelmed by a powerful and elusive enemy as we were during the Korean Conflict. More than a week ago, the Associated Press released a story describing how American soldiers shot fleeing South Korean civilians during the Korean War. Now, rela- tives and survivors of the alleged massacre are demanding not only the truth about the inci- dent, but also the punishment of the soldiers resnonsible as well as compensation from the eludes the ideas of fairness and justice, and many times compassion must be sacrificed for expediency. The AP report stated soldiers got orders that read, "No refugees to cross the front line. Fire on everyone trying to cross lines. Use dis- cretion in case of women and children" That order, while in apparent violation of the utopian idea of rules of war, ignored real- ity. Army veterans who took part in the shoot- ing note the day before "several U.S. soldiers were killed while trying to search a group of refugees, as North Korean troops hiding Warfare is a separate situation unlike any other, and events that happen then are not sub- ject to the rules of men. The demands for punishment and com- pensation reflect an unfortunate attitude that is not at all commensurate with our actions. American forces were deployed in the region as a response to a North Korean incursion, and we acted under the direction of the recent- ly formed United Nations. It was not until suf- ficient military might was brought to bear that American forces were able to repel the North Korean invaders. -f:,.l..- + rnr {o ii ~ 4n ritr I