4- The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, November 17, 1999 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 Dailys editorial board. All other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily. Vote e on club sports MSA ballot proposal makes financial sense Ford's understanding of admissions exemplies leadership KOSSEFF Continued from Page 1. You might think I was describing a leftist University alumnus such as Arthur Miller or Tom Hayden. But Ford never fought the administration - he was the country's administration for 2.5 years. This confused me. He holds my view on the University's admissions system. That's not fair. I'm the liberal, and he was a Republican president. Aren't I sup- posed to protest him or something? Ford also shares my loathing of quotas. "It doesn't permit flexibility, unusual or different circumstances," Ford said. "It doesn't take into consideration other ele- ments. I also disagree with the extremists on the other end who are prejudicial against people who value racial and eth- nic diversity." That's a beautiful distinction too few people make. You don't have to be in favor of quotas to support affirmative action. But most people don't stop long enough to think about the definition of affirmative action. When Ford was a student at the University, decades before the civil rights movement, he didn't judge people by race. As a Michigan football player, his best friend was Willis Ward. the only black student on the team. Ward was forced to sit out of a 1934 game because Georgia Tech wouldn't play against a black athlete. "I treated people based on whether I like or dislike or whether I admire some- body." Ford said. He understands the University's ver sion of affirmative action equalizes the playing field. Maybe it's because he's been around so long that he has seen many instances where equality isn't always a given. After my initial confusion about his stance, I felt something I haven't felt for a long time. This is one of the few times I've had true pride in the government. I know this sounds sappy, but as a child of the Iran- Contra, Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky eras, I've become disenchant- ed with national politics. I've always believed presidents are far removed from the rest of the country. But my conversation with Ford changed this view. I'm truly proud he was our president. It pains me to write that. Real liberals hate "the man." And Ford is one of five remaining "men" who set the national agenda more than anyone else. You don't need a far-left mind frame to support affirmative action. It's not as clear-cut as the minimum wage or wel- fare reform. To understand affirmative action, you have to understand life. It goes deeper than political affiliations. But when Ford - along with other4 powerful and mainstream conservative leaders -- support affirmative action, there is little to protest. The only people who can't understand the value of a diverse learning environment are right- wing radicals like state Sen. David Jaye (R-Washington Twp.). The powerful Republicans, including Gov. John Engler, aren't destroying affirmative action. They know better. Who's left for affirmative action pro-V ponents to protest? Luckily, most people who are in power understand the need for affirmative action. That's why affirmative action isn't such a hotly protested issue on this cam- pus. It's not like the Red Scare, sweat- shop labor or the Code of Student Conduct - on this issue, the "man" is on our side. And we're much better off that way. As a liberal, you might expect me to be disappointed that my school will soon beW identified with Gerald Ford. But I'm not, because he knows what really matters to people. That's the best leadership quality you could ask for. The nation's top public policy institutions - including Harvard's Kennedy School and Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School - are named after great presidents. My school is no different. - Jeffrey Kosseff can be reached ove4 e-mail at jkosseff tumich.edu. he Michigan Student Assembly will propose an endowment on today's and tomorrow's election ballots to improve club sports funding. Club sports, which are an integral part of many stu- dents' University experiences, are severe- ly underfunded because of the limited amount of money MSA has in its budget. MSA is constantly forced to choose between the money allotted to club sports and funding to other University groups. The proposed endowment would separate MSA's finances into two separate budgets, allowing every group on campus to receive more funding. The endowment consists of only 25- cent increases in student fees for the next two semesters. This will allow MSA to collect $18,000 immediately to begin the endowment. Students currently pay $5.69 per semester for MSA to fund both club sports and various other groups. Fifty cents over one year is negligible. There are currently 38 club sport groups on campus. These groups differ from intramural teams because they are for the most part learning groups as opposed to teams. Club sports have nearly 1,000 student participants, who must pay out of their pockets to support each of their groups due to the lack of funding MSA is able to provide. While MSA gives each group as much money as possible, it is not enough. This semester, for example, the difference between the amount of money requested by club sports and that MSA could afford to give them was an obscene $62,589. Because club sports desperately needed this money, each group must charge its participants to raise the difference. The amount of additional money required by each group ranges from relatively insignificant amounts starting at $20 all the way up to outrageous four-digit fig- ures as high as $2,400. The mere 50 cents MSA is asking from each student pales in comparison to both the money solicited from club sports' par- ticipants as well as to all of the other fees students are required to pay to the University each semester. Students should support club sports because they were created and exist as a forum for students to learn an activity not taught in classrooms. Because all MSA groups exist to teach students, it is not fair that club sports suffer more than other groups every time the budget is revisited. MSA has plans for raising even more than the initial fees. By using the $18,000 they will immediately collect as a starting off point, they plan on building a self-sup- porting endowment that will survive as a continuous source of funding for all club sports. Every student can afford to dig under- neath their couch cushions for the 50 cents needed to support this endowment. And MSA helps them out even more by putting all students on a two-semester payment plan. When you fill out your MSA elec- tion ballot either today or tomorrow, check the box that will establish an affordable and beneficial plan to protect an integral part of our University. THOMAS KULJURGIS TENTATIVELY SPEAKING ' ETEST Bill 306 will not hurt student voting To THE DAILY: Unlike Josh Cowen in his letter to the Daily. "Rogers's bill may help him next year," (11/15/99) 1 found it refreshing to have a politician like Sen. Rogers (R- Brighton) visit our campus. Rogers is not a career politician whose primary concern is fixing electoral districts. A former FBI agent, he entered politics not to further his own political agenda, but to make a differ- ence in our society. I personally have tremendous faith in our country's political process, and it was nice to hear from a politician whose primary concern is ensur- ing honesty and digtnity in government. Rogers did not propose Senate Bill 306 to stifle the student vote and ensure an easy vic- tory to Congress. Cowen conveniently over- looked the measures Rogers also initiated that actually make it easier for students to vote. If students do not wish to obtain an absentee bal- lot from their home state (though this is not a difficult feat, it is extremely easy under the new system to change your driver's license online. It would take five minutes for students to change their driver license from the com- fort of their own home. They could even switch their license back to their home state at the end of the school year if they so desired. Rogers's support for Bill 306 stems from his desire to eliminate voting frauand, wheth r or not Cowen believes this, voting fraud is a problem in our society. As recent as the 1998 election, there were obvious instances of individuals abusing the elec- toral process. For example, there were actu- ally Michigan voting precincts that reported a voter turnout of greater than 100 percent. Driver licenses are the most accurate address records the government maintains, and the only viable option to ensure that one individual casts only one vote in their cor- Atyou ?wo~vG I n s?~r,!? /O, A4CTHEY 100 EMbttAL F0roRtU? You c.Ait REArPIritX- Ir IS, 5MAN? N.o, Iis JUST-r htIc~s.5 055t UeEE flCwozlP"AMmimi td so r5 ^ G MANY TNIES WOE I Fr.EL £JEE 1 4 TS."t~t ft A'l Chopping away Bush attacks affirmative action cally chosen to focus on only one type of Indian dance, at least visually, I can only guess that it is because the Bharata Natyam cos- tumes are the most "exotic," elaborate and colorful. Ironically, it is this desire to display the most exotic and different dance of India time and time again that robs readers of a tine understanding of the diversity within Indian culture. By refusing to depict images of Indian dance that admittedly may be less visually stimulating than photographs of the Bharata Natyam, the Daily fails to display the breadth and diversity of Indian American shows on campus, and worse, of Indian culture. ANJUM GUPTA UNIVERSITY ALUM Reader hopes Northwest 'never changes' S upporters describe Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's executive order to end affir- mative action, and his proposal to use per- centage-based admissions, as a measure intended to heighten the presence of minorities in 'Florida state universities while promoting equity among high school students. Bush's plan, called the One Florida Initiative, calls for a mandate guaranteeing students from the top 20 percent of every individual high school class admission to a state university. This sounds great - but if you get past the evasive language and veiled titles, the "Talented Twenty" proposal is essentially a restrictive quota with a more attractive name. Consider the implications of such a plan. The intention of the initiative is to create a situation in which, regardless of race, sex or creed, every person who is in the top 20 percent of their graduating high school class will be admitted into a state- funded university. This seems to suggest that students from ill-equipped, poor, urban high schools are being given a greater opportunity. No matter how their top 20 percent measures up to the best of other high schools, they are guaranteed admission to some college. But this pre- sents a problem on many levels. The biggest problem with the plan is how it affects minorities and their hopes of being accepted into state universities. If the "Talented Twenty" plan takes effect, in conjunction with affirmative action's elimination in Florida, it will essentially guarantee that only 20 percent of students from minority-dominated, poor, urban schools will be admitted into state col- leges. Minorities already make up a smaller portion of the population than whites. Additionally, only 20 percent of the students at minority dominated schools will have the distinct opportunity to attend college. Consequently, the per- centage of minorities at state universities stands to be much lower than it is current- ly. After the top 20 percent are admitted from each school, other factors come into play. One potential factor that cannot be ignored, particularly in the state of Florida, is racism. Florida has a long track record of racism. With no affirmative action to shield blacks and Latino/as from racially biased admissions policies, there exists the potential for a dramatic decline in minority matriculation at state universi- ties. Affirmative action is by no means a perfect system, and it is most definitely misunderstood. A passive plan dressed in appealing language such as the One Florida Initiative cannot and will not pro- mote diverse student bodies. It probably never intended to. Governor Bush's plan is simply a veiled attempt to create a quota for minorities in Florida schools that is lower than the one achieved by affirmative action. Florida is following in the footsteps of states such as California and Texas - an alarming national trend. Affirmative action must be preserved. It is an aggres- sive approach toward giving disadvan- taged minorities opportunities that they could not have otherwise attained in the past. It is important affirmative action be maintained and advanced as a means to promote equity in our society and the quality of our education. rect district. One point that Cowen the perceptiveness of colle ever, have tremendous c young Americans, and I b continue to vote under the Only 'exotic photos are TO THE DAILY: This letter is in respon ted "IASA Show Enc Monday, Nov. 15 Daily about the IASA Show ap for the past three years (1 11/3/97). For as long as University, articles co American Student Associ have been accompanied b dancer performing Bhar approximately 15 items remains a mystery to me dances to choose from, Daily decides to feature Indian dance. This phen other South Asian Ameri as well. Last month, the Hind held an event to Celebrat holiday. The event includ mony, called Puja; relit Bhajans; a cultural prog various dances and singin a time for everyone afte cultural program compris entire event, and there w Natyam performed durit gram; yet again, the 0 about the Navaratri eel photograph of two Bharat In considering why th and I do agree on is TO THE DAILY: ge students. I, how How convenient it is for the Daily's edito- sonfidence in these rial staff to demand that Northwest face com- nelieve that they will petition because its shoddy service inconve- e new system. niences them, when they devote almost all the rest of their time fighting for the control and BARB LAMBERT subjugation of businesses in the name of the BUSINESS JUNIOR workers or laborers. It's OK to embiace the free market when rich college kids can't get home to their rich houses far away, but when a business doesn't directly affect the ivory dance tower that is the University, then the Daily fe tu e feels free to rail away with all the sob stories, featured moral outcries and impassioned pleas it can come up with. Let me tell you what, if the students at this se to the article enti- school who spend all their time attacking and hants 'U"' in the writing against the free market and capitalism as well as articles have a problem with Northwest, let them pearing in the Daily enjoy another outrageous near monopoly: 1/15/99, 11/9/98 and Amtrak. I have been at the My dad has worked in Washington, D.C. vering the Indian away from our family for the last three years 'ation Cultural Show because we coulda't afford the housing out ty a photograph of a east (where some students no doubt are hav- ata Natyam, one of ing trouble flying to every holiday). I could in every show. It only afford to visit him twice, which means why, out of so many that outside of Thanksgiving, Christmas and year after year the Easter, I only saw him two other times. And only one type of do you know what I did to save money? I took omenon extends to the train. Sure it was eight hours longer with can Student Groups terrible bus rides mixed in, but somehow, to save money, I did it. So if anyone has been lu Students Council inconvenienced, it is me. And I said years ago e Navaratri, a Hindu that Northwest should have to face competi- led a religious cere- tion. gious songs, called I'm sick and tired of the Daily's ram which featured hypocrisy on philosophical matters like this. tg items; and finally Pick a policy, stick with it and stop whining nding to dance. The in your pages every time your whim isn't ed only a part of the satisfied. Either you're for the free market or as only one Bharata your against it. There's no in between and ng the cultural pro- you can't pick and choose whatever you feel ct. 25 Daily article like. ebration featured a I hope Northwest never changes and all ta Natyam dancers. of you have to crawl across the country in a he Daily has histori- cramped train for hours on end, stopping every 30 minutes, just like I did. GEOFFREY STANTONJ LSA SOPHOMOR Drumline draws crowds; deserves recognition TO THE DAILY: After reading the Nov. 15 article about th* Michigan Marching Band, I was ye sdisap- pointed that no mention of step shows were made. Each Saturday the Michigan Drumline performs for the public while the rest of the band does its "visualization." These shows draw large crowds each Saturday morning. The Michigan Drumline is one of the best in the Big Ten, and the step show is just as much a part of football Saturday tradition as any- thing else the band does. As a second year member of the Michigan Drumline, I feel that any article about the Michigan Marchin* Band in relation to Saturday morning rituals is severely lacking when no mention of the drumline is made at all. JANEL DWENS LSA SOPHOMORE Angell Hall posters are a waste TO THE DAILY: While I don't necessarily agree with the viewpoints addressed in many of the editorials published on this page, I found the editorial the Daily published yesterday ("Invisible candi- dates") about the campaign posters in Angell Hall downright ridiculous. For years, I and many students like me lamented the glut of paper infesting the walls of Angell Hall. Th only thing more despicable than the shee amount of paper on the walls of every hall and stairwell in the building was the fact that these flyers were thrown out and reposted every day. I was therefore thrilled to read the notice post- ed on the wall outside the Fishbowl that announced the end to this wasteful practice. But instead of saluting the MSA's efforts to reduce this senseless waste, the Daily decided to criticize the most positive elec- tion steps that the organization has taken it years. There are so many other ways to campaign than to post thousands of unread campaign posters that win few, if any votes for the candidates. If fact, I vow to vote this year, for the first time ever, to voice my sup- port of the MSA's waste-reduction policy. Congratulations to the MSA for going out on a limb and taking steps to reduce the negative impact on the environment. In the future, perhaps the Daily will also support positive activities such as these rather than criticize anyone and everyone it can."- B.J. LURIA LSA SENIOR Z.ko w w W. wvz.GNTOONS. CON, w 4 c. s+..ryk W 'f9 fC.Y6