4A - The Michigan Daily - Monday, November 29, 1999 abz 33{bj{wn g{{gg Rule No. i for success: Never say what you really mean . 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. Season of giving Students should help Ann Arbor's homeless S uccess and advancement in contem- porary America are based on one skill: diplomacy. That is why anyone who hopes to prosper these days must have complete command of this talent. Sure, things like intelli- gence and compe- tence have their place, but if you plan to win friends and influence peo- ple, nothing is more important than mas- tering the art of tact (or 'lying,' as it is known in some cir- cles). Now, I'm sure many of you are Scott wondering, "Scott, Hunter just what makes this Roll through 'diplomacy' thing so ,he Sol doggoned impor- tant? After all, you never use it." Well, despite my occasional lapses, diplomacy is important and I will tell you exactly why. Every day, we must express our thoughts and opinions on a variety of top- ics - from our friends' appearances to the competence of our MSA candidates. And these opinions are not always favor- able. But our success in life invariably depends on securing the approval of as many people as possible. If people like you, they will surely go out of their way to help you by writing" recommendations, giving promotions or letting you write a column. If they don't like you, then they will merely spit on you when you request a favor. Therefore, it is important that anyone hoping to achieve any success be able to express him or herself without arousing hostility. Though you are probably unaware of it, we as students are forced to engage in cunning acts of diplomacy every day. This is because we often find ourselves at the mercy of GSIs, professors and other peo- ple who can ruin our academic careers on a whim ("Give that one a 'D,' He irritates me."). Accordingly, there is a right and a wrong way to express ourselves. Wrong: "Look, you crackhead, if you don't give me an 'A,' I'm gonna kick your butt right here in the East Hall!" Right: "Professor, could we possibly meet at office hours to discuss my progress in your class?" But don't think that the need for tact only exists here in the academic world. It is a little known fact that everyone in this country - including public fig- ures - uses the skill every single day, often saying things that they don't quite mean to avoid eliciting ill will. This becomes very apparent just by reading your run-of-the-mill newspaper. Here are some of my favorites: She said: "The bottom line is money. It would be futile to continue." Former pres- idential hopeful Elizabeth Dole speaking in October on her decision to drop out of the presidential race. She meant: "Bob's Viagra budget is eating up all my campaign money. That stuff's expensive nowadays." He said: "The frequency and the way the (prayer) was made did not indicate that he was using it as a part of everyday speech." Senior U.S. law-enforcement official, expressing concern over a prayer made by EgyptAir 990 co-pilot. He meant: "I mean, come on. If he were Christian or Anglo, that'd be one thing. But he was Muslim, for Chrissake. What more eyidence do we need? He said: "Sure, there's disagreement over the speech. But ultimately, I think I'll be measured by how I have effective- ly accomplished a number of important objectives that I think are significant to the black leadership of the community." South Carolina governor Jim Hodges responding to criticism of his speech in support of allowing the Confederate flag to fly over the state house. He meant: "Damn that Abraham Lincoln!" . He said: "If I believed in polls, I wouldn't be the governor of Minnesota." Jesse Ventura, disregarding the results of a poll that shows his approval rating tum- bling after his comments to Playboy on religion. He meant: "I don't have to care what people think. I'm the governor, dammit! Of course, I hear Hulk Hogan might be running in the next election." He said: "America understands that a guy doesn't know the name of every sin- gle foreign leader. That's not how Americans are making their choices on about who's going to be the president," Texas governor George W. Bush in an ABC television interview. He meant: "Americans will vote for me because I'm gonna buy this entire race."~ She said: "I haven't really talked to him about that." Hillary Clinton, on whether her husband will live in their recently purchased New York residence. She meant: "Don't count on it: Once I am elected mayor, I'm gonna drop Bill faster than N'BC dropped Mary Albert." - Scott Hunter can be reached via e-mail at sehunter@umich.edu. TENTATIVELY SPEAKING A s you return from Thanksgiving break, look around on the streets ofAnn Arbor. What do you see? Besides gaudy holiday dec- orations and flashing lights, you're likely to notice people lining the streets. But these aren't just students looking for a strong cup of coffee. They're the homeless, and they don't have anywhere else to go. Recent state poli- cies have greatly aggravated the homeless- ness problem in Michigan. And during this season of giving, we all should stop and take time to help the many homeless people in Ann Arbor. During the past three years, Gov. John Engler has slashed funding for mental health facilities in half. Ironically, when he funds new prison construction, he acts like money is going out of style. But his policies have left a huge, unsatisfied demand for mental health care. Many homeless people sorely need mental health treatment. Many of them have painful life stories, and professional care can help them cope and get on with their lives. But without mental health care, they will remain homeless.- By restoring funding to mental health facilities, the state would help not only the homeless. It would help local business own- ers who complain about the lost customers who are scared away by loitering homeless people. While that is not an altruistic reason, hopefully it would help convince Engler this is a real problem. It also would help the state's economy by increasing the amount of eligible members of the work force. With an all-time low unemployment rate, Michigan would thrive from more employees to staff many growing businesses. These shouldn't be the only reasons for us to eliminate the homeless problem, but we welcome anything that will. Sadly, we cannot wait for Engler to grow a heart. As citizens of Ann Arbor, we all must take civic responsibility and do our part to help the city's many homeless. Volunteer in an area homeless shelter. If you don't have the time to volunteer, then dig up some spare change and give it to a homeless person. Most college students are on tight budgets, but every one of us could find a way to gather a dollar or two. That dollar will mean a lot more to someone who has nothing than to you. It could buy the cup of soup that keeps them warm for the day. Some people say they don't give money to the homeless because they don't want to sup- port drug habits. It's a sweeping and untrue stereotype to assume all homeless people are drug addicts. But if it is a concern to you, then you can buy food and give it to a home- less person. We haven't heard of a huge pizza-for-cocaine market, so you're probably not supporting drug deals. Homeless people do not want to live on the streets. Who wants to sleep in garbage- filled alleys on an icy winter night? They have physical or mental disabilities that give them a tremendous disadvantage in life. And when mental health funding is cut in half, they have nowhere to go. Political figures like New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani treat homeless people like com- modities, worrying more about moving them out of site than actually helping them. In a season that is defined by goodwill toward others, everyone should step up and do their part to help the homeless. If we don't, who will? THOMAS KULJURGIS Plenty to do AIDS Awareness Week offers many events Daily's stance on abortion lacks tolerance TO THE DAILY: Regarding The Daily's Nov. 19 "Maintaining Choice" editorial: Yours is a position of hypocrisy and intolerance. When the Republicans took control of Congress in 1994, it was by popular man- date. That means, whether you like it or not, a majority of voters supported their poli- cies, which generally includes a pro-life stance. Whether it was a small group of them or all of them, nothing gets out of Congress without a majority vote. Accordingly, as a function of our political process, a majority of people are assumed to support the refusal to fund abortions overseas. You don't have to like that, you just have to accept it. I highly doubt that if the inverse was true, that if it were Democrats in control, and a small group of them forced funding of abortions, that you would complain. I can see it now: "Dear Congress: I support abortions, and I sup- port them being performed overseas with U.S. tax dollars. I must, however, take exception to the fact that it was a small group of you guys responsible making this possible. Like most Americans, I put the purity of the political process ahead of my own priorities, and until you guys do it right, that is, make it a large group of Democrats, I guess, I want you to reverse your action and defund those abortions. Sincerely, The Ethical Voter." As if. I'll be sure to hold my breath waiting for that to happen. Furthermore, the "capitulation" that you refer to most I Iq IM ALEAlY SOC~~QK N p VoKMy 14U6E MILLEFN4,lUM FVY J Ou REALZE 1i4Ar YOUR 1PARK (S Is -1U 1 PfE NEW j HILNUNMj ,4SsTArr NurL Z2401. IS To pARTY just As Wgt>N;:r NE YERS EE! --...1'ft~u NE , / n the early, ignorant days of the AIDS epidemic, before information about it became widespread, the disease grew at a staggering rate. But thanks to new treat- ments and the prevalence of material on AIDS, the number of fatalities are decreas- ing and the future looks brighter. While researchers: still seek a cure, our main : defense against the disease remains education. Beginning today, AIDS Awareness Week gives can put a face on a disease often thought of only in statistics. But events on campus are not simply held to lecture and discussion formats. Artistic contributions to the campaign for raised AIDS awareness pervade the cam- pus. Today, noted a capella group Amazin' Blue kicks EVen~S '.. the week off with a con- com u cert in the Michigan League Underground at 8 du p.m. Following the show, students can screen the award-winning film certainly does not require detrimental effects to family planning clinics. You wrote that "The detrimental effects will be felt by family planning, population control and sexually transmitted disease prevention." You then mention that family planning clinics also provide health care and information to prospective mothers, and educating people about safe sex. Perhaps you could explain how abortions affect STD's, safe sex or the provision of health care and information to prospective mothers? The only effect, if there is any, is that women will have to pay for the abor- tions themselves if they want to use it as a form of birth control. Of course, the clinics have the option of maintaining business as usual, with the exception of performing abortions. Since, as you assert, their primary focus is not abortion, it will have secondary effects at most. If abortions only account for a small portion of any family planning association's funds, as your editorial asserts, then what's the big loss? Is it an ideological loss to you? Are you idealogues? Why is it OK to be a pro-abortion idealogue, but not a pro-life idealogue? Taking abortion away from women in third world countries (and anywhere else) most certainly is defensible. You just find it objectionable and unpalatable. If abortions were restored by a group of idealogues, would you complain? Would that be inde- fensible to you? Shut your mouths and open your minds for a minute. Your position may be popular, it may be PC, but it is not the only position. Political viewpoints oppos- ing your own are always defensible by somebody's standards. If you refuse to acknowledge their viewpoints and values, who then should acknowledge yours? ANTHONY BEAUMON LAW STUDENT 0 University students a valu- able opportunity to combat the disease's spread through k educating themselves and onthers. Clearly, we need to con- n tinue and improve the flow$ of information about AIDS. Despite the progress made, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate a mini- mum 40,000 new infections of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, occur each year. Those feeling they've already heard everything about AIDS should look at the week's roster of events. The variety of activities might surprise students expect- ing only presentations on risk factors. For one, students can talk about sex with famous expert Dr. Ruth Westheimer at the Michigan Theater this Wednesday night. Those familiar with Westheimer know to expect a candid and entertaining evening. Students looking elsewhere to partici- nn+t mni t+. inPthe 1,nt'rc orf Al "Philadelphia." And throughout theweek, stu- ."dents can venture to Pierpont Commons on North Campus and view an art exhibit related to AIDS awareness. The organizers of AIDS Awareness Week did a commend- able job providing students with multiple forums for AIDS education. While this is a busy time in the semester, students can make room in their schedules to walk through an art exhibit before class or catch a lecture after dinner. Even those consider- ing themselves well-educated about AIDS likely will find a new perspective or a new story that furthers their experiences with AIDS. AIDS Awareness Week provides University students with a much-needed reminder of the possibilities for infection and the actions students should take to pre- vent the disease's nroliferation Education Union policies will be changed to ensure safety, fairness I am writing this viewpoint because I think the community deserves a response to the concerns that students have been voicing, including a Nov. 22 Daily editor- ial "A discriminatory union," about the handling of social events sponsored by students of color at the Michigan Union. The policies were developed in partner- ship with students. All of us, students and staff, had the best of intentions. But stu- dents came and went, staff came and went, and the reasoning behind the policies got lost. Despite our best intentions, policies and procedures designed to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for students have become a source of distress. Recently I had a chance to hear stu- dents talk about their experiences attend- ing parties and other social events at the Union. It became painfully apparent to me that there is a large gap between what we intended when these policies were cre- ated and what students are experiencing today. The plain fact is that students of color feel marginalized and unwelcome when attending social events at the Union. lence we experienced was associated with non-University students. Together with students, we examined the problems we were having and collec- tively developed some policies that were intended to keep our own students and staff safe, and to ensure that the groups hosting the parties could maintain control over their events and have a positive expe- rience. In order to make sure that all social events were safe for the University com- munity, we began to check id's for every- one entering the Union - all students, faculty, staff and guests - on Friday and Saturday nights after 9:30 p.m. Wristbands were developed because the students hosting social events at the Union told us they did not want to keep track of the number of guests by using a hand stamp, as they had in the past. They proposed, and we accepted, changing to wristbands. This approach was designed to help event hosts identify paid atten- dees and to make sure the number of guests determined by the fire marshal's limit for the scheduled room was not near the fountain. This way, students could linger and socialize with their friends after the event. Student events, regardless of the host- ing organization, typically have one Department of Public Safety officer per 100 guests in attendance to help with security. DPS officers have not ended events early unless the host of the event requested it, or if the safety of guests has been in jeopardy. The last time an event was ended early due to safety concerns was in February 1997 when a large fight broke out. More recently, when events have ended early it has been because there were fewer guests than anticipated and the hosting organization chose to end early. All that said, it's clear these policies are not having the effect we intended when they were formed. We have begun a review, and two changes already have been made. Students attending events at the Union will no longer need to wear wristbands, and they may exit the building from any door. Together with students, I and the new director of public safety, William Bess, i