4A - The Michigan Daily - Monday, December 11, 2000 Ulbe £ikigJn i1lg Welcome to my narcissistic fantasy world 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 daily. letters@umich.edu Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan MIKE SPAIIN Editor in Chief EMILY ACHENBAUM Editorial Page Editor n light of the debate over civil unions, I've got to say it: I want a wife. Women get shafted by gender roles in all sorts of ways - including that the hetero- sexual ones of us just might end up with a husband. Who wants a husband when you 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. could have a wife? I have a lot of stuff I'd like to accomplish with my life; ladders to climb, places to go, people to see, babies to kiss. But I'm going to need a little help. I'd be able to do so much more if I didn't have to waste time on busy work that some women, thankfully, can make careers of. My wife, she'd make sure my clothes look classy; I could throw them on the floor and she'd pick Anti-urban sprawl initiatives offer hope Achenbaum Diamon the j~og her real job is to make me feel loved, to soothe my ego after a harsh day at work, to plan dinner parties. If I were a man - if I were a man with money and a housewife or a sort-of-career-wife - I could do whatever I wanted.s And then the complication of being straight and female. There are women that want to do these things; they give up any potential they might have in leading their own lives and devote themselves to someone else. How romantic, how selfless, how nurturing. Until you realize they are serving someone else - and for what in return? Is the prize someone's love and apprecia- tion? Can you really love someone who is so clearly not your equal? As women, we are used to being caretak- ers. We're in college, we're not married yet, we don't have kids, but we're already care- takers. Making everyone else feel happy and cared for; it's the unwritten job. Who makes sure that we are loved and cared for? Even decades after the feminist move- ment and in an era when women are starting to outnumber men at colleges, we are not expected to be the star. It would be nice if I became a doctor or lawyer but it doesn't matter. Men are expected to become lawyers and doctors. It would be nice if I married a doctor or a lawyer. Whether I marry brains and success or achieve it myself is still viewed as inconse- quential; both are acceptable. Interchange- able. As long as I do one, I'll be taken care of. So is the prize for being the perfect little wife total financial support? It's an easy way out, a seductive way out, one we can't help but consider. Grad school applications do not seem as scary. The job search does. not seem as scary. Perhaps it's one of our few advantages over men: A back-up plan exists if we fail --or if we are afraid to try. It's OK if we don't amount to much. A bit- tersweet fact that can only ruefully be called an "advantage." Women: Build your own personal empire. Make your own money. Do not financially depend on men. Or your parents. Anyone. Independence is not about being anti-male or untrusting; it is not about choosing career over a personal life. Money is freedom. Owning something means not having to answer to anyone. Be able to call something mine. And belting along with Destiny's Child newest isn't enough. Think what you could be capable of if someone let you be the star.' If you acted like a successful, dominant man. If people answered to you, did things@ for you. Do not be weighed down by laun- dry, Christmas cards and driving to soccer. Maybe you will marry a man and be equals, splitting the "girl" stuff down the middle. Maybe you will marry a man who wants be Mr. Mom. Maybe you will cir- cumvent the whole thing: Make enough money and you can hire a cook, a house- keeper, personal shopper, a secretary. A bevy of pseudo-wives, all there to make it@ easier for you to succeed. I don't know if I'll get married. But I know if I do, I'll be more of a woman and less of a wife. - Emily Achenbaum can be reached via e-mail at emilylsa@umich.edu.. C haracterized by low-density suburbs built on previously open spaces, urban sprawl has become a problem in Michigan and across the nation. Urban sprawl has long been a problem in Michi- gan - especially western Michigan and' the greater Detroit area, including Ann Arbor. For a number of reasons, steps must be made to stop sprawl: To protect the environment and open spaces and to save everyone transportation dollars and commuting time. Indeed, recent regional growth plans and plans to revitalize the Detroit and Ann Arbor city centers show promise in finding solutions. Neverthe- less, sprawl also needs to be curbed at the state and local levels. There is no doubt that sprawl is a seri- ous problem in Michigan and constitutes a heavy burden on taxpayers and the environment. The nonprofit Fannie Mae Foundation concluded in a recent study that the Detroit region ranks third worst for consuming land nationally. Among 28 urban areas, The Surface Transporta- tion Policy Project ranks southeast Michigan fifth in household spending on transportation - about $6,710 a year. These studies reveal the major reasons why sprawl is a problem: It irreparably damages the environment and because it constitutes a hidden tax on people who must drive long distances to work and pay taxes to support new infrastructure to their outlying suburban communities. There have been some positive steps taken to curb sprawl in recent years. Plans for a Lansing to Detroit Amtrak route are moving forward and, if built, it would cost an estimated $4 million annu- ally, as opposed to much more expensive highways infrastructures. Such a link would also provide critical transportation alternatives for students at both the Uni- versity and other area schools. In addi- tion to smarter transportation policies to slow the construction of sprawl-stimulat- ing highway construction, saving open spaces requires a regional and state-level approach. A plan for the future development of the Chelsea area received cautious opti- mism when it was unveiled last Thursday. The plan, concluding a two-year study of the area by local and county representa- tives, took into account resident surveys and ecological considerations to desig- nate where growth should and should not occur. To effectively plan for the future, other regions must adopt similar plans to structure growth and development. Finally, in Ann Arbor, there are a number of proposals aiming to revitalize the city center. The city has recently bought the development rights to existing farmland to protect it from development and keep residents and businesses within the city limits. Not only does bringing businesses together make good economic sense, the development of the city can prevent far-flung developments and the long commutes and increased tax burden they inevitably create. These small initia- tives - a new building near Nichols Arcade and cheaper, more convenient parking - can all serve to better use the city center and save surrounding areas from unnecessary development. Although these new projects are promis- ing, the city should continue to strive to keep a balance between these more met- ropolitan structures and small-town char- acter. These incremental steps constitute steps in the right direction, but cannot replace a statewide plan for growth. Sprawl is an important issue and must be combated at both the state, regional and local levels. With smart planning now, we can ensure a more environmentally sound them up. My dry cleaning would actually get done. I'd tell her what I wanted for din- ner and get it, spiced the way I like it, to-cal and high-protein when my tennis game seems off. I'd have someone to keep track of every- one's birthdays, pick out cards and presents for my parents, send them from "us." Hur- ray for doing no work and getting half the credit. And "us" would be the Achenbaums; naturally she'd chuck her name for mine. What an ego trip! I get to stay me, she changes. Sure, she'd probably have a job - I like a working woman - but we'd both know 'That's against the rules.' -- MasterCard spokeswoman Heidi Lowe on the surcharges some local businesses add to credit card purchases made below certain minimums. «. , Blame bad season on Ellerbe's coaching TO THE DAILY: I am reacting to the pathetic showing of Michigan basketball against Duke! As a result, my monetary support for Michigan athletics has ended today. Until Brian Ellerbe is fired, the ath- letic department will not see one cent! Typically, my patience gets the better of me and I give a coach the benefit of the doubt. Now, three years later, this patience has run out! Ellerbe has had his chance. He has recruited top talent. And he has continued to slip, ever more, into total incompetence. I'm sick and tired of having to go to the Breslin Center in order to watch good basketball. JASON CHRENKA UNIVERSITY ALUMNUS 'U' needs affirmative action task force TO THE DAILY: On Tuesday, Dec. 12, the Michigan Student Assembly will vote on forming an Affirmative Action Task Force. In the recent past MSA has created task forces to work on a variety of student issues. We have had a Super Fan Task Force, a Student Regent Task Force and a Voice Your Vote Task Force. The need for an Affirmative Action Task Force is clear. The affirmative action trials will be starting on Jan. 16. These cases are likely to determine the future of affirmative action pro- grams for the entire country, the future of sup- port and outreach programs such as Summer Bridge, Comprehensive Studies Program and Women in Science and Engineering and the future of Title IX. The recent decision upholding affirmative action in the 9th Circuit is one in a series of conflicting decisions that make clear that the Michigan cases could go either way. The actions of students will be the decisive ele-1 ment. MSA has a long-standing policy in support+ of affirmative action. This must not be just a paper policy - MSA must act on what it believes in. A task force of students committed to this issue alone, run by leadership experi- enced and well versed in the issues, is the way to' ensure that MSA's position is carried out faith- fully. To our knowledge there has never been an instance of MSA refusing a motion to constitute a task force on a student issue, even a controver- sial one such as student regent. The only reason to object to the creation of an Affirmative Action Task Force or to support unproven lead- ership of such a task force is to silence anyone that would actually breath life into the resolu- tions MSA has passed. We call on all MSA representatives that believe in the right of students to publicly show; their support, in an official capacity, for an offs- cial MSA position of clear importance not only: to this campus, but to our nation as a whole to step forward and throw their support behind this initiative. We also call upon members of the University community to join us in the MSA chambers, third floor of the Michigan Union, Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. to make sure MSA actual- ly follows through on its resolutions in a mean- ingful and genuine manner. NANCY ABDEL-KHALEK, RACKHAM JESSICA CURTIN, RACKHAM ERIKA DOWDELL, LSA DENNIS KAss, RACKHAM, CAROUNE SCHREIBER, MEDICINE EMINA SENDIJAREVIC, BUSINESS CRAIG SUTTON, RACKHAM DAAP MSA REPRESENTATIVES DANE BARNES DISTURBED SLEEP I----- An important day off Proposed holiday could make voting easier MK L~'p 1 I f this election fiasco has taught us anything, it's that every vote counts. In an effort to ensure that more of these votes are counted, Rep. Fred Upton (R- St. Joseph) plans to introduce a bill into the House that will make Election Day a national holiday. The creation of a national election holiday is a great idea that should be expanded to include all major Federal elections. It is common knowledge that voter turnout in the United States has been abominably low and falling for some time now. According to the Federal Election Commission, voter turnout in recent presidential elections has hov- ered roughly around 50 percent. For recent congressional elections the num- bers are even lower - consistently near the mid- to high-thirties. Clearly this is a problem in a coun- try where the government is supposed to reflect the will of the people. The American democratic system is based on the ideal that representatives would act on behalf of all of their constituents - not just the half that show up on Election Day. Especially problematic is the fact that those who do not vote tend to be the most disenfranchised by the system. It is exactly those who feel the government is not representing their needs that most need to be encouraged to voice their vote and change it. that contribute to low voter turnout, there are often logistical reasons that can make voting unnecessarily compli- cated. It is often difficult to find time to go to the polling stations between work or class. A national holiday would ease this burden. Since most people would get the day off, an elec- tion holiday would also command the attention of the voting public by direct- ly impacting people's lives on Election Tuesday. As a result more people would show up to the polls on that day. While Upton's bill, which calls for national election holidays every four years, would be a step in the right direction, it should be expanded to cover congressional elections every two years. These elections can be just as important as the presidential elec- tions in determining public policy. Since congressional elections have even lower voter turnout then presiden- tial ones, having a national holiday on the day of those elections is especially important. In order to minimize the economic impact of the proposed holiday, Presi- dents' Day would be removed from the federal calendar during years in which an election holiday was observed. There could be no better way to honor past presidents than to maintain the spirit of democracy through the cre- I/ S S °' m5i~ sON R r.I7'STH E A/Fb ADNIsT A71,6N SO' 'J CLEAR, I Tjl T C AN'S' $E ET u OF 7N COUNTR.Y') frONOrJIL. fFUTRt. )c , 17C: :; ) By Sunon Dantiki Daily Editorial Writer We are at a critical moment in this Universi- ty's history. The United Asian Organizations, the umbrella organization for Asian student organizations at the University, will vote on a stance concerning affirmative action this week. This is especially important because most cam- pus groups representing Asian cultures have not yet taken an official position on this divisive topic. The need for an official stance on affirma- tive action is more pressing than ever in the pre- sent atmosphere. In addition to the ongoing nationwide con- troversy, affirmative action is constantly being thrust upon the students of this university. The administration is currently occupied with fend- ing off two lawsuits claiming reverse discrimi- nation due to affirmative action policies. With many renowned legal and societal leaders keep- ing tabs on the cases, the campus has reacted strongly. But the unique aspect of the Universi- ne1 n; t~donc So we as a community should oppose affir- mative action, right? Wrong. Although critics are quick to point out that affirmative action initially arose as a program of special compensation, primarily financial, for millions of disenfranchised African-Americans it was completely justified when taken in con- text. When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote in favor of compensatory programs for blacks dur- ing his lifetime,.he compared such social reforms to the GI Bill of Rights, which gave World War II veterans special preferences including home loans,;college scholarships and special advantages in competition for civil ser- vice jobs. Affirmative action commenced in an era when governmental compensatory programs were the norm and served as a necessary weapon to fight a trend of widespread institu- tionalized discrimination. Affirmative action is not, however, simply compensation for past grievances inasmuch as it is a policy to promote diversity. Nowhere is this more evident than in higher educational institu- demic setting, the University's admissions poli- cy promotes interracial interaction and multicul- turalism. Proponents of replacing the system with a strict system of "socioeconomic affirmative action" neglect the fact that the University already takes socioeconomic factors into account during the admissions process. An applicant who has had to overcome many obsta- dles during his life, or has.had a variety of char- acter-building experiences, is considered a much stronger candidate than someone who just has a high Grade Point Average and test scores. Nowhere is this more evident than in the case of Jennifer Gratz, a white female who was denied admission to the University and is now suing on* the basis of unfair treatment due to affirmative action. Her case for admission was based upon her 3.7 high school GPA and ACT score of 25. In the year she was denied admission, however, 1300 white applicants with lower GPAs and test scores were admitted to the University - proof that grades and race are not the determining fac- I