4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, December 13, 2000 c7 le firtichtt4an ont7tv On snow (and other things that suck) 0 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 daily.letters@umich.edu I'?;, MIKE SPAHN Editor in Chief Edited and managed by EM A U student1at theEMILY ACHENBAUM students at the- Editorial Page Editor University of Michigan E r P d r 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. ; PROM THE. DAILY Group interference Faculty advisors should remain optional -j Ihate snow. Hate it with a passion. Yeah, Isure, it's pretty to look at, but that doesn't make up for the monumental pain in the ass it is. Christmas time is almost here and everyone is feeling the "Holiday spirit," and I'm forced to admit that snowmen, white-washed trees and hanging icicles are part of the atmosphere. But that doesn't help me rationalize the hours I spend shoveling the crap, the extra time it takes me to walk any- F where or the fact that you need an M1 A 1 Abrams tank to safely drive on the roads. I guess part of the Branden problem is that I've Sanz never really associated snow with Christmas. When I was a kid in H amm/ California, snow sim- ply wasn't part of the everyday landscape. Christmas in Sacramento is usually about 50- 60 degrees and - if you're part of my family - is time to crack a beer, break out the grill and barbecue some steaks and oysters. None of this wrapped up in eight layers of clothing and huddling inside crap, thank you very much. From Sacramento it's an easy two-hour drive to Lake Tahoe, with an elevation shift from 800 feet to 7,000 feet above sea-level, so when we wanted to play in the snow it was a simple matter of hopping in the car and, "Going to the snow," as we used to say. You know, I like it that way. I want to have to go to the snow. I do not want the snow coming to me. It been a similar scenario every other place I've lived: Georgia, no snow - ever; Arizona, no snow - ever; et cetera, et cetera. The only place I've ever lived where it did snow was isl Reno, and despite the fact that it's sitting at 4,500 feet, by some quirk of weather patterns in the Sierra Nevada mountains, the snow never seems to fall on the valley floor until late January or early February. Truth be told, I've never ever seen snow fall on Christmas day. I can see your faces. Right now you're think- ing: "What's the big deal? You're going home next week, so stop whining like someone pissed in your Cheerios." Well, my friends, the sad fact is, I am not going home for Christmas this year. Due to a combination of a demanding job and the fact that I got selected for goddamn jury duty, it looks like I'm stuck in good ol' Ann Arbor for break. Welcome to your first White Christmas, Hammer. I suspect that up above someone is looking down on me and laughing His ass ofI. So it seems that, come December 25, I'll be sitting in front of the TV watching bowl games and making plenty of long-distance phone calls. Oh well. I guess I can take solace in the fact that this is the last winter I'll have to endure here. But it will sure feel strange not going through my annual two week, 4,000-mile round-trip sojourn. I guess, more than anything else, it's the routine that matters and the lack of familiarity that tends to disturb us. Speaking of routines, please allow me to spin off on a tangent about one routine that I absolutely despise - New Year's resolutions. Why on earth do we feel the need to make some sort of life-altering commitment just because a we have to buy a new calendar? I get sick of listening to people say that, "Come New Year's, I'm going to _ " Or, "Come New Year's, I'm not going to anymore." If something was that important to you and you could consciously change you life for the better, wouldn't you have alread made that commitment? I tend to think so. On the other hand, you have the Resolution Delusion (of grandeur). This is the kind of Ne Year's resolution that is so vast it requires hel from external sources, or for things to tum ou just right. In short, you've got to be lucky well as determined. Why set yourself up fo failure? Are you going to get pissed off and cal yourself "loser" just because the dice didn' quite roll your way or Mr. Murphy (of Mur phy's Law fame) rears his ugly head? Probabl not too good for your self-esteem if you as me. Personally, I tend to think the whole Ne Year's resolution thing is the result of a conspir acy on the part of the Pentavirate. The pentavi rate, you ask? Yes, gentle reader. Th Pentavirate is a secret society that meets once year at an estate in Colorado known as "Th Meadows" and, in fact, rules the world. (It's als known as the Hallmark-FTD Florists-Insurane Company-Zybai-Bowflex consortium.) So I'm not going home and I'm not makin any New Year's resolutions. Sound dull? A my nemesis Lee Corso likes to say, "Not s fast, my friend." I've got two weeks with ju duty, an empty Ann Arbor, college football an no roommate, the combination of which put two thoughts in my head: fn and trouble not necessarily in that order. So I guess I should quit my bitching. I'i going to have a good time. Maybe I'll even learn to like snow. Branden Sanz willprobably be workin on New Year's Eve, but ifhe isn 't, hejust migh be intoxicated enough to make a New Year' resolution not to make any more New Year' resolutions.Until then, he can be reached a hamrhead(aunich.edt. T he University's many student groups may face a change in the way they are run in the near future. The Student Activities and Leadership Office is considering a proposal which would require some student groups to have a faculty adviser. While this mea- sure is not without its good points, the institution of faculty advisers for stu- dent groups should be voluntary. There are certainly good reasons for a student group to have a faculty adviser - having a University profes- sor on hand to give advice can be very helpful and educational for members of the group. However, requiring a fac- ulty adviser defeats the purpose of having a student-run organization. It is not the University's place to dictate to student groups how they should be run. Further, this requirement could potentially give the University a way to shut down activities of which it disap- proves, such as major protests (to use a particularly relevant example). Of course, this is probably not the University's main objective in consid- ering changing the policy. Part of it has to do with the allocation of space - it provides meeting spaces and utilities, so technically the groups, though student-run, are part of the University, and the University is thus responsible for the group's actions on its property. However, the best way to address this question is to treat stu- dent groups more like renters of an apartment, giving them responsibility for the facilities while they are using them. This eliminates the need for direct supervision from the Universi- ty, as well as allowing student groups a greater degree of autonomy. While this proposal would no doubt be made with good intentions, it is largely unnecessary. Student groups who wish to have advisers are free to make arrangements with Uni- versity faculty and this can certainly be beneficial to the group. But it doesn't follow that, because it can be beneficial, it should be required - student organizations should be able to make the choice for themselves. Student-run groups should remain student-run. NOTABLE QUOTABLEI 'My car is buried, but that's all right. I can walk.' - LSA junior Lindsey Zamplas commenting on the snow. Lok who's watching E-mail tracer has many negative qualities W hile 1984 has come and past, the threat of Big Brother remains. The most recent threat to personal pri- vacy takes the form of an e-mail tap by the name of Carnivore. This software is intended to allow the FBI to intercept the e-mail of suspected criminals, how- ever there are numerous glaring flaws in the current program. The exact nature of the Carnivore program has not yet been released. Some data must remain classified to protect what integrity the system would have, but some aspects of Carnivore are now open for public review, as per an order of U.S. District Judge James Robertson. The data released to date show several areas of concern, and these concerns must be addressed. The most distressing fact is that Car- nivore has the ability to record all e- mails which pass through the server on which it is mounted. If used correctly, Carnivore retains only those e-mails to or from the person under court ordered observation. After testing Carnivore at the Illinois Institute of Technology, it became apparent that the FBI might be able "to accidentally collect too much data." This and other concerns have pushed the Electronic Privacy Informa- tion Center to question the safety of Carnivore. Carnivore is currently too powerful for large-scale use. The potential for privacy invasion remains too great. Aside from the "accidental" overuse of Carnivore, there is little technical deter- rence to abuse. An unscrupulous FBI agent or rogue hacker has too great a potential to misuse the current system. The issue of misuse must be addressed and proactive countermeasures must be taken. The laws governing Carnivore's use are woefully outdated. Congress needs to draft modern legislation to govern Internet surveillance. Substantial inter- nal and judicial review must be required prior to the wielding of this system. Using laws from the '80s designed for '80s technology is not acceptable. It is imperative that the legal system of the United States remain current with technical aspects of crime and investigation. There may be times when federal investigators imperatively require the ability to intercept e-mails, and it would be obscenely naive to suggest that law enforcement preclude itself from utiliz- ing electronic surveillance. In some cases, after appropriate review, a system comparable to Carnivore may be required, but that system must address privacy concerns and have limited abili- ty to intercept and recall electronic messages. Until the dangers inherent in the current system are remedied, Carni- vore should be de-clawed. Affirmative action is a positive policy TO THE DAILY: I applaud the viewpoint published in the Daily (12/11/00) by Sumon Dantiki titled "Where do Asian Americans stand on affirma- tive action?" As chair of the United Asian American Organizations (UAAO) I strongly support the University in its defense for affirmative action. It is time for Asian Pacific/Islanders on this campus to have a voice regarding this issue and end the silence. It is time to move beyond the self-interest debate as to how this social policy affects each of us individually and realize that affirmative action has opened doors and created opportunities that were denied to certain groups' of people in the past - including Asian Pacif- ic/Islanders. Imagine what this University would look like if affirmative action was removed. What would the demographics of the student body look like? What kind of support would we as organizations and individuals receive from the University? What would happen to offices like Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA) or the Office of Academic and Multicultural Initia- tives (OAMI)? The Minority Peer Advisor/Assistant Program in Residence Educa- tion? Members of the Asian American commu- nity have benefited from these programs and therefore have benefited from affirmative action. But this is even bigger than our community. This is about social justice and changing the effects of past discrimination imposed on it would translate into little or no difference in voter turnout. If people really wanted to vote, then they would. Voting is not a difficult thing. Indeed, the conflicts which you raise as reasons for your case are the very reason we have the absentee voting system. I voted absentee this term because I live in Livonia and knew that I would not have time to drive home on election day. It was not difficult at all. I called my city clerk, got directions as to what the rules were, and went to pick up my bal- lot. All I had to do was fill it out and mail it in before election day. To simplify my process fur- ther I could even request that the forms be mailed to me so I wouldn't even have to go home to pick up the ballot! If people are too lazy to do something like this then they either do not have an opin- ion (they are among the great, so-called "undecided" faction of America) or they have no respect for their civic duty. Either way I do not think they deserve any more special treatment. PHILIP WALIGORA ENGINEERING SENIOR Hideki: Reflections on his firSt semester TO THE DAILY: One of the promises that I made during my campaign for MSA President was con- vincing professors to provide textbook info before classes start and then post them on the Website so that students can find ou textbook info and then buy the textbooks online cheaply. I could convince some professors to provide textbook info, and they are in the LSA course guide. You can see textbook info at the bottom of course description for some classes. I hope you will take advan- :tage of this and buy the textbooks online cheaply. Associate Dean Owen sent my request to chairs and directors of LSA so that they can forward my message to faculty mem hers of their departments. Also, some of my friends helped me e- mailing professors individually to ask them to provide textbook info to LSA course guide. I am really grateful for their help. I will do my best to make sure that more professors will submit textbook info next semester. I need your help to do this. so please contact me at htsutsum@umich.edu if you can help me. Lastly, it is the greatest honor in my whole life to be student body president. Thanks a million for your vote. I really hope that I can thank everybody who voted for me in person by the time my term expires in the end of March. HIDEKI TSUTSUMI MSA PRESIDENT CHIP CULLEN G INDMNG 'THEW NI numerous groups of people. T around and make it our own.; people tell us how we as ac effected by affirmative action. Only we live the Asian Pa experience and only we can d policies we stand behind. As I out, we are at a critical momenti ty's history - what will be the Asian Pacific American commu Election holida not necessary TO THE DAILY: A call for a national electio unneeded thing ("An impor 12/11/00). The representative pr for a holiday every four years so go and vote. While this sounds great on pa rum the debate ___ Don't let other ' ommunity are 4/' cific American Determine what Dantiki pointed in this Universi- response of the h/B ' ' ity? RUPAL PATEL LSA SENIOR { iy is LeCovne Cs n holiday is an -,,f" tant day off," 4 oposing it calls that people can I \ F _ per I think that BY JASON POLAN U_._____ sAM .AuW AbA INT \)Nb R COMIcX1 . S L moM m Mom , ll1 ~ lli U '1 1 r .. n7:vs s . F 4 . ~*0t A non-Christian prays for Christ on By James Miller demning us but deeply disappointed, I'm Former Daily Columnist sure. "A $300 tea set for Aunt Barb? Gee, there There's no more Christ in Christmas. I are several hundred children who will wake don't expect this to be news to anyone. We up Christmas morning without even food. Or have Rudolph, Mickey, Santa and Christina parents who love them. But it's your money. Aguliera roasting our chestnuts for us. But All I did was die for you. You're the senior there's no more Jesus. "Sorry, fresh of out vice-president." that. Who? Nope, not much call for that The second reason Americans have cho- around here. Ragland wool mittens, anyone? sen to perform a radical Jesus-ectomy is that Great stocking stuffers!" Christ is just too hard. Not Christianity, but There are logical, if not good, reasons for Christ. I dare say that there are millions of Americans kicking the birthday boy out of his Christians who haven't got the dimmest idea own party. The first is that, to most people, what it means to be "bride of Christ." These Jesus is a real downer. I wish there were a Christians (which includes the "God hates more elegant or Scriptural way to say this, fags" and the "gonna kill me an abortionist" but there isn't. Christmas is a time to con- sub-species too) are filled with the letter of sume. Food, wrapping paper, booze, TV, the Law and devoid of its spirit. debt, credit, malls. Everything. It's kind of a True Christians don't spend a lot of time license to indulge yourself in whatever you wallowing in the smug satisfaction of believ- like (or whatever someone else would like, ing they are saved. They don't insult God by more nobly) at any time. Jesus doesn't help squeezing Him into a hour once a week and with this. There He stands in the front of they don't think that five bucks in a collec- church or the backs of our minds, not con- tion plate ameliorates the suffering their oil Yto~iille I VM' S Cw wk UpV F NN'. GFCUt t'IsioL 46" Ge NC Christmas greed produces. Those who truly believe in Jesus know that Christianity is about mercy, compassion and love in the face of aggression and vio- lence. It's an example so difficult to follow that many Christians use His (Jesus') name like an athlete who endorses their cereal. They're not interested in Him, just the power over other people that His name gives them. The faithful are left to praise their king is exile, while we accumulate and buy and pre- tend that we deserve heat and running water more than that guy our age we see in front o the homeless shelter on the way to work. Too demanding in his example, too meek and kind to demand obedience of His flock, we shove Him out of his own holiday and pre- tend that being Christian and celebrating Christmas have nothing to a Jewish carpenter who died burning in the sun for people who hated him. A wise man once said "Ambition forgets its dying king." Christians: Never forget yours. There has never been a king like him. N 5