4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 13, 2000 be Btkbigau&t 1igl Heaven must look a lot like a football Saturday d 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 daily.letters@umich.edu Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan MIKE SPAHN Editor in Chief EMILY ACHENBAUM Editorial Page Editor 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. Religion and football need not collide Irealize that many of you out there are not die-hard football fans. Some could care less about the game. However, attending a universi- ty like Michigan and saying "I don't watch football," is a lot like living in Alabama and saying, "I don't eat grits." People may respect your decision, but the majority are going to look at you funny and think: "What's wrong witht this knucklehead?" For those of you who just don't understand the whole football mania here (and even for those who do), I will try to explain by way of a Branden story. Maybe it's fiction-S al, maybe not. You Sa"z decide... Dropping A young man wakes up to the blaring of his alarm clock. It is 9 a.m. on Saturday morning and his mouth is dry, his head feels about three sizes too big and he is in dire need of a shower. He pops an aspirin and washes it down with a 32-ounce plastic cup- that says "Panchero's," brushes his teeth and jumps into the shower. He emerges feeling refreshed, but slams a cold cup of coffee any- way in hopes of killing off the last vestiges of his hangover. Donning a white "Michigan" tee shirt with blue letters, he walks out the front door of his apartment. As he walks the streets of Ann Arbor, he sees animation everywhere. Parents are in town visiting with their student progeny; alumni are back, meeting each other and hanging out at old haunts together; friends are chilling on a myriad of porches; engineering and pre-med students are on their way to study. Already the fraternity houses are booming with activity, a tribute to Dionysus. The young man grins as he sees this. Normally the sound of Destiny's Child blaring at volume high enough to kill small children would annoy the shit out of him, but today he doesn't mind it. He sees cases of cheap beer being passed out to the guys and the sorority girls that are pre-partying with them and smiles a secret little smile, for he too understands fratguy logic. Beer + football = Game. The alcohol is inherent to the math, as without the beer it would turn into something like football + game = Football Game, which is far too rational and reeks of Da' Man. The young man walks on and meets up with some friends who have graduated but are back in town tailgating. Hugs are exchanged. His friends are barbecuing and the young man avails himself to a piece of chicken, hoping to settle his stomach. It works. Someone throws him a beer. He still feels a little queasy, but sucks it up and takes a pull. By the time he fin- ishes the first beer, he feels much better. They catch up; talk about football, talk about life. He has time for three more beers and a game of frisbee in the morning sun before they start moving towards the stadium. Like streams flowing into a river and then running to the sea, so does the crowd move forward, inexorably converging into a huge mass at the stadium. The young man smiles again, for he knows he is watching tens of thousands of people united in purpose. Old and young, rich and poor, black and white. They have come together today and the only thing they have in common is The Team. Your team, my team, it's all one - it is our team. The young man knows this and it makes him happy. Surely this is a good thing, he thinks. He knows evil - he has been evil. This feels the opposite. He enters the stadium and sits down with his friends, but not for long. It is almost kickoff and everyone stands up. The kicker raises his 00, 0 arm. Suddenly, a breeze swirls through his sec- tion, momentarily relieving thousands from the unseasonably oppressive heat. The young man smells barbecue and fresh-cut grass and burn- ing leaves, but he also smells the salt of sweat and the metallic tang of blood. His vision shim- mers and the young man is suddenly looking at a different football field - a different place and a different time. This is his high school football field. Or is it the field next to his childhood home where he learned to play The Game? His vision switches again and he is watching all three fields at once. The opposing quarterback tosses a swing pass out to the tailback, but overthrows him. When the tailback jumps and extends his arms, #17 comes flying in and crushes him. The young man knows this feeling, for he once played linebacker. He once laid a hit exactly like that in a game. It was beautiful. He felt so alive then. He remembers those times when he was playing The Game and nothing else mat- tered. He didn't care about drugs or crime or* politics, never thought about the ozone layer or the vanishing rain forests. The whole of his existence could be distilled to the adrenaline rush of battle - the clash of bone and sinew under pads and helmets; the smell of grass and blood; the roar of the crowd and the screams of his coach. But he feels alive now too. He knows he doesn't want to go back to high school - would not even if he could. But he wants that0 feeling back. He wants to feel happy and wild and free and full of hope - not at all like the jaded, tired cynic he sees himself becoming. And for three more hours, he will feel that way. He will be young and wild and free until the fourth quarter ends. After that? Who cares. Right Now is all that is important and Right Now isperfect. - Branden Sanz can be reached via e-mail at hamrhead@umich.edu. On September 30, two Big Ten football teams currently nation- ally ranked in the top five will meet in Ann Arbor, with the Rose Bowl and national title hopes likely hang- ing in the balance. But for many stu- dents, this could not have come at a worse time. Jewish students, in obser- vance of Rosh Hashanah, the Hebrew New Year, might be forced into choosing whether to attend morning services or the game. The University should do every- thing in its power to accommodate those students who wish to fulfill their religious obligations and sup- port the football team. Because the bulk of Rosh Hashanah's observance occurs in the morning and early after- noon, many Jewish students would be able to attend a later game. The Athletic Department has the ability to establish a dialogue with television networks and request that they broadcast the game in the late afternoon. Allowing the game to be played during the 3:30 to 7 p.m. time-slot could well accommodate the numer- ous Jewish students and fans who have already purchased their tickets. If they are truly committed to stu- dents over television, the Athletic Department has a responsibility to lobby the networks on the behalf of Jewish fans. The three and a half hours between possible game times means little to television networks and most fans except those who are obliged to attend religious services that particular morning. The Jewish population is a promi- nent part of campus. When the time of the September 30 game against Wisconsin is finally decided, hope- fully the dilemma for Jewish students will have been an equally vital part of the consideration. Problems with pnsons Contract debacle could expand awareness 'It is truly horrifying that these men can be honored by our institution in light of the atrocities caused by their politics and decisions.' - LSA senior Scott Trudeau on University's decision to name the School of Public Policy after former Pres. Gerald Ford and invite former Sec. of State Henry Kissinger to be a keynote speaker at the renaming ceremony. Issues like prison's rights and the inherently problematic relationship between prisons and industry are usu- ally the sole domain of left-wing activists. Up until now, most of the arguments against the status quo in the nation's prisons have been of a moral nature - touching on notions of jus- tice and fairness. Unfortunately, many people have brushed these concerns off by reasoning that the notion of "prison- ers' rights" is oxymoronic. The strength of these ideological barriers has not made prisoners' advo- cates' jobs easy - so when the oppor- tunity presents itself to circumvent ignorant anti-prisoner biases, activists ought to jump at the opportunity. In the State of Michigan, at least, that opportunity has presented itself: The moral side of the scenario is that the state has awarded a $250 million contract to Correctional Medical Ser- vices Inc., a com any that is facing several lawsuits allegig gross negi- gence in the medical attention it has given prisoners. The practical side is that CMS did not even have to win any type of bidding war to get its contract. This means that Michigan taxpayers are potentially paying millions of dol- lars more than they have to so that pris- oners can get medical care that could very well itheCN be inferior to what they would receive at a lesser has fisca cost. Hopefully, the CMS morally a debacle will bring Michigan's more conser- dimensic vative citizens into the prisoner's rights move- ments - or at least open their minds to the problems that permeate the state's correctional system. After all, an iso- lated (presumably) bureaucratic mishap is not going to change many people's minds about justice within the state's prisons. What the CMS contract does do is highlight the fact that there are big problems within the existing system - be they fiscal or moral - and that a serious overhaul of the way the prisons operate is sorely needed. Assuming prisoners' rights activists carefully leverage the fiscal irresponsi- bility that lead to awarding CMS its contract, this could be the first time many people critically think about pris- oners rights issues. Up until now, Michigan voters have re-elected Gov. John Engler three times - Engler has traded increasing funding for the state's educational system in favor of increas- ing funding for massive prison-build- ing projects. Criticism of Engler's policies has remained almost entirely strategical, with Democrats and others arguing that reallocating money away from schools and towards the correctional system does not demonstrate sound prioritiz- ing on Engler's part. Never has any- thing resembling a moral critique of Ii ii1 I' Ii the way Michigan's prisons operate entered into mainstream debate. The economically unsound nature of the CMS award offers prisoner's advocates the unique opportunity to bring the much more fundamental ethi- cal issues surrounding the way Ameri- cans incarcerate people into popular public forums. It is unlikely that Michigan voters are simply cold-heart- ed - instead they are probably just skeptical of claim that prisoners are being wronged. The issues surrounding the correctional system are complex and can certainly not be communicated over the precious few sound bites activists have been able to grab in mainstream media. Steady and persistent media cover- age has the potential to change this and the fact that the CMS contract has fis- cally and morally abhorrent dimen- sions makes it a perfect candidate for serious public debate in a political cli- mate where the current issues are los- ing their ability to grab massive attention. Not only is the CMS contract story sound bite-worthy, but it underscores one of the most pressing problems with the current correctional system - increasing privatization. In the case of S contract CMS, it was a private health care provider ly and for prisoners; its goal was to make as bigof aorrent a profit as possible. But this cannot possi- is,, bly be compatible with the state's pur- ported interest in keeping prisoners healthy. The more money a private health provider saves, the bigger its profit. So it can only be expected to cut corners - especially since prisoners are involved - as looking out for their best interest is not politically marketable. On another level, the surprisingly popular, newly rejuvenated practice of private companies profiting off of dirt- cheap prison labor is also inherently incompatible with the state's interest in promoting justice. In this case, private companies stand to gain from the state incarcerating more people since this will only expand the already-massive prison labor market. In turn, this gives law-makers an incentive to build more prisons and pass punitive and dracon- ian laws that result in more people serving longer sentences since support from the private sector is critical for winning elections. Neither of these issues - or any of the many other problems surrounding state prisons - have been touched on in any type of meaningful, public dia- logue. The economic angle of the CMS contract award gives prisoners' advo- cates the opportunity to bring these important issues to the public; they should not pass this unique chance up. Wolverine Access barely works TO THE DAILY: In reply to Lester Monts' viewpoint regard- ing the new Wolverine Access site ("New Wolverine Access system is working well," 9/7/00): Bottom line, it sucks, and it sucks extremely bad. What good is a new system if it's never accessible, and if - when it is accessible - it runs about as slow as I've seen Web pages run lately? And what good is that nifty applet if, again, it never seems to function? DROR BARON BUSINESS JUNIOR English 317 critics promote status quo TO THE DAILY: In response to the countless letters saying how we should or shouldn't have Prof. David Halperin's course "How to be Gay" and the endless debate on whether or not the Universi- ty should host this class: Christian, or any other set of specific morals are not the basis of this country. Basing a fight on how this class is morally reprehensible and is passively promoting homosexuality is a giant mistake, since by not having the class, you're simply promoting the status quo. For a melting pot country, we sure tend to stick to one antiquated set of moral guidelines. We might as well remove the Office of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgendered Affairs' Website from the University servers, since it's being passively promoted and approved by the University by being there. KEVIN WHITE LSA SOPHOMORE Men's Health is right: 'U' anti-male TO THE DAILY: Last Friday, a Daily article describing how the University was ranked by magazines such as US News and World Reports, Mother Jones, and the Princeton Review was run ("'U' ties for 25th place in national ranking," 9/8/00).c One important ranking, however, was left out.1 Men's Health recently confirmed what every man on this campus already knew - they list- ed the University as one of the "Top 10 Anti- Male campuses" in the country. Their ranking - based on surveys, analysis of campus speakers and courses offered - says more about life here than any of the rankings the Daily chose to include. KYLE MARSHALL LSA SENIOR Wear yellow to the next football game TO THE DAILY: Though the Michigan football team once again killed the opponent in the Big House last Saturday, something needs to be done to brighten it up a bit. I say that every student wears a yellow shirt to the next home game - and to every game after that. It looked really cool in Crisler last year. Think of how bright the student section would be if every- one there wore some sort of yellow shirt. Just think of how cool it will look with 25,000 stu- dents in yellow, it would be so bright the opposing quarterback wouldn't be able to see his receivers. W SCOTT DRESDEN LSA SOPHOMORE Will Gore warrant Ford's criticism? TO THE DAILY: The following appeared in the Sept. 11 edi- torial "Fame and Ford": "He pardoned Richard Nixon, an act which prompted the Daily, on October 29, 1976, to remark that 'Gerald Ford has displayed a moral insensitivity so gaping, so unforgivable that it alone warrants a resounding mandate from the American electorate for his removal from office.' Although the University did produce a. President of the United States, it did not pro- duce a particularly good one." Will the Daily be as critical of Gore when he pardons Clinton for perjury and other crimes, if and when Gore is elected or will that be a "different situation"? RUSSELL ANDERSON ALUMNUS CHIP CULLEN (RINDING THE NIB s JON "'ter "' ., LC OI'' E TO LOO MtNGTON, I MVI P% "Irqw GOOD RIDDAt1CE. I '"' a.:p.r - " 1 .' .I~ . -i -- ewwmber, under new state legisationyou must be registered to at Ain the same district that the address on your driver's license is Ian, Don't give u~ your most fundamenta l rigt! In the spirit of current events including for- mer President Gerald Ford and former Secre- tary of State Henry Kissinger visiting our campus, I believe it is important to evaluate a certain foreign policy issue that dates back to Nixon's and Ford's administrations. Prior to the '60s and '70s, the people of Cyprus, Turkish- Cypriots and Greek-Cypriots, lived together peacefully. But in 1974, Turkey forcefully invntpd Cnmc nr-,vnc he fr ri1P nnrthem is continuing. Today, with only about 90,000 Turkish Cypriots on the island, there are more settlers than Turkish Cypriots. Most Turks are not to blame, either. The government of Turkey, for supplying the illegal Denktash regime (the junta that currently occu- pies Northern Cyprus), has been found guilty in the European Court of Human Rights for crimes against humanity. There are still many mnrecrimec that have been left ununmished. government under the Nixon and Ford adminis- trations, but continues to be stem from the fail- ure of the United States to properly an9 effectively deal with the situation today. Turkey, a member of the United Nations and of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, has been criticized by organizations such as' Amnesty International for torture and accused of being responsible for the disappearance of 1,619 Greek-Cvnriots. The United States. as well as i-mm-