The Michigan Daily - New Student Edition - Fall 2003 - 7B What's the rush? Greek system rush should wait until winter term Two weeks into the start of their University experi- ences, freshmen should find themselves enjoying and discovering school traditions and activities. Freshmen students have likely visited Michigan Stadium for football Saturdays, signed up for a few clubs and activities at Festifall and have begun to form new friend- ships in classes and the residence halls. However, one University activity, the Greek system's fall rush, could limit a new student's awareness of the University's offer- ings. It would be a wise move for everyone involved, pledges and old members, to eliminate the fall rush. The transition from high school to college life and independence is often stressful and filled with uncer- tainties. Rushing for membership into a fraternity or sorority is a time consuming pursuit, and to adjust to a new life style and to vie for acceptance in the Greek community at the same time can be overly taxing. Learning how to balance social and academic commit- ments should be one of the top priorities of a new Uni- versity student. Rush demands that these students direct their attention elsewhere. Eliminating fall rush and allowing only a winter rush would allow potential pledges the adequate time to adjust to the academic and social rigors of college life. Not only would these new students benefit from the elimination of fall rush, but the Greek system would benefit as well. Fraternities and sororities depend upon members who are dedicated and enthusiastic to the Greek system and its purposes. Given two weeks to decide whether or not to rush, new students with half- hearted commitments may make the hasty decision to participate. If fall rush were to be eliminated, winter rush would attract pledges who are more fully aware of their social and community options at the University, and who really do believe fraternity or sorority life is for them. Many fraternities and sororities require their mem- bers to live in the Greek house the year following their initiation. These fraternities and sororities fear that without a fall rush, future pledges will have already decided upon a living situation for the next year, leav- ing the houses empty and without sufficient rent and funds to maintain it. However, it is a myth that no good apartments are available after winter break - and it is entirely reasonable that the pledges wait until after their initiation before deciding on their living situation for next year. The Greek system should follow the examples of the University of Virginia, Stanford University and Dart- mouth College and defer the exacting rush process to the winter. Most first year students need time to discov- er the intricacies of the University and adjust to their new lifestyles in Ann Arbor. A fall rush often deprives first year students of this discovery process, and makes the transition to college life even more stressful. This is a decision which will populate Greek organizations with devoted members. NOTABLE QUOTABLES It's probably the most popular thing that I've ever introduced." - New York City Councilman Philip Reed, on a bill that would fe anyone $50 who dials up or fails to turn off a mobile phone's ringer dur- ing an indoor performance, as reported in USA oday "That's like asking someone to first vote for censorship, and then figure out later what is censored. With all due respect, I find that statement unhelpful;" - Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz on a proposed speech code that would ban "offensive" language from the classroom, as quoted in the Boston Globe. DAVID KATZ/Daily The University has a wide range of sororities and fraternities. Kappa Kappa Gamma, a sorority, is located on Hill Street. Inbibing obstacles It's time for the reform of Michigan's MIP law The competition cometh 'U' needs to address housing before companies do The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan filed suit against Bay City on Oct. 31 challenging the practice of police requiring people under the age of 21 to submit to a breathalyzer without first obtaining a search warrant. The ACLU's suit was spurred by an incident involving a 20-year-old woman who was stopped by police in the park and asked to take a breathalyzer. When she refused, the police told her that she would be fined $100, after which she submitted to the police officers' demands. She was not under the influence of alcohol and passed the breathalyzer test. The ACLU is challenging the Bay City ordinance that makes it illegal for a person to refuse to take a breathalyzer when asked by police. The decision in this case will likely affect the entire state. A breathalyzer test amounts to a search, but the police are not presenting a warrant as required by the Fourth9 Amendment. The decision in this case will ' likely affect the entire state and hopefully alter or eliminate the current MIP law. Michigan is one state that has such severe laws and penalties for underage drinking. In other states, an underage person must have alcohol on their person to get in trouble with the law, but in Michi- gan no alcohol needs to be present. A person's body is classified as a container and only one sip of alcohol' allows for an individual to receive a citation. There are no set rules guiding whom the police select for breathalyzer tests. Students routinely walk- ing home from parties, not causing any trouble and just wanting to get home to sleep off the alcohol, are regu- larly accosted by police officers and coerced into tak- ing breathalyzers. By using the threat of monetary penalty, people feel like they have no choice but to submit to the test. When police break up parties, they often make everyone line up by age and take breathalyzers. This is clearly against the Fourth Amendment right against unauthorized search and seizure. The police surround the party-goers and force them to submit or pay a fine. MIP laws create animosity between stu- dents and the police. Students do not lways call for medical assistance when they are at a party where some- one passes out from overdrinking. If the person affected is underage, they are afraid to call 911 out of fear of prosecution. Also, if there are under- age people at the party who have been drinking they do not call for the same reason. This leads to a potentially dangerous situation in which someone who should receive medical attention for alcohol poisoning does not get it because people art afraid of an MIP. The case in Bay City is exactly what the ACLU has been looking for to challenge the current state alcohol laws The violation of the Fourth Amendment is clear in addition to the fact that the person being forced to sub- mit to the breathalyzer was not under the influence. This case has the potential to change Michigan's drink- ing laws to make them more in tune with the rest of the Last November, the Ann Arbor City Plan- ning Commission approved something this campus is in short supply of: new student housing. The privately-owned develop- er Integroup Realty Trust is proposing a new complex to be built adjacent to North Campus. Currently named North Quad, the complex will have 900 beds and is expected to open by the fall of 2004 if final approval is granted by the City Council early next year. Even as this proposed development moves forward, it would behoove Integroup to keep in mind the realities of campus housing - it is nearly always overpriced and often of substan- dard quality. At the moment, Integroup has a good track record in this area; rent for a one- bedroom apartment runs for $483 in the East Lansing development. If Integroup wants to endear itself to students, it should publicly make a long-term commitment to keeping rent for its units down while keeping quality up - prices such as East Lansing's should not be temporary. By doing so, not only will Integroup be sav- ing students sorely-needed money, but it will also be setting a standard that other landlords will have to follow if they wish to remain com- petitive. Furthermore, Integroup ought to fol- low the example set by University Housing, whose full-time workers are unionized. Inte- group must treat its workers like it should treat its tenants with respect and professionalism, and not as potential subjects of a fleecing. If there is one clear flaw in the proposed apartment complex, it lies in the name,"North Quad." The word "Quad" unofficially belongs to University residence halls on this campus; having it grace any other kind of building is an affront to the University's tradition. More importantly, the facility's proposed moniker could mislead prospective residents into believing that the University runs the develop- ment. Integroup needs to find another name for its development - by doing so Integroup will keep itself in the good graces of students on campus. The University administration needs to learn from housing developments like Integroup's. There is a clear demand for affordable housing on campus, and Integroup is pursuing this mar- ket. The University needs to reclaim leadership in this area and get working on student life issues. The President's Commission on the Undergraduate Experience's report , released in 2001, made several ambitious proposals, including both more residence halls as well as expanding the sense of community within them. At the moment, the administration says it wants to complete yet one more study before taking action and moving on its past proposals. However, the University has researching this topic for years - it is time for the administra- tion to stop talking and start acting. The state of student housing on campus is reaching a critical point, and no one is in a better position than the University to address the shortage. Running the RC 'U' should let wacky, lovable RC alone Although tucked away in East Quad, the Residen- tial College stands out on campus and around the country for its unique educational philoso- phy and the degree of deference and independence it grants its students. Stressing student individualism, cre- ativity, independent study and active participation in the educational process, the RC is often a center of innovation in undergraduate education. RC students took advantage of a time gap in August last year between the departure of interim director Charlie Bright and the installation of director Tom Weisskopf, to take over the RC directorship; the RC Student Republic ran the RC for two weeks. A student government was also formed to maintain the momentum of the republic after Weisskopf's return. Regardless of the future role the RC Student Repub- lic will play in the day-to-day affairs of the RC, it made an important statement. Unlike other student government groups, the RC Stu- dent Republic distinguished itself through de facto stu- dent control of an academic unit of the University. On a large campus such as the University, students often feel as though their concerns fall on deaf administrative ears. The Student Republic served as a reminder that adminis- tration exists to serve students and that student input and participation in decision-making processes is crucial. The Student Republic underscores the RC's exceptional- ism within the college of Literature, Science and the Arts and the University. That RC administrators would risk handing over the reins to students, albeit for a two-week period indicates a high degree of respect for student input and concerns not seen in other units of the University. To preserve the RC's unique nature, the RC should maintain its autonomy as an academic unit within LSA and the University. Former LSA Dean Shirley Neuman tried to chip away at the RC's unique philosophy two years ago by pushing through a proposal mandating grades be given in addition to the RC's customary eval- uations. Summarily ending what was a unique and viable grading method, Neuman compromised the RC's existence within LSA. Further, the RC should have a representative on the Michigan Student Assembly. An RC seat has been an issue discussed in past MSA elections, but never pur- sued to completion. An RC seat would serve to invigor- ate MSA and better vocalize student concerns. The activism many RC students exhibit and the spirit of equality and respect in of student-faculty interactions is highly enviable for all students. Students should claim ownership over their educa- tions and campus administration should be more recep- tive to student concerns. While the RC Student Republic existed for only two weeks, the values it revived and underscored should remain. Daily speaks up about Ann Arbor and University organizations SAM BUTLER TiE- SOAPBOX a , S o groabO ''a ya «._ _I- M SiCcA Chnt, Car o~p ~s e. AAT screwed Students will suffer with AATUs demise After almost 35 years serving students and resi- dents in Ann Arbor, the Ann Arbor Tenants Union will close up shop at the end of April. Conceived in 1968 during the aftermath of a massive student strike protesting excessive local rents, the organization provided Ann Arborites with information, advice and legal help for the inevitable housing dis- putes that plague so many students' experiences at the University. In a city notorious for a poor quality of student housing, the AATU has been desperately need- ed in order to protect students and other Ann Arbor residents. this semester, relations between MSA and the AATU were reduced to a squabbling fit, as MSA refused to give the union the funding that the student body voted to have the assembly allocate. The disintegration of the AATU does not signify merely the demise of one of a student service; it repre- sents the demise of Ann Arbor's most effective advoca- cy group for tenants. Despite claims that Student Legal Services will act as a viable alternative to the AATU, there remains no other similar organization in the entire city. Ann Arbor residents who are not University stu- dents have been left without representation as well.