I 4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, November 26, 2003 OP/ED UlijeAlitW9UU U41V 420 MAYNARD STREET ANN ARBOR, MI 48109 letters@michigandaily.com EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SINCE 1890 LouIE MEIZLISH Editor in Chief AUBREY HENRETTY ZAC PESKOWITZ 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. NOTABLE QUOTABLE There was a lot of, 'Do you know who I am. I'm Glen Campbell ... I shouldn't be locked up like this."' - Police Sgt. Bill Niles, on arresting country singer Glen Campbell, on charges of drunken driving and hit and run, as reported by The Associated Press. $ye Mom! 8 ye Dad , See . a Z"ha ks9ivitt9l j r z _ : Se 'eYnbec' P al y-, ,;, ~Yvla +ndrC 0 SAM BUTLER 'iE SOAPBOX Mary Sue, can you live up to your own rhetoric? ARI PAUL I FOUIT TII LAW President Coleman, it seems that you and the Graduate Employees Organization have something in com- mon: You both recognize the health care crisis in this country. Last October, you gave a lecture telling Uni- versity students that, "(The health) care crisis is an intractable problem that has persisted for many years. Being without health insurance often implies a decline in quali- ty of life." You strongly reiterated that, "This is a crisis - it cannot continue," and "we need to get this (issue) back on the national agenda." GEO President David Dobbie told the Daily last week, "The problem with health care is the rising costs. This national prob- lem needs a national solution and it could start here." You are both correct. As I learned in your wonderful history department this year, 43 million Americans currently lack health insur- ance. In our post-industrial, post-Fordian economy, companies are no longer providing American workers with such vital necessities. As our nation stands alongside the rest of the industrialized democracies, that statistic makes us look relatively pathetic. It is not a fit situation for the 21st century, and I appreciate that in your words, that you agree. But I must warn you, President Cole- man, that talking about fixing national health care isn't enough, and you aren't living up to this ideal. Firstly, this just in, you are the highest paid public university president in the coun- try, and in the club of highest-paid presidents among all American campuses. Let's put that into perspective. Are you trying to tell me that the president of the University is paid the same as the president of Harvard, a $20 bil- lion money bag and richest university in the country? Can a considerably larger public university with far few assets afford to pay its president like Lawrence Summers? With a yearly salary over $475,000 with an eventual raise to $677,500 and benefits to boot, and not to mention that prime, newly renovated real estate on South University Avenue, your exorbitant compensation makes it hard for one to believe that this school is in a budget crisis. Meanwhile, some of the hardest working and most vital employees at this institution, the graduate student instructors, were stunned to find that, in violation of their con- tract, the University wanted to reduce their health care coverage, a vicious labor injustice you have purported to deplore. I'd like to know two things, President Coleman. One, how could you say our health care crisis "can't continue," and then turn around and help perpetuate it? But more importantly, I'd like to know how you worked up the nerve to cut health care bene- fits to these essential workers who earn a net income of $10,000 a year, many of whom have small children, while your own salary grossly exceeds the national norm. Gov. Jennifer Granholm symbolically cut her own salary in order to ease Michigan's own financial troubles, showing that if you're going to cut corners to fit budget constraints, you obvi- ously cut the biggest ones first. And, President Coleman, I do believe that what is good enough the Michigan state government is good enough for the University. Sure you gave $500,000 in internal donations, but you have yet to address the systemic problems of internal overspending. There is no reason why you, as the Uni- versity president and an accomplished schol- ar, should not rake in some serious cash, but if your salary were reduced by even 10 per- cent, you would still rank wealthy among the nation's university administrators, and that would leave the University with much more financial resources. As of right now, there are 50 University employees Who make more than a quarter of a million dollars a year. If they all took even a 5 percent salary cut, that would make a remarkable dent in our fiscal woes, and GSIs, who technically are paid poverty wages, wouldn't have to be thrown to the wolves of the national health care crisis. But, on the good side, things aren't going as bad as people anticipated. GEO voted "no" on a grade strike, and settled with the University yesterday. These are positive signs for a decent outcome for both sides. However, the hypocrisy and disregard you have shown by even considering cutting health coverage to GSIs - in the middle of their contract, I might add - will give Uni- versity workers no reason to trust you when you come out sympathizing with their eco- nomic struggles, when you haven't addressed the excessive compensation of those on the University's highest executive payroll. Paul can be reached at aspaul@umich.edu. 0 Beware candidates bearing myths JASON PESICK ONE SMALL VOICE e1levision bom- the head of state cannot avoid the compar- seriously injured man by his lifejacket. The barded America isons to John Kennedy. "Saturday Night men then swam from island to island, look- with John Live" cast member Darrell Hammond has ing for one with food. This is how Kennedy Kennedy specials last said that in order to impersonate Bill Clin- found greatness. week. Most of them ton, he had to practice giving Kennedy's To find greatness, Matthews continues, focused on the conspira- speeches in a Southern accent. Democratic "... you need some reading, some thinking, cy theories surrounding presidential candidate John Kerry has the some soul searching, some instinct." his death. The mob did it, great hair, the clothes, the money and Mass- Kennedy did well in a superficial medi- Castro did it, the commu- achusetts in common with Kennedy. Sen. um, but there was substance to back up his nists, the FBI, even his John Edwards of North Carolina has the style. Too many politicians are eager to own vice president, Lyndon Johnson "did good looks and the charisma. replicate his television prowess without tak- it." I can't confirm or deny any of these But as Matthews points out, these super- ing into consideration how events in rumors or theories, but the way in which ficial similarities do not make a Democrat Kennedy's formative years forged his char- these television specials portrayed them Jack Kennedy. Kennedy was not just a play- acter and identity. says something about the sensationalism boy from a wealthy family. The historian If you compare John Edwards and John that feeds much of what appears on TV. Robert Dallek has in the last few years Kerry to Richard Nixon, Kennedy's oppo- The most intelligent thing that anyone uncovered documents that reveal that nent in 1960, they would probably come off said about the assassination had very little to Kennedy was sick from the age of 13. Jef- better than Nixon on TV as well. But do they do with Kennedy's tragic death. On the frey Kelman, who examined the records, have what it takes to take on the military CNBC show that bears his name, Chris said on PBS, "He was never healthy. I mean, establishment and not attack Cuba even if Matthews made a very insightful comment the image you get of vigor and progressive that means jeopardizing the White House's on the Kennedy phenomenon. After describ- health wasn't true ... By the time he was hold on the government? ing the Kennedy appeal, Matthews said, president, he was on 10, 12 medications a Television simplifies American politics "The hero who lived and died on TV is now day. He was on antispasmodics for his and has a tendency to highlight what the the proud child of the TV tube. But the story bowel, paregoric, lamodal transatine [ph] he Founding Fathers wouldn't have wanted caught, stored and rerun on television is was on muscle relaxants, Phenobarbital, Lib- highlighted. We should keep that in mind deeper, stronger, greater ... In Hollywood rium, Meprobomate, he was on pain medica- every four years, as the perennial parade they call this the back story, what doesn't tions, Codeine, Demerol, Methadone, he was of self-described Kennedy-lites marches show on the screen. The strength of the Jack on oral cortisone; he was on injected corti- onto the political stage. And we should all Kennedy back story should be a warning to sone, he was on testosterone, he was on heed vice-presidential candidate Lloyd those too ready to mime his look and man- Nembutal for sleep. And on top of that, he Bentsen's famous advice to his counter- ner. So be warned, those looking for leaders, was getting injected sometimes six times a part, Sen. Dan Quayle, in the 1988 presi- those looking to be one, this medium you day, six places on his back, by the White dential campaign: Because not everyone ware watching is not, cannot be a window to House physician, with Novocain, Procaine, trying to capitalize off of America's deep the soul, an X-ray to seek out vision, a just to enable him to face the day." adoration for Camelot is John Kennedy - searchlight to find greatness." In World War II, the Japanese cut in two most aren't even close. Just as every Republican presidential the boat that Kennedy commanded. The candidate is measured against Ronald Rea- future president led his crew on a three-mile Pesick can be reached at gan, every Democratic candidate vying to be swim to a nearby island, while he towed a jzpesick@umich.edu. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 0 Graduate students well paid, Henretty correct in assessment of GEO TO THE DAILY: I would like to commend Aubrey Hen- retty for exercising good old common sense in regards to the Graduate Employees Orga- nization as opposed to blindly championing a liberal cause for the sake of being liberal loans to cover the rest of the living expens- es! That must be a tough life, to actually have all your living expenses covered by your salary. JON OCHMANEK Engineering senior GEO fighting for fair pay, graduate students right to hold University accountable 11/25/03), I imagine that the graduate stu- dent instructors and graduate student staff assistants who take second jobs, relocate their families and work very hard at their teaching positions - all for the sake of their education - might disagree. In fact, I know they would. Because this semester, hundreds of GEO members united in collective action and brought the Universi- ty administration to the table. There, the administration finally bargained health care changes in the spirit of our contract. Soon, we hope to reach an agreement that protects 0 I--~ i~ ~ i