01

4A - Wednesday, March 21, 2007

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

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Edited and managed by students at
the University of Michigan since 1890.
413 E. Huron St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
tothedaily@umich.edu

KARL STAMPFL
EDITOR IN CHIEF

IMRAN SYED
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR

Rush Limbaugh is irrelevant. I am not his servant."
- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger responding to conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh's comments about
the governor's liberal views on global warming yesterday on NBC's "The Today Show"
CHRIS KOSLOWSKI| A
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JEFFREY BLOOMER
MANAGING EDITOR

Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles
and illustrations representsolely the views of their authors.
A progressive tuition model
Public university students also deserve to go loan-free
A dministrators at Davidson College recently announced
a program to ensure that every student who attends the
North Carolina liberal arts college will graduate debt-free.
While the loan-free policy instituted by Davidson is unrealistic at
this time for a university the size of ours, making higher education
more affordable by offering grants and scholarships to more stu-
dents is a realistic goal for every college.

191

The ownership society

While Davidson College is one of first
liberal arts colleges to attempt in this way
to make higher education less of a financial
risk, many private universities - Ivy League
institutions in particular - have already
begun to offer more grants to their students
in place of student loans. In some cases -
Harvard and Princeton, for example - uni-
versities have even subsidized the entire cost
of tuition to low-income students. This may
be easily feasible for Harvard and its nearly
$30 billion endowment, but at our university
that would likely require serious belt-tight-
ening and fundraising efforts.
What private colleges can pull off seem-
ingly scot-free most state-funded schools
simply cannot do, even with drastic cuts.
Students are drowning in debt, trying to
pay off student loans. Tuition rates across
the country have risen, even above inflation.
Congress seems oblivious to students' plight,
given that it cut back federal student loan
programs just last year. It has long been the
University's mission to provide higher edu-
cation to not just the rich and elite. With a
little maneuvering and some commonsense
legislation in Lansing, it can live up to that
promise.
After the passage of Proposal 2 last
November, the University has had to search
for ways to encourage diversity. One way
to build diversity is to ensure that as many
people apply as possible. But prospective
students may be deterred by the fact that the
University is one of the most expensive pub-
lic institutions in the country. To encourage
not just the brightest and best but also the
most diverse student body, the University
must begin offering more comprehensive,
less loan-based financial aid packages.
But such a system cannot arise overnight.

The money won't appear out of thin air. The
University already spends much of its time
fundraising and donation-hunting from
alumni. Creating an alumni fund intended
specifically help pay for more grants for the
neediest students is certainly not an out-
rageous demand. Alums who care for the
well-being of the University should give to
the University what it needs, not pick and
choose pet projects with superflous tied aid.
However, this fund ought to still be accom-
panied by a stronger commitment to higher
education from the state.
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It is becoming more apparent that an
educated workforce encourages a robust
economy. With only a quarter of Michigan
residents having a college degree, it should
be no surprise that our economy is floun-
dering. Instead of cutting funds to higher
education, more money should be allocated
to higher education. This increase in funds
should go to providing grants to offset the
cost of tuition and ensure that the Univer-
sity remains a viable option to students of
under privileged backgrounds.

Regardless of what you say
about the rancher in the
White House, one aspect
of the Bush presidency you have
admire is his fortitude in the face of
strong political head winds. During
his tenure, Bush pushed for tax cuts
at the beginning of the war against
terrorism, even though his prede-
cessors raised taxes under similar
circumstances. He
nominated a vocal
United Nations
critic, John Bolton,
as the U.S. ambas-
sador to the U.N.
And with the cho-
rus of opposition to
America's contin-
ued involvement in JOHN
Iraq growinglouder STIGLICH
everyday, Bush still
has earplugs in. -
Talk about a cowboy sticking to
his guns.
Still, it appears that Bush's boldest
policy program, the ownership soci-
ety, will never materialize, because
Democrats and the media have suc-
cessfully sold government as a pro-
vider, not a protector, of rights.
The underlying philosophy of
the ownership society - giving
Americans a stake in the country
by increasing economic freedom
- should be a no-brainer for anyone
who believes in the merits of capital-
ism. After all, what self-respecting
American wants to live off of gov-
ernment-forced charity? However,
a large and well-financed section of
the Democratic Party seemingly dis-
regards the old proverb "Give a man
a fish; he'll eat for a day. Teach him
how to fish; he'll eat for a lifetime."
With all this free fish flying around,
responsible Republicans recognize
it's time to cut bait.
These American socialists idolize
the welfare states of France and other
European countries. Bush, despite all

his faults, understands this ideology
of laziness must be defeated if we are
to save the free market.
The platform of the ownership
society calls for an overhaul of federal
entitlementprograms- namelySocial
Security and Medicare/Medicaid
- by moving away from government-
centered models and toward free-
market solutions. Together, spending
on entitlement programs constitutes
about 60 percent of the federal bud-
get. Upon the retirement of the Baby
Boomer generation, the programs will
suck up nearly three-quarters of our
nation's checkbook. With each pass-
ing day, this financial crisis is further
exacerbated. Only in 2019, when the
Social Security fund dries up, will the
far-Left maybe, possibly, perhaps, rec-
ognize that a problem exists.
In the meantime, Democrats are
content to scare Americans into
believing that heartless Republi-
cans want to eliminate their entitle-
ments - anything to, protect the
bleeding-heart legacy of the party.
But even the Democrats' most cel-
ebrated president, FDR, recognized
in a 1935 letter to Congress that the
Social Security system would need
to eventually be privatized to make
it sustainable. President Bush, by
advocating for private annuities
financed by our payroll tax dollars,
offered the pro-market solution FDR
envisioned decades before.
Why the delay? The problem for
Bush is twofold; pro-market solu-
tions are taboo in today's Democrat-
ic Party, and private accounts are too
complex for the simpletons in the
media to explain.
Bruised but not broken, Bush
announced in his most recent State
of the Union address that he wants
to solve the health care problem by
restructuring the tax code to make
private insurance more affordable to
low- and middle-income Americans.
Bush's plan calls for treating employ-

er-provided health care as taxable
income and then offering a $15,000
per-family tax deduction, which
Bush believes will encourage Ameri-
cans to flood the private insurance
market looking for a policy. These
incentives are certainly better rela-
tive to the status quo, because fami-
lies that find insurance policies that
cost less than the deduction get to
keep the difference as a tax refund.
Once again, Bush is calling on
Americans to be personally respon-
sible for one of life's necessities. And
once again, the Democratic Party
refuses to debate the issue. Now that
the Democrats control Congress,
they can tailor the legislative agenda
to avoid exposing their lack of ideas
on this critical policy issue.
Privatization of
Social Security is

a no-brainer.
I know you think I'm just another
heartless conservative who would
like nothing more than to take away
grandma's pills, but entitlement
programs are not, by design, eco-
nomically sustainable. They are also
liable to free-rider abuse and should
be reformed so that those who truly
need help can receive it.
In the next decade, we must decide
if the solution to our entitlement
problem will be encouraging per-
sonal responsibility throughthe free
market or using old techniques like
benefit cuts and tax hikes to delay
the inevitable. Here's to hoping the
American people will put aside their
Bush-bashing and support a policy
that makes economic sense.
John Stiglich can be reached
at icseolfoumich.edu.

*

SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU

0

Coke brings jobs, peace
to wartorn Colombia

Since when d
stolen goods?
the Constitut
He also m
iTunes cost le

TO THE DAILY: Why, then, if
On March 7, I addressed University to steal song;
of Michigan students on how a global duce these so
business like The Coca-Cola Company wouldn'tgo t
addresses workplace rights issues as part walk out witl
of the William Davidson Institute Global for. Stealing r
Impact Speakers Series. Today I would like and the offen'
to share with Michigan Daily readers some
of the facts that I presented to that group Erin Green
regarding our business in Colombia. LSA freshman
The Coca-Cola Company and our bot-
tling partners have conducted business
in Colombia for more than 70 years. More Dialogu
than 2,000 Colombians are employed
by Coca-Cola bottlers in Colombia. Bot- the Dail
tling plants distribute beverages to about
500,000retailers, creating additional jobs TO THE DAII
in sales, marketing and shipping. I find myse
Our company and the independent bot- dialogue, or 1
tiers have many proactive programs to cerning the I
address the consequences of six decades seems like the
of violence in Colombia. For example, we havebetween
provided $10 million to start the Colombi- conflict is on
an Foundation for Education and Oppor- rial page (Div
tunity, an organization that addresses the It is as thoug
needs of victims of violence and is run by involved eag
a group of well-respected Colombians. opponent wil
Also, last year we supported a series of attacks and a
forums that involved government, busi- jump on the c
ness and civil society leaders in Colom- Since wher
bia, Washington, D.C. and London to pus become,
examine how business can contribute to ing the comi
peace building in countries facing con- Where did ou
flict, including development of guidelines go? Where i
to protect security and human rights in and willingr
Colombia. The report from these forums discussion?N
is available at: http://www.iblforg/media_ flict, it seems
room/general jsp?id=123876. nize the oppc
In addition, you may wish to visit our How did w
website, www.cokefacts.com, for more of a premieri
information. matters so m
on, let's choos
Edward Potter our claims fr
The letter writer is the Director ofglobal labor choose to co
relations and workplace accountabilityfor the make a positi
Coca-Cola Company. finally find ou
Hannah Lieb
Why should music LSAfreshman

o we have property rights on
? I've never read that part of
ion.
akes the point that songs on
ss than $1. Good point, Jared.
it's so cheap, do people have
s? Artists work hard to pro-
ngs. Songs are their art. You
o a gallery on Main Street and
h a painting you hadn't paid
music is just that - stealing,
ders should be punished.
e mustgo beyond
'ys editpage
LY:
lf once again frustrated at the
ack thereof, on campus con-
sraeli-Palestinian conflict. It
e only form of debate we ever
.the opposingoutlooksonthis
The Michigan Daily's edito-
estfrom complicity, 03/19/07).
gh the student organizations
;rly await times when their
il brave the newspaper with
accusations so they can then
hance to respond in kind.
n have students on this cam-
so fearful of fully confront-
plicated issues of our time?
ur ability to engage in debate
s our strength of character
ess to compromise in this
When it comes to this con-
all we want to do is antago-
osition inan effort to win.
ve let ourselves, the products
university, lose sight of what
uch in this debate? From now
se our words wisely and make
om the baseline of facts. Let's
nfront the issue head on to
ve difference on campus and
ur heads in this argument.
berman
s not a threat
'ley residents
LY:
riting as a follow-up to the
t coverage about asbestos in
I1 (In dorm, questions about
'12/07). Staff in University
cilities and Operations take
y our responsibilities regard-

ing the safe management of environmen-
talhazards in campus facilities, especially
housing units.
In the 1970s and '80s, scientists proved
asbestos fibers could contribute to can-
cers and lung diseases. Since all Univer-
sity Housing facilities and many other
campus buildings were built prior to
1980, most have asbestos in some parts of
the buildings. When maintained in good
condition, asbestos on piping continues
to provide good insulation and is safe.
According to the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency, asbestos only becomes a
health concern when fibers become air-
borne, which happens when asbestos is
damaged or disturbed.
University Housing, in collaboration
with the University's Occupational Safety
and Environmental Health department,
maintains a comprehensive asbestos
management program that follows EPA
guidelines. All student-housing facilities
have been comprehensively surveyed for
asbestos by a third-party environmental
consultant; these surveys are available
for review by any resident. Staff in OSEH
and Plant Operations are experienced,
trained personnel accredited by the State
of Michigan who help evaluate, remedi-
ate and monitor any reported asbestos
concerns on an as-needed basis and as
part of all campus construction projects
(in addition to contracts the University
maintains with outside asbestos abate-
ment firms). Protocols are established
and followed across campus for asbestos
abatement in conjunction with renova-
tion and construction projects.
Our campus housing department pro-
actively informs and educates its resi-
dents about its environmental hazard
management practices. Prior to moving
in, students and their families are encour-
aged to review an brochure online at:
http://www.housing.umich.edu/info/info-
series-environmentaLhazards.html.
During the Winter Term, contractors
have been doing some preparatory work on
residentialcorridorsinMarkleysothatthey
can successfully complete the installation
of new fire sprinklers and IT wiring this
summer. The email that Markley residents
recently received letting them know the
results of air sampling (which were below
EPA-established levels) was the result of
questions raised by several residents. We
encourage residents to report concerns and
University Housing and OSEH will try to
respond as promptly as possible.
At the start of the academic year, a Mar-
kley resident was accurately informed
that the pipes that are accessible in the
resident's room did not contain any asbes-
tos. However, we did not state that there
is no asbestos anywhere in Markley since
we knew that was not an accutte state-

ment. Nevertheless, if any resident came
away with that misunderstanding, it is a
reminder to us that we need to redouble
our communication efforts in the future
to ensure that residents receive accurate,
understandable information about rel-
evant environmental hazards being man-
aged in their hall.
Vicky Hueter and Danielle Sheen
Hueter is Director ofFacilitiesfor Univer-
sity Housing Sheen is manager ofIndustrial
Hygiene at the University's Occupational Safety
and Environmental Health department.
The needfor independent
student leadership
TO THE DAILY:
Our campus faces a crisis. The effective-
ness of University policies in response to
Proposal 2 will determine whether or not
this campus will become resegregated.
Students have a clear and independent
interest in the outcome of this crisis. We
do not want minority enrollment to plum-
met like it did in California. The Michigan
Student Assembly, as the elected voice of
the students, ought to take the leading role
in shaping University policy. The Defend
Affirmative Action Party is the only choice
for MSA that is prepared for that role.
The current body of MSA has either
behaved as an eager-to-please pet of
University administration or has simply
abstained from engaging with the admin-
istration at all. Students take for granted
that the current MSA does virtually noth-
ing to stand up for the most basic student
interests, like being able to afford tuition
and living expenses.
DAAP believes that MSA should place
students' voices at the forefront of deci-
sion making of the University. We believe
that MSA should be engaging in the issues
that affect students' lives and advancing
its own concrete policies on our behalf.
The duty of MSA should be to advance
the realization of this demand, and that
requires the leadership of DAAP.
The policy recommendations of the
Diversity Blueprints Task Force released
last week represent an important stand
by the University to preserve diversity on
campus, and DAAP calls for the Universi-
ty to implement those recommendations.
Even more importantly, the flux of this
moment gives students the opportunity
to assert our own plans for the campus -
not only to prevent its resegregation, but
to improve it. Many basic practices of the
University are being reformulated right
now - admissions policies, financial and
academic support programs - and stu-
dents belongd p the lead of these changes.

More than ever before, students must
lead the University, and the Defend Affir-
mative Action Party must lead MSA.
Maricruz Lopez
LSA sophomore
The letter writer is the DAAP candidatefor
Michigan Student Assembly president.
Palestine can only have
peace by accepting Israel
TO THE DAILY:
I amwritingin response to recentletters
regarding the Middle-East conflict. As an
Israeli citizen and a former Israeli soldier, I
am displeased with the constantnegativity
surrounding this issue. This conflict is not
about religion or land. It is about the right
to live in peace and exist side by side.
Since 1948, Israelis have been sup-
portive of a two-state solution, start-
ing with recognition of the 1947 United
Nations Partition plan through the Oslo
Peace Accords in the 1990s and to the
present day. But Palestinians have con-
stantly refused to consider Israel as a
rightful neighbor and partner. The cur-
rent Palestinian government refuses to
acknowledge previous agreements, will
not recognize Israel's right to exist and
bluntly calls for its extermination.
Growingup in "apartheid" Israel, Iwas
taught about equality, freedom of speech
and human rights. I was educated by my
parents, teachers and military command-
ers to thrive and fight for peace. Israel is
far from being a perfect country - espe-
cially due to the constant fear of annihi-
lation and the endless wars since the day
it was founded. However, the Palestinian
choice of education and future for their
children is very different than what was
instilled in me. Little children are brain-
washed into becoming martyrs, they are
taught to hate the Jews and most of all
to spread violence. True peace cannot be
achieved when Palestinians are preach-
ing hate and violence while worshiping
those who kill the innocent.
Although it's popular to criticize Isra-
el and support divestment, in my three
years at this school I have yet to encoun-
ter a pro-Palestinian writer who actually
supports peace.
Demagogy and propaganda cannot
hide the true intentions of those who
choose to delegitimize my country and
fail to denounce Palestinian hatred in this
struggle. Palestinians should recognize
what Israelis did years ago: This conflict
can only be resolved through peace.
Or Shotan
Businessjunior

6
0
6

thieves get afree pass?
TO THE DAILY:
When are the people who illegally
share music going to take responsibility
for their actions? In Jared Goldberg's col-
umn last week (RIAA: The music mafia,
03/15/07), he says that "the laws violate a
consumer's right to fair use and infringe
upon the very property rights that make
America free and democratic."
Since when has stealing teen fair use?

Asbestoe
to Mark
TO THE DAI
We are w
Daily's recen
Markley Hal
asbestos, 03/
Housing, Fat
very seriqsly