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4A - Wednesday, September 19, 2007
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
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IMRAN SYED JEFFREY BLOOMER
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR
KARL STAMPFL
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Don't tase me, bro."
- University of Florida senior Andrew Meyer as he was being manhandled by four police officers after causing a minor
disruption at an event featuring Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). Campus police officers used a taser to subdue him.
CHRIS KOSLOWSKI | UT A
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Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles
and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.
High and dry
Hypocrisy and double talk abound in 'U' skybox plans
he decision to add skyboxes to the Big House was conten-
tious from the start. The $226 million plan seemed pricey.
Fans were concerned that by eliminating some bleacher
seats to add luxury-box seating, the University might be compro-
mising its position in the arms race to have the largest seating
capacity in college football. Alumni are concerned about respect-
ing the integrity of the Big House's egalitarian atmosphere. The
Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America is concerned that the
project doesn't meet disability law requirements. Everyone seems
to have concerns, yet none of them were fairly considered.
Intoxicated by progress
Instead of resolving these worries, the
University avoided them. It has neither
acknowledged that these arguments might
be legitimate nor made a true effort to hear
them and make peace. The plan was force
fed to the University community with a
charade of a democratic process.
There is no better example of this
approach than the University's legal show-
down with the MPVA. The group filed
suit against the University earlier this
year, charging that the changes to the Big
House constitute more than just "repairs,"
as the University claims, and are therefore
subject to the requirements of the Ameri-
cans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The law
requires new stadiums to have handicap
seating equal to at least 1 percent of the
total seating capacity, and when old sta-
diums are renovated, that they be brought
up to ADA requirements. This would mean
that more than 1,000 seats at the Big House
would need to be handicap accessible. The
current plan only makes for 282.
In response, the University has played a
game of semantics, arguing that the sky-
boxes fit ADA requirements because the
changes being made are only "repairs."
Instead of working to reach a compromise,
the two sides will now head to court. The
University risks derailing the whole proj-
ect simply because it doesn't want to make
1 percent of the stadium accessible to the
disabled.
The problem with the MPVA is indica-
tive of a larger problem with the way the
skybox plan was passed: The University
has closed its ears to opposition. At the
June Regents meeting, the University
allowed five speakers to voice their opin-
ions. In what seemed to be a show of gen-
eral approval for the plan, all five speakers
spoke in favor of it.
It turns out, however, that Bruce Madej,
a spokesman for the Athletic Depart-
ment, called a pro-luxury box alum days
before the meeting's agenda became pub-
lic. The three speakers who tried to speak
in opposition to the plan were all turned
down because supporters of the plan had
filled all five slots - four of them within
one day. Effectively, this meant the Ath-
letic Department stacked the speakers' list
with people who supported the plan.
While the University continues to assert
that it took faculty opinion into account,
a 600-signature petition for submission
to Coleman and the regents suggests oth-
erwise. Collected by Irwin Goldstein, a
professor emeritus of the University, the
petition states that opposing views were
censored. It also argues that $226 mil-
lion is too high a price to pay for such an
unnecessary addition. After the football
team's recent play - and the University's
insistence that alcohol will be restricted in
the luxury boxes - selling out the boxes
every game is no guarantee. The skyboxes
are a risky investment.
Wishful thinking won't make the oppo-
sition to the skybox plans go away. The
University needs to approach these groups
with the transparent, public discussion and
honesty that have been long-held University
values. The Big House is home field for all
of us. It's the University's job to ensure it
exists for the community at large, not just
those with the biggest pocketbooks.
hether the Michigan Para-
lyzed Veterans of America,
Prof. Emeritus Irwin Gold-
stein and Save the
Big House like it or
not, construction on
MichiganStadium's
controversial new
skyboxes is going"
to begin in Novem-
ber. The University
Board of Regents -
has already made GARY
that decision. The GRACA
regents aren't going
to stop the $226
million project, even in light of the fact
that the Athletic Department stacked
the speakers' list at the June Regents
meeting to feign widespread approval
of its plans and that at least 600 faculty
and staff members have signed a peti-
tion expressing their disapproval.
These are examples of the Universi-
ty at its worst. They're great lessons for
the future, but they don't have much
importance in the present.
What the University needs to be
dealing with now is the logistics of
carrying out a plan riddled with com-
plexitythatpromises to bring dramatic
changes to the Big House experience.
Case in point: alcohol sales.
University President Mary Sue Cole-
man and the rest of the administration
have put the issue of selling alcohol in
the skyboxes on the back burner. The
responses are always calculated and
robotic: No alcohol will be sold at the
Big House, no potential buyers care
and no one foresees the no-alcohol pol-
icy as anything but a non-issue for now
and forever.
But if the experiences of other Big
Ten universities are any indication, it
won't be long before alcohol is flowing
in the skyboxes.
Afteradding24luxurysuitestoSpar-
tan Stadium in 2004 and 2005, Michi-
gan State University wasted little time
making an exception to its no-alcohol
policy for the wealthy few in the suites.
While Coleman was president at the
University of Iowa, Iowa was able to
maintain an alcohol-free football sta-
dium. Coleman left Iowa in 2002, and
when Kinnick Stadium added luxury
seating in 2006, the university aban-
doned its moral high ground. Now,
suites and club seats offer the luxury
of alcohol that fans paying steep ticket
prices have come to expect.
As University of Michigan Regent
LarryDeitch (D-BinghamFarms),who
voted against the skybox plan, told The
Wall Street Journal last December:
"Why pay a whole bunch of money,
driveup toAnnArbor, sit behind aglass
wall and not be able to get a beer?"
Even if the University can stand
strong on its commitment to a no-alco-
hol policy and even if such a policy
doesn't discourage potential buyers,
the University has nothing to gain
and everything to lose by enforcing
this policy in the luxury boxes. At pro-
jected prices ranging from $55,000 to
$85,000 per season, the skyboxes will
be home to any number of high-pro-
file University alumni and Michigan
businessmen. Money talks. That's why
there are going to be skyboxes in the
first place.
Let's take Stephen Ross, for example.
If Ross - who doAated $100 million to
the University a few years ago - pays
for a luxury box, it's doubtful that he
would be herded through the main gate
like any regular fan. According to Diane
Brown, University facilities and opera-
tionsspokeswoman,it'smorelikelythat,
depending on personal preference, Ross
and his family would have the option of
entering through the stadium's tunnel
or special vehicle entrance.
Although the select few who sit in
skyboxes will supposedly be subject
to the same rules and restrictions as
normal ticket holders - regardless of
whether they go through alternative
entrances - I can't imagine Ross'swife
being asked to leave if her Coach purse
doesn't fit through the 5-by-8 plastic
rectangle.
A purse might not be an aggravat-
ing example of skybox exceptionalism,
but say a distinguished donor brought
a bottle of vodka. If whoever is drink-
ing in the skyboxes is held to the same
standard as an of-age student caught
with a bottle of vodka in the stadium,
some old folks in suits would likely
be ejected. But no one in a right mind
would eject someone who is paying
thousands of dollars for a three-hour
football game - not to mention that
these people are already some of the
University's biggest donors.
That could leave quite a dilemma.
How skyboxes might
bring Skyy vodka
to the Big House.
If the University continues to have
a dry football stadium, it will be left
with an impossible enforcement prob-
lem in the luxury suites. If it partially
reverses its stance and allows alcohol
in the skyboxes, imagine the backlash
from fans who are already upset that
the skyboxes represent a move toward
elitism atthe Big House. What happens
then? Does the University open up the
whole stadium to alcohol sales?
The University must pick its poi-
son: enforcement, exceptions or alco-
hol. Maybe this time we can have a
real discussion and everyone in the
University community can have more
than a cursory say.
Gary Graca is an associate
editorial page editor. He can be
reached at gmgraca@umich.edu.
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SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU
THE INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL AND PANHELLENIC ASSOCIATION VEP.
Greek life offers unique opportunities
Greek life is more than
Panhel and IFC
TO THE DAILY:
Although Theresa Kennelly clearly has her
reservations about the Interfraternity Coun-
cil and the Panhellenic Association (Rushing
into trouble, 09/18/2007), she failed to shed
light on the two other councils that exist as
potential options - the National Panhellenic
Council and the Multicultural Greek Council.
These organizations were founded for minor-
ity students and for students whose ideals do
not mirror those of the IFC or Panhel as alter-
natives to the mainstream organizations.
It is evident that Greeks did change in
order to affect the lives of students from
different communities. For someone who
has been on campus for almost four years,
it's disheartening how seemingly ignorant
Kennelly is of the spectrum of organiza-
tions Greek life has to offer. For example, my
sorority, Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority,
Inc., is a member of the Multicultural Greek
Council. Our recent rush did not include
one party at all. Each event was meant to
give students the opportunity to learn about
the organization and its members on a more
personal level than can be found at the Pan-
hel rush. Granted, both the IFC and Panhel
include great organizations, but it is unfair
to exclude NPHC and MGC because they are
also part of Greek life. That contradicts the
diversity and inclusiveness the University
has tried to push for.
As Kennelly wrote, freshmen should do
their research and see the true side of Greek
life. Take the time to choose your letters,
to join any Greek organization is a lifelong
commitment. Should you find the right one,
it will definitely change your life.
ChiChi Onyemaechi
LSA senior
JACK DOEHRING
/ \:
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-H F IR ST (omiC
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor. Letters should be under 300 words and
must include the writer's full name and University affiliation. The Daily reserves the right to edit
letters for clarity, grammar and space, and all submissions become property of The Michigan-
Daily. Send letters to: tothedaily@umich.edu.
During their college . careers,
people will be faced with numer-
ous challenges and find themselves
having to make difficult choices
about their future. With about 6,000
incoming students each year, the
University can be an overwhelming
place.Findinganorganizationwhose
members share similar values and
goals is imperative to handling the
difficult and exciting years to come.
The Greek community provides an
immediate support system and a way
to make a large university feel small-
er, friendlier and more like home.
Theresa Kennelly's column yester-
day (Rushing into trouble, 09/18/07)
presented a rather narrow view of
the Greek community here. While
everyone is entitled to express their
opinions and personal beliefs, when
these statements are misleading and
naive, it is necessary to correct them.
While the statement made in the col-
umn that recruitment numbers have
increased dver the past few years is
true, the reasons mentioned are not.
Hard work and dedication to the
community exhibited by the execu-
tive board members of the four coun-
cils and the members of the nearly
60 chapters is a large factor, as is
everything these commitments have
allowed our community to offer.
Being Greek is more than wear-
ing letters and participating in social
and philanthropic events. Joining a
fraternity or a sorority is ultimately,
about finding people with whom you
can relate and with whom you can
share the next four years the rest of
your lives. It is aboutbeing embraced
for individuality while at the same
time being a part of a brother- or sis-
terhood with others who share com-
mon interests and ambitions.
While each Greek chapter repre-
sents something different, they are
all connected by the perpetual bond
of friendship. Within each chapter,
friendship and a mutual commit-
ment to the chapter's values are the
principle foundations that tie the
chapter together. It is these unique
aspects of Greek life that offer the
greatest reward to members. Per-
haps this is the reason that the Greek
community's recruitment numbers
have increased over the past several
years - not the "heightened exclu-
sivity" that Kennelly mentions.
It is rare that you will find mem-
bers of fraternities or sororities who
did not positively enhance their
college experience by going Greek.
Joining a fraternity or sorority does
not narrow opportunities, but it
instead assists in the development of
student leaders across all corners of
our university. During recruitment,
our goal is to share our own posi-
tive experiences and allow potential
new members to choose for them-
selves if they want to become part
of our community. We believe the
increase in members of Greek life is
a result of more people realizing the
unique opportunities a fraternity or
sorority offers.
The Greek community is the
largest student organization both
nationally and at the University.
Currently, 16 percent of students at
this University are members, which
translates into about 4,000 stu-
dents. The Interfraternity Council,
Panhellenic Association, Multi-
Cultural Council and National Pan-
Hellenic Council work to support
and grow our member chapters by
sponsoring recruitment activities,
offering scholarships, promoting
healthy habits, ensuring safety at
sponsored social events and sup-
porting the greater student body.
The activities of the councils are
orchestrated by elected represen-
tatives of every chapter and work
toward our goal of delivering a
meaningful and safe experience to
all of our members.
The leadership bodies have been
quite effective in curtailing nega-
tive activities like unsafe social
events and hazing - as evidenced
by our swift actions to punish chap-
ters who do not represent the ideals
of our organizations. That said, we
are college students and this is and
will always be an ongoing endeavor.
Additionally, a national research
project conducted recently conclud-
ed that at the University, first-year
students who join the Greek com-
munity earn statistically significant
higher GPAs than non-Greek stu-
dents. They also exhibited a higher
potential for academic performance,
thus showing that fraternities and
sororities provide resources to sup-
port academic achievement at this
rigorous university.
The members of the Panhel-
lenic Association and Interfrater-
nity Council have chosen the slogan
"Choose Your Letters, Change Your
Life"as thisyear'srecruitmenttheme,
because we feel that it appropriately
summarizes the Greek experience. It
reflects the ways inwhich joiningthe
Greek community enhances one's
life. Going Greek, unlike participat-
ing in other campus activities, is not
simply a college experience; it's a
lifelong connection that never ceases
to benefit its menlbers. Of course, it
provides its members with an engag-
ing social calendar, but more impor-
tantly it offers rich opportunities for
campus and philanthropic involve-
ment, an academic support system,
alumni and career networking con-
nections and a sense of brotherhood
and belonging.
This is not just a romantic col-
lege notion: Greek alumni around
the country will gladly attest to the
never-ending advantages of member-
ship. In considering everything that
a Greek affiliation can offer, one can-
not deny that it is truly and uniquely
a life-changing experience.
Carlie Kleinman is Panhel's vice
president of public relations. Chris Kane
is the IFC's executive vice president.
I
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Editorial Board Members: Ben Caleca, Mike Eber, Brian Flaherty, Kellyn Jackson,
Gavin Stern, Jennifer Sussex, Neil Tambe, Radhika Upadhyaya.