4A - Thursday, September 20, 2007 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. AniArbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu KARL STAMPFL IMRAN SYED JEFFREY BLOOMER EDITOR IN CHIEF EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR 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. Delayed acceptance 'U' too slow to add gender to non-discrimination policy F or a university that consistently prides itself on being on the cutting edge of equality issues, the newest amend- ment being considered to the University's non-discrimi- nation policy is reprehensibly overdue. Today, the University Board of Regents will vote to add the phrase "gender identity and expression" to the list of protected freedoms explicitly listed in the non-discrimination clause of the University bylaws. While the University's stallingyears to make this symbolic change is disturb- ing, hopefully such progress will now face fewer hurdles at other colleges and agencies considering similar changes. I'm probably one of the four or five best known Americans in the world." - Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, speaking to reporters yesterday at a hotel in London. ALEXANDER HONKALA 2rsF ~O k4- 1 L fk d5A k4Hr~.~ t\,x . I I I 4 Pre-public service Until now, the University's non-discrim- ination policy explicitly listed discrimina- tion based on sex and sexual orientation (along with race, religion, national ori- gin, etc). when previously called upon to include gender identity and expression (a process that started in 2005), the Uni- versity argued that this policy broadly encompassed issues of gender diversity and therefore additional mention of gen- der was not necessary. Recently, though, the University attempted to clarify the meaning of "sex" by adding an asterisk referring to a small footnote that said gen- der identity and expression was included within that category. Any LSA student who has fulfilled the one-course race and ethnicity require- ment knows that sex and gender are not the same thing. Whereas sex is a bio- logical term relating to male and female physiology, gender is a social construct that addresses qualities like masculinity and femininity. The pointless maneuver- ing by administration officials in trying to get out of including gender identity and expression is mind-boggling. Was that asterisk really worth two more years of criticism? Opponents of the gender identity and expression clause claim that it is impos- sible for the University's policy to mention everyone, and the amendment would only set the table for more clauses in the future. However, if the University felt enough pressure to add the asterisk, then clearly the need to denounce gender discrimina- tion is important to the community and it should be explicitly mentioned. The debate itself proves that there was some ambigu- ity here and there is no harm in clearing it up. The fear of future changes just isn't a good enough reason to avoid a small sym- bolic gesture in support of transgender individuals. The Regents will almost certainly unan- imously approve the measure tonight, bringing the University up to speed with 75 other colleges and universities that already include the clause in their non- discrimination statements. Hopefully institutions that have yet to make this change will now be able to follow suit with minimal delay. The addition of gender identity and expression to the non-discrimination clause 8f the University's bylaws is a fun- damentally symbolic gesture, but that's exactly why it's so important. It certainly sends a stronger message of acceptance than an asterisk. As the University has been accommodating of sex and gender issues in the past, it is shameful to have put off this clarification for so long. After all, symbolic gestures lose their significance if they're adopted so begrudgingly. Around these parts, when people say they live on the Hill, they're probably referring to their awkwardly small dorm room in Mary Markley Hall. But there's another hill neighborhood that r many Wolverines have called home - Capitol Hill. , Thanks to the Uni- versity's position as NEIL one of the nation'sT leading universi- TAMBE ties, many gradu- ates have managed to make their mark in Washington. Now, however, there are additional specific (if unstated) requirements for going into public ser- vice that the University doesn't seem to focus enough on. The environment at the University these days isn't con- ducive to ensuring that the public ser- vants of tomorrow get their start in Ann Arbor. Wolverines have a strong presence in the capital. Though it's little known, the University has a government rela- tions office in Washington that lobbies Congress on issues like higher educa- tion funding and intellectual property rights. The University's alumni club in D.C. is strong, active and proud. Many alumni from various academic backgrounds work in public service careers. However, public service is equally important regardless of whether it takes place in the glamour of D.C. or anywhere else across the nation or world. Although public service careers are often unattractive because of low pay or bureaucratic red tape, work- ing in the public interest is fulfilling. Public service changes the world and provides for a reasonably comfortable lifestyle. This University has a long tradition of public service. Former President John F. Kennedy proposed the idea that would become the Peace Corps on the steps of the Michigan Union. Many alumni have become diplomats, esteemed civil servants or leaders inthe non-profit realm. The late Gerald Ford, one of our mostcelebrated alumni, was Speaker of the US House of Represen- tatives before becoming president in 1974. Make no mistake, this Universi- ty's public servants are just as bad-ass as graduates from the medical school, business school and law school. University officials recognize the importance of public. service and provide some excellent programs to accommodate public service-minded students. The Public Service Intern Program - which is run by the Career Center and with which I have worked in the past - helps students learn how to get summer internships, mainly in the nation's capital. The Michigan in Washington Program, which is run by the political science department, has semester-long programs for students to study and work in the capital. Another option for students interested in public workis applicationtothe Gerald R.Ford School of Public Policy's undergraduate degree program. In its first year, the program is receiving rave reviews. Despite these excellent services, some programs are lacking. Study abroad programs, a viable first step toward a life of public service for many students, are a headache. The Univer- sity's programs are relatively limited and some serious scheming is required to successfully transfer credits earned abroad. Learning other languages is another integral part of preparing for public service that is somewhat under- emphasized at the University. Some languages that could be very handy for a public servant are taught in classes more unnecessarily difficult than oth- ers, and they are therefore often avoid- ed. Besides that, the LSA language requirement structurally incentivizes the study of mainstream languages such as Spanish, French and German, allowing experienced students to fin- ish their language requirement quick- ly. Thus, fewer students are motivated to learn new languages declared by the federal government to be of critical need, like Arabic, Mandarin and Farsi. Besides difficulties studying abroad and learning foreign languages, our International Studies minor is simply not up to par compared to internation- al relations programs at other schools. The International Studies minor is more like a degree in culture than a major in international relations, which emphasizes international politics.*It is a shame that the University is denying students by not offering such a major. Shifting the focus from hedge funds to public service Student interest in public service also suffers at the hands of politically extreme student groups that turn stu- dents off to politics instead of inspir- ing others to participate in the process. The moderate majority on campus could benefit from more partnership across the ideological divide. To all the wonks out there, check out www.elec- tionreformproject.org,aprojectthrough which the American Enterprise Insti- tute and the Brookings Institution, two think-tanks generally regarded to 'be polar opposites, have teamed up to improve elections. A similar partner- ship is possible on this campus and would probably help new students engage in issues of public interest. We've all heard about pre-law, pre- business and pre-med programs. Let's add pre-public service to our vernacu- lar and reinvigorate interest in a noble, exciting, crucially important career path. Neil Tambe can be reached at ntambe@umich.edu. 4 I SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU 4 I Don't expect economics department to do it all cally, a dangerou nomic theory. B: have a lot to say tomers will do g absolutely nothii TO THE DAILY: emotions of the Katherine Berezowskyj's solution to the thing before a d "economic misunderstanding" represented that Apple betray in her viewpoint this week (Economics for and psychology the rest of us, 09/18/2007) is both absurd and of insight on that unfair to the economics department. Her inability to understand basic notions about James Somers economics is not the department's responsi- LSA junior bility. Injecting history and political science into courses designed to give students the mathematical tools to understand real eco- SOLE ad nomics is not the department's mandate. Students may want a class overviewing demandim the work of people like Adam Smith and Karl Marx, but they need to know more about TO THE DAILY, advanced tax policy withka focus on macro Congratulatio growth models so that they might see the for Labor and Ec effects of our theories in practice. The eco- students informs nomics department can't cover everything lack of progress in its courses: Allocating scarce resources shop labor used1 carries opportunity costs. not confronting The group's vies Sharon Traiberman the corporate str LSA junior betrayal of the st for truly empowa One onint mi s misrepresentation of eco- asic microeconomic models about what potential cus- given a price decrease and ng to do with the personal people who bought some- rop. The real issue here is yed its most loyal customers, would be the better source t one. virable for q results ns to Students Organizing onomic Equality for keeping ed about the unconscionable in the fight against sweat- to produce University (Still sweatshops, 09/17/2007). wpoint accurately described ategy of self-regulation as a udents' decade-old demand ered workers. ust be clarified, however. apparel companies pay for Ality programs is not suffi- e wages several times over. be preferable for the money s rather than to corporate ts. KIM WILKE E Ken's Place provides a necessary service iPhone frustration can't be What these hi social responsi explained with economics cient to increa Even so, it woul TO THE DAILY: to go to works Katherine Berezowskyj's claim (Econom- image consulta ics for the rest of us, 09/18/2007) that anger over the new iPhone price is steeped in a Jeff Ballinger misunderstanding of economics is, ironi- Vienna, Austria g b 1St ld er n CHRIS KOSLOWSKI | OUT TI ATUR love it wheno..Smpson W roe't sin this Oh, i's not that I care i in the headliyes. s ? I don't i iust like screaming car who.l.rsbedor the Juice is on the La set ranky s f what k 'swring 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. We do not print anonymous letters. Send letters to: tothedaily@umich.edu. The death of a loved one is one of the most stressful events a per- son can experience. Other stressful life events include moving, divorce, terminal illness and loss of employ- ment. I have experienced two of these events simultaneously, and the word stress doesn't even come close to describing what I've survived and what I'm still enduring. I came to the University in the fall of 2005 as a transfer 'student from Grand Valley State University. I had a rough first semester dealing with schoolwork while meeting new peo- ple; the stress of moving away from everything I knew was overwhelm- ing. Transferring was a lot harder than I imagined, but nothing could prepare me for what happened over Winter Break. My dad passed away suddenly on Dec. 27, 2005. I was devastated and had no idea what to do. I was already a year behind in my program because of transferring schools, and I knew my dad wouldn't want me to quit school. I persevered and returned for the winter semester. I was still not fully adjusted to the University. Iwas deal- ing with the loss of my dad, and I had to handle 14 credits on top of that. My mom suggested I contact the University's Counseling and Psycho- logical Services to help me through this difficult time. I was looking for other people who were my age and were handling the stress of school, living away from home and deal- ing with a similar loss. To my sur- prise, CAPS didn't offer any type of bereavement support group. When I thought all hope of finding help was gone, I saw an advertisement for Ken's Place, a support group for those students experiencing loss, on a bulletin board in my residence hall. I was so excited because this was just thegroup Iwaslookingfor.Itfeltlikea sign: My dad's name was Ken. I went to the first meeting to find a diverse group of undergraduate and graduate students all experiencing some type of loss - a friend, parent, relative orsignificantother.Duringthe meeting not only did we talk about the people we lost, we discussed how the stresses of college life affect the way we deal with our losses and how few people our age can relate to the idea of loss. The social worker facilitating the group was very welcoming and helped all of us share our feelings. I have now been a member of the group for three semesters, and it helped tremendously in coping with my grief. Ken's Place was started by Chase Finney, who recently graduated, dur- ing her first semester here in the fall of 2003. Chase's dad passed away the summer before she came to the University. In her transition from her home in California to Michigan, she hoped to find support here on campus. When she arrived she was frustrated - like myself and many others were - to find that CAPS did not offer any support group for those experiencingloss. Chase decided to take this mat- ter into her own hands and establish a group named after her late father. She contacted a social worker with a hospice and art therapy background to lead each session. I admire Chase for establishing such an incred- ible group while she was under the stress of being freshmen in college, away from home and dealing with the recent loss of her father. Her per- severance to get this group off the ground just shows what a need there was for something like Ken's Place. Today, as I near graduation, I am unfortunately anticipating another grave loss. Ken's Place is in danger and the group may cease to exist if it does not secure adequate funding to sustain it. I, along with the many stu- dents who have found the solace and support needed to survive the loss of a loved one in Ken's Place, are asking the University community for dona- tions to keep Ken's Place alive. If you are interested in donating, please e- mail kensplaceinfo@umich.edu. Despite its financial insecurity, Ken's Place will be running all this semester. Meetings are Sunday eve- nings from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Ginsberg Center at the corner of East Univer- sity Avenue and Hill Street. Kim Wilke is an LSA junior. 4 -I Editorial Board Members: Ben Caleca, Mike Eber, Brian Flaherty, Kellyn Jackson, Gavin Stern, Jennifer Sussex, Neil Tambe, Radhika Upadhyaya 0 I & i f.