4 4A - Monday, October 22, 2007 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com L4 it NCltigan B3aill) Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu KARL STAMPFL IMRAN SYED JEFFREY BLOOMER EDITOR IN CHIEF EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR Unsigned editorials reflectthe official position of the Daily's editorialboard. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors. The Daily's public editor, Paul H. Johnson, acts as the readers' representative and takes a critical look at coverage and contentin every section of the paper. Readers are encouraged to contact the public editor with questions and comments. He canbe reached at publiceditor@umich.edu. Living UP to standards University's sportswear contract should be reconsidered nly three months after the signing of an eight-year con- tract between the University and Adidas, Michigan is at risk of violating its own code of conduct on labor rights. The labor practices at some factories subcontracted by Adidas have come under fire at both the University of Wisconsin at Madison and the University of California at Berkeley. Given that the contracts at that those two universities have with Adidas as well as their codes of conduct on labor rights are very similar to Michigan's own, our university's decision to sign with Adidas over the summer was clearly not an informed one. Administrators must reconsider the Adidas contract to avoid breaking their own rules, and the process by which these decisions are made must be made more open so that mistakes like this can be avoided in the future. This fire is 0 percent contained. We are at the mercy of the wind." - Pamela Conley Ulich, mayor pro tem of Malibu, Calif., on wildfires in Southern California that are threatening the Malibu region, as reported yesterday on CNN.com. 4 The last laugh would assume that most people have had one of two reactions to comedian Stephen Colbert's announcement that he will seek the presidency: They think it's really funny or really stupid. Colbert is certainly an excep- tional and popular comedian, but his decision raises a ROBERT number of ques- SOAVE tions - all of them- overshadowed by the possibility that he might not even be serious about running. Skeptics need to look no further than Colbert's own strategy: He is planning on running only in South Carolina, as both a Republican and as a Democrat. It could be argued that such reckless excursions by a fictional persona are disastrousforthecredibilityofthe polit- ical process, succeeding only in turning democratic elections into ajoke. Unfortunately,. for Michigan voters, the democratic process turned into a joke even before Colbert's did his thing. As a result of Lansing's reasonable deci- sion tomoveourstate'sprimaryforward to make a more substantial mark on the nominating process, the Democratic National Committee has instructed its candidates to boycott Michigan. Barack Obama, John Edwards, Joe Biden and Bill Richardson have all taken their names off the primary ballot in our vital swingstate for the sole purpose of preservingIowa and New Hampshire's undeserved tradition of being the first caucus and primary. Although Hillary Clinton has cho- sen to remain on Michigan's ballot, she has pledged not to campaign here. Michigan voters - or at least Michi- gan Democrats - may now be angry enough with their party's candidates and leaders to vent their frustrations by casting a write-in vote for Colbert. Michigan has as much right to hold the first primary as any other state. It is absolutely ridiculous for the DNC to prohibit the Democrats from cam- paigning in Michigan just because of its blind adherence to tradition and its loyalty to the historic foursome of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. None of these states are relevant in the generalelection; thereis no reason to enforce their relevance in the primaries. Combined, these states only sent 193 delegates to the Demo- cratic National Convention in 2004. The convention consists of more than 4,000 delegates, and Michigan alone sent 176 in 2004. Michigan has been threatened with the prospect of losing partial or total representation at the convention. The great tragedy of the 2008 election is that many of the nominees, many of the other states and both the national committees are behaving like children toward states like Michigan. Our state did not commit an unforgivable crimi- nal act by moving up its primary date; Michigan is important and the coun- try's leaders ought to know it. The candidates and party leaders have responded by trying to negate Michigan's importance altogether. But regardless of Michigan's fate dur- log the primary season, the state will still play a crucial role in the general election, as it always does. The party that ignores our voters in the primary should be ignored by our voters in the general election. Michigan Republicans do not have quite as much to complain about. The Republican National Committee has not restricted its candidates from cam- paigning in our state, but the RNC has threatened to deprive Michigan of half of its delegates. So what can we do to make our voices heard during the Michigan primary? Colbert might have actually given us an excellent opportu- nity. He should have made his one-pri- mary stand in Michigan, where we are starved for more attentive candidates. Colbert has encouraged his support- ers in other states to cast write-invotes for him. Imagine the message that we could send to the Democrats who ignored our state if we put Colbert on the road to the DNC with some of our delegates in his hands. Colbert isn't the only one making the primaries a joke. CriticsofColbert's candidacy will say that elections in this country are about choosing the next leader of the free world, and Colbert is taking a serious matter andturning it into a joke. It's dif- ficult,though,totaketheprimaryseason seriously when the national party com- mitteeswon'tevenletthosevotes count. There is no good reason for Michigan to lose half or all of its delegates. The party elites have already made a mockery of the primary system by threatening and excluding states like Michigan.Avotefor Colbertwouldsend a worthwhile message to the candidates and parties that are ignoring us, yet still expect our support in the general elec- tion: We willhave the last laugh. Robert Soave can be reached at rsoave@umich.edu. 4 4 The decision to sign a $60 million con- tract with Adidas belonged solely to the University's Athletic Department. Adidas offered the department significantly more money than it received in its previous deal with Nike. Citing that the increased rev- enue would help finance many projects - like the renovation of Crisler Arena - and the fact that the contract allows the University to investigate labor standards in Adidas's factories, the Athletic Department hailed the contract as a success on all lev- els. That sounded too good to be true, and it turns out that it was. While the University does have the power to inspect labor practices at Adidas's factories, it has no incentive to do so under the current system. If violations are found, the University would face the choice of cutting a brand new contract and losing a lot of money, or looking hypocritical by keeping the contract despite the violations. Now that the University of Wisconsinhasfound "serious concerns" after its investigationofAdidas's factories, the Uni- versity of Michigan faces just that choice. So far, it has taken the hypocritical route, and all the money that comes with it. Looking just a little bit into Adidas's track record could have helped the University avoid this dilemma: As recently as 2006, Adidas was accused of using child labor in factories in Pakistan where the official FIFA World Cup game balls were produced. The truth is that both companies subcon- tract their labor to the same factories, and it's naive to expect switching from one to the other to make any difference. Had the decision of signing this contract been brought before the larger university com- munity - at a University Board of Regents meeting, for example - such issues would have been brought up and further problems could have been avoided. Before Michigan's contract with Nike was implemented in the 1990s, athletic apparel was subcontracted to local compa- nies, enabling the University to ensure that it was doing business only with companies with fair labor practices. Another benefit of that system was that it brought more busi- ness to local companies, creating jobs and providing a boost to the economy. At least a partial reversion to that system is possible and preferable. Perhaps if the contracts are discussed in an open forum, this and other innovative solutions could be presented. So far, the only solution on the large scale is to partner with the Worker Rights Con- sortium, a third-party organization that independently investigating factories. Part- neringwith WRC means doingbusiness only with those companies that use factories that have been approved by the WRC. The Uni- versity balked at such restrictions in recent months because of a purpoted lack of auton- omy. But if the University cannot enforce its code of conduct, the WRC is a much better alternative to the status quo. After all, with autonomy come responsibilities and so far, the University has not lived up to them. 4 4 SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU AMY DRUMM Romney is Michigan's man Mitt Romney is Michigan's candidate. Rom- ney grew up in Michigan and cares deeply about this state. He is the former governor of Massachusetts, where he balanced the bud- get every year, revital- ized the economy, cut unemployment and cre- ated 60,000 jobs - all things that we desper- ately need help with in Michigan. Romney pro- vides students with the best chance of finding- employment after grad- ROMNEY uation - especially in Michigan. Reinvesting in the auto industry as well as attractingnewtypes of technology and new businesses will help revitalize the econo- my here. Using these tactics more broadly will prevent a similar problem from developing throughout the country. We need a president who can identify the positives while facing harsh realities. The president should be someone who will bring hope, a positive outlook and innovation to every circumstance and situation. Romney has a proven record of doing just that. The best way to foster new technologies and market forces is through education. "We can- not continue to have an excellence gap with the rest of the world and intend to remain the eco- nomic superpower and military superpower of the planet," Romney said. To close this excel- lence gap, Romney wants to set higher educa- tion goals for students, teachers, parents and administrators. He believes that school lead- ers are best suited to represent their students and best understand the mundane challenges students and teachers face on a micro level. It is also their responsibility to represent these challenges on a macro level, to effect change through fundraising and to discuss the impor- tance of education with legislators. Romney is also a firm believer in encourag- ing students to work hard by offering rewards for high performances. In Massachusetts, Romney established the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Program to reward the top 25 percent of Massachusetts's high school graduates with a four-year, tuition-free schol- arship to state universities or colleges. Over a three-year period, more than 14,000 top-scor- ing high school seniors have been awarded the scholarships. Similar programs in other states would be equally beneficial. As a strong believer in the effectiveness of creating competition in the marketplace as well as in the classroom, another one of Rom- ney's strengths lies in his approach to health care. His systematic reform of the health care system brings down the cost of private health insurance by fostering vibrant and competi- tive health insurance markets in each of the 50 states. Reforming the tax code makes it less expensive for individuals to buy private insur- ance and helps the uninsured afford the private coverage of their choice. Encouraging state- level health insurance This viewpoint in the market f reforms will first in a series by result in leaders of campus more afford- groups supporting able private coverage various presidential and a more candidates. robust mar- ket for health insurance for all Americans. These domestic initiatives are meaningless if America ceases to exist: The defeat of the radical and violent faction of Islam must be achieved through a combination of American resolve, international efforts and the rejection of violence by moderate, modern, mainstream Muslims. An effective strategy will involve both military and diplomatic actions to help modern Muslim nations' interactions with each other and the world. Romney believes that America must help lead a broad interna- tional coalition that promotes secular educa- tion, modern financial and economic policies, international trade and human rights. Romney is the only candidate who has worked to create prosperity and opportunity for his constituents in both the public and private sector and succeeded. As a Michigan resident, a businessman, an advocate for equal educational opportunities and a realistic, for- ward-looking optimist, Mitt Romney is the right candidate in 2008. Amy Drumm is an LSA senior and chair of the University chapter of Student for Romney. The interests of true Michigan with reality a: half-truths an( fans are overlooked by University Until then, we Kyle Miletic TO THE DAILY: LSA sophomor My family and I have been athletic boosters for Michigan since before the football stadium was able to sell out all home games. I have attended games of four Ban on s national champion teams from Michigan - hockey, basketball, football and softball. Growing up in Mary- places is land, it was always my dream to follow my family's legacy and attend this prestigious school. The Athletic TO THE DAIL Department allows me to continue to feed this passion I am writin long after my matriculation. the editor that Two years ago, with the implementation of new seat indoor bars,r licensing fees at Michigan Stadium, we were forced to (Ban on indoor forfeit season tickets, which my family has held since of.Michigan, 1I the 1960s. The multi-thousand-dollar cost was simply ous trend of tl too great to justify. Before that, our longtime basket- choices and in ball season tickets were moved from nearly courtside I admit tha to somewhere near the upper level. This was supposed smoke are unh to bring Michigan's "true fans" closer to the court for er. Still, I enjoy better television coverage. So this is what loyalty to to eat one. Th the University athletic program earns?, bar owner can Now, since the implementation of the Big Ten Net- smoking and I work, my family is relegated to drive around the sub- to patronize. I urbs searching for a location that might televise the that allows sm Michigan football game. Last week, we stopped at no Unfortunat less than four different restaurants hoping for some viduals are in place that carried the rarefied Big Ten Network. For for ourselves. the season opener, I even resorted to listening to the met make th radio. Athletic Director Bill Martin's effete attempt on these places. I Oct. 16 to persuade me and the myriad of other aggra- his fellow Mi vated football supporters I have encountered on my travels to view the games this season via the absurd Clark Ruper medium that is BTN is insulting to say the least. LSA senior Martin took away our seats. We dealt with that. Now he is building luxury boxes at the storied Michi- gan Stadium in order to be "on par" with other Big Ten ED schools. Never mind that he will be destroying the legacy established by Fielding Yost and Edmund Day Emad Ansari just to cater to a cliquish and apathetic few. Now he is MikeI attempting to justify a poorly produced and delivered EmmarieI product that monopolizes coverage of a tradition that Michels, Ga extends back to the 19th century. As dedicated as I am as a Michigan alum, I am Matt Trech; ashamed at the University for attempting to mask its esurient tendencies with the feeble propaganda of "Everyone else is doing it, why shouldn't we?" I thought the Michigan tradition really meant some- WYMAN KI thing. I am depressed and discouraged to see that Martin is selling out this legacy. Christopher Willis Alum '94 Hypocrisy and double talk cannot blemish Al Gore's record TO THE DAILY: Hypocrisy reared its ugly head in a viewpoint about Al Gore that appeared in the Daily last week (Inconvenient and unworthy, 10/18/2007). The author, Emily Michels, decries the "judgmental tendencies of Americans," yet makes those very judgments herself. What is worse is that she is tragically misinformed. Gore never claimed to "invent the Internet." Rather, he took credit for his work as a senator in the 1980s who was instrumental in pro- viding the funding for the scientists who were actually "inventing" the Internet. Michels bitterly complained about the amount of energy that Gore uses, while neglect- ing to mention that he has long ensured that his personal energy consumption was carbon neutral. Michels's argument fails in one fundamental way: The fact remains that Gore has done more than any indi- vidual to bring attention to the cause of global warming. Credit has been duly given (and continues to be given) to the scientists behind the research, and Gore is now being justly rewarded for his tireless effort to educate the pub- lic. If people would make more of an effort to get in touch s opposed to making judgments based on id stereotypes, we could bring real change. have nowhere to go but backward. re moking in public not the solution Y: ng in response to Aaron Potek's letter to t argued smoking should be banned in all restaurants and workplaces in Michigan r smoking should be expanded to cover all 0/18/2007). His claim is part of a danger- he government controlling our individual vading our privacy. .t smoking and exposure to second-hand iealthy. So is a Wendy's bacon cheeseburg- y it and I should be able to make the choice at is the beauty of living ina free society. A choose to make his bar smoking or non- I can choose which type of establishment f you value clean air, then don't go to a bar oking. It is that simple. ely, Potek does not think that we as indi- itelligent enough to make those choices He would rather have the state govern- at choice for us by banning smoking in all His claim is paternalistic and insulting to chiganders. ITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS: I, Kevin Bunkley, Ben Caleca, Milly Dick, Eber, Brian Flaherty, Gary Graca, Huetteman, Theresa Kennelly, Emily vin Stern, Jennifer Sussex, Neil Tambe, a, Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Wagner HUU e*4:n % - s A