4A - Monday, November 12, 2007 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com E C74CMIiig40an atl Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu He's a Mormon, and the Mormons of Salt Lake City had caused that scandal. And to clean that up, again, it's not a subject." - Roberta McCain, mother of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, speaking Friday to minimize her son's opponent Mitt Romney's claim that he showed great leadership in getting the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics in order. Is thatjust the way it is? a KARL STAMPFL EDITOR IN CHIEF IMRAN SYED EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR JEFFREY BLOOMER MANAGING EDITOR Unsigned editorials reflect the official position oftthe Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors. The Daily's public editor, PaultH. Johnson, acts as the readers' representative and takes a critical look at coverage andcontent in every section oftthe paper. Readers are encouraged to contact the public editor with questions andcomments. He can be reached at publiceditor@umich.edu. C x 's crusade must end Court must overturn ban on benefits for same-sex partners Even though the U.S. House of Representatives revised the Employment Non-Discrimination Act last week to pro- tect gay men, lesbians and bisexuals in the workplace, Michigan continues to debate extending health care benefits to the same-sex partners of employees. State Attorney General Mike Cox has used the state's ballot proposal banning gay marriage to manipulate of the will of the voters by also banning same-sex ben- efits. Such discrimination must be overturned by the courts. The ease with which the amendment has been manipulated by one politician should also serve as a warning to voters of the dangers of passing complex legislation through broad ballot initiatives. Michigan voters passed the gay mar- riage ban in 2004, making an amendment to the state constitution. Cox used that ban to also decree that state institutions can no longer provide benefits to partners of same- sex couples, and a lower court upheld that interpretation in February. The Michigan chapter of the ACLU, representing the 21 gay couples who are appealing the February ruling, is now arguing the case in the state Supreme Court. The gay marriage ban is itself an abhor- rently prejudiced legislation, even without Cox's further discriminatory interpreta- tions. Cox claims it was the voters' will to also ban same-sex benefits, but there was nothing in the ballot language about that. In fact, a 2005 poll indicated that a plural- ity of voters supports granting benefits to same-sex partners of Michigan employees - something Michigan has always done in the past, regardless of the legality of gay mar- riage. Outlawing gay marriage and banning same-sex benefits are in no way congruent, and voting for one does not entail prohibit- ing the other. Should the ACLU succeed in its appeal, it would mark not only a victory for gay rights advocates but also for the University environment. A ruling in Cox's favor would translate into both a step backward for civil rights and difficulties for the University in attracting and retaining talented professors. Some University professors whose partners currently receive benefits have already said that they might leave if their benefits are cut. In the face of a struggling economy and growing unemployment in Michigan, the University cannot afford to lose educated professionals who would build an educated workforce for the state. Unfortunately, harmful legislation will continue to plague Michigan as long as half- baked ballot initiatives appear on the ballot. Such initiatives undermine the concept of representative democracy by side-stepping debate on the most important issues. vot- ers cannot possibly have all the information or understand the intricacies of issues like gay marriage and affirmative action. It is the job of the legislature to debate and pass laws concerning all issues; we shouldn't be bypassing that all-important step in the leg- islative process for purely political reasons. With the passage of the federal Employ- ment Non-Discrimination Act, the time is ripe for progress. While the University has tried to maintain the right to provide same- sex benefits to employees through its own vaguely worded provisions, it will become impossible to do so if Cox succeeds in court. The LGBT community deserves recognition and approval of its rights, which the court should not hesitate to grant. hile arguing against the Civil Rights Act of 1875, Associate Justice Joseph Bradley of the U.S. Supreme Court wrote that grant- ing equal access r ' to black people in hotels and restau- rants based on their race "would be run- ning the slavery argument into the MIKE ground. " EBER That sounds similar to the argu- ments I have beard about affirmative action. As much as Americans today would like to think that racism no lon- ger exists, looking back at the older rationalizations against civil rights shows today's debate about affirmativ action to be more of the same stuff. Of course,min2007youwill never see laws explicitly excluding black people from public places, and neither can you find poll taxes or other policies that tacitly disenfranchise black citi- zens. You will, however, see piles and piles of social research on inequality. For example, black people make up 35 percent of the population arrested for illegal drug use, 55 percent of the peo- ple convicted for a drug-related crime and 74 percent of the people sentenced for these crimes. This is not written into any drug enforcement law, but it seems to somehow affect them more than white people. It's easy to overlook one example MSA representative unfairly targeted TO THE DAILY: As of late, the Daily has been unfairly using its power of the press to single out an individual and put him on trial on its pages. After read- ing Thursday's editorial (A mess in MSA, 11/08/2007), my tolerance reached its limit. I am appalled that such reporting and writing has con- tinued for so long. The Daily's edito- rial board should focus on the first part of the editorial's headine: "Inno- cent until proven guilty." The editorial criticizes the Michi- gan Action Party for allowing Anton Vuljaj to run on its ticket despite the fact that an investigation was still open at the time concerning his involvement in 2006's MSA election scandal. In hindsight, it's easy to criticize Michigan Student Assembly President Zack Yost and the rest of MAP for their decision. However, Vuljaj has not been con- victed of any crime. Also, he has not committed any questionable actions since the March 2006 election. The problem with the editorial is that it tries to blame someone before all the facts have been compiled-and a trial has taken place. The American prison system is based on rehabilitation, not pun- ishment. Whoever committed the crime Vuljaj is being tried for has surely seen the error of his or her ways already and does not need a jail sentence to correct such behavior. The Daily's editorial board should be ashamed of itself for contributing to the persecution of innocent indi- viduals, especially when far more dangerous and costly crime is taking place every day. Jeneanne Orlowski LSA junior Students shouldpush for MSA reforms TO THE DAILY: As a Michigan Student Assem- bly representative, I would like to respond to the concerns raised recently regarding MSA (A mess in MSA, 11/08/2007). I must say that I am quite unhappy with the status quo in the assembly, and some things definitely need to be changed. The issues at hand need to be addressed. First of all, there should be more accountability on the part of MSA of racial injustice, so here is another: Concerning predation by sub-prime mortgage policies, 53 percent of all sub-prime mortgages for households in the $54,000-100,000 per year range go to black people. Income does not real- ly explain this phenomenon because within the $100,000-150,000 range, black people comprise 48 percent of suchtransactions. The problemwith all these figures is that they are too easily rationalized as the side effect of some- thing other than pervasive racism. In the 19th century, Delaware resi- dents saw nothing racist about their court system, one which had no black people serving on juries despitethe fact that black people comprised about 15 percent of the population. It took an 1880 court case to tell Delaware residents something was wrong. So if black people are disproportionately affected by sub-prime lending tactics that now force massive home fore- closures, is there a problem? Is there a problem considering that median household net worth for blacks in 2000 was $7,500 while for whites the median was $79,400? Followingthe turn ofthe 19th centu- ry, an entire generation of judges came to power who never lived in antebel- lum America. Not surprisingly, these were the same judges who ingrained Jim Crow into case law. Today, an entire generation of voters who never lived to know Jim Crow America is the driving force behind actions like the passage of Michigan's race-based affirmative action ban. Given the context of today's social research, it's actually not so ludicrous to consider race in college admissions. Racism and its disadvantages are no longer overtly institutional, but it would be dumb to ignore research that consistently finds more subtle racism in our society. Hidden between the lines of social data there is a picture of a society struggling with the ugliness of inequality. Simply claiming that the lack of apparent discrimination is a reason to deny the existence of any real Racism is easier to ignore these days, but it's still here. problemignores the fact that everyone feels its presence, whether or not they choose to be aware of that perception. We have -heard the arguments that American society today treats all races equally, but look back at1875 and1950s and compare to the arguments we hear in 2007. America claims real progress, forgetting that the machinations of racism take on different forms beyond blatant hate speech. Do you ask your- self if real change is possible or do you simply resign yourself to believe that's just the way it is? Mike Eber can be at mieber@umich.edu. I I 4 SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU a ANDREW MUNNN E T Creatilig a power shift Climate change is the subject of Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies, local and state legislation, international treaties, scientific consensus and a misinformed or simply malicious opposition. What's missing from this list? On Aug. 16, former Vice President Al Gore was quoted in Nicholas Kristof's New York Times column as saying, "I can't understand why there aren't rings of young people block- ing bulldozers ... and preventing them from constructing coal-fired power plants." He was right in asking, "Where are the young people?" but he missed the mark in defining our role in bringing about climate justice. As an advocate for climate justice, I've heard mutterinigs over the past year of a brewing movement among the youth. Last weekend, 38 University of Michigan students traveled to Washington, D.C. for Power Shift 2007 - the first-ever conference on climate change orga- nized for youth, by youth. Six thousand students converged on the nation's capitol for Power Shift 2007, not to chain ourselves to trees or blockade dirty coal plants but to lobby every member of Congress for an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, for the creation of 5 million new green-collar jobs and for a moratorium on all new coal plants. Young people are uniquely situated to cre- ate this change. The effects of climate change - unprecedented wild fires, droughts and stronger hurricanes - are already here and will only intensify as our generation ages. When the 38 University students joined 127 students from the state to lobby Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) for climate justice, we lob- bied for a secure future that every member of our generation will share. Building a sustainable and just future for ourselves and our children requires students to transcend traditional modes of activism. Last year, activists demanded that the Uni- versity purchase 100 percent of its energy from clean renewable sources, such as wind and solar power, by 2015. For this demand to be fulfilled, however, there must be sufficient sources of clean renewable energy available for purchase from the state grid. Recognizing the current lack of supply, the climate justice movement at the Universityunited the 14 cam- puses in the Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition to leverage our collective power at the statewide level. On the weekend of Sept. 28, 140 students from 13 campuses met in East Lansing to explore issues of environmental justice and to acquire the skills to create change in their com- munities. Over that weekend, our coalition bonded as acommunity inaction. Inthe month leading up to Power Shift 2007, students from each campusworked closely with each other to bring 250 Michigan students to Washington, D.C. As a result of our'united planning, Michi- gan brought more students Tisvep n.sthe to the capitol This viewpoint is e than any state fifth in a series about other than the present state of Maryland and . . Virginia. student activism. On Nov. 3, the first full day of Power Shift 2007- as Spartans and Wolverines clashed on the foot- ball field- 38 Wolverines, 60 Spartans and 150, other Michiganders sat down together to outline the steps for creating a power shift in Michigan. On March 19, we will bring our vision of an ecologically sound, socially just and economically secure Michigan to the halls of the state legislature. In conjunction with the grassroots organizing we do in our home com- munities, this will catalyze Michigan's over- due transition to sustainability. There is a bronze plaque dedicating a maple tree outside the School of Natural Resources and Environment on the Diag. The plaque reads, "In the future may we not have to be concerned over global warming. May efforts to reforest, recycle, and conserve energy elim- inate this escalating crisis." This maple tree was planted on the eve of Earth Day 1989, the same year most of the class of 2011 was born. The time for business-as-usual solutions has passed. Young people across Michigan and the nation have awakened to the challenge. Andrew Munn is coordinator of the University chapter of the Sierra Student Coalition and a senior in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance. regarding the denial of service attack an "environment situation. The constant refusal to everything we do comment has shown that many "Green is Univers within MSA feel that covering ass is with a week's wor more important than accountability. tally focused prog If MSA wants to retain what little NBC sent repot credibility it has left, it needs to be and Antarctica tt more forthcoming on this and other mate change for' issues relating to its elections. There were spec As for the status of the accused renewable energ MSA representative, Anton Vuljaj, advice on how tor that would be best determined by footprint and cr the voters that elected him: MSA has portfolio. The nt provisions for recall elections in its part to inform th constitution, and if students want to some important i start a recall petition, they.are free So what is my c to do so. With that said, if anyone on ing to incorporate MSA is guilty of a malicious denial perspective into of service attack against an opposing ming, the media party, that person should resign. ing the true mear I am also quite distressed about is environmental MSA's recent pre-election disputes I turned on CN regarding a seat for the newly- and saw this yea formed undergraduate program in arriving atRocke the School of Public Policy. That giv- York City. It was ing students representation on MSA foot, 60-year old is controversial is beyond belief I from Shelton, Co am relieved that sanity prevailed in on my cereal wh that case, but I still can't believe that reporter explainl several MSA representatives spent is environmental) hours fighting to effectively disen- lit with 30,000, franchise students. lights. By golly, Furthermore, the fact that MSA tree down using rejected an idea as simple as ran- handsaws instea domizing candidate names without And don't worry respect to party affiliation on the tree will be "recy ballot because of a desire to make it In an effort t easier to vote straight-ticket shows a the report conve desire to place parties above fairness. the obvious: If tI Clearly, one can see that the idea of really wanted t fairness hasn't exactly been MSA's tally friendly, the top priority regarding elections. down this huge ti I encourage all concerned students by the whirlwind to voice their concerns to MSA, get solutions, that wt involved and vote. The next election sense.It's nice tol is Nov. 29-30. Make your voice heard, toward a more su because MSA will only change with please use some your help. Apathy ensures the con- G-word. tinuation of the status quo. Sarah Hayosh TimHull LSA senior LSA senior 'Green' may have consde lost its significance TO THE DAILY: TO THE DAILY: Last Thursda' Companies are going green. Cit- pus Diag was ful ies are starting green initiatives. sity and affirmat Venture capital is flowing into green responsible mdi' technologies. Green this, green that. for taking action Given I'm an environmental studies like to slap themi major, you would think I would be ing more than 10 excited about all the buzz. The media across North C. has finally caught on to the whole confusing litteri green phenomenon. Last week, media giant NBC Uni- Yi-Lei Chow versal launched an initiative to bring Engineeringsenior tal perspective" to . They are calling it al" and kicked it off th of "environmen- gramming." rters to the equator o talk about on cli- "The Today Show." ial news briefs on gy and plenty of reduce one's carbon eate a green stock etwork is doing its e general public on ssues. riticism?While try- e the environmental all of its program- is effectively dilut- ing of green, which sustainability. BC Friday morning ar's Christmas tree feller Center in New beautiful - an 84- Norwegian Spruce nn. I nearly choked ile watching a poor how this year's tree ly friendly. It will be energy-saving LED they even cut the good old-fashioned d of electric saws. y, after its use, the cled" into mulch. o "green" its news, niently glazed over he event organizers o be environmen- y wouldn't have cut ree. But surrounded d of high-tech green ould make too much promote real actions stainable world, but discretion with the 'r littering lith f lyers y, the North Cam- ll of flyers for diver- ive action. I pat the viduals on the back for a cause, but I'd Sinthe face for allow- 0 flyers tobe littered ampus. Please stop g with publicity. I I i BLOGS Read more analysis at www.michigandaily.com/thepodium. 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. All submissions become property of the Daily. We do not print anonymous letters. Send letters to tothedoily@umich.edu. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor. Letters should be less than 300 words and must include the writer's full name and University affiliation. All submissions become property of the Daily. We do not print anonymous letters. Send letters to tothedoily@umich.edu. I 4 EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS: Emad Ansari, Anindya Bhadra, Kevin Bunkley, Ben Caleca, Jon Cohen, Milly Dick, Mike Eber, Gary Graca, Emmarie Huetteman, Theresa Kennelly, Emily Michels, Robert Soave, Jennifer Sussex, Neil Tambe, Matt Trecha, Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Van Gilder, Rachel Wagner, Patrick Zabawa F 4