4A - Friday, November 16, 2007 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 0 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 reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors. The Daily's public editor, PaulH. Johnson, acts as the readers' representative and takes a critical look at coverage and content in every section of the paper. Readers are encouraged to contact the public editor with questions and comments. He can be reached at publiceditor@umich.edu. F ROM T HE DARY Adiferent kindof sellout U has disparaged the storied tradition of college football Tomorrow marks the 104th meeting between Michigan and Ohio State. A lot has changed at Michigan Stadium and in college football since that first matchup in 1897, and not all of these changes have been for the better. On the field and off, college football is becoming increasingly commercialized, with a larger emphasis on which team can capture the biggest profits, the most attention and the finest recruits, and it's threatening to diminish Michigan tradition and values. ; TA . QUOTABLE It is good to see that the Clinton camp can maintain a sense of humor after the worst two weeks of their campaign." - Danny Diaz, spokesman for the Republican National Committee, responding to the Clinton campaign's prediction that if the general election were held today, she would win in a landslide, as a reported yesterday by TheHill.com. Were's te real G OP?* 0 Although it may be hard to believe, three years ago, the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry almost got a corporate makeover. Offering the schools $1.6 million over two years, telecommunications giant SBC proposed to buy the rights to America's greatest rivalry and rename it the SBC Michigan- Ohio State Classic. Only weeks before the game, the schools backed out of the spon- sorship after an outcry from fans. As this season has shown us, the battle is not over. The University is playing more than just a game of football, with more than just a bowl game at stake - even if this year that game is the Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi. There is no better example of the commer- cialization of college sports than the ongo- ing clash between the Big Ten Network and Comcast. While the game is supposed to be about the fans, the players and the univer- sities, the Big Ten has made the sport about the money. Now, the lust for money has kept many fans from watching the game each Saturday, even right here in Ann Arbor. With this same focus on the bottom ljne, the University made another hasty deci- sion this summer, entering into a ques- tionable apparel contract with Adidas. Instead of proactively examining Adidas's labor methods before signing the contract, the Athletic Department jumped at the cash, and it could come back to haunt it: With universities like the University of Wisconsin at Madison reconsidering their contracts with Adidas because of alleged labor violations, the University is already in a compromising position. Symbolically, the proposed renovations to the Big House stand as the largest tes- tament to college football's transforma- tion. Setting aside all of the problems with the stadium's accessibility and the lack of transparency in its decision making, the University is set to begin construction on the skyboxes for the Big House at the end of the season. When the skyboxes go up, the Big House's tradition of egalitarian bench seating will be destroyed as some Michigan fans sit comfortably in their enclosed, air- conditioned luxury suites. University leaders often say that they have no choice in the matter: Times change, and this is just the way it is. But, the pull of commercialization is not new: it is the lead- ership that has changed. It is a leadership yielding to lucrative opportunities selling off the integrity of the game piece by piece to the highest bidder. Every facet of college football - the sea- son tickets, the advertising, the TV con- tracts and the apparel sales - are akin to professional football. Despite all of those signs of blatant profiteering, the University hides behind the ideal of the amateur nature of college sports every time it finds it con- venient to do so - namely when it comes to the question of paying athletes. Multi-thousand dollar seat premiums, enforced monopolies on who gets to sell pizza in the stadium and a $226 million stadium-renovation project that still won't accommodate people in wheelchairs. On the eve of the biggest game on the year, we should all wonder: Is this what we envi- sioned for the hallowed Michigan brand? There are 353 days until the 2008 election. Anybody tired of it yet? We're currently in the personal attacks/endorse- ments phase, soon to be followed by j the ever-popular awkward appear- ances to branch-out phase, and yet no candidate or party has separated itself KEVIN from the rest of the B pack in terms of UNKLEY popularity. On the GOP side, things are sig- nificantly more wide open than on the Democratic side, where it is look- ing more and more like Hillary Clin- ton is destined to be the nominee. Lately,though, all of the Republican candidates have veered from a true conservative platform to distinguish themselves from President Bush or take blind stabs at Clinton. So which of the Republican candidates can get his act together and band the leader- less conservatives together to win the presidency? The conservative National Right to Life Movement recently endorsed actor/former. senator Fred Thomp- son, but there are questions about just how pro-life he is. Twice as a senator, Thompson voted against an endorse- ment of Roe v. Wade, yet he has acom- pleted survey to his name that says he is in favor of legal abortion (he claims he does not remember such a survey). In his wavering, Thompson isn't alone: Rudy Giuliani was endorsed by evangelist Pat Robertson, and some question Giuliani's faith, given his marital scandals as mayor of New York. It seems that none of this year's Republican field even remembers what a Republican is. So what should a Republican be? Daily's mistrust of voters is appalling TO THE DAILY: There is no strict set of views a candi- those relishing the return of someone date must have, and that seems to be like Newt Gingrich. The Republicans the problem with this bunch: They're are only now beginningto overshadow all trying to say just the right thing their negative image as a bunch of cor- that will make voters say "Aha! It's rupt fat cats who are out of touch with Ronald Reagan all over again!" But America and ready to let the govern- was Reagan a true conservative? His ment go into a shutdown rather than two terms were notoriously spend- compromise. Such an image might as happy, though George W. Bush would well be Gingrich's personal legacy: put him to shame. The last thing the party needs is to Reagan said in 1975, "A political accept the entrance of the man whose party cannot be all things to all people. fall from grace was just as drastic as It must represent certain fundamental his storied rise. Crooked political beliefs which must not be compro- scheming within the party may have mised to political expediency." That's started with the administration of a statement he never shied away from, Richard Nixon, but there's no reason even on hot-button issues like military spending,religionand,ofcourse,taxes. Whatever Reagan was, he was just the The Republican right amount of it at all the right times, considering his two gigantic electoral dida h victories.ca dd tsh v All of today's GOP candidates seem s met ik n od like the antithesis of the fundamentals some thi king to do. of Reagan: They are catering to the masses, rather than being confident in why they belong in the Republi- to have that be a newfound fundamen- can Party. Giuliani can't go anywhere tal of the GOP. Thankfully, it's looking without the phrases "America's mayor" more and more like the party won't and "stopping the next Sept. 11" being have to make that choice. uttered. Mitt Romney became a "life- The Republicans must stop pre- long member" of the National Rifle tending to be Reagan and start pay- Association almost overnight, and he ing attention to what actually made spends more time defending his faith him so good at building coalitions than he does his politics. and winning elections. As soon as one John McCain is the most worthy candidate can figure out how to have of the nomination, because he has the rhetoric of Reagan while also answers for the Iraq problem (he's mastering his skill at personal com- actually been there), and he wants munication, timely, weighed propos- to reduce the deficit, but has anyone als and mass appeal, it is that person's changed positions more often than charge to bring the party back under McCain in recent years? Ron Paul, the one banner. It's the only chance the most surprising of all the candidates, Republicans have of escaping the fate has surprising popularity, but anyone President Bush's recent bumbling who has so little faith in the system to seems to have locked them into: Los- want to completely dismantle all of it ing the election. is no Republican. This field is lackluster, but not for Kevin Bunkley can be reached a moment do I count myself among at kevrbunk@umich.edu. SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU leaders? Where is the outrage from America? Where is the outrage from the rest of the world? The whips and chains of slav- ery have been replaced with prison cages. 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 - ILANA WEAVER EW Racism lives in Ann Arbor Late Saturday night, I was walkingup to the ATM on Church Street and South University Avenue, when a SUV full of drunk men yelled at me, "Fuck you, Afghanistan bitch!" I kept walking, ignoring this eloquent comment. They targeted me because I was wearing my keffiyeh, a checkered Palestine solidar- ity scarf, which is not in any way related to Afghanistan. I'm white and Jewish, yet I still experienced anti-Muslim racism. When I reached the ATM, I felt something hit my shoulder, possibly a plastic bottle. I turned around to respond and was only met with more belligerent yelling. As I went to write down the car's license plate number, I noticed a police car right behind them. The cops either failed to notice what happened or simply ignored the incident. The SUV full of boys turned off the road, and the police drove off like nothing happened. Ironically, I had just left an uplifting work- shop at the Trotter House called the Arab Community Summit, which was sponsored by Multi Ethnic Student Affairs. The ses- sion foretold my experience with the group of drunk men: It was about the prevalence of anti-Arab racism at the University. In the workshop, a Palestinian student told the story of being silenced and called an extremist in her classes, regardless of the subject, after pro-Israel students realized her heritage and ganged up on her. Another Arab student described sitting in class behind two non-Arab students while they discussed how Israel should kill all Palestinians to make more room for Israel's economy. Make no mistake: Anti-Arab racism is alive and well in Ann Arbor. The day after the incident at the ATM, I told a friend about it. In turn, she relayed a story of a friend on campus, a black woman, who was called the n-word while walking down an Ann Arbor street last month. I am a hip-hop artist and community activ- ist based in Detroit, but I was raised in Ann Arbor. I know from growing up here that this undercurrent of racism is deep, and it goes well beyond anti-Arab hatred. Beneath Ann Arbor's facade as a liberal safe haven, the police disproportionately crimi- nalize communities of color and poor people. There's a landfill on Ellsworth located across the street from low-income housing. And who can forget the historic moments in 1996 and 1998 when the city allowed the Ku Klux Klan to demonstrate on the roof of City Hall. So how can these problems be addressed? The following are some of the solutions that were put forward by Arab Summit partici- pants on Nov. 10, as well as students of race- related organizations throughout Ann Arbor: First, we must speak out. These are only isolated incidents if we let them go undocu- mented. Second, student organizations should address hate crimes through programs and action. Third, change the race and ethnic- ity requirement at the University to an anti- oppression requirement. Such a requirement would educate students on how being privi- leged or harmed by systems of oppression can influence their mentality. This requirement would also support students in figuring out their role in ending racial oppression. Beyond changes on campus, we must estab- lish truth and reconciliation commissions, modeled after South Africa's post-apartheid resolution process - a process that is now being applied across America in communities that are no longer willing to sweep ongoing injustices under the carpet. Without address- ing past wrongs, power dynamics will contin- ue to be asymmetric, and the racial hierarchy will remain unchanged. 1lana Weaver is an Ann Arbor-raised, Detroit-based emcee and activist. The Daily's editorial earlier this Kirk Muse week about same-sex benefits in Mesa,Ariz. Michigan (Cox's crusade must end, 11/12/2007),unfairly insults the intel- ligence of the voters of Michigan. I Bush right to veto would like to question the editorial board on its statement about ballot Wasteful water bill proposals: "Such initiatives under- mine the concept of representative TO THE DAILY: democracy by side-stepping debate There is a contradiction in an edi- on the most important issues." The torial this week praising the Con- Daily clearly needs a lesson in Greek. gressional override of President Democracy comes from the Greek Bush's veto of a water bill (Water word "Demos," meaning people, and works, 11/14/2007). If all of the proj- "Kratos," meaning rule. Is it not the ects included in the bill are essential point of any democracy, be it direct to the health of the country's water or representative, to create laws that supply - as the Daily's editorial reflect the will of the people? board claims in the editorial - why To imply the debate was "side- did Democrats insist on air-drop- stepped" by a ballot proposal is pre- ping 450 earmarks into the bill at posterous. The people have been the last minute in the committee hearing people from both sides rant conference, skirting debate? about the issue for decades: To say I applaud President Bush and the a debate was "side-stepped" insults handful of brave congressmen who the intelligence of every person are now standing up for taxpayers who voted in the election. What the by fighting the wasteful and corrupt Daily proposes is to let legislators back-door tactics which have come deal with it, as though there's secret to define the Democratic majority information about gay people the and its spending habits. Congress public isn't aware of. Who elected was undoubtedly elected on a man- those representatives? The same date to increase transparency, but people of Michigan, in whom the the creative tactics it employs to Daily professes so little faith. waste money refute any rhetori- Sure, democracy is not perfect. cal promises its members may have But to say that voters are incompe- made to clean up our government. tent is unfair and crosses a line. Jonny Slemrod Nathan Stano LSA sophomore LSA freshman The ,war on drugs' OSUfans hoping for gs agood clean game targets black people TO THE DAILY: TO THE DAILY: We at The Ohio State University I'm writing about Mike Eber's cannot wait for the match-up of the column earlier this week about sub- Blue and Scarlet this weekend. tle racism in our society (Is that just Students at OSU joined together the way it is?, 21/12/2007). It's obvi- two years agoto create the Ohio State ous that the so-called war on drugs Sportsmanship Council. Through is actually a war on certain people initiatives to welcome visiting fans, - politically-selected people, who cut down on poor behavior and happen tobe black people. increase school pride, this group of Where is the outrage for these students has worked hard to create a unfair drug laws? Where is the friendly, exciting environment for all outrage from the black commu- fans. Our projects extend beyond just nity? Where is outrage from black football: We hope to promote spirit and sportsmanship at all Ohio State sporting events. While we will not be lucky enough to host the exciting match up this weekend, we want to let Michigan know that we have encouraged all of our fans visiting Michigan to show pride for OSU by being positive fans. History and tradition are very important to students, alumni and fans of OSU. On game day, the stu- dents of OSU hope that all Buckeye and Wolverine fans will join us in committing to good fan behavior and sportsmanship. We look forward to an exciting game and look forward to hosting this stories series next year. Samantha Bloom OSU freshman Ohio State Sportsmanship CouncilMember Maize-out requires widespread support TO THE DAILY: It's Beat Ohio State Week here in Ann Arbor, and it's time to rally and support our football team and our university. The past two foot- ball seasons, maize-outs organized by the Athletic Department to unite the 110,000 fans at Michigan Sta- dium have been lackluster at best. Students have shown tremendous enthusiasm on maize-out days - coming to the Big House wearing our brightly colored student shirts - but participation by alumni and others in attendance on Saturdays is weak. For the biggest game of the season, a hodgepodge of colors at Michigan Stadium is simply unacceptable. Everyone - students, alumni and fans alike - need to wear maize on Saturday to be a united force of sup- port for our Wolverines. I do not need to pointto Penn State and Wis- consin to point out what an asset a unified crowd wearing their school's color can be at football games. Across the Big Ten, alumni and fans join students in their efforts to wear a uniform color. What better way would there be to stand united as Wolverine Nation than to have a sta- dium-wide maize-out on Saturday? When you wake up on Saturday, no matter what the weather conditions may be, remember to wear maize. Eric Mandell Victorson LSA senior I 4 0 CHRIS KOSLOWSKI .r , T A Tho 's heart s real he answ rsnIs0., in this pri4ry la~~ ay favor rxoodpr me. a a 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 tothedaily@umich.edu.