4A - Wednesday, December 5, 2007 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com * L 4e fitic4t*pan 4 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu IMRAN SYED JEFFREY BLOOMER EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR NOTABLE QUOTABLE If I were a defense attorney, I wouldn't want me on a jury. - Gov. Jennifer Granholm on being called for jury duty yesterday at Ingham County Circuit Court. The two cases Granholm was assigned to were dismissed before trial. She may be called back again later this week. Detroit's forgotten charm KARL STAMPFL EDITOR IN CHIEF Unsigned editorials reflectrhe officialrposition sf she 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 andcontent in every section of the paper. Readers are encouraged to contact the public editor with questions and comments. He canbe reached at publiceditor@umich.edu. House hunt Solution for student housing must go beyond landlords Students who have looked for housing this fall know about the Ann Arbor ordinance that forbids landlords from show- ing their properties to prospective tenants until 90 days of the current lease has passed. For leases starting on Sept. 1, this trans- lates to Dec. 1. But not all landlords have played by the rules. Given the pressure and competition in the student housing market, land- lords have resorted to exploiting loopholes in the law. Amendments to the law promise to close those loopholes, but a real solution must go beyond that and address the shortcomings of University housing, which causes unnecessary pressure on the housing market. We all know Detroit gets a bad rap around the coun- try, but I am continually amazed by how institutionalized this reputation has become. Just as Los Angeles is imme- diately associated with movie stars and New York City is understood to be the cultural and IMRAN financial capital of SYED perhaps the entire world, Detroit is ingrained as a complete failure in the minds of most Americans. Such a belief would have been out- rageous 50 years ago, when Detroit was the fifth largest city in America (behind New York, Los Angeles, Chi- cago and Philadelphia) and a fledgling cultural capital too. Formerly holding titles such as "The Paris of the West" and "The Arsenal of Democracy," Detroit had long been known as the center of the automotive world. In the Red Wings and Tigers, it had some of the most storied sports teams in the country. The founding of Motown Records in 1959 and the cultural rev- olution that followed seemed to com- plete Detroit's bid to become one of the world's premier cities. Things didn't work out that way. The infamous 12th St. Riot of 1967, layoffs in the automotive industry and the departure of businesses, money and even Motown Records itself have left the city reeling for decades. Detroit's supposed renais- sance has been in the works for at least three decades (The Renaissance Center was built in 1977 to commem- orate Detroit's supposedly imminent turnaround). Of late, new casinos have been built, businesses have been brought downtown and the city has hosted an MLB All-Star Game and Super Bowl XL in its new baseball and football stadiums. But Detroit will never escape the shadow of its past. If the city plays its cards right, that is actually a good thing: The riots and destruction that the city is associated with are a very minor part of its history and heritage. There are many gems here that can be used as part of a true resurgence. Tiger Stadium was one such gem. Older than New York's Yankee Stadi- um and Chicago's Wrigley Field, Tiger Stadium opened as Navin Field in 1912 - on the same day as Boston's Fenway Park.Countingitspredecessor,Bennett Park, there has been Tigers baseball at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull since 1896. That stadium is something everyone knows and admires about Detroit. Even in its final season in 1999, Tiger Stadium was in excellent shape: While parts of the roof were falling in at Yankee Stadium, Tiger Stadium stood unfettered, ever the calm and stoic symbol of a Detroit tradition that outdates even the birth of the city's auto industry. There was much potential in Tiger Stadium after the Tigers moved up the street to Comerica Park in 2000. So what did the city do with that landmark listed on the National Reg- ister of Historic Places? Nothing. While there was idle chatter about having little league teams play there, building a baseball museum within the stadium or renovating it and using it as a venue for other events, the stadium just stood there. Paint peeled, concrete cracked and weeds grew wild. All of a sudden several years later, there was just no possible option other than tearing down the apparently decrepit stadium. With the demolition of most of the stadium all but certain - the city is reviewing demolition bids at the moment, and the wreckingballwillbe brought in in February - Detroitis los- ing perhaps its most powerful weapon in the struggle for a true resurgence. There won't be another Tiger Stadi- um, and with it largely destroyed, the rest of the country will have even less good to remember the city by. It does appear, however, that parts of the stadium - the dugouts, playing field and a small part of the structure - will be preserved. Around them will be built stores, restaurants and hous- ing units -the same monotonies every city and suburb in the country has at every corner. It's true that Detroit needs more of all of these things to become a city outsiders would want to call home one day, but specifically targeting the stadium for demolition is counterproductive. The stadium is an important symbol, and there are The city cannot escape its past. And that's good. plenty of other decrepit buildings in Detroit that could be torn down to make way for a Gap or a Chili's. In accepting a proposal for such a commercial, business-oriented devel- opment at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull, Detroit city officials are making the same mistake they have repeatedly made in their quest to plug revival: Trying to make Detroit look just like any other city rather than embracing and emphasizing its pecu- liarities. Detroit will never outrun its past to become just another big city, as city officials seem to be hoping. But it can choose to emphasize parts of its history and character to ensure the rest is forgotten. It will have a much tougher time doing that with the corner of Michigan and Trumbull looking no different than any other modern city square. lmran Syed is the Daily's editorial page editor. He can be reached at galad@umich.edu. 6 60 Both the Michigan Student Assembly and Ann Arbor City Council have addressed this issue in the past. In 2005, they worked together to establish a 90-day moratorium to ease the burden on students, who pre- viously had to start thinking about next year's housing options up to 12 months in advance. The law has failed because both landlords and students have failed to com- mit to its conditions. Landlords have offered monetary incen- tives to their current tenants to sway them into renewing their leases early or signing a waiver that allows the landlords to show the properties prior to Dec. 1. Sometimes the landlords don't even have to ask the tenants to sign waivers: Students hoping to get a jump on signing new leases often track down and bribe the current tenants on their own. A proposed solution is a compromise between landlord and student interests. It would shave the 90-day waiting period down to 70 days to mollify landlords, and it would also eliminate the waivers that have undermined the law. However, this solution is not perfect. The 70-day policy opens the housing market up just before Thanksgiving break, causing a hectic hous- ing rush just as students are leaving town. This change also does not address another loophole: The increasing switch by land- lords to May-to-May leases, which open up over the summer, when nearly all students are out of town. A more beneficial proposal would be to move the opening date of leases to second semester. Other college towns - such as Madison, home of the University of Wis- consin - have ordinances that open up the housing market as late as February or March. This plan would allocate signifi- cantly more time and less stress for stu- dents to consider housing options for the following year, but it still would not address the problem caused by May leases. A more meaningful solution must involve the University. On-campus hous- ing, even after the construction of the new North Quad, is terribly lacking. For this reason upperclassman are less apt to live in dorms, increasing the pressure on the private housing market. The Uni- versity should continue to improve and add to the existing residence halls. Along with improvements, a decrease in the cost of University housing would bring more students to University housing and leave better options for students looking for housing off campus. ND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU Daily must truly honor fallen American soldiers 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, Kate Peabody, Robert Soave, Jennifer Sussex, Neil Tambe, Matt Trecha, Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Van Gilder, Rachel Wagner, Patrick Zabawa. ADRIANA ALDANA ) E T Deterring women of color 6 6 We need a new type of person planning wars TO THE DAILY:YTO THE DAILY: I found Kevin Bunkley's column on Iraq The first time I last week (Leadership in Iraq, 11/30/2007) section on the bo particularly refreshing. He wrote about the was ecstatic to se lack of planning and ethics in all levels of honoring fallen A government and military and attributed this ing it, however, th to poor leadership. But then, who is a quali- quickly degenera fied leader to rebuild a nation in the compli- is an insult to all cated Middle East? valiantly fought a Paul Bremer has a masters in business can a section abo administration from Harvard and a certifi- word honor? Afte cate of political studies from the University of their lives for th Paris, but does this qualify him to be director all Americans are of reconstruction and humanitarian assistance the heroic soldie in Iraq? Congress, the supposed overseer of the and a tool of liber Executive Branch's activities, has dispropor- party politics and tionate liberal arts educational backgrounds. soldiers, their sat Of its 435 members, 234 hold law degrees, yet to the country we there are only three chemists, two physicists, one engineer and one microbiologist. I contend BrianPogrund that science and engineering backgrounds are LSA freshman critical in today's world for our members of Congress and presidential appointees. Bunkley states, "There should have been a YOSt S Crltl plan for every conceivable contingency." Those in engineering, have a name for that: Outofonej It's called a "failure modes and effects analy- sis." Looking at every conceivable contingency TO THE DAILY: and its possible effects, engineers can design Congratulation solutions to it or know to avoid it altogether. wanted Michigan Engineers are trained to break down problems Zack Yost kickedc and synthesize solutions. They are also held to (Yost to resign tot strict rules of ethics. In contrast, lawyers are proven that you c trained to find evidence to fita predetermined force him out for conclusion - whether it's valid or invalid - in I truly hope tl order to sway people to their viewpoint. Mohammad Dar, We need a government that makes deci- hishouse or evert sions based on sound facts and science. I find for fear of being last resort appeals to emotions, used by many the cardinal sino of our public representatives, to be disgusting. And so should you. Aaron Willis I set eyes on the "U.S. deaths" ttom of Page 3 on the Daily, I e that the paper had a section merican soldiers. After read- he thrill that Ihad anticipated ated into fury. This section the fallen soldiers who have nd died for our country. How ut fallen soldiers exclude the r all, these soldiers sacrificed e freedoms and liberties that endowed. Yet in this section, rs become simply a number al propaganda. Regardless of personal opinions, honor the crifice and their commitment all call home. Cs made a big deal oolish mistake ns everyone. All of you who n Student Assembly President out of office; you got your way night, 12/04/2007). You have an smear someone enough to one foolish mistake. hat the new MSA president, is wise enough to never leave talk to anyone about anything, slandered when he commits f being a college student. a representative on the Michigan It may appear to some like not ed only 28 percer much has changed in Ann Arbor or tenure-track since Proposal 2 was passed last women. Womeno November, but the ban on race- and to be virtually inv sex-based affirmative action has ured and tenure-tr already had devastating results at Broadening thec the University. Despite adminis- ing tenure evaluat trative attempts to maintain racial the advancement o parity, the University's diversity Many speculatet initiative faces steep odds. prestigious public: Enrollment of minority students for denial of tenure has dropped since 2006. More because the workc recently, diversity efforts have been may be published stalled by the denial of tenure to five side traditional ac female professors of color - Jayati their research is p Lal (Sociology and Women's Stud- less academic va ies), Maria Sanchez (English), Sarita women of color m See (American Culture and English), audiences othert Andrea Smith (American Culture head the tradition: and Women's Studies) and Jacque- is the case, I ques line Francis (CAAS and Art His- productivity of fa tory). As a female student of color, measured solely b I am compelled to voice my support recognition of ren for these assistant professors. journals. As an undergraduate student I'm not advocat at California State University at motion of certain Northridge, I struggled to make my simply because t education more relevant to myself. of color. Instead, I sought out an interdisciplinary should reflect thel academic environment by declar- mitment to racia ing a double major in Latin Ameri- diversity by ack can Studies and Psychology. While social identity of s Latin American Studies sparked my bers as an asset.Z interest in graduate studies, profes- sors of color sustained that interest and helped me reach my academic ARIELA STEIF ambitions. Without such faculty as role models, instructors and mentors, I may not have fulfilled my potential. As a School of Social Work student at the University of Michigan, I actively seek out facul- ty of color, especially female schol- ars who share similar research interests. Given the University's stated commitment to diversity, it is £ unlikely that the denial of tenure is NIL a result of blatant discrimination. Institutional barriers are more like- ly the culprits. According to former American Sociological President William Bielby, "visible trace of bias lies in patterns of segregation within and across organizations." Indeed, tenured positions at col- leges nationwide are characterized by patterns of segregation. In 1999, The New York Times reported that after the passage of Proposition 209, which banned race- and sex-based affirmative action in California, the percent- age of new minority hires for ten- ure-track positions dropped by 50 percent, and the percentage of new female hires for tenure-track posi- tions dropped by a third. Looking at the Faculty Census Report of 2001, the University of Michigan award- nt of its tenured appointments to of color continue visible in the ten- rack jobs. criteria used dur- ion may increase f women of color. that the lack of ations is to blame e. In other words, of women of color d in venues out- ademic journals, erceived to have lidity. However, nay be addressing than those who aljournals. If this tion whether the aculty should be by the exogenous owned scholarly ting for the pro- faculty members hey are women , tenure criteria University's com- al and academic nowledging the uch faculty mem- The student body benefits greatly from faculty diver- sity. A homogenous faculty cannot meet the needs of a diverse student population, especially not minority students who seek faculty of color who they can relate to on personal and academic levels. If the Univer- sity hopes to p'omote the academic achievement of minority students, it should also commit to advancing the careers of minority faculty. The University thrives because of the diversity of its students and faculty. Should tenure continue to be denied for female scholars of color, the previous advances made toward diversity at the University will certainly be reversed. The Uni- versity has much to lose if female scholars of color are discouraged from establishing academic careers here. President Gerald Ford, a University alum, eloquently illus- trated the need for diversity when he stated that we must "offset past injustices by fashioning a campus population more truly reflective of Modern America." Adriana Aldana is a graduate student in the School of Social Work and a member of the school's Multicultural & Gender Affairs Committee. I Eric Sauck Engineeringsenior LSA junior The letter writer is StudentAssembly. CH RIS KOSLOWSKI |0U OPS RE c a Ihe following panel contains ou may now rearn to your strong anecdotal evidence ! regala, ildis|)utable Global ref uting Global Warming. Wrmingbefs -r r i v *edrd~te101 ''dV'S.d. Wze .(;r AL 5T!PI il i 0 0 0