4 -Tuesday, February 5, 2008 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu No, I'm not a traitor. I'm just following my own truth, and that truth has led me to Barack Obama." - Oprah Winfrey responding to claims that she should support Hillary Clinton instead of Barack Obama in the Democratic primary because she is a woman, as reported Sunday by the Associated Press. WYMAN KHUU ANDREW GROSSMAN EDITOR IN CHIEF GARY GRACA EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR GABE NELSON 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, Paul H. Johnson, acts as the readers' representative and takes a critical lookat coverage and content 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. A government for everyone LSA-SG recruitment effort exemplifies active inclusion tudent government at the University has had itsfair share of criticism over the past few months. The allegations that our representative bodies are too insular and don't adequately represent the greater student community have been common. How- ever, a recent initiative by the LSA Student Government is a welcome change from this popular image. The move to increase and diversify the organization's membership not only fights the negative image of student government, but also helps connect the organization to the people it is supposed to be representing, the student body. Chiyo Let s gert Chinese, foo , a I T Chiyo, I thirk they're telling y o Table for two please- sit on the left with the chopsticks. A booth if possible. Right this way You know, m Just taking a wild ThanksO w :Pper. I I __ Why the State Theatre matters On Friday, following a heavy January recruiting drive, LSA-SG appointed 50 new members. With this one stroke, the organi- zation nearly doubled its membership with recruits from previously underrepresented segments of the student body. The effort was designed to reach beyond the group's traditional membership, which even LSA- SG Appointments Chair Aaron Miller noted was "heavily" Greek. A quick glance at any admissions brochure or the University website shows that diver- sity is one of our University's most cherished values - and rightfully so. The students you see walking across campus every day come from all corners of the nation and world; the different views and experiences they bring with them is one of the most enrich- ing aspects of a University education. While not always fervent in its defense of diversity, the University has a strong track record of keeping campus open to everyone. Student organizations, on the other hand, have long been open to criticism. Student government organizations in particular are supposed to give students an important voice and a key role in shaping campus life. It's onlylogical that these bodies should appeal to broad segments of the stu- dent population. Unfortunately, groups like LSA-SG have long had reputations as static clubs with marked in-group mentalities. Because of this history, LSA-SG deserves all the more credit for actively seeking to fix this problem, recognizing its base and making a concerted effort to expand outside of it. There's a lot to specifically like about LSA- SG's measures. For one, new blood is always a good thing, bringing new ideas and fresh perspectives. In this case, the effect could be even more meaningful. In an effort to mir- ror the University in promoting diversity and bridging cultural barriers on campus, the recruiting drive focused on groups that previously had little voice in government affairs. For instance, it is especially signifi- cant that 10 of the 50 new members will join the Multicultural Affairs Committee. Sure, more cynical people might call into question the size of this expansion and voice concern about the possibility that the orga- nization is tokenizing minorities. Both of these points of contention are unfounded and misconstrued. Although almost dou- bling the amount of members may seem like a large influx of people for a group as small as LSA-SG, 50 new members is not an unmanageable number of people. Fur- thermore, the new members come from all backgrounds and life experiences; race and ethnicity were only part of what the expan- sion considered. A look at some of the new members shows that the emphasis was on campus involvement and active participa- tion in student life. It's often easy to find faults in organiza- tions with broad responsibilities and lofty mission statements. In the recruitment efforts of LSA-SG, there's little fault to be found. The group has shown initiative before, and the newest efforts are no excep- tion. LSA-SG helped open up student gov- ernment to the students it represents, and it left an example to follow. To most of us, it's probably hard to believe that when the State Theatre opened in 1942, it was considered a lavish movie house, self- proclaimed as "a perfect theatre for perfectmovieenter- tainment." It had one huge, two-story screen that showed a single movie, and the ticket prices were as low as a JEFFREY quarter at the right BLOOMER time of the day. - Back then it was as sterling a mainstream theater as any before it, just 15 years shy of the Michigan Theater and evenmore mod- ern. Things have changed, but while most of the local audience has moved to off-campus chains, we should con- sider the classic theater on State Street more relevant than ever. While the Michigan Theater has enjoyed continued attention national- ly, the old-school vision that led to the creation of the State has slowly crum- bled. The theater, with an original design by the Detroit-based architect C. Howard Crane, was reconstructed in 1979 to include four screens, which explains the peculiar arrangements of the second-floor theaters that remain to this day. It closed briefly in 1989 when it came under new ownership, and the bottom of the original theater was completely gutted to make way for Urban Outfitters (as if you need- ed another reason to hate that place) before the upper level reopened for business in 1992. By the time the Michigan Theater was contracted to book all movies there in 1997,the State Theatre's iden- tity as a gauche throwback theater was already established. With the help of its sister theater, it was mer- cifully transformed from a Hawai- ian-themed dollar show in the early '90s to a host of important indepen- dent filmmaking, but many still treat it as an ancient untouchable. The confined seating, the cumbersome screen angles, the clanking projec- tors you can hear above you - what's the point? Even if you buy that, which you shouldn't, there's something to be said for the theater's vitality, and its reputation as a run-down venue misses what makes its continued existence so valuable. Until the mid- '80s, there was a similar theater across from Middle Earth on South University Avenue, and the Showcase multiplex on Carpenter Road was a massive drive-in. Each succumbed to the harsh marketplace. But while the State's recent history has been rough, it remains open, which is a testament to its local importance. Admittedly, even though the State's current ownership of the theater has improved the theater's technical aspects since it took over, it still sus- tains more remnants of the old the- ater than a typical contemporary one. That's not a bad thing. I covered film for the Daily for three years, and there was always an apologetic air when it came time to the State, as if it was a second-string task to sit through a movie there. I still have friends who won't go. But in my mind the down- town theaters are as important to the Ann Arbor cultural scene as the Power Center or the Mendelsohn The- atre, and even if most of you share that EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS: opinion of the Michigan Theater, you probably don't of the State. You should. Anyone who has attended a movie at the Showcase multiplex has experienced a theater with limitless technology and a prim- ly modern decor but with no atmo- sphere and no soul. You can go to a place just like it no matter where you are. The State Theatre might insist on a Midnight Movies-style irreverence that doesn't always befit the films it shows during the week. It might not be the most comfortable theater. But it offers a singularity of character the What you sacrifice in comfort, you gain in culture local multiplexes can't hope to match. You should go to experience the venue as much as the movies it shows, and that makes it a cultural rarity we shouldn't take for granted. I think there's something to be said for a theater that allows a couple hours at Ashley's on a Saturday night to be followed by midnight movies as diverse as "Any Given Sunday" and "Yojimbo." But whatever the source of your affinity for it, the State Theatre was the first institution that endeared me to this campus, and there's no rea- son we all shouldn't give it its due. Jeffrey Bloomer was the Daily's fall/ winter managing editor in 2007. He can be reached at bloomerj@umich.edu. I 4 4 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 tothedaily@umich.edu. 4 Emad Ansari, Anindya Bhadra, Kevin Bunkley, Ben Caleca, Satyajeet Deshmukh, Milly Dick, Mike Eber, Emmarie Huetteman, Theresa Kennelly, Emily Michels, Arikia Millikan, Kate Peabody, Robert Soave, lmran Syed, Neil Tambe, Matt Trecha, Kate Truesdell, Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Van Gilder, Rachel Wagner, Patrick Zabawa. SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU Media does not make men cheat on women Where is the student body at these games? Do students only show up when they are guaranteed a win? Our team, though not very good yet, works hard and shows up. It's about time for students to TO THE DAILY: do the same. Shakira Smiler's column about how men's sexual nature is reinforced by the Jerry Acker media (A trifling media, 02/01/2008) did Alum a great job of old-fashioned male bash- ing without much argument to back it Stereoty up. She made a great point that men's and women's magazines give each sex Cheaters different messages (Hint: It's based on what sells magazines). However, calling all men "trifling" and saying that women TO THE DAI are "baffled" by cheating men left me After readi scratching my head. bashing theE Studies have shown that just as many media, 02/01/ women lie and cheat as men. Justcbecause laugh. By ster a former U.S. president, the mayor of ple as liars a Detroit and a few of the author's friends not only toe have cheated doesn't mean that there look ignorant aren't just as many "trifling" women Are we s doing the same thing. I don't know why because shec Smiler is so baffled. People don't cheat among her fri because of what a magazine says. Both are cheaters? men and women cheat because they are good judge of human beings, and unfortunately, some I think it's people feel the need to lie about it so they sullen, adoles don't lose what they have. rounding her men greatly Nick Stadts Maybe if she Alum she would h would not ha Bad team shouldn't reaching and cle that tarnis cause bad turnout of a usually e Stephen Reei TO THE DAILY: Engineeringgra This week, the University celebrated the 40th anniversary of Crisler Arena and Studies hosted, among other players, our great alum Cazzie Russell, who played basket- doesn't c ball for Michigan and was a three-time All-American. I was at the game. The Michigan basketball team did its best, TO THE DAIL and the players worked hard against Big A New Zea Ten-rival Minnesota. The only people gers of smokin who didn't show up were the Michigan briefWednesc students. It was embarrassing that the Know, 01/30/ student section was one-third empty. contained a si ping men as signores realily LY: .ing Shakira Smiler's article entire male sex (A trifling /2008), I couldn't help but eotyping over3 billion peo- nd cheaters, she managed embarrass herself but also t. upposed to believe that can find cheaters and liars iends and idols that all men Sounds to me like she isn't a character. time for her to drop the cent attitude and start sur- self with good men. Good outnumber the bad ones. did a little social research, ave known that. She also ave written such an over- disturbingly ignorant arti- hed her name and the name xcellent newspaper. !d duate student show marijuana pause cancer LY: aland study about the dan- g marijuana, cited in a news day(Three Things YouShould 2008), was misleading and gnificant inaccuracy. Medical studies with large sample sizes have consistently failed to link marijuana use to increased rates of lung cancer. In fact, at least two studies have shown lower incidences of lung cancer among marijuana smokers who didn't also use tobacco. Furthermore, the New Zealand study's assertion that a lung cancer epi- demic is imminent because of marijuana use is simply not credible. Marijuana use has been ubiquitous in America for more than 40 years and no such epidemic has emerged. On the contrary, marijuana has proven medical value for patients suffering from debilitating and painful diseases like multiple sclerosis and cancer. Fortunate- ly, Michigan voters will have the oppor- tunity this November to pass a ballot initiative to protect these sick and dying people from the threat of arrest and pen- alty for using medical marijuana to alle- viate their pain and suffering. Chris Chiles LSA sophomore Executive Director of the University's chapter of Studentsfor SensibleDrugPolicy 'U'has done wellfixing graduation mistake ized its error and dropped everythingto make amends. I now hope that other graduating seniors will be able to accept the compro- mises. When I heard the news, I figured that all of the anger would be gone and most people would be satisfied. After all, most students initially just complained that graduation wasn't going to be on campus. But I read the comments on the Daily's website and the walls of Face- book groups, and I still see students who are unsatisfied with the decision to have graduation on campus but not at Michi- gan Stadium. The University has given strong rea- sons why commencement can't be at Michigan. Stadium, reasons that por- table toilets and generators won't fix. No amount of complaining or marches at the Cube will get graduation to be at Michigan Stadium. As seniors, there are two things we can do: Accept this fact, give the administration credit for quickly correcting its mistake and have a great ceremony elsewhere. Or we can hold our breath, throw a temper tantrum, refuse to attend graduation and refuse to donate to the University ever again because of this grand injustice. Once again, thanks to the University's administration. I appreciate what it did, and I'm looking forward to April 26, wherever commencement is. in grads joiningPeace Corps, 01/29/2008). The work of even the most well-mean- ing aid organizations often lacks results or smacks of neo-imperialism when the West's supposed experts impose solu- tions on other people. However, when it comes to the Peace Corps, such criticisms are largely mis- placed. These criticisms inappropriately overemphasize the Peace Corps as an aid agency while underestimating its unpar- alleled cross-cultural virtues. Two of the Peace Corps' three official goals are explicitly cross-cultural: "Helping pro- mote a better understanding of Ameri- cans on the part of the peoples served" and "Helping promote a better under- standing of other peoples on the part of Americans." The other goal is a reminder that the Peace Corps does not force vol- unteers on foreign governments. Instead, volunteers are requested to meet each country's needs. I would say most Peace Corps volun- teers - regardless of their motivation for joining - quickly learn they are not abroad to save the world. Instead, the do-gooders, the adventure-seekers and even the slackers all form friendships and understandings that are unavailable back home. People in the host countries similarly benefit from the exchange. It's difficult to think of another program that affords so many Americans and people around the world this in-depth experience. While the concerns voiced in the Daily's article should weigh on the mind of anyone considering work abroad, in my experience, Peace Corps volunteers develop nuanced insights on these issues. Today, when Americans have the wealth and power to do tremendous good or evil in the world, the more Peace Corps vol- unteers we have, the better. The value of Peace Corps is not necessarily in "mak- ing a difference," it's in gaining a cross- cultural perspective on when, where and how to make a difference. Matt Muspratt Alum The letter writer was a Peace Corps volunteer. 0 TO THE DAILY: Aaron Johnson I feel like I'm going out on a limb, Engineering senior and maybe I will be ostracized by fel- low seniors for this, but I would like to Arguments thank the University's administration agis for everything it has done to fix the Peace Corps misguided graduation snafu. I concede that the administration should have thought about graduation when planning the TO THE DAILY: construction project or at least let stu- The charges levied against the Peace dents know about the problems sooner. Corps and its volunteers inlast Tuesday's But everyone makes mistakes, and I feel Daily - including paternalism, volun- the administration has done everything teers' lack of "the experience necessary it can to make up for its mistakes. to tackle the problems in developing The administration has spent a great countries," misguided "do-gooder men- amount of money and time looking into tality" and an insufficient commitment to alternative solutions to make everyone service - are certainly valid in the world happy. It's clear that the University real- of international aid (University ranksfifth 0 0