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4 - Tuesday, February 19,2008
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
my ii tan4,at"y
Edited and managed by students at
the University of Michigan since 1890.
420 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
tothedaily@umich.edu
4
They cleared the decks. They finished her.
They murdered her."
- Mohamed al-Fayed, father of Dodi Fayed who was killed in the car accident with Princess Diana, suggesting
that the British royal family conspired to kill Princess Diana, as reported yesterday by The Guardian,
The diviseness of diets
ANDREW GROSSMAN
EDITOR IN CHIEF
GARY GRACA
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR
GABE NELSON
MANAGING EDITOR
Unsigned editorials refleetthe official position of the Daily's editorialboard. All other signed articles
snd illustrstions represent sotely the views of their suthors.
The Daily's public editor, Paul H. Johnson, acts as the readers' representative and takesa criticallook at
coverage and content in every section of the paper. Readers are encouraged tocontact the publiceditor
with questions and comments. He can be reached at publiceditor@umich.edu.
No election muligan
A second nominating contest would be a mistake
Michigan's Democratic primary was basicallly worth-
less. When Michigan decided to move its primary
up to Jan. 15, the Democratic National Committee
said it would refuse to seat all of the delegates from Michigan,
effectively disenfranchising voters from its own party because
it wanted to preserve the Iowa-New Hampshire monopoly. Still,
a primary was held and taxpayers paid an estimated $10 million
for it. Now, the DNC wants to make nice, proposing that Michi-
gan holds a caucus to award its delegates for real this time. But
holding another election would be a mistake, a very costly and
possibly irrelevant mistake.
or a lon time, a subculture of
my friends planned unabash-
edly to sabotage me, to trick or
otherwise coerce
me whenever they
had the chance. It
didn't matter if they
knew each other
or not - there was
instant solidarity on
the subject, and they
felt no need to hide
their intentions. JEFFREY
Ever since I
stopped eating BLOOMER
meat four years
ago, they would
do everything they could to show me
the intrinsic foolishness of my ways.
This includes my family. If we ordered
out and they made the call, meat. If I
reminded them in a restaurant, they
would taunt me cheerfully and order
the most egregiously anti-vegetarian
thing they could find. When the food
came, there would be that look, and
then, "Does this gross you out? Hmm,
hmm?"
No, I would say. I don't care. It
became clear I wasn't the squeamish
one in the situation.
I exaggerate only a little bit. When
I told my mother about being a veg-
etarian, she cried, sure that I would
become emaciated. There are the
blank stares, the ostensibly politer
"Oh, why?" and then the few people
who simply accept it. But the reaction
I most enjoy comes from the much
larger group of people who are just
plainly aggressive about it.
The threat, I think, is fairly obvious.
There is the belief, mistaken in most
cases but deeply powerful, that vege-
tarians are imperious people who deny
themselves the obvious pleasures of an
omnivorous diet simply to enjoy the
status it gives them over other people.
It festers strongly in Ann Arbor, this
pseudo-progressive icon of the Mid-
west that goveg.com, a popular veg-
etarian advocacy site, lists as the 10th
most vegetarian-friendly small city in
the country. They must be talking about
the restaurants, because they certainly
aren't about the people. To cast diet
choice as some kind of politically cor-
rect movement of snobs and fools is
simply misinformed, and it says more
about the people who subscribe to that
belief than the people they ridicule.
I admit I come froma distinct side of
this. I acknowledge those ubiquitously
cited surveys (though I've never been
able to find them) that say a quarter of
teenagersthink vegetarianism is "hip."
The University - unshakable advo-
cate that it is - reports on its housing
website, "We respect the choices our
customers make to healthfully meet
their nutritional needs." You would be
forgiven if that strikes you as nominal,
but whatever, it's there.
On the other side, there are 1,055
people in the University's chapter of
the Facebook group "For Every Ani-
mal You Don't Eat, I'm Going to Eat
Three." That's a lot. Now I love this
group - especially its contention that
"Charleton Heston is a god" - but I
fear most people who are in it take its
tongue-in-cheek mission literally.
On the national level, where this is
a favorite (if pointless) discourse, The
New York Times ran an op-ed piece
last summer that suggested that a
vegan diet can kill children, citing an
anecdotal story about an infant who
purportedly died because of a vegan
diet and the parents who were put on
trial for it. Soon after, the paper ran
a letter from a nutritionist who tes-
tified at the trial that the baby died
because his parents didn't feed him,
not because of his diet. There was no
correction.
Then, last week, in another New
York Times story headlined "I Love
You, But You Love Meat," a writer
began by reasonably exploring the
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS:
role of diet choices in relationships
and then proceeded to quote an author
who compares vegans to Hezbollah.
The comments on the message board
brought out a lot of the same: "I could
never date a vegetarian" was a popular
response.
These beliefs are pervasive, and
they are hilariously divisive. Exactly
what is the continued anxiety here?
I don't have any illusions about the
increasingly industrial organic food
movement or the particular benefits
of my diet; it is only what I make it. So
then why - it always, always comes
down to this for people - did I choose
to make the switch? I honestly couldn't
tell you for certain. It's true that the
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So what
if I'm a
vegetarian?
By offering Michigan delegates through a
caucus, the DNC is handing the state a solu-
tion, but a not a prudent one. The Michigan
Democratic Party is clearly not ina financial
position to dole out millions of dollars to
have a caucus. While the DNC is giving us
the privilege of a redo, it is not helping with
the cost of such a solution.
If Michigan chooses to pay for a caucus,
there isn't even a guarant6e that it will mat-
ter. The proposed date for this new vote
would be March 15, and by then, it is possible
that the Democratic candidate will already
be chosen. Today Wisconsin and Wash-
ington will hold their nominating contests.
Then Texas and Ohio will vote on March 4.
If the close contest between Barack Obama
and Hillary Clinton is secured after these
contests as some predict, then Michigan
would have wasted millions of dollars not
once, but twice. Both would have made no
difference. This from a state with already
desperate finances.
The saddest part of it all is that when
given the choice of whether to accept the
DNC's offer to have a redo election, the state
Democratic Party seems more interested in
politics than what's best for the state. Most
of the state Democratic Party leaders are not
without bias in makingtheir decisions. State
Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer
and Gov. Jennifer Granholm are only two
of the many Clinton supporters nestled in
state politics. Instead of concern about the
logistics of a caucus, these leaders seem to
be more concerned that having a caucus to
reassign the delegates opens up the pos-
sibility of another win for Obama. There is
also concern that if Michigan's delegates are
reinstated and awarded to Clinton, many
will cry afoul.
Either option is unfair to Michigan vot-
ers and citizens. The state Democratic
Party needs to stick by its decision to move
the primary to the front of the pack, but it
needs to do it for the right reasons. Trying
to secure a Clinton victory is not the right
reason - the cost and logistics of a second
election are, though.
None of this squabbling makes up for the
how the DNC slapped Michigan voters in
the face for holding an earlier primary, cau-
cus or not. Instead of trying to solve this
delegate debacle, the DNC should stick to
its promise not to award Michigan its del-
egates and win back Michigan voters when
it reallymatters: the general election. Michi-
gan Democrats may be upset, but they will
certainly be forgiving if the Democratic
nominee makes the economy a central issue
in the campaign and, God forbid, actually
campaigns in Michigan.
Michigan doesn't need more than del-
egates - we need solutions and a political
party that will do more than make us waste
money on do-over elections.
ideaofslaughterhousesmakesme sick.
It's also true that I ate all varieties of
meat uninterrupted for 18 years. One
day I just didn't; that became a week, a
month, a yea, and now here we are.
That's it. -o grand revelation. No
speechifying from the guy who lived
across the hall freshman year. I've got
nothing for you. -
Some vegetarians and vegans trum-
pet the movement with more force
than I have here, but most sensible
people who have changed diets don't
want to take away your beloved meat.
They want to change your mind. It's a
choice, and it's one I hope we can agree
people have the right to make.
Jeffrey Bloomer was the Daily's fall/
winter managing editor in 2007. He can
be'reached at bloomerj@umich.edu.
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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, Imran Syed, Neil Tambe, Matt Trecha,
Kate Truesdell, Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Van Gilder, Rachel Wagner, Patrick Zabawa.
SEND LETTERS TO: TOTH'EDAILY@UMICH.EDU
4
BLOOD DRIVES UNITED AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS CLUB
Protecting our blood supply
As the student voice of the American Red
Cross at the University, we recognize and
appreciate Gary Graca's column Wednesday
(Give life (unless you're gay), 02/13/2008) that
acknowledged a problematic and potential-
ly divisive Food and Drug Administration
policy that says "men who have had sex with
other men at least once since 1977 are barred
for life from giving blood." He proposed
banning blood drives on campus. After dis-
cussing the issue with the CEO of the South-
eastern Michigan Blood Services Region
Diane Ward, she responded, "We admire Mr.
Graca's desire to grow the blood supply, but
until the FDA policy is changed, we need to
ensure that we have all available resources
to save lives. Any action that impedes our
ability to collect blood in the short term
impacts the safety of our community." The
implications of the FDA policy are serious.
However, the Red Cross is at the forefront
of combating this policy, which is no longer
medically and scientifically warranted and
consequently restricts the donor base.
With only 38 percent of the U.S. popula-
tion eligible to donate blood and only a very
small percentage of that group actually doing
so, the Red Cross is, as Graca wrote, "caught
in a crossfire." As the representatives of the
student groups responsible for coordinating
Red Cross drives on campus, our primary
goal is the collection of blood to save lives.
We support the Red Cross and any other
organization in their endeavors to change
the FDA's policy. But at the same time, we
struggle with an immediate solution to the
problem. The hospitals and patients that
depend on the donations from our drives are
our primary concern.
Over the course of a year, our organiza-
tions hold more than 50 blood drives at the
University. The pints donated at the annual
Blood Battle could potentially save more
than 6,000 lives. Blood Battle has proven
that it's the spirit of the rivalry and loyalty
to the University that motivate so many stu-
dents, faculty, staff and alumni to donate
blood. The 26-year-old competition has
transformed a rivalry based on hating oth-
ers into a partnership based on saving them.
It is important to recognize that just as the
blood donated by a Buckeye could very well
go to a Wolverine, blood donations made at
any drive go to anyone and everyone who
needs them.
Graca's proposed solution to coordinate
blood drives at near- or off-campus loca-
tions - like St. Mary Student Parish, which
already hosts drives year-round - would not
represent a win-win situation when you rec-
ognize the impact of the University drives.
With University students representing the
majority of the donor base, a large percent-
age of which are first time donors, holding
blood drives off campus would significant-
ly decrease the yearly blood collection. It
would also severely reduce the possibility of
attracting new donors and discourage past
donors from continuing to donate.
Our yearly pint collections make the Uni-
versity the region's fourth largest source of
blood. They are a direct result of the pres-
ence and convenience of blood drive loca-
tions at buildings and residence halls across
campus. These locations provide the oppor-
tunity for people to donate and also raise
awareness about the need for blood in the
community.
Currentlyblood drives maynotgive every-
one the chance to save lives, but in order to
come together to fight the FDA's policy, we
must remember that the blood raised by the
University's drives contribute to saving the
lives of all who need it. On a campus that
prides itself on loyalty, let us come together
to raise pints and combat discrimination, not
by reducing our donor base, but by continu-
ing to support it. Blood drives provide the
uniquely altruistic opportunity to save the
life of someone you may never meet.
So while the policy may discriminate in its
outcome, its intent is not discriminatory. A
solution to the problem is not attacking the
Red Cross and eliminating blood drives on
campus, but coming together to combat the
policy at its core. If our ultimate goal is to
grow the donor base, we can't begin to pur-
sue that goal by shrinking it.
Dr. Robertson Davenport, medical direc-
tor of the University Health System's Blood
Bank, responded to the potential removal of
blood drives from campus by saying, "I wear
two hats: One of the University, one of the
Red Cross. We use a heck of a lot of blood
here. Whatever hurts our ability to collect
blood hurts all of us."
Michael Diamond, Caitie Hill, Brian Talpos and
Laura Yocky are representatives of Blood Drives
United. Jennifer Macdonald, Stephanie Price
and Megan Rafferty are representatives of the
Washtenaw County American Red Cross Club.
An armed campus
is a safer campus
TO THE DAILY:
After reading news articles about
Thursday's fatal shootings on the
campus of Northern Illinois Univer-
sity, I feel compelled to write my no-
doubt politically incorrect thoughts.
The shootings Thursday at NIU
are one of many on college campuses
over the past several years. Some,
like the shootings last year at Virgin-
ia Tech, ended with a suicide by the
shooter after dozens of students and
faculty were killed. Others, like the
shooting of three people at Appala-
chian School of Law in 2002, ended
not with the shooter being "tack-
led or cornered" by other students
(as most news medig described the
story), but by several people who
had handguns in their vehicles. In
this case, these people ran to get
their guns and then held the shooter
at gunpoint until law enforcement
arrived on the scene, without anoth-
er shot being fired.
One common theme in all of this
- and one that applies to many ofthe
tragic shootings at colleges, in shop-
ping malls and elsewhere around
the country - is that they happen
in "gun-free" zones. Such gun-free
zones, lauded by liberal anti-gun-
rights folks, are open invitations to
those who ignore the law, take out
their hostilities and kill others with-
out being challenged.
Fortunately, no such episodes
have happened here at the Univer-
sity in the last 25 years ago. I hope
it never happens. Nonetheless, I
don't expect this spate of luck to last
forever. The state of Michigan has
allowed its age-eligible citizens to
obtain concealed handgun permits,
based on rather stringent train-
ing certifications and background
checks through both state and fed-
eral databases. Michigan is one of
many "shall issue" states concerning
concealed weapons permits, requir-
ing the state to issue these permits
to those who meet the criteria.
Moreover, little needs to be done in
the way of violating state law to have
such permits rescinded, and the
permit holder is subjected to severe
criminal charges.
Now, for the explicitly politically
incorrect statement: I am not at all
happy - or should I say comfortable
or secure - knowing that legal con-
cealed carry weapon permit holders
are not allowed to carry concealed
weapons for their own self-defense
on our campus. Over the years there
have been too many vicious attacks
on defenseless students merely walk-
ing though campus. Sooner or later
we may have to face a tragedy during
which no one who could otherwise
defend themselves or others around
them will be able to do so.
Marshal Shlafer
Medical Schoolprofessor
Combating latent
racism on campus
p.m. This event will be have a panel
of speakers discussing the place of
black youth in society with respect
to academic, social and cultural fac-
tors. Though this event is one small
step in eradicating latent racism, we
should leave no stone unturned.
Let's prove that the University
community always works to uphold
the kind of diversity on which we
pride ourselves.
Michigan Student Assembly
members
This letter was signed by Mohammad Dar,
NateFink, StellaBinkevich,
Sabrina Shingwani, AlexSerwer,
TO THE DAILY: Y Liz Hadeed, Lauren I
Several few weeks ago someone Jordan Salins, Jason R
posted on Craigslist a blatantly rac- Sarah Mynhier, MaxA
ist rant about how black people are Gibran Baydoun
"invading Scorekeepers," the post-
er's favorite bar. Among other offen- Alterative
sive dribble not fit to be repeated,
this person insinuated that interra- Break is m
cial relationships are repulsive and
that black people should "just stay *ust a week
at Necto, Touchdowns, Ypsilanti,
Zaimbabwe, etc" because they are
unwelcome at Scorekeepers. TO THE DAILY:
This statement was very upset- In Theresa KE
ting to read, let alone to learn that Thursday (Teachfo
it came from one of the Universi- 02/14/2008), the cI
ty's own. This incident, however, Alternative Spring'
uncovers a more potent, prevalent aid" was misinfor
issue on this campus: latent racism. rate. ASB does not
Whatever the cause, the Univer- be a movement of
sity community has an obligation tryingto fix nation,
to do something about it. The easy or less.
answer is to say that personal preju- Instead, ASB is
dices, as long as they don't directly different kind, not
affect anyone, aren't harmful and students trying to
cannot be eliminated. That, how- m6s" as Kennelly
ever, is not the University way, nor sionate, involved s
should it be a part of the University in a service-learnir
experience. Instead, we must use ing this experience
this as an opportunity to learn and issues like pover
move forward. the environment a
Today,therearemanyeffortsbeing lence in a way they
made to get people talking across traditional classro
racial and social lines. Examples of extends beyonda
these efforts include the Program on trip in late Febru
Intergroup Relations and initiatives research and refle
like the Diversity Blueprints. But and service sites in
we, as students and citizens, need to ing up to Spring I
play an even bigger role in fostering during and after th
diversity on our campus. For many studs
There has never been a better deep-rooted passis
tsime to start tackling this issue than tice, which they(
during Black History Month. Until and act on throu
we start talking, collaborating and lege career and b(
empathizing, we will not be able to nelly not dismissei
cut through the problem of latent quickly, she would
racism. that ASB promotes
The Michigan Student Assem- that acts as a catal
bly Minority Affairs Commission a quick fix.
will be holding an event called "The
State of Black America" tomorrow Amanda Hooper
at the Michigan Union's U-Club at 7 Alum
Inouye, Paula Klein,
Raymond,
Nowak, AlexJiga and
Spring
)re than
of activism
ennelly's column
'r the Time Being?,
haracterization of
Break as a "Band-
med and inaccu-
t purport itself to
college students
al issues in-a week
a movement of a
of "half-hearted
boost their r6su-
wrote, but of pas-
tudents engaging
ng initiative. Dur-
, they learn about
ty, immigration,
and domestic vio-
y never could in a
om setting. ASB
a one-week road
ary; participants
ct on their issues
i the months lead-
Break, as well as
e trip.
ents, ASB sparks
on for social jus-
carry with them
aghout their col-
eyond. Had Ken-
d the program so
have discovered
s service learning
lyst to action, not
I
a
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