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4 - Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
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Ann Arbor, MI 48109
tothedaily@umich.edu
So I don't know how somebody who's in
second place is offering the vice presidency
to the person who is in first place."
- Barack Obama, responding to Hillary Clinton's suggestion that he would make a good
vice president, as reported yesterday by The Washington Post.
Why are these people running?
4
ANDREW GROSSMAN
EDITOR IN CHIEF
GARY GRACA
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR
GABE NELSON
MANAGING EDITOR
Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the 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 and content in every section ofthe paper. Readers are encouraged to contact the public editor
with questions andcomments. He canbe reached at publiceditor@umich.edu.
Studying at home and afar
International programs aren't the only valuable options
veryone is taking a trip Africa these days, from Bono to
President Bush to University President Mary Sue Cole-
man. Hoping to strengthen the University's overseas ties,
Coleman is on an excursion to the world's second-largest conti-
nent and the Middle East. While this trip does precisely what the
University should be doing - especially with its growing empha-
sis on international exchange - there's more work to do back in
he most memorably depressing
day of my adult life was Nov. 3,
2004. If you were on campus
that day, no matter
who you voted for
in the presidential
election the day
before, you probably
remember it. Those
bleary-eyed get-
out-the-vote types
had finally vacated
the streets, though
their "November JEFFREY
2" stickers polluted BLOOMER
every street corner,
(and still do in some
places). There was a sense of gloom on
campus, butforme, an even more acute
one of total dejection.
I was miserable. I had an appoint-
ment with a professor that day and
went to her office, but she quickly gave
up on any pretense of caring aboutwhy
I was there. "This sucks," she said. "It
wasn't even close."
President Bush had become a cari-
cature of the Republican Party by
that point, but his administration had
plenty more damage to do. It was also
the same day the "other" Proposal 2
passed, which still has same-sex work-
ers in Michigan who seek health care
benefits for their partners in limbo. It
was, more than anything, the first time
this state and country decimated my
modest new-voter idealism,
Many of us have long held a belief
that there is no way this will be repeat-
ed on Nov. 5, 2008, the day after this
pervasive election cycle will come to
an end. Chin up firmly in the air, we
believed that whatever the outcome,
we will finally triumph over our bag-
of-tricks electoral process and agree
that we had a good election and were
ready to move on from it.
This has turned into a fantasy. As
the Democratic Party scrambles to
solve this week's crisis, the Florida and
Michigan question, I can no longer
react to this primary with anything
other than amused disregard.
How else should I respond? I find it
difficult to accept the argument that
I have a civic responsibility to remain
invested. The candidates are hardly
even doing that anymore. It's not that
I'm indifferent - as a 21-year-old
supporter of Hillary Clinton, I have
endured months as more of a punch-
ing-bag than others my age who sup-
port John McCain. The candidates
have abandoned any attempt to host
an actual debate and have instead
unleashed a theatrical showdown for
delegates.
This election is fun, don't get me
wrong. I remain completely immersed
sn the coverage. I'm just no longer in
a position where I can seriously argue
about each week's new flashpoint. I'm
not going to pretend that getting riled
up about the way the primaries were
held in Michigan or Florida actually
has a point. Of course Clinton thinks
we should just seat the delegates; she
won the states. Of course obama is
warmingup to holdingnew caucuses to
replace the old primary; he wins most
caucuses. No matter what happens, the
results will be tainted for one of them
and a triumph for the other. It's a raw
guess who will benefit in the end.
The two Democratic contenders
and their supporters will each place
the blame on the other for the current
state of the primary, but both candi-
dates continue to win states and they
both belong in the race. The problem is
that neither candidate seems to retain
a grasp on why each earned so many
supporters in the first place.
Neither do I.I will probably vote for
one of them in November, but I am no
longer convinced either Democratic
candidate is interested in offering a
truly compelling reason for voters to
favor one over the other. They could
counter this by not releasing state-
ments aimed at placating donors who
promise stepped-up attacks every time
an opponent wins a state. They could
The Democratic
race has dissolved
into mere theatrics
counter this by ending the back-and-
forth ads that play off each other with
winks and puns, however heartily
they nourish myKRSS feeds. They could
remind voters why they're running for
president.
This primary routine has become
so exceedingly pointless that I have no
idea why every voter in this country
doesn't feel duped. We had an uncom-
mon pool of candidates and an even
rarer opportunity to find the right one.
We were all excited. And now, with an
unimaginable zeal, we're allowing the
candidates who remain to blow it.
Now Fm just glad that on Nov. 5,
2008, I will be nowhere near this
campus.
Jeffrey Bloomer was the Daily's fall/
winter managing editor in 2007. He can
be reached at bloomerj@umich.edu.
i.
i
Michigan.
Among the many goals of her two-week
trip, Coleman traveled to Africa to finalize
various exchange programs with univer-
sities in Ghana and South Africa. Empha-
sizing academic collaboration, Coleman
arranged for more study abroad programs,
expanding educational resources and
increased student and faculty exchange.
In our increasingly interconnected world,
these programs foster the necessary cul-
tural exchange that the University needs.
Focusing on Africa, the University is look-
ing to a continent that many other Ameri-
can institutions have overlooked.
The University is also promoting these
programs ina more mutually beneficial way
than most universities. Some universities
have decided to establish satellite campuses
in major cities. One prominent example is
Education City in Doha, which features five
different American universities - a regular
shopping mall of education. This approach
undermines local institutions and smacks
of Western superiority. Coleman's approach
has recognized the value of institutions
abroad as complementary resources. This
expansion of study abroad programs in
Africa provides new opportunities for stu-
dents and faculty of the University of Mich-
igan and its foreign counterparts.
Back home, there is a lotthe University can
do to make sure these opportunities don't go
to waste. Affordability is a continual prob-
lem for many of these programs. Awareness
is another. Exchanges don't do much good if
no one is willing or able to participate.
Students and faculty don't need a stamp
on their passports to embrace the spirit of
collaboration, either. We have a neglected
neighbor a half hour away where exchange
programs could be just as beneficial:
Detroit. A program is being discussed that
would allow students to live in the city, take
classes at the University's Detroit Center
and to participate in much-needed commu-
nity development projects. This program,
like study abroad and exchange programs,
would have a meaningful impact on the city
and students alike. Exchanges allow each
side to share its best qualities, and work
together in ways that cannot be taught in
a classroom.
Facilitating meaningful collaboration
between the University and the Motor City
serves a dual purpose. Detroit could benefit
from the knowledge and perspectives cul-
tivated in Ann Arbor and a stronger Detroit
improves the state, which in turn helps
the University. While many people cannot
afford a costly trip overseas, a semester in
Detroit is a cheap, unique way to gain a new
perspective.
To the University's credit, Coleman's
approach has not been about educational
colonialism, but rather strengthening local
institutions to better the respective region.
Still, the University shouldn't forget about
its neighbors closer to home.
4
4
SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS:
Emad Ansari, Harun Buljina, 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.
SCOTT KURASHIGE
Our sad state of democracy
Anyone who follows Michigan politics has
come to expect Gov. Jennifer Granholm to
make calculating decisions consistent with the
middle-of-the-road image she has consciously
nurtured. So what possessed our governor to
issue a passionate statement last week declar-
ing that it was "reprehensible that anyone
would seek to silence" Michigan voters?
Could it be that she was finally abandon-
ing her moderate, follow-the-crowd manner
to become a fiery advocate of the people? Not
likely. Granholm's comments and positions
with regards to the botched Michigan prima-
ry have been all too self-serving. It is an open
secret that Granholm - who will be term-lim-
ited out in 2010 and has no other viable office-
seeking options - would love nothing more
than an appointment ina Clinton administra-
tion. She has endorsed Hillary and is doing
everything she can to aid her campaign.
As we all know, Granhoim and other state
Democratic leaders pushed for a January pri-
mary,violating the Democratic National Com-
mittee's rules, thereby jeopardizing the state's
delegates. They stuck with this plan even
when it was clear that they had played a risky
game of chicken and lost. John Edwards and
Barack Obama withdrew their names from
the ballot, while Clinton famously declared,
"it's clear this election they're having isn't
going to count for anything."
Of course, Granholm and others bought
into the hype that Clinton was the inevitable
nominee and would have the nomination
wrapped up by Feb. 5. Thus, by their reason-
ing, Michigancould stillhelp to coronate Clin-
ton by hosting a "beauty pageant" in January.
The only risk was sacrificing an anti-climactic
caucus, which would be scheduled too late in
the primary season to count for anything.
So our cash-strapped state went ahead
with an expensive primary that was meaning-
less for Democrats and half-meaningful for
Republicans. Unwilling to admit their blunder,
Granholm and the state party leaders insisted
they had taken a principled stand that would
serve Michigan well. Even though the Dem-
ocratic candidates refused to campaign in
Michigan, the governor stoutly declared that
the botched primary had somehow "changed
the dialogue" because it had made the econo-
my more central to the primary debates.
Granholm and Sen. Debbie Stabenow both
rallied their supporters to vote for Clinton on
Jan. 15. And no doubt some Democrats enthu-
siastically did. But Clinton's suggestion that
she "won" a legitimate election in Michigan
is ludicrous, and her demand (echoed by Gra-
nholm) that the DNC seat the delegates she
"won" is a perversion of democracy.
The facts speak for themselves. Fewer than
600,000 people voted in the Michigan Demo-
cratic primary. By comparison, Massachu-
setts Sen. John Kerry carried the state with
nearly 2.5 million votes in the 2004 general
election. Thus, in this blue state, Republican
voter turnout outpaced that of the Democrats
by nearly 50 percent. Indeed, Clinton - with
her major foe being "uncommitted" - got
fewer votes than Mitt Romney, who squared
off against multiple contenders. Since enthu-
siasm is much higher in Michigan on the
Democratic side, the obvious reason why as
many as one million Democrats stayed home
is that they were told their primary didn't
count for anything.
We desperately need a fair and democratic
solution to this mess. But it won't be easy to
resolve. What is clear is that Granholm's latest
grandstanding won't help fix the situation. If
she really cared about Michigan voters being
disenfranchised, she would have acted to stop
this fiasco rather than egging it on.
Instead, she has now joined forces with
Florida's Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, who
would love nothing more than to see the
Democrats bruise each other and demoralize
voters all the way through a brokered conven-
tion. Granholm is no more a neutral arbiter in
2008 than Florida secretary of state and Bush
campaign co-chair Kathleen Harris was when
she certified the results in 2000.
The not-so-big news out of Michigan is that
Granholm has finally found something worth
fighting for: Jennifer Granholm.
Scott Kurashige is an associate University
professor of History, American Culture and
Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies. He
blogs about politics at Huffington Post,
The University needs Kicking Ass Ann Arbor (ww.umi-
chdems.com/blog). It's not a blog only
to invest more in GSIs for Democrats; it's for people of all
political beliefs. With the frequent
activity onthis blog, I was able to stay
TO THE DAILY: up-to-date onthenews duringSpring
In Theresa Kennelly's column Break, even though I didn't spend it
Thursday questioning the demands in Ohio. Then, I was able to express
of the Graduate Employees' Orga- my opinion on that news. Let's face it:
nization (When the Good Fight Gets Everybody likes to act like an expert
Greedy, 03/06/2008), she asked, when it comes to politics.
"How many more needy requests
can (graduate student instructors) Justin Schon
argue for and be willing to strike LSAfreshman
over?" What Kennelly missed was
the fact that many of GEO's requests
aren't new. Rather, these demands C n '
are things for which we have fought
and continue to fight. TO THE DAILY:
Instead of a list of new demands, Karl Stampfl gained my respect by
GEO's requests include changes sticking to his principles concerning
the University has been unwilling his contempt for a demeaninglabel in
to make. It is only by continuing to his column Monday (An obituaryfor
show the University that we still the word 'bich,'03/10/2008). When I
care about these issues that we make went to college in the 1970s, even the
progress - even if this looks like a vilest people were reluctant to com-
lengthy negotiating platform. pare a woman to a female dog. This
If Kennelly's implicit point was was also a time longbefore it became
that GSIs don't deserve increased stylish for men to refer to each other
compensation because we aren'tgood with such a term.
instructors, keeping pay and benefits The best part of Stampfl's col-
low seeminglywon'tcfixthis problem. umn centered on his admission that
Kennelly might not be aware of how he used the term, but stopped after
little training and support GSIs get an epiphany about its acceptability.
from the University before we first That's personal growth through self-
enter classrooms. It's just a one-day assessment. Is there abetter outcome
training seminar. for college attendance?
Graduate teaching positions are
often viewed as a way of killing Lt. Col. Doug Dankworth
two birds with one stone: providing UniversityeofMichigan Army ROTC
cheap instructors for undergrads,
while training graduate students. Losin historicalgains
There are a number of ways in whichLa
this is unfair to everyone in the sys- made in sociajustice
tem. But the equitable and effective
answer is for the University to invest
more in its GSIs so that we have TO THE DAILY:
more time and training to teach well This week marks the 40th anni-
as well as a greater incentive to care versary of the East Los Angeles
about our jobs. Walkouts. In the first week of March
1968, thousand of students in East
Erika Alpert Los Angeles left their public high
Rackham schools to demonstrate the need
for more educational resources, the
elimination of racist curriculum,
ogs are an easy way teachers and administrators and the
need for bilingual and multicultural
te g n l i education. Many scholars have iden-
tified this period as the beginning of
TO THE DAILY: the Chicano Movement - a pivotal
The article last week about stu- moment in the political development
dent groups working for presidential of Mexican Americans.
candidates in Ohio (Student politi- Through direct political action,
cal groups develop sense of urgency high school students and college-age
before big day, 03/03/2008) made one activists pressured the Los Ange-
thing clear: This election will define les Unified School District Board of
and energize our generation. But not Education to introduce a series of
everyone has the time to board abus reforms that enhanced the quality
to Ohio to get involved in it. of education in Los Angeles. Current
Many people don't want to join a Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Vil-
campus organization like the Col- laraigosa, was a student participant
lege Democrats or College Repub- in these events. Reflecting on the
licans. They want to do something present struggle over affirmative
less formal. For this reason, blogging action in Michigan, it is important to
is a great way to get people involved. note that the collaboration of college
Howard Dean proved that with his and high school studentswas enabled
landmark blog, Blog for America. by the introduction of affirmative
The participatory nature of blogs action in 1961 by President John F.
allows for open, interactive and Kennedy. In the mid 1960s, East Los
instantaneous dialogue. Blogging Angeles college students returned
lends itself naturally to the grass- to their communities and fought for
roots activism present at the Univer- social justice and equal opportunity
sity. That's why I've been thrilled to alongside high school age students.
discover and help shape the blog for Today, many of the gains made by
the University's chapter of the Col- thesestudentshave beenlost.Attacks
lege Democrats. The blog is called on affirmative action and reductions
to overall resources for bilingual and
multicultural education have hidden
the legacy student activism began
40 years ago. Nonetheless, the suc-
cess of the walkouts shows the awe-
some potential of student activism to
articulate and coordinate struggles
for social justice and how govern-
ment policies can enable the political
creativity of young people.
Matthew A. Ides
Rackham
Being criticalofChina
is necessary, correct
TO THE DAILY:
One preposterousrhetoricalstroke
at a time, Jinhui Chen made a weak
- and if unchallenged, dangerous
- argument in his letter to the editor
Friday (Understanding China, not the
media's version of it, 03/07/2008).
On Darfur, the letter claimed that
China built "infrastructure" in the
years preceding the United Nation's
intervention in 2007. Certainly the
country provided Sudan with arms,
which prolonged the conflict, and
built oil extraction and processing
facilities to serve its own interests.
China didn't seriously help the area
until just a few weeks ago at the
behest of worldwide protest and con-
demnation, precisely the kind the
letter was so set against.
Similarly, the idea that China
allows protest as long as it does not
directly threaten to overthrow the
government is ridiculous and offen-
sive. Ask the members of Falun Gong,
who have been raped and tortured
in Chinese prisons, if the country
goes easy on activists. Or ask the
wife of Teng Biao. Teng is a human
rights lawyer who just this past Fri-
day was arrested and kidnapped by
government forces cracking down
on dissent. Or the poorest citizens
of Beijing who, displaced from their
homes by the Olympic village, are
being thrown in jail for asking for
their due compensation.
China's treatment of its people is
despicable and indefensible. The West
has been not always been friendly to
political protest and has used tactics
that probably equal or outdo China's
actions. But even America has made
efforts to bringto light its abuses. The
Chinese government to this day has
expunged the memory of protests like
the ones at Tiananmen Square from
any legally accessible media. Instead
the country maintains that brazen
murder is somehow a political neces-
sity. That somehow beingaWesterner
and under the influence of Western
media disallows someone from ques-
tioning China is a cheap fallacy.
I don't need to go to China to
know that the murder of hundreds
of people in 1989 was wrong. Nor to
realize Three Gorges and the Olym-
pic Village have displaced millions of
people from their homes. The letter
to the editor did not defend Chinese
culture, values or people. It defended
the repressive government. That's
not the same thing.
Sharon Traiberman
LSA junior