4 4 - Tuesday, March 11, 2008 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com L74C fivlc4l*Qan4,jal*lu A Edited and managed by students at the University ofMichigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. 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