4A - Wednesday, March 12, 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
I think the only 'red-phone' moment was:
'Do we eat here or at the next place."'
-Comedian Sinbad, questioning how dangerous a supposedly harrowing 1996 trip to Bosnia Hillary
Clinton made with him and Sheryl Crow actually was, as reported yesterday by The Washington Post.
Getting the message across
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 look at
coverage and content in every section ofthe paper. Readers are encouraged to contact the public editor
with questions and comments. He can be reached at publiceditor@umich.edu.
F ROM T HE DAILY
Settling for less
Stadium deal a minor victory in long line of failures
etter late than never. That's about the best that can be said
about the University's settlement with the Michigan Para-
lyzed Veterans of America Monday. While finally agreeing
to necessary accommodations, this settlement hardly negates the
University's 11 months of unconscionable resistance to making the
stadium wheelchair accessible. It's tough to congratulate the Uni-
versity administration for settling a situation that it created with
incompetence. On a more positive side, though, this ineptitude has
brought at least one good thing: awareness about disability issues.
The University must capitalize on this newfound consciousness.
hen Cho Seung-Hui shot
and killed two students
in West Ambler Johnston
Hall on the morn-
ing of April 16, my
friend was asleep
in East Ambler
Johnston Hall, the
adjoining building.
It wasn't until he
was between class-
es on campus a few
hours later that he
learned about the EMMARIE
shooting - via text HUETTEMAN
message, from a
friend off-campus.
While Virginia Tech used e-mail
alerts before, it began requiring that
students register cell phones with the
urgent notification system in order to
register for classes after the shooting
last summer. It also uses other ways to
notify students, like instant messag-
ing, and even offers alerts for parents.
This takes the extra burden off the
school's website, which crashed on
April 16 due to unusually high usage.
Just under a year later, we finally
have our own system. The University
of Michigan launched its new emer-
gency alert system Monday, which
allows students to receive text mes-
sage alerts and voice messages on up
to two phones. However, unlike Vir-
ginia Tech, the University of Michi-
gan will let students choose whether
or not to enroll in the system.
What a way to kill a promising
program.
The Daytona Beach News-Jour-
nal reported Monday that colleges
nationwide are struggling to garner
student participation in cell phone
alert programs. While ITfacts, an
online data compiler, reported last
year that 90 percent of students carry
cell phones, the companies that pro-
vide these alert systems report low
enrollment. The University of Mis-
souri at Columbia even tried giving
away an iPod Nano as an incentive to
register, but still only 15 percent of the
student body subscribed.
Not only is the University of Michi-
gan skipping the giveaway, it's also
making enrollment in the system
more difficult than it needs to be. The
e-mail encouraging students to regis-
ter offered a supposedly helpful link
- directly to Wolverine Access. From
there, the University expects students
to notice the small announcement in
the left-hand side of the page, directing
them to "Student Business." They then
must log in to the website and find the
new "Phone and UM Emergency Alert
Numbers" option, buried in the middle
of the "Personal Information" links.
If students haven't given up by that
point, they then must figure out what
to choose for "Phone Type." Is a cell
phone "Mobile," "UM Alert Text Mes-
sage" or whatever "Current Address
Voice" means? Luckily, "Telephone"
seems like an easy prompt - until
you use parentheses ((734) 555-1234)
instead of a backslash (734/555-1234)
and end up with an ambiguous error
message about phone numbers need-
ing 10 digits.
Let's be honest: Students are gener-
ally lazy. If it's not going to affect our
grade, we tend to drag our feet, if we
participate at all. Btyfailing to simplify
the form and then burying it in Wol-
verine Access, the University has basi-
cally ensured low enrollment.
But the University's biggest blun-
der may be its willingness to bow
to student opposition. Because stu-
dents are concerned about too many
alerts, the University has promised
to use the system only in the event
of a major hazardous chemical spill,
a tornado warning or a shooter loose
on campus. Of course, only certain
shootings qualify. The shooting of a
home intruder near North Campus
and subsequent manhunt in January
wouldn't have made the cut, accord-
ing to Department of Public Security
spokeswoman Diane Brown.
The University knows that some
students are more worried aboutspam
than campus security. While I'm usu-
ally a champion of student freedom,
today I'm pro saving people from their
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS:
own ignorance.
When asked about Virginia Tech's
urgent notification system, which also
alerts students to class cancellations
and weather emergencies, my friend
spoke with a wisdom that only comes
from seeing the system's importance
first-hand.
"If anything, I feel more confident
that I will be informed about some-
thing important before I come to
campus or in due time," he said. And
as he aptly noted, the most important
response to the tragedy is "taking the
necessary steps to move forward and
prepare the campus for, God forbid,
future incidents."
The University has a responsibility
to promote campus safety, no matter
how inconvenient it seems to students.
By making participation in this inno-
vative alert system voluntary and
Emergency alerts
are too important
to be optional
unnecessarily complex, it has ensured
that the program will be ineffective
before it even gets off the ground.
Requiringsubscriptionto voice ortext
alertsisn't ahuge leap consideringthat
the old e-mail notification system was
compulsory. Furthermore, with all of
the resources and qualified individu-
als the University has at its disposal,
this system should be too easy not to
use because the price for not using it
is too great.
My friend agreed, commentingthat
he thought most universities would
make this emergency notification sys-
tem mandatory.
"They almost have to," he added,
"because you never know."
Emmarie Huetteman is an associate
editorial page editor. She can be
reached at huetteme@umich.edu.
In April 2007, the Michigan Paralyzed
Veterans of America sued the University
for failing to meet the requirements of the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
The organization alleged that previous
and upcoming construction on the stadium
bowl counted as renovations, which meant
that the University should have brought the
80-year-old structure into compliance with
the ADA. That could have forced the Uni-
versity to make 1 percent of the more than
100,000 seats in the stadium wheelchair
accessible.
While the University didn't admit any
wrongdoing, the two sides reached a settle-
ment Monday. The deal requires the Univer-
sity to have 329 wheelchair-accessible seats
by 2010, as well as improve accessibility to
bathrooms, concession stands and ticket
offices. Adding the seats will cause the Big
House to relinquish its title as thie largest
stadium in the country for at least two years
- and maybe forever. Not surprisingly, the
University apparently isn't sure what the
outcome of its own construction project
will be.
The lawsuit may have never made it to
trial, but it never should have made it this
far either. For the past year, the University
has been playing games on this issue. First it
tried semantics, arguing that the construc-
tion plans were "repairs" not "renovations."
Then, in September, it tried a pathetic plan
to add 14 wheelchair-accessible seats to the
stadium, seemingly in hopes of appeasing its
critics. No one was convinced. But the Uni-
versity held firm as its reputation for inclu-
siveness took a hit.
That's typical of this administration. If it
had been forthcoming about the complaints
from the Department of Education's Office
of Civil Rights when construction plans
were being considered, this prolonged nega-
tive attention could have been avoided. If
the administration had actually lived up to
its commitment to an open dialogue on the
Big House construction, this problem (and
that of the location of commencement cer-
emonies) might have been considered and
dealt with. The list of if's is endless.
All of these issues point to one major
theme: The University administration and
the over-eager Athletic Department com-
pletely botched the planning for the stadium
construction. This $226-million blunder
is an indictment of the management skills
of the people in the executive suites of the
Fleming Building and Weidenbach Hall.
Still, some good may yet come of this fias-
co. The University's failures have brought
critical attention to disability issues. It's
time to capitalize on this attention in order
to make campus more welcoming for people
with disabilities. The University must edu-
cate students about the needs of people with
disabilities and create a campus culture
that demands that everyone be treated with
respect.Students sharethe responsibilityfor
fostering this culture. Creating a hospitable
environment can be as simple as taking the
stairs instead of crowding the elevator and
leaving wheelchair-accessible bathroom
stalls or those who actually need them.
It's embarrassing to hear that some on
campus blame the Michigan Paralyzed Vet-
erans of America for causing the Big House
to lose its spot atop the utterly meaningless
list of the country's largest stadiums. If this
is something fans actually care about, they
should not direct their contempt on football
Saturdays at their fellow fans in the wheel-
chair section. Instead, they should look up
- above the crowd, above the press box - to
the seating area for the University's leaders
who thought the Michigan Athletic Depart-
ment wa shove the law.
4
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, Imran Syed, Neil Tambe, Matt Trecha, Kate Truesdell, Radhika Upadhyaya,
Rachel Van Gilder, Rachel Wagner, Patrick Zabawa.
ZACHARY FOSTER E T
A new student group status quo
11
SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU
Ignore Nader the election
spoilerfor Democrats
tinual opposition to an increased minimum
wage.
Zachary Martin
LSAfreshman
TO THE DAILY:
In her column Friday, Kate Truesdell Blame fans in wheelchairs
wrote that Ralph Nader's announcement that
he is, once again, launching a quixotic bid for
the White House made her "heart leap" (How for lowers
Nader crushed my dreams, 03/07/2008). I
hope few will be swayed by her argument. TO THE DAILY:
Although Truesdell doesn't take them In response to the settlement the Michigan
seriously, the allegations by "left-leaners" Paralyzed Veterans of America reached with
that Nader helped take votes from Al Gore the University regarding Michigan Stadium's
are merited. Without Nader, our nation wheelchair accessibility: Nice work guys, your
would never have been subject to eight years wish finally came true. You have fought hard
of George Bush's destructive leadership and to ensure that you are able to see Michigan
everything that has come with it: a war of football in person. It is very important that
choice in Iraq, a loss of international pres- you guys be able to view the game - important
tige, an erosion of our constitutional liber- enough that the Big House will lose ,300 seats
ties at home and a gaping deficit financing and potentially the title of "largest stadium in
tax cuts for people who don't need them. college football."
Just consider what happened in Florida, Since you guys are willing to sacrifice Mich-
which could have given Gore the White igan Stadium tradition in order to see games,
House. Bush won Florida by just 537 votes., you mustbe fanatical about Michigan football.
while Nader took 97,421 votes. Advocates And,becauseyou feltyourrights toview agame
for fringe candidates often argue that they were violated, you stuck up for yourselves. I
attract voters who would otherwise be too commend you for making sure everyone has
disenchanted to vote. While this is surely an equal chance to see a Michigan game.
true for many of Nader's supporters, it is Here is what I ask of all people who will be
equally certain that at least .6 percent of helped bythis agreement: I expect all people in
them would have found their way to the polls wheelchairs to work extra hard to make up for
if Nader had not been on the ballot. These the loss in seating. I expect to be deafened by
few votes would have been enough to put the roar on third downs coming from wheel-
Gore over the top. chair sections. I expect to see every wheel-
Truesdell encouraged her readers to check chair decked out in maize and blue. I expect
out the Green Party's ten-point platform. I that wheelchair sections have their own origi-
did. When I could understand the jumble of nal cheers.
non-specific platitudes, I read ideas similar Because people in wheelchairs are going to
to Gore's. Among many goals, the platform be accommodated by the Michigan commu-
calls for "equal opportunity," "global respon- nity, it should not be too much to ask that these
sibility" and "economic justice," including people return the favor.
a "living wage." Because of Nader, Ameri-
cans have received the opposite: increased Chris Vessels
inequality, a loss of global respect and con- LSA senior
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.
With the much-anticipated dis- posedly genero
cussion by Stephen Walt and John microcosm is tr
Mearsheimer, who wrote the con- only AMI and S
troversial book "The Israel Lobby Freedom and E
and U.S. Foreign Policy," coming sit down for a
up Friday, it is worth taking an then people in
introspective look at the state of enough electrici
campus activism on the Israeli- pitals and water
Palestinian debate. Imagine, for residents enoug
a moment, a campus organization steel-reinforced
dedicated to promoting the public centers and elet
image of America. What kinds of Pro-Israel ad'
events might it sponsor? Would it want you to kno
distribute favorite American foods full participatio
like cheeseburgers and pepperoni racy and are e
pizza on the Diag? Or would it issue the Knesset, I
press releases, declaring America a They can parti
beacon for unfettered democracy there aren't too
where racism and sexism remain parliament, lestI
memories of the past? a Jewish majorit
The absurdity is that if you identity struggl
replace "America" with "Israel," can Zionists,"a
you are closer to understanding Zionists willing
the perspective of the pro-Israel team, move to Is
campus community, particularly the imminent d
the American Movement for Israel faced by thoseP
and Israel IDEA. Unlike most advo- ians. How silly
cacy organizations that endeavor the injustices of
to right some current injustice, I Pro-Israel ad'
believe that the pro-Israel com- concede that Isr
munity seeks to maintain the sta- fect. This admis
tus quo, be it just, unjust or simply tant for them,
detestable. usually neglect:
I should, however, point out a el isn't perfect:
few noteworthy exceptions. The things so that Is
pro-Israel community offers free one, would loveI
samples of the historic staple perfect, but the
foods of Eastern European Zion- how.
ists - falafel and hummus - to Then these
masses of hungry college students. accuse people 1
of course, fried food could be the picking on Israe
ultimate source of hope for peace
in the Middle East. It also sponsors
concerts by Israeli musicians.
Pro-Israel advocacy groups try ROSE JAFFE
to bring about their goal of a "safe
and secure Israel" living next to a
safe and secure Palestine. Howev-
er, these are not the only injustices
of the status quo. Israeli soldiers
often endure conditions of extreme
boredom, so AMI works to raise
enough money to purchase a new
billiards table earmarked for an
Israeli military base. In short, the
pro-Israel community wants peace
and is willing to distribute hum-
mus, sponsor concerts and buy a
billiards table to prove it.
But this community really does
want to change the status quo. It
wants a discussion with pro-Pal-
estinian groups, only to claim the
moral high ground when their
counterparts decline their sup-
us overtures. The
uly remarkable. If
Students Allied for
quality could just
meaningful chat,
Gaza could have
ty to run their hos-
r plants and Sderot
h money to build
roofs on daycare
mentary schools.
vocacy groups also
w that Arabs enjoy
n in Israeli democ-
ven represented in
srael's parliament.
icipate as long as
many Arabs in the
Israel cease to have
y. This is part of the
e of being "Ameri-
as opposed to real
to take one for the
srael and help solve
emographic threat
Arab parliamentar-
of me to overlook
identity crises.
vocacy groups will
ael is far from per-
sion is very impor-
but these groups
to clarify why Isra-
and how to change
rael could be. I, for
to help make Israel
y just won't tell me
advocacy groups
ike me of unfairly
l and the pro-Isra-
el community, calling it a latent
form of anti-Semitism, despite the
fact that the human rights viola-
tions of Israel pale in comparison
to other states. My only response is
that, to the best of my knowledge,
no other state in the world claims
to represent me as a Jew, act in my
name and defend my interests. No
other state so flagrantly privileges
me as a Jew over many of its own
citizens. No other state will fly me
across the ocean, give me citizen-
ship (so long as I can prove I am a
"real"Jew), aplacetolive,language
instruction, monthly stipends and
a free university education. And
in the words of my personal hero,
Spiderman, "With great power
comes great responsibility."
As we approach the much-
anticipated Walt and Mearsheimer
event, I encourage the pro-Israel
community to move beyond the
status quo. I believe the problems
facing Israel and Palestine tran-
scend hummus, music and bil-
liards. No longer will the peace
rhetoric, calls for dialogue, Arab
rights jargon and accusations of
anti-Semitism get Israelis and
Palestinians to stop killing each
other. Let's use the upcoming
event to critically re-evaluate our
own objectives and strive for some
real-world positive changes in the
status quo.
Zachary Foster is a University alum.
He is a Graduate Research Fellow at
the Shalem Center in Jerusalem.
4
I
L 7'1
t
4