I
4 - Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Ny Id I*an4,al
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The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
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-Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, in a press conference yesterday after announcing 12 felony
charges against Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, as reported yesterday by The Detroit Free Press.
The logo heard round the world
ANDREW GROSSMAN
EDITOR IN CHIEF
GARY GRACA
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR
GABE NELSON
MANAGING EDITOR
Unsigned editorials reflect the official position oftthe 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 of the paper. Readers are encouraged to contact the public editor
with questions and comments. He canbe reached at publiceditor@umich.edu.
FROM THE DAILY
Don't cross the picket lines
'U' needs to stop playing brinkmanship with contracts
t has become a triennial tradition at the University. Every
three years since 1993, the Graduate Employees' Organization
has staged a walkout when its contract with the University
expires. And if there's one thing this university takes seriously, it's
tradition. So as of last night, GEO was planning to go on a two-day
strike this morning. It will be picketing outside of University build-
ings. Students, faculty and employees should honor those picket
lines. Those lines will be there because of the University's ongoing
failure to develop a broad solution that adequately compensates all
of its employees - for longer than one contract length.
ith the walkout of the
Graduate Employees'
Organization set to begin
today and felony
charges hanging
over Detroit Mayor
Kwame Kilpatrick's
head, one would
think the stormy
local landscape
had offered enough
this week to fuel
our neighborhood JEFFREY
appetite for scandal.
Instead, as I con- BLOOMER
templated how to
fill this space, popu-
lar demand led me down State Street
to peer up at a logo adorned on a trashy
new storefront that shows a woman
riding agiant hamburger.
And what a logo it is. If by some mea-
sure you have avoided it so far, the hand-
drawn emblem atop the new Quickie
Burger & Dogs restaurant features a
cowgirl who excitedly rides a condi-
ment-spewinghamburger. She's wearing
a bright red shirt that makes her natural
endowments the obvious focal point.
We're offended, says one student group.
Cue collective eye-roll from campus.
The issue has become the latest
flashpoint between so-called far-left
student groups - this time, the Stone-
wall Democrats - and the campus
everyman, who, they say, just wants to
live in P.C.-neutral peace. And though
the sign is clearly problematic, I have
to admit solidarity with the everymen
if the listless activism of the Stonewall
Democrats is my alternative.
There was an enormous response to
the story the Daily published on Fri-
day about the "controversy" (Burger
joint's name, logo irks LGBT group,
03/21/2008), which had more than
40,000 hits on the paper's website.
There were more than 100 comments
as of yesterday as well, at least half of
which were overtly sexist. Maybe the
most formidable came from a gentle-
man named Steve, who advised those
offended to "grow a pair." I'm sure that
invigorated, in particular, the women
who objected to the sign. The extend-
ed display of boorish ignorance on the
part of the story's commenters did
nothingto hurt the protesters' cause.
But the comments from the mem-
ber of the Stonewall Democrats inter-
viewed by the Daily weren't much
more articulate. "Basically, what it
has is a provocatively dressed woman
straddling a hamburger, and she's very
busty and it's kind of really horrible,"
the story quoted him as saying. From
the sound of it, you'd think he was
objecting to the size of the woman's
breasts, nother portrayal.Anditseems
the sign is "not putting a good mes-
sage out there for the objectification of
women." Not to parse words, but that
doesn't even make sense. Some have
suggested the "quickie" part of the res-
taurant's title is a problem, while oth-
ers have not. I asked for a look at the
petition the group was circulating, but
my request wasn't returned.
For my own satisfaction, I walked
across campus Saturday and looked up
at the logo. A few people paused slight-
ly as they walked by and I looked up; I
suspect they were waiting for my pick-
et sign, but no dice. OK, so this woman
was riding a hamburger. It implied
pretty obviously that there were two
objects there for rapid consumption.
I've heard people argue that if it was
a cowboy rather than a cowgirl, there
wouldn't be a problem. But let's face it:
Most industries do nothyper-sexualize
male bodies to sell things-they do it to
women's-and it's not outrageous that
some people would feel uncomfortable
with the image. It may be "just a logo"
for you, but if it encourages misogynis-
tic behavior, ishould be addressed.
Butthehastyobjectiononthe partof
the StonewallDemocrats wastoo quick
to evoke platitudes of these debates
that always lead to nonsensical back-
lash and seemed incapable of address-
ing the issue in a concise and, most
important, organized way. It quickly
became a pointless spectacle. This is
a powerful student group that rightly
commands attention on campus, but it
has to be careful what it does with it. I
am aligned with the group politically,
which only contributes to my frustra-
tion that it leaves itself so open to obvi-
A lesson about
activism, courtesy
of Quickie Burger
ous criticism even when the objections
it raises have substance.
This sort of scandal that never was
has become a new touchstone of our
campus politics, the muted legacy of
student activism here. There's no rea-
son any activist group (especially a
brand name like Stonewall Democrats)
should allow itself to become a punch-
ing bag every time it takes up a cause.
Reputation is important, and these
leaders oweittothecampus-let alone
the people who they support - not to
allow themselves to become carica-
tures of college-town protestors.
Jeffrey Bloomer was the Daily's fall/
winter managing editor in 2007. He can
be reached at bloomerj@umich.edu.
I
While yesterday's marathon negotiations
yielded some movement, this year's biggest
sticking point between the University and
GEO - salary increases - was left unre-
solved. Although GEO has dropped its origi-
nal demand of a 9 percent salary increase
each year for the next three years, it is now
demanding that the University increase
graduate student instructors' salaries by 9
percent next year and 3 percent for two con-
secutive years following. The University has
maintained that a 9 percent increase is too
much, countering with a 3.9 percentincrease
next year and 3 percent increases the follow-
ing two years.
GEO didn't pull these figures out of thin
air. The 9 percent increase GEO is demand-
ingwould raise themedian full-time GSI sal-
ary by $781 - enough to align a single GSI's
salary with the cost of living inAnn Arbor,
as calculated by the University's Office of
Financial Aid.
It's unfortunate that the negotiations have
gotten to this point. GSIs are Wdlking out,
some professors are canceling classes and
students are faced with a tough choice about
whether to cross picket lines. But the GSIs'
demands must be addressed.
Undergraduates might scoff at the idea
that GSIs need raises, especially when they
already receive tuition waivers and an annu-
al stipend. But a future degree doesn't put
food on the table now. Even at a time when
the state is defaulting on its commitment to
adequately fund higher education, the Uni-
versity has an obligation to make sure that
its employees receive fair compensation.
GSIs are a key part of education here, and
they must be treated as such.
Instead of recognizing this, the Univer-
sity has held firm, refusing to give in to
GEO's demands without a fight. Many stu-
dents and faculty are indifferent to GEO's
concerns or voice the misguided opinion
that fair compensation for GEO will raise
tuition. Further, with other unions watch-
ing, the University is pushing GEO to the
brink because it doesn't want to look like it is
cavingunder GEO's pressure - even though
the walkout could have residual and expen-
sive effects across campus, including at con-
struction sites.
The University is missing the point. This
game of brinkmanship played each contract
year only ensures that there will be more
walkouts in the future. The University con-
tinues to foster employee grievances and
large wage discrepancies between profes-
sors, lecturers and GSIs. Instead of being
proactive and solving these problems before
contracts expire, the University waits until
these issues bubble over. Then it takes care
of just a few of them. The rest of the prob-
lems are held over until the next contract
expires, which is exactly what happened
this year. And so the cycle continues.
If the University wants to end this irre-
sponsible tradition of GEO walkouts, it must
be more receptive to the needs of its employ-
ees in order to create long-term solutions
rather than quick fixes. In the meantime,
students can do their part too. Skip class not
just because you can; use your absence to
advocate change that's well past due.
I
I
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.
MARY SUE COLEMAN, TERESA SULLIVAN AND BILL MARTIN V 0 1NT
A level playing field in academics
4
SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU
Understanding otherfaiths:
Romance not required
replaced by a
When I ran fo
ter 2006 as pat
flyers and cam
-A ae Ace -a
and defaced da
-T'O THE DAILY: It is importa
I would like to express my disagreement entails not jus
with Shakira Smiler's column Friday on inter- the diversity o
faith dating (Guess who's coming to dinner, The democrat
..'03/21/2008). Smiler questioned why refus- als and organi
ing to date someone of a different faith is dif- assemble, not j
-ferent than discriminating against someone I will not pr
.based on race. The answer is simplythatvalue are always si
systems and beliefs can transcend skin color, als never are. I
but that's not necessarily true of religion. speaker or evei
Dating or marrying someone of another You have the r
faith can lead to social isolation within your the right to pr
own community, a terrible situation for chil- to silence thou
dren and, according to some studies, higher
divorce rates. While we all like a little variety Dustin Paige
in our dating lives, there are ways of learning LSAjunior
dnd appreciating the values and convictions
"John Stossel Stinks" flyer.
ir student government in win-
rt of the Conservative Party, my
ipaign posters were torn down
aily in my own residence hall.
ant that we realize that diversity
t the color of our skin, but also
f our thoughts and our speech.
ic process allows all individu-
izations the right to peacefully
ust those with which we agree.
retend that conservative views
enced, and that those of liber-
If you don't agree with a group,
t on campus, that is your right.
ight to disagree. You even have
otest. You do not have the right
ght.
of others without becoming involved roman-
tically.
Daniel Horwitz
Law School
Upholding the importance
of ideological diversity
TO THE DAILY:
The University and its students often take
pride in campus diversity, freedom of speech
and standing up for their beliefs. It seems to
be a glaring hypocrisy, then, that at this same
university students frequently seek to silence
those with a dissenting point of view. I have
to admit I was angry, though not surprised,
when I read a student's letter to the Daily
about how Students For Life flyers were torn
down from the Posting Wall (Trashing free
speech at the Posting Wall, 03/17/2008). This
was clearly viewpoint discrimination, and is
not tolerated by the U.S. Constitution.
There are many examples of this across
campus. Just the other day I was walking
in Angell Hall and noticed that a flyer for a
lecture by John Stossel was torn down and
Article on University Village
was inaccurate and unfair
TO THE DAILY:
The article last week about the Univer-
sity Village development contained numer-
ous inaccuracies (Plan for student high-rise
tabled amid outcry from landlords, locals,
03/19/2008). First, the project was not tabled
because of landlord or public outcry. It was
tabled so the Ann Arbor Planning Commis-
sion could review the site plan and recently
submitted development documents.
Secondly, during public comment Daniel
Ketelaar stated that the Planning Commission
advised him in advance of the meeting that
the project would be tabled. He also indicated
that the project's supporters would appear
at the next Planning Commission meeting to
speak in support of the development.
The article was not a balanced report of the
proceedings. Instead, it was a sensationalized
account that was not based in fact.
Tracy Wick
The letter writer is the spokeswoman for University
Village-Ann Arbor LLC.
Last weekend, hundreds of stu- coaches and facu
dent-athletes from the University strive to see mo
competed in nine sports in three earntheir degree;
time zones. rigorous reviews,
The women's softball team flew to ments we are con
the West Coast to play three games ing changes and
in the Judi Garman Classic in Ful- ensure that all st
lerton, Calif. A half-dozen wrestlers we support thes
represented Michigan in the NCAA dent-athletes.
championships in St. Louis. The We are also
rowing team competed on Griggs compliance withI
Reservoir near Columbus, Ohio; regulations. Whe
across town, members of the wom- licized by the N
en's swimming and diving team took raised within the
to the pool in hopes of NCAA titles. only reviewed th
The top-ranked hockey team hit the also notified the
ice at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena for NCAA. We stan
the CCHA championship. any irregularitie:
Here in Ann Arbor, pitchers and at any time.
catchers, tennis players and gym- At the heart
nasts filled the University's fields, experience of thi
mats and courts to compete against our faculty. The
their national rivals. of the University
The life of a student-athlete com- standards establ
petinginDivisionIsports is exciting, upheld by theI
demanding, exhausting and reward- faculty alone del
ing. But it is not easy, neither on the degree requirem
playing field nor in the classroom. dents represent t
More than 700 student-athletes rep- the fishing team
resent the University in a wide range they must meetI
of varsity sports, and the University receive their dipl:
is known for its commitment to help In educating-
them achieve their greatest poten- degrees, Universi
tial - in both the classroom and ath- variety of teachir
letic arena. When The Ann Arbor group lectures,
News implies, as it did in its four- team teaching, on
part series last week on academics
and athletics at the University, that
the academic experience here for
student-athletes does not meet our LILA KALICK
standards or expectations, we must
cry foul.
Our job as faculty and adminis-
trators is to help these student-ath-
letes succeed academically just as
we are committed to the academic
accomplishments of all University
students. As with their peers, stu-
dent-athletes are encouraged to pur-
sue any major and degree program
they want, depending on their inter-
ests, ambitions and abilities.
of course, student-athletes face
exceptional demands: In addition
to their classes and coursework,
players must devote time to daily
practices, physical training, travel
and competition. Balancing the
demands of both academics and
athletics requires commitment and
flexibility.
To support these students, we
provide one-on-one academic
counseling, tutors and study space
at the RossAcademic Center, where
they find resources and quiet time.
This commitment breeds success:
The University of Michigan has
one of the highest graduation rates
among institutions with major
sports programs.
Is there room for improvement?
Absolutely, and working with our
lty we continually
re student-athletes
s. Through our own
, audits and assess-
stantly implement-
I improvements to
andards are met as
success of our stu-
committed to full
NCAA and Big Ten
en the issues pub-
ews were initially.
University, we not
iem internally, but
Big Ten and the
d ready to rectify
s that may surface
of the academic
e college athlete is
academic integrity
is firmly rooted in
ished, judged and
professoriate. The
termines academic
ents; whether stu-
he football team or
(yes, we have one),
these standards to
oma.
students for their
ty faculty employ a
ng styles, including
multidisciplinary
line exchanges and
independent study. Although the
News may question the value and
rigor of independent study, Univer-
sity faculty throughout 19 schools
and colleges endorse its effective-
ness for discovering and acquiring
knowledge.
We were deeply disappointed in
both the approach and tone of the
News's coverage of-this important
issue. The overall treatment did not
lead to accuracy or balance, and did
not fairly represent the University's
serious commitment to the academ-
ic success of our student athletes.
Intercollegiate athletics is an
integral part of the Michigan expe-
rience. And the tradition, enthusi-
asm and loyalty fostered by the play
of our student-athletes resonates far
beyond the borders of the campus
and deep into American culture.
We take great pride in our ath-
letic accomplishments. We take
even greater pride in the academic
prowess of the University. Only by
succeeding in the classroom are
student-athletes given the privilege
of representing Michigan on the
playing field.
MarySueColeman is the University's
president. Teresa Sullivan is provost
and executive vice president of
academic affairs. Bill Martin is the
director of intercollegiate athletics.
A
4
E-MAIL EALICE AT LEALICE@UMICH.EDU
&RU2CKY
, at'044 ~1 %VS over. V
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