4A -Monday, January 14, 2008
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
C 4e Mic4t*pan4:3at'&lU
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IMRAN SYED JEFFREY BLOOMER
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR
KARL STAMPFL
EDITOR IN CHIEF
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 of the paper. Readers are encouraged to contactthe public editor
with questions and comments. He canbe reached at publiceditor@umich.edu.
Nowhere but the Big House
Attend forums and let 'U' know this is unacceptable
T hey've waded across the fountain by the Michigan League,
tiptoed around the Block M on the Diag and maybe even
kissed a future spouse at midnight under the West Hall
arch. But now, in a shocking break of Michigan tradition, the class
of 2008 will not graduate in the Big House - the most celebrated
event in an undergraduate career as a Wolverine. The announce-
ment that commencement will be held at Eastern Michigan Univer-
sity's Rynearson Stadium last week doesn't simply buck tradition: It
is another disturbing example of students and the University com-
munity facing the repercussions of a clumsily planned stadium con-
struction project and an administration running roughshod over
trivialities like reason, fairness and the will of students. Graduation
belongs at the Big House, and it must be there in 2008.
Whether it's torture by anybody else's
definition, for me it would be torture."
- Mike McConnell, U.S. Director of National Intelligence, on whether he would consider waterboarding
a form of torture if it was used against him, as reported in the current issue of The New Yorker.
WYMAN KHUU
Hey Chiyo! This is Nice to meet you! Chiyo... Is that like Chinese Fm Vietinmese...
my friend VJ that's an interesting name. or something?
Pleasure
The non-discrimination scam
I
For the last three years, the Big House
construction plans have been rift with con-
troversy. From stacked speakers' lists to
resolutions from the faculty expressing con-
cern to a lawsuit by the Michigan Paralyzed
Veterans of America to complaints from the
U.S. Department of Education, the Universi-
ty has consistently ignored voices of dissent
in its overzealous push to reel in even more
profits from the Big House.
As if discriminating against people in
wheelchairs and silencing dissent wasn't
bad enough, the University has now thrown
an entire class of more than 6,000 graduat-
ing seniors under the bus too - just another
minor speed bump on the road to riches for
the Athletic Department.
The decision to move commencement to
EMU reeks of the same incompetence, igno-
rance and blind vanity that have plagued the
handling of the stadium project all along.
The administration's professed explanation
for why graduation can't be held at the Big
House actually makes us want to believe it
is lying: How can an entire administration
have simply forgotten about commencement
until a month ago? If this is the incompe-
tence of the people running this university,
then at least the class of 2008 deserved to
know ahead of time so it could have gone to
a place that wasn't run so haphazardly.
The administration proposed a suppos-
edly carefully planned construction sched-
ule that worked around football games, yet
claims it forgot about the most important
event in the four years of a college educa-
tion. Forgive us for believing no one, not
even this University's second-rate admin-
istration could be that stupid. Students
deserve a more transparent explanation
about how this debacle happened and why.
Students who have lived the ideals of this
university, not to mention struggled to pay
its exorbitant tuition, deserve to be more
than just an afterthought.
The regents, whose job it is to scrutinize
the administration and ask the tough ques-
tions, deserve every bit of the blame too.
Apparently spending most of their time
singing University President Mary Sue
Coleman's praises, they also forgot about
the most important event in the life of a
college student while approving the $226-
million construction plans. Graduation is
the exact reason why students come to this
university: to receive their degrees. Ironi-
cally, had the administration and the Uni-
versity Board of Regents not been so eager
to silence any discussion about the stadium
construction plans, this important issue
would have come up and been dealt with in
a far more satisfactory manner. Is that what
the University was afraid of?
The University can't correct its unaccept-
able lack of planning or its unapologetic
lack of student input in the decision to hold
graduation at EMU, but it absolutely must
right the situation by bringing commence-
ment back to the Big House, regardless of
the cost. Generators, portable lighting and
toilets, along with another three months
to prepare the stadium make holding com-
mencement at the Big House a definite pos-
sibility. This will cost money, but where
should the University spend its money if not
on things its students have every right to
expect? Even if the stadium is not ready to
hold commencement today, it certainly can
be in three months.
E. Royster Harper, the University vice
president of student affairs, indicated that
if a vast majority of seniors disliked the
Rynearson Stadium idea, then other solu-
tions "would be worth a pause." Graduating
seniors, after years of hard work and com-
mitment to the University, deserve more
than just a "pause." Student input should not
be taken this lightly and students must con-
tinue to voice their opposition to this plan.
Students have been denied a voice in too
many of the biggest decisions at the Univer-
sity over the past four years, but there is a
limit to our patience. It is vital that students
turn out in droves at the forums sched-
uled for them to voice their concerns about
graduation. These forums are tonight at
4 p.m. and Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the
Michigan Student Assembly chambers
onthethird floor of the Michigan Union.
We must let the administration know that
moving graduation from the Big House will
simply not be tolerated.
The University has gotten pretty
good at trumpeting its commit-
ment to diver-
sity and equality.
Those words sound
nice in the kind of
brochures that have
photographs of stu-
dents studying in
blankets of leaves r
on the Diag. When
a former University-
Law School profes- KARL
sor, though, went
toe-to-toe with the STAMPFL
University in court- ---
he found out that those words don't
always mean that much.
Here's the back story: Peter Ham-
mer was denied tenure at the Univer-
sity Law School by an 18-12 vote in
February of 2002. Hammer, now a full
professor at Wayne State University,
claims it was because he's openly gay.
Discrimination suits are slippery.
This one has stretched for three years,
and it's cost the University hundreds
of thousands of dollars.
I'm no legal expert, and per-
haps Hammer simply wasn't quali-
fied for tenure at such a prestigious
law school. The evidence I've seen
isn't overwhelming, to say the least.
Maybe there was no bias, no discrim-
ination and no grounds for a lawsuit.
Even probably. But pay attention
because here's what's revealing about
this case.
According to court documents, the
University has tried to have the case
thrown out of court three times. The
most recentwas in mid-December,but
the decision was delayed until later
this month. The first two times, the
University's argument wasn't merely
that Hammer had been denied tenure
because of some scholarly inferiority,
which might be legitimate. The Uni-
versity also argued that its own non-
discrimination policies - including
the one in the Faculty Handbook for
Instructional and Primary Staff that
states the University "is committed
to a policy of nondiscrimination and
equal opportunity for all persons"
- are not enforceable in court.
In other words, non-discrimination
is a suggestion, not a rule. It's a guide-
line, not something that can truly pro-
tect you. It's something we strive for,
but if it doesn't happen, you're onyour
own. There are no state or federal laws
prohibitingdiscriminationagainstgay
people. The only legal protection they
have, therefore, is the University's
own policies.
Here's an exchange between the
University's lawyer, Richard Seryak,
and the judge from a transcript of a
hearing about the request to throw
the case out of court:
JUDGE:So in other words, ifyou tell
me that you're not going to discrimi-
nate, I can't really rely on that ...
SERYAK: That's correct, judge. It's
not a basis for contract -
JUDGE:It's a scam to get me to come
workfor you?
SERYAK: Judge, when we say that
this is not a contract and we say that
it can be modified, that's an awfully
general statement. And I submit to
Your Honor that is not the basis for a
contract, a damage contract. It says it's
a commitment. That's our intent. But
that doesn't -
JUDGE: So we can just disregard
it at our whim? When we put there in
writing, right there, that the Univer-
sity is committed to a policy of non-dis-
crimination, equality opportunity for
all persons regardless of race, sex, color,
religion, creed, national origin orances-
try, age, marital status, sexual orienta-
tion, we're just kidding? We don't really
mean that?
The University appears to have
abandoned that strategy. What's not
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS:
clear is why it took years to come to
that conclusion. Gloria Hage, the Uni-
versity's interim general counsel, said
she could not comment directly on the
legal strategy but that the University's
policies are "not just words on paper."
There are many internal ways to
enforce them, she said.
Hammer tried to have his allega-
tions addressed internally, but the
Law School argued that its policies
prohibited grievances relating to
tenure. Paul Courant, then the pro-
vost, upheld the decision. Without an
internal option, Hammer went to a
third party, the courts. There too he
found resistance to a fair determina-
tion of whether he had been discrimi-
nated against.
How the 'U'
argued its policies
weren't binding.
It's worrisome that the next time
a claim like Hammer's comes up -
when the costs of losing or continuing
the case are higher - the University
will perhaps choose again to attempt
to take the slimy way out.
How come it seems like the Univer-
sity talks a good game when it comes
to diversity, but too often when it's
time to prove it - wheelchair acces-
sibility in Michigan Stadium, for
instance, or the bold assertions by
President Mary Sue Coleman on the
Diag the day after Proposal 2 passed
that haven't met their fulfillment
- there are complications?
Karl Stampfl is the Daily's
editor in chief. He can be reached
at kstampfl@umich.edu.
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Huetteman, Theresa Kennelly, Emily Michels, Kate Peabody, Kate Truesdell, Robert Soave, Jennifer Sussex,
Neil Tambe, Matt Trecha, Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Van Gilder, Rachel Wagner, Patrick Zabawa.
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Engin. school dean:.
Committed to tolerance
dent, students intl
to the professor th
had occurred.
Although we do
of the perpetrator
TO THE DAILY: in the course - Ib
The faculty, staff and students of the have impressed up
College of Engineering are working hard ior was disruptiv
to create an environment that is welcom- also know that sL
ing to all and permits every person to suc- as intimidation ar
ceed at his or her maximum capability. The College of En
This effort benefits everyone, but is criti- erate such departu
cal for women and minority students and acts create a poor
faculty in a field previously dominated by and make it more d
white men. We still have much work to underrepresented
do, but we are proud of the progress we tively, be judged f
have made in diversifying both our stu- recognition for t
dent body and faculty. As we strive for a We ask that all st
demographic in the College of Engineer- of Engineering as
ing that increasingly reflects the outside positive learning e
world, we are providing educational ner of the campusc
opportunities for a broad cross-section
of the overall population and creating an David Munson
improved learning experience for both Dean of Engineering
majority and minority students.
It saddens me to report that, at the end
of last semester, an incident occurred in Graduation
one of our classrooms showing that we
all still have work to do in creating a wel- moment ofl
coming climate for women students and
faculty. A few moments before class was TO THE DAILY:
to begin, an unidentified male student After reading in
approached a female engineering profes- this year's gradua
sor and stated that he had a poster show- moved to Eastern
ing her or someone who looked like her. I think that the stu
He then unfurled a poster of two scant- University of Mic
ily clad women kissing, and asked the problem with this.
instructor to sign the poster. The profes- the Big House was
sor refused to engage in the conversation ing four years of m
and handled the event professionally. I I were a graduatir
am told that, upon learning of the inci- care if the Univers
he class communicated in the parking lot o
eir displeasure at what would no way that
side of Ann Arbor, t
'not know the identity Getting through
- he was not enrolled cakewalk. But I w
ope that other students felt when I arrived
'on him that his behav- saw so many peop
e and immature. We who I had never si
uch behavior qualifies day. I knew that w
nd sexual harassment. the University it
gineering will not tol- sands of people. T
ures from civility. Such attracted me to con
r climate for everyone As an alum, I e
difficult for members of push for the admi
groups to work effec- as needed to have t
fairly and gain proper House, even if it m,
heir accomplishments. shift stage in the pa
udents join the College
we strive to create a Jacquise Purifoy
nvironment in our cor- Alum
community.
A the Big House, there honor their acco
it should be held out- ing the commence
hough. campus. While I r
the University was no construction sche
ill never forget how I being worked on d
at the Big House and I don't think it woi
le in caps and gowns thescheduletobec
een before graduation ment to be held at
hen I graduated from I speak for a large
would be with thou-
hat fact alone is what
nehere. ARIELA STEIF
ncourage students to
nistration to go as far
he ceremony at the Big
eans building a make-
rking lot.
,mplishment by allow-
ment to take place on
ealize that the current
dule has the bathrooms
uring commencement,
uld be unreasonable for
hangedforcommence-
the Big House. I think
majority of the gradu-
ating students when I say that I hope the
administration sincerely reconsiders this
disappointing decision by finding an on-
campus option for our commencement.
Justin Benson
LSA senior
The letter writer is the former vice president of
LSA Student Government.
was best
time at 'U'
The Detroit News that
tion ceremony will be
Michigan University,
udents currently at the
chigan should have a
Going to graduation at
the best part of spend-
ny life in Ann Arbor. If
ng student, I wouldn't
sity held the ceremony
University owes senior
class reconsideration
TO THE DAILY:
The news that my commencement was
going to be held off-campus at Eastern
Michigan University was a shock for a
number of reasons. This is a disappointing
development that will surely put a damp-
er on what would have been an important
milestone in my life. For four years I have
looked forward to celebrating my years at
the University with my friends and family
in the Big House. Some of my best memo-
ries as a student have occurred in the sta-
dium, and I can't believe that I will have
to end my Michigan career off-campus.
The University owes it to its seniors to
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