4A -Monday, January 14, 2008 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com C 4e Mic4t*pan4:3at'&lU Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu 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. 0 0 Emad Ansari, Anindya Bhadra, Kevin Bunkley, Ben Caleca, Milly Dick, Mike Eber, Gary Graca, Emmarie 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. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor. Letters should be less than 300 E~l w 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. SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU 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 C""I_ cai f ~ I 0 I