4 - Friday, December 5, 2008 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Je JMidiigan ail Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu 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. Stick to the schedule 'U' should enforce final exam week policy to help students ondering when you're going to find time to study for all those finals you have on the last two days of classes? You're not alone. Many students wind up with a final exam or two in the last week of class. That's not how it's supposed to be, because final exams are supposed to be held during their offi- cially scheduled slot in finals week. But the reality is that plenty of professors find ways around this policy or simply ignore it, to the detriment of students. While requiring professors to hold exams during finals week is a great policy, it needs some actual enforce- ment if it's going to help any students. NO..TABLE QUOTABLE We're looking at a death sentence here if we don't respond." - Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), commenting on the importance of offering loans to the Detroit Three, as reported yesterday by The New York Times. BE L LA SHAH E-MAIL BELLA AT BELLZ@UMICH.EDU t- SPREADING THE HOLIDAY CHEER In Detrolt out with the old Finals week is designed to give students more time to prepare for exams. The sys- tem gives students a day off after the last day of classes to relax and study. Exams are then staggered over the course of the next week. This system provides students with time to study after the distractions of class- es and assignments are over for the semes- ter. Finals week also prevents students from having to take too many exams in too short a time period - at least in theory. But for many students, professors who hold their final exams on the last two days of classes anyway nullify the benefits of the University's policy. How are they able to-do this? Semantics. For example, if a professor doesn't call the last exam in a class a final exam and instead calls it, say, the third installment of three non-cumulative exams, the policy doesn't apply. Same thing applies for final papers. Regardless of whether the exam is worth a larger percentage or your grade or not and is by most measures the most important exam in a class, it can be held early. The University has a finals week for a reason, though. Without hours of class to attend each day, students simply have more time to prepare for the exams that will largely determine their grades. This also acts to level the playing field for students. The brief study period and extended period of testing time gives all students a more equal chance to study for classes and make up for the material they missed throughout the semester. And since many assignments are also due on the last day, most students end up trying to juggle finishing these assignments and preparing for last day finals without adequate time to do a good job of either. Obviously, some students like having exams on the last day of classes because it gets them done with school that much ear- lier. While this is a nice benefit, it rewards a limited amount of students while punish- ing everyone who has a few finals on the last day of class and then one at the end of the following week. And having exams on the last day of class simply does not put students in a position to succeed on these exams. Professors possess many of the same motivations as students during the end of the semester. They want to get exams over with, and in many cases, they want to go home to their families. But professors need to recognize that holding their finals on the last day of class is a serious disservice to their students - one that the University has recognized and prohibited.And the Univer- sity itself must do a better job of ensuring that final exams are actually held during finals week. Until it does, good luck. f the reckless adventures of Kwame Kilpatrick and Co. hadn't officially chopped and screwed the reputation of Detroit already, then the obsequi- ous pleading of the Detroit Three's executives sure got the job done. Detroit has had its share of disgraceful and SHAKIRA embarrassing run- ios with the law (or SMILER the media, rather) this year, and this week's melodrama is no different. As Rick Wagoner, Alan Mulally and Robert Nardelli take center stage in an Oscar-worthy performance on how they promise to change their private jet-flying ways in exchange for $34 billion in federal aid, three million potentially unemployed blue- collar workers are sitting in the liv- ing rooms of their foreclosed homes, praying for a miracle. I, too, am feeling the effects of a failing auto industry. The fact that my grandmother's retirement pension is from General Motors Corp., my only sibling is a car mechanic for a living and my uncle works for a car-hauling company equals a pretty shitty Christ- mas 2008 for the Smiler Family. But beyond my own selfish motives for being so worried about the outcome of the Detroit Three's request, I am sim- ply hoping that now that Detroit has cleaned up some of its trash, it will be able to refocus its energy in 2009 on revitalizing the city. ' Needless to say, fixing Detroit's problems will take a lot more than sending three spoiled brats to the principal's office and an arrogant jock to detention for a few months. But the'change has got to start some- where, and t'm happy it started at the top of the totem pole for once. So what's next? The same questions that are left unanswered in my nation are left unanswered in my city. How do we rebuild the economy? How do we salvage the small amount of resourc- es we have left? And moreover, how do we gain our respectback? One major problem is that so many jobs were dependent on one industry in the first place. By putting all of its eggs in one basket, Detroit is vulner- able to mass chaos in the event that - gasp - one of the Detroit Three goes bankrupt. While having a reli- able source of employment right in your backyard is ideal for economic stability, being solely dependent on that source is dangerous and an all around bad business move. The peo- ple of Detroit need more than one job option, and that shouldn't include having to commute to Lansing, Ann Arbor or some other city in order to find it. But bringing that new business requires ridding the city of poor lead- ership. Detroiters started doing that with Kwame, and now auto compa- nies are being held accountable. But these aren't the only people who have been negligent in their duties. There needs to be a lot more feathers shak- en in the Detroit Public Schools, the Detroit Police Department and every other major branch of the city's daily operations before we can truly go for- ward. Our city has become complacent with the inconvenient -truths that Detroitstudents are performing poor- ly and are less prepared for college (in the event that they even enroll) than their suburban counterparts. And the people who are supposed to protect us, our police officers and officials, are often the main culprits in assist- ing corruption and crime. But all is not lost. Bringing in new officials in these positions would give Detroit a reason to be optimistic for the new year. To guide these officials, Detroit needs aleader who is passionate about the city and its people, a leader who is familiar with the people's needs and understands their struggles and a leader who isn't afraid to stand up for the poor and working class of the city. But since Barack Obama opted to run for president of the United States, we will have to find our own beacon How Motown can clean up its act in 2009 of hope, one who doesn't wear an earring and throw stripper parties. Maybe one of the million candidates running for Detroit mayor will fill that void. As a city where people across the nation once flocked to because of the economic possibilities and oppor- tunities it presented and the rich legacies it created as home to some of this country's greatest living heroes, Detroit still has a bright future and a strong chance to be one of the most prosperous cities in the country again. I know that with a new vision, honest leadership and a hopeful pop- ulation of loyal residents, Detroit can turn itself back around in 2009. Shakira Smiler can be reached at stsmiler@umich.edu. I I EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS: Nina Amilineni, Emad Ansari, Elise Baun, Harun Buljina, Ben Caleca, Satyajeet Deshmukh, Brian Flaherty, Matthew Green, Emmarie Huetteman, Emma Jeszke, Shannon Kellman, Edward McPhee, Emily Michels, Kate Peabody, Matthew Shutler, Robert Soave, Eileen Stahl, Jennifer Sussex, Imran Syed, Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Van Gilder, Margaret Young BRIAN RUMAO tIEW'P INT The consequences of colapse I I I remember when I was in the third grade, my teacher asked our class, "How many of you have parents who work for the auto indus- try?" About 15 or 20 of my classmates and I raised our hands. At that point, the impact of the Detroit auto industry became clear to me. The Detroit Three, consisting of Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp., are the engine of Michigan's economy and the fuel for the success of the nation's manufacturers. If the auto companies fail, the resulting domino effect would plunge the nation's economy into a depression, the backlash of which would last for decades. The sheer size of the Detroit Three helps demonstrate the severity of a possible collapse. In the United States alone, the Detroit Three alone creates more than 3 million jobs. The global output of the auto industry exceeds $2.5 trillion, which leads to $1.5 billion in tax rev- enues for governments around the world. The Detroit Three spend $100 billion annually on research and development, leading to job cre- ation for many graduate students from the Uni- versity and beyond. So what would happen if the Detroit Three went bankrupt? The ripple of failures would start with car sales. The central question here is "What con- sumer would buy a vehicle from a company that's bankrupt?" Few, because people want the security that their warranties will be hon- ored the next day. So sales would plummet and the name brands would vanish. Next, Detroit Three suppliers would feel the blow. Since 2001,25 percent of the largest auto suppliers have declared bankruptcy. This fig- ure would skyrocket should the Detroit Three fail. Top suppliers would lose half of their vol- umes and be forced to significantly cut back on hours or shut down completely due to efficien- cy losses. The impact on the lower-tier suppli- ers would be immeasurable. The crumbling of domestic suppliers would also hurt others in the global auto industry because Toyota and other automakers rely on many of the same suppliers as the Detroit Three. If other automakers lose a steady and secure stream of parts, they will have to pay premiums for extra inventory and supplier bailouts, which in turn would raise prices for the consumer. Demand for steel, glass, rubber, plastics and computer chips would decrease, leading to a far-reaching recession that would alter the state of the world's economy for some time. And do not forget the 2.5 million jobs. Should. the auto industry fail, those 2.5 million people would not be able to pay their mortgages. They would cut back on spending, scaling back on cable television, going to the movies and every- thing else in their life. And the ripple effect wouldn't stop there. One estimate says that by the end of 2009, more than 2,000 dealerships would close. That would lead to hundreds of thousands of job losses. These auto dealers are significant employers in small towns and also frequently donate to local causes. Overall, consideringthe failure of auto com- panies, suppliers and dealerships, the U.S. would experience billion of dollars in lost tax revenue, mandating further cutbacks in spend- ing for national programs. I must admit I am slightly biased. I am from Michigan and I have worked in the auto indus- try for three summers. My father and brother work for the automakers. Our extended fam- ily, all based in Michigan, has been gainfully employed by the industry as well. But regardless of my personal connection to the industry, it remains clear that the Detroit Three have provided so much for the nation's economy. What is hard to understand is Con- gress's reluctance to give a $25 billion bail- out to these companies when it readily doled $150 billion to AIG without asking for a plan. I understand I'll be footing the bill on my taxes when I graduate, but I would happily pay the price for an ounce of prevention today than face the costs that would come with a collapse of the auto industry further down the road. Brian Rumao is an Engineering senior. With modern sound, new Britney album still drives fans crazy TO THE DAILY: I write to you first and foremost as true music "obsesser." I am constantly on the prowl for new sounds and new art- ists, appreciating both the production of an album and the artists themselves. I found the Daily's review of the new Britney Spears's album "Circus" horribly lacking in any depth (Another 'Circus'act, 12/03/2008). Instead of truly reviewingthe album, David Riva chose to rely onhis prejudice againstthe now self-proclaimed "Queen of Pop." It doesn't seem as if he actually listened to the CD in the first place. There wasn't a single mention to any of the truly amazing production that went into the album. . I'll admit, I am a Britney fan, however that alone would not make me love this album. What made me love this album was its sound. Ignoring the lyrics and paying attention to the actual sounds puts this album well above the circus of albums out there. The album has modern, experimental sounds and still caters to the classic Britney fan. Additionally, Riva's comments on the lyrics were just plain naive. "Blur" clearly isn't a song about how crazy Brit- ney's life is. The song is about how truly messed up she was before. "My Baby" is a ballad to her two children and lacks the production quality of the rest of the CD because her chil- dren are the focus of the song. It's simple. "Circus" is the title to reflect the utter circus her life has become. Overall, this CD is full of honesty and amazing dance beats. Please have your reviewers first listen to the CD and second go into it with an open heart. Chris LeClair LSA junior Liquidation might not be best for Detroit 3, but it's bestforAmerica TO THE DAILY: I do not believe that the Detroit Three should be bailed out, loaned money or allowed to operate under bankruptcy protection. A swift Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation is not only the best solution, it is also the only one. First, the federal government is massively in debt, and because of other bailouts, further expanding our national SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU debt. This expansion will only be met withnew taxes either through inflation or the bayonet. In other words, the solu- tion is taxes. Second, even if the federal government was running a surplus or had no debt, which I believe is impossible for a government to achieve, it would still be impossible to save the Detroit Three. In 2006, when the market was flush with credit and the economy was "booming," there were record auto sales. Even then, the Detroit Three were not making money. Why should other states be forced to pay for our mistakes? Let's subsidize those who fail, and tax those who succeed. Third, contrary to popular claims, 3 million jobs are not at stake. For one, workers at General Motors Corp. receive about $70 per hour in compensation, while other foreign auto manufacturers pay Americans an average of $40 per hour. This discrepancy is ultimately unimportant, that is unless the Detroit Three fail and other auto companies could employ millions more Americans. The machines and skilled laborers have real value, and although they may be sold at fire sale prices, this just means that GM's creditors and stockholders suffer. The companies that buy these assets get a bargain. Ultimately, companies like Toyota would employ moreworkers thanGM currentlydoesdueto excellentman- agement they run successful businesses. Let those who can run a business properly do so. Lastly, what signals would a possible bailout send to the market? Should we also not bailout house building compa- nies? They employ lots of people, and their death could hurt Home Depot or Lowe's, which would in turn hurt lumber mills and wiring plants. Bailing out the Detroit Three would have seemed unlikely nine months ago, but since then the allegedly "laissez-faire" Bush administration has bailed out every financial firm accept Lehman Brothers that has run into trouble. Now everyone else has an excuse for a handout, and the auto companies are first to the trough. Chapter 7 bankruptcy would allow for a swift liquida- tion of capital assets so that they could be bid to their dis- counted marginal value productivity. When that is allowed, new jobs will be created in other states. There would be a period of dislocation of people and jobs, but it will not last forever. We need to cut taxes, cut regulations and mas- sively decrease government spending. Perhaps GM would not need billions of dollars in cash infusions from the fed- eral government if it was not being robbed by unions and the government in the first place through high taxes.. VincentPatsy LSA senior The Daily is looking for a diverse group of strong, informed writers to be columnists next semester. Columnists write 750 words on a topic of their choice every other week. E-MAIL ROBERT SOAVE AT RSOAVE@UMICH.EDU FOR MORE INFORMATION. :