4 - Friday, February 20, 2009
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
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GARY GRACA
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 oftheir authors.
Breaking with tradition
'U' should schedule break during same time as other schools
n this bitterly cold last week of February, many students have
frostbite-induced fantasies of lounging poolside and drinking
daiquiris on an island. Preferably, the island is located some-
where that actually receives warmth from the sun. But in the current
economic crisis, dreams of 98-degree bliss are difficult to translate
into reality. Many of the University's fiscally responsible students
have no choice but to spend spring break coping with the cold in
the comfort (or claustrophobia) of their parents' homes, without
the company of friends from other colleges who have later spring
breaks. The University needs to bring its break in line with other
schools so that Michigan students can share their spring experienc-
es with people from other colleges.
%o~ S~x\RN
. .. :.$
4
4
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Technology overload
The University schedules spring break
in late February because it functions on a
trimester system - fall, winter and sum-
mer. That means each semester is about 14
weeks long. So when the University sets
up the schedule for the year, it slaps spring
break at the seven-week mark, slicing the
semester into two neat halves. But since a
lot of other colleges schedule their spring
breaks further into the semester, Univer-
sity students face a spring break void of
buddies from high school who are still in
class for another week or two. And even
though the academic calendar is scheduled
years in advance, the University needs to
consider pushing back spring break so that
students stop missing out on visits with
hometown friends.
Even those who are lucky enough to trav-
el or participate in an alternative spring
break program are missing out, because'
they lose the opportunity to mingle with
students from other schools. This is disap-
pointing, because meeting college students
from outside of Michigan is an enriching
life experience that can be both lots of fun
and very educational. Keeping spring break
in the middle of the semester greatly reduc-
es the odds of having such experiences.
Of course, staying at home can be even
worse. For in-state students - about two-
thirds of the University's student body
- spring break at home feels more like a
seven-day exile to the ice planet of Hoth.
It would be nice to have spring break a
few weeks later when it's a little warmer
outside, so that even if students can't go to
Mexico, they won't need to wear parkas.
Whether from Michigan or out-of-state,
students who have to go home just can't look
forward to catching up with old friends at
home or meeting new friends abroad. Stu-
dents at home are condemned to pass the
time by enduring a week's worth of MTV
Spring Break reruns dating back to 2003.
But that's not to say there's nothing worth-
while for Michigan residents to do during
spring break if they can't make the jour-
ney to Cancun or meet up with high school
friends in their hometowns. There's always
ice fishing. Or snowshoeing. Or - our per-
sonal favorite - igloo building.
Don't think I don't know what's
in your hand right now. No,
not the newspaper, your
other hand. Yes, the
BlackBerry. Put it
down for just a sec-
ond. No, you can't
check your email
right now. If anyone
isstillaroundbefore
spring break, I like
to take the time to
talk about some-BEN
thing other than
my usual praise of CALECA
technology. Our-
reliance on technol-
ogy, while wonderful for productivity
and convenience also includes the risk
of glossing over details of what were
once much more rigorous tasks.
When you're off onyour vacations to
exotic (or perhaps not so exotic) plac-
es to rest and recover from midterms,
you might get in touch with friends
who are spread out for break or per-
haps old friends from high school in
other colleges. Sometimes, it's worth
the extra effort to give your friends a
call or write a letter instead of instant
messaging or text messaging.
Studies on electronic conversa-
tions show that the subtleties of into-
nations, body language and volume
are often lost and people are more
prone to making false conclusions
about those they speak with. People
adopt more flexible personalities.
They have lower inhibitions and are
less polite. Without having to face
the person you talk to, it is much eas-
ier to be the person you choose to be
instead of being yourself.
It's saddening to see people cling
to their computers instead of actu-
ally interact. When people complain
about lack of wireless service in the
middle of the Diag or in the hallways
of a dorm, it makes me wonder how
much reliance there is on being con-
nected. How badly you do you need
to work on your laptop outside or in
a hallway? Are we so desperate to
stay plugged in that we cannot stand
a single open space not permeated by
electronic signals?
There are repercussions in the
workplace, too. If you've had an
office job, you've likely watched peo-
ple sitting ten feet from each other
exchange phone calls and e-mails.
There is something to be said for
face-to-face contact instead of send-
ing an impersonal message that is lost
in a deluge of e-mails.
There is more to this than just los-
ing some of the finer points of social
interaction. As the old adage goes,
"garbage in, garbage out." Often, the
false confidence we place in technol-
ogy dooms us to failure because we
let a piece of technology "think" for
us. The recent economic downturn is
one example.
As pundits, politicians and econo-
mists perform an autopsy on the cur-
rent economic collapse, there has been
a growing sense that computer models
assessing the risk of investments were
partly to blame. With a rise in com-
puter power, investment firms hired
programmers, mathematicians and
physicists to create software intended
to "beat the market" and predict gen-
eral trends to make smarter invest-
ments for higher returns.
Of course, like many technolo-
gies, confidence in the models led
to an overreliance on the new tools
investors had, and many used faulty
assumptions or incomplete data to
try and predict the market. The result
was the eventual collapse of complex
chains ofinvestment based on improp-
erly used financial models. Physicist
Emanuel Derman, hired by Goldman
Sachs to create some of these mod-
els, explained that they were a "tool
of enthusiasm" and encouraged more
risky investments rather than directly
causing the crisis.
Unplugging your
PC and reentering
the real world.
As an engineering student, it's
much easier to see these kinds of fail-
ures in classes. It's not uncommon for
students who can use computer-aided
design systems or analytical programs
to forget the fundamentals of the cal-
culations behind them. If you do all
of your homework with the help of a
computer, a midterm withjust a calcu-
lator at your disposal may seem amore
daunting task than it should.
Connectivity, ease of computa-
tion and collection of data have made
people quick to extol the wonders of
science. That being said, it's worth
taking the time to not become a slave
to the technology we hold so dear. 4
Even taking notes by hand can be
more conducive to understanding and
learning than diligently transcribing
a professor's lecture. So please, do me
a favor - hell, humor me and say it's
to save battery power - put down the
electronics and live a little more.
- Ben Caleca can be reached
at calecab@umich.edu.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS:
Nina Amilineni, Emad Ansari, Emily Barton, Elise Baun Harun Buljina, Ben Caleca,
Satyajeet Deshmukh, Brian Flaherty, Emmarie Huetteman, Emma Jeszke,
Sutha K Kanagasingam, Shannon Kellman, Edward McPhee, Matthew Shutler,
Neil Tambe, Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Van Gilder
FAHAD FARUQI
Focus on facts, not feelings
For weeks, students and alumni have riddled
the Daily's opinion section with perspectives
on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Although
the dynamic dialogue between pro-Israeli
and pro-Palestinian groups on campus serves
a constructive and important role in under-
standing and perhaps contributing to a solu-
tion to the conflict, both sides too often repeat
talking points and mold the facts around their
own ideology.
A good example of this occurred in a Letter
to the Editor by Dan Shuster (UPZ ignores Isra-
el's need to defend its own existence, 2/16/2009).
Shuster states, either by mistake or on purpose,
that Palestinians elected Hamas to launch
rockets into Israel. Almost any scholar of the
situation in the Middle East would take excep-
tion with that view. Palestinians elected Hamas
because they did not trust the infamously cor-
rupt Fatah government. Palestinians' grow-
ing frustration at Fatah's inability to move
the peace process forward and the economic
circumstances under which Palestinians lived
created momentum for Hamas. Additionally,
Hamas moderated its stance on manv issues to
gain supportin theelections.
Likewise, in the recent Israeli elections, the
citizens of the Jewish state did not vote to kill
Palestinians and continue the occupation of
Gaza and the West Bank. Israelis, growing frus-
trated at the incumbent party's inability to deal
with Hamas and rejuvenate the peace process,
decided to give more power to right-wing par-
ties that promised security.
When we hear phrases such as "Israel has a
right to defend itself" and "Palestinians have a
right to resist the occupation," we learn noth-
ing. And repeating those talking points does a
disservice to the cause. The arguments against
Israel's actions in Gaza do not pertain to wheth-
er Israel has a right to defend itself - which it
does. The arguments speak to the question ofE
whether Israel's actions were in the name of
defense or oppression.
This logic also applies to pro-Palestinians.
The arguments against Hamas' actions do
not have to do with whether or not Palestin-
lans deserve a sovereign state free from the
influence of Israel's military. The arguments
address Hamas' anti-Semitism and targeting of
Israeli civilians.
But pro-Palestinian groups and individu-
als are too often labeled as anti-Semitic merely
because they are critical of Israel's policies and
motivations. This marginalization and name-
calling must stop. It is dishonest to say that
someone who has legitimate criticisms about
Israel's policies is anti-Semitic. The difference
is clear - believing that the Palestinians live in
an apartheid regime under Israeli.occupation is
not anti-Semitic. Believing that there is some-
thing inherently wrong with Judaism and Jew-
ish people is.
Pro-Palestinian groups must also recognize
that resistance to the occupation does notjustify
Hamas' targeting of civilians. Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. did not lead the civil rights movement
with guns. Gandhi did not lead his movement
to free India through the use of violence. Nel-
son Mandela did not target civilians even during
the most militant years of his movement to resist
apartheid in South Africa.
Whether the Israeli regime established in
the occupied territories is comparable to apart-
heid, however, is a matter of contention. Many
of Israel's policies in the Palestinian territo-
ries mimic those of the former South African
regime. These policies include separate high-
ways for Palestinians and Israelis, banning of
Palestinians born in Jerusalem to visit Jeru-
salem without a permit, regular checkpoints
(many of which are not necessary for security)
forced occupation of civilian homes, illegal
building of Jewish settlements in Palestin-
ian territories and blockage of non-military
humanitarian aid in Gaza.
On the Palestinian side, continued rocket
attacks on Israeli towns, refusal by Hamas to
recognize Israelis' right to exist, Hamas lead-
ership's unapologetic anti-Semitism and cor-
ruption in the ranks of the Fatah party make it
difficult to believe that a Palestinian state could
peacefully exist alongside Israel.
I encourage both sides to shed their ideologi-
cal bubble and look at the facts. It is often dif-
ficult to separate emotions from the realities
on the ground. No doubt, I have probably made
some ideological arguments in this viewpoint.
But I am willing to reflect and change my per-
spective if presented with facts. I hope the same
can be said for the students on campus that care
deeply about this issue but tend, to just think
with their emotions.
I am assuming both sides can agree that a
two-state solution is the only just and viable
solution to the conflict; this is my only ideologi-
cal assumption. If both sides cannot agree to that
much, especially in the intellectual ranks of aca-
demia here at the University, then perhaps the
peace process is doomed and the final outcome
of the conflict will leave yet another black mark
in the history of human civilization.
Fahad Faruqi is an LSA senior.
Crossing racial boundaries
n the past few months, I have
addressed issues that stifle the
civil rights progress of the black
community:sthe
shortcomings of
affirmative action,
the resurgence of
a 'hip-hop' cul-
ture, the deafening
silence around rep- t
arations and police
brutality. But today,
I want to take a look
at a few white lead- MATTHEW
ers throughout his- HUNTER
tory who, despite
criticism from
their own commu-
nity, have contributed to the progress
of the black community by fight-
ing against racial injustice. Indeed,
because of these whites, African-
Americans have seen measures of
racial progress. Naming every white
person who falls in this category may
be impractical, so I have compiled
a list of whites who should be rec-
ognized for certain deeds that have
helped African-Americans in their
struggle for equality.
While most presidents' commit-
ments to civil rights were question-
able, John F. Kennedy's actions
showed a lifetime commitment to
helping oppressed communities. In
1962, Kennedy issued an executive
order that required federal agencies
to "take all necessary and appropri-
ate action to prevent discrimination."
It was the first explicit statement of
a national policy against residential
segregation. This preceded the intro-
duction of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
that outlawed racial segregation in
public places and employment.
And as presidents go, Gerald Ford
can't be excluded from the list. He
showed his commitment to affirma-
tive action at his alma mater, the
University of Michigan. As explained
in the 2006 New York Times article
"Gerald Ford's Affirmative Action,"
Ford's commitment and influence in
the Supreme Court rulingthat upheld
the University's affirmative action
program in 2003 may have been the
"most influential amicus brief in
the history of the Supreme Court."
Opposing most of his Republican ilk,
Ford argued that losing affirmative
action would force "future college
students to suffer the cultural and
social impoverishment that afflicted
my generation."
But Ford's significant impact on
affirmative action pales in comparison
to the sentiments of political activist
and writer Tim Wise. Wise has com-
mitted his professional life to educat-
ing Americans about modern racism,
white privilege and civil rights injus-
tices. His articulate and militant debate
stylebaffles hisopponents. He has fully
acknowledged his natural position of
white privilege in his book, "White
Like Me." In this book, he makes the
claim that "the denial of racism is a
form of racism itself." His most recent
book, "Between Barack and a Hard
Place: Racism and White Denial in the
Age of Obama," questions the claim by
many whites that Obama's rise signi-
fies the end of racism as a pervasive
social force. Wise gets major kudos in
my book.
Michael Moore is a slightly more
powerful media force than Wise, but
theirideashave manyparallels. In 1999,
as unarmed Amadou Diallo reachedfor
his wallet, the police said they thought
it was a gun and shot 41 bullets at him.
Moore documented the incident in
2000 in an episode of his television
program, "The Awful Truth," where
Moore responded by exclaiming,
"Attention, the New York City police
have a difficult time distinguishing
between a gun and a wallet." He pro-
ceeded to create an African-American
Wallet Exchange stand, where people
could exchange their dark wallets for
bright orange ones. Michael Moore
deserves recognition since he has
been active in opposing racial injustice
against blacks.
Many more whites have been rec-
ognized in works like the 2003 book
"White Men Challenging Racism,"
where authors Cooper Thompson,
Emmet Schaefer. and Harry Brod
document cases of white people who
have committed their lives to fight-
ing against black oppression. Many
white women have undoubtedly also 4
been committed to racial equality.
Nadine Strossen and Susan Herman,
the former and current president of
the American Civil Liberties Union,
have each fought on the front lines
for racial justice.
Recognizing
the whites who
fought for blacks.
Eachofthese deeds have contribut-
ed to combating injustices and helped
keep the conversation of race alive.
They speak to the important reality of
any civil rights struggle that for prog-
ress to occur, the conversation of jus-
tice must go beyond dialogue within
the oppressed group. If the goal is in
fact to reach a "post-racial" era, then
each person must act against the bur-
den oppression sitting heavy on the
shoulders of whites and blacks alike.
As African-American activist Marian
Edelman said, "We must not, in try- 4
ing to think about how we can Hake a
big difference, ignore the small daily
differences we can make which, over
time, add up to big differences that
we often cannot foresee." If every
white person in America committed
themselves to just one deed toward
ending black oppression, the changes 4
could be extraordinary.
- Matthew Hunter can be
reached at majjam@umich.edu.
I