4 - Tuesday, March 31, 2009 1 11T iga
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 0
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the University of Michigan since 1890.
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GARY GRACA ROBERT SOAVE COURTNEY RATKOWIAK
EDITOR IN CHIEF EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR 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.
FROM T HE DAILY
Bringing ethics back
'U' should expand focus on ethics in academic curricula
J there has been only one major lesson taught to us in the past
year, it's that a handful of shady leaders and a culture of uneth-
ical behavior can wreak uncontrollable havoc. From Bernie
Madoff to Kwame Kilpatrick to AIG, America's most dramatic
scandals have demonstrated the most basic of lessons: Ethics mat-
ter. As the key nurseries for these future leaders, universities have
a pivotal place in driving that message home, ours included. While
courses are still being planned, the University should encourage
professors and academic departments to integrate ethics into their
classes so that students enter the professional world prepared to
handle the difficult ethical decisions they will inevitably face.
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
We're only human.
They shine a little brighter."
- Steven Syverson, Dean of Admissions at Lawrence University, explaining why colleges are more likely
to accept students who do not apply for aid this year, as reported yesterday by The New York Times.
ELAINE MORTONI OUT TO PASTURE E-MAIL ELAINE AT EMORT@UMICH.EDU
eraitsclo I e5 in
CoTC
0
The 'new' War on Drugs
The ethical lapses of American profes-
sionals certainly call into question the
integrity of university educations. As The
New York Times noted in a Mar. 14 article
entitled "Is It Time to Retrain B-Schools?",
business schools must share the blame for
their abject failure to impart a sense of ethi-
cal decency in their students - students who
have gone on to lead the financial world into
ruin for the sake of personal gain. And the
University's own Ross School of Business is
no exception.
The Business School must mount a con-
certed effort to make the discussion of
ethics a substantial part of its curricu-
lum. While some professors have begun to
include ethics discussions in their lectures,
it's up to the University administration to
make sure this is institutionalized. Admin-
istrators and course planners need to keep
in mind the current failings of the business
world and structure classes that will fill this
ethical void. If students aren't being pro-
vided with a proper ethical foundation in
college, they certainly won't catch on when
they enter the business world.
At the University, students are expected
to develop skills that will serve them in the
professional world, and the ability to think
carefully about the implications of their
decisions is an important skill. By incor-
porating ethical considerations into their
everyday lectures, professors will help to
continue the growth of students' knowledge
and give students a strong background in
thinking critically about ethical questions
that might arise before students encounter
them firsthand.
Of course, it's also important to realize
that ethical bankruptcy isn't strictly a phe-
nomena in the business world. In the same
vein, the teaching of ethics shouldn't be lim-
ited to the Business School. Political science
majors should consider the implications of
corruption in government. English majors
should be warned about stealing other writ-
ers' works. Ethical issues arise in every area
of study and the discussion of ethics should
not be limited to any one field. Each aca-
demic subject could stand to gain from an
increased emphasis on ethical education.
Introducing ethical components into
University curricula for every major won't
change human nature or individual ethical
standards. But providing a continued discus-
sion on ethical issues encourages students to
remain sensitive to ethical considerations.
When students start considering the intrica-
cy of ethical issues early, it's less likely they
will succumb to poor decisions.
When hunting for what to
write about, rarely do I
turn to international news
or foreign policy.
It's not that these
topics don't inter-
est me - I just usu-
ally feel like my s
point of view has
usually already =
been noted and dis-
cussed by someone
with more author-
ity on the subject. ROBERT
But after reading a SOAVE
recent article The
Wall Street Jour-
nal (U.S. Defines Its Afghan Strategy,
03/27/09), I couldn't keep silent.
The article outlined President
Barack Obama's plans to bring
Afghanistanunder controlbyincreas-
ing U.S. troop presence, appointing
new military commanders and sup-
plying more funds. According to the
article, "the strategy will effectively
focus U.S. efforts in Afghanistan on
the narrow goal of defeating al Qaeda
and its Taliban allies." This new
policy of Obama's is more narrowly
focused, as opposed to "the Bush
administration's broader nation-
building efforts."
While I have limited enthusiasm
for either the Bush plan or the Obama
plan, my outrage wasn't triggered
until theveryend of the article, where
the plan for handling Afghanistan's
illegal opium trade was detailed.
Farmers who grow opium - an ille-
gal substance used to produce drugs
like heroin and morphine - will be
offered wheat seeds for free from
either Afghan or U.S. officials to start
growing wheat instead of opium.
Then the kicker comes: "If the farm-
ers refuse, U.S. or Afghan personnel
will burn their fields, and then again
offer them free replacement seeds."
Let's repeat that for effect - U.S. per-
sonnel will burn their fields and then
pressure the farmers again. And we
wonder why the Afghan people have
not yet warmed to our presence in
their country.
What's worse is that it doesn't
sound like anyone in the government
is criticizing this plan. In yesterday's
edition of The Wall Street Journal,
an article cited that Obama's plan has
widespread support from Republi-
cans and Democrats in Congress (U.S.
PushesAfghan Planin The Hague This
Week, 03/30/09). Sen. John McCain
even told NBC's Meet the Press that
the he likes the proposal, saying,
"The best way to get out of Afghani-
stan fast is (for) people to think we're
staying."
And we're goingto win by burning
down their fields?
There is no way to bring stabil-
ity to Afghanistan while simultane-
ously promoting an unnecessary war
on drugs in the country, especially
if this involves burning their fields.
Destroying the Afghan people's main
source of livelihood certainly won't
get us out of the country any faster.
According to a Washington Post
article from 2006, the opium trade
represents a third of Afghanistan's
gross domestic product and is up to
twelve times more profitable than
other crops - explaining why farm-
ers might be hesitant to accept the
wheat seeds. The country's economy
is inexorably tied up in the opium
trade, and this won't change as long
as opium production remains illegal.
The U.S. government will claim
that such policies are necessary
because terrorist groups like al-Qae-
da and the Taliban profit from the
lucrative opium trade. But this indus-
try is profitable for them precisely
because it is illegal - farmers must
rely on help from blacklisted groups
(like the terrorists) to make a profit
from their crops.
Thankfully, the International
Council on Security and Develop-
ment, an international think tank,
has the right solution for the Afghan
opium trade. It proposes allow-
ing Afghan farmers to grow opium
legally in order to produce medicines
like morphine, which are in short
supply in much of the developing
world. Some countries, like India, are
already permitted to farm opium for
this purpose. There is no reason to
deny Afghanistan this same right.
The U.S. should
legalize opium in
Afghanistan.
But regardless of what is done
about the legal status of the opium
trade, it's certainly wrong to delib-
erately destroy the livelihoods of
the people of Afghanistan, and I'm
shocked that the Obama adminis-
tration isn't incurring criticism for
such a policy. When Bush advocated
similar policies, politicians in both
parties derided him for his imperial-
ist warmongering. Have these crit-
ics been blinded by Obama's shining *
promises of hope and change?
ThoughI wasn't as optimistic about
an Obama presidency as other stu-
dents, I was at least looking forward
to a departure from the Bush policy
on two wars - the War on Terrorism
and the War on Drugs. In his most
recent Afghanistan policy, Obama *
has made it clear that he intends to
vigorously continue both.
And if the people of Afghanistan
continue to resent the U.S. presence
there, we'll know why.
- Robert Soave is the Daily's
editorial page editor. He can be
reached at rsoave@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, Jeremy Levy, Erika Mayer, Edward McPhee,
Matthew Shutler, Neil Tambe, Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Van Gilder, Laura Veith
LETTER S THE EDITOR SEN
Environmentalism doesn't
devalue innovation
ID LETTERS TO: T
achickenhowdoy(
you'll probably rec
attempt at a lame j+
a guy say, "You knt
to kill chickens and
TO THE DAILY: from fantasizingab
Victoria Miller's letter to the editor regarding But according to th
Earth Hour (Earth Hour exemplifies anti-pro- should "naturally"
gressive principles, 03/27/2009) was a disturbing food to survive, as t
example of a prideful attitude toward overcon- If the bio-evol:
sumption. While the author should receive credit work for somethini
for putting her blatantselfishness up for the entire food, why would it
University to read, it is terrifying to imagine that and reproduction?
her voice represents the opinions of many. glingto understand
The suggestion that making personal energy feelings about rel
sacrifices is somehow backtracking, "sacrificing little social influen
humanity" or disrespecting the ingenuity of past We may have le
inventors is absolutely absurd. Nobody denies the observing previou
importance of their discoveries, but that does not neither "natural"n
make them appropriate for a sustainable future. sarily follow. The
In fact, it's precisely that type of innovation that disinterested in h
should inspire us to find every possible way to that - an assumpti
reduce our carbon footprints. Such a viewpoint
does not demonstrate appreciation for modern Noveed Safipour
technology but instead demonstrates the danger LSA sophomore
of ignorant and foolish pride. Environmentally
destructive habits are not something to cel- High rises
ebrate.
OTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU
oufeel?"Asamale, Icanattest
eive an awkward stare or an
oke. You probably won't hear
ow, I feel this strong impulse
find ithard to restrain myself
out their juicy, tender meat!"
e bio-evolutionary logic, guys
feel the impulse to kill for
heir ancestors did.
utionary reasoning doesn't
g as "natural" as the need for
apply to human relationships
Psychologists are still strug-
d emotions, so to suggest that
ationships are genetic with
ce is misleading.
arned relationship roles by
us generations, but that is
nor something people neces-
assumption that males are
ealthy relationships is just
:ion.
not the solution
using problems
exception to your editorial
ri to look up, 03/30/2009). I
rts to encourage affordable
rtunately, all new buildings
e than old ones - even very
mdly elements only adds to
issed on to residents in the
t. Tall buildings would blight
dscape, especially since stu-
nt population and don't have
.the property.
asily bought into the argu-
rs who are already-making a
e few high-density buildings
Arbor is to attract and retain
eeds to focus on what makes
oups, not just students who
gone tomorrow.
CAROLINA RIZZO I VIEWPOINT
Learning to love Detroit
Kaitlin Henry
LSA freshman
Evolutionary instincts can't
explain relationships
to city's hoi
TO THE DAILY:
I have to take
(Zoning should sta
applaud your effoi
housing, but unfor
are more expensiv
I am one of the 14 members of Semester in Detroit (SID),
a new University program funded by the office of the Pro-
vost, the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, the
Residential College and the Ginsberg Center. This pro-
gram grants undergraduate students at the University the
opportunity to spend a semester living in Detroit, taking
classes and interning with a community-based organiza-
tion. The program's goal is to strengthen the relationship
between the University and the city of Detroit, and to
engage students with a city that needs the creative ener-
gies of young people.
I'm sure that all 14 of us have different motives for being
part of SID. For me, it was an opportunity to live in a new
city and to intern with the Sugar Law Center for Econom-
ic and Social Justice, an organization whose mission and
goals I truly respect. And I haven't been disappointed:
Detroit is like no place else. The first thing I noticed is
that Detroiters, even strangers on the streets, are some of
the nicest people you can interact with. There's a negative
perception of Detroit that would suggest otherwise, but if
you stick around for a while, you will see that Detroit is
really just a big town.
People in coffee shops and restaurants will treat you
like royalty - they will start to remember your name and
your favorite items as you become a regular, as I have at
Avalon International Breads. I'm Carolina, sweet cream
butter scone and large "meaning of life" coffee blend.
Strangers on the streets will say good morning, hello or
start a conversation with you, and they will open the doors
for you as you pass. In the eight years that I've been in the
United States, I've never encountered people friendlier
than those in Detroit.
I've had some very interesting conversations with
strangers in this city - people sitting next to me at Avalon
while I devour my sweet cream butter scone or people sit-
ting at the bar at Cass Cafe ordering the same local beer
I've grown to love (Ghettoblaster, on draft). And it doesn't
take longto learn that Detroit is a city of communities. As
the city tries to recover, communities and personal rela-
tionships thrive.
Population loss to the suburbs and to other states is no
secret here, and as a result, there are too many empty lots
and less than a million people living in a city designed for
two times that many. But on the bright side, those who live
here know and helpeachotherbecause mostofthemcannot
rely on anyone but themselves and the people around them.
Detroit is just that kind of scene, and SID is doing some-
thing even greater than any one of us could have anticipat- 0
ed. It's not only providing the opportunity for University
students to learn in a new city or to put an internship
experience in their resumes - we could do that anywhere.
This program is strengtheningthe bond between Detroit,
and the University and the links between community
organizations rooted in the city. By providing community
organizations with a forum to talk to one another, SID is
increasing its social capital and resources. SID is helping
Detroit lift itself up. And in the process, this program is
teaching us that the best way to help communities is by
assessing what they have and building from there instead
of just focusing on what they lack.
We get to make history, too. Some of us do research in a
class for a play that will be performed by the Mosaic Youth
Theatre so that people won't forget about the 1966 North-
ern Walkout. Some of us have been reading about this city
from the perspective of local writers, and it's inspired us
to create our own literature. Others are learning about
sustainable foods in a city that has too much room and
not enough people. And all of us have taken a ride through
the years of Detroit's urban planning history.
Three months have passed since the moment we signed
our housing contracts at Wayne State and we only have
a month left in Detroit, which means it's time to think
about what we've gotten out of this experience. For me,
the greatest thing is amazement about what can be cre-
ated out of thin air, like magic - it's what happens when
people truly rely on each other.
Thanks, Detroit.
SID is now accepting applications for the Winter 2010
semester. Get the application online at www.semesterin-
detroit.com.
Carolina Rizzo is an LSA senior.
TO THE DAILY: tall new buildings.
Eileen Stahl normally writes progressive col- Adding eco-frie
umns with insights I've often enjoyed reading. the cost that is pa
I was therefore disappointed last Wednesday form of higher rent
when, in her column, she used evolutionary biol- the Ann Arbor lan(
ogy to explain guys' and girls' behaviors in rela- dents are a transier
tionships (Funfearless andflawed, 03/25/2009). avested interest in
The natural-selection-based theory has been You have too e:
cited as evidence for decades to explain wom- ments of developer
en's supposedly "natural" maternal instincts lot of money off the
for raising children. The theory has also been in the city. If Ann A
used, as Stahl implies, to explain why guys new residents, it n
might "naturally" be more interested in sex it livable for all gr
than healthy relationships. are here today and
However, this theory doesn't necessarily apply
to such contexts. A brief experiment shows this. Susan Wineberg
Ask any guy this simple question: "When you see Staff