4 - Tuesday, March 31, 2009 1 11T iga The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 0 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu 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