a 4A - Wednesday, September 23, 2009 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com E-MAIL ROSE AT ROSEJAFF@UMICH.EDU Edited and managed by students at r _ the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. t AAnn 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. Bulking up rec programs University must renovate campus recreational facilities he University's recreational sports facilities need to get in better shape - or at least that's what a Univer- sity committee determined last spring. But instead of implementing the committee's suggestions, the University has decided to slim down the hours that recreational facilities will remain open. Citing financial reasons, less-attended morningand* evening hours at the Intramural Sports Building have already been cut. But the quality of the buildings will only continue to worsen if they aren't improved for faculty members who pay to use them. The University needs to invest in the health of its students and faculty by investing in the health of its recreational ROSE JAFFE I 50,c~n 1s 61( oie fa_ les j c9o , / o esii5 "'>. ek ci r y 3t41-tip dueer apt ws t rI h qewrr9f iH- . Bichon Frise?Sounds tasty sports facilities. In 2007, the University created the Rec- reational Sports Task Force to examine how to improve recreational sports facili- ties at the University. The task force's find- ings, which were made public in March, showed the University lagging far behind its peers. For example, only Purdue and Penn State have fewer square feet of rec- reational facilities per student than Michi- gan, and only Penn State and Michigan haven't built new facilities since 1983. The task force's findings have been for the most part set aside, and the decision to cut the IM Building's early morning and evening hours seems to contradict the intentions of the task force's recommendations. Administrators have argued that the change in IM Building hourswas necessary because income from faculty membership dues to University recreational facilities has decreased. But declining member- ships have probably been brought on by neglect of these facilities. Cutting hours in the morning and the evening will only further discourage faculty use by increas- ing overcrowding at facilities during peak. hours, and in turn lose the University more memberships. Unless the University starts making improvements, the facilities will only get worse. And they're already in poor condition. Gym users frequently complain about long waiting lines, inadequate equip- ment and unsanitary conditions. The task force has recommended increasing floor space by 60,000 square feet, replacing old machines, reworking space to create a more inviting feel and making needed improvements to things like the ventila- tion systems. These aren't unreasonable changes - schools like Miami University in Ohio have opted to build entirely new facilities - and if administrators are seri- ous about encouraging a healthy campus community, they must fix the recreation- al centers. Considering that health care costs are an enormous expenditure at the University, fitness centers shouldn't be where cuts are made. While the budget is certainly tight, increasing the quality of recreational cen- ters is an investment in the future health of the University community. The enor- mous necessity to students and faculty out- weighs the costs. The University's comparatively deficient facilities are embarrassing, especially con- sidering the University's supposed dedi- cation to a healthy community. While the University should look for ways to cut costs and keep tuition affordable, it shouldn't do so at the expense of recreational facilities that are already lagging. Administrators should expand services and upgrade exist- ing facilities to the level of quality that stu- dents and faculty deserve. Before we get to today's exciting topic, I'd like to clear up some rumors: It's true that I solved the health care problem before any other ~ Daily columnists. But I have more important news. Yesterday, the autumnal equi- nox occurred for WILL the billionth time GRUNDLER in a row, meaning today it's officially fall, meaning our warm weather will disappear soon. Honestly, you would think just once, we could have a year-long summer. But thisis Michigan. Fall isn'tsobad,right? There are pretty colors and nice smells and a profound sense of the cyclical nature of life as our little world starts to die, only to be reborn in the spring, and also the squirrels start to starve, right? Wrong. As everyone knows, fall is the best weather for walking animals like dogs and children. What does this mean? It means we can expect to see more dogs and children on leashes. Specifically, and in an alarm- ing trend, we can expect to see more men walking little dogs around Ann Arbor. Has anyone else noticed this? Does anyone find it odd and possibly threatening in some way, besides the Michigan Review? Well, I don't feel threatened, exact- ly. This is because the men have MOL- ECULE-SIZED dogs. What's going on here? Where are the Dobermans, the German Shepherds, the Black Labs? Was a Bichon Frise really intended to be man's best friend and not, say, something fun to feed to alligators? I suppose I'm confused. Maybe these guys just like little dogs. Or maybe they're professional dog walk- ers. Then again, maybe I'm going to graduate with a job. The only realis- tic conclusion that comes to mind is that these men have created a new strategy to meet women. Women love a Bichon Frise, right? Women see a Bichon Frise and say, "Wow! THAT could go with my shoes," right? So I getr at. But does havinga small dog really make a guy more date- able? Doesn't guiding a Papillon or a Pekingese around and talking to it affectionately give off some weird vibes? Doesn't it seem to say, "I also have an unmarked white van, not just my littleLuluhere?" There's also the sheer amount of effort involved. Like most guys, I didn't even know what a Bichon Frise was before I started writing this. It sounds like an entree, doesn't it? (Actually, it's a white dog that's approximately the size of a soccer ball, only you can kick it further.) I had to look itup on the Internetso you think I know what I'm talking about. (English majors: This is called adding "ethos" to your writing.) I tend to do this with most issues when their key concepts elude me, which is why my editors only let me write about cer- tain things and fail to invite me to parties. Anyway, if you're like me and don't have a solid grasp of small dogs in general, I'll save you some time. It's safe to say that all small dogs either: 1. Look as though they've been tossed ina dryer, or 2. Look as though they've been tossed ina washing machine, or 3. Have no dog friends. But let's get back to the effort of becomingasmall-dogdude.Afteryoti- do some research you actually have to; buy one of these things, and that must. be embarrassing. Guy: Hi, I'm here for the - um what's it called - Filet Mignon? Breeder: You mean the Bichon Frise? Guy: Oh. That's it. Real men don't buy Dobermans. They, buy Shih Tzus. But who knows? Maybe small dogs will be huge in a few years. Perhaps in a short time, everyone will own a small dog and large dogs will be frowned upon and we'll be one step closer to stopping global warming. Perhaps the Chihuahua could be the new symbol of masculinity. Maybe in the near future when we turn on the TV and a Wrangler Jeans com- mercial comes on, it won't be guys' playing football and enjoying one' another's pants just a bit too much. It will be guys walking their Shih Tzu's and enjoying one another's pants just, a bit too much, and we'll just have to accept that. In other, but not wholly unrelated, news: Guys with small bikes who go around doing stunts are still dumb. Sorry. - Will Grundler can be reached at weruumich.edu. The Daily is looking for a diverse group of strong, informed, passionate writers to join the Editorial Board. Editorial Board members are responsible for discussing and writing the editorials that appear on the left side of the opinion page. E-MAIL ROBERT SOAVE AT RSOAVE@UMICH.EDU FOR MORE INFORMATION. ALKA CHANDNA Don't sacrifice animals for science 4 EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS: Nina Amilineni, Emad Ansari, Emily Barton, Ben Caleca, Brian Flaherty, Emma Jeszke, Raghu Kainkaryam, Sutha K Kanagasingam, Erika Mayer, Edward McPhee, Harsha Panduranga, Asa Smith, Brittany Smith, Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Van Gilder, Laura Veith DIANA FLORA | The other side of Detroit "This is an exciting time to be in Detroit," said Grace Lee Boggs, a 94-year-old activist. "We're engaged in creating something new." As I sat in the dimly-lit upstairs of the Boggs Center, where many social justice activists had sat before me, I looked to the other participants of Semester in Detroit and saw women who were as deeply moved and inspired by Grace's words as I was. This was April, and we had all spent the past four months living, working and taking classes in the city. Many of us had been challenged by the harsh reality that Detroiters live with daily, but beyond that, we had spent the past four months having our preconceptions of Detroit shattered. For this self-selecting group of liberal arts students (and one arts student), the opportu- nity to live in Detroit meant a variety of things. For me, it was a way to connect with a city that I was interested in on both an academic and human level. After the program had finished, we had collectively spent 3,000 hours volun- teering for social service agencies, community development corporations and community arts organizations. I chose to work with Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit), the state House of Repre- sentatives member for Southwest Detroit and one of the few state legislators with an active district office. Largely because of my positive experience in Semester in Detroit, I decided to take root in the city after I graduated in May, and chose to live in the district that I once served. Nestled in the heart of southwest Detroit, I have more daily interactions with my neighbors than I did even in Ann Arbor. There's a community gar- den two blocks from my house where I can go pick a head of broccoli that I know was tended to by neighbors and friends. Though I'm still involved with Tlaib's office, I now work as an AmeriCorps member for Gleaners Community Food Bank on the east side of the city. I set up nutrition education and cooking classes for low-income folks in south- east Michigan through a national program called Operation Frontline. These classes are facilitated by volunteer chefs and registered dietitians who teach participants how to eat healthily on a limited budget. After living and working here for nine months, I can't deny that there is some truth to the media's negative portrayal of the city. Violence and institutional corruption are pain- ful realities that result from a history of racial segregation and deindustrialization, which has divided Detroit's population for more than a century. This history is like a scar - physical proof of the trauma the city has suffered and yet evidence that there has been healing. There is this Detroit, the one that people fear, but the Detroit that interests me is the one that is realistic about its own potential. I see this in perspectives like those offered by Boggs. These visionaries go beyond the idea of "saving" the city. Rather, they recognize that a complete restructuring is needed not only of the city's infrastructure, but of what we think a city is. Given Detroit's scars, revitalization will necessarily be painfully critical and rational, and people have already begun to think cre- atively about it. This is the "something new" that Boggs and many other Detroit residents are engaged in. I see a lot of hope in this kind of realistic pragmatism. This is an exciting time to be liv- ing in Detroit because the moment has come for its re-imagining and restructuring. Detroit residents have both the unique privilege and the responsibility to engage themselves in this revitalization. I'm happy to be part of this in some way as a new resident of the city. For those interested in learning more about the program and our work in the city, come to "Engaging Detroit - A Panel and Discus- sion on Doing Community Work in Detroit" on Wednesday, Sept. 23 from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. in Dennison HAll, Room 110. And a reminder - Semester in Detroit appli- cations are due September 30. Get the applica- tion online at www.semesterindetroit.com. Diana Flora is a University alum. As oversight specialist for People for the Ethical Treat- ment of Animals, I spend a lot of time pouring over records pertaining to the abuse of animals in laboratories - labo- ratory inspection reports filed by governmental agencies, animal use protocols outlining graphic details of experi- ments and veterinary records describing the day-to-day lives of animals that have suffered painful and deadly tests in university laboratories. I am sometimes surprised when I speak with college students and others who imagine that animals are no lon- ger used to test cosmetics (they are), that it's illegal to use dogs and cats in invasive or painful experiments (it's per- fectly legal), that animals are retired to sanctuaries after they've been used in laboratories (most animals either die in the course of the experiment or are killed afterward) and that every precaution is taken to minimize the suffer- ing of animals (this is demonstrably false). I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. After all, experi- ments conducted on animals are done out of public view, and when animal experimenters do discuss their "work," they use euphemistic terms that mask the cruelty that they inflict on animals. More than 115 million animals - including 70,000 non- human primates, 72,000 dogs, 22,000 cats and 236,000 rabbits - are used in U.S. laboratories every year. And the treatment of these animals is abysmal. Studies from 2005 and 2009 reveal that SO to 60 percent of rats and mice who are subjected to painful experiments in which deep incisions are made in their abdomens, chests and skulls receive no post-surgical analgesic pain relief. A 2003 Harvard study found that nearly 90 percent of mon- keys caged in laboratories engaged in abnormal behaviors indicative of extreme psychological distress, including self-mutilation and repetitive, neurotic behaviors such as circling madly or incessantly running from side to side in their cage. Virtually nothing is prohibited in animal laboratories, no matter how redundant, pointless or cruel it is. Animals have holes drilled into their skulls, their spinal cords sev- ered to cause paralysis, their eyes sewn shut and their skin burned off. Even when modern alternatives to ani- mal use are available, experimenters are not required to use them and most of the time they don't. There is only one federal law in the U.S. - the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 - that governs the treatment of ani- mals in laboratories, although this law fails to cover mice, rats, birds and fish, who account for at least 95 percent of the animals used in laboratories. That said, according to multiple federal audits, even this law - which deals mainly with caging and husbandry issues and covers only a tiny fraction of the animals used in experiments - isn't adequately enforced. These audits have also found that the animals' last line of defense - oversight commit- tees at individual laboratories, called Institutional Anir- mal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) - are failing at their jobs, functioning as rubber-stamping committees in which anything goes. At the University, where 350,000 animals are used each year, experimenters have addicted monkeys to every drug under the sun, including cocaine, ecstasy, barbitu- rates, methamphetamines, nicotine and alcohol. Rats and mice have been used in studies of fear, anxiety, depression and helplessness. One experimenter is using rats to study, the benefits of green tea and another uses mice to study the benefits of soy. It's not just that the University's IACUC seems to be happy to approve every scientifically fraudulent or cruel protocol that crosses its desk. The University has also' failed when it comes to basic, day-to-day animal care. Mice in University laboratories have died of starvation, and dehydration because people didn't notice that these. animals had no food or water for days. In another instance, cases of live mice were placed out with the trash, and thf animals were crushed to death in a compactor. In other instances, experimenters have conducted pro cedures that had not been approved by the oversight com-' mittee, causing animals immense pain and suffering. In' fact, over a 6-month period from 2006 to 2007, the Uni- versity violated federal animal protection regulations and' guidelines more than 70 times. Imprisoning and inflicting harm on other thinking, feeling beings because they are weaker or look differ-, ent, or because some people believe that our pain is more important than theirs, is cruel and unethical. Students deserve to know what happens inside the laboratories a their school. I encourage all University students, staff and' faculty to attend the "Testing ... One, Two, Three" forum' today at 7 p.m. in Angell Hall, Auditorium B. People of all opinions and backgrounds, particularly those who work with animals or may work with animals in the future, are{ encouraged to attend. Dr. Alka Chandna is a senior researcher with PETA. She, will be speaking at the "Testing ... One, Two, Three" forum. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor. Letters should be less than 300 words and must include the writer's full name and University affiliation. Letters are edited for style, length, clarity and accuracy. All submissions become property of the Daily. We do not print anonymous letters. Send letters to tothedoily@umich.edu. p {1 4