0 4A - Friday, September 25, 2009 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com E-MAIL BELLA AT BELLZ@UMICH.EDU C74C IWIC4igan .+ ai1 BELLA SHAH Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu ROBERT SOAVE COURTNEY RATKOWIAK EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR 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 of their authors. Clean-up in aisle A2 City Council should stop delays and vote on plastic bag ban proposedban on plastic bags inAnnArborhasbeenbagged - atleasttemporarily. TheAnnArbor City Council decided at a meeting on Tuesday to put the vote to ban plastic bags on hold until later this year, arguing that enough details weren't known. If it ever makes it to a vote, the ban would be the first of its kind in Washtenaw County and could set a good example for the rest of the state to follow. City Council has been dragging its feet on this important issue long enough: It must implement this envi- ronmentally friendly proposal. But even without a ban on plastic bags, students can still promote greener alternatives by switching T m cowns to an f!8. tv A many 1or Ifrti fit 0 ' 6 Majorly undecided to cloth bags on their own. The proposed ban on plastic bags isn't new to City Council. It was first introduced in June 2008, mirroring similar propos- als and bans in cities across the country, notably San Francisco and Los Angeles. Tuesday's delay marks the third time the proposal has been tabled. The proposal would prohibit all retailers with yearly sales of more than $1 million from provid- ing plastic bags to shoppers. Because the ban would only affect retailers inside city limits, it would primarily impact Briar- wood and Arborland Malls. The ban's benefits are clear - plastic bags aren't conducive to a healthy envi- ronment. Plastic bags are made from pet- rochemicals, which come from fossil fuels. As more bags are manufactured and used, nonrenewable resources are depleted. And plastic bags take an extremely long time to decompose, adding to Michigan's already- overflowing landfills. As the bags do break down, they leave harmful contaminants in their wake. Banning plastic bags has positively impacted the communities that have done so. San Francisco's 2007 ban reduced the consumption of plastic bags by five million per month. Similar measures have been taken in Los Angeles and recently in San Jose. Though Ann Arbor might not benefit as heavily as these larger communities, Ann Arbor's City Council should do what- ever it can to encourage greener options. Critics of the ban may say it will hurt businesses, but this is unlikely. Because the ban only applies to grocery stores with a yearly gross of more than $1 million, smaller establishments wouldn't be affect- ed. And larger stores shouldn't have much of a problem shouldering the monetary burden associated with a ban. In any case, there are plenty of more environmentally friendly options to replace plastic bags. Decomposable plastic bags do exist, and though they are more expensive, large retailers could afford to offer them if they really want to stick with plastics. But the best option is cheap, dura- ble cloth bags, which can easily be reused. And students don't need to wait for City Council to opt for this choice - cloth bags are already available with many larger retailers. The plastic bag ban would be an envi- ronmentally responsible measure, and City Council shouldn't have delayed its passage again. But in the meantime, students can avoid plastic bags on their own to create a greener campus community. At the age of five, I was con- vinced I would make the world's best kindergarten teacher. By eight, I saw myself becom- ing a psychologist. I was sure I was the next Judy Blume during my pre-teen years. The past few l years, I have had my heart set on becoming a nutri- tionist. Just last LEAH week, I convinced POTKIN my friends I would thrive as a wedding planner. Now, I'm awaiting my next grand idea. I can't wait to see which quirky career I'll pick for myself. So, given my history, how should I answer the most common question that, as asophomore, I nowencounter: What's my major? Honestly, I have no idea what I want tobe or what I want to major in. In fact, I assert my uncer- tainty with pride, unlike many of my contemporaries, who seem embar- rassed to admit they're undecided. Just because I knew what I wanted when I was five does not mean my 19-year-old self can make any deci- sions - at least not yet. College should be the time when students explore all their interests without the constant pressure of deciding on their future as defined by a major. I understand that some people know what they want to do with their lives and have goals. Good for them. I still find that the pressure to commit leaves stu- dents quick to dive into a major they may be unsatisfied with in 10 years - or even six months. Finding the right career involves more than simply liking something or being good at it. It's a balance of all aspects of a person's life. The process can only evolve from experience, and unfortunately, I don't think my jobs as a gym employee and camp coun- selor can resolve my indecision. Maybe that's because, to me, inde- cision isn't a problem. I feel lucky to be at a school with so many outstanding programs. Idhbe cheating myself to not explore as many as possible. Frankly, the fact that Iwill - despite my reluc- tance - still be required to eventually declare a major pisses me off. If it were up to me, Undecided would be a major. People speak as if it is, and there's nothing wrong with that. I know that declaring a major isn't the death sentence I'm making it out to be, and I know declared majors are subject to change. But if I end up tak- ing classes solely to fill requirements in a major I ultimately change, I have wasted my time and tuition money. And even the innocuous-sounding General Studies major has its own list of course requirements that limit exploration. To assist stubborn students, the University implores us to seek guid- ance from advisors. These advisors are touted as seers with the ability to assign the correct career path based solely on a meeting or two in which years of experiences and goals are condensed and analyzed. Not to be rude, but how can middle-aged col- lege advisors with their own pre- dispositions guide me when I don't even know - or care to know - what I want? Thank you, advisors, but I'll gladly stay lost and un-analyzed for as long as possible. A word of advice for anyone inter- ested in weighing different options - I'm taking a class this semester that I find especially valuable. It's a sec- tion of Psych 211 called "Exploring Careers." To be honest, I signed up for it last minute when a friend also in the class told me it was an easy pass-fail class. But by the end of the first lecture, I knew I would get more out of this class than any other course I'm taking this semester. The teacher emphasizedthat today, it's far more acceptable to be out of college and not have a "real" job, or to have a job unrelated to one's major. It's not uncommon for people in their later twenties to go back to school after discovering an unexpected passion. Students shouldn't feel rushed to pick the perfect major. And that's okay, because I'm sure that I'll probably change my mind about a career even after I finish college. This might seem like nothing more than a rant about my indecisiveness. But I've felt this way since my grand- mother told me that she took her first anthropology class during her senior year of college and then wished she could have majored in it. Naturally, I took an introductory anthropology course last year - sorry, Grammy, it bored me to tears. But I now have an overwhelming fear that if I get stuck fulfillingthe requirements for a declared major, I might miss out on a class that could direct me to my true calling. And that would be a major loss. - Leah Potkin can be reached at Ipotkin@umich.edu. 0 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 SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU A different kind ofprivilege a Daily article on Halfway's recent removal is one-sided TO THE DAILY: I am writing in regards to the September 15th article about the relocation of the Halfway Inn in East Quadrangle (East Quad's Halfway Inn con- verted into student lounge, 9/15/09). As a former East Quad resident I have many fond memories of the Halfway Inn and am very sad to see it change. While I understand many of the reasons that they would move the cafe, I felt that the arti- cle portrayed a very one-sided view of situation. Where was the feedback from the students who didn't want to see it go? What about those who think it's a terrible idea to move the food? Based on my own experiences, I don't think that this article covered the true feelings of many of the East Quad residents. Andaiye Spencer Alum Good Samaritan policy will not change MIP status TO THE DAILY: In regards to a recent Daily editorial about the Good Samaritan Policy, it is pertinent to mention that some information relating to MSA has changed (Making the right call, 09/21/2009). I would like to clarify what has been hap- pening within MSA to make sure that interest- ed students have the latest information. MSA's Student Rights Commission originally sought out the staff at the Office of Student Conflict Resolutions to implement a Good Samaritan Policy in the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities. After meeting with various staff at University Health Service, OSCR and Department of Public Safety, we've realized that the issue is much more complicated than simply writing an amendment. Changes in the SSRR affect only students and have no governing power over DPS's abil- ity to issue MIPs. Changing MIP laws is a legal issue that falls under state law rather than University policies. DPS officers are bound to Michigan law, which states that if an officer encounters an intoxicated minor, the officer must issue an MIP or else the officer will face consequences. With this information, we are taking two routes. The SSRR's Student Rights Commission is writing an amendment to incorporate infor- mation about adaptive conflict resolutions, including one that OSCR has called "Alterna- tive Conflict Resolution for Alcohol and/or other Drugs" (ACR-for-AOD). We would like to bring attention to this program because many students are unaware that if they are issued an MIP, they can clear their disciplinary record with the University by completing an edu- cational ACR-for-AOD program with OSCR. A clear disciplinary record can be advanta- geous when applying to graduate schools and jobs. This program, however, doesn't expunge an MIP. The Student Rights Commission and other interested students are arranging meet- ings with people to get as much information as possible before we move forward to lobby the state legislature. We encourage any interested students to get involved by emailing MSAstu- dentrights@umich.edu. Vickie Hwang LSA senior Neil Marcus, a prominent poet, artist and activist for dis- ability culture, told the New River Free Press in 2006, "Accessibil- ity means you feel okay about being in a place." Fighting against segrega- tion has been one of Marcus' greatest challenges. Every day, he must ques- MATTHEW tion whether he isH welcome in public HUNTER despite incidents that keep him from simply feeling okay at school, work, restaurants - even, until the recent renovations, in the Big House. Since he was eight, Marcus has been disabled with general dystonia, a neurologi- cal movement disorder that causes, among other things, twisting body movements and abnormal postures. I met Marcus on Tuesday at a dis- ability culture workshop. Shamefully, I admit that I initially questioned his intelligence and ability to commu- nicate because he was so "severely" abnormal. Naturally, I equated dis- ability with a lesser intelligence than my own. But Neil quickly taught me otherwise. His unique movement patterns are not bizarre - they are elegant. His words are always accom- panied by awarm smile. And he does not, for asecond, wantyour pity. After a few hours with Marcus, I realized that I was in the presence of someone who could be a great civil rights icon like Dr. King or Rosa Parks, only Mar- cus' struggle focuses on something different. On April 5, 1977, disabled people led a protest at the San Francisco offices of the Health, Education and Welfare Department after Secretary Joseph Califano refused to sign regu- lations for Section 504, a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by providing equal access to educa- tion. It was one of the longest sit-ins in U.S. history, lasting 25 days. One group that made this courageous act possible was the Black Panthers, who protested and helped provide food for others in the protest. The Black Panthers are better known for their unforgiving black civil rights activism. But here, they fought for equality for another oppressed group - the disabled. They were fighting together for access and to feel okay in social space. This is the struggle of minorities, women and gays. This is what I, as a black man, must consider daily: whether or not I have equal access in social space. I never realized it was a function of my privilege to be physically able to walk up the steps of Angel Hall, just as whites often do not realize that it is a function of their privilege to rarely have to consider their race's effect on social legitimacy or to be a part of a student population propor- tional to that of the nation. As white civil rights activist Tim Wise put it, "White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you. ... White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for presi- dent, while being black and experi- encing racism is, as Sarah Palin puts it, a 'light' burden. ... White privilege is, in short, the problem." What lessons can be learned from Marcus and the disability movement? First, we should all recognize our own privilege and how it oppresses others. My own privilege enabled me to associate disabilities with incom- petence, as white privilege enables some to associate blacks with lesser intelligence and violence. The looks on some students' faces when I open my mouth and I speak "standard Eng- lish" never fail to amuse me. Second, coalitionsarevitaltoestab- lishing civil equality. This means that blacks should be on the front lines combating homophobia, men should be self-identified feminists and Palin should befriend minorities from Detroit. Whites should learn to bet- ter identify racial injustices and find ways to openly discuss and combat these issues. Third, movements are more effec- tive when a variety of people are involved. You don't have to be Tim Wise at a podium or Huey Newton toting a machine gun to fight for civil rights. Attending race forums, having civil rights conversations and calling your representative to tell them that a six percent African-American stu- dent population is just not enough are all instrumental steps for change. Disabled people continue to fight for civil rights. Only 30 minutes after meeting Neil, I helped him eat a turkey sand- wich from Panera Bread, as he is unable to feed himself. It was not an act of kindness on my part - it was one of sharing. While his hunger was temporarily satisfied, I learned lifelong lessons from him about my own shortcomings and blindness because of my privilege. Whereas many describe Marcus' disability as debilitating, Marucs will smile and tell you that he enjoys the fluidity and unpredictability of his movements. Our common ground is in our mutual struggle. We both want access, to feel comfortable in social space, tobe bet- ter understood, to have more equal opportunity and to feel okay to be in a place. - Matthew Hunter can be reached at majjam@umich.edu. 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 Uni- versity 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. 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. 0 '3