4A - Friday, October 23, 2009
l e Iicl igan wily
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
E-MAIL BELLA AT BELLZ@UMICH.EDU
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
, jai y.E" p,4
b k j
Wet
71 I
Unsigned editorials reflect the official position ofthe Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles
and illustrations represent solely the views ofttheir authors.
Carpe diem
Obama must protect Great Lakes from invasive species
A nyone who has seen a license plate from the Great Lakes
State knows that the lakes are an integral part of Michi-
gan's identity. But the Great Lakes' ecosystem is often in
danger due to sewage and invasive species. Currently, the latter
problem is most concerning - the lakes face a potential attack
from the Asian carp, a violent, invasive species of fish. The carp
are only one scaly bound away from harming the Great Lakes and
Michigan industries. To protect Michigan's lakes and economy,
President Barack Obama and the Army Corps of Engineers must
If t 'i 4l
6
I
of e r , r R *w iU C'9
What racism means today
a
act quickly to stop the carp.
Thirty years ago, Asian carp were
imported by southern fish farms to con-
trol algae. But several species escaped
into southern waterways and migrated
north. According to the Alliance for the
Great Lakes, the carp, which are vora-
cious eaters, now represent 98 percent of
the biomass in parts of the Mississippi and
Illinois rivers. Rainfall could cause the
Des Plaines River to flood into a neighbor-
ing canal connected to Lake Michigan,
giving the carp a path around the Army
Corps of Engineers's electric fences that
were created to stop the migration of the
carp. A bill headed to Obama's desk would
allocate funds to allow the Army Corps of
Engineers to study existing barriers and
build new ones between the waterways to
stop the carp's progress.
Invasive species have far-reaching
ecological consequences. The lakes have
already seen the negative effects of the
presence of other invasive species like
zebra mussels, which upset the balance
of the ecosystem by interrupting the food
chain and interfering in breeding practic-
es. Asian carp, which consume dispropor-
tionate amounts of food, would displace
native species on a massive scale. The
ripples from such a change would impact
aquatic plants, fish and water-dependent
birds and mammals, dramatically dis-
rupting the ecosystem around the Great
Lakes.
Damage to the ecosystem would also
have effects on the economy. Michigan's
second-largest industry is tourism, and it's
based upon the appeal of the Great Lakes.
Recreational fishing and boating entices
tourists to the state every year. The carp,
which can grow to four feet in length and
weigh more than 85 pounds, pose a safety
risk to water-bound tourists. Though it
may sound like an urban myth, the fish
have a history of leaping out of the water
and harming boaters and skiers.
Michigan's commercial fishing indus-
try is also at risk. The fishing industry is
already struggling to survive under the
economic recession, and the decrease in
native fish will damage the industry even
further. As the ecosystem of the lakes fal-
ters and fish die, these industries won't be
able to function.
But disaster can be averted with the
help of the federal government. The bill
currently on its way to Obama's desk will
expand the effort to stop the carp's prog-
ress. This bill is vital to the safety of the
lakes, which is in turn vital to not only
the Michigan economy, but the entire
Great Lakes region. This is something that
Obama, a native of Illinois, should be well
aware of.
So far, the most prominent racial
debates of 2009 have thrown
around the term racism as if
400 years of our
nation's cruel
racial history has'
not defined the
concept. Today, '
everyone is con-
sidered racist. But
there is a sharp dif-
ference between
Obama's supposed MATTHEW
"racism" and Rush
Limbaugh's liken- HUNTER
ing of NFL games
to a battle between
the Bloods and the Crips, only with-
out weapons.
Although the term is abused,
identifying racism is important to
identifying racial injustice. But an
accusation of racism has two effects,
both of which impede progressive
racial dialogue. First, it angers folks
who are the victim of an accusation,
because racism is equated with moral
bankruptcy. And second, those who
are suspicious of racism and those
who are accused of it misuse the
word to apply to any potentially racial
issue, which effectively reduces the
word's meaning.
The meaning of racism is hotly
debated. Does racism still exist? Can
minorities be racist? Does racism
refer to an oppressive system rather
than individuals? Is all racial dis-
crimination racism? Whatever your
answers, there are some key points
that can help us distinguish between
the who's who of racist dialogue.
Over time, the bar to escape rac-
ism has risen. If, for example, Keith
Bardwell doesn't marry interracial
couples even though he says he has
black friends, as reported by the New
York Times on Oct. 17, he is still a rac-
ist. Because civil rights progress has
been made, that which is blatantly
racist is no longer the main concern.
Instead, we need to reassess racism
that has been clouded, to some, by
larger issues of the past. .
According to an Oct. 14 New York
Times article, Limbaugh was dropped
from his bid to be co-owner of the
St. Louis Rams after NFL Commis-
sioner Roger Goodell denounced his
bid because it sparked racial contro-
versy. Afew black Rams players said
they would not play for ateam associ-
ated with the controversial talk show
host.
In addition to criminalizing black
NFL players, Limbaugh is clear on
what he thinks of blacks.
Fair.org noted in a June 7, 2000
article titled "A Color Man Who has
a Problem with Color," that Lim-
baugh has made such statements as,
"Have you ever noticed how all com-
posite pictures of wanted criminals
resemble Jesse Jackson?" and, "The
NAACP should have riot rehearsal.
They should get a liquor store and
practice robberies."
Limbaugh is a part of a growing
trend of people whodeny their own
racism. They are offended by claims
of oppression or excuses to justify
incompetence, laziness and crimi-
nality. But Limbaugh and his ilk
would think differently if they could
experience what it feels like to be a
part of an oppressed minority. They
would know how it feels to have
police slam you against a wall and
call you a nigger, like they did to me,
or be shot in the back for no reason,
which is what happened to Oscar
Grant, a black California man, on
January 1, 2009. They would know
how it feels to go to school where
only six percent, or less, of the stu-
dents were their race. If Limbaugh
knew what it was like to sit in the
back of the bus, he would reconsider
his continued racial slander.
Higher standards
for defining
discrimination.
U
Everyone has the potential to
be racist. But there is a difference
between white racism and minority
racism. The reason the black com-
munity - and the Latino community
- is in a disproportionate social state
is because of racial oppression. White
racism functions to further oppress
minorities, whereas black racism just
annoys people. Black racism does not
cause an entire population to suffer
the way that white racism does.
I have sympathy for those who
deny racism. They don't want to be
racist, and there was a time when
they would not have been labeled as
such. But now that the bar has risen;
the big difference is empathy. Our
racial views should not be limited to
the experience of our privilege. Rath-
er, they should be principles based on
empathetic understandings of other
racial groups.
-Matthew Hunter can be
reached at majjam@umich.edu.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS:
Nina Amilineni, Emad Ansari, Emily Barton, Jamie Block, Ben Caleca,
Michelle DeWitt, Brian Flaherty, Emma Jeszke, Raghu Kainkaryam, Sutha K Kanagasingam,
Erika Mayer, Edward McPhee, Harsha Panduranga, Alex Schiff, Asa Smith, Brittany Smith,
Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Van Gilder, Laura Veith
JAMES ALTMAN AND AARON BUCKINGHAM I
Pride and pregaming
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.
The glory days of tailgating before a Michi-
gan football game seem to be in danger. Many
students remember exiting South Quad as
freshmen and seeing an army of students
proudly wearing their maize football shirts.
The atmosphere was reminiscent of dreams of
what college would be like. There were parties
so full people poured out the front door and
onto the lawns. And on the 900 block of State
Street, rival fraternities who dislike each other
on every other day found common ground -
the State Street block party.
It's a simple fact that the pregame parties on
State Street on Football Saturdays are funda-
mental in the student culture. Every Football
Saturday, students across campus wake up at
8:00 a.m. or earlier to support their school and
their team. Supporters of opposing teams have
to work their way through the flood of maize.
and blue, listen to music blasting and under-
stand that they are in Wolverine Country.
But the way that police have recently been
handling State Street pregame parties has
hushed this culture.
The authorities need to understand that pre-
game parties aren't about getting drunk, acting
inappropriately or engaging in other potentially
dangerous behaviors. It's about enjoying foot-
ball. It's about school pride. It's about knowing
that it's great to be a Michigan Wolverine.
Having spent years in the fraternity system,
we understand how to run a party. The Inter-
fraternity Council has an understanding with
the Ann Arbor police that fraternity parties
will be safe and regulated. This extends to State
Street parties. Our house has always complied
with police officers. We put up fences to ensure
that our parties are contained and don't spill
onto the sidewalks or streets. We try to create
a safe environment in which to tailgate so that
we can have as much fun as possible with little
worry. There's no reason this should be unsat-
isfactory, because safety is ultimately the big-
gest concern.
Since the Ann Arbor police shut us down,
our house alone has received over $1,000 in
fines and bond payments. The city attorney has
referred to us as a "nuisance." In a letter sent to
us, the city cited "rooftop activities and crowds
spilling onto the public sidewalk" as reasons for
concern. As we have made clear, this behavior
doesn't take place. The city's sudden concern is
strange. The city suddenly feels it is necessary
to threaten our neighbors and us with lawsuits,
and it's unclear why. Beneath all the bureau-
cratic political blather from city officials, the
answers are hard to find.
We will concede that in years past, there
have been problems. We are sure that there will
be concerns in the future as well. In order to
deal with those issues, the houses on the 900
block of State Street have and will continue to
be compliant-and respectful of the Ann Arbor
police. Ultimately, everyone wants the same
thing: safety, and to be able to proudly cheer on
the Michigan football team.
We don't think that the intentions of Kris-
ten Larcom, the Ann Arbor senior assistant
city attorney, are to ruin tailgating. But on the
900 block of State Street, that is effectively
what has happened. We like being able to wake
up with our neighbors at 6:30 a.m. to go out-
side and set up our fences while anticipating
the day to come. At the last pregame party, we
looked out from our porch at 9:45 a.m. to see
empty lawns and a quiet State Street. We want
to be able to come back 40 years from now and
see State Street carry on the traditions that we
are fighting to continue now. Saturday is about
facilitating a culture that transcends previous-
ly isolated social networks, and our tailgates
are something fundamental to the Saturday
football experience in Ann Arbor.
Saturdays are about Michigan pride. Have
some.
James Altman and Aaron
Buckingham are LSA seniors.
Don't sweat the swine flu
As H1Nlvaccines become avail-
able this month, the attention
- or lack thereof - to flu pre-
vention has again
become relevant.
The spectrum of
reactions to the flu
ranges from peo-
ple wearing masks
on the way to class
to students joking
about the swine
flu at the sound
of a single cough. HARSHA
People have vary-
ing opinions on PANDMNGA
the dangers of_
HIN - some say
it's all media hype,
while others take extra precautions
in order to avoid contracting the bug.
It's important to take a well-ground-
ed approach to swine flu, since nei-
ther extreme response is suitable.
The University and Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention are
taking major initiatives to combat
swine flu's proliferation. The Uni-
versity has implemented an effec-
tive policy, but the CDC may have to
be more careful about the amount of
information it dispenses. The effort
to combat the virus before it actually
becomes a major public health risk
makes sense, but it's important to toe
the line between creating awareness
and inducing panic.,
The CDC is combating H1N1
nationally. Its website includes pub-
lic health warnings and suggestions,
among other information. But even
given that this virus is more conta-
gious than the regular flu and its full
effect is unknown, there may be too
much information. For example, a
person visiting the CDC website will
find it full of swine flu death statistics
and pages and pages describing how
to protect oneself from the virus (even
though the precautions are not much
different than any other airborne ill-
ness), which could provoke unneces-
sary paranoia. The right balance of
information and action is important.
Though the University and CDC
serve different roles, the University
has done an excellent job of run-
ning a campaign that provides the
right amount of awareness about the
virus on campus. We have all seen
the precautionary posters and hand
sanitizer dispensers. These are by
no means excessive and drastic mea-
sures, but rather serve the purpose of
encouraging healthy behavior among
students - especially since areas like
the residence halls are a paradise for
the virus.
Another element of the swine flu
controversy has to do with the vac-
cinations. This topic is hotly debated,
and rightfully so, because it exposes
the conflict between public and per-
sonal health. One of the questions
that arose has to do with whether
the vaccine should be mandated in
high-risk situations. The arguments
in favor of a mandate are strong -
mass vaccination would be likely to
lower the spread of the virus, which
would both improve public health
and protect those who are not vac-
cinated through what is called herd
immunity. In the event that the out-
break becomes worse, especially in
an area such as a college campus, a
large amount of immunized people
on campus wouldn't be a bad thing
at all.
But there are concerns about
mandating vaccinations. First and
foremost, the legality of a mandate
would surely be challenged as a civil
rights issue - as it has been in New
York, which mandated vaccination
among all health care workers in the
state. Reasons given for avoiding the
vaccine include a 1976 precedent in
which people who were vaccinated
for swine flu displayed an unusu-
ally high rate of Guillain-Barra Syn-
drome, a disorder of the nervous
system that leads to paralysis. But
this isn't believed to be linked to the
current vaccine. The issue of per-
sonal choice also arises: Who can tell
you what to put in your body?
6
Moderation is
the best response
to H1N1 fears.
A smart vaccination strategy
would be a moderate one. Instead of
a mandate, a strong recommendation
to get vaccinated would not only be
a less abrasive policy but also a more
effective one. And the CDC has done
this right by recommending that
individuals in high-risk groups get
vaccinated. People would feel less-
contemptuous and may be even more
likely to comply. Additionally, a vac-
tine isn't absolutely required since
the majority of H1N1 cases are not
fatal. The University is also handling
the vaccine situation well by giving
free swine flu vaccinations to all stu-
dents under the age of 24.
By no means should swine flu be
ignored - it is more deadly than
the average flu and has resulted in a
greater number of fatalities in chil-
dren. But amoderate approach, which
incjudes giving the public the appro-
priate amount of information so as
not to spur an inefficient and unnec-
essary overreaction, is important.
The University has done an excellent
job creating awareness of HIN and
providing vaccinations in a high-risk
campus environment. A moderate
policy like the one it has adopted is
the way to go.
-Harsha Panduranga can be
reached at harshap@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
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.