4 - Friday, January 29, 2010
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JACOB SMILOVITZ
EDITOR IN CHIEF
RACHEL VAN GILDER
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR
MATT AARONSON
MANAGING EDITOR
Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles
and illustrations represent solely the views ofttheir authors.
Education balancing act
State must increase funding to public schools to stop cuts
T he Ann Arbor Public School District is treading a fine
line in its promise to keep budget cuts out of the class-
room. Superintendent Todd Roberts's Jan. 7 proposal to
manage the district's budget shortfall goes far, but doesn't fix the
greater problem. As manufacturing jobs flee the state, the most
important resource for future workers is a high quality educa-
tion to prepare them for a changing economy. This starts with a
strong K-12 system. Though the district must find a way to ensure
these funding cuts don't reach the classroom, the real solution to
funding problems must come from the state.
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
The percentage by which
Harvard's endowment fell in
the 2008-2009 fiscal year.
- According to the National Association of College and University Business Officers
and Commonfund, as reported by the Associated Press yesterday.
DANIEL GOLD E-MAIL DANIEL AT DWGOLD@UMICH.EDU
Time for a new
hairstyle.
Any idea Yeah Pretty Bay,
where r can get take a shawer and
frasted tips? walk autside.
Behind the screens
In October, the Michigan legislature cut
funding to public schools across the state
by $165 per pupil. A month later, a pro-
posed Washtenaw County millage failed
at the November ballot. Had it passed,
the millage would have funneled $11 mil-
lion into Ann Arbor's schools. The budget
shortfall for Ann Arbor Public Schools now
stands at nearly $20 million aggregated
.over this school year and the next. Earlier
this month, Roberts proposed about $16.2
million in budget cuts. The plan calls for
privatizing the custodial and maintenance
'staff, restructuring elementary school spe-
cials, eliminating 34 teaching positions,
introducing an athletic "pay-to-play" fee
and cutting transportation costs, among
other things.
Faced with a daunting deficit, the Ann
Arbor school district has been forced to
cut costs. District officials have identified
several areas where cuts are possible, but
they must be certain that the cuts they
make won't affect the quality of education.
Cutting programs and teachers limits stu-
dents' learning opportunities. But there
are other areas of the budget that could
take atrim. For example, Ann Arbor spends .
nearly double on its sports programs as
districts of comparable sizes, according to
an AnnArbor.com report this week. And
while athletics offer students valuable
experiences, this may be one department
that could handle a funding decrease.
It's disturbing that districts across the
state are being left with no choice but to
slash programs since the funding decrease
last fall - especially since education is the
wrong place for the state to make cuts.
The future of Michigan's economy will be
based in science and technology industries,
which will require more highly-skilled
workers with a comprehensive education.
And already-strained schools can't afford
to stretch their budgets further and main-
tain the quality of education. To invest in
Michigan's future economy, the state must
step in and increase its funding to public
education.
To balance the budget, the state should
cut from systems that can handle the
decrease in funding, instead of cutting
from the vital education system. The
state should look to cut from other inef-
ficient programs, like the bloated correc-
tions system. According to a 2008 report
by the National Institute of Corrections,
Michigan spends 22 percent of its budget
on corrections - three times the nation-
al average - and is one of five states that
spend more on corrections than higher
education, according to the Pew Research
Center. Michigan schools can't take anoth-
er cut. The state should turn its attention
to programs that could.
As long as funding for public education
continues to decrease, districts like Ann
Arbor Public Schools must balance con-
straints and the necessity of quality educa-
tion. But to solve the problem completely, the
state must adequately support Michigan's
most valuable resource: its students.
Sitting in my psych class this
past week, I noticed that I held
the lone pen in a sea of screens
and keyboards. To
my right, two girls
browsed through
an online shop-
ping website. A few
rows down, a girl
checked her Face-
book profile. And to
my left, I watched
a boy and girl scan
through pictures of LEAH
the previous week- POTKIN
end's events. As my
eyes darted from
screen to screen,
my professor continued to lecture,
oblivious to the buzz of activity going
on around him.
Well, "oblivious" might be a bit
extreme. The professor joked on the
first day of class that while he does
allow computers in class, he was sure
that at that moment most of the class
was on Facebook (he was, of course,.
correct). He addressed this in hopes
it would deter students from continu-
ing this habit, but at each lecture I
find increasingly more screens that
draw my attention. Exactly what
benefit do these devices have in the
classroom if they serve more to dis-
tract from rather than facilitate an
academic environment?
It's only fair that I first mention a
few of the countless capabilities of
what I like to call a college student's
best friend (or Mactops, as my pro-
fessor joked). The Internet allows
students to stay in constant contact
with professors, offers many Univer-
sity resources such as MIRLYN and
CTools and enables students to follow
along with slides posted online. Not to
mention the notebook layout on Word,
which allows students to carry notes
for every class in the convenience of a
13" to 15" contraption, eliminating the
need for the antiquated notebooks of
earlier generations'- and the ability to
decipher one's own scribbles.
Technology is incredible, yet it is so
incredible that when it is at students'
fingertips, it's simply irresistible.
Don't all attack me at once, but I pro-
pose that Internet access be limited in
classrooms to give professors at least a
chance at holding students' attention..
I don't necessarily mean the Internet
should be inaccessible, as it certainly
has learning advantages when utilized
correctly. Simply blocking a few popu-
lar distraction sites would make a huge
difference. Some students may argue
that they have the right to decide how
they spend their class time, or that it
is not the University's responsibility
to monitor their classroom etiquette.
But the University should want to pro-
mote positive work habits, and block-
ing certain websites would accomplish
exactly that.
Some professors don't allow laptops
at all in class, and while this is defi-
nitely a solution, it prevents the poten-
tial advantages of having a computer in
class. Some students keep up with tak-
ing notes much betteron a computer,
and computers also givestudents . the
freedom to Google what they don't
understand. This freedom is unfairly
revoked by the complete elimination
of computers from the classroom, as
there are more logical and reasonable
ways to go about remedying this tech-
nological epidemic.
I understand that we are adults
who pay for our education and that
we should have the willpower to avoid
such distractions for a mere hour or
two - but that is wishful thinking. I
will say that I usually opt out of bring-
ing my computer to class, but it is by no
means an attempt to abstain from dis-
tracting myself. In fact, it is primarily
because I have yet to master the for-
matting of Word documents to fit my
note taking style, and I admittedly do
choose to bring my computer to class
when I know there is a chance I'll be
bored.
Computers in class
distract more than
aid learning.
So for all you strong-willed students
judging my occasional lack of willpow-
er, I truly envy you. But if you can hon-
estly saythat a person mouthing words
awkwardly at his or her screen (video
chatting) or frantically beating his
or her arrow keys in an intense game
of Tetris doesn't distract you; then
you truly deserve a round of applause
(though I doubt that would distract you
either).
To put it quite simply, we're all still
students and a little discipline.wouldn't
hurt. I even find that classes tend to go
by much faster when I engage myself
in the material. To some extent it is the
professor's job to do this, but when my
owndesiretolistenandlearnisskewed
by another's surrender to distractions,
something must be done.
This article could return to stab me
in the back when I get stuck in a nev-
er-ending lecture and have no outlet
for my boredom. But it's interesting to
think that many of the column ideas
I play around with come from things
I learn and discuss in class, and not
whatever distraction is on my screen.
- Leah Potkin can be reached
at lpotkin@umich.edu.
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NICHOLAS CLIFT |
CSI: Bursleyville
COLLEGE REPUBLICANS|I
The real state of the union
Bursley Hall is a crime scene. Just° weeks
after Bursley's dining hall received a large
shipment of delightfully colored mugs, nearly
all of them had been ruthlessly mug-knapped.
As a resident of Bursleyville, I'm embarrassed.
So, I decided to investigate, and with some
help, I have determined that the Bursley caf-
eteria theft is not an isolated issue but part of a
larger, nastier problem.
Last week, I spoke on the phone with Sandy
Lowry, Associate Director of Residential Dining
Services, who told me just how serious and cost-
ly dining hall theft has become. Over a 15-month
period ending in November, dining halls across
campus had to pay to replace 20,400 blue plastic
cups, 21,600 pieces of flatware and 17,000 pieces
of china at a cost of over $50,000. Lowry told
me that the dining halls budget for a roughly
15-percent loss of tableware each year, but the
mugs seem to have left that estimate in the dust.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Communications
Director for University Housing Peter Logan
pointed out to me last Friday that these num-
bers are especially depressing since very few of
the cup and flatware losses are due to breakage.
That means that almost all of those items had
to be replaced because they were stolen; that
should bother all of us.
A friend of mine, though, didn't agree. Board
costs a lot of money, she said, so her theft is jus-
tified. In her view, theft is just a means of get-
ting what she paid for.
It's what I call the Robin Hood complex, and
it's delusional. Students like my friend seem
to feel they are acting in pursuit of justice and
equality. Just like Robin Hood stealing from
the rich to help the poor, they're combating
high prices by stealing whatever they consider
their piece of the pie from the community.
Not surprisingly, Logan told. me, "The
impression that they're going to get some of
this back" - i.e., that stealing will help them
get their money's worth - is a flawed one. The
cost of replacing those stolen items isn't small,
and "It's a cost ultimately borne by the stu-
dents." My friend is really stealing from me and
all of us in Bursleyville.
I don't like the price of board either. But to
those Robin Hoods among us who feel their
board money is being spent overpaying wealthy
housing employees, I invite you to spend some
time with The Michigan Daily Salary Supple-
ment, available on the paper's website, which
lists the salaries of every employee from cus-
todians to directors. Take a moment to scroll
through the literally hundreds of names of
custodians and cooks making $30,000 or less
each year. Decide for yourself whether or not
we're payingtoo high a price for your meals and
whether your theft is really so just.
There are also those who are simply apa-
thetic. They steal because, to them, it's incon-
sequential. Somehow, when donating $5 to help
Haitians, we're told every dollar counts. Yet
apparently the same isn't true for stealing a few
dollars worth of plates. Seemingly inconsequen-
tial things, like the greenhouse gases leaving
our tailpipes, can add up to issues of enormous
importance. As with global warming, if enough
of us act irresponsibly at once, the disappear-
ance of a few delightfully colored mugs can
bring the world to its knees.
But, in all seriousness, maybe mug theft is no
international crisis. What bothers me isn't so
much the cost, which I know is still relatively
small, it's the disappointment. I am so proud to
be a part of this community, and I expected our
ambitious student body to care as much for social
responsibility as for academics and sports. In
danger of sounding too philosophical, as young
people, we're supposed to be the progressives.
We're supposed to look with disgust at the world
as it is now and feverishly seek a better society.
To me, our growing tendency to rob one another
seems a symptom of something far worse than an
affinity for spoons: apathy. And students are the
ones who are supposed to care.
The dining halls belong to us all. Unless you
truly cannot afford your own fork, don't steal
mine.
Nicholas Clift is an Engineering freshrman.
The United States has reached the one-year milestone in
President Barack Obama's first term in office. The U.S. has
changed rapidly in the past year, weathering the ill effects
of the economic crisis. Our nation has been polarized by the
bitter partisan struggles over health care reform, cap-and-
trade energy proposals and massive stimulus spending - all
initiatives long-awaited and hoped for by liberals and gen-
erally disdained by conservatives. We have faced tragedy at
Fort Hood and threats on Christmas from those who seek
to destroy us and we continue the long fight in Afghanistan.
Yet, we remain intact asa nation.
In his State of the Union address on Wednesday, Obama
spoke of a "new direction" for our nation. While the College
Republicans agree that a new direction is needed, there is a
fundamental difference in the direction that we believe the
nation should take.
Obama outlined numerous proposals for an increased
role for the federal government in virtually every sector of
American life in his address. We, on the other hand, believe
that the best thing the government can do to restore the
economy and end excessive unemployment is to get out of
the way. Limited government and greater personal freedom
will lead to new initiatives from small business owners, and
a greater ability for people to decide how to spend their own
money instead of the government spending it for them. The
free market has been the greatest engine for opportunity in
human history and has built this country into the beacon we
see today. And in America,'anyone who applies him or her-
self and works hard can fulfill his or her dream.
Unfortunately, Obama chose to coat his true intentions
in the language of fiscal responsibility. Nothing could
be further from the truth. If actions speak louder than
words, then the massive and reckless spending of Wash-
ington duringthe past year put this president on record as
the most fiscally irresponsible president that this nation
has ever had, surpassing even George W. Bush in deficit
spending. This blatant misleading of the American people
cannot be tolerated. As young Americans, we must under-
stand the impact such massive debts will have on our
generation and our standard of living. We deserve better
from our president.
The radical Left and its agenda was dealt a decisive blow
with the election of Scott Brown (R-Mass.) to the U.S. Sen-
ate and the loss of the Democrat supermajority. America
was angry, and we expressed our anger in Massachusetts
last week. Now it's time for the Democrats to listen. If that
means going back to the drawing board on health care
reform, then so be it.
The Obama administration must also show itself to be
a formidable force when dealing with matters of nation-
al security. The attempted Christmas Day bombing on a
Detroit-bound flight chillingly highlighted this. It's time for
the administration to stop using our tax dollars to defend
terrorists in our court system and instead use it to fightthem
abroad. There should be no greater interest than the safety
and security of American citizens, and our efforts to gath-
er information from enemy combatants and use it to save
American lives mustreflect that.
We are less than enthusiastic about some of Obama's mis-
steps in his firstyear. And voters feel the same way. On three
separate occasions - in Virginia, New Jersey and Massa-
chusetts - they have sent a clear message to the president
that our nation cannot and will not be governed from the
far Left. We may not have voted for him, but Obama is our
president.We hopethat the president will correct his course
and become the moderate leader that inspired so many on
the campaign trail.
Nevertheless, we should be proud of our nation and the
historic days in which we live. As Obama stated on Wednes-
day, we can't settle for second place. We are the greatest
country on Earth thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of
those who came before us. In spite of threats from abroad,
economic hardship and government corruption, we stand
strong as a union. America's best days are ahead of us.
This viewpoint was written by Brian Koziara
and Charles Bogren on behalf of the University's
chapter oftthe College Republicans.
0
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS:
Nina Amilineni, William Butler, Nicholas Clift, Michelle DeWitt, Brian Flaherty,
Jeremy Levy, Erika Mayer, Edward McPhee, Emily Orley, Harsha Panduranga, Alex Schiff,
Asa Smith, Brittany Smith, Radhika Upadhyaya, Laura Veith