4 - Tuesday, February 16, 2010 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 7 44 I i*gan Batij Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu The percentage of Americans 3 2 / who said that skating was their favorite event featured in the winter Olympics. - According to a recent Marist Poll, as reported by The New York Times last week. JACOB SMILOVITZ EDITOR IN CHIEF RACHEL VAN GILDER EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR MATT AARONSON MANAGING EDITOR Unsigned editorials reflect the official position oftthe Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors. Updati ngyour status 'U' should make rapid HIV testing available on campus Though students often joke about promiscuity on campus, the dangers of sexually transmitted infections and HIV/ AIDS are very real. But with the help of a new public ser- vice campaign called the P2 Initiative, the University's social scene could become safer for students. The P2 Initiative will consist of a series of advertisements encouraging students to get tested for HIV/AIDS. But the P2 Initiative isn't enough to combat the threat of HIV/AIDS. The University should provide students with the most efficient testing services available, and students should heed the advice of the P2 campaign and get tested. Excited with exception According to the World Health Organi- zation, there were 33.4 million people liv- ing with HIV in 2008. That same year, 2.7 million people were newly infected with the virus and there were 2 million AIDS related deaths. Alarmed at these numbers, various University groups are working to promote health on campus. A joint proj- ect between University Health Services and the Multi Ethnic Student Association is in the works. Advertisements by the P2 Initiative will feature students with the slogan "know your status." This project is a further development of the Promiscuity Project sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. It's a common misconception that HIV and AIDS only affect certain parts of the world or particular cultures - diseases don't discriminate. It's encouraging that student groups are tackling the issue. Many students have the impression that because they do not live in an AIDS-prevalent society, they won't get infected. But unsafe sex on college cam- puses puts students at risk. Anyone practic- ing unsafe sex can be infected. It's important that students understand that these illnesses affect students and that they can - and should - act to protect themselves and others. The best way for students to stay safe from these diseases is to be aware of their personal health status. It's not enough for students to assume they don't have the disease. All students should use the resources available on campus and get tested in order to ensure that illnesses aren't spread. But for many students, getting tested for HIV/AIDS can be intimidating. To get test- ed, students must go to University Health Services and return or call after two weeks for results. UHS also offers sexually trans- mitted infection screening on a walk-in or appointment basis, with results in two to three days. That testing is available is good, but a two-week wait increases stu- dents' stress over the issue and may dis- courage them from getting tested. To make the process less daunting and encourage students' safety and health, UHS should make rapid testing available on campus. Rapid HIV testing provides results in about 20 minutes. Rapid testing will be provided by the Washtenaw County Health Department on select days in the next few months, but students should have more access to this important resource. And with a premier hospital here on cam- pus, there's no reason this technology shouldn't be available at the University - especially considering the positive health effects it would have on students. Students should take every possible pre- caution against contracting HIV/AIDS, and getting tested is the first step. The Uni- versity should work to make rapid testing available on campus, and students should utilize testing options available to them. As a student whose time at the University is drawing to a close this spring, I had been anxiously awaiting the announcement of the commence- ment speaker for this year's gradu- ating class. This speaker, as every- one on campus must by now be aware, was finally revealed last week ROBERT to be none other SOAVE than President Barack Obama. Though I was out of Ann Arbor this weekend - missing the celebratory parades and firework displays that probably took place on the Diag - I can deduce from the reaction on Facebook that my fel- low students were overjoyed by the choice. And you-know what? I share their satisfaction, though with a serious caveat. After all, it can't be credibly denied that Obama is one of the public fig- ures most relevant to the lives of University students, regardless of whether you love him or hate him. Unprecedented numbers of students identified with his candidacy and were inspired to vote for him. But even beyond that, for the first time in years, University students were suf- ficiently energized by a presidential candidate on behalf of whom they spent hours rallying, fundraising and registering others to vote all over campus. It is also an honor for the Universi- ty to feature a president of the United States as its commencement speaker for the second time in three years. (Bill Clinton addressed the class of 2007.) Because of this and all the other reasons that make Obama an impor- tant figure for college students of the times, I agree that he is the right choice for commencement speaker and I look forward to his speech. But I must take issue with the Daily's over-the-top edi- torial about just how perfect Obama is (Big man at the Big House, 02/12/10). Particularly, it demonstrates the hol- lowness of pro-Obama fanaticism to suggest that, "There is no leader bet- ter qualified to provide students with advice on leadership." People, and perhaps University students in particular, tend to ideal- ize political leaders, especially high- profile ones like presidents. From Franklin Roosevelt to John Kennedy to Ronald Reagan, we award mythic status to the presidents who have meant something to us. We consider their achievements the result of unim- peachable personal integrity and intellectual beliefs put into practice. In reality, political leaders are just like anyone else. They have the same incentives and motivations as your average person: they want to be successful, powerful and popular. Whether they succeed or fail at this doesn't make them good leaders, but rather good politicians. Obama is certainly no exception. Take, for example, his handling of "Don't ask, Don't tell," the U.S. mili- tary's controversial policy of allow- ing gay people to serve in the military only if they keep their sexuality a secret. During the 2008 presiden- tial campaign, Obama advocated the repeal of the policy, promising to work with the military to do so when elected. But once in office - despite having the power to instantly end enforcement of the policy, if not the policy itself - Obama did nothing. Only last month, after a full year of largely ignoring the issue, did the president take any action. Of course, the action he took is unlikely to lead to a change any- time soon. In his State of the Union address on Jan. 27, Obama announced that he would work with Congress to repeal the ban. If he cared enough about ending discrimination in the military though, Obama could simply instruct the military not to enforce it. Then, once it became clear that open- ly gay people who serve in the mili- tary aren't a detriment to the armed forces, it would be time for Congress to act. But certainly he must know that leaving it up to Congress (which has struggled with health care reform since the middle of summer) is the best way to ensure inaction on any issue. Despite the hype, Obama is not without flaws. Obama's motivation for placing this policy's reform in the hands of Con- gress is no mystery: he doesn't want to risk a backlash against him or his party with a national election coming up next year. That doesn't sound like such a perfect leader to me. So, class of 2010, please con- tinue the celebratory festivities. If I'm pelted by confetti and heart- shaped Obama candies when I enter the Diag, I won't be complaining. But part of graduating from college means becoming more realistic about the way government works and what political leaders are like. Let's keep that in mind. - Robert Soave was the Daily's editorial page editor in 2009. He can be reached at rsoaveggmich.edu. EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS: Nina Amilineni, Jordan Birnholtz, William Butler, Nicholas Clift, Michelle DeWitt, Brian Flaherty, Jeremy Levy, Erika Mayer, Edward McPhee, Emily Orley, Harsha Panduranga, Alex Schiff, Asa Smith, Brittany Smith, Robert Soave, Radhika Upadhyaya, Laura Veith MADELINE O'CAMPO | It's my graduation, not Obama's 0 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. MFORWARD MovinMSforward 0 For years, the Michigan Student Assembly has faced a crisis of relevancy. When students look at MSA, they see a group of elected peers that fails to engage with the campus and live up to campaign promises. Students remember the $7.19 MSA fee they pay each semester, but can't call to mind any substantial action the assembly has taken to better their lives. The 2010 MSA election will be a decisive moment to do away with business as usual in the assembly and bring relevancy back to MSA. MForward is a group of student leaders who have joined together to meet this challenge with fresh ideas, bold action and commitment to a student-oriented community. Under the banner of "Ideas, Action, Community," MFor- ward seeks to transform MSA from a stagnant, self-interested body into avibrant forum where inter-student dialogue is encouraged and facil- itated. MForward will be led by proven, experi- enced and energized students from a broad coalition of student organizations and com- munities. Our candidate for MSA president, LSA junior Chris Armstrong, has proven him- self a leader in the LGBT community as Chair of the assembly's LGBT Commission. Arm-. strong has a track record of being a powerful advocate and a tenacious leader. Over the past year, Armstrong has successfully worked to bring the 2011 Midwest LGBT conference to campus, increasing the University's stature in the national LGBT community. Our candidate for vice president, Business junior Jason Ray- mond, has been the student body's greatest defender on the assembly, leading efforts to stave off tuition increases through the Stop the Hike campaign. Armstrong and Raymond, as well as our growing slate of representative candidates, have records of being inclusive, progressive and engaged leaders in every facet of the Uni- versity community. MForward will harness the drive of our candidates into an idea-focused assembly that pulls from the best that the University of Mich- igan offers. Our assembly must be a strong voice advocating on behalf of students. Over the past year, we have heard almost nothing from the MSA leadership on the issues - big or small - that are most relevant to students. MForward is committed to holding town hall meetings with the student body and student groups to build a voice that speaks for Michi- gan students. We will immediately take action to make MSA a better body for students. We will trans- form the much criticized student organization funding process by integrating organization treasurers, making the process more accessible and transparent. Our pledge is to roll out this new and improved funding process next fall. Furthermore, we will deliver on the promise to streamline the MSA website and make it a community building tool for students. Most importantly, we will continually engage all parts of campus in a dialogue regarding stu- dent priorities and creative ways to maximize MSA resources. MForward promises to hold the adminis- tration accountable. We will ensure that the administration is in constant consultation with the students on issues that affect them. The stu- dent body isn't represented well when its elected representatives fail to consistently engage the administration as independent, equal partners. We seek to form a broader coalition of represen- tatives across majors, student organizations and communities to show that the student body is engaged and will not be silenced. The MForward mass meeting will be held this Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Hen- derson Room of the Michigan League. We are seeking passionate campus leaders, especially from under-engaged communities like the Dental and Nursing Schools, among others, to join our effort. We strongly believe that the success of the Michigan Student Assembly is dependent on the excitement and passion its representatives bring to the body. This viewpoint was written by Chris Armstrong and Jason Raymond on behalf of MForward. Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that President Barack Obama is speaking at spring commence- ment. And you've probably also heard that everyone in Ann Arbor and everyone graduating is pretty thrilled about it. But this isn't entirely true. There are more than a few people on campus who are less happy about it. I'm one of them, and I've been doing a lot of explaining about why I am so upset. I only get to graduate from college once in my life. My family was going to come all the way from Oregon, and we were all looking forward to it, and now I'm not going to graduation. Here's why: University President Mary Sure Coleman announced the speaker with this statement: "President Obama has captured the imagination and enthusiasm of many students with his inspiring words of hope and change. We are honored to welcome a leader of his dis- tinction and look forward to his message. We could not be happier for the graduates who will celebrate their academic achievements with the president of the United States" (President Obama to deliver spring commencement address, 02/11/2010). What about the students who haven't had their imagi- nations and enthusiasms captured by "hope and change"? There are some students here who aren't Obama fans. Maybe we're not so happy to celebrate with him. And I'm not convinced that it's graduates' achieve- ments that we'll be celebrating. I have a feeling that the whole weekend is going to be everyone celebrating Obama instead. He's got rock star status in this town. Friends who weren't planning on coming to commence- ment called me asking for tickets when they found out about him. The University is planning ways to deal with increased demands for tickets. People won't come to see us - students who have worked for four or more years to get a degree - they will come to hear Obama. This week- end was supposed to be our graduation, not his event. And for those of us who aren't Obama fans, it's going to feel a lot like the night of Nov. 4, 2008, when all of Ann Arbor danced in the streets, butI went to bed at 10:30 p.m. and worried about what this meant for me and my coun- try. I wished I was almost anywhere except Ann Arbor. Everyone here is supposed tobe open-minded and accept- ing, but it felt like I had a target painted on my back when I pinned a McCain-Palin button to my bookbag during the campaign. My friends tried to talk me out of voting Republican and treated me like an idiot when I refused. I was made to feel afraid and ashamed to express a legiti- mate viewpoint. This discrimination is as unacceptable as anything inflicted on any other minority community, but because we're Republicans, people in Ann Arbor some- how think that it's okay. Half of the country didn't vote for Obama. Recent approval ratings show that over half the country doesn't think he's so fabulous now. And the fact that this never gets addressed - because Democrats are overwhelm- ingly the majority in Ann Arbor - bothers me. Don't get me wrong: I think it speaks volumes for the University's prestige that the current president is our commencement speaker. But Obama is one of the most polarizing figures in a country that's weathering one of the most tense polit- ical climates in years, and it's that polarization that makes me question if he's a good choice. I went to commencement when former President Bill Clinton spoke in 2007. I'd go if he were speaking this year, even though I dislike him. But he's not the current president. He's not the focal point for so much emotion on both sides of the political aisle. He doesn't have control over issues that so many people feel so strongly about. He doesn't represent a party and an agenda that many people oppose. Obama is all of these things, and his presence will turn the graduation ceremony into a political event. Everyone in Ann Arbor - business owners, politicians, students - now has something they want him to focus on in his speech like jobs, manufacturing or Michigan's economy. These are all important things that the presi- dent needs to talk about. But our commencement ceremo- ny is not the place to do it. I wanted to go to my college graduation and pose in my cap and gown with my friends. I wanted to walk into the Big House for the last time as a student and out for the first time as a graduate. Now I won't, because I wanted a graduation, not a political event. I'm deeply disappointed in the University for perpetu- ating the myth that everyone is inspired by Obama and that everyone will be happy that he's speaking. I wish someone had considered that maybe some people don't want graduation day to be about Michigan's economic woes or the president or the state of American politics. These are all things that everyone, party affiliation aside, is concerned about. But this one day out of the year, our college graduation, is supposed to be about us. Madeline O'Campo is an LSA senior. The Daily is looking for a diverse, passionate, strong group of student writers to join the Editorial Board. Editorial Board members are responsible for formulating and writing the editorials that appear on the left side of the page. E-MAIL RACHEL VAN GILDER AT RACHELVG@UMICH.EDU FOR MORE INFORMATION. 0