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4A - Friday, October 8, 2010

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
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JEFF ZUSCHLAG

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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 of their authors.
A line of our own
'U' must lead in embryonic stem cell research
Landmark progress was recently made in stem cell research
at the University. Last week, University researchers suc-
cessfully created the first human embryonic stem cell
line in the state. This achievement makes the University part of a
small group of institutions that have created stem cell lines. Stem
cell lines have the potential to help in the search for cures and
treatments for diseases and injuries. Along with saving lives, this
research could help the state's economy, so it's an important field
to expand. To further this important work, the University should
continue to lead in the field of embryonic stem cell research.

Responsible rivlaries

think it would be difficult to hype
up the football game this weekend
any more than what has already
been done. Michi-
gan State is ranked
#17 and Michi-
gan is #18. We're;
at home. Denard
Robinson has been -
wowing fans week
after week. Mark
Dantonio, who is
recovering from a -
heart attack and aC
blood clot, will be C T
coaching from the FLETCHER
press box. State
beat us in overtime
last year, and we're
looking for revenge. Not to mention
the most obvious thing - it's a huge
rivalry game.
I love rivalries. I grew up in Geor-
gia where it is UGA or die. I was able
to witness the chaos of the Georgia
vs. Georgia Tech games as well as
what they call the "largest outdoor
cocktail party," which is the Florida
vs. Georgia game. But let'sbe real, you
can't beat Michigan vs. Ohio State or
the in-state rivalry of Michigan vs.
Michigan State. The atmosphere, the
Michigan pride and the downright
hatred the opposing schools have for
each other is legendary. Not to men-
tion, it's a lot of fun.
Athletes revel in rivalry games.
Those are the games where you want
to play perfectly. Those are the games
where it's not okay just to win, but to
crush your opponent into oblivion.
But sometimes it goes too far.
Rivalries are analogous with emo-

tions, which are what make them
fun. But emotions can be a dangerous
thing. For example, let's say you're
out for lunch and there is someone at
a table next to you with an Ohio State
shirt on. Without even thinking, you
will probably give them a dirty look.
You don't know them, they haven't
said anything to you, but based on
emotion, you feel the need to express
your disdain by staring at them with a
look of complete disgust.
Or take for example a scenario thatI
witnessed just yesterday. It was a busy
night on State Street, and a car drove
by with a bunch of State fans in it.
Naturally, they felt the need to scream
"GO GREEN!" out of the car win-
dow, while many people on the street
immediately responded in an array of
expletives. Without a doubt, there will
be even more of this type of behavior
on Saturday between Michigan and
Michigan State fans.
Fans at games often turn from
funny to mean. Personally, I love crazy
fans. I've been called every name in
the book: Sasquatch, Mr. Ed, T-Rex,
Scarecrow and for some reason Yao
Ming in high school by fans of the
opposing team. I think it's hilarious
when fans come up with creative and
witty cheers to get the other team dis-
tracted. But there's a fine line between
witty and rude.
Just last week the volleyball team
traveled to Ohio State and the usual
creative cheers took a turn down the
inappropriate and hurtful route - one
Ohio State student actually wrote our
coach a letter of apology.
Emotions in rivalry games are just
as - if not more - dangerous for ath-

letes. As I mentioned above, there is a
different mindset when approaching
rivalry games: the need to play per-
fectly and the need to win big. This is
when athletes get in trouble.

0

University researchers began their work
on the stem cell line in March. According
to an Oct. 4 Daily article, the stem cell line
will be used for greater understanding of
human development. Donated embryos
have only been used since a 2008 ballot
proposal passed, making it legal for women
to donate embryos for stem cell research.
Despite progress, the research faces some
obstacles: The future of federal funding for
embryonic stem cell research is currently
uncertain after a U.S. District Court judge
banned the funding in August.
The life-saving potential of these devel-
opments is amazing. Using this line,
researchers have the potential to discover
cures for diseases like Huntington's and
Parkinson's, as well as many others. Stem
cells can also be used to help test new
pharmaceuticals that could better treat ill-
nesses, and to identify potentially harmful
side effects of new drugs. Curing debili-
tating diseases and making drugs safer
will have a broad positive impact. This
research needs to be further advanced to
make these goals a reality.
The University's leap forward in stem cell
research could also be good news for the
state. Progressive, cutting-edge research is
crucial to Michigan's economic improve-

ment. Exciting developments, like the cre-
ation of a human embryonic stem cell line,
will draw intelligent minds to the state and
the University, encouraging the growth of a
new industry to diversify the economy.
In spite of the clear benefits of this newly
developed stem cell line, federal fund-
ing for stem cell research is currently in
a state of limbo. Though the U.S. Court of
Appeals overruled the District Court's ban
in late October, the federal funding may be
ruled unconstitutional once the appeals
court makes its final decision. University
researchers are concerned that without
proper federal funding, they won't be able
to use the stem cell line to its full potential.
The U.S. Court of Appeals should immedi-
ately address this issue so researchers can
continue with their work unimpeded. To
prevent similar problems in the future, the
federal government should create legisla-
tion to protect funding.
University researchers' accomplishment
is an impressive step for the medical com-
munity and the state. To put this line to
proper use, federal funding must be pro-
tected. The University should continue to
advance its research in embryonic stem
cells to solidify its status as a leader in
medical research.

Insults can be
witty but shouldn't
become hurtful.
There is a certain flow, rhythm or as
many people call it, "the zone," when
athletes have their best games. There
aren't many thoughts going through
their minds, they make all the right
choices and they do what their team
needs. But when athletes try to do
too much or try to play too perfectly,
it never works. At big rivalry games,
there's too much excitement, too much
brain chatter, too many distractions *
and too much concern about the out-
come. That's when you see mistakes.
We have to remember that at the
end of the season, the team's record
is simply wins and losses. There is
no extra win given for beating Ohio
State or Michigan State. Those wins
may be more exciting, but they are
not more important. So with any
rivalrygame at the University, let'sbe
witty but not disrespectful, have fun
but not be petty and after we've won
we can relish in the celebration.
-Courtney Fletcher can be
reached at fletchco@umich.edu.

-the
podium

Erika Mayer wants you to stop choosing an aisle
seat when you're the first person in a lecture hall.
Go to michigandaily.com/blogs/The Podium.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor. Letters should be fewer
than 300 words and must include the writer's full name and University affiliation. Letters are edited
for clarity, length and factual accuracy. All submissions become property of the Daily.
We do not print anonymous letters. Send letters to tothedaily@umich.edu.
The many shades offandom

Public must leavejudgment
of Shirvell to court system
TO THE DAILY:
We, along with the rest of this campus,
have been shocked and disturbed by Michigan
assistant attorney general Andrew Shirvell's
repugnant anti-gay statements and signs. Dis-
crimination against the LGBT community or
any community must always be taken seriously.
We, as a University community, must respond
appropriately and with great thought.
The First Amendment intentionally and
necessarily defends Shirvell's offensive and
appalling speech. Our Constitution gives a
citizen the right to be a bigot and to freely
express his bigotry. When this inflammatory
speech becomes a direct threat and infringes
on an individual's right to live free from threat
of harm, the police and the courts must step
in to protect the attacked individual. The Uni-
versity's chapter of the American Civil Liber-
ties Union supports the court's role in deciding
this extremely important but non-distinct line
between free speech and a true threat.
CAMERON NEVEU I

SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU
The ACLU-UM Undergraduate Chapter
stands strong in our support and admiration
of Michigan Student Assembly President Chris
Armstrong's continued leadership in enact-
ing an open housing policy in the face of these
despicable attacks. This policy remains impor-
tant in working to end discrimination against
transgender students on this campus.
The ACLU believes that the best way to
combat hateful speech is more speech, not cen-
sorship or government retaliation. Michigan
Attorney General Mike Cox is right to distance
himself and his office from Shirvell's personal
speech. But it's important that before Cox acts
to discipline Shirvell and before we try Shirvell
in the court of public opinion, we allow the
legal court to decide if Shirvell's speech and
conduct has crossed the line into harassment,
stalking or some sort of true threat. Instead,
.we must work harder than ever to protect the
rights of the LGBT community and continue
our advocacy for policies like open housingthat
demand these rights.
This letter was written by Mallory Jones and
Bennett Stein on behalf of the ACLU-UM
Undergraduate Chapter.
E-MAIL CAMERON AT CNEVEU(DUMICI.EDU

hile most pre-gaming
activities are restricted
to rounds of beer pong,
flip-cup, or "Star
Wars" drinking
games (for engi-
neering majors),
there is one game
often ignored by =
the masses on-
football Saturdays: F
Mullet Math. The
rules are simple
enough - take a MELANIE
drink every time
you see a Michigan KRUVELIS
fan rocking a hair-_
style a la Billy Ray
Cyrus. And if your
motive is to get as drunk as possible,
I assure you, the number will get so
high that you won't remember how
many times Denard flashes the Heis-
man pose Saturday afternoon.
The variances in the breeds of
Michigan fans seem a little strange.
After all, as anyone wait-listed by
an Ivy League school will remind
you, the University is one of the best
schools in the country - perhaps in
the world. We are, of course, a com-
munity created by the leaders and
the best. We stand at the forefront of
scientific exploration, justice, intel-
lect and reason. Such a world-class
institution should have world-class
fans, right?
Maybe not. The walk (or for some,
the stumble) to the Big House is, to put
it delicately, perhaps one of the largest
freak shows in all of sports. The jour-
ney from State Street to East Stadium
Boulevard isn't simply filled with stu-
dents looking for a break from biology
class, alumni looking to reminisce or
red plastic cups. It's a stage for fanat-
ics from all walks of life to show their
true colors, which are, conveniently

enough, maize and blue.
Take, for instance, the "Walmart
Wolverine," as coined by a Pure Michi-
gan spoof video. This thirty-something
fan, representing his pride in a pleather
letterman jacket from the now-bank-
rupt Steve and, Barry's chain, spends
those chilly October mornings alter-
nating between slurring "Hail to the
Victors" and grilling outside the Big
House. Never an alum but always afan,
he's eager to curse any one who even
utters the name "Dantonio."
Head toward the intersection of
State and Howard and you're bound
to find the next breed of fan, the "Van
Wilder," conveniently located out-
side a frat house. A semi-recent-ish
graduate, this Wolverine zealot (col-
loquially known as "the creepy old
dude") currently passes time doing
keg stands with strangers or shout-
ing that he really doesn't need to look
for a job - he can just "hang here
with these cool girls!" Excitement in
responses is usually not reciprocated,
but the general uneasiness fades once
he begins a "Go Blue" chant.
And of course, there's always the
freshman. Marked by the spotless
2010 football season shirt, this little
guppy of the University food chain
generally has two options for game
day festivities: stick to hanging with
kids from high school or attempt to
make it big by becoming the notori-
ous "Freshman Drinker." In either
case, the young freshman is charac-
terized by a general look of discom-
fort, uncertainty and an inability to
hold one's liquor.
At any rate, fans from the strange
to the squares come together for that
slow-moving saunter to the Big House.
And while it may seem that a walk to a
stadium is nothing more than a time
killer, this proud parade of screaming
yellow is, in some respects, the high-
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS:

light of the very occasion.
It's next to impossible to feel dis-
jointed from the maize frenzy (unless,
of course, you're wearing green). Sud-
denly that old guy at the frat house
isn't so obnoxious, the freshman isn't
so awkward and the guy in yellow and
blue overalls isn't so rowdy. For the
next fifteen minutes of your life, these
complete strangers are your surrogate
family members, your temporary best
friends. You may never see them again
once lost in the seaof over one hundred
thousand, but for now, it's not really
important where anyone is from, when
they graduated or if they did, for that
matter. As long as the scathing hatred
for Ohio State is shared, the camarade-
rie will hold strong.
The three people
you meet on
football Saturday.
So on Saturday, when the Wolver-
ines take on the Spartans, don't fret
over how ridiculous you look in the
face paint your friend insisted you
wear. Don't worry aboutthe beer that
someone spilled on you. And don't
freak out about how crazy the guy
in the blue and yellow wig seems to
be. By 3:15 p.m. that afternoon, you'll
be walking side by side in one of the
greatest displays of school pride
known to man. And if you're still a
little embarrassed, don't worry: by
Sunday morning, no one will remem-
ber it anyways.
-Melanie Kruvelis can be
reached at melkruv@umich.edu.

6ASY LUyra
BEAT STA TE

Aida Ali, Jordan Birnholtz, Adrianna Bojrab, Will Butler, Eaghan Davis,
Michelle DeWitt, Ashley Griesshammer, Will Grundler, Jeremy Levy, Erika Mayer,
Harsha Nahata, Emily Orley, Harsha Panduranga, Tommaso Pavone,
Leah Potkin, Asa Smith, Laura Veith