4 - Friday, September 10, 2010 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com IB Midiian Batblg Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu 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 solelythe views of their authors. A fresh industry Detroit should support urban farming initiatives D etroit has had its share of hard times, but a new agrarian trend is bringing some hope to the city. An urban farm has sprung up in a vacant lot in the middle of Detroit. Though downtown farms may seem out of place, they are wel- come additions to communities in which healthy food and job prospects are few and far between. Urban farming has the potential to improve the health of Detroit residents, strengthen the city's economy and foster a more community-oriented envi- ronment. Community members and Detroit officials should rec- ognize these benefits and support the creation of urban farms throughout the city. We will stop printing The New York Times sometime in the future, date TBD.' - New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzerberger at a media summit in London on Wednesday, as reported yesterday by The Huffington Post. CAMERON NEVEU | E-MAIL CAMERON AT CNEVEU UMICH.EDU ea f r 0 7n i'.stetia U An existential U The farm, located in a community not far from Detroit's downtown area, produc- es fresh fruits and vegetables for residents to purchase. It was created by the organi- zation Urban Farming, which was formed in 2005. Urban Farming's headquarters is in Detroit, according to a report by ABC's Detroit affiliate WXYZ. The organiza- tion's mission, according its website, is to utilize Detroit's unused land to increase Detroit residents' access to healthy food. The company began in 2005 and is still growing. But even in its early stages, Urban Farm- ing is already accomplishing many of its goals. Artery-clogging fast food is often the only cheap and easy meal option for people living in low-income communities in Detroit. Urban farms, however, provide affordable and healthy food where there was previously none. Because the pro- duce at these farms is grown locally, shop- pers can be sure of freshness and quality. But more importantly, it's close and easy to access. The combination of healthier choices and convenient access to fresh foods will help promote healthy habits and a healthy lifestyle, resulting in long- term health benefits for poverty-stricken Detroit residents. Detroit's crumbling economy needs a makeover. And urban farms could be part of a solution to the city's economic prob- lems. The mass exodus from Detroit - a result of the city's increasingly depressing financial crisis - has left a lot of empty space throughout the city. Utilizing this vacant space to create urban farms will generate new business opportunities in areas that have been so long accustomed to losing local businesses. Urban farming also helps to improve the local job market because these farms require a lot of man- power to operate successfully. In working to operate the farms, Detroit residents are creating a sense of communi- ty. Working at a local farm or shopping at a local farmer's market is an easy way for people to invest in their community. For many Detroit residents, the farm could be a spark of hope. And the city has been so poverty-stricken for so long that this hope goes a long way in revitalizing Detroit's prospects. Detroit can only benefit from the increase of urban farms. Urban farms encourage Detroit to make use of resourc- es that are currently going to waste: land and available labor. And the farm is a valu- able source of healthy food and a sign of hope for the community. City residents and leaders should value the urban farm and create similar farming projects to help reinvent Detroit. Hello! I'm glad you're taking time out of your day to read this rather than using it as a napkin like most students. Bless your heart. Any- hoo, it's another year at the Univer- sity of Michigan and those of us at the Daily are just as excited as you 1 are. We'll get to today's topic in a WILL moment, but just GRUNDLER how are you? It's been a while, hasn't it? Did you have a nice summer? Get all your books? Hey, good for you! Did you decide on that major yet? Will you still be going to model railroad club on Tuesdays? Oh, you're president of the model railroad club? My, my. It does sound interesting. Anyway, is there any inherent meaning to your existence that gives you cause to con- tinue living or are you just kidding yourself? Oh dear, don't look like that. Didn't you know about the current theme semester for the College of Litera- ture, Science and the Arts? It's called "What Makes Life Worth Living?" and has already accounted for a 36-percent drop in Dentistry majors. But don't worry if you don't know the answers yet. Just yesterday I went to the library and poured over Plato and Aristotle and Hume and Nietzsche and Confucius and Socrates and Kant and Bob and Tom before asking a nice old lady called Ethel what she thought life was all about who stared at me with intense seriousness before answering, "I don't know. Butcan you tell me how to make a Facebook?" Well, to be honest, I didn't do all of that. I made it up, actually. I just want to stress that the meaning of life has been debated for thousands of years by bajillions of people much smarter than you or me and we still haven't really reached a definitive answer. At the same time, we're faced with the very real possibility that at the end of our own lives, when we are supposed to have figured out a few things, the world will have changed completely and we'll have to catch up all over again. That's what the whole Ethel thing was about - how she couldn't operate computers. Did you get it? No? Isn't "Ethel" a funny name, though? I don't mean to be cynical, really. It's charming that the University is trying to hold students' attention by asking them the big questions. The question. I'm sure there are some students, like those in fraternities or those considering careers in adver- tising, that have never thought to ask themselves such a question. I'm just a little worried - us Daily columnists are often worried about one thing or another, it's a real burden - that the University is getting a bit sensational with the current theme semester. I suppose my first objection to "What Makes Life Worth Living?" is the fact that the first event to kick off such an ambitious intellectual topic is a screening of "The Wizard of Oz," tonight at 8 p.m. in the Keene Auditorium of the Residential Col- lege. Well, thank goodness. You might want to show up at seven, just in case it gets packed, and for heaven's sakes pay attention this time! When you watched it last you obviously missed the scene in which the secret of life is revealed. (It's the one with the fly- ing monkeys, which is a statement on evolution, I think.) The events get better, to be fair. (Check out wmlwl.com for all the info.) There will be dance perfor- mances and poetry readings and lectures about the Peace Corps and tours of the art museum, but in three months you won't know much more about life or what you want out of it than you do now, I'm afraid. At least, that's my guess. I imagine that takes a little more than a semester, and maybe more than a lifetime. Why are you still breathing? LSA wants to know. But I must applaud the University for being a bit bolder compared to last semester's theme of "The Joys - and Sorrows - of Stamp Collecting." No, I'm sorry, last semester was "Mean- ingful Objects: Museums in the Acad- emy," and it wasn't completely boring. And I'll admit that this semester's theme will probably catch more stu- dents' attention. I'm just miffed that there's so much subjectivity - and perhaps meaningless - to the ques- tion of what gives life meaning. At any rate, you should make an effort to attend some events this year. The University is getting desperate trying to attract your attention, and if you don't show some interest next semester's theme could very well be "Let's Raise Your Tuition (More Than Usual) and THEN See If You're Interested, Hm?" And please -please - if you know which scene of "The Wizard of Oz" contains the meaning of life, don't hesitate to e-mail me. - Will Grundler is an assistant editorial page editor. He can be reached at wgru@umich.edu 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 style, length, clarity and accuracy. All submissions become property of the Daily. We do not print anonymous letters. Send letters to tothedaily@umich.edu. MICHAEL TENGEL I Spark a passion to learn early Representing the Block M As a student in the University's School of Education, it has become impossible for me to avoid drowning in the perpetual news cov- erage about school reform. Everyone seems to have an answer to schools' problems. As a 20-year-old college junior, I'm not yet in a posi- tion to exert my influence over matters that large. What I do instead is look at the different challenges and strategies of teaching kids. Two of the most relevant examples are the ways in which I spent my last two sum- mers. The summer of 2009 was spent teaching swimming lessons to 10- to 12-year-olds at an upscale country club in the Cleveland suburbs. This summer was spent at a Las Vegas basket- ball academy training the kids of some of the wealthiest people in the world. You may have noticed the common thread by now. In both situations, I was faced with children of (often immeasurable) wealth. A lot of energy and time is spent discussing how to improve the poverty-stricken grade schools of this country. But I saw firsthand that some of the wealthiest people I have ever met could use some serious reform as well. In most cases, my basketball students had been pampered and indulged into thinking that their wish was everyone's command. In dealing with kids like this, I was faced with a less-pub- licized side of the education "problem." How was I supposed to impart knowledge to children who had been taught they were only required to listen if they felt the message was worth their time? Spending six months with children like this taught me that there is really no ultimate solution, but the strategy that worked best is one that ties together all education. The reform needed is something most stu- dents could point out in a heartbeat. If I asked, "Why was this teacher or this class so great?" I would be willing to bet these answers would be among those received, "The material was so interesting," "The teacher made it so inter- esting," or "The material was so relevant." I learned to get these kids paying attention and hanging on every word I said through the elu- sive "passion" teachers always long to spark. But it took some work and it took some unusual sidetracks. When I reflect on learning experiences that stand out, I notice that many of these classes or teachers sparked my interest by starting with some activity that was tailored to my age and interests. When students arrived to these classes on the first day, we weren't greeted by a stockpile of novels to be ingested and paper assignments to begin. At the most basic level, we were told why we should care about the material and how we could integrate what was being taught and what our everyday lives entailed. The teachers made it clear that they knew who we were as an age group and as individuals and used that information in a con- structive way. Admittedly, this is a solution that is a bit too complicated for grade schools or for the young children I worked with, but the idea remains the same. Sidestepping the X's and O's briefly is an easy price to pay if it means children are eager to learn what will come next. This sum- mer in Vegas, I had to consider the everyday life of these 12-year-old kids. What I discov- ered is that by tapping into their interest in NBA superstars and allowing them to start out each day by practicing the "signature move" of their favorite superstar, I could maintain their attention all the way through the productive drills that came next. This is the malicious constant among all lev- els of education: The tendency to see students as a big, faceless obstacle or a task that needs to be accomplished, devoid of personality or interests. Whether the student is age 8 or 18, poverty-stricken or unimaginably wealthy, there is always a way to make the interests of a student a part of the lesson plan. I would not dare to suggest this is anywhere close to a solu- tion to many of the problems plaguing educa- tion, but on the small-scale that a 20-year-old college junior looks at it, it is certainly a start. Michael Tengel is an Education junior. ot many companies can produce a single symbol that becomes internation- ally known and respected. Only elite companies like Nike and Apple reach this status. Here at the Uni- versity, we have a 40 prestigious symbolj that has certainly reached a status of international recognition - the Block M. This COURTNEY simple stylized M FLETCHER is more than just a letter. If you put on the Block M, you are representing not only your- self, but also the University. Putting on a Block M is more than saying "Go Blue!" It has a past that must be respected, a present that needs to be taken advantage of and a future that will only go as far as we take it. If you have heard the new athletic director, David Brandon, speak in the past six months, you have almost certainly heard him speak about the Block Mas a brand for the University. The advantage of branding is that a symbol can be an instant identi- fier for a company. But it goes further than that. Branding also comes with expectations, values and responsi- bilities - all of which are associated with the Block M. There are enormous expecta- tions associated with the Block M. Michigan is expected to be the best in athletics, academics, community involvement, research and facilities - basically everything. Upholding all of these expectations is difficult, but the University seems to do it year after year. Academically, the Univer- sity has almost always been a among the best in the nation - often ranking in the top 20 or 30. The athletic standard here at Michigan is also unmatched. If a team is not ranked in the top ten, winning Big Ten championships or winning national championships, it is considered a disappointing season - the football team's recent seasons are a prime example of this. The University's facilities are also ahead of the rest. The newest residence hall, North Quad, gives a unique liv- ing and learning experience. The most notable facility on campus is Michi- gan Stadium. Now that all of the new renovations have been completed, the Big House is once again the largest sta- dium in the U.S. and the third largest in the world. And if an expectation is not being met, the University is always pursuingideas to improve the facilities. Former Athletic Director Bill Martin was particularly known for this. To an extent, all students at the University know and feel these expectations. But as a student-ath- lete - I'm a member of the Univer- sity's varsity volleyball team - these expectations are amplified. The stan- dards listed above are in the forefront of all players', coaches' and adminis- trators' minds. With each new sea- son, the past year is erased. The only focus is to improve. Instead of just being a part of the University, we are in the spotlight representing it. Week in and week out, athletes put on a jersey and go to battle with other teams all for the glory for Michigan and to prove that we are the best. "The Victors" isn't just a song we sing in victory, but also a battle cry before the competition begins. The vol- leyball team sings ourfight song before each match as loudly as possible so that The Block M means more than just "Go Blue" everyone knows that Michigan is there and we are readyto win. The theme "Win for Michigan" is something that every athlete is aware of. Weunderstand that winning isn't to bring ourselves glory, but to give glory to Michigan. Think about the football team. The pressure for these young men to perform isn't because everyone knows them and wants to see them do well as individuals. It's because the Block M represents the winningist football program in the country and that is what is expected. Most University students have the opportunity to make a mark on the Block M in their own small way every day. But on a weekly basis, student- athletes have an opportunity to do so on a national stage. Former head football coach Lloyd Carr addressed the current student-athletes on Tues- day and made the statement "You are Michigan." Past players have had their time to make their mark, and now it is our turn. As student-athletes consider their upcoming seasons, we are all focused on one thing, to repre- sent the Block M in a positive way and to Win for Michigan. - Courtney Fletcher can be reached at fletchco@umich.edu EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS: Aida Ali, Jordan Birnholtz, Adrianna Bojrab, Will Butler, Michelle DeWitt, Will Grundler, Jeremy Levy, Erika Mayer, Emily Orley, Harsha Panduranga, Tommaso Pavone, Leah Potkin, Asa Smith, Brittany Smith, Laura Veith 0 .