4A - Monday, December 13, 2010
4 n c 3The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Edited and managed by students at
the University of Michigan since 1890.
420 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
tothedaily@umich.edu
4
...'The world's greatest deliberative body' devolved into
shameful schoolyard spats that put petty partisan politics
above the needs of our women and men in uniform."
- Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, on the failure of the Senate
to repeal "don't ask, don't tell," as reported by Time magazine on Friday.
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.
To do in 2011
The Daily's wish list for the coming year
As 2010 draws to a close, the Daily is feeling retrospec-
tive. The year has been a roller coaster. President Barack
Obama spoke at the Big House, the first openly gay
Michigan Student Assembly president was elected and then
attacked by a bigoted government official, the football season
was (once again) lackluster and the Michigan hockey team made
an impressive showing at the Big Chill at the Big House, among
other things. But looking back, we're reminded to look forward.
There's a lot to be done in 2011 - at the federal level, in Michigan
and here in Ann Arbor.
Some parting wisdom
I
Our first wish is unlikely - or perhaps
impossible. Congress should stop being
completely worthless. Specifically, it
should pass the DREAM (which stands
for Development, Relief and Education for
Alien Minors) Act. And ditch the incred-
ibly outdated ban on LGBT individuals in
the military. In the next year, please be
productive, Congress.
It's always dangerous to ask the federal
government to do things, but we would
also like it to stop Asian carp from taking
over the Great Lakes. Since the U.S. House
of Representatives unanimously passed
the Asian Carp Prevention and Control
Act without bickering, the federal govern-
ment can now shut Illinois locks to slow the
carp's progress, assuming Obama signs the
act into law. The federal government should
get movingto stop the progress of the scari-
est fish since Jaws.
Another wish we have may sound a bit
trivial, but we care, anyway. The Michigan
football team should win the Gator bowl,
please. A bowl game win would be a sort-of-
nice ending to a sort-of-awful season.
Our next suggested resolution is for
the University administration and Board
of Regents. It's pretty simple: Don't raise
tuition again. Just don't.
On the opposite end of the triviality
spectrum is our wish for increased diver-
sity in the faculty. According to the Senate
Advisory Committee on University Affairs,
the percentages of black and Hispanic fac-
ulty are the same now as they were in 1994
(though there was admittedly a spike of
black faculty in 2002). That doesn't seem
like it aligns with the University's supposed
love of diversity.
Google Fiber would be nice a nice gift
for the city. Internet that is 100 times fast-
er? Virtually instantaneous information
exchange, which would benefit the entire
University population, especially the Uni-
versity Health System? Yes, please. We're
counting on you, Larry Page.
And the city government should give us
back our porch couches. The outdoor couch
ban is simply a bad ordinance. The city
should instead work with landlords and stu-
dent groups to improve fire safety awareness
and make sure all houses are up to code.
The next resolution is one that's going to
take two to make happen: The Open Hous-
ing Initiative and the University admin-
istration should decide that by fall 2011,
there will be an open housing option avail-
able to students.
2011 won't be easier than 2010 - the
United States is still embroiled in two costly
wars, the fate of the Bush tax cuts is uncer-
tain, governor-elect Rick Snyder has a lot
on his plate and Ann Arbor's street lighting
is still subpar. But the list above is a nice
place to start.
T his is my last column for the
Daily. My boss Rachel Van
Gilder ordered me to make it
"end-of-the semes-
ter-y." She suggest-
ed writing about:
finals. That seemed
both boring and
depressing.
But looking back.
through my col-
umns, there has
been some consis-
tency in the things PATRICK
I've said. Since I'm
the only graduate O'MAHEN
student instructor
on the Daily staff,
perhaps it isn't too arrogant to pre-
tend that my columns constitute a
"class" of sorts. Besides, I turned 32
on Sunday, which means that I was
applying to college when Van Gilder
was tooling around the neighborhood
on her first two-wheeler. I feel my
role as the Daily's wise/crotchety old
man entitles me to give a review ses-
sion and a lecture or two (aside from
yelling at Van Gilder to get off my
lawn, of course).
So, "class," let's review - if you've
been paying attention, hopefully the
Daily's elder statesman has managed
to convey three things to you over the
last two years through my (occasion-
ally questionable) wit and (alleged)
wisdom.
1. Free markets usually work.
Willing sellers and buyers meet to
trade goods and the prices that get
set generally clear the market with-
out much help from outsiders. This
is generally a positive thing for most
goods. If you set the price too low,
demand outstrips supply and we end
up like the Soviet Union - long lines
of people waiting for underpriced
scarce resources. Take the example
of street parking: It may be free in
most places in Ann Arbor, but it's
impossible to find a parking place
during business hours.
2. Judicious government interven-
tion underpins successful markets.
Markets are marvelous things,
but they don't spring out of a state of
nature - just reading a bit of English
philosopher Thomas Hobbes or look-
ing at the situation in Somalia reveals
what a bad idea having no govern-
ment is. At the most basic level, gov-
ernment provides protection for
private property and a court system
to settle disputes over trade.
Government intervention can also
corrects market failures. Markets
are set up to take advantage of indi-
vidual incentives. When individuals
bear all the costs of an arrangement,
any trade that occurs is beneficial to
society. But when costs of trade aren't
borne directly by an individual, the
exchange doesn't help society. Pollu-
tion is the classic example. Ifa factory
owner doesn't pay for dumping mer-
cury in the water, the economic drag
created by the resulting destruction
of the environment and increased
human illness are borne by society.
Government regulation of pollution
helps individuals realign their incen-
tives to benefit society.
Government can invest in things
that benefit the public that private
markets emphasizing individual
benefits don't. The majority of edu-
cation is the industrialized world is
conducted by the public sector - or
at least non-profit entities. Gov-
ernmental or quasi-governmental
institutions construct and maintain
transport infrastructure like roads,
rails and airports, which let workers
get to the job and permit businesses
move goods around the country effi-
ciently. You might call it socialism. I
call it getting to work without wreck-
ing my car in a pot hole.
3. People overestimate the risks
from high-profile events.
Citizens tend to over-estimate the
risk of unusual events, while under-
estimating the damage that every-
day risks can cause. Stop worrying
about dying in a plane crash, a ter-
rorist attack or a gang-land shoot out.
Instead, quit smoking and cut down
on binge-drinking. When you drive,
wear your seat belt and don't speed
or talk on your cell phone. Wear a
bicycle helmet. And if you ever get
elected to Congress, stop worrying
about legislation to deal with exotic
things like underwear bombs and
missile defense and start worrying
about boring things like meat inspec-
tions and bridge repair.
Here's the part of the column
where Rachel glares at me and asks
what this has to do with Michigan
and Michigan students (Wait, kid,
didn't I just tell you to get off my
lawn?).
Your real final
exams start when
you graduate.
Well, when my columns were at
their best, I hope it could serve as a
basic course in political economy
- explaining why the world of eco-
nomics and policymaking works as
it does and giving some reasonably
informed views on how to improve
those workings.
And here's the take-home point:
Remember, though I'm ending my
column and you all are ending your
courses, the semester's final exams
aren't really final. The University
exists in part to give you the knowl-
edge to do well in the real world.
What I'm saying is that your real
final exams start when you graduate.
How well you do on the job will affect
the well-being of all of us in Ann
Arbor, Michigan, the United States
and the world at large. Good luck.
We're all counting on you.
Oh, and one other thing - go easy
on your GSI in the end-of-semester
evaluations.
- Patrick O'Mahen can be
reached at pomahen@umich.edu.
4
4
4
4
JERIN PHILIP I
In defense of RichRod
The Daily is looking for a diverse group of strong, informed, passionate
writers to be columnists for the winter semester. Columnists write a
700-800 word column every other week on a topic of their choosing.
If you are an opinionated and talented writer, consider applying.
E-MAIL MICHELLE DEWITT AT DEWITTM@UMICH.EDU FOR MORE INFORMATION.
4
Bo Schembechler said, "Those who stay will
be champions."
With seven victories, the Wolverines are head-
ed to the Gator Bowl, played on New Year's Day
in Jacksonville, Florida. In a conference known
for tough-nosed defense, Michigan has racked
up 6,011 yards, the fourth best in the nation.
After a season plagued by injuries and defections
- in which the defense was so depleted that an
unheard-of eight freshmen played in the two-
deep - the future looks bright. A young defense
will be stronger next year for having faced this
year's baptism by fire. A young offense will only
get better as the players continue to learn a com-
plicated offensive system. To a neutral third
party, Michigan is a young team on the rise.
To many fans, however, this is a teamin sham-
bles. Without flinching, they'll blurt out, "Fire
the coach. He's an idiot."
But firing head football coach Rich Rodriguez
a move would be a disastrous move. Not only is it
short-sighted, emotion-driven and impractical,
it goes against the very ideals this program was
built on.
Rodriguez cane to the University of Michi-
gan with a track record of starting slowly but
taking team after team to the top. At Glenville
State, he started 1-7. Three years later, he would
win four consecutive conference titles. As an
offensive coordinator under Tommy Bowden,
Rodriguez's innovative spread led Tulane to a
12-0 record and Clemson to two bowl games
in two years. As head coach at West Virginia,
Rodriguez started 3-8. Within two years, the
Mountaineers won the first of four conference
titles. In each of his final three years at West
Virginia, Rodriguez's teams finished in the top
10 of the NCAA Coaches' Poll.
A less ambitious, more cautious man would
double down at West Virginia. It would be the
safe thing to do. Rodriguez? He moved on to
the next challenge, his biggest one yet at the
biggest venue: taking the helm of college foot-
ball's winningest program.
Initiating a sea-change in offensive philoso-
phy, with no quarterbacks who were able to
run the demanding zone read spread, RichRod
started 3-8. With the gutsy, yet erratic Tate
Forcier as the signal caller, the Wolverines
improved to 5-7 the following year. In 2010,
Denard Robinson assumed control at QB, and
the offense flourished. "Shoelace" broke sev-
eral national and team records with RichRod's
offense, one perfectly suited to his unique tal-
ents. The team finished 7-5.
Many Wolverine watchers complain that
Rodriguez hasn't recruited well on defense.
They point out that he has tarnished the image
of Michigan football by allowing his players to
practice too much, drawing the wrath of the
NCAA Committee on Infractions. These are
valid concerns that can and will be fixed.
Are they reason enough to fire a brilliant,
tough, ambitious coach with a long track record
of success? No. And here's why.
Every team has cycles of success - as fresh-
men mature and new schemes get implemented,
there comes a point when the team peaks. Why
fire a coach who is on the upward slope of that
cycle? Why waste another two years transition-
ing to the system of a new coach when the pieces
are already in place for sustained success?
Moving backwards to another standard-
issue Big Ten offense is unfair to Denard Rob-
inson and others recruited for the zone-read
attack that Rodriguez uses in his offense. It's
also unfair to Rodriguez, who has only imple-
mented two full recruiting classes of his own.
The University placed a hefty investment in a
new coach and his innovative offensive style.
This isn't the time to cut and run.
The University is an extremely difficult
environment for any coach to succeed in. The
expectations are so high that even 9-3 seasons
get called failures. Fans want results so quick-
ly they often miss the potential for long-term
growth. College football evolves and Rodri-
guez has been ahead of the curve in the move-
ment to spreads and dual-threat quarterbacks.
If the University is patient and gives its coach a
chance to win more games (as he has done each
year in Ann Arbor and throughout his career),
Wolverine fans will be rewarded.
Rodriguez gave up alot to come here, endur-
ing death threats from people he grew up with
in West Virginia. Now, disgruntled Michigan
fans are bringing out the pitchforks and call-
ing for his head, even as he has engineered the
most electrifying offense the school has ever
seen. Patience is a virtue lost in college sports.
Perhaps Bo put it best: "When your team is
losing, stick by them. Keep believing."
Jerin Philip is a University alum.
SARAH SQUIRE I
Test our GS s before they test us
In her most recent column, editorial page editor Rachel
Van Gilder discussed teacher quality and evaluation in
response to a Michigan Senate bill that would alter the
evaluation process if signed into law (Teacher examina-
tion, 12/06/2010).
The column neatly sidestepped any determined conclu-
sion by pointing out that there is no quantifiable measure
of a teacher's quality and avoided makinga connection to
our education at the University and the teaching evalua-
tions currently available on CTools. Van Gilder's approach
was probably for the best because any sincere evaluation
of the teachers at the University would find a clear failure
of hiring, training and evaluation. The teachers I'm refer-
ring to are graduate student instructors.
I've encountered my share of less-than-impressive pro-
fessors and lecturers. I've been bored to sleep mid-lecture
or left to decipher lecture notes for hours with class-
mates. These experiences aren't the norm for most class-
es - and when they happen, professors often have lower
expectations so students get a decent grade. Or students
can at least look forward to a different teacher the next
semester. These classes are tolerable, especially in larger
classes where it's easier to meet with a GSI than the pro-
fessor. But when you have a bad GSI, you're screwed.
When I think of a bad GSI, I refer back to my three
worst experiences. One GSI for Economics 101 dedicated
adequate effort and time to teaching his class, but that
didn't protect my section from suffering. The GSI often
struggled to pinpoint where students were struggling.
When he did understand where students needed help, his
teaching style and inability to adapt to different students
rarely succeeded in calming any confusion.
My GSI for Discrete Mathematics walked into class
each week and spent 40 minutes writing on the board
without speaking, leaving the class to frantically copy
down logic equations that had been left out of the text-
book and lectures but were necessary to pass the exam.
Deciphering his accent during the remaining 10 minutes
only added insult to injury.
My worst GSI? Math 216. He arrived 5 to 15 minutes
late to almost every discussion. He never knew what
material the lecturer had discussed, so he often attempt-
ed to clarify material the lecturer had not yet taught. In
lab, he didn't understand how to complete assignments.
Each of these GSIs made me dread discussion section
each week. I was able to make it through the classes with
a few extra hours of work and with the hope for a better
experience the next semester. But I can't help but think
how my experience and grade in the class might have
been different had I registered for a different section or
my three best GSIs led these courses instead. I expect
more from this University, which prides itself on being
among the most elite in the world.
Hopefully, GSIs who receive poor evaluations from
their students are encouraged to step aside the following
semester. But inevitably, there are always some GSIs that
struggle.
There's almost no application process to become a GSI
besides providing basic information and an oral English
test for non-native speakers. The College of Engineering
uses a more specialized application, which is followed by
an invitation to a required training session if graduate
students are accepted to become instructors.
All GSIs go through general training in their first
semester. After that, the process is different depend-
ing on the department. Graduate students in the Col-
lege of LSA are welcome to sign up for a training session
scheduled for the day before classes begin. While the
Department of English Language and Literature has an
extensive schedule for GSI training and support includ-
ing a course in teaching, the Department of Economics
only mentions the time requirement: two discussion sec-
tions and attendance at the lectures. The College of Engi-
neering has more experienced GSIs serve as graduate
student mentors that new GSIs can use as a resource. But
this isn't enough. GSIs are left to seek training and sup-
port for a job that requires practice and feedback that the
GSI Guidebook can't provide.
Departments throughout the University should take a
closer look at the qualifications and training for GSIs. A
GSI should lead a discussion or introduce a new topic to
a current class as part of the interview. Training should
begin a full semester prior to the GSI's first semester
teaching. In addition, the lecturer for the course and past
students who took the course should sit in on discussion
sessions periodically during their first semester to review
and evaluate them. A round of student evaluations two
weeks into the semester could help detect struggling GSIs
early enough for the department to intervene and prevent
sections from falling behind.
Sarah Squire is the Daily's co-managing design editor.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS:
Aida Ali, Will Butler, Eaghan Davis, Michelle DeWitt,
Ashley Griesshammer, Will Grundler, Jeremy Levy, Erika Mayer, Harsha Nahata,
Emily Orley, Harsha Panduranga, Teddy Papes, Tommaso Pavone, Leah Potkin,
Roger Sauerhaft, Julian Toles, Laura Veith, Andrew Weiner