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January 27, 2011 - Image 4

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The Michigan Daily, 2011-01-27

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4A - Thursday, January 27, 2011..

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

he ichigan 4at'hj1
Edited and managed by students at
the University of Michigan since 1890.
420 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
tothedaily@michigandaily.com

Science Savvy: Nick Clift wants Speaker of the House John
Podium Boehner to do more than make grumpy facial expressions.
Go to michigandaily.com/blogs/The Podium

MICHELLE DEWITT
STEPHANIE STEINBERG and EMILY ORLEY
EDITOR IN CHIEF EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS

KYLE SWANSON
MANAGING EDITOR

Think outside, the box

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.
Illu-minating safety
Education and awareness is vital for protection
While it's no Detroit, it's no secret that Ann Arbor hasn't
exactly felt like the safest place lately. With a recentuptick
in crime, students and parents are concerned about the
safety of those who find themselves walking around Ann Arbor after
dark. Members of the University's Department of Public Safety and
Ann Arbor Police Department have tried to address these issues by
increasing their patrol and holding informational panels. But more
can be done to ensure the well-being of all Ann Arbor residents. The
city of Ann Arbor needs to look into lighting concerns, the University
needs to educate students about safety initiatives and students need
to do their best to protect themselves.

hy do you go to college?
To get a job I presume. I
don't think I'm alone in
saying that since
I arrived on cam-
pus, the majority
of sources have
promoted that
very message.
I've lived with a
Business School
major and Col- JEREMY
lege of Engi- LEVY
neering major
who regularly
applaud themselves for, in their
words, convincing me to transfer
out of LSA. I've also read multiple
Michigan Daily columns in which
English majors have made fun of
themselves and their supposed
future uselessness. In my time here,
I've silently upheld my personal
belief that there is value in an edu-
cation not directed toward a spe-
cific occupation. But it's a difficult
argument for many to buy into.
This column is not about your
major - I support students' deci-
sions to major in nursing, business,
architecture or whatever other
occupational fields of study are out
there. I'm more concerned about
our education system as a whole and
have generally felt that something
very crucial is missing from our job-
centered focus. The evidence for
me to make such an argument has
finally fallen into my lap.
In a new book called "Academi-
cally Adrift: Limited Learning on
College Campuses," New York Uni-
versity sociologist Richard Arum
provides concerning data showing
that many students are not picking
up critical thinkingskills in college.
Such skills are often championed as
the heart of a liberal arts education,
but they have appareotly beentaken
for granted across the educational
spectrum.

Between 2005 and 2009, Arum
tracked more than 2,000 students
from 24 different colleges and
universities. Using the Collegiate
Learning Assessment to evaluate
critical thinking skills, he found
that 45 percent of students showed
no improvement in their first two
years of school, and 36 percent
showed no improvement over four
years. Some of the skills tested by
the CLA include a student's abil-
ity to analyze a series of documents
with contrasting information and to
critique the logic behind a political
argument. While Arum didn't spec-
ify which universitieswere involved
in the study, he assures readers that
they varied widely in selectivity
and even elite universities weren't
exempt from the findings.
There's a persistent mind-
set in today's educational system
that hails job preparation at the
expense of critical thinking. This
study shows that students in tra-
ditional liberal arts concentrations
improved more in critical thinking
than those with a career-specific
major. This finding does not change
the fact that the problem exists
across majors, but does provide evi-
dence that a career-centered focus
is a major factor.
Additionally, in the most wide-
spread report on Arum'sbook, a stu-
dent from DePauw University stated
that critical thinking was "irrel-
evant" for a student who didn't have
a good resumd. The statement may
be true to a degree, but it doesn't
support the magnitude of Arum's
findings. There are a variety of rea-
sons that, on a macro-level, we need
college graduates to think critically.
Many of these reasons relate to
politics. The CLA tests the exact
skills that I would hope an educat-
ed voter rhas-when ,selecting which
political candidates to support. A
more critical citizenrywould beless

susceptible to campaign rhetoric
that is purely political or emotional
and would demand more substan-
tive promises from elected officials.
Additionally, such a base of voters
would be more capable of realisti-
cally gauging what range of policy
options exist on a particular issue.
As political scientist Morris Fiorina
stated regarding the failed Clinton
health care reform bill in 1993, "If
citizens want guaranteed health
care for all, unrestricted choice of
doctors and facilities, and lower
premiums than they currently pay,
they are unlikely to be happy with
any conceivable national health
care plan."
Something is
missing from a
vocational focus.
Politics aside, it seems apparent
that our future leaders and gradu-
ates - be it in their occupations or
elsewhere - will have to make big
decisions with societal implica-
tions, decisions that no subject-spe-
cific education will prepare them
for. There's no telling how our econ-
omy or social structureswill change
in our lifetimes. But we are doing
ourselves a disservice by focusing
on the skills that will help us in the
present circumstances without giv-
ing due weight to the critical think-
ing skills that will allow us to adapt
later on. Arum's study sheds light
on these issues in an unprecedented
way, and his findings shouldn't be
ignored in the upcoming discourse
on education.
- Jeremy Levy can be reached
at jeremlev@urrich.edu.

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°.

With two armed robberies in the past two
months, there's been growing concern about
the overall safety around campus. On Tuesday,
campus leaders met with members of DPS and
AAPD to talk about what's being done to ensure
that proper precautions are taken to protect
students and Ann Arbor residents, accord-
ing to a Jan. 26 Daily article. Also discussed
was the issue of the ill-lit neighborhoods in
the Oxford Housing area that are particularly
prone to crime. At the meeting, Jim Kosteva,
the University's director of community rela-
tions, stressed that new lights would be costly
for the city.
The most important, and obvious, fix for
these areas is to install additional lighting. If
streets near Oxford are better lit throughout
the night, residents will be able to see more
of their surroundings and other pedestrians.
While the moratorium on, additional street
light is "directly financial," according to Koste-
va, the city should figure out how to produce
the money. And charging individuals in the
area for additional lighting isn't an appropriate
option. Safety isn't a service for residents, it's a
necessity.
With students' presence on campus con-

stantly fluctuating, it's difficult for them to be
aware of all of the specifics of Ann Arbor. But
it's crucial that students - especially incoming
freshmen - are informed of safety concerns
and protocol on campus. They need to be edu-
cated about what resources are at their dispos-
al and how to respond to emergency situations.
This information is available on the Univer-
sity website. But in light of the recent string
of crimes, the University should e-mail safety
information to students and post information
in all academic buildings.
While it's important that students are made
aware of how to ensure their personal safety,
it's equally necessary that they take precau-
tions to protect themselves. All students should
use ride services at night, be cautious when
walking in ill-lit areas and trust their instincts
by seeking help when they need it. It may seem
tedious to students to adhere to every safety
precaution, but it's irresponsible to not use the
free or inexpensive resources at their disposal.
Crime is an unfortunate reality, but it
shouldn't stop students from going about their
lives. With increased education and awareness,
students will be able to ensure their personal
safety.

JOSH BUOY AND STEPHANIE HAMEL I
Anti-crime collaboration

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS:
Aida Ali, Will Butler, Eaghan Davis, Michelle DeWitt, Ashley Griesshammer,
Erika Mayer, Harsha Nahata, Emily Orley, Harsha Panduranga,
Teddy Papes, Roger Sauerhaft, Seth Soderborg, Andrew Weiner
PATRICK MAILLET |
Answering a president's plea

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Over the past month, students have
expressed growing concern regarding recent
crimes in the Oxford Housing area. With two
armed robberies since early December, we
recognize that something must be done to
improve safety at the University. As chair and
vicechair of the Michigan Student Assembly
Student Safety Commission, we aim to inform
students of what measures have already been
taken to prevent future incidents from occur-
ring and to help students get involved in their
own personal safety.
Since the start ofthis semester, we've sought
meetings with administrative leaders respon-
sible for student affairs and law enforcement
in the University area. Through these con-
versations, we've learned that preliminary
actions have been taken by the Department of
Public Safety, Ann Arbor Police Department
and Housing Security to deter future crime.
According to DPS Public Spokeswoman
Diane Brown, DPS and AAPD "have been pro-
viding targeted police patrols of the area as
well as surveillance efforts." University Hous-
inghas also extended Oxford dininghours and
has stationed an additional security officer at
Oxford Housing from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. each day.
To facilitate safer student travel on the week-
ends, Parking and Transportation Services
has temporarily extended Oxford bus service
from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sun-
days.
While these efforts take important steps
toward improving safety at the University,
there are also measures that students should
personally consider when traveling alone or at
night. As a start, use the buddy system - try
to walk in groups of three or more, especially
after dark - and stay on well-traveled, well-
lit paths, even if they don't provide the most
direct route to your destination. It's also criti-
cal to remain aware of your surroundings at
all times. Attackers are looking for distracted
individuals, so think twice before texting,
talking on your phone or listening to music as
you walk home. Finally, be sure to call a friend
before you leave so that someone knows when
to expect your arrival, and never hesitate to
call the police if you feel unsafe or observe
suspicious behavior.
As an alternative to walking, PTS and AATA

provide a number of free or low-cost taxi ser-
vices that are available to students throughout
the night. S.A.F.E. WALK (734-763-9255) is a
free ride-home program that transports stu-
dents from anywhere on campus to a nearby
off-campus location between the hours of 10
p.m. and 3 a.m. Ride Home (734-547-9800)
is another free transportation resource that
takes students from the UGLi, the Duderstadt
Center or the Cancer Center on the Medical
Campus to their residences between the hours
of 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. Night Ride (734-528-5432)
is a $5 shared-ride taxi service within the city
of Ann Arbor, and it runs from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Monday through Friday and 7 p.m. to 7:30
a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Also, if you decide
to take a cab, make sure you ask the driver to
wait until you are safely inside your destina-
tion before leaving.
Though these safety tips are crucial to
assuring personal security, promoting these
suggestions is only the beginning of what can
and should be done to improve safety through-
out campus. With everyone's attention turned
toward the recent Oxford-area crimes, it's up
to us - the student body - to come together
to initiate positive, proactive changes in safety
procedure. Working alongside the Dean of
Student's Office, we plan to organize a cross-
campus safety coalition with representatives
from MSA, LSA Student Government, Greek
Life and other student organizations. With
everyone on board, we will have the capability
to pool our resources, streamline information
to students in efficient and creative ways and
determine which next step will have the great-
est, most direct impact on student safety.
We are enthusiastic about the student
response thus far, and we hope to expand this
dialogue between all interested students in
order to construct the safest campus possible.
If you are interested in participating in this
discussion, please join us at our meetings on
Fridays at 2 p.m. in MSA Chambers (3rd floor
of the Michigan Union). We look forward to
collaborating with you to make a lasting dif-
ference at the University.
Josh Buoy and Stephanie Hamel
are the chair and vice chair of the MSA
Student Safety Commission.

As a self-defined political geek, I've always had faith
in the American political system. I've always believed in
this democracy and its limitless potential. But like many
others, I've been disgusted with the level of partisanship
that has plagued America over these past couple years.
It seems that ifa Republican proposes a piece of legisla-
tion, Democrats in Congresswill inevitably shut it down.
If President Barack Obama suggests a bill, Speaker of the
House John Boehner predictably opposes every aspect
of it. Elected officials have stopped trying to determine
whether or not the ideas of their political opponents are
valid and simply oppose them regardless of their pos-
sible potential.
In recentyears, this unprecedented level of partisan-
ship has been readily apparent. In November's midterm
election, matters appeared to grow worse when the
Republicans gained control of the House, thus polariz-
ing our political system even more. I was beginning to
lose faith. I was sure that neither side would be able to
accomplish anything so long as there was a Democratic
president and a Republican House. Two more years of
ineffective government seemed inevitable. But then, as
so many times before, America united in the face of trag-
edy.
On the morning of Jan. 8, 2011, Congresswoman
Gabrielle Giffords was shot along with 18 others in Tuc-
son, Ariz. During the memorial service for the victims
of this tragedy, Obama spoke about bipartisanship in
one of his most inspirational and least politically-driven
speeches thus far in his presidency. He outlined for all
Americans how we can honor Representative Giffords
and the other victims by working together to end par-
tisanship.
Soon after Obama's touching speech, members of
both political parties worked together to create a new
seating arrangement for the State of the Union address.
Unlike the usual seating arrangement based on party
affiliation, this one was randomized and had Democrats

and Republicans sitting among each other. While many
believe this unprecedented seating was irrelevant and
unnecessary, it actually stood for something much more
than a random arrangement.
For the first time in a couple years, Americans were
able to watch their elected officials act civilly toward
each other. Considering that the last State of the Union
was interrupted by Congressman Joe Wilson shout-
ing out "You lie!" at the president, it was refreshing to
see Democrats and Republicans clapping and laughing
together. However, as Obama made it very clear in his
State of the Union speech, "What comes of this moment
will be determined not by whether we can sit together
tonight, but whether we can work together tomorrow."
Unlike most State of the Union speeches, Obama
focused on both parties working together in order to
achieve American prosperity. Instead of commenting
on politically-dividing topics, the president honed in
on why and how the government can work together in
order to produce the most efficient outcome for America.
So what now? Will our government officials happily
work together and pass every piece oflegislation thatthe
country needs? The answer is obviously no. The presi-
dent made it extremely clear in his speech that we won't
always agree on everything, and that's fine. In fact, it's
this disagreementthat allows America to be the greatest
country on Earth. What we must understand is that just
because we may not politically agree with each other
on certain topics, we must still work together in a civil
way in order to accomplish greatness. As the president
appropriately said in his State of the Union address, "We
will move forward together, or not at all."
In order to secure the future of this amazing country,
we must be willing to reach across the table. Only then
will we together, as one people, be able to give our chil-
dren a better world than the one we were given.
Patrick Maillet is an LSA freshman.

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