4A -- Monday, Feruary 21, 2011
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
4A - Monday, Feruary 21, 2011 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom
4J1t J*idhigan &u,
Edited and managed by students at
the University of Michigan since 1890.
420 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
tothedaily@michigandaily.com
DANIEL GOLD
E-MAIL DANIEL AT DWGOLD@UMICH.EDU
STEPHANIE STEINBERG
EDITOR IN CHIEF
MICHELLE DEWITT
and EMILY ORLEY
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS
Bro, get out f /
hibernation, {a ,.b ;False alarm,
the sun's outl ± L y.-- Freshman...
U 0
e American way.
KYLE SWANSON
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.
FROM THE DAILY
Working out the kinks
University gym renovations are long overdue
Student-athletes at the University have access to some of the fin-
est athletic facilities a college can offer. Far from the same can
be said for the rest of the student body. The conditions of the
Central Campus Recreational Building, North Campus Recreational
Building and Intramural Sports Building are each far below the qual-
ity that students deserve.
From the lack of new equipment, to the
decrepit locker and shower rooms, the Univer-
sity's recreational facilities have long needed
a facelift. The University's recent decision to
allocate $1.6 million to upgrade the school's
recreational facilities is a step in the right
direction. But the University has waited too
long to address the state of recreational facili-
ties that are widely used by students, and it
must ensure that these facilities are improved
to alevel that is acceptable to the studentbody.
According to an article in the Daily today
("Recreationfacilities get1.6M renovation") the
$1.6 million will cover the cost of60 new cardio
machines, the addition of televisions in cardio
areas, refurbished lobbies and renovated lock-
ers and shower rooms for the school's recre-
ational facilities. Studies are currently being
conducted to determine future renovations
to the facilities, such as the expansion of gym
space and the installation of wireless Inter-
net and food areas. The Department of Rec-
reational Sports explained that the upgrades
have taken a long time to be proposed because
recreational facilities have little value for the
school in recruiting and retainingstudents.
While the planned renovations are a prom-
ising start, the University should make sure
future renovations cover the gamut of what
needs improvement in recreational facilities
on campus. More new cardio machines are a
necessity. As a campus of nearly 40,000 stu-
dents, 60 new cardio machineswill only slight-
ly solve the problem of overcrowding. And the
shortage isn't limited to cardio machines. A
variety of new equipment is also needed, from
new weights and weight machines, to new
rental equipment like basketballs and squash
rackets.
More spacious cardio and weightlifting
areas are also needed, as students should have
the opportunity to work out in an open setting
- not the current congested exercise rooms.
Many facility surfaces, like the basketball and
racquetball courts, have been worn down and
are in need of serious refurbishing. The avail-
ability of wireless Internet and food options
would also make the recreational facilities
more functional places for students.
The University's explanation as to why
these renovations have been their last priority
shows a serious disregard for student needs.
The conditions of the University's recreational
facilities are about the quality of life for stu-
dents, not whether or not the recreational
facilities draw students to come to the school.
The University's negligence can easily be cor-
rected by appropriately handling the planned
$1.6 million renovations and future improve-
ments. The facilities and equipment available
at the CCRB, NCRB and IM Building need to
reflect the desires of the student body.
eff Daniels thought he was all
set. After all, he had spoken
to the man
and made a deal.
What could go
wrong?
According to
a Feb. 17 Detroit 0
Free Press arti-
cle (Jeff Daniels:
Snyder said one
thing, did anoth- IMRAN
er, 02/17/11), SYED
Daniels said that
then-candidate
and now Republican Gov. Rick
Snyder told him during the 2010
campaign that, if he was elected
governor, he would not eliminate
Michigan's film incentives.
Daniels - a prominent Michigan-
der and actor who is perhaps still
best known for his role opposite
Jim Carrey in "Dumb and Dumber"
- thought that personal assurance
from Snyder would be good enough.
Regardless of what Snyder was say-
ing in public, Daniels thought he
knew the real truth. He had a gen-
tleman's agreement, and he expect-
ed it would be abided.
So, when Snyder announced
plans last week to effectively elimi-
nate the state's film incentives, Dan-
iels was incensed. He told the Free
Press: "It's not what he told me pri-
vately, so to be honest, I guess he's
a politician after all. Say one thing,
do another."
Now, Snyder denies ever telling
Daniels anything, and whether or
not the film incentives are a good
investment is a worthy debate, but
one we will not have just now. What
I'd like to focus on instead is Dan-
iels's statement and mindset, and
for that purpose, we will assume
that Snyder did in fact tell him that
he would keep the film incentives.
If that is the case, then Daniels
expected that Snyder would honor
that private agreement with him,
regardless ofthe dutyheowedtothe
voters at large. For example, Snyder
mentioned on several occasions
on the campaign trail that the film
tax credits cost more than they're
worth and should be reevaluated
and perhaps eliminated. Millions
of Michiganders heard him express
those thoughts, and surely they
expected him to follow through on
what he said after they elected him
by a considerable majority.
But Daniels expected Snyder to
ignore all that and follow through
on their secret agreement. And
because Snyder didn't do that,
Daniels disparagingly called him a
calculating politician. Interesting,
right?
This isn't a rebuke of Daniels,
but rather a sad commentary on
how the minds of most voters work.
We all hate special interests; the
thought of some rich and powerful
guy getting to whisper orders into
our leaders' ears enflames the core
of every American. As ideas go, spe-
cial access and private agreements
among politicians are the most un-
American things of all.
Daniels knows all this. But, like
all of us, he is conveniently blinded
when his own issues are involved,
and the secret agreement is his own.
Much like Republican senators who
hate the filibuster, the judicial nom-
inating process and special rules of
legislative procedure when they're
in the minority - but love it all
in the majority - Daniels is in the
unenviable position here of living a
double standard.
Snyder is no hero in all this: I
would argue that he is failing to
live up to his campaign promise
to return innovation and jobs to
Michigan by short-sightedly elimi-
nating the one fledgling industry
that could-quickly return business,
tourism and enthusiasm to this
state. There's plenty to criticize in
his budget plan, but his failure to
honor an alleged secret agreement,
if one was ever made, must be above
rebuke.
Daniels meanswell, and I happen
to agree with him on the film cred-
its, but he has no right to expect pri-
vate service from a public servant.
Be it the evil tobacco lobby or some-
thing much more lovable, all spe-
cial interests serve to short-circuit
a democracy. Part of reforming our
political system away from a glacial
bureaucracy thatonly some insiders
can shape is coming to a realization
that there can be no exceptions.
Daniels expected
Snyder to protect
film incentives.
The core of this argument is that,
regardless of what we believe about
specific issues, we must first ensure
the integrity of the governmental
systems that we use to bring about
our preferred brand of change. It
may be perfectly well to support
issues like welfare reform, gun
rights or easier access to abortions,
but we must all understand that
an "at all costs/this very instant"
approach cannot work. We cannot
dismantle the very systems that
support our governmental order to
affect change. To do so would be to
kill the golden goose.
In the end, it all returns to civil-
ity, patience and compromise. Yes,
that's the hard way to do things, but
who ever said the American way
was the easy way?
-Imran Syed can be reached
at galad@umich.edu.
LETTERS TO'
SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@MICHIGANDAILY.COM
Bringing GSRAs into GEO
isn't the best solution
TO THE DAILY:
Recently I have heard a bit of rhetoric and
speculation involving the push by the Gradu-
ate Employees' Organization to incorporate the
wages andbenefits ofgraduatestudentresearch
assistantsintotheir collective bargainingagree-
ment. However, as far as hard facts are con-
cerned, there is quite a bit left to be desired. The
following is the opinion of a lowly engineer.
Here is what I know on the issue. GEO
doesn't represent me to the University, not
even implicitly. The University desires to be
a top-level research institution. As such, it
employs my fellow graduate students and I as
GSRAs. Yes, research is a primary mission of
the University. Market forces dictate that if
the University wants the best students then
it needs to give good pay and benefits. The
wage paid to graduate student instructors
is one of a number of benchmarks that the
University uses to determine a good GSRA
wage. Many departments use different stan-
dards. Furthermore, all students employed as
GSRAs with whom I have talked to state that
they have excellent working conditions, pay
and benefits. Also, their work as a GSRA has
become, or is intended to become, their thesis
Hoke's comment at Mock
Rock wasn't appropriate
work. Obviously, I cannot claim to speak for
the students with whom I have not spoken. So,
this is not a universal statement, just the pat-
tern that I have noticed.
Beyond what I know, I have heard a lot
of things both in favor and in disapproval of
unionization. I have heard thatGEO is the only
guaranteed means for students to petition the
University for the redress of grievances. I have
also heard that students already have many
options. I have heard secondhand stories about
bosses forcing students to work unreasonable
hours with no means of recourse. I have yet to
hear confirmation of a single one ofthese stories.
I have also, not even remotely, heard how the
unionization of GSRAs would work to increase
the pay or benefits of the students involved.
That being said, after filtering through all
of the rhetoric and claims that are bouncing
around, I cannot find a good reason why stu-
dents should pay several hundred dollars in
dues a year with no definite benefit. If someone
could come forward with confirmable stories
of unreasonable working conditions for stu-
dents - where joining GEO would be the most
reasonable recourse, or a good breakdown of
wage and benefit disparity; where joining GEO
would serve to correct this - then I might con-
sider changing my view.
Andrew Crow
Rackham graduate student
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS:
Aida Ali, Will Butler, Ellie Chessen, Michelle DeWitt, Ashley Griesshammer,
Melanie Kruvelis, Patrick Maillet, Erika Mayer, Harsha Nahata, Emily Orley,
Harsha Panduranga, Teddy Papes, Asa Smith, Seth Soderborg, Andrew Weiner
BRENDAN FRIEDMAN | VIE POQ- T
'Get Involved' around campus
vous when those two
close to each other, b
I recognize that ca
is an exaggeration. I
sible he has no disc
TO THE DAILY: community and was
Last Wednesday, I attended Mock Rock Regardless of his in
and was excited to see the huge turnout. I hurt by his carelessA
was proud to be a Michigan Wolverine - our gay man is such a horn
student-athletes are so passionate on and off great power and influ
the field. I was also proud to be a Michigan the most fleeting con
Wolverine in January when our campus ral- The athletic commu:
lied behind our new head football coach Brady with homophobia -
Hoke. Along with other students, I posted the face of Michiga
Facebook statuses urging people to support To the Student Athl
him. I was sold on him by the end of his speech thank you for planni:
at the first press conference. Rock event - you d
I was initially excited to hear Hoke's com- Hoke, please be care.
ments as a judge during Mock Rock, but that and recognize that s
dwindled when he remarked on the wrestling are members of the L
team's skit. A spoof of Facebook, the act includ- you for your engage:
ed two guys pretending to be roommates in a I'm looking forward t
Facebook marriage. I enjoyed their act and
wasn't offended by the bromance. Hoke's first Stephanie Parrish
comment was "Well, I was getting pretty ner- Public Policy senior
guys were getting pretty
ut..."
slling Hoke a homophobe
also realize that it's pos-
omfort with the LGBTQ
only trying to get a laugh.
itention, however, I was
words that suggest being a
rible thing. In a position of
ence on this campus, even
nment holds great weight.
nity is already struggling
the last thing we need is
n Athletics contributing.
ete Advisory Committee,
ng another amazing Mock
do great work. To Coach
eful with your statements
ome of your biggest fans
GBTQ community. Thank
ment on campus thus far,
to Sept. 3. Go Blue.
This fall, the Michigan Student Assembly launched
the "Get Involved Campaign" to encourage students
to join different organizations on campus. Campaign
events like Pre-Class Bash and Service Diag Day aim to
promote freshmen involvement outside the classroom.
While this programming was extremely effective in
informing students about the diversity of opportunities
on campus, the process of determining interests and pas-
sions begins prior to a student's arrival in the fall. Once
on campus, students often feel smothered by invitations
to attend mass meetings or overwhelmed by their adjust-
ment to college life. Even events like Festifall, which
aim to expose students to the abundance of groups and
activities on campus, can be cumbersome and difficult
to navigate.
Each year, a new pool of motivated and hardworking
men and women attend New Student Orientation in order
to become better prepared for life at the University. This
program is very successful in informing students about
most of the challenges they will face and the experiences
they will have once on campus in September. However~
campus involvement is understandably marginalized
during this program to make room for necessary infor-
mation regarding academics, campus safety, etc. Office
of Student Activities and Leadership staff members are
only allotted a short, 10 minutes to discuss the resources
they provide for students in finding the right niche out-
side the classroom.
This is unfortunate because the work done outside of
a student's academic program can offer as much value as
the work done within it and can account for a student's
most memorable experiences at college. If incoming stu-
dents heard about the importance of joining a student
organization duringtheir orientation session,ctheywould
find it easier to navigate the wealth of student organiza-
tions prior to their campus arrival in September.
MSA is seeking to remedy this problem by crafting a
program that grants a platform to current student lead-
ers in the form of a panel discussion during new student
orientation. A forum led by current students, rather than
staff, and one which allows for incoming students to
engage with current ones about their extra-curricular
involvement, would send a powerful message to fresh-
man that community involvement is a crucial part of
the University experience. By introducing freshman to
current student leaders, who can explain why and how
to get involved, students can begin thinking about how
they want to make their mark on campus. The program
could even provide students the opportunity to look
through Maize Pages, discover options that they didn't
even know existed, get the contact information for
that organization's leader and quickly reach out to that
group. Student organizations benefit from this as well,
since many groups begin their work prior to the start of
the school year, and would welcome the opportunity to
include freshmen in the planning process.
One goal of this program is to present incoming
freshman with student leaders from a diverse group of
campus communities and organizations. While these
panelists won't aim to recruit students to their specific
organizations, having representation from service orga-
nizations, cultural and advocacy groups, Greek Life and
student government will provide freshmen with numer-
ous perspectives that can inspire them to find their own
passions.
New Student Orientation, which is run by the Office of
New Student Programs, would benefit from the program
because freshmen are not otherwise exposed to current
college students during orientation, except orientation
leaders. This exposure helps accomplish the goal of stu-
dent orientation.The opportunitytospeak, notonlywith
students but with those who lead our campus, would be
a great catalyst in instilling energy and enthusiasm in
incoming freshmen, as well as calm the nerves of those
unsure of what lies ahead.
In the coming weeks, members of MSA will be meet-
ing with ONSP to present their plan in the hopes of
implementing a pilot program for this summer's orien-
tation sessions. While those most invested in the initia-
tive believe that their model for the event is strong, they
are fully committed to accommodating the needs and
desires of ONSP in order to make these efforts a reality.
I
6
6
Brendan Friedman is an LSA senior.
x