4A - Tuesday, January 18, 2011 The Michigan Daily -- michigandaily.com 4A - Tuesday, January 18, 2011 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom M ihigan btl Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. 4 If Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com ELAINE MORTON E-MAIL ELAINE AT EMORT@UMICH.EDU V e S iS ' - er n C - trI ti's w i i 0fed e v-O-L i d y, so eve ryod y n S 0 (V r sut re -- s ~l C y ct y ---)V---- ,C« h .Ievx c ss#jsrs 1 STEPHANIE STEINBERG EDITOR IN CHIEF MICHELLE DEWITT and EMILY ORLEY EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS KYLE SWANSON 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 jolt from the Volt The auto industry needs to replicate GM's model After a concerning decline during the recession, Gen- eral Motors is making a comeback. Earlier this month, GM's recently released signature car, the Chevrolet Volt, received Motor Trend Magazine's prestigious 2011 Car of the Year award. The Volt's success marks the emergence of a new generation of electric cars and will hopefully be a turning point for GM. The invention could also help to boost Michigan's econ- omy and the American auto industry as a whole. The American auto industry should capitalize on GM's success and continue to produce environmentally friendly cars. Where's the finish line? The Volt triumphed over 20 finalists, fin- ishing in front of 10 Asian cars, six Euro- pean cars and four other American cars for the Car of the Year award. The criteria for selection included advancement in design, engineering excellence, efficiency, safety, value and intended function. GM's prod- uct is different from ordinary hybrid cars because it runs solely on electricity when- ever possible - with an electrical range of 50 miles per charge. Motor Trend Maga- zine called the car a "game changer." The win is important to the state and the country as it signifies the resurgence of the American auto industry. Most impor- tantly for Michigan, this means more jobs in a state that has one of the highest unem- ployment rates in the country. But it also means that many of these jobs will con- tribute to sustainability and the develop- ment of green technologies. In November, GM announced that it would create 1,000 new engineering and development jobs in Michigan as a part of its vehicle electrifica- tion program. As GM continues to expand and advance its production,- these job opportunities are sure to increase. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and his colleagues in Lansing and on Capitol Hill should take note of GM's success. The future of Michigan's economy depends on innovative and green technologies rather than gas-guzzling SUVs. In the past, inter- national companies greatly outweighed GM in advanced and efficient technologies, but the Volt's emergence gives the Ameri- can auto industry its first opportunity in a while to lead the pact in smarter and more fuel-efficient cars. On the national stage, greater fuel efficiency also means a small- er carbon footprint for the country and a lower dependence on foreign oil. The Volt reduces the environmental impact of cars and provides an alternative to the current market of hybrid cars. It was named the 2011 Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal and was the first electric car to have won this award. In addition to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, GM recycles material by-products to make the Volt a particularly practical and eco-friend- ly car. With environmental threats like pol- lution and global warming becoming more serious, electric cars like the Volt will help to alleviate these problems. GM has created a product that will boost the economy of the state and coun- try as well as contribute to preserving the environment. The Volt should become the industry standard and auto companies should work toward developing entirely gas independent electric cars. 4 Waitingfor Superman" - a recent documentary evaluating thestate of public education - praised charter schools' efforts to hold stu- dents accountable through a strong emphasis on test- taking. Meanwhile, a "Race to Nowhere" - a film screened at the University's School of Educa- tion last month -E proclaims that the ERIK overemphasis on TORENBERG test taking over- looks the skills stu- dents really need to be successful. This paradox raises the question: Should schools maintain such a test- centered approach, or should they work to develop alternatives for mea- suring student success? Teaching to the test risks that students will cling to structure, burn out and adopt a resume-centered existence. A more holistic approach would be to focus on developing creativity and criti- cal analysis. Teachers could devalue grades and encourage students to think highly of themselves regardless of performance. Such an answer to the proposed question is contingent on schools' goals. If a school's ultimate goal is to get its students into a top college and a subsequent high-paying job, then yes, a focus on test-taking and test prepa- ration is conducive to such a goal. But not all students will go to a top college. And for those who don't, a fairly large percentage will work jobs requiring just a high school degree. "Waiting for Superman" lauds college as the ulti- mate goal of public education. Criti- cism swarms that mindset not only because of its narrow-mindedness regarding personal development, but also because, for some students, college isn't necessarily a wise investment. Assume schools decide to eschew such a careerist approach, and instead champion values such as compassion, intellect and independent thinking. It would become apparent that standard- ized tests don't sufficiently measure these abilities. If schools want to alter the skills of their students, schoolswill have to alter how they measure their students. But if schools lighten up, students might too, and not necessarily in the ways schools would like. "Race to Nowhere" doesn't concede that stu- dents might engage in unproductive activities with their extra time. But it's not self-evident that kids will start their own businesses, read more and engage in community service if they spent less time worrying about earn- ing top GPAs. It might even be pre- sumptuous to assume that a school's view toward tests can affect student behavior. It's likelythat Lady Gaga and LeBron James-like figures playa large part in forming students' identities. The same can't immediately be said for a school's method of evaluation. As this analysis has demonstrated, questions initially proposed unravel separate, more profound questions upon inspection. What is the best method to measure student success? That would depend on how schools define student success. What is the best method to hold teachers account- able? That hinges on what attributes schools value in their teachers. Taking a stab at these questions is far beyond the scope of this article, so let's first focus on what's clear. What's apparent about the education system is that everyone has problems with it. Math scores of American students have been steadily falling relative to students in other countries. Vast inequalities exist between schools located just minutes of each other. Those invested in the debate are eager to answer the big questions. Education Policy Adviser Ken Robin- son excitededucationenthusiasts with a couple of TED - a conference that brings together people from the Tech- nology, Entertainment and Design industries - talks. He highlighted the importance of replacing conventional, linear models with more holistic ones that unearth creative potential. But his follow up books haven't answered the "how-to," and people are still awaiting the all-encompassing narra- tive - in book or documentary form - that promises to reconcile the insti- tutional, economic and cultural prob- lems that plague our education system today. Students can't wait for superman. We're not going to receive a magic formula for fixing schools because we don't fully agree on the para- digms underlying the problems. This ideological stalemate will continue to subsist, but that doesn't mean stu- dents should complacently sit around the proverbial dinner table while the "adults" talk about how to "fix" the education system. As these docu- mentaries demonstrate, anyone can be portrayed as a victim. It's easy to notice the inherent complexity sur- rounding educational policy and refuse to proclaim any responsibility or agency, but such complacency is self-defeating. It's imperative that we - high school and University students alike - analyze the "race to nowhere" the documentary suggests we're par- ticipating in and define for ourselves what we want to gain from our educa- tional opportunities. If we don't, we'll continue waiting for some superman to decide that for us. -Erik Torenberg can be reached at erikto@umich.edu. 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 MATTHEW SHUTLER I Food for thought -i he The Complete Spectrum: Chris Dyer advocates for LGBTQ inclusiveness in Catholic education. Go to michigandaily.com/blogs/The Podium Don't be quick to connect the dots For years, food in one way or another has ruled my life. I'm known among friends and family for my insatiable appetite, and even many of my early memories in life are associated with what I ate rather than where I was or who I was with. I can still clearly remember the first time I had a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut: in the airport after arriving in Orlando for the first time. And therein lies my problem. I grew up craving and always asking for fast food - the delicious salt and fat were irresistible to me. But after reading Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma," I feel that I've taken many steps in the right direction to having a healthier, more complete relationship with food. Ever since I enrolled in Environment 201 last year, and I learned about the problems of indus- trial food - of which I view fast food as the pinnacle - I've started to think about the way I eat and the consequences it has. I've always known that eating McDonald's and Wendy's isn't the healthiest, but I was a fit athlete. What do I care if I eat an extra 750 calories or 200mg of salt a day? But after learning about the envi- ronmental problems caused by the increasing industrialization of food, I've started to eat much healthier. I'd say that my diet change has been years in the making. I won't be young and fit forever, and neither, for that matter, will the environment. What I found interesting about "The Omni- vore's Dilemma" was the detailed outline offered on the ways humans can get their food. The categories included: industrialized/ processed foods, hunter/gatherer and organic farming. To be honest, a vast majority of the people I know eat almost exclusively from the first category. I've never seen my mom go out- side to pick mushrooms or berries for her daily salad. It's just so much more convenient to drive to Meijer and by pre-packaged and har- vested ones. Unless a person lives in the middle of a lush rain forest and knows what foods are safe to eat, the second option of foraging for your own food is laughably unlikely. The days when a person spent all day outside to catch, find and pick enough food to sustain them- selves are long over - in this country at least. While I enjoyed reading about this.method, I know that it isn't realistic enough to fit into my life. Sure, if I'm camping, and I find some wild raspberries, I'll eat them. But I don't go camp- ing enough for that to change my life. The last option, organic farming, is another option that's tricky. With companies across the world jumping on this trend, saying their products are "natural," "organic" and "envi- ronmentally-friendly," it's hard to figure out what's really healthy and what's just trying to make a quick profit. Another problem is the industrialization of organic farming. This process, developed to make organic food more readily available to the masses, is just the same we've seen with the fast food revolution. It's another way of taking something pure and healthy and bastardizing it to make money. No, I don't think eating - often over-priced - organic food is the best option for myself or for omnivores in general. But if you live on an organic farm and can make your own food, by all means do so. So my journey from starting college two and half years ago and reading this book over the past month has led me to a very enlightening conclusion: Use your head and be as personal with your food as possible. It may not be the biggest epiphany the world has seen, but it's done wonders for me. What I mean by this is that you should embrace the positives in all options: the convenience of industrialization, the health and simplicity from real organic farming and the personal touch from forag- ing. How do I plan to do this? It's simple. I'm planning on grocery shopping for myself - as well as purchasing food from the Ann Arbor Farmers Market - buying fresh meats and pro- duce whenever possible and preparing my own meals. Reading "The Omnivore's Dilemma" is actually a big reason why I plan to live outside the dorms next year I want more control over what I'm eating. I think this is a plan that will work for me and help me lead a healthier life. But most importantly, it's something I can actually follow. And that's more than can be said for someone planning to forage in the Arb for berries and mushrooms. Matthew Shutler is an LSA junior. I's been more than one week since Gore, former wife of vice president Al the horrible atrocity in Tucson, Gore, used the same argument to try Ariz., and all I can think about'is to ban Prince from record stores 25 This is Spinal Tap. years ago. It's irresponsible to say that Tap pioneered the Grand Theft Auto has created murder- "mockumentary" ers, Black Sabbath is guilty of driving genre. It follows the someone to suicide and 2 Live Crew is 1982 summer tour of single-handedly responsible for Amer- Spinal Tap - known ica's decaying moral fabric. as "Britain's Loud- This belief is supported by scientific est Band" - in sup- research and the scope and scale of port of their newest the hypocrisy it would take to believe album, "Smell the any differently would alone make this Glove." Early in the belief stronger for me. I have at least film, a record label NEILL three Notorious B.I.G. albums on my executive angrily MOHAMMAD iPod right now. Between Biggie and confronts Spinal Stringer Bell, I know just about all you Tap's manager over need to know about how to run a suc- the band's original cessful crack ring, and so far I'm not proposal for "Glove's" cover art. After running one. So I can't blame Palin, or Tap's manager claims not to have the anyone else for that matter, for Lough- slightest idea why anyone thought the ner's actions, and I can't imagine original art was sexist, the label exec- having to defend myself against that utive erupts: criticism. "You put a greased, naked woman But of course, the story doesn't end on all fours with a dog collar around with criticismof Palin. Maybe there's her neck, and a leash, and aman's arm a universe in which she could act like extended out up to here, holding onto a leader and apologize for SarahPAC, the leash, and pushing a black glove in but also reject any responsibility for her face to sniff it! You don't find that the Tucson tragedy. We don't live in offensive? You don't find that sexist?" that universe. Instead, conservative In a similar, angry vein, it didn't activists started combing the Inter- take more than an hour or two for net to see if there were any Democrats most Americans to draw a connec- who could be tarred with the same tion between Jared Loughner and the brush. Republican campaign strategy after We've all been there - if you get the 2008 election. Exhibit A, of course, hit with a phantom foul, then you was a map of vulnerable Democratic start working the refs to get a make- congressional incumbents that was up call on the other end. Sure enough created by former Alaska Gov. Sarah that's what Republicans did. It turns Palin's political action committee. The out that President Barack Obama districts were marked with crosshairs. mentioned "bringing a gun to a knife Pundits connected the dots - and fight" on a campaign stop during his there were really only two dots neces- 2008 campaign. And someone man- sary - and concluded that even if Palin aged to unearth a Democratic Lead- herself didn't pull the trigger, she was ership Committee that identified its an accomplice. own 2004 "targeting strategy" - dis- I think that's an irresponsible con- tricts that voted narrowly for George elusion. It's irresponsible now, and W. Bush in 2000 and were plausibly it was irresponsible when Tipper trending toward the Democrats - with little concentric circles of their own. Never mind that the "knife fight" line is taken from a 30-year-old movie or that the DLC map placed targets over entire states, not individual dis- tricts - or that they were targets, not sights - that would get in the way of how things are done, which is to take whatever people are saying about you and Google furiously until you find a spurious equivalency on the other side. There's a word for all of this, by the way. It's called "tattling." You can't blame one person for Loughner's acts. But that's not why I'm reminded of This is Spinal Tap. I'm reminded by Palin's backup plan, which was to pretend that the SarahPAC map didn't even have crosshairs on it at all - and shame on you for suggesting other- wise. Not only does violent rhetoric have nothing to do with Jared Lough- ner, it actually has nothing to do with violence in the first place. Understood. Spending two years telling people to "take aim" and "reload" at people marked by gun sights for having the temerity to not want to spend one-sixth of our total economic output on health care has nothing at all to do with violence. Just like putting anaked woman ina collar and leash on an album cover has noth- ing to do with sexism. Neill Mohammad can be reached at neilla@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. We do not print anonymous letters. Send letters to tothedaily@michigandaily.com '