4 4A - Wednesday, November 30, 2011 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 4A - Wednesday, November 30, 2011 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com MICHELLE DEWITT STEPHANIE STEINBERG and EMILY ORLEY NICK SPAR EDITOR IN CHIEF EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS 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. Imran Syed isthe public editor. He can be reached at publiceditor@michigandaily.com. FROM TEDAILY Attend to attendance DPS must address underlying causes of truancy R oy Roberts, Detroit Public Schools emergency manager, recently announced that the district's deficit is less than $100 million, a decrease of $43 million in the last fiscal year. But for every step DPS takes, it is forced to take two more back. The positive news for Michigan's largest school district comes at the same time as a threat of a $25.9 million fine due to attendance below state standards. Detroit schools should be given the opportunity to address the underlying causes of truancy instead of being fined - a practice that could exacerbate financial problems and hinder the HANNAH DOW E-MAIL HANNAH AT HDOW@UMICH.EDU educational system. According to The Detroit News, DPS atten- dance was below the state-mandated 75 per- cent of the school's student body on 46 days last school year. In contrast, Utica Community Schools and Dearborn Public Schools - Michi- gan's second and third largest school districts respectively- neverreached attendancebelow 75 percent last school year. A total of $680,000 in truancy fines was paid by DPS for the 2009- 2010 school year, and officials expect to pay only a fraction of the $25.9 million estimate this year. The Michigan Department of Education deducts fines from districts' state aid based on how far attendance is below the 75 percent mark. Last year, average school attendance at DPS on Fridays was 71.2 percent. Though aver- age attendance was above 75 percent Monday through Thursday, it was always below 80 per- cent. Veterans Day.was a half-school day for the district, and DPS only recorded 50.7 per- cent student attendance - one of many half- days cited for excessive absences. While the attendance fines are problem- atic, the actual truancy is a larger concern. Attendance percentages in the mid-70s can- not sustain an educational system. According to the National Center for School Engagement, experts have linked truancy with delinquency and dropping out of school. Students need to regularly attend classes in order to benefit from their education and prepare for their futures. There are better ways to address truancy problems than limiting schools' financial IT'S ABOUT TIME OHIo STATE'S BUCKEYE SHED SOME TEARS Uglier than Washington In the very early hours of the of Congress are sent to do in Wash- son." Notice that most fans don't morning last Saturday, the ington. When citizens elect a Con- care about what the deal looks like NBA finally reached a tentative gressman, they do so because they - the same cannot be said about the collective bar- believe that person best represents country's budget. Of course, as is gaining agree- their interests. Presumably, con- old news now, the players and own- ment with its stituents want their representative ers squabbled this summer, and the players to end a to speak for those interests and, if arguments dragged on because they 149-day lockout n necessary, fight hard for them. In a didn't think about how everyone and salvage most country as large and diverse as the else would be affected by the lockout of what looked United States, politicians represent (fans, local businesses, restaurants, like a lost season a myriad of populations and ideas, team employees, etc.). They were too just a few weeks DAR-WEI which leads to inevitable discord busy thinking about themselves. ago. This lockout CHEN when those politicians have to work was caused by together. And their constituencies disagreements often don't help with this problem. The NB in basketball- If people were asked what they AS related income (BRI) sharing and want from their representatives, l1 salary cap structure, among other they would probably say something iockout forgot issues. NFL players and team own- about the representative standingup a- ers also tussled this summer in a for his or her beliefs and expressing lockout of their own, but managed to the views of the constituency. Even avoid losing regular season games by when potential consequences are compromising on revenue-sharing dire, people nowadays usually want Some people might defend the financial issues similar to BRI. their representatives to stand firm. players and owners with arguments As dysfunctional as these sports For example, during the budget about how the players' union has the leagues seemed during both lock- debates earlier this year, an NBC right to collectively bargain with outs, they managed to solve their and Wall Street Journal poll found the owners, which is certainly true. problems reasonably by having that 56 percent of self-identified However, the intransigence dis- players and owners compromise Republicans wanted GOP leaders to played by both sides during the lock- on issues. Predictably, the general stick to their positions, regardless of outshows that the NBA's players and public started to look at Washington what would be needed for an agree- owners forgot the people who enable politicians and think: "If the sports ment with Democrats. People gen- them to talk about splitting $4 bil- people can get deals done, why erally aren't looking for politicians lion (from 2010) in the first place - can't Congress get its act together?" that compromise (well, 68 percent of the fans. Without fan interest and Washington dysfunction has long Democrats wanted to compromise love for the game of basketball, the been a clich, especially regarding during the budget debates, which league cannot survive. With fan partisan bickering, but the past few could indicate that GOP intransi- interest, team owners and star play- years have taken the dysfunction to gence is what blocked progress in ers receive more fame and fortune another level. The fact that politi- those discussions... never mind, than most of us will ever have. cal work in Washington is gener- that's another story) and that atti- In Washington, politicians usu- ally more important and urgent than tude leads directly to dysfunction in ally don't forget the people: that anything sports leagues do only fur- Washington when politicians carry elected them to their esteemed posi- ther indicts politicians when they out the wishes of their people. In tions, which is exactly why gridlock are unable to pass useful legisla- some ways, Americans are getting exists in the halls of Congress. If you tion. Being furious at Washington is what they ask for in Washington. are mad at Congress and the NBA - indeed fashionable right now. How- Now compare the situation in which describes many Americans ever, at least in a populist sense, the Washington with the NBA's. Ask - be madder at the NBA. Its players fightingbetween players and owners almost any NBA fan about what he and owners forgot about you. in the NBA and NFL is worse than or she hoped for during the lock- the bickering in Washington. out, and you'll hear some variation -Dar-Wei Chen can be reached Let's think about what members of "I just want basketball this sea- at chendw@umich.edu. Environmental economics 4 4 resources. It's difficult to rationalize allocation of funds for absent students. However, cut- ting funding puts schools at a disadvantage to educate students. The fines also become punishments to students who are consistently attending school, since they suffer from fund- ingcuts. With class sizes increasing, few of Detroit's teachers have the resources or time to follow up on absent students. The most important way DPS can address low attendance is to promote parent involvement. Parents should ensure that their children get to school each day and should notify teachers regarding absences and DPS should continue to increase communica- tion with parents. Schools can incentivize attendance through programs like Count Me In! - a before-school club that offers prizes to students with perfect attendance - and establish consequences for poor attendance. DPS should set achievable goals and encourage good record-keeping and continual evaluation to foster teacher involve- ment. Already this year, DPS has seen improve- ment through enhanced parent communica- tion programs. The attendance rate for the fifth day of school was 85 percent, compared to 69 percent in 2010, according to a report released by DPS. Attendance must remain a primary focus to ensure a better future for Detroit's students, but the district needs the opportunity to work on these issues before its funding is cut. 4 4 0 4 EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS: Aida Ali, Michelle DeWitt, Ashley Griesshammer, Nirbhay Jain, Jesse Klein, Patrick Maillet, Erika Mayer, Harsha Nahata, Emily Orley, Teddy Papes, Timothy Rabb, Vanessa Rychlinski, Caroline Syms, Seth Soderborg, Andrew Weiner SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@MICHIGANDAILY.COM 'U' should re-evaluate the efficiency of solar panels fact, I'm an ad when a decisio or system thati bound to have versity, Electric TO THE DAILY: ing Prof. Steph For months there has been speculation and the profound ef closed door talk of a new construction proj- increasing Solar ect on North Campus. On Sept. 27, Univer- even attractedt sity President Mary Sue Coleman formally ment of Defens announced that a solar panel field would be we spent the m constructed in partnership with DTE Ener- pus solar proje gy. The solar panels will be located on North more ground-br Campus, and it's been said that the project Rand's? The Un could begin to materialize in as little as six research institu months. In my years as an environmental the frontrunner studies student, I've read many an article energy? There a discussing the pros and cons of solar panel The Unive arrays. At this point in time, some PV (photo intersection, ac voltaic; the blackish blue panels) run at an the paths of p incredibly low efficiency. Some of the best presence, Uni panels max out around the 20 percent range. reputation cross With the large costs associated with a project making sure al like this, I can'thelp but wonder if the Univer- accurately consi sity's money could be better spent elsewhere. Don't get me wrong - I am all for clean, Holly Deremo sustainable, enduring energy solutions. In LSA junior dvocate for them. However, n is made to use a product isn't an efficient choice, I'm some questions. At the Uni- al and Computer Engineer- en Rand has been studying ffects of magnetic waves on x Panel Efficiency. Rand has the attention of the Depart- e in Washington DC. What if illions that the North Cam- ct will require by funding reaking research efforts like iversity is already a leading tion, but what if we became s of developing efficient solar re endless possibilities. rsity has reached an crossroads if you will, when ublic relations, community versity development and S- it can be a slippery slope 1 aspects are balanced and Jdered. F or years, th the environ locked in a b can support, and it seems that the environment scored a minor victory recently in Congress. The Environ- mental Protec- tion Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Admin- istration have finalized their plan fuel-efficiency stan the United States t gallon by 2025. Thi has been in the mak and comes on the h Barack Obama's pla county's dependenc while increasing eff on carbon emission now considered to 1 the EPA. The policy come global warming is b cult topic to ignore. tute of Technologyr areport warningthe could be underwat study shows that sh: arctica and Greenl faster than previot and sea levels could es in the next 40 ye Isabella Velicogna, report, this seeming will be disproport uted to low-lying ar that an average se of six inches across amount to several f like Bangladesh. An increase in perature may also increase in extrem we've experienced o ple years. The clim e economy and like a Red Bull for hurricanes and ment have been droughts, whose intensities have battle for Ameri- increased dramatically in recent years. Though the research linking extreme weather events and global warming is still ongoing, the trend is undeniable in the eyes of many envi- ronmentalists. With an expected annual cost of $200 billion to repair the damages done by these disas- ters, it's clear that any effort made JOE to alleviate the global warming issue has the potential to not only save SUGIYAMA the planet, but actually be a fiscally responsible undertaking. A clear-cut wayto keep our planet to increase the cool is to decrease our carbon foot- dards for cars in print, and a large contribution to o 54.5 miles per that footprint is the exhaust from s announcement our tailpipes. If the 54.5 mpg goal ing for some time is achieved, it has the potential to eels of President decrease oil consumption by 2.2 n to decrease the million gallons of oil and 43 million ce on foreign oil pounds of carbon emissions per day. forts to cut down Though vehicle emissions are only a ns - which are small part of a larger problem, you be a pollutant by have to start somewhere. This legislation seems like a slam s at a time when dunk by the EPA - right? Not if you becoming a diffi- ask auto industry representatives. California Insti- This policy would force companies recently released that don't want to face fines from the at coastal regions EPA into making cars that may be er by 2050. The above their means. The policy would eets of ice in Ant- force companies to convert much of and are melting their fleet into hybrid vehicles that usly anticipated, - according to a Nov. 28 Wall Street rise by six inch- Journal article - have seen a recent ars. According to decline in sales. Hybrid vehicles co-author of the account for a lowly 3 percent of the ly small increase market, but if auto companies wish ionately distrib- to meet the new EPA standards, reas. This means about 25 percent of their fleet must a-level increase be converted. the globe could This could spell disaster for auto eet for countries companies on two fronts. The first being that it's expensive to make the global tem- hybrid vehicles compared to the account for the standard vehicles of today. In case ne weather that you haven't noticed, the American ver the pastcou auto makers aren't exactly flush hate change acts with capital at the moment. The second problem is that consumers aren't chomping at the bit to drive these expensive, fuel-efficient cars, and trying to sell 25 percent of your merchandise to a consumer base of 3 percent isn't exactly good for busi- ness. Not to say that these numbers won't change over time - as con- sumers' options may become more limited due to an inevitable influx of hybrids on the market - but right now it seems like a big blow to car makers. EPA mandate could hurt automakers. 4 Despite rivalry, 'U' fans must remain respectful TO THE DAILY: As a graduate student and avid Michigan fan, I feel saddened but compelled to write about the behavior of some University stu- dents at last Saturday's football game. Uni- versity's students were heckling, screaming profanities incessantly and cheering when the Ohio State University players were injured on the field. Furthermore, I brought my wife-to-be (an OSU graduate) to the game and witnessed her getting pushed by one University student fan after the game with- out any provocation. I understand that this is a huge rivalry, but it is also unacceptable and extremely disrespectful. If any of us experienced this treatment in Columbus, we would imme- diately castigate the entire OSU commu- nity. We should hold ourselves to a higher standard, and let our academic and athletic achievements speak for themselves. We are, after all, Michigan. Srinivas Parinandi Ph.D. student This policy won't just hurt the 4 auto industry, it will affect consum- ers as well. The price of a new car will increase by an estimated $3,100 - making it much harder for low- income households to afford. So, once again, the line in the sand has been drawn between the envi- ronment and the economy with no clear way to please both sides. The key factor in this debate will come down to the consumer. American consumers have the power to ease the worries of auto companies by stepping up and buying hybrids. A boost in sales could help to ensure the 54.5 mpg goal is met on schedule without jeopardizing the American auto industry's future. If consumers remain content with their less effi-4 cient vehicles, auto makers will be stuck with a surplus of cars no one wants and will have to struggle to stay out of the red. The culmination of this argument is simple: Uncle Sam wants YOU to drive a hybrid. - Joe Sugiyama can be reached at jmsugi@umich.edu. 0 A