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4A - Thursday, February 16, 2012

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com


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ASHLEY GRIESSHAMMER
JOSEPH LICHTERMAN and ANDREW WEINER JOSH HEALY
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 illustratiois represent solely the views of their authors.
Imran Syed is the public editor. He can be reached at publiceditor@michigandaily.com.
Vending away stigma
Women benefit from easier Plan B distribution
Contrary to what campus tour guides may lead parents to
believe, college students do in fact have sex. Because of this
unsurprising truth, it's extremely important for colleges to
ensure that they provide students, especially women, with adequate
resources to help prevent unwanted or unplanned pregnancies. In the
event a woman finds herself unfortunately in need of Plan B, an oral
contraceptive that can be taken after sex, colleges such as Shippens-
burg University of Pennsylvania provide a much needed and appreci-
ated service: selling the emergency contraceptive in a vending machine
located inside the school's health clinic. Even if it helps a minority of
students, removing the embarrassment or negative stigma that sur-
rounds obtaining emergency contraception is a valuable cause.

Golden exper

y last column, "Numbers
can Lie," recommend-
ed listening to experts
whenever one
is confused by
economic data.
But, this isn't
restricted to eco-
nomic data. It's
common sense to
observe experts'
opinions and
defer to experts MATTHEW
whenever they ZABKA
express unani-
mous consent on
an issue.
People heed this common sense
in most subjects. For example,
physicists have unanimously dis-
credited truthers' claims that some-
thing other than airplanes brought
down the Twin Towers. Docu-
ment experts, even conservative
Fox News document experts, have
debunked birthers' claims that Pres-
ident Barack Obama's birth certifi-
cate had been forged. Even though
most people don't understand the
exact physics behind the Towers'
collapse or the intricacies of legal
documents, rational people trust
experts, and truthers and birthers
are thus regarded as more interested
in personal vendettas than facts.
While discussions that challenge
physicists and document experts
are mostly confined to conspiracy
theorists' chat rooms, discussions
that challenge economists are gain-
ing a greater say in policy discus-
sions. An example of this is the
discussions about reintroducing
the gold standard.
A bit of background: The gold
standard is a monetary system in
which a country either uses gold as
currency or agrees to sell gold for a
fixed amount of a circulating cur-
rency, which effectively pegs a cur-
rency to the price of gold. If markets,
instead of gold, determine a curren-
cy's value, the currency is said to be
a fiat currency.
For most of history, nations have
either used a gold or silver standard.
After the Second World War, West-
ern nations decided to peg their

exchange rates to the U.S. dollar,
which was pegged to gold. This cre-
ated a gold standard for most of the
Western world. In 1971, the United
States ended the dollar's peg to gold
and instead floated its currency on
the market. As a result, the Western
world's gold standard ended, and
most Western nations adopted fiat
currencies. Since 1971, the dollar's
value has been determined the same.
way a bicycle's value is determined:
by the free market.
Now some politicians, presiden-
tial candidate Ron Paul in particular,
want to reintroduce the gold stan-
dard. These gold standard propo-
nents present several arguments in
favor of the gold standard.
For example, if a government
prints too much money it leads to
inflation. Since a currency pegged to
gold must maintain a certain value,
a gold standard limits the amount of
currency that may be printed. Thus
proponents see the gold standard as
an effective way to limit inflation.
Some also note that a gold standard
leads to stability in exchange rates
between nations using a gold stan-
dard and claim this stabijity is good
for the economy. They further claim
a gold standard can limit the amount
of debt a country may issue, which
would act as a barrier to deficit
spending.
opponents of a gold standard,
on the other hand, note that peg-
ging a currency to gold or anything
else limits the monetary policies a
nation's central bank can take. They
point to Greece as a good example of
currency pegging gone wrong.
Greece is entering its fifth year of
recession. Were Greece still using
the drachma, its central bank could
take measures to devalue the cur-
rency. A cheaper currency would
lead to increased Greek exports,
which would help bring Greece out
of recession.
But Greece adopted the Euro in
2001, which effectively pegged its
currency to that of other euro zone
nations. By doing so, Greece surren-
dered its ability to control monetary
policies to the European Central
Bank. This currency peg is part of

tise
the reason why Greece's recession
has continued, with an unemploy-
ment rate of nearly 20 percent and
massive cuts to public services that
are hurting the average Greek..
With both sides of the gold stan-
dard discussion presenting interest-
ing, albeit complicated, arguments,
it's important to consider experts'
opinions regarding the gold stan-
dard. The University of Chicago
Booth School of Business regularly
polls 40 economists from top uni-
versities on economic questions.
The poll's creators have chosen
economists from across the political
spectrum to include a wide range of
political theories.
Why trust
chemists but
not economists?
One recent poll asked the econo-
mists to evaluate the following
statement: "If the U.S. replaced
its discretionary monetary policy
regime with a gold standard, defin-
ing a 'dollar' as a specific number of
ounces of gold, the price-stability
and employment outcomes would be
better for the average American."
Every single economist polled
either disagreed with the state-
ment or strongly disagreed. That is,
experts agree that reinstating the
gold standard is a horrible idea. But
despite economists' uniform oppo-
sition, a reintroduction of the gold
standard is still being discussed.
Today, any attempt to turn coal
into gold would be seen as a little
silly, because society respects chem-
ists' opinions that such an attempt
won't work. Perhaps in time econo-
mists' opinions will receive equal
recognition.
- Matthew Zabka can be reached at
msbka@umich.edu. Follow him on
Twitter at @hlMatthewZabka.

Shippensburg has been selling Plan B along
with decongestants, condoms and pregnancy
tests for two years in a vending machine inside
the school's health center. Recently, the vend-
ing machine has attracted national media
attention as critics expressed concern that
individuals under the age of 17 might be pur-
chasing Plan B in violation of a recent Obama
administration decision requiring prescrip-
tions for young adults to buy the pill. People
who enter the health clinic must sign in to
ensure they're a student, and Shippensburg
says all its students meet the age requirement.
Shippensburg has decided to keep the machine
for the time being, but has invited the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration to investigate.
There's a certain stigma attached to buy-
ing Plan B - the necessity of emergency
contraception is viewed by some as irrespon-
sible or negligent. However, the need for
using Plan Bisn't always within a woman's
control. If contraceptives fail or a woman is
forced into sex, she is unfairly left with the
burden, and possibly shame, of an unwanted
pregnancy. In such instances, access to Plan
B can be important to preserve the woman's
mental and physical health. Providing this.
contraceptive in a vending machine in a more
private setting lessens the interactions nec-
essary to obtain it. This simple fact could be a
deciding factor for a woman to obtain Plan B.
The vending machine also sells Plan B at
a cheaper price than most pharmacies. Set at
the cost that the university pays to the phar-

maceutical company, Plan B is offered for
$25. At the University of Michigan's Univer-
sity Health Services, it costs $40. Arguments
that cheaper prices will encourage youth to
have unprotected sex are irrational. Instead,
it makes it more economical if a woman
requires emergency contraceptives.
While vending machines may have a casu-
al and unprofessional connotation, perhaps
a reason for the sudden media attention, a
vending machine placed in a university's
health clinic is appropriate. It provides pri-
vacy that many women desire when dealing
with matters of reproductive health. The
vending machine has been in place for two
years with generally favorable reception.
Eight-five percent of Shippensburg students
support this idea according to a university-
wide survey. Shippensburg should be com-
mended for listening to its students and
subsequently providing Plan B in a conve-
nient and safe manner. If this is a service that
students desire and use responsibly, Ship-
pensburg should continue providing it.
Having to take Plan B isn't the ideal situ-
ation. For many women, it's embarrassing,
costly and, most importantly, a last resort. In
a time when women are already in a stressful
situation, any option that makes this process
easier should be explored by all colleges. If
this vending machine makes the decision to
obtain emergency contraception less stress-
ful for just one woman, it serves a critical
purpose.

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS:
Aida Ali, Laura Argintar, Kaan Avdan, Ashley Griesshammer, Nirbhay Jain, Jesse Klein,
Patrick Maillet, Erika Mayer, Harsha Nahata, Harsha Panduranga, Timothy Rabb, Adrienne Roberts, Vanessa
Rychlinski, Sarah Skaluba, Seth Soderborg, Caroline Syms, Andrew Weiner
Utilize for-profit tactics

0

ADITYA SATHI|
Contilue (M)Forward

For the past two Central Student Govern-
ment presidential elections, members of MFor-
ward have been grateful for the confidence that
students have placed in their candidates. Just
a few weeks ago, I was honored and humbled
to receive the MForward nomination for CSG
president. After careful consideration, I'm
proud to announce that I have selected Louis
Mirante as my CSG running mate. Louis has
an extensive history of achievement in student
government, and I am confident he brings the
experience and skills necessary to serve as vice
president. This March, MForward is again ask-
ing for your trust and your support.
This past year, other MForward members
and I worked diligently with the Student,
Association of Michigan (SAM) to lobby for
higher education- funding from the state.
While the previous budget was marked with
a $58 million decrease in funding for the Uni-
versity, due to the collaboration of CSG, SAM
and the President's Council, Governor Rick
Snyder recently proposed a 3-percent increase
in funding for education. Members of MFor-
ward strongly believe that the most effective
way to keep the University affordable is to
ensure adequate state support. Sadly, Michi-
gan currently has one of the worst records for
supporting education, but we know it doesn't
have to be that way. We recognize the work
cannot stop now, and the relationships that
we built with the state government cannot be
lost. This is why MForward is proposing the
creation of a permanent CSG executive posi-
tion that would act as a government relations
officer. This position would not only continue
our lobbying efforts for education, but also
actively work to increase those efforts as well.
MForward is also working on a medical
amnesty policy that would protect students
from receiving Minor in Possession of alco-
hol charges when calling for help for friends
who need treatment due to alcohol poison-
ing. Under state law, a student who calls
for an intoxicated friend is also in danger of
receiving legal punishment if they have been
drinking. A medical amnesty law would not
only incentivize the request for help, but also

would, best of all, help save the lives of stu-
dents in danger.
But, MForward isn't confined to only these
issues. Our focus has been and always will be
this campus and how to make everyday life
better for students. This year, we are looking
at ways to reorganize the Student Organiza-
tion Account Services, as well as improve stu-
dent organization funding, in order to make
it easier for student groups to finance their
events and ideas. In addition, we will work
with other organizations to implement a bike
share program on campus that would allow
students greater convenience for getting
across campus. Most importantly, though,
we'll work to rebuild and expand the What to
Fix (WTF) campaign to ensure that student
government is addressing issues that you, as
students, want to see addressed.
We remain today because we are the same
party we were founded as. We remain today
because we are the only party solely focused
on the interests of students and being an advo-
cate for those needs, not swayed by national
politics or causes that take us away from that
focus. Our success is driven by our dedication
and hard work, our belief in representative
diversity and transparency in governing, as
well as our never-ending commitment to all of
these values. We remain because although we
have had success, MForward is determined
to continually work for the betterment of stu-
dents here at the University of Michigan.
MForward is about results for students and
nothing less. We have no desire for meaning-
less rhetoric. We emphasize collaboration
over combativeness and innovation over idle-
ness because this has been the proven path to
working with the administration and achiev-
ing real results. MForward will never lose
sight of its role as the advocate for students.
This March, we hope that you will continue
your support for MForward, so MForward
can continue working for you.
Aditya Sathi is an LSA junior. He is the
MForward presidential candidate and the
vice speaker of the Student Assembly.

T his past weekend, I, along
with members of my fra-
ternity, Phi Sigma Pi, trav-
eled to Detroit.
We were vol-
unteering with
the non-profit
organization
Blight Busters."
Wanting to cre-
ate a more posi-
tive community JASON
for his children,
John George PANG JAO
founded Blight
Busters 18 years
ago to revive communities in North-
west Detroit by demolishing dilapi-
dated buildings and building new
houses and community centers.
Today, Blight Busters has worked
with more than 120,000 volunteers
to create millions of dollars worth of
homes and facilities. They have even
collaborated with The White House
Fellows - a program of fellowships
to senior White House staff - on
renovation projects in Detroit and
have been recognized by President
Barack Obama.
Non-profit organizations like
Blight Busters exist everywhere. At
the University of Michigan alone,
there are numerous outstanding
examples of quality non-profits.
These include GlobeMed, Habitat
for Humanity and Students for Edu-
cational Equality. You may have
worked on numerous service proj-
ects in school. You may even work to
create your own non-profit organi-
zation in college or after graduation.
But how does someone take his or
her passion and turn it into a viable
solution for the societal issues we
face? We turn to the experts in the
industry for some insights.
I fortunately had the opportu-
nity to chat with George. An ener-
getic and kind-hearted man, George
spoke to me about his experience
building Blight Busters.
"I started the organization for
my children so that they can grow
up in a community without all the
negative things surrounding them,"
George said. "We certainly face(d)
challenges at first, like raising dol-

lars and keeping volunteers moti-
vated."
George went on to explain that his
organization motivates volunteers
by giving them a holistic view of the
communities they work for, provid-
ing fulfilling and hands-on projects
and, after completion of the projects,
showing volunteers the .tangible
impacts they made.
"We believe if we keep showing
the good will and provide visible
results such as the increase in home
ownership and local businesses, the
volunteers will be driven and feel a
strong connection with what they
are doing."
George added that his organiza-
tion has collaborated with a number
of organizations at the University and
is actively recruiting for volunteers.
In addition to having a strong,
motivated team, non-profits also
depend on the same organizational,
technological and financial infra-
structure that serves as the foun-
dation of for-profit organizations.
Apple, whose stock topped $500 this
week, is a good example.
Its late CEO, Steve Jobs, proposed
that managers should take owner-
ship in the.creative process and not
rely on the people who you set out
to help and serve. Henry Ford once
said, "If Ihad asked people what they
wanted, they would have said faster
horses." Another example would be
Zara, the Spanish clothing retailer.
The company's store specialists use
PDAs and other electronic devices'
to communicate directly with Zara's
supply chain and designers. This
allows them to report changes in
consumer taste on a real-time basis,
providing Zara with a powerful
competitive advantage.
Financially, non-profit organi-
zations aren't as concerned about
profit figures like return on invest-
ment and pre-tax income. Instead,
they focus on fulfilling their orga-
nizational missions - demolishing
old buildings or making Detroit into
a better city. Having acknowledged
their focus, managers of non-profits
should then create sets of financial
statements that help them make
decisions. On creating financial

statements, I recommend reading
Part IV of the article "How to Ana-
lyze Non-profit Financial Perfor-
mance" by Harvard University Prof.
Peter Frumkin.
Non-profits
should measure
growth, efficieny.
With financial information, man-
agers should then set objectives
and goals for their organizations.
Metrics for measuring performance *
vary for non-profits with different
charitable missions but each involve
measurements of absolute and rela-
tive effectiveness, efficiency, growth
and liquidity. Take tree planning as
an example. Managers are interest-
ed in how many trees they planted
(absolute effectiveness), how they
are performing with respect to peers
with similar size and mission (rela-
tive effectiveness), how much time it
takes to plant a tree (efficiency), how
many more trees and how much fast-
er they can plant trees this year com-
pared to previous years (growth)
and how well the non-profit can pay
back its debt obligation and afford
mandatory expenses like rent and
wages (liquidity).
Managing a non-profit organiza-
tion can be as challenging as man-
aging any for-profit company. It's
vital that managers of non-profits
know how to motivate their per-
sonnel and volunteers, create a
sustainable organizational and
technological infrastructure and
use financial information to help
set goals and evaluate performance.
There is a plethora of resources
available that you can use to help
your cause.
If your organization would like
to volunteer for Blight Busters, call
(313) 255-4355.
- Jason Pang Jao can be
reached at pangjao@umich.edu.

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