4- Friday April 6, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 4- Fida Aprl 6 202 Th Mihign Daly mihigadaiyco Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com 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 illustrations represent solely the views of their authors. Imran Syed is the public editor. He can be reached at publiceditor@michigandaily.com. Stripping rights Supreme court decision puts detainees at risk ichigan is currently one of four states spending more on prisons and corrections than on education. Now, thanks to a U.S. Supreme Court decision, Michigan's return on investment in those incarcerated will increase, by means of greater access to detainee's physiques. In a 5-4 decision earlier this week, the Supreme Court upheld jailer's rights to subject any incoming detain- ees to full body cavity strip searches without probable cause. The strip searches, legitimized without warranted suspicions, are a violation of fourth amendment rights and detainees' dignity, and have proven to be unnecessary to keep contraband out of prison systems. Take care of each other A s graduation approaches, it's sociologist Robert N. Bellah writes, time we talked about people, "therapy was probably more a sup- not just institutions. If we port for those placed under unprec- want to make a edented psychic demands than a difference in the cure for new mental ills." Inthe same world, we'd bet- way, the development of such pro- ter understand gramming can offer vital aid, but it's how everything a symptom of a troubled society that - from schools pits us against each other while doing to states to cor- less and less to prepare us for what porations - is . . matters most. organized. But It's no surprise that America's top- remember: they JOEL grossing movie imagines a future don't organize BATTERMAN nation whose youth are forced to themselves. Peo- fight to the death. In 1993, when the ple have priority. USSR was still within recent mem- You can live without the University ory, Lois Lowry's "The Giver" could - it can't live without you and tens of still warn of a vaguely socialistdysto- thousands of other individuals. That pia where apparent harmony masked means that whatever institutions underlying tyranny. "The Hunger throw at us - finals, for instance - Games" series may be the young- we need to take care of each other as adult nightmare more suited to a people, first. time when open, cutthroat competi- I confess, I haven't always excelled tion is the global norm. at this. I'm coming off almost two I'm careful to say "taking care straight decades of formal schooling, of each other," not just ourselves, which I've mostly loved, but some- because while we need to do both, times to the point of abuse. Binging proposed solutions to the latter can on course overloads never seemed reinforce the radical individualism to end well, and lately I've benefited that created the problem in the first from spending more time with living place. Therapeutic calls to "self- people in addition to the folks in my care," and more New Agey advice books. to simply "be," may be helpful more My addiction to institutional often than not. But neither usually structures may have been more offers more than personalized rem- extreme than most, but it's not edies to societal discontents. unique. Our culture of global compe- The most fulfilling action we can tition and technological miracles is take may involve joining commit- great at plenty of things, but teaching ments to particular people with a us to take care of each other isn't one broader social purpose. Last week- of them. Our generation, most of all, end, other students and I met with bears witness to the crowding out of longtime area residents who grew up the human connections that are our in the place we now call Kerrytown, species' greatest need. but which used to be Ann Arbor's Over the past 25 years, U.S. stu- black neighborhood before gentrifi- dents' emotional health has steadily cation in the 1980s. I've studied seg- declined even as campus counseling regation and metropolitan inequality services and administered "student for a few years now, but hearing these life" programs have expanded. As ladies' stories, and considering my own part in that history, gave more meaning to things I've known mostly as abstractions. For all the talk about people as rational actors, we remain creatures of feeling as well as reason. This is why people-scaled institu- tions, such as Ann Arbor's student housing co-ops, hold so much prom- ise, and why those of us attached to particular communities can often make more change than those who mostly stay within the Beltway, or, for that matter, Ann Arbor's own lit- tle freewayloop. Spend time with living folks in addition to books. 6 6 The plaintiff in the case, Albert Florence of New Jersey, was pulled over while en route to a family celebration. Police sawa warrant was out for his arrest for an unpaid traffic ticket. Florence had in fact already paid the fine and even carried proof that the warrant had been rescinded, but he was arrested nonetheless. Florence had not been convicted of any crime at the time of the incident, nor was there reason to suspect he was hiding any contra- band. Yet, he was then taken to county jail where the jailers conducted a cavity search. He was transferred to another jail, where he was subject to a second strip search. Florence's charges were eventually dropped, and he then filed suit against the jails for violation of his Fourth Amendment rights against unreason- able searches and seizure. Justice Anthony Kennedy, often the swing vote between the court's four conservative and four liberal justices, cast his vote touphold cor- rectional officials' rightto subject any detainee to strip searches without probable cause. In Kennedy's written opinion, he argued that the randomness of strip searches - regardless of reasonable suspicion -was used as an effective deterrent for inmates or detain- ees against smugglingcontraband into prisons. Limiting strip searches to only criminals con- victed of violent or drug related crimes would give criminals a loophole to bring weapons or drugs into prisons. Kennedy also argues that the seriousness of an offense is a poor indicator of whether a detainee is hiding contraband. Therefore, he says, requiring probable cause shouldn't restrict strip searches. This logic is paranoid and further criminalizes people who should be working toward rehabilitation. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote the dissent- ing opinion. He argued that in the records of a county jail, out of 75,000 inmates that were strip searched, three were hiding contraband detectable only througha strip search. Of those three detainees, all of them had drug or felony history that would have given probable cause for the use of a strip search. The Supreme Court was wrong in its deci- sion to uphold strip searches without probable cause. Cavity searches should be limited only to people rightly suspected of carrying con- traband. The safety of the prisons can still be assure as records continue to show that jailers almost always have probable cause for detain- ees more likely to smuggle drugs. Americans' Fourth Amendment rights must be taken seri- ously, especially in an increasingly violent and crowded corrections system. It's not always easy to toe the line between public and strictly person- al interests, or what one of former Detroit Mayor Coleman Young's left-leaning mentors termed "the class struggle" and "the ass strug- gle." Yet, we owe it to ourselves to take care of each other on scales both large and small, whether it's with a friend over coffee or with crowds on the Capitol steps. To have hope of transforming our institutions, we first need to sustain ourselves as people against all the pressures they place on our souls. Our age needs more of the "creative- ly maladjusted," in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and we also need each other for the strength to take on the world as it is. -Joel Batterman can be reached at jomba@umich.edu. FOLLOW DAILY OPINION ON TWITTER Keep up with columnists, read Daily editorials, view cartoons and join in the debate. Check out @michdailyoped to get updates on Daily opinion content throughout the day. Life lessons from oIommates 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 AHMED HASAN Boycott, Divest and Sanctions As we write this piece, more than 5,300 Pal- estinians are imprisoned in Israeli jails. Zero Israelis are imprisoned in Palestinian jails. A total of 24,813 Palestinian homes have been demolished by Israel since 1967. Zero Israeli homes have been demolished by Palestinians since then.' Some 172 Jewish-only settlements and 101 "outposts" have been erected on confis- cated Palestinian land. Zero Palestinian settle- ments exist on any Israeli land. These facts and many like them make clear that what is happen- ing in Israel and the Palestinian territories is not simply a "conflict." It's a decades-long colo- nial campaign led by the Israeli military that aims to disenfranchise the indigenous race and to purify the land of non-Jews by implementing an apartheid system. MichiganBDS is a new student organization that is dedicated to the philosophythat students have the power to help end apartheid in Israel and the Palestinian territories. This power is derived from our ability to hold our University accountable for its complicit role in injustice: Our Universityinvests in corporations -such as weapons manufacturers Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, among many others - that profit off the injustices in the Middle East. Our initiative does this by bringing together a diverse group of student activists dedicated to responding to the 2005 global call by Palestinian civil society for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions. BDS is defined by a rights-based approach that aims to launch broad boycotts, implement divestment initiatives and demand sanctions against the Israeli government until it meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people's inalien- able right to self-determination and until it meets its obligations by: 1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands occupied in June 1967 and dis- mantling the wall separating the Palestinian territories. 2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality. 3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Reso- lution 194. MichiganBDS is not concerned with imple- menting a particular state solution to the Israe- li-Palestinian impasse. We are rights activists who focus on pressuring the Israeli and Ameri- can governments - since America gives $8 mil- lion per day in military aid to Israel - to end racist practices that deny the rights of Palestin- ian refugees, of Palestinians in Israel proper and of Palestinians in the occupied territories. For example, Jewish-only roads and illegal Israeli checkpoints are located throughout the West Bank - restricting Palestinian movement and freedom. Humiliated, Palestinians must routinely wait hours for access through these checkpoints as they attempt to live their daily lives. Furthermore, Palestinians within Israel are treated as second-class citizens. Israel has more than 30 main laws that both directly and indirectly discriminate against their Palestin- ian citizens. One law passed explicitly outlaws citizenship to non-Israeli non-Jews who marry Jews. These realities are too reminiscent of the institutionalized racism that existed in South Africa, the United States and elsewhere in the world not too long ago. The inspiration for BDS as atool for resisting the racist policies of the Israeli state comesfrom the victory of the South African anti-apartheid movement's boycott call, which pressured firms that profited from the South African apartheid regime. The movement empowered masses in the United States and elsewhere to demand that institutions boycott the apartheid regime. University students were at the forefront of that struggle and have long been committed to divestment as a legitimate method for ensuring that our University is not complicit in injus- tice. In 1978, a group of students successfully convinced the Board of Regents to withdraw its deposits from and discontinue purchasing short-term money market instruments from banks who dealt with the racist South African regime. This momentous success gives us hope that one day the University will divest from the racist practices of the Israeli government as well. MichiganBDS invites all students to join us in demanding the University not serve as an accomplice to apartheid in Israel. Our Univer- sity needs to divest from companies that profit off selling equipment to the Israeli government that is used to oppress Palestinians. We have a moral obligation to demand that our University divests from socially irresponsible companies. MichiganBDS will work tirelessly to make that happen. Ahmed Hasan is an LSA senior. ne bearded professor, 120 credits and countless lec- tures have definitely taught me a lot during my four years at the University. And while I've accumulated immense knowl- edge through my studies, I would argue that some of the most LEAH valuable lessons POTKIN learned as a col- lege student are those stemming from the ups and downs of living with roommates. During my time in Ann Arbor, I lived in a quad (turned triple) in Oxford, a sorority house with 50 girls and then a house with six girls - a com- pilation conducive to encountering a variety of disagreements growing into learning experiences, which ultimately helped me grow and learn more about others and myself. So, for anyone who ever has or ever will live with roommates, I've compiled a short list, in no particular order, of some of the most essential lessons I've learned over these years, some- times at the price of friendships - and sanity. 1. Never eat your roommate's food without their permission. While it may have been OK to raid your friends' refrigerators in high school, tables turn when Mom and Dad aren't restocking them on an as-needed basis. If what your roommate is eating looks good, feel free to ask to try it, but never take it without asking - ever. And if a late-night study session or an alcohol-induced, momentary lapse in judgment leads you to steal some grub, be sure to tell your roommate, apologize and replace said food within one business day. 2. Deleting your roommate'sfavor- ite showfrom the DVR is never okay. Sure nearly all television shows can now be easily found on the Internet, but sometimes the lapse in time between a new episode airing and it being posted online is simply too long. So, never assume that your roommate has already watched his or her recorded show. If you need space on the DVR, be sure to ask all roommates - e-mails work well for large groups - before even thinking about hitting the delete button. And remember, just because an episode is old does not mean it is up for dele- tion - some people take comfort in knowing their favorite episode of "Friends" is only a click away. 3. Always clean up after yourself Though it sounds obvious enough, this piece of advice is vital. Because having a roommate involves shar- ing space, it's essential that people respect their roommates' space and clean up after themselves. This concept may be alien to some who are used to having someone pick up after them at home or whose parents tolerated unkempt rooms through- out their childhood. When observed by all roommates, this tip can help roommates and housemates avoid potential fights and confrontations, and maintain a happy and healthy household. Remember, there are just as many neat freaks as there are slobs out there. 4. Know your roommates' sched- ules. This is a big one, as it refers to everything from sleep schedules and class schedules to eating sched- ules and shower schedules. After all, there never are enough bathrooms. The more you know the better off you are. But most importantly, never interrupt a roommate mid-REM sleep cycle, as this can cause pro- longed grumpiness and aggravation. Not to mention it's always good to know when the stove or shower will be in use to keep your own schedule on track. 5. If your roommate is sick, take precaution - you will get sick too. I wish this weren't the case, buta sick roommate always almost means a sick house. Take precaution: Lysol all surfaces, open windows to get fresh air, use a new toothbrush and keep hand sanitizer within a one foot radius at all times. If these tac- tics don't work, resort to mask wear- ing and quarantine. Such extreme measures might be necessary to avoid keeping a virus circulating among roommates for weeks or even months. A variety of disagreements helped me grow. 6. Learn to compromise. When all's said and done, this is by far the most important thing to remember. Learning to share space is never easy, especially considering everyone has his or her own idea of what defines a suitable living envi- ronment. So, when the garbage is overflowing or your roommate's stuff is on your side of the room, take one for the team and fix it yourself. If the problem persists, talk to your room- 0 mate about the issue and find a way to compromise that works for both of you. Bottom line: Failing to compro- mise is a sure fire way to lose friends. All in all, living with roommates is a great learning experience and makes college all the more fun. How- ever, sharing space with people is bound to cause problems now and again, and it's important that stu- dents understand how they can best deal with these situations and ulti- mately how they can learn to bet- ter deal with people in the process. Though not a textbook-defined skill, the ability to interact with others to resolve differences and maintain friendships is one of the most impor- tant skills students can learn while attending the University and will stay with them long after the names of 18th century English poets are long forgotten. So remember, asking is always bet- ter than taking, waking people up is never OK and, if all else fails, at least always remember to lock the front door. - Leah Potkin can be reached at lpotkin@umich.edu. CONTRIBUTE TO THE COVERSATION Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor and viewpoints. Letters should be fewer than 300 words while viewpoints should be 550-850 words. Both must include the writer's full name and University affiliation. Send submissions to tothedaily@michigandaily.com.