4A - Monday, September 17, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 4A - Monday, September17, 2012 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 TIMOTHY RABB JOSEPH LICHTERMAN and ADRIENNE ROBERTS ANDREW WEINER 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. Unhealthily intrusive Smoking bans only further stigmitize smokers More than a year after becoming a smoke-free cam- pus, the University has come to be a poster child for national tobacco-free programs. On Wednes- day, Howard Koh, the assistant secretary for health at the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, used the Univer- sity as the site to officially launch the nationwide Tobacco- Free College Campus Initiative. While the initiative may have healthy intentions, a widespread smoking ban does not pro- mote the tolerance expected from a college campus. Smok- ing is a personal choice, and universities shouldn't attempt to intrude so much into students' privacy. We never have the elite, smart people on our side." - Former presidential candidate Rick Santorum said in a speech Saturday at the Values Voters Summit, according to CBS News. Is ignorance really bliss.? The nationwide Tobacco-Free College Campus Initiative aims to increase the num- ber of smoke-free campuses. Currently 17 colleges are smoke-free, including the Uni- versity. Since July 1, 2011, all of the Univer- sity's campuses - Dearborn, Flint and Ann Arbor - have been smoke-free. Under the ban, members of the community are forbid- den to light a cigarette on University prop- erty, including outside associated buildings. The smoke-free policy relies on students and faculty informing the office of Student and Conflict Resolution when they encounter someone who isn't complying with the ban. This approach is unenforceable at its core. More than a year after the ban, students, staff and other members of the community still remain confused about whom they should consult when they see someone smoking. Even if they are aware of the office, many may be reluctant to file a complaint, either feeling uncomfortable 'tattling' on another campus member or not wanting to bother with the paperwork. Other universities adopting a; smoking ban will likely encounter this prob- lem of enforceability when drafting their own policies. Instead of turning toward an all-out ban, universities across the country should look for other ways to encourage students to quit the unhealthy habit. From offering free nico- tine patches and gum to providing counseling services that help smokers kick the habit, the University has taken positive steps to sup- port smokers quitting at their own pace. If colleges across the country want to protect the health of students and faculty, admin- istrations should ensure that anti-smoking resources are provided and publicized to the university's community. Education and sup- port are the best ways to help addicts - not unenforceable punishment. "Treating smokers with respect is impor- tant in breaking the cycle of behavior," said Dr. Robert Winfield, director of University Health Service. Yet respect is the last thing smokers receive under these campus-wide smoking bans. Universities should be mod- els of tolerance, but policies that encourage chastising stigmatized behavior do anything but foster such an environment. Koh, speaking on campus on Sep. 12, said the University should be applauded for "Instilling an anti-tobacco culture," While this maybe true, a smoking ban promotes dis- crimination against people who smoke, rath- er than promoting a culture willing to help people quit. Tolerance should be the norm in a university setting and a smoking ban will only go up in smoke. Sam looked to his left, then to his right, making sure none of his fellow party members were around to hear what he was about to say. He knew, just as well as I did,that if anyone heard him, the conse- quences would be dire not only PATRICK for himself, but MAILLET also for his wife and his newborn daughter. "I just wish we had real elections like you," he said, in perfect pronuncia- tion, almost like he had practiced the phrase in front of a mirror, "I am tired of not having a voice." The conversation took place approximately three and a half months ago while I was living in China for the summer. For the first month of my stay, I lived in the southern city of Hangzhou teach- ing English to high school students throughout the Zhejiang Province. Part of my job was traveling to vari- ous schools with English-speaking Chinese teachers who would help translate certain parts of my pre- sentation. Sam was one of my bilin- gual coworkers. Sam and I would travel throughout the province, practicing Chinese and English along the way. His English was phenomenally better than my Chi- nese, along with his understanding of American culture. In particular, Sam was fascinated by American politics. No matter what the topic, he would always somehow steer back to talking about President Obama or the 2012 election. When he told me his desperation for a "voice," I understood what he was referencing. China is having an election this year. This election will take place at the end of October and will mark the end of President Hu Jintao's ten-year-term. China's election is very different compared to what we're used to in the United States. Onlymembers of the Chinese Communist Party are able to vote, a group that is more than 80 million people strong. While that may seem like a lot, remember that China's population is close to 1.4 billion people, so only about .06 percent of the population can vote. Also, the term "vote" is used very loosely. Their "choice" is whether or not they support the single candidate, Xi Jinping, to be the next leader. If they choose "no," their party mem- bership will almost immediately be revoked and there's a decent chance that they and their familycould lose their jobs or even be detained. Sam has been a party member for five years. He said he applied to bea member because it offered his fam- ily more opportunity. So when he said those fateful words about his desperation for the right to free and fair elections, I could do nothing but sit back, shocked and speechless. I hadn't asked him for his opinion on our elections, nor had I even asked him what the election process in China was like. Sam was just des- perate to get these radical feelings off of his chest, and a 20-year-old American kid who obviously didn't know enough of the Chinese lan- guage to rat him out was the perfect person to express them to. Like China, the U.S. is in an elec- tion year, but ours isn't clouded by repression or a lack of choice. Regardless of how flawed one may think our political system is, I promise you that it could be much worse. Unlike hundreds ;of mil- lions of people around the world, we Americans have an inalienable right to make our voices heard and to single-handedly affect the way our lives are governed. All too often I hear my friends say that they are not going to vote this year because they don't know enough about the election, don't think that their vote will actually make a difference, or my personal favorite, they believe no matter who wins, everything in D.C. will stay relatively the same. Some of the people who tell me this are extremely involved citizens who are passionate about social issues, yet for some reason believe that their interests are unconnected to the presidential race. Our presi- dential race is between two agen- das that are more polarized than any election in recent decades. Unlike past elections, Americans throughout the country will be able to decide between two radically different men with two radically different approaches to solving our nation's problems. From women's reproductive rights to national security, virtually every element of American life is subject to change as a result of November's election. Unlike your fellow global citizens, you have a voice. Use it. Regardless of who you support, I implore you to take an interest in this upcoming election, especially those of us voting in Michigan, a toss-up state that will undoubt- edly help shape this election. Invest the three minutes that it takes to register to vote with any one of the countless volunteers who will be scattered throughout campus. Remember that unlike so many of your fellow global citizens, you have a voice. Sam's daughter will be turning two this spring. Perhaps by the time she turns 18, she will have the same extraordinary power we Americans possess, but odds are she won't. Remember that come Nov. 6. - Patrick Maillet can be reached at maillet@umich.edu. EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS: Kaan Avdan, Eli Cahan, Nirbhay Jain, Jesse Klein, Melanie Kruvelis, Patrick Maillet, Harsha Nahata, Timothy Rabb, Adrienne Roberts, Vanessa Rychlinski, Sarah Skaluba, Michael Spaeth, Caroline Syms CASSIE BASLER V Put the 'D'in difference This September, students are sure to see , visual and literary arts scene. As a historic images around campus tagged with the site for social change during the 1930s labor new phrase: the familiar block 'M' standing movement and the 1960s civil rights move- before a plus sign and a sleek, modern "D." ment, Detroit has claimed its stake as an The phrase "M+D" signifies a reciprocal, sus- important American city. Today, its educa- tainable relationship between the University tion system, political structure and financial of Michigan and Detroit. It also symbolizes state present challenges. But as Semester in an opportunity for students to begin a new Detroit students will come to learn through chapter in their education: an experiential their personal relationships, those challeng- semester living, learning and working in an es give way to triumphs, and the people of important American city. That opportunity is Detroit balance those extremes on a day-to- the Semester in Detroit program. day basis. Through site-specific courses and short- It might be hard to imagine what the future term studies, the University has established may hold for Detroit. Heck, it might even be formal connections to its hometown - the hard to imagine what this winter semester 'U' was founded in Detroit in 1817. However, may hold. But students should look ahead to Semester in Detroit offers arguably the most the winter and envision themselves engag- intimate undergraduate experience in Detroit, ing in hands-on learning while experiencing similar to a study abroad program. Semester positive change in a nearby city. in Detroit is the only 'U' program that allows With four successful winter semesters and students to become temporary residents of two enriching spring half-terms under its Midtown Detroit. While livingat Wayne State, belt, Semester in Detroit is one outstanding students take classes with faculty at the Uni- example of the University's continued com- versity of Michigan Detroit Center and work mitment to the city of Detroit. Students can with local non-profits, politicians and small help strengthen their own relationship to businesses on meaningful projects. Detroit and apply for the Semester in Detroit Some may wonder, "Why Detroit?" But Winter 2013 program. perhaps the question should be, "Why would Prospective students can learn more at students of a university at the cutting-edge of the SID Information Session on Thursday, so many fields ignore a city at the forefront of Sep. 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the Parker Room of the today's most pressing challenges and innova- Union. Semester in Detroit will accept stu- tions?" Detroit inspires innovative thinking, dent applications online until Oct. 26. sprouts new community organizing opportu- nities through urban agriculture and bolsters Cassie Basler is a media assistant Michigan's creative reputation with a bustling for Semester in Detroit. INTERESTED IN CAMPUS ISSUES? POLITICS? SEX, DRUGS AND ROCK'N'ROLL? Check out The Michigan Daily's editorial board meetings. Every Monday and Thursday at 6pm, the Daily's opinion staff meets to discuss both University and national affairs and write editorials. E-mail opinioneditors@michigandaily.com to join in the debate. 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. Sponsoring hope Due to some ning, I ha myself st in London dur- ing the Olym- pic Games. This "coincidence" provided me with some unbe- lievable stories. For example, I went and saw "The Dark Knight Rises," but unlike a screening in Ann Arbor, Kevin Duran and the entire U.S. team was sitting th me. But better tha simply the fact tha embrace London an tures. I understand predictable, but any the games this sun were watching son Michael Phelps bec Olympian of all tim woman from Saudi compete in the gam nant, mind you - w can't script that kind Since returning1 repeating the sam my time overseas t asks. They normall was crowded, or. questions about th soccer game. How borderline-hippie question was abou feel of the games. that you couldn't tu sion without being1 e strategic plan- Visa logos, Nike apparel and NBC appened to find commercials. He's not the first to udying abroad critique this aspect of the Olympics: The contemporary British graffiti artist, Banksy, created numerous works negatively portraying this aspect of the games around the city. I was caught a little off-guard by the question. Yes, there were obvi- ously advertisements everywhere, but they never crossed my mind as TIMOTHY something I had to share with my BURROUGHS friends and family. After doing a little research, I realized that these sponsorship deals involve massive sums of money. And this money it, Lebron James is the only reason events like the men's basketball Olympics are able to take place. ree rows behind Even thinking in the context of the n any story was world's current economic state, I t I was there to realized that these companies are d a world of cul- shelling out massive amounts of this sounds very cash in a time when even market one who watched staples like Barclays are crashing. nmer knew they A few days later, I saw this same mething special. friend. I argued that instead of this ame the greatest being a negative, it was actually ne, and the first extremely positive. This is the capi- Arabia ever to talist, post-Cold War system working es - while preg- at its finest. Even with the European 'on a medal. You Union crashing, the United King- I of drama. dom, a member state - though they home, I've been still don't use the euro - was able to e stories about put on an Olympic games that will be o everyone who remembered for generations. y ask if London By no means do massive corpora- the same stale tions have a solely positive impact e U.S. women's on our society. Hardly anyone ever, one of my would make the argument that Nike friend's first production processes are sweat- t the corporate shop-free. The point is that the glo- He complained balized free-market economy we rn on the televi- live in has created these monsters, bombarded with but at times, we are also able to reap the benefits of them. In many ways, the Olympic Games are a perfect example of this. The games provid- ed work for thousands of individu- als, gave amateur athletes a shot to achieve their dreams and provided entertainment and hope to billions of people across the globe. Is every- thing perfect? No. Is it a little annoy- ing that only Visa cards are accepted in Olympic Village? Yes. Is the ben- efit of having the Olympic Games done on the spectacular level worth it? I think anyone who watched a second of the action would say yes. Money in athletics isn't always a corrupting force. My two months in London gave me a new perspective on big busi- ness and introduced me to fields that I might actually want to continue in during my adult life. The broader les- son Ilearned is to keep an open mind. While many would see the money in athletics as a corrupting force, it's clear to me that it's a reward of the system we live in. Even in times of struggle, we can still witness the best in the world achieve their dreams and have moments of pure joy. And when it comes down to it, isn't that what is truly important? - Timothy Burroughs can be reached at timburr@umich.edu.