4 -Friday, January 11, 2013
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MELANIE KRUVELIS
and ADRIENNE ROBERTS MATT SLOVIN
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS MANAGING EDITOR
ANDREW WEINER
EDITOR IN CHIEF
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.
F ROM T HE DAILY
COmmunity first
Make renewable energy an inclusive process
's widely acknowledged that renewable energy has tangible
environmental and economic benefits. Always progressive,
Ann Arbor is making steps toward a clean-energy future with
the recent installation of solar panels on University of Michigan
property on Plymouth Road and the planned installation of two
wind turbines in partnership with Ann Arbor Public Schools. How-
ever, community members feel as though they were not consulted
and are understandably upset. While it's indisputable that renew-
able energy is beneficial in the long-term for the Ann Arbor commu-
nity, these projects don't send the right message to the people who
will be directly affected by their presence.
n May 13, 2012, I left JFK
International Airport and
embarked on my three-
month jour-
ney to China.
My first month
would be spent
teaching Eng-
lish, in the
southern city
of Hangzhou,
considered to be -
one of China's PATRICK
"smaller" cities MAILLET
- with a met-
ropolitan popu-
lation of a mere 14 million people.
While I was there, I was able to
travel around Zhejiang Province. I
met middle school and high school
students and taught them about
what my life is like in America.
Naturally, like any truetblue
fan, I took this opportunity to give
a 20-minute presentation about
Michigan football and why there's
truly no place like Ann Arbor. I can-
not even begin to express how ful-
filling it is to hear a chorus of 300
young Chinese students practicing
their English by chanting in unison,
"Go Blue!" and "Oh how I hate Ohio
State." There are now approximately
3,000 students roaming Southern
China who, for some inexplicable
reason, hate everything about Ohio.
Perhaps I abused my privileges, but
I digress.
I was never worried about my
month in Hangzhou because I knew
that meeting new students eager to
learn about my culture would never
get old, and, quite frankly, it never
did. However, I was afraid of June
15, the day I would move to Beijing
and start my intensive two-month
Chinese learning program through
China Educational Tours.
CET Beijing is a well-respected
language program that has been
known to produce stellar results for
those seeking to learn Chinese. I'm a
Chinese minor and have been study-
ing Chinese at the University for
the past two years. My Chinese was
dreadful and desperately needed the
help. Part of me hoped that perhaps
they would just connect a wire to
the back of my brain and somehow
inject the language into me without
actually having to work too hard.
Instead, I was forced to=adjust to
the infamous "language pledge."
This pledge, part of what . makes
CET so renowned, is a signed docu-
ment prohibiting any student from
speaking English in. or outside of
the classroom for the entirety of the
two-month program. If caught three
times breaking the pledge, the stu-
dent is sent home without a refund
and with an unavoidable "Fail" on
their transcript. Quite intimidating
to say the very least.
I knew the pledge would be diffi-
cult, but I had no idea what was in
store for me. As someone who seri-
ously enjoys expressing himself -
perhaps too much - I felt constantly
suffocated once the pledge started..
This pledge, combined with a daily
five hours of class and five to six
hours of homework per night, cre-
ated quite a taIl mountain for me to
climb. I found myself going crazy
and instead of embracing the lan-
guage and culture, I just entered a
terribly depressed and lonely state.
Days seemed like entire weeks, and
the concept of surviving for two
months seemed entirely implausible.
After desperately trying to tackle
this problem on my own, as I always
had before, I began to realize that
this obstacle would not be overcome
alone - I needed help. I needed to
reach out to my friends and family
for the support.
Luckily for me, my sister Kait lived
abroad in Thailand fortwo years and
understood the challenges associ-
ated with living away from home. I
sought her advice and asked how to
overcome this feeling of being alone
in a country of 1.3 billion people. She
gave ne the best advice that anyone
could have. ever given me: Go for a
walk with no destination.
At first I didn't really understand
this concept and waved it off as an
irrational fix to a bigger problem.
But one day, I tried it. I put on some
sneakers, left my map of Beijing in
my room and packed a couple bot-
tles of water. After all, it was about
100 degrees outside and, combined
with a particularly high pollution
rating that day, walking was cer-
tainly going to be.difficult.
Soon after I started my walk, I
started to immerse myself in the
language. I began soaking in more
of the minor details of Chinese cul-
ture and learning more about nor-
mal everyday life in China. This
truly was a turning point in my trip.
3,000 southern
Chinese students
hate Ohio State
because of me.
0
At a Jan. 7 City Council meeting, a nearly
$1 million grant from the U.S. Department
of Ann Arbor community was approved for
the construction of two wind turbines. The
turbines will be constructed on Ann Arbor
Public School property. According to Annar-
bor.com Brian Steglitz, a senior utilities engi-
neer for the city, says, "... this is going tobe an
educational tool for the school system, their
kids." He goes on to say it will provide Ann
Arbor Public Schools a hands-on tool to teach
students about wind energy.
While the goal of giving students' tan-
gible means to learn about renewable ener-
gy is admirable, these wind turbines are
not viable options for renewable energy.
Wind farms consist of many wind turbines,
two will not provide sufficient energy to
power a school. Council Member Sabra
Briere (D-1) also noted that Ann Arbor
wind speeds are slightly lower that the 13
mph winds turbines traditionally require.
This sends the message that the city of Ann
Arbor is willing to spend on forms of energy
that aren't suited to the city.
Hundreds of solar panels have been
installed recently on the North Campus
Research Complex on Plymouth Road, with
DTE Energy paying the University for using
the land. Ann Arbor City Council member
Jane Lumm said in a memo to the Michigan
director of community relations that there
was a lack of notice or community engage-
ment prior to the solar panels. The University
should continue tobe on the forefront of new
green technology, but it shouldn't come at the
expense of community members.
Though these environmentally conscious
projects may be well-intentioned, the lack of
community engagement and forethought in
both the turbine and solar array construction
is problematic. When considering changes to
the ways communities are powered, project
leaders and officials must seek the interest
and acceptance of the public. Surveys, forums
and-town hall meetings should be utilized to
gauge public interest before such operations
are implemented.
After that first walk with no des-
tination, I began going on personal
adventures every day after class.
Considering that a ride on Beijing's
incredibly convenient subway is a
mere 30 cents, I took advantage of
this asset as much I could. Every
day, I made it a goal to go to a differ-
ent subway stop; pretty soon, I had
a decent understanding of Beijing's
geography. Some stops were boring,
some were eye-opening, but every
experience helped me become a
stronger person.
Within the coming months,
many students will be embarking
on their own study abroad experi-
ence. Don't be afraid to reach out
for help. Realize that you are not
the only one who has had a bad day
because of missing friends, family,
school or maybe just a slice of pizza.
When you take off the armor,
embrace your vulnerability, and
allow yourself to soak in a foreign
culture, you will learn more about
yourself than you ever thought
possible. When I went to China, I
learned a lot about the language,
the people and the culture, but the
thing I learned most was about
myself and how I handled a par-
ticularly challenging obstacle. I can
only hope that others will take my
sister's advice and discover more
about themselves as I discovered
more about myself.
- Patrick Maillet can be
reached at maillet@umich.edu.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
Kaan Avdan, Sharik Bashir, Barry Belmont, Eli Cahan, Jesse Klein, Melanie Kruvelis,
Patrick Maillet, Jasmine McNenny, Harsha Nahata, Adrienne Roberts,
Vanessa Rychlinski, Paul Sherman, Sarah Skaluba,
Michael Spaeth, Gus Turner, Derek Wolfe
LAUREN PERRY AND ALEXANDRA MALMBERG |
Invest in social, work.
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0
Have you ever known someone with a
mental health disorder or are you one of the
one-fourth of adult Americans that have
been diagnosed with one? According to the
National Association of Social Workers, "the
primary mission of the social work profes-
sion is to enhance human well-being and help
meet the basic human needs of all people,
with particular attention to the needs and
empowerment of people who are vulnerable,
oppressed, and living in poverty."
The profession of social work impacts indi-
viduals, families and communities not only
through clinical services, but also through
,advocacy. Social workers address issues of
post-traumatic stress disorder, drug and
alcohol addiction, depression and suicid-
al tendencies in the veteran population of
22,658,000 individuals, which is continuous-
ly increasing. In addition, social workers pro-
vide services to other vulnerable populations
including the homeless, mentally ill, abused
children and the elderly.
To enhance services provided and to better
serve clients, we must reinvest back into the
profession. The Dorothy I. Height and Whit-
ney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment
Act is a piece of legislation whose a main goal
is to "ensure access to a range of critical social
work services provided in hospitals, schools,
clinics, agencies, the military, and in private
businesses." The bill was introduced to the
U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Edol-
phus Towns (D - Md) and to the Senate by
Senator Barbara Mikulski (D - N.Y.)w. This
piece of legislation, if passed, will reinvest in
the profession of social work by focusing on
the areas of research, retention and recruit-
ment. A commission, working in conjunction
with Congress, will be established and will
collaborate with universities, researchbodies
and various social workers to analyze their
services and programs to develop strategies
for improvement. The Social Work Reinvest-
ment Act will also allocate grants to various
programs to address workplace improve-
ments, research, education and training.
Although social -workers play such an
inportant'role in the well-being of society,
the profession faces the issue of burnout. It
is in dire need of trained professionals with
an expected 130,000 empty social worker
positions in 2016. Social workers earn among
the lowest salaries for master's level gradu-
ates and for professionals in general. Profes-
sionals with lower-paying salaries are more
likely to work in difficult agencies, serve
the most vulnerable clients and leave the
social work profession early. Social workers
face high burnout rates including emotional
exhaustion, depersonalization or cynicism
and diminished personal accomplishment.
The Social Work Reinvestment Act would
reduce the turnover rate in the profession
and increase the quality, consistency and
stability of social work services. The United
States is ranked 10th in G.D.P. spending in
the health care and social services category.
Its spending on social services is especially
low. It spends 90 cents on social services for
every dollar spent on health care. Contrast
this to many of our peer countries who spend
two dollars on social services for every dollar
spent on health care. Allocating more funds
to social services has proven to reduce emer-
gency room visits due to poor nutrition, poor
hygiene, infections, muggings, beatings and
rape in homeless populations.
Rep. Towns once stated, "Not everyone will
need a social worker, but when life presents
serious obstacles to one's well-being, a social
worker can be an invaluable ally. We want to
make sure that when people do need a social
worker, professional help will be available."
The Social Work Reinvestment Act not only
affects those currently employed in the field
of social work and students in social work
programs, but individuals, families and com-
munities who may one day need the assis-
tance of a social worker. Help us advocate
for the future of society and its well-being
by spreading the word to family, friends and
peers, and by letting your congressional rep-
resentative know this bill is important to you.
Lauren Perry and Alexandra
Malmberg are masters students at the
University of Southern California.
MAURA LEVINE '
It's a rarity for me to cot
random acts of kindness, e
on a college campus. Its
though most people are,
their cell phones or plug
their iPods. Once in a blu
people will look up and
glimpse of another humar
ingful and positive interact
strangers appear to be un
News sources report daily:
latest gun horror, a local
or another murderer who
loose. We have become s
up in the drama and negati
ing in around us that we fc
thing that can make our liv
paying it forward. ,
Several weeks ago, I
watch. When I retracedn
I knew that I must have d:
on the floor of an auditoriu
Modern Language Buildin
remembered, with a sink
ing in my stomach, that the
physics exam immediatel:
ing my lecture.
I was sure my watch was
good. I e-mailed my teache
as the physics professor, ho
somehow, miraculously,
had picked it up and turned
such luck.
The physics professorI
me that he would post an a;
Paying it forward
me across ment about my watch on the bottom ference,"
specially of his slides in hopes that someone true. My
seems as would turn it in. The days came and about los
glued to went. No watch was turned in. After ing it retu
ged into two more physics classes passed, nothing f
ue moon, still nothing. Then I got an e-mail and gavei
catch a from a student who had picked up It's goo
n. Mean- my watch after the exam. He had all human
ions with finally gotten my e-mail address each othe
common. from the professor's slides and went anything
about the out of his way to return the watch. murders,
robbery Needless to say, I was elated that it ments an'
's on the was returned in perfect condition. continue,
o caught While stories like this may seem to make1
vity clos- mundane or simple, they show that through
orget one random acts of kindness still exist in ness. Pay
es better: our society. Not only did it take kind- anythingj
ness on the student's part to return a fellows
lost my my watch, but it also took the com- ies out to:
my steps, passion and effort of the professor Not only
ropped it to post the information on his lec- else's day
am in the ture slides. Both parties easily could get a little
ig. I also have written me off and ignored my Accord
ing feel- requests, but these individuals went ance com
ere was a further than just answering my performa
y follow- questions - they proactively helped sense bf
me find alost possession. ria" whit
gone for If one of them had been indif- sense ofv
er as well ferent to my situation, I would still "lead toa
ping that be without my watch. But the pro- with othe
someone fessor and the student both chose to help a
lit in. No to go the extra mile for a stranger. only hav
I would love to claim that this So spread
promised humane gesture is exclusive to our
nnounce- campus due to "The Michigan Dif- MauraI
but that simply can't be
mom has a similar story
ing her wallet and hav-
urned by a man who took
rom it. He just called her
it back.
d to remember that we're
n - we're all here to help
r out even if we don't owe
to anyone. While mass
cutthroat political argu-
d vengeful arsons will all
each of us can choose
the world a better place
small gestures of kind-
ing it forward can mean
from holding the door for
tudent to carrying grocer-
an old lady's car at Kroger.
will you make someone
better, but you, too, may
e joy out of being kind.
ing to the health insur-
pany Cigna, when people
acts of kindness they get a
"exhilaration and eupho-
h "may add a heightened
well-being." This can also
a sense of connectedness
rs." Going out of your way
nother human being can
e positive repercussions.
the positivity.
Levine is an LSA sophomore.
0 EIOR SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@MICHIGANDAILY.COM
U.S. government should
halt sanctions on Iran
TO THE DAILY:
Sanctions on Iraq may have
killed as many as 576,000 children,
according to a 1995 report by two
scientists.who surveyed the coun-
try for the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization. They also
found sharply rising malnutrition
among the young, suggesting that
more children will be at risk in the
coming years.
Today, with an epidemic of birth.
defects appearing in many Iraqi
cities, the country is still grappling
with the aftermath of war-related
and sanctions-related public health
issues.
Iran is a country of 80 million
people. Over 19 million Iranians are
under 14 years of age and most vul-
nerable to the effects of sanctions.
Have we learned anything from
the death of half a million Iraqi
children? If we have, then the Uni-
versity of Michigan should raise
its voice, as it has for other issues,
to demand that the U.S. govern-
ment halt all sanctions on Iran.
Mozhgan Savableasfahani and
Azadeh Shahshahani
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.
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