4A- Monday Octobor 7, 2013
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com - I
4A - Monday, October 7, 2013 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom
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MELANIE KRUVELIS
ANDREW WEINER and ADRIENNE ROBERTS MATT SLOVIN
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.
F ROM T HE DA ILY
New president, new priorities
Mary Sue Coleman's replacement
As the Presidential Search Advisory Committee concludes its series of
public forums, the search continues for University President Mary
Sue Coleman's successor. The University's next president must
maintain not only Coleman's excellent track record with regard to fundrais-
ing, community engagement and involvement with Detroit, but also as a lead-
er with a vested interest in increasing the school's socioeconomic diversity.
The beauty of b
"CS mile, forgive, appreci-
ate the small pleasures,
unplug, exercise, make
time for leisure.
You'll find these
among other
commonly used
"guidelines" to
happiness that
media dissemi-
nates across the
Internet: "Hab-
its of Supreme- SARA
ly Happy MOROSI
People," "12
Things Happy
People Do Differently," and my per-
sonal favorite, "How to Be Happy: 11
Steps (with Pictures)."
I understand how some may find
comfort in said pieces. "I smiled at a
stranger in Trader Joe's today...check.
I appreciated the smell of fall and the
sound ofcrunchingleavesbeneath my
boots this morning... check."
Happier yet?
While I agree that many of these
so-called "steps" to happiness har-
vest a positive lifestyle, it's naive to
believe following them to a T will
result in an altogether perfect life.
I'm currently taking English Prof.
Ralph Williams's "Memoir and Social
Crisis" course. We're finishing a mem-
oir by Primo Levi - an Italian Jew
who recounts his story of survival in
Auschwitz. While many of the pas-
sages are incredibly salient, our dis-
cussion last week on Levi's perception
of happiness resonated with me most.
"Sooner or later in life everyone
discovers that perfect happiness is
unrealizable, but there are few who
pause to consider the antithesis:
that perfect unhappiness is equally
unattainable.... In fact it is not a
question of a human incapacity for a
state of absolute happiness, but of an
ever-insufficient knowledge of the
complex nature ofthestateofunhap-
piness; so that the single-name of the
major cause is give
which are compos
an order of urgenc
immediate cause o
an end, you are grie
see that another on
in reality a whole s
Let's break thisc
Our culture isa
elusive idea of hapl
of the most infamo
piness occurred ov
Led by George Vail
hensive study foll
268 Harvard men
graduates when th
1938. Though ther
ent limitations to
as the exclusion o
insights into
the value we
place on happi-
ness can still be
widely applied
today - the most
notable being
personal experi-
ence over mate-
rial success.
It's a findingu
and again, and or
to understand.
social expectation
nature, we do our
hold onto happin
them. We become
-ating and mainta
image, we enter a
our peers and w
sures to pave thev
future now, belie
puts us on the faa
We are constantly
infallibly falling s
ined nirvana. In d
thin our relations
and with ourselvi
guilty of both.
Though we con
unreasonable cult
think we can all ag
- EDITORIAL BO
eing (un)happy
n to all its causes, mentally impossible to uphold them
ite and set out in and be blissfully happy at all times.
y. And if the most But Levi is right - we often don't
f stress comes to consider that it'sjust as impossible to
evously amazed to be wholly unhappy, either.
e lies behind; and What I think Levi meant is that
eries of others." while lows are inevitable, resilience
down. is a choice. Not only that, but we as
obsessed with the humans experience unhappiness at
piness. In fact, one the capacity to which we are able.
'us studies of hap- Amid the merciless conditions of the
er a 75-year span. camps - unfathomable to ordinary
Ilant, the compre- people - Levi found happiness in giv-
owed the lives of ingItalianlessons.Indoingso,exhibit-
who were under- ing that even in circumstances beyond
he study began in understanding, perfect unhappiness
e are some appar- remains as unattainable as its counter-
the study, such part, perfecthappiness.
f female subjects, Levi also suggests that even if we
overcome what
we believe to be
We're constantly the cause of our
reaching for and unhappiness,
surely more lies
infallibly falling short of beyond it. We
an imagined nirvana, could follow the
guidelines put
forth in every
"happiness how-
we've heard time to" article, yet the vast majority of
ne that we claim outside factors - both tragedies
Yet somehow, and blessings - remain out of our
s remain, and by control.
- best to find and Vaillant simplifies his findings
ess by mirroring in his own words by saying: "The
e fixated on cre- seventy-five years and twenty mil-
ining the perfect lion dollars expended on the Grant
n arms race with Study points to a straightforward
e fall into pres- five-word conclusion: 'Happiness is
way for our dream love. Full stop.' " In a fast-paced cul-
ving one misstep ture where productivity is the means
t track to failure. to every end, we easily forgetto pause
reaching for and and be present.We have become con-
hort of an imag- sumed by the fear of wasting time,
ioing so, we wear when actually, the only time lost lies
hips with others in our inability to accept that it's OK
es. I, for one, am to reject the notion of perfect happi-
ness. I think Levi would agree.
0
Throughout Coleman's 12 years at the Uni-
versity, she has brought in many large dona-
tions; in the past year alone, donations from
Stephen M. Ross, Charles Munger and the Zell
Family Foundation have totaled $360 million.
These donations contributed to the Ross School
of Business and the Athletic Department,
established plans for new graduate-student
residence and supported the Masters of Fine
Arts in creative-writing program. Coleman's
drive to find new funding is no accident: State
appropriations for higher education declined
by more than 26 percent between 2002 and
2012. The previous decade's fundraising cam-
paign, called The Michigan Difference, focused
largely on facilities, including the various resi-
dence hall renovations. The . next campaign,
The Victors for Michigan, set to launch on Nov.
8, is focused on extending financial aid to Uni-
versity students. It's critical that Coleman's
successor prioritizes fundraising that benefits
a wider variety of students than some of the
recent large-sum donations.
Many students have recently taken issue
with policies and campaigns implemented
under the leadership of Dave Brandon, the
University's athletic director, who assumed
his position in 2010 and will remain through
2018. Although the Athletic Department is
governed by its own written policies, the
position is monitored by and accountable to a
chain of command ending with the Universi-
ty's president andthe Board of Regents. Under
Brandon, the Athletic Department has enact-
ed unpopular admission protocol regarding
student football and basketball tickets with-
out informing students ahead of time, deny-
ing them the opportunity to respond prior to
the decision becoming policy. Even though
the future University president won't have
direct control over the Athletic Department,
he or she should not -treat it like an entirely
autonomous body with goals separate from
those of the University's mission. Coleman's
successor should put pressure on Brandon to
communicate with students before making
significant changes and to make more well-
prioritized expenditures. -
Under Coleman, the University's relation-
ship with Detroit has flourished. The Detroit
Center, a home for Detroit-based student
and faculty projects located in the heart of
downtown, opened in 2005. In 2008, Semes-
ter in Detroit began, and the Detroit Partner-
ship volunteering initiative was re-focused to
include more long-term service projects such
as tutoring and mentoring. These programs
provide excellent opportunities for students
to experience and contribute to Detroit, and
the future University president should use
funds to maintain and expand what has already
been achieved under Coleman. But giving cur-
rent students an opportunity to connect with
Detroit isn't enough. The upcoming president
needs to prioritize recruiting students from
Detroit to the University.
Coleman has been a staunch supporter of
affirmative action and minority enrollment,
which is essential to the University's mis-
sion. Despite this, minority enrollment has
stagnated in recent years, and as of 2011 was
approximately 14.5-percent and 13-percent
lower than the national averages for both
black and Hispanic students, respectively. A
new president should be innovative in his or
her ways of increasing minority enrollment
and should develop more programs that fos-
ter a diverse and inclusive community. He or
she should also focus on larger socioeconomic
diversity, which can be achieved in part by
devoting more fundraising to the creation of
scholarships and financial aid. In general, the
next University president should be sure to
advocate for continued quality undergraduate
education. Hiring of top-tier professors is key
to maintaining an accurate reputation for edu-
cational excellence and attracting a continu-
ous and diverse group of students and donors.
The University's next president will need
to work hard to match Coleman's fundrais-
ing prowess and maintain and expand the
University's. Emphasis on increased finan-
cial aid and reasonable control of the Athletic
Department are crucial. Above all, students
should be involved in the processes that
shape their University experience.
0
0
tinue striving for
ural standards, I
ree that it's funda-
ARD MEMBERS
-Sara Morosi can be reached
at smorosi@umich.edu
Kaan Avdan, Sharik Bashir, Barry Belmont, James Brennan, Eli Cahan, Eric Ferguson, Jesse Klein, Melanie
Kruvelis, Maura Levine, Patrick Maillet, Aarica Marsh, Megan McDonald, Harsha Nahata,
Adrienne Roberts, Paul Sherman, Sarah Skaluba, Daniel Wang, Derek Wolfe
WILLA ADAMO
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Enter Detroit with respect
First, I want to establish that I am a mid- flight, economic recession and many Devil's
le-class white woman. I grew up in the Nights. If you're lucky enough to enter
orth suburbs and made the trek down I-75 Detroit, here are a few things you should
help at the family business, a 60-year-old consider:
oral shop on the east side of Detroit. I grew 1. Take a moment to check your privilege.
p with a different picture of Detroit than my Examine your different social identities like
rburban comrades. race, class and gender. Think about how the
I spent this past spring semester living, power your identities give you affects the way
arning and working in the city and earning you view the world and your values. Be hon-
y Urban Studies minor through Semester est with yourself about your own shortcom-
Detroit. The time I spent in Detroit was a ings. Enter Detroit with humility.
reath of fresh air. The people of Detroit - 2. Realize that people have a wide range
re 700,000 people who remain in the city of life experiences, privileges and belief
fter Tigers games - have created a strong systems. Forget all the things you think you
ommunity. Grassroots organizations have know. Your college education doesn't make
lied gaps the government left: They patrol you more- intelligent than others. Enter
reir own neighborhoods nightly, grow their Detroit with an open mind, ready to listen.
wn fresh produce and found community- 3. Now forget how awkward you feel. Just
ased schools. like the city, you're not without error and
Detroithas an unexplainable,honest charm. never will be. Recognize your discomfort but
Valking down the street, people say hello and allow your curiosity and desire to learn guide
ake eye contact with you. That simple daily you. Enter Detroit with confidence.
minder thatI exist inthe greater world com- 4. Start looking at the bigger picture. Is
elled me to rethink my values and lifestyle. I your student initiative listening to and hon-
iw a brighter, more sustainable and healthier oring the desires of Detroiters? Is your pres-
ture in Detroit. It gave me hope and excite- ence worthwhile? Enter Detroit with genuine
lent for my own future. intentions.
I began this school year with a new out- 5. Use your brain. Detroit has danger, but
ok, incorporatingthe lessons Detroit taught danger exists everywhere, including Ann
e into my existence in Ann Arbor. On cam- Arbor. Be aware and trust your gut. Enter
us, I have noticed an influx of Detroit initia- Detroit carefully.
ves. Fromvolunteers togroupsthat focus on 6. Your experience in Detroit is what you
ightlife, everyone wants a piece of Detroit. make of it. Be patient and put yourself out
m sure they all have the best intentions. there. You're lucky to have this opportunity.
ut please, all who take interest in Detroit - Enter Detroit with a smile on your face.
ease enter the community respectfully. I am a middle-class white girl, and a one-
Detroit is a city, not a playground. It's not a time citizen of Detroit - even if just for a bit. I
lace to get,drunk and leave only broken bot- invite you to prove me right or wrong by hav-
es behind when the weekend's over. Detroit ing your own experience through Semester
not a blank slate and doesn't need designer in Detroit, the MDetroit Center Connector or
impon boutiques or gourmet dog-food res- independently. But please remember, Detroit
urants. To my peers sporting "Detroit isn't is someone's home, and you're representing
ary, guys!" t-shirts purchased in mid-Cork- your fellow Wolverines. Treat Detroit with
wn: this is not the way to do it. respect.
ceiling
headlin
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But h
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can isst
It's time to raise the debt ceiling
or those of you who fol- pay the country's bills. effects on the global economy.
low the news, you've prob- Let us be clear: The debt ceiling When something that has longbeen
ably seen the phrase "debt is not about spending. Saying that considered a sure, stable thing such
in the we shouldn't raise the debt ceiling as U.S. bonds, is suddenly unreli-
res these because we need to be spending less able, there are sure to be shock-
w weeks. is like saying you won't pay your elec- waves to the world economy. The
ow many tricity bill at the end of the month Treasury released a statement last
actually because you're trying to cut back Thursday saying that failure to raise
what it on spending. You already spent the the debt ceiling "could have a cata-
money when you were using electric- strophic effect on not just financial
mally it's - ityall month and now you're just pay- markets but also on job creation,
formal- ing the bill for it. And if you don't, you consumer spending and economic
I Congress LISSA may find yourself having a hard time growth - with many private-sector
es debt KRYSKA getting electricity in the future. analysts believing that it would lead
as a matter Right now, U.S. Treasury bonds to events of the magnitude of late
se without are considered risk-free investments, 2008 or worse."
publicity. However, the cur- because the United States has always Given the potential magnitude
litical climate has changed the paid its bills. This distinctionmeans of the consequences for the United
, and, unfortunately, the debt- the nation get to borrow at very low States and the global economy if
proceedings have become very interest rates. Congress doesn't raise the debt ceil-
ant. Most media discussions Although it hopefully won't come ing, it's irresponsible for them to
place wrongly assume that to this, since Speaker John Boehner even consider it. It would accomplish
ne already knows what it is. (R-Ohio) indi- nothing. It's not
iere's a quick outline of how it cated that he a decision about
will not allow Even the possibility that spending, and
m the United States borrows a default, what E the only effect it
it usually does so by issuing would happen if Congress will fail to would have on
A bond is essentially a piece of Congress didn't r. t.b.l . the deficit would
hat promises that in exchange raise the debt raise the debt ceilig is be to increase
hnow, the U.S.government will ceiling? harming the economy. it by increasing
k the face value of the bond in If it isn't interest rates.
n period of time. And up until raised, there Even the possi-
d date,they will pay out interest won't be enough bility that Con-
ace value every year. Essential- cash on hand for the Treasury to pay gresswill fail to raise the debt ceiling
loan to the U.S. governmentby all of its obligations. Any number of is already harming the economy,
pie who buy the bonds. When expenses could go unpaid, including according to some economists. And
asury issues these bonds, sell- paying back the debt on bonds that some experts have started investi-
m to raise cash today, we say were issued in the past. A default gating extraordinary measures Pres-
eyhave issueddebt. on past debts, meaning the United ident Barack Obama could take to
United States, unlike most States fails to pay back its loans on raise it on his own, justin case.
developed, democratic coun- time, would mean that U.S. Treasury It's important that we all under-
has a debt ceiling controlled bonds are suddenly no longer risk- stand what's going on with the debt
legislature. The Treasury is free, and the United States would ceilingandwhyitmatters.The public
d to issue bonds until they have to pay higher interest rates to needs to make sure Congress under-
eached a certain amount of make up for it. This would mean that stands that the debt ceiling is not an
the debt ceiling. Then, Con- the deficit would go up as the United opportunity for political posturing.
S
as to pass legislation raising
at ceiling so that the Treasury
ue moreto raise more cash and
States pays more for every dollar it
borrows.
There would also be adverse
-Lissa Kryska can be reached
at Ikkryska@umich.edu.
LETTER TO THE EDIOR
Search committee is
not representative off
University community
TO THE DAILY:
To the University of Michigan
Regents:
The choice of our next Univer-
sity president affects all members
of our community: undergraduate
students, graduate students, ten-
ured and non-tenured instructors,
staff and the cities of Ann Arbor,
Dearborn and Flint. We all work
together to make the University
the transformative educational and
SEND LETTERS TO: ToTHEDAILY@MICHIGANDAILY.COM
research institution that it is. We
are all stakeholders, not bystand-
ers, in this decision.
Therefore, we feel strongly that
the current Presidential Search
Advisory Committee does not rep-
resent the diversity of our commu-
nity, our questions, our needs and
our hopes for the new president.
A committee , made up solely of
tenured faculty departs from the
University's own practices in past
searches.
We respectfully request that the
University take the opportunity to
strengthen the Presidential Search
Advisory Committee by including
members who are undergraduates,
graduate students, non-tenured
instructors and staff. We look for-
ward to welcoming a president who
will listen to the many voices that
make up our campuses and lead the
whole University community into
the challenges of the future.
Sincerely,
ForUM, The Student Union of
Michigan, The Lecturers' Employ-
ee Organization, The Graduate
Employee Organization and The
University of Michigan Skilled
Trades Union
Ian Matchet, Liz DeLisle
Rodrigues and Ismali Ali
LSA/Art and Design senior, Rack-
ham graduate student, LSA junior
0
There are many people who call Detroit
eir home, who stuck with it through white
Willa Adamo is an LSA junior.
. ,