4A - Thursday, February 6, 2014

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

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MEGAN MCDONALD
PETER SHAHIN and DANIEL WANG KATIE BURKE
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.
Clearing the air
Smoking ordinance should be approved to promote community health
nn Arbor City Councilmember Chuck Warpehoski proposed an
ordinance Monday night to extend existing prohibitions and create
new ones for outdoor smoking in Ann Arbor. It proposes to ban
smoking within 20 feet of entrances, windows or ventilation systems of
city buildings and the Blake Transit Center, within 20 feet of bus stops and
in parks or portions of parks where the city administrator has approved a
sign prohibiting smoking. The ordinance should be approved because of its
potential to increase the city's air quality and public health.

Lifting a weight off men's shoulders

en million people will suf-
fer from an eating disorder
in their life. 43 percent of
college-aged stu-
dents report hav-
ing body image
issues, and 33
percent of col-
lege students use
unhealthy weight
control behaviors.
Those are MI E
scary statistics, MICHAEL
but here's some-
thing even scari-
er: these statistics
apply exclusively to men.
Now, some may argue I'm only
presenting certain statistics to
make male eating disorders appear
more problematic .- arguing that
only 10 to 15 percent of anorexia
and bulimia casualties are males.
Since anorexia and bulimia are
the two most acknowledged eating
disorders, it appears that men
actually represent a small minority
of sufferers. But this statistic
actually shrouds the truth.
The ideal male body image dif-
fers from the female because males
want to gain weight. As stated by
the National Eating Disorder Asso-
ciation, the ideal male body image
is muscular. Just as girls are soci-
etally pushed to look skinnier,
guys are societally pushed to look
muscular. Therefore, men having
low anorexia and bulimia percent-
ages makes sense since minimizing
caloric intake would only hinder
a male from achieving a "perfect"
muscular body. We see this when
examining binge eating, a form of
eating control that would aid in
gaining muscle. This is something
40 percent of men suffer from, a
disorder in which men and women
suffer in similar percentages.
Binge eating isn't the only
eating disorder males suffer from.
Many suffer from eating disorders
not given a definition. The guy
consuming unhealthy amounts of
workout supplements has an eating
disorder. The guy who eats a ton of

protein-dominant foods yet - even
though he intakes 3,500 calories - is
terrified to eat a 150-calorie cookie
has an eating disorder. The guy
who goes to the gym so much that
it influences his grades and social
life has a serious body image issue,
signaling an eating disorder.
Considering so many suffer, why is
no one talking about this? The answer
is rather intuitive. Our society tells
guys to be tough, so guys think that
seeking physical or psychological
health for body image issues deflates
their masculinity. But this is creating
a huge issue; the guys suffering are
too afraid to break social standards to
get help.
We need to be talkingabourthis.
After hearing these statistics,
hopefully it's easy to identify guys in
your life that could have an eating dis-
order. Think about your friend whose
entire life seems driven by gaining
more muscle. Sure, you and all your
friends joke about his abundance of
supplements, overeating and obses-
sion with the gym, but have you ever
questioned whether he actually has
a serious problem? That underneath
the chiseled pecs lies a crushed heart
and damaged self-esteem? Because,
he could be suffering.
And this doesn't account for the
men that have body image issues but
not eating disorders. 43 percent of
men suffer. That's almost one in two
men. Think about your guy friends
that everyone perceives as the "thin
guy." I'm sure many people mention
how skinny he is, and I'm sure that he
takes the jokes. But, underneath the
laughter, he could hate his appear-
ance. And think about the guys who
are - for lack of better term - a little
bigger. How many times have you
brought their size up? How many
guys do you know who are waging
an emotionally charged, exclusively
internal war against their body?
And this low self-esteem isn't
totally self-induced. Take a look
at any magazine cover and you'll
undoubtedly see a picture of Ryan
Gosling, Zac Efron or Channing
Tatum. They're definitely attractive,

but their body types are simply
unattainable for guys without
naturally muscular builds. There's
nothing wrong with emphasizing
their attractiveness, but we shouldn't
only emphasize the attractiveness
of one body type. We should glorify
every body type. Just like there's a
push to portray other women's body
types, there needs to be a push for
other male body types.
And while we're on the topic of
women's body issues, the silence over
male body issues could definitely be
contributing to women's. From my
experience, the guys holding them-
selves to unrealistic expectations
pressure girls to fit society's unreal-
istic beauty definition. Why would
they do otherwise? If they're pour-
ing hours into the gym and consum-
ing 4,000 calories to look their best,
they're gonna expect girls to look
their best. I'm not condoning their
actions, nor am I claiming this is the
case with every judgmental guy, but
in treating the males suffering from
body image issues, we would make
serious strides in helping women.
Now, I don't think that men want-
ing to be muscular is necessarily
bad - eating healthy and exercising
regularly is good for you. And not all
men that work out and eat protein-
dense diets have eating disorders and
body image issues. However, a man's
desire to change his body needs to
be self-driven. It should be a per-
sonal goal that he wants to achieve,
not a push to fit societal norms. He
should love seeing progress and self-
improvement, not feel shame over
feeling distant from his goals. This
issue is huge - for both men and
women. I've seen a lot of Facebook
posts, blog posts and articles about
improving women's body image, and
that's great, but we need to change
the movement from women-exclu-
sive to everyone. Body image issues
and eating disorders are a societal
problem, and they won't improve
until we help everyone suffering.
-Michael Schramm can be
reached at mschramm@umich.edu.

Warpehoski said he wrote the ordinance in
response to complaints about smoking in parks
and bus stops and from businesses that are
located near popular smoking areas. Currently,
there is an ordinance banning smoking near
building entrances, but only the Washtenaw
County Health Department can enforce it. Under
the new ordinance, police will have the power to
write citations for violations for as much as $50
if the smokers refuse to comply. During Monday
night's council meeting, Warpehoski asked for
the official ruling to be postponed, saying he
wanted more time to finalize it and talk with
the Park Advisory Commission. The council will
revisit the issue on March 3.
The proposed policy would benefit the citi-
zens of Ann Arbor who do not smoke and do not
want to be exposed to secondhand smoke. While
one has the right to smoke or not smoke, there
are not always opportunities to avoid second-
hand smoke in public places. Bus stops are often
crowded and those in that areahave to be in close
proximity to other riders for upward of 15 min-
utes. Furthermore, disallowing smoking in con-
gested areas of public parks allows more citizens
to enjoy the area and will protect children who
frequent the parks. Smoking is a personal choice
and the right to make that choice should not be
unnecessarily encroached on. However, the
health rights of others are just as important, and
no one has the right to infringe on those of others.-
The new policy looks out for the well-being of
Ann Arbor citizens while allowing ample legal
outdoor areas in which to smoke. Parks will not

automatically receive a no-smoking sign, and in
some cases only parts of a park will be designated
as non-smoking. If enforced, the ordinance will
protect everyone in the designated areas from
secondhand smoke, which poses significant
health risks. According to the Centers for Dis-
ease Control, exposure to secondhand smoke can
raise a non-smoker's risk of developing lung can-
cer by 20 to 30 percent and raise the likelihood of
having a heart attack. Having children exposed
to secondhand smoke in playgrounds, parks and
bus stops is especially troubling. It can lead to
coughing, induce an asthma attack, and,ifpersis-
tent, might inhibit lung development.
Despite the health consequences of tobacco,
the decision of whether or not to smoke is still
a personal one. For that reason, Ann Arbor,
or any other area, should not implement a
full smoking ban. The value of this proposed
ordinance lies in its efforts to limit secondhand
smoke in areas where escaping it would be
unreasonably difficult. Other areas should be
preserved as smoker-friendly. There is no need
to limit smoking on all outdoor public property,
and doing so would violate the rights of smokers.
Instead, the city should make every effort to
create outdoor smoking areas and allow smoking
where doing so would not violate the rights of
non-smokers with a need to use the same space.
The city council should approve the ordinance
in order to create a safe environment for city
children, citizens and visitors. A cleaner Ann
Arbor would improve its image, citizen health
and usage of certain businesses and parks.

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
Barry Belmont, Rima Fadlallah, Nivedita Karki, Jordyn Kay, Kellie Halushka,
Aarica Marsh, Megan McDonald, Victoria Noble, Michael Schramm,
Matthew Seligman, Paul Sherman, Allison Raeck, Daniel Wang, Derek Wolfe
MELISSA SCHOLKE |
Redefining victory
CY/

At eight years old, a tiny girl with blonde
mop-top hair discovered the pinnacle of
her klutziness. It was a time marked by the
purchase of my first pair of ice skates and the
recurring formation of purple splotches on
my skin. I blame every bump, bruise and fall
upon one event - the Winter Olympics. While
I abhorred the unending stream of sports
that usually hypnotized my brothers, I loved
watching the Olympics. Watching the graceful
routines of figure skaters - such as Michelle
Kwan - enchanted me. I revered the athletes
and desperately wished for the agility to mimic
those magnificentspins and jumps. One decade
later, I - as a mildly cynical college student -
no longer see the Olympics for its former glory.
The beauty, the majesty and the skill have all
faded into a bleak tundra of injustice.
Young men and women who once sat
crossed-legged in front of their parents'
televisions and dreamed of hitting the slopes
or gliding on Olympic ice are now being denied
their rights as athletes - and more importantly,
as human beings. Athleticism and international
cooperation are supposed to be the focus of the
Winter Games. Likewise, sexual orientation
has nothing to do with athletic talent. However,
Russian President vladimir Putin changed the
rules when he signed legislation that instituted
a ban on the circulation of any "propaganda of
nontraditional sexual relations" in 2013. Under
these rules, any public display illustrating
membership in or support for the LGBTQ
community in front of children could result in
a prison sentence.
Gay athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympics,
held in Sochi, Russia, are now expected to face
the irony of hiding part of their identity while
they are watched on one of the world's biggest
stages. Despite the rage and discrimination
athletes and LGBTQ advocates feel, the
International Olympic Committee has already
warned athletes against protests by citing Rule
50 of the Olympic Charter. This rule states, "No
kind of demonstration or political, religious or
racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic
sites, venues or other areas." Yet, the IOC has
had little problem glossing over another section
of the charter that prohibits discrimination
in the games. According to principle six, "Any
form of discrimination with regard to a country

or a person on the grounds of race, religion,
politics, gender or otherwise" is not accepted in
the games.
Technically, the selection of Sochi as the
host city occurred in 2007 - before this
debacle of humanity became an issue - and
this fact allows me to swallow a bit of the
IOC's hypocrisy and apathy. However, I
refuse to believe Putin's reassurances that
gays present at the Olympics "should feel at
ease." It's utterly naive to expect anyone to
feel at ease when their voice is stifled in front
of the world. When a single display or a simple
acknowledgement of one's sexuality could
upheave long-held aspirations and years of
rigorous training, how can the IOC and Putin
expect athletes to passively participate?
They won't. Passivity is the last thing I hope
to see when I turn on my television later this
month. Despite efforts to quell the protests,
some athletes are willing to risk their chance
at a medal. Also, advocates spectating at the
games will likely prepare to face the possibil-
ity of arrest. I'm thrilled to see the national
response to this blatant disregard of human
rights. In particular, I support President Barack
Obama's decisions tobe absent from the games
and to include three "out" former athletes in
this year's U.S. delegation. Future protests
in the Olympic realm should follow a similar
example and be performed with a good combi-
nation of respect and radicalism.
Even if these protests are received horribly
and cost the United States a few medals,
Russia and the rest of the world need to
recognize Olympians are not merely objects of
entertainment for spectators. They're human
beings with voices and basic rights. This year, I
want to see the Olympics transform into a venue
for equality as well as an exhibition of amazing
talent. I hope to see role models of tolerance and
activism that the public will wholeheartedly
wish to mimic - especially those children Putin
desperately wants to "protect." If spectators
and athletes take a stand, the greatest victory
will not happen on the ice or the snow. Instead,
the true accomplishment will happen within
the minds of the audience members watching
their favorite athletes compete.
Melissa Scholke is an LSA sophomore.

Taking a closer look at the ACA
n his State of the Union as people ages 18 to 29, reported concerning pre-existing conditions
Address last week, President that they heard about the ACA and gender throughout the State of
Obama attempted to instill through the media. Only one out the Union, announcing, "Because
public confi- of every four young Americans of this law, no American - none -
dence in his said they discussed the law with a zero - can ever again be dropped
administration friend or through social media. Our or denied coverage for a preexisting
and assert exec- young generation has cultivated an condition like asthma, or back
utive authority environment in which our opinions pain, or cancer. No woman can
by pledging to rely primarily on, and ultimately ever be charged more just because
advance a highly become congruent with, what is she's a woman." The definition of
contested agen- presented by a new era of coverage a pre-existing condition extends
da with renewed that thrives on ratings and conflict. to include psychiatric diagnoses,
force. Among his LAUREN These news sources are comprised a stigmatized resume blemish that
priorities was MCCARTHY of and led by professionals much our formerly hindered applicants in
the inevitable senior who bear different financial obtaining both employment and
endorsement standings, job security and familial insurance coverage. Under sec.
of health care reform, focusing on responsibilities than students. As 2705 of the ACA, which went into
benefits of the law that have already a result, their coverage will reflect effect Jan. 1, mental health services
begun to positively impact Ameri- concerns that correspond withtheir are now classified as among the 10
cans, as well as its potential to pro- own, addressing the immediate "Essential Health Benefits."
tect Americans from unforeseen, consequences and neglecting to At the National Conference on
crippling medical expenses. discuss how policy changes such Mental Health in June of last year,
Likening health care reform to as the ACA will impact our up-and- President Obama asserted, "In any
economic security, Obama asserted, coming generation. given year one in every five adults
"That's what healthinsurance reform I challenge my fellow millenni- experience a mental illness ... 45
is all about - the peace of mind als to review the Affordable Care million Americans suffer from
that if misfortune strikes, you don't Act and gauge its impacts free from things like depression or anxiety,
have to lose everything." Though media commentary, editorial analy- schizophrenia or PTSD." Subse-
the Affordable Care Act is a topic of sis or scrutiny. In doing so, college quently, the 2013 American College
severe criticism for its immediate students will come to realize both Health Assessment reported that
impacts and initial oversights, many the existing and succeeding ben- a combined 56.1 percent of college
Americans fail to view health care efits that President Obama proudly students suffer from pre-existing
reform from a broader perspective. announced in his address. conditions, 13.3 percent of which
As Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodg- As the President stated last week, fall under psychiatric diagnoses -
ers (R-Wash.) noted in her GOP "Already, because of the Affordable a consistently escalating statistic.
response - amidst also providing Care Act, more than three million In the most recent annual report,
her prosaic personal backstory - Americans under age 26 have the University of Michigan's Coun-
for some Americans, their previ- gained coverage under their seling and Psychological Services
ous health insurance policies were parents' plans." Prior to the ACA, Center reported scheduling 17,208
canceled because they failed to children could receive coverage clinical appointments during the
meet the law's new benefit stan- through their parents' insurance 2011-2012 school year, a number
dards. These standards are neces- until they were 25, but only if that has increased by 9.3 percent
sary in order to, over time, facilitate the child was a full-time student, since 2008. A CAPS study con-
a higher degree of quality, acces- disabled or otherwise a dependent ducted from 2004-2010 shows that
sibility and affordability of health of their parents for tax purposes. nearly one-third of Michigan stu-
care in the United States. Atten- The amendments made by the ACA dents have reported having some
tion to detail has skewed public did away with technicalities and form of a psychiatric diagnosis.
opinion of this stipulation. Many stipulations, and allow all children Critics of the ACA specifically
blame the ACA for the loss of their to remain covered by their parents argue on behalf of "healthy, young
original providers, but employers plan until they are 26. Americans," claiming they should
and insurance agencies frequently In 2013, the official unemploy- not be forced to purchase health care
tweak their coverage in ways more ment rate for graduates under age they do not need. However, statistics
advantageous for themselves, vio- 25 was 7 percent, but that statistic suggest that idealized perception
lating the law's new standards and did not reflect the expansive num- of "healthy, young Americans" is
consequentially leaving consumers ber of post-grads who are under- flawed. If 56.1 percent of millennial-
without the healthcare coverage to utilizing their educations. Termed aged people can already benefit from
which they were accustomed. "mal-employment," the number of these provisions included in the
Yes, I am aware that the Affordable college-educated workers under ACA, their peers are not far behind.
Care Act's implementation has been 25 who are working in positions Looking past the hyperbolized media
problematic thus far. Yes, I understand that do not require a degree tops 36 criticism, the scandalized website
that many Americans are aggravated percent. As the job market remains blunder and the general attacks
and unenthused, but repealing the law increasingly saturated and young on the Obama administration, it is
altogether will harm the United States adults either struggle to find a sus- evident that the Affordable Care Act
far beyond these first few months of tainable position or aim to increase and its prospective intentions will
logistical frustration. their employability by pursuing a provide long-term, low-cost health
Following Obama's re-election graduate degree, sec. 2714: Exten- care that serves substantial benefits
in 2012, a study conducted by sion of Dependent Coverage proves to young people.
Harvard University's Institute of crucial for our generation.
Politics discovered that more than President Obama also - Lauren McCarthy can be
two-thirds of millennials, defined emphasized the statistics reached at laurmc@umich.edu.

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