OPINION
The Michigan Doily
Friday, May 8, 198y
Page 6j
-I
igt Attgana atfl
97 Years of Editorial Freedom
Vol. XCVI - No. IS
Unsigned editorials represent the majority views of the Daily's
Editorial Board. Cartoons and signed editorials do not
necessarily reflect the Daily's opinion.
Retraction
The editorial "Regent Baker must resign"
(Daily, 4120187) does not represent the majority
opinion of the Daily's editorial board.The Daily
regrets the irresponsible reporting in the editorial
but stands by its disagreement with many of
Regent Deane Baker's opinions.
Rid us of Baker
The long march towards unity
WHILE THE DAILY does not
believe that Regent Baker's
stated opinions reflect the best
interests of the University, the
Daily also believes that he
should continue to serve as
regent until he no longer has
the support of the electorate.
The question the Daily
should have raised in the
editorial is whether or not
Baker deserves the voters'
continued support. One of the
major reasons the Daily does
not believe he deserves this
support is his consistent
opposition to efforts to im -
prove minority retention and
recruitment at the University.
Referring to Black enrollment
goals of the University
mandated by the regents and
President Shapiro, Baker said
"Ten percent is not a workable
percentage, and 12 percent is
less workable." (Regents
meeting 4/16/87)
In response, Regent Nellie
Varner said, "Every year he
comes out with these state -
ments... [that] we're lowering
our standards, [that] you
know minorities shouldn't be
here... I think it's a disgrace
that you sit here every year
and make these comments that
reflect negatively on the Black
people particularly in this
state... I'm not going to let
you sit here every year and
say it; every time you say it
I'm going to say something
back to you." (Regents
Meeting, 4/16/87)
Regent Roach also found
Baker's remarks untenable:
"Your rhetoric makes it sound
like you're trying to create
two classes of citizenship
here, and that's not right."-
Regent Baker has also
made gay students un -
welcome. He opposed in-
cluding sexual orientation as
part of the University logo
against non-discrimination.
(Detroit News, 4/21/87)
Besides saying that the
University should not "make
the public judgment that
homosexuality is acceptable
on the campus," Baker.says
the University should "not
place its young people 'at
risk' in their new
surroundings."
This is not to say that
people with Baker's views
should be censored. Indeed,
such views necessitate broad
discussion in the University
community because they will
not go away if ignored. Baker
should not be ignored or only
repudiated at Regents meet -
ings. Opposition to his
policies should be voiced at
the voting booths.
The Daily no longer calls
for Baker's resignation. If
Baker is to leave office it
should be through the ballot
box.
THE EIGHTH ANNUAL Take
Back The Night march
brought hundreds of women
into the streets of Ann Arbor
to demonstrate that individual
fear can be turned into
collective strength. The march
and rally, organized by the
Ann Arbor Coalition Against
Rape (ACAR), is only the
most visible manifestation of a
year-round struggle against
injustices visited upon
women.
This year's list of demands
by ACAR includes some very
clear and urgent calls for
action against rape. Among
the demands are that "the rape
law in Michigan be changed to
make marital rape a crime"
and there be "increased
lighting throughout the cities
of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti,
including campus areas." One
demand that lacks justification
is that for censorship of
"violent pornography."
Despite the efforts of such
luminaries as Attorney
General Edwin Meese, a valid
case for censorship of
pornography has not been
made. If the violent content of
pornography does not violate
laws, its "value content" does
not constitute basis for
supression.
There are some valid
Life
WITH THE RESIGNATION of
Harold Shapiro, the Uni -
versity is faced with the task
of finding a qualified replace -
ment to serve as president. It
is therefore important to bear
in mind the many respon -
sibilities this position entails,
and the necessary qualities an
individual must possess to
competently fulfill it. It is also
important to re-evaluate the
process of choosing a
replacement in order to pro -
vide greater student input.
Shapiro assumed the pres -
idency during one of the
worst economic periods of the
University's history. Amidst a
national and state recession,
he not only guided the
University through financial
demands dealing with other of fea
women's issues besides rape, males
such as "removal of child should
sexual abusers and batterers Ho
from homes where they have includ
assualted women and provid
children." Yet there are some for mc
demands dealing with divest - event
ment and weapons research encou
which seem to exceed the remin
mandate of ACAR. Although goal o
the demands may be legitimate is unit
and it is conceded that all men.
struggles for liberation are future
one, a more concise list of condit
demands about rape may lend social
itself to a more concerted barrie
effort against the problem. Femin
march
Unfortunately, the march towar
has historically engendered as harmo
much discussion over its
exclusion of men as it has on
the subject of rape. The march W
is sex-segregated for several
reasons. The most important
of these is that the event The
marks the one night of the welcoi
year in which women can take paper,
safety in their own numbers to ca
instead of relying on male public
companions. Because of the neede
pervasive sexism and violence which
of our society, many women have
find it necessary to be adequ
escorted by male friends after encou:
a certain hour of the evening. of an
The Take Back The Night camp
March provides a rare inclus
opportunity for women to look
walk the streets at night free issues
after Shapiro
hardship, but also left it in a ed frt
stronger economic position stude
than before his tenure. This is exhib
the type of sound financial regar
leadership expected of a issues
University president. But in need
addition to a strong business indivi
sense, the University needs "whit
strong leadership in other appro
areas. their
Foremost among those essen
leadership traits is the ability proce
to meet with and understand recept
student concerns - whether This
they be racism, sexism, rape, candi
homophobia, or that most embra
basic of concerns, the quality effect
of education. In an institution mattes
the size of Michigan, there is a requir
natural tendency towards build
depersonalization. When an studer
administration becomes isolat -
x and dependence upon
. This opportunity
i be preserved.
wever, the ACAR rally
ed male speakers and
led alternative avenues
ale participation in the
. This should be
raged as it serves to
d us that the ultimate
f a feminist movement
ty between women and
It is hoped that the
may hold a day when 4
tions do not construct
l and psychological
rs between the sexes.
ists of both sexes must
on converging paths
d that union and
ny of tomorrow.
ELCOME TO THE
FAMILY
4
Daily is pleased to
me a new sibling news -
Free Women's Words,
mpus. The feminist
ation provides a long-
d forum for discussion
1 other printed media
not been able to 4
ately fill. The Daily is
raged by the appearance
other newspaper on
us with a strong
ive language policy:We
forward to upcoming
s.
om the daily realities
nts face, there is
ited an insensitive dis -
d toward student's
, and welfare. Students
to know that the
idual residing in the
te house" is open,
achable, and receptive to 4
needs. It is therefore
tial that the selection
ss heavily weigh .the
tivity of any candidate.
will insure that a
date be selected who
aces openness, regards
ive student relations as a
r of policy, and will not
e mass demonstrations, 4
ing takeovers by
nts, and the spotlight of