t was the spring of our discontent-in terms of theStaeentofStudent"Rights"fdRespon- sibilities, thatis. Or so it seems from a perusal of the first avableuarterlystatisticaldaaabouttheCode's proceedings last semester. Presented by the Of- fice for Student Affairs totheregentsFriday, the statistics proved yet again what many ofus have knownsincetheinceptionoftheCode: itisunjust and unnecessary. According to the report, there have been 98 "total contacts and inquiries" and 32 formal in- vestigations under the Code since its implemen- tation on January 1, 1993. Nine of the hearings have been heard by an administrative panel, two have been mediated and only one student has appeared before a student panel. But the most telling aspect of the statistics is that, as expected, none of the students have opted to have their hearings open to the public. Thestudentsaresurelynotatfaultfor this.No one in their right mind would want their reputa- tions tarnished by allowing the University com- munity to witness their hearings. However, this reveals one of the most fundamental flaws in the Code-thepublichas absolutelynocheckon the administration. Theoretically, students could be 12,1993 EDITROR IN CHIEF HopeGalati Unsigned editorials present the opinion of a majority of the Daily's editorial board. All other OPINION EDITORS cartoons, signed articles and letters do not Sam Goodstein necessarily reflect the opinion of the Daily. Flint Jason Wainess lust the facts, Maureen The Code violates the public's right to know suspended (one graduate student already has been)or even expelled from school on the whim of a University official and no one could protest because thehearings are closed and confidential. This violates one of the most basic tenets of American justice and seemingly ignores the Michigan Open Meetings Act, which mandates that public bodies and groups operating on behalf of elected bodiesbeopen tothepublic.Of course, from the hiring of President Duderstadt behind students backs to the failed attempts to proscribe HashBash,theUniversityhasanew-foundaffin- ity for ignoring the law. But releasing statistics seems to be amethod for the public to watch over the administration. Unfortunately, the quarterly report left much to be desired. The "bare" statistics released gave numbers, but no details that would provide the public with any type of check. The University maintains thatithas run into difficulty balancing thepublic'sright to know withastudent'sright to privacy. While this is a valid concern, it can be addressedandcorrectedrathereasilybyreleasing detailedstatistical data without names and open- ing hearings to the public. Moreover, the report revealed disturbing in- formation in terms of what "crimes" are being heard under the Code. Ten of the 34 charges were for hazing and another nine were for the "unlawful possession, use, manufacture, sale, or distribution of alcohol or other drugs." This means the Code is amount- ing to no more than another restrictive alcohol policy.While the University ismandatedtoenact 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 76-DAILY Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan some type o alcohol and drug policy under the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, this can not be an excuse for the whollyunjustcomprehensiveCodethathasbeen put in place. Onlyonestudenthasbeenchargedwithsexual assault or rape. Clearly, this proves the Code's ineptitude as this seems to be the only non- academicactivitythatcouldjustify sometypeof conduct code. The University cannot be a baby- sitter. Proper authorities, while often slow and ineffective, are the only place to address prob- lems conceming non-academic behavior. The University has bitten off more than it can chew and the results have been disastrous. Proponents of the Statement of Student "Rights"andResponsibilitiescancontinuetocite federallaws and aneed for students to know their rights as reasons to keep the Code. But the quar- terlyreportshould teach us alessonthatgoes way beyond statistics-theCode ignores the public's right to know and doesn't in any way hinder sexual assault or rape. If the University and the Office for Student Affairs are truly set on keeping the Code past its interim state, they have a long summer to mull over its many improprieties. I Acceptance by inclusion Media take steps to include homosexuals The U.S. media are taking important steps toward recognizing and accepting gays, les- bians and bisexuals as members of mainstream culture. Homosexuals are using the media to showthattheyarenotaneccentricfringe;theyare foundin boardrooms, around kitchen tables and everywhereheterosexualslive andwork.Accep- tance by inclusion is sorely needed not only becauseofquestionsconcemingbasiccvilrights, but because behind the debate, thousands of homosexual youths are facing life-threatening crises of identity. The entertainment industry has been featur- ing gay life in many ways including a Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway drama and a TV show based in Sicily, Alaska, a town founded by a lesbian couple. The television show "Picket Fences"showedtwofemalecharacterskissing in the dark. The comic strip "For Better or For Worse," which ran in 14,000 papers across the country, presented a gay teenager "coming out' to his friend and family. And Marvel Comics superhero Northstar revealed his sexuality to 100,000 readers. These images bring a much needed message of acceptance to people who have struggled with unsympathetic counselors and unaccepting parents. Staggeringnumbersofyouthsexperiencevio- lence or commit violence against themselves because of their sexual orientation: M A 1989 Health and Human Services report estimates 30 percent of suicides by people under 21 are comniltted by youths who know or fear they are homosexual. *Oneinfourgaymen,lesbiansandbisexuals has suffered physical abuse or violence because of their sexual orientation. .Three-quartershaverevealed their sexual- ity to their families, but half of those had been shunnedby one friend or family member. Half of all gay and lesbian youth are rejected by their parents. Homosexual youths are twoto three times morelikely toattemptsuicidethanheterosexuals. 28 percent of gay and lesbian youths drop out of high school due to harassment. 26 percent of gay youths leave home be- cause of family conflictover sexuality. . 80 percent of lesbian, gay and bisexual youth feel isolated and want more information about sexual orientation and homosexuality. The mainstream media can be a courageous voice in helping provide that information and acceptance. The message relayed by Lynn Johnston,creatorof"For BetterorFor Worse,"is not a declaration that homosexuality is a pre- ferred lifestyle or that homosexuals are trying to convert the rest of the world. She is simply portraying arealisticsituation based onherexpe- rience with the coming out of her brother. Her message is that of almost 1 million marchers in Washington -gays, lesbians and bisexuals are co-workers and relatives. Organizers of the April 25 March on Wash- ington created amediaevent, tailored to feature the mainstream - the "girl and boy next door" walkedinthefront,"DykesonBikes"intheback. One hundred thousand marchers hamessed the potentialofpositive media attention by lobbying Congress in business attire. The work of these lobbyists show gays, lesbians and bisexuals asa group that wants legal civil rights and an end to discriminationratherthanablessing fromhetero- sexuals. WhenthemediaportraystheMarchonWash- ington as alegitimate politicaleventand creative people in television, comics and the arts portray realistic, complex gay,lesbianandbisexualchar- acters, they are doing more than courting the buying power of a relatively affluent group - they arereaching outtoyouths whoareindesper- ate need of acceptance. The end of the innocence Chris Webber's off-court demeanor matches his play A n era ended Wednesday when Michigan a bad person after all. men's basketball star Chris Webber an- Webberhadtodealwithmuchmorenonsense nouncedhisintentiontoenter theNBA draft after than the average student-athlete. Every reporter only two yearssat the University. With Webber's had to have time with him and he was almost departure, theFabFive arenolonger. As the All- always the last player to leave the Michigan American prepares to embark on a new chal- locker room. Fans surrounded him wherever he lenge, the Daily would like to thank him for two wentevenatthehospitalwherehe wastreatedfor years of non-stop excitement and charisma his broken nose. Agents called at all hours of the Webber entered the University in the fall of night. And somewhere in between all of this, he 1991 with a world of expectations on his shoul- was supposed to study for classes. Yet, Webber ders. A household name in the Detroit area since managed to handle all of this without losing his junior high school, Webber was regarded as the cool Wolverines' savior. Anything short of anational Michigan may never again have someone championship during his stay would be consid- with the skills and charisma that Chris Webber ered a disappointment to Wolverine faithful possessed. He won't need it, but we wish him Unfortunately, Webber will leave Michigan good luck in his professional basketball career. ringless, having come painfully close two years in a row. But we will exempthim and his team- Open up a donut shop! mates for thisshortcoming. Webber's impact on Two fundamental problems continue to the state of Michigan, and on college basketball, plague the city of Ann Arbor -police brutal- was substantial. While there will doubtlessly be ity, especially against students of color, and a moregreatWolverinebasketballsquads, few will lack of affordable food. evershow the charismaandcharacter that theFab But here at the Daily, we have come up Five did. with asimplesolution to these invidious prob- The Wolverines' trash-talking and tendency lems: Ann Arbor entrepreneurs must open a to play down to the level of their opponent donutshop. What better wayis theretoelimi- gamered much criticism from fans and medm iateops frompointlessly harassing students Michigan played the villain's role in the eyes of and Ann Arbor residents?While it may sound most; who did these guys think they were,having like a simple stereotype to assume that police the galltosmile and laugh while outonthe court? could not resist the aroma of coffee and jelly All of the naysayers mysteriously disappeared, munchkins, our conclusions are based on em- however, after the Wolverines' inspiring victory pirical evidence. Staking out the Dunkin Do- over Kentucky in the semifinals. nutsonNorthwestern Highway,we found that We will not soon forget Webber's call of a onein every threecustomers was donning the phantom time-out as the clock ticked away inthe blueuniform.Andwehaveacrazyfeelingthat championship game against North Carolina. We they weren't investigating donut fraud. will also remember the dignity and class with Moreover, donut shops are an available which Webber conducted himself. He didn't run proletariat alte.ative to yet another preten- fromhismistake, hetookresponsibilityforit,and tious coffee shop. Distract the fuzz, open a suddenly the nation realized that he wasn't such donut shop! a