4 --The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, May 17, 1995
420 Maynard
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan
RONNIE GLASSBERG ADRIENNE JANNEY
Editor in Chief JOEL F. KNUTSON
Editorial Page Editors
Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of a majority ))
the Daily's editorial board. All other articles, letters and cartoons do not
necessarily reflect the opinion of the Daily's editorial board.
Jo not make the mistake of underestimat-
ing the crafty ways of the administration.
Theyarenotsuitedfigureheadsinarundroom,but
sharp individuals withaclearpurpose andan ideal
in mind. Whatever they deem to be best for the
students hey will put in motion, headstrong.
Leadership 2017 is a prime example of sly
maneuvering on the part of the administration:
Theyofferstudentleadersatractivesumsofmoney
tospendthesummerbeingtaughthowtothinklike
an administrator. This behavior is typical of the
University-butstudents aretaking the bait.Who
would pass up such aresume-enhancing opportu-
nity at a fill-time ten dollars per hour?
Itisdesirabletofosterstudentleadership.How-
ever, the program is inherently flawed. It groups
selectstudentstogetherintoaclique,whichactually
damages their ability to lead -the plan is a self-
defeatingone.Insuchasetupitisimpossibletobite
the hand that feeds - so-called leadership is
encouraged, while student activism is squelched.
Thefarcecalled2017issimplytheadministration's
perverse way of dangling the proverbial carrot in
front ofstudents' faces.
Moreover, the administration recognizes a lu-
crative opportunity open for thertaking. LSA Stu-
dentGovemmentPresidentRickBemstein claims
thathe wasfirstrejected,althoughlastyear's LSA-
SGpresidentwasacceptedreadily.Bemstein,how-
The biggest weasel
The administration or the 2017 participants?
ever, was not officially rejected - he was not
recommended by the selection committee, which
wascomprisedofsixstudentswhoparticipatedlast
summer. The administration ignored the decision
ofitscommittee,andBemsteinisnowpartof2017.
In astrange twist,Bemsteinisnotkeepinghis2017
money, but using it to set up a scholarship for
disabledstudents.Whenthe 2017moneyunsout,
his father will continue to support the scholarship.
Perhapsthatiswhytheadministrationwaswilling
to go against its selection committee.
One student with a particularly glaring conflict
ofinterestisMichiganStudentAssemblyPresident
FlintWainess.Afterexpressing reservations about
thefundingof2017,heattemptedtofindcorporate
sponsorship, which fell through. Now the elected
spokesman for the student body is receiving finan-
cial support from the administration.MSA's com-
piled code clearly states in Chapter 9, Ethics, "No
memberofMSA shallworkfor aexecutive officer
at The University of Michigan." An executive
officer is defined as: "the President, any Vice
President, or any Associate Vice President of the
University of Michigan."Wainess is violating the
letter and the spiit of MSA guidelines -to what
end?
Granted, the MSA president needs to have a
working relationship with the administration, as
wellas funding to stay here for the summer.Inthat
casehecoulda)getajobliketherestofthestudents
and b)politely decline to participate in2017-an
action that would not solely destroy his credibility
withtheadministration.Hebelievesthat,"Isolation
ofMSAdoesn'tworkyettotalconciliationdoesn't
work.Somysummertaskistofindthatwonderful
middle ground where I make no one happy, but
accomplish the empowerment of both MSA and
the student community." Vice President for Stu-
dent Affairs Maureen A. Hartfordsaid,"It was his
choice -he had to make the call on whether he
couldusehistime most wisely with this progra
She also said that it would neither hinder
abilitytoworktogether, asthereareotherstud
working on the code, officially known as
Statement of Student Rights and Responsibi'
who are not in 2017, nor would it offen
Wainess also said, "Events and people have
tatedtharmyopinionson20l7haveshiftedslig
If the wind shifts again, will he sell out to
administration?
This summer the conflict is compounded
cause the code is practicallybeing written thro
2017. The idea that the administration is pa
studentstowriteitsunwanted,superfluous,dan
ous non-academic conductcode isechilling.
writing meetings areopen to any student,
it imperative that students not involved in
attend. The code, if written only by those on
administrative payroll, will be a frighten
document entailing not student "rights"
limitations.
As for the student leaders who are alre
immersedin the program, the best they cand
try to keep above water. After accepting
suspiciously generous offer of the administrat
they must remain somewhat adversarial in
relationshiptroughoutthe summer-orelR
furtherhopeofstudentactivismwillbestuffedd
into the administration's pocket.
What's the rush?
Internal overhaul to Greek system necessary
e suggestion put forth by Vice President
for Student Affairs Maureen A. Hartford
was the cue -now the Panhellenic Associa-
tion and Interfraternity Council need to act
upon it. As proposed by Hartford, eliminating
fallrushforfirst-yearstudentsisalong-awaited
measure in the list of Greek system reforms
that are needed at the University.
A time-consuming and intimidating se-
lection process plagues fraternities and so-
rorities. Rush puts undue stress on first-year
students who need time to adjust to the aca-
demic pressures of college. Those who do
poorly in their first semester are likely to
become discouraged with the University and
sink only deeper scholastically.
At the same time, the possibility of elimi-
nating first-year rush may prove to be detri-
mental to individual houses. A declining in-
terest in Greek life has already hurt the Uni-
versity Greek system somewhat. This situa-
tion is exacerbated by disciplinary conflicts
between local chapters and nationals. His-
tory lessons prove that small events like these
eventually lead to the downfall of even great
empires.
Despite concernsofGreekleaders,themove
to overhaul rush could provide long-term ben-
efits. If the rush process is modified, it may
stand to improve its sagging reputation in the
community. In return for sacrificing fall rush,
the concern for students' academics may
revive a sincere interest in the system. Im-
proving the image of the system will ulti-
mately increase the number of applicants by
enticing those who were intimidated by the
actual process of rush or the blighted reputa-
tion of the Greek system.
Furthermore, if rush is delayed even one
semester, first-year students will be in a better
position to determine which sorority or frater-
nity they would like to join. Knowing this
vital information could decrease the number
of pledges who later withdraw from their
organizations, causing further financial losses
to the houses. Moreover, the Greek system as
a whole will gain prestige from a more dedi-
cated and discriminating membership.
In the past, IFC and Panhel successfully
proved their ability to act when they imple-
mented a more stringent policy on alcohol
and hazing. The rush crisis dictates that the
regulating bodies take sharp measures once
more, this time followed up by strict enforce-
ment. Rush must be pushed back at least to the
wintersemester. Beyondthat,theentireprocess
of rushing needs to be reevaluated to optimize
the effectiveness of the rush experience.
It is evident that the problem will not disap-
pear on its own. Panhel and IFC must seize this
early opportunity to solve the problem before
the University exercises its powerful influence
to create its own policy. Outside intervention
would reflect poorly on the leadership capabili-
tiesoftheGreekcommunity,forcing the admin-
istration to solve its problems. It is imperative
that the matter be handled internally. Other-
wise, intervention on behalf of the academic
progress of first-year students will be inevi-
table.
Looking out for their future brothers and
sisters will demonstrate the advancing re-
sponsibility and maturity of the Greek com-
munity.
Rich and ignorant
Paying for tax cuts by slashing education
f recent study released by the Federal budget in the face of escalating entitle
Department of Education and the Census spending, the House is gutting progra
Bureau determined that there is a direct rela- reasons solely political. To cut taxes w
tion between educational attainment by the slashing spending to Head Start, student lo
nation's work force and productivity. The and post-secondary education places an
averages among both the manufacturing and ready-heavy burden for the providing of e
nonmanufacturing sectors, including business, cation in the hands of the states. This actio
show that a ten percent increase in a worker's wholly unconscionable.
education level produces twice the gain in The notion that cutting worker train
worker efficiency and productivity than the programs to provide incentives for busines
comparable value of implementing new tech- to invest in physical capital has long s'
nology and machinery. been proven to be wasteful and ineffi
And yet, the House, in an issue largely Yet the House presses on so that represe
split along party lines, is putting the Depart- tives like Susan Molinari (R-New York)
ment of Education itself on the chopping return home to proclaim "Tax relief!"
block, trying to cut its position from the although polls consistently demonstrate
cabinet in lieu of slashed spending to allow greater support for balancing the budget
for tax cuts and increased defense spending. and cutting taxes later.
Currently, the United States is tied for Entitlement spending needs to be cons
deadlast among the advancednationsin spend- ered for cuts. There is no question about
ing on education as a percentage of GDP: 5.5 But there can be no justification outside
percent. Meanwhile, the $280 billion in De- recklessness and selfishness in slashing
fense Appropriations for 1995 exceeds the cational programs to finance tax cuts for
next 13 advanced nations' efforts combined. who think that $200,000 in yearly inco
Ironically, at the height of the Cold War in puts them in line for "middle class" tax c
1981, education to defense spending was at a Fortunately, Republican Senators are prd
higher ratio than it is under the current House ing to be far more realistic in their approat
budget. This is one reason why Senator Paul admitting that they cannot maintain a b
Simon (D-Illinois) has introduced a "bombs anced budget and tax cuts with an "eqi
to books" amendment to the Senate's version distribution of pain" in spending cuts. Mu
of the bill, noting that educational cuts in the of the debate over proposed cuts in Medier
face of increased defense spending defy logic. have centered on "doing what's right for c
But the real evils behind the slashing of children." If such logic can be applied
education and other programs not privy to problem of skyrocketing Medicare benefi
mainstays of the Republican party are pro- then it surely must be applied to the future
posed tax cuts. Unlike many Senate Republi- learning. Education is not a merely a "sacr
cans in the process of trying to balance the cow": It is the backbone of American socie