4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, May 24, 1995 RONNE GLASSBERG ADRIENNE JANNEY Editor in Chief JOEL F. KNUTSON Editorial Page Editors Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of a majority of 4 the Daily's editorial board. All other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Daily's editorial board. 420 Maynard Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan . 'jIis summer a group of students will work to create a policy on non-academic con- duct for the University: one that would be administered fairly and equally across the student body. Their mission comes after the University Board of Regents ordered Vice President for StudentAffairs Maureen A. Hartford to create a new policy that is less legalistic. While the regents were right in scrapping the faulty Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities in favor of a new policy, that action alone will not clear up the problems. No one will be able to foresee all the possible problems in administering a new policy. The students who worked on the origi- nal statement did not anticipate all of the problems with the current code, and with a less legalistic policy, the person who over- sees it will have more leeway to interpret the meaning. For this reason, it is imperative that this person has the background to work on mediation and conciliation, which the regents stressed when they ordered a new policy. Be- cause ofherbackgroundandlackofoversightof the statement, this person must not be Mary Lou Antieau, the judicial adviser for the statement. One of the first problems in having Antieau oversee a new policy is her education. She holds a law degree, which is the appropriate Antaieau must go Code implementation cannot be unilateral background for a legalistic document like the current policy. Antieau also served as director of South Quad, a position that focuses on disciplinary and administrativeresponsibilities. In a new policy that emphasizes mediation and conciliation, her background is inappropriate. Aside fromher education, Antieau has done a poor job of overseeing the policy. As judicial adviser, Antieauhas used the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, which allows the fed- eral government to withdraw funds from uni- versities that do not protect students' educa- tional records, to turn the implementation of the code into a kangaroo court. In a specific case last year, Antieau investigated LSA junior Darcy Niven after Niven spoke to The Michi- gan Daily about a code case she filed against her ex-boyfriend. Antieau said at the time that if Niven was determined to have provided the name of her ex-boyfriend to the Daily, it would be construed to be a breach of confi- dentiality. For Antieau, it was more important to protect the process over Niven's First Amendment rights. Yet the code is supposed to be unwavering on its protection of free speech. Another example of the problems of Antieau's interpretation was the case involving American culture doctoral student Melanie Welch, who was charged with harassment and assault of a neighbor, and requested an open hearing. Antieau claimed that the restriction on open hearings in cases of "sexual assault or harassment" refers to harassment alone. How- ever, David Schwartz, who helped draft the code as a law student, said the word "sexual" was meant to modify both "assault" and "harassment," allowing a closed hearing in cases of sexual assault or sexualharassment. "It is not surprising that Mary Lou is trying to change the meaning of the language of the code," Schwartz said. The University should not have a 'judicia advisor," but a person who can emphasize th areasthattheregentsrequestedforanewpolicy If the University insists upon a code of non academic conduct, that policy should focus education and not punishment. While Antie claims this is the role of the current policy, tha does not seem to be the practice. It is not University's job to assess guilt or innocence that should be left to the courts. Moreover oversight of such a policy should not rest in th hands of one person. Instead, a group of indi- viduals should serve as mediators for the policy and they could also serve as faculty members o in another capacity at the University. This wil ensure that those who shape the policy will become merely a prosecutor of students. Antieau has been able to work effectively with many student leaders, and it would be appropriate for Hartford to transfer her to an- other area of the University, such as the Hous- ing Division. But in a new code - which will likely be extremely ambiguous - it is impor- tant to have fair and qualified people handling its intricacies. And one person should not hold that sole accountability. No matter what sha any new policy takes, it is imperative that Matt Lou Antieau has no role in its administration. M-on The Universil AJjcard,themuchanticipated "improved"ver ion of Entree Plus, is proving to be a disappointment. By extending a banking service similartoEntrePlustooff-campusmerchants,the University andlocalbusinessescashinonthehigh- tech miracle-card. The University has already launchedamassivecampaigntoutingthebenefits of its sleek new banking card after a pilot period. The accolades are premature, as the Mcard may soon become a financial nightmare for students. What the University will not disclose in its glossy pamphlets are the shortcomings of Mcard. Starting next fall, the sophisticated card will replace the current student IDs and serve as a passport to University resources. It will offer two financialfeatures-aBankStripeandaCashStripe -for those who want to use either or both of the, functions. The BankStripe, similar to an ATM card, will allow students to purchase goods using a personal identification number for protection. TheCashStripe willbe moresimilartoEntreplus. Students can use it for smaller purchases such as vending machines andrestaurants anditwillnot be attached to a checking account. As an added incentive, the card will act as a phone card to provide reduced rates for long distance calling. Amajordrawbackinthecardisthatitsbanking capability can be confusing and potentially mis- leading.Unlike the old EntrePlus system, Mcard users willnothavethe optionof delaying payment. Instead, debit cards deduct the amount from the account at the time of purchase. Studentsusing the Meardtopay fortextbooks,forexample,willhave to be able to immediately cover the costs. Addi- tionally,themost popular aspectofEntriePlus,the ability to cover its costs via one's student account at the University, is history. opoly ty's debit game Student and local business' complaints about Entree Plus centeredaround the preference it gave to merchants in the Michigan Union and North CampusCommons,limitingstudentchoices.Mcard does nothing to alleviate this problem, because the advantage of having a virtual cash advance are gone. In addition, one bank will monopolize all Mcard business for the next three years. First of Americareceivedthe contractfromthe University by making thehighest bid-areasonable process. Unfortunately itnowhaslicense to charge students exorbitant checking account fees. At last week's regents meeting Regent Andrea Fischer Newman (R-Ann Arbor) expressed concerns about this: "I fear we're taking away some of the freedom a student could choose on where they want to bank." Regent Shirley McFee (R-BattleCreek)answered, "They have a choice. They don't have to use it." Those who want to sidestep the checking ac- countmightopttousethe CashStripe,thinking that it will be safer since it does not require a bank. The CashStripe, however, poses another problem for students. It stores up to $50 on the card for use at restaurants and vending machines. If the card be- comes lost, or demagnetized, the money is lost forever. CashStripe is rendered useless as an alternative to carrying cash. In the future the card will include a microchip that will possess enormous information capabili- ties, centralizing most personal information onto a little plastic card. The technology is attractive, but the implications are cause for concern. Students will always be losingcards, or getting themstolen. The potential for abuse will be greater than ever. McFee's comment points to the crux of the issue:IsMcardsomethingthatstudentswillwantto use? For many the answer should be no. Shopping around 'U' capable of responsible purchasing power 7P e University, legendary for its indiscre blessing. The University taxes the city's in- tions in dealing with units of government, frastructure, undermines its revenue base a finally got it right. Before concluding a pur- contributes to social ills. chase of a building complex last week, the The problem is worsened when the Univer- administration mailed about 250 letters to sity makes significant moves that affect the community leaders seeking their support for community without warning city officials. the transaction. It was an astute public-rela- That's what happened last summer with the tions move and a welcome departure from the Eisenhower complex, andearlier withWolver- stealth tactics the University usually deploys ine Tower. City officials complained bitterly in shopping for property. that the University apparently showed little Meeting Friday, the University Board of concern for the community. And their position Regents approved the purchase of a $9.9 was justified. million building complexnear Briarwood Mall. This week, however, city officials are reli Included in the purchase is a $2.8 million lot tively mumon the University's latest purchase. at the corner of Eisenhower Boulevard and University administrators gave them little to South Main Street. University officials said complain about. Vice President for University the buildings will house the Briarwood Fam- Relations Walter Harrison mailed about 250 ily Practice medical clinics. The sale takes the form letters to community leaders urging them property off the tax rolls, as all University to support the purchase. In the letters, Harrison land is exempt from property taxes. asked recipients to "join me in supporting this The $50,000 the city will lose annually prudent investment in our community's health from the purchase willchip away at revenues at care delivery system." a time when the city faces potentially huge Mayor Ingrid Sheldon and other city lea payouts under a settlement to honor its loan ers were restrained in their criticism of th agreement with the YMCA. The Ann Arbor purchase, blaming the uncomfortable rela- Public Schools and Washtenaw County will tionship between the two units of government lose about $120,000 a year. rather than the University itself. Sheldon sug- Last July, the University angered city offi- gested that the University provide free health cials by buying the Eisenhower Corporate West care to low-income residents in exchange for office without warning -a move that deprived the lost tax revenues. Her idea looks good on the city of $37,700 in annual tax revenue. paper, and the University should consider it Eighteen months earlier, the University bought seriously. Furthermore, the University should Wolverine Tower, costing the city $316,000 a be receptive to city requests for an "econom' year. University property accounts for nearly a impact statement" whenever it buys maj third of the value of all property in Ann Arbor. pieces of property. Only then will the Univer- While the city is immeasurably enriched by sity have gone beyond simple p.r. gestures to the presence of the University, it is a mixed genuine cooperation.