4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, July 30, 1997
Edited and managed by ERIN MARSH JACK SCHILLACI
students at the ,r * Editor in Chief Editorial Page Editor
University of Michigan
Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of
420 Maynard Street majority of the Daily's editorial board. All other articles, letters an
Ann Arbor, MI 48109 cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily.
n a few months, applications for admis-
sion will start rolling in. The Office of
Undergraduate Admissions will place
applicants' SAT scores, high school GPAs,
extra curricular involvement and other fac-
tors into consideration and select the
group of students that will become the
Class of 2002. According to the school,
curriculum, unusual, geographic and
alumni guidelines, students going to cer-
tain schools will also receive bonus points
added to their high school GPAs. The
SCUGA guidelines have a problematic
bias: Most of the schools that receive
points are private or are located in eco-
nomically-advantaged school districts.
The University should stop using the sys-
tem as it may create an unfair admissions
environment for qualified students from
poor school districts.
The University allocates up to an addi-
tional 0.5 points to high schools that meet
certain curriculum criteria. Admissions
decisions must take all aspects of appli-
cants' educational experience into account
The pdce of points
SCUGA could bias admissions
in admissions decisions - including the
rigor of their high schools' curricula.
However, having an instituted mechanism
that gives certain schools' students an
advantage over others does not ensure that
applicants will have undertaken a chal-
lenging course load.
The SCUGA guidelines also pose a
threat to University's efforts to enhance
campus diversity. Administrators insist
that they want a diverse student environ-
ment, but the guidelines negate some
efforts to enroll a large, diverse applicant
pool. In order to attract a diverse student
body, admissions officers must recruit stu-
dents from inner-city high schools who
may not typically view the University as a
feasible financial option. In giving wealthy
students an automatic advantage over their
poorer-district counterparts, the University
contradicts its diversity efforts. The
University should remove the guidelines to
allow low-income students to compete on
a level playing field for admission to the
University.
The University's analysis of individual
high schools' merit is also problematic.
The University has neither the time nor the
power to fully analyze schools' curricula
and instead must rely on information sub-
mitted by individual districts. The data is
limited in scope and should not be the
basis for such a significant decision. In
addition, much of the information is out-
dated - schools can make significant
improvements between submissions.
State high schools work to obtain North
Central Accreditation. In providing their
own analysis of high schools, the
University usurps the role of the accredita-
tion process. Admissions officers should
not second guess schools' accreditation
and should allow curriculum analysis to
fall to the capable hands of North Centre
High school education is significan
different than the higher education setting
- a high applicant GPA does not neces-
sarily predict excellence at the University.
The bonus points students receive will do
little for them once they attend classes -
they will be on equal terms as all other stu-
dents, possibly making their early bonus a
false sense of security.
University administrators must commit
themselves to providing a fair and equal
admissions process. Giving wealthy apre
cants an inherent advantage works against
that and could threaten the University's
efforts to support a diverse student popula-
tion. Administrators should end use of the
SCUGA guidelines and remove a road-
block in the path of qualified applicants.
A man for the people
Brennan promoted individual rights
W hile most of the nation was fixated ion in Baker v. Carr, which discontinued
on Andrew Cunanan's death last disproportionate representation of small
week, a truly great man who shaped much communities in state legislatures and in
of modern law passed away. Last the U.S. House.
Thursday, former U.S. Supreme Court In numerous other cases, ranging from
Justice William Brennan died, leaving defenses of the separation of church and
behind an enormous legacy of more than state to steadfast opposition to the death
1,300 opinions affecting nearly every penalty, Brennan consistently upheld the
aspect of American life. interests of individuals against those of the
Brennan served for 34 years on the state, large corporations and organized reli-
high court. A Democrat appointed by gion.'wice in his final years on the bench,
Republican President Dwight D. Brennan joined a 5-4 majority upholding
Eisenhower, Brennan proved to be among the right of citizens to burn the American
the most liberal of justices. Brennan was flag as a form of political protest. One of
renowned for his personal charm and abil- his last cases concerned affirmative action
ity to form bipartisan coalitions within the - Brennan cast the clinching vote in the 5-
court - long after the court began its 4 decision affirming Congress's right to
swing to the right, Brennan managed to create and administer programs helpful to
score important victories for his liberal under-represented minorities.
viewpoints. Perhaps most important to Brennan's
One of Brennan's landmark cases was legacy was his vision of the U.S.
The New York Times v. Sullivan. In the Constitution as a dynamic living docu-
early 1960s, many Southern officials ment, whose words must be interpreted
sought to limit coverage of the civil according to today's realities. In this,
rights movement in papers reaching their Brennan constantly butted heads with con-
areas. One such official sued the Times servatives who believed words written in
for libel over trivial inaccuracies con- 1787 should be applied literally to 20th
tained within an advertisement. The century America. Following this course,
Supreme Court's decision to overturn a Brennan wrote many opinions expanding
Southern court's ruling in favor of federal powers in matters previously han-
Sullivan - spearheaded by Brennan's dled solely by states. Some decisions
majority opinion - gave publishers First resulted in individuals - once left to
Amendment protection, save for "reck- diverse and perhaps unfair practices by the
less disregard for the truth." state - receiving the protections of feder-
In his opinion for the majority in al law.
Goldenberg v. Kelley, Brennan upheld the It is this concern for the common
right of welfare recipients to be covered by American, expressed through 34 years of
the Fifth Amendment's Due Process Supreme Court experience, for which
clause. The case discontinued the practice Brennan should be best remembered. As a
of cutting off welfare benefits without a staunchly liberal voice in an era beset by
hearing. increasing conservancy, Brennan's wis-
Brennan also penned the majority opin- dom will be sorely missed.
Take a breather
Drifting pollution compromises state
C louds of smoke and hazy smog are tion to 8 parts per billion. The new stan-
usual problems in southeast dards pose a significant problem for much
Michigan, especially during the hot sum- of Michigan. In particular, southeast
mer months. Emissions from automo- Michigan violated the new levels 30 times
biles, factories and utility companies con- already this year. Other parts of the state
tribute to the great clouds of ozone and would have difficulty meeting even the old
pollutants that hover over the state. EPA standards if all industrial pollut.
However, some pollution is unintentional- sources shut down - making it impracuT-
ly imported from outside the state by cal for the new standards to bet met rea-
winds. Under the Environmental sonably.
Protection Agency's strict air-pollution The Clean Air Act allows the EPA to
guidelines, many parts of Michigan could punish areas in violation of its standards
face severe punishment if they do not by blocking federal funding for roads. It
keep air-pollution levels low. However, can do so if an area exceeds mandated
the agency must take care not to punish ozone levels more than three times a year
the state if the levels of toxins in the air for three years in a row. The impact of
are out of localities' control. such a freeze in federal funding could e
Many Michigan cities experience devastating for the state. The qualityf
heightened levels of air pollution due to many state roads is poor and construc-
transient smog from large industrial cities tion projects working to repair them
such as Milwaukee, Wisc., and Chicago, could face significant delays if the gov-
Ill. The inflow of dirty air can make it dif- ernment gutted such a large portion of
ficult for areas to keep themselves in line the projects' funding. State roads provide
with the EPA requirements. Last week, a lifeline for trade and economic growth
the EPA officially acknowledged that - the EPA should ensure that a funding
much of the state's smog drifts in from block would not put state growth into a
bordering states. Russell Harding, head of strangle hold.
the Michigan Department of The EPA should re-examine its poli-
Environmental Quality, said that even if cies that could cause Michigan's econ y
parts of the state shutdown most of their so much damage. In sectioning off areas'
smog-producing industries, southeast atmospheres, the agency assumes that
Michigan would still likely break the industrial output in certain cities will not
EPA's dictums. While the state should effect others.' Pollution patterns are too
make all efforts to ensure that pollution interdependent to make measurements of
output is low, there is significant transient pollution in Michigan completely accu-
smog that contributes greatly to the area's rate given the significant industrial output
high levels. in other parts of the country. The EPA
The EPA released new standards for should refocus its efforts to ascertain what
ozone levels last week. While former reg- kind and volume of toxins indivicl
ulations mandated areas keep ozone to areas produce - preventing unfuir
below 12 parts per billion, the new stan- assessments from damaging the state's
dards drop acceptable pollutant penetra- economic growth.