4 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, June 15, 1998 Edited and managed by CHRIS FARAH DAVID WALLACE students at the bt .&1rEditor in Chief Editorial Page Editor University of Michigan Q I z uj g Unless oterise noted msigned editoras refect the opinion q/f e 420 Maynard Street maiod rite Daitorseilhoanhll rherharrieleteerscnd Ann Arbor, Ml 48109 cartoonst do no necessarily refiet the opinion oj he1 Michigaii Dai: L ast week, the state House of Representatives upped Gov. John Engler's recommendation for a 1.5-percent funding increase for higher education to approximately 4-percent. While the nearly $50 million increase is welcome, an attached amendment that challenges the University's admissions policy must be removed from the legislation. The University's right to use its own criteria when individually evaluating each prospective student must be preserved. The University's use of affirmative action when creating its student body came under a great deal of scrutiny and rhetoric last year. Many high-profile political figures are involved - Sen. David Jaye (R-Macomb) is arguably the most vocal, spewing forth ven- omous condemnations of the University's practices. Through the controversy, and a well-publicized lawsuit, the University has not wavered in its support of affirmative action and a diverse campus. For this com- mitment to integrity, the University deserves a great deal of credit. Affirmative action seeks to create a fair Poor methods State funding puts admissions under fire basis on which students may be evaluated. Too often, universities place emphasis on quantitative measurements such as standard- ized tests which do not take into account the socioeconomic status of a student. Essays, extra-curricular activities and personal expe- rience contribute more to the overall picture of a student's abilities and potential through a policy of affirmative action. Without such provisions, well-to-do students from finan- cially sound districts have a distinct advan- tage over underprivileged students. When proposition 209 ended affirmative action in California, the state's premier cam- puses experienced a striking decline in minority enrollment. The University of California-Berkley will have 65-percent fewer black students enrolled in this year's freshman class than last year's. Similar num- bers could result at the University if its use of affirmative action is compromised. The amendment attached to the funding legislation prohibits schools from adjusting scores and using different cutoff scores because of a student's race, color, nationality, gender, alumni relationships and religion. The University uses a complex system that evaluates such considerations among others and then recalculates a student's grade point average. Under the amendment, the University would have little control over the applications it receives. The University must have the ability to mold a student body it believes will optimal- ly benefit all students. A great deal of the University experience comes from social interactions between students of different backgrounds. Diversity teaches the values of 'culture - different cultures bring together different expressions and ideas. Students benefit from such variety. There is no question the University and other public institutions of higher learning need this extra funding to continue to improve the quality of education they pro- vide. This money allows them to stay com- petitive with other institutions. Early esti- mates based on Engler's 1.5-percent increase projected a 5.6-percent tuition increase for University students. In all probability, stu- dents at other state universities and colleges would see a similar tuition increase under Engler's proposed 1.5-percent increase. But while the extra funding would be of great benefit, the University cannot afford to trade in its principles for a ftnding increase. Sadly, state legislators cannot see that affirmative action promotes fairness and diversity. The University must maintain its internal control and cotmsmitment to excel- lence. For this to happen, the University must benefit from the funding increase without any government interference in admissions. Loud and clear, School district should accept cell phone deal A s the number of cellular telephone ing structures. But if the antennas are users continues to increase, the not constructed at the proposed sites need for the antennas that support them near Clague Middle School and on the also grows. The Ann Arbor school dis- existing towers near Huron and Pioneer trict has been offered $45,000 per year football fields, these antennas will in all over a multi-year deal in exchange for probability be built somewhere in the allowing OmniPoint Communications to vicinity of the desired locations. By install three cell phone antennas on dis- agreeing to the deal, the school districtj trict property. While a few school board will receive substantial remuneration for members worry about the towers the ugliness - a far better alternative to becoming an eyesore, the district badly losing the money and still getting the needs this additional source of revenue towers in a nearby location. and should accept the company's pro- Also of great importance is the issue posal. of safety. The installation of these anten- The Ann Arbor school district must nas will not place students in a position think pragmatically. In a time when the of harm. These towers will be construct- district's purse strings are tight, the ed to withstand high winds and to fall its money the district will receive from the upon themselves in the event of a col- telecommunications company can help lapse. Of course, the towers will be meet the district's considerable needs. fenced off from students. While the tow- Over the course of the contract, the dis- ers do emit electromagnetic radiation, trict stands to receive approximately the radiation is 100 times lesser in mag- $1.2 million. Since the state does not nitude than that from a FM radio. The provide enough of an allocation to run only harm to students would occur if the the schools, the district must take advan- district refused the money. tage of outside funding opportunities. Other districts have undergone simi- This increase in the district's funding lar installations. The Ann Arbor school would work to strengthen the quality of board must realize the benefits of the Ann Arbor schools. The financial strains increased revenue. Both the school dis- of important programs such as driver trict and the community at large must education could be alleviated to some continue to think pragmatically and with degree. As financial issues will most the best interests of its students in mind. likely continue to be a thorn in the dis- It would be to Ann Arbor's favor to trict's side, sources of money such as merely avert its eyes to the possible OmniPoint's offering are necessary to visual disturbance and to focus on the maintain programs that could be cut benefits the antennas will bring. from the budget. Ann Arbor's school Building these antennas is for the sake board needs to be practical: Educational of Ann Arbor's children. With the quality must be preserved rather than increase in the district's funding there is schoolyard beauty. a greater ability for the district to culti- Regrettably, the cell phone antennas vate responsible and well-educated citi- will create somewhat unpleasant-look- zens. Bad medicine Kevorkian's latest assist hurts organ donation L ast week, Jack Kevorkian helped a 45- lem that goes well beyond politics. Organ year-old quadriplegic patient die, whose donation is at question, and lie has drawn kidneys were then extracted for donation negative attention to this vital system. purposes. The aftensath was as turbulent as Long waiting lists exist for organs, and could be expected. The medical community often patients die before a donor can be1 condemned his actions, Gov. John Engler found. asked for a remodeling of assisted suicide More donors are needed, but many peo- laws, the United Network for Organ Sharing pIe fear that becoming an organ donor urged an immediate moratorium on all non- makes them less apt to receive the best licensed organ harvesting, and Jack medical treatment. The fear is that if one's Kevorkian simply defended his doings. Even organs are valuable, then one's life is less the coroner added his bit by marking the so. People fear abuses of the system, and death as homicide by mutilation and intra- this suicide has sparked people's anxiety. venous drugging. The issues of assisted sui- Esther Benenson, a spokeswoman for cide and organ donation came to the fore- the United Network for Organ Sharing, front. The medical community must take summed up the problem: "It's commend- charge of assisted suicide, while the system able in what Dr. Kevorkian is doing in that for organ donation must react to quell peo- he wants to save lives," she said. But she pie's fears and encourage participation. added, "We certainly would not commend Death is one of our most personal issues. somebody to help a patient commit suicide Euthanasia adds another complex part to the just in order to retrieve those organs to equation. Engulfed by profound moral and save somebody else's life." Prospective personal beliefs, assisted suicide is too con- donors need encouragement that the sys- glomerate an issue to legislate. Engler's pro- tem works ethically and efficiently. posal and the state Senate's mandate to ban Kevorkian's latest assist casts doubt on assisted suicide beginning April 1999 is not each qualification. in resonance with the intricacies of this Once again, the moral aspect of deeply individual issue. The government euthanasia is called into question. And as should not legislate how much a human the debate continues, the government being can suffer. A democratic government looks for new ways to legislate assisted cannot command our private lives. suicide. But the government must stand This issue would be better off left to the aside to let the medical community step medical community and the persons directly forward and take control: One man should involved in such issues. After all, we entrust not decide who is fit to die. People need the citizenry of medicine with our lives in proof that they can trust the doctors they matters of terminal illness, and society hand their lives to in emergencies. The awards doctors the license to be practitioners public's fearful opinion must change, but of health and its issues. To revoke the rights Kevorkian only reinforces this fear. When of doctors and instead establish policies con- it does change, organ donation - correct- trary to society's mandate would be hypo- ly labeled as the gift of life - will no critical. longer be regarded as an excuse for hospi- But KeYorkian's actions create a prob- tals to take lesser care of patients.