Monday, July 20, 1998 - The Michigan Dailv - 5 NOTABLE QUOTABLE It's amazing to me how 30 seconds can change your life." - Former Michigan hockey player Chris Fox, after his sentencing for assault last Wednesday. Fox received three years probation, 200 hours of community service and $1,200 in court costs and fines. 0 T Ipha Kappa lpha info was wrong TO THE DAILY: In a 1996 edition of The Michigan Daily, an article titled "Joining Together As One" was written including the following: "Like its brother fraternity, ha Kappa Alpha was also nded at Cornell University because of the discriminatory practices of white sororities." I am a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and this information is com- pletely untrue. I can guess that many responses have been-sent regarding this bit if misinfor- mation. I do not understand, ever, that if I am correct, why the information is still posted incorrectly. It would be appreciated if this information could be corrected or removed from the article on the internet, thus ending this spread of false information to those interested in Alpha Kappa Alpha or The Michigan Daily or anyone else. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, . was founded January 15, 8, on the campus of Howard University, in Washington, D.C. The sorority was founded as a means of uniting African American women in college and giving them a bond amongst themselves as they continued through college. The founders and future members of the sorority strove for high scholas- chievement, gave service to the surrounding community, and had an interest in uplifting the African American community as a whole. The purpose of found- ing the organization was not to provide an alternative route for African American women to engage in sorority life. DARLENA M. GUNN ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA Student regent raises questions To THE DAILY: I'm just writing to express my interest in a student regent. I know that this is a topic that is presently receiving a substantial amount of discussion, and I have a few questions I'd like to have addressed. So this is an open let- ter to those who support a stu- dent regent. My first question regards the selection of a student regent. MSA is divided into schools, but one student regent will have to be picked from all of them. I assume it will be a general vote, similar to that of MSA. However, many students on campus are already fed up with MSA elections and their advertising campaigns. And this is for MSA, not an exulted posi- tion like student regent. Will stu- dent regent candidates be able to get backing from a student party? Will there be a limit on the campaign costs? How many forums and debates is the public going to be allowed to get to know the candidates? My second question is about eligibility. Who can run? This University is state-run and that is why all registered state voters elect a regent. This hints to the fact that only in- state students will be allowed a spot on this esteemed board. My third question is about biased students. Each student at this University is biased to cer- tain programs. When it comes to decisions, are we going to trust that he or she does right for the University and not themselves? This is a lot of pressure for someone under 25. Which leads to another ques- tion: Can grad students run? My last question is perhaps the most important. How much power will the student regent actually have? Even on a pure- ly one-vote basis, the most power a student regent could have is one vote out of nine. Are things so close to deadlock now that one more vote our way will change the whole University? The truth of the matter is that a student regent is going to affect the vote only slightly. I don't think that one vote is going to get a tuition increase lock as supporters are claiming. If someone can answer this question to my satisfaction, you'll have gotten at least one more vote. PATRICK ELKINS SCHOOL OF Music 'Ally McBeal ' does not spell the end offeminism F orgive me if I tread where no man should. program to single-handedly promote the politics Forgive me, women, if I piss you off. But I of her gender. sense a conspiracy against your freedom of I will agree that all too often, feminism is choice. integrated as a component of a PR campaign to The June 29 issue of Time touched on an promote female-led bands, TV shows and prod- interesting subject, the demise of feminism. On ucts. The Spice Girls, with their "Girl Power," the cover stood a rough timeline of notables in are pseudo-feminists, though I doubt they could the feminist movement, including even spell that word. The Lilith Fair, Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem. At which I had the pleasure of taking in a the end of this floating head line-up week ago, is hyped as celebrating was Calista Flockhart, better known women in music. But aside from a few as the title character of the FOX show ^kjokes about vaginas, it was really just "Ally McBeal," with the rhetorical about good music. question, "Is feminism dead?" l'And I will agree with Bellafante's beneath her. assertion that women are still woefully Inside the magazine is a multi-page underrepresented in positions of diatribe by Ginia Bellafante detailing power. how commercialism and popular cul- But her expectation that every ture have overrun the idealism that JACK woman who makes it into the public feminism used to embrace and SCHILLACI eye must serve to better the plight of all replaced it with a sugar coating. The 'I.AM IT TO women is dull and historically incon- article - not-so-subtly entitled "Who TIF LEFT sistent. While the '60s and '70s put the 'me' in feminism?" - lays the brought the rise of the feminist move- blame at numerous notable women's feet, among ment, it also brought us Gidget, Goldie Hawn, them Courtney Love, Flockhart, Steinem, Marcia Brady and Olivia Newton-John. It Winona Ryder, Whoopi Goldberg ... the list goes seems that the ditz patrol has always followed on and on. in the wake of Bellafante's vaunted idealism. Now, as far as I know - and I may be wrong The feminist movement was supposed to be about this - Ally McBeal is not considered the about women being whatever the hell they want- icon of current feminist thought. I have yet to ed to be, as I recall. It was about broadening hear anyone - man or woman - state, "Damn, choices, not dogmatic politicking. If Ally she's a powerful woman. She represents the true McBeal wants to obsess about her ex- voice of the female gender." Yes, she is a ditz boyfriend/co-worker, then more power to her. obsessed with her own well-being, occasionally Having kids, pursuing a career, performing haunted by fantasies. of dancing babies and domesticities, becoming an activist - all are "human sundials." And of course, one of her choices that should be respected. characteristic lines, "I want to help save the And no person - be it a man or Ginia world, I just want to get married first," does Bellafante - should say differently. smack in the face of the liberation that the femi- - Jack Schillaci, with his X and nist movement embodies. But I think it's just a Y chromosomes, can be reached little bit much to ask a fictional character on a TV over e-mail atjschilla@umich.edu. MR~. PRESIDENT, TAE~ SEaCRET SER~VICE AGENTS WILL BE TESTIEYINi4QIN CROUPS of TiAREE. 'Fin Sick of relationships? Take my advice just give up S ure, it may be a little difficult at first. I suppose yesterday's garbage, blah, blah, yada, yada. it will be tough for a while - I might even Say it's the other way around. Say there's a gid experience some withdrawal symptoms. who would do anything for me. Maybe even ... you But it's final. I've made up my mind, and there's get the idea. I can't respect her. I can't really like her. no turning back now. It's over. Done with. Finished. Fortunately, I'm much more kind-hearted than most I don't care what anyone says - I've had it.w women (who are, as everyone knows, cruel and I'm giving up on women. manipulative by nature), so I don't do any using or Now, don't get me wrong - at heart, toying with. Or at least not much ... come I'll always be a healthy heterosexual on, no one is perfect! male. I'm not going over to the other side But the result is ultimately the same - here. (Not that there's anything wrong no one winds up happy. with that, I'vejust never, uh ... Well, let's I've tried to get around this little sand put it this way: I'm not a big fan of the k tap of self esteem, but to no avail. The Village People, and I've never had aspi- same symptoms seem to plague most of rations to be a fashion designer.) the people I know, guys and girls. It's But despite whatever my, er ... heart, either scenario one or scenario two, over will always tell me, I've decided to stop " and over listening. I've had enough of all the Amazingly enough, I actually know headaches, all the emotional roller coast- CHRIS one or two couples who seem to have er rides, all the confusion and all the FARAH overcome this phenomena. These wondering. FAI II A AS "healthy" individuals are either married or I've had enough of women, once and FA UCET planning on it. Don't ask me how they did for all, damnit! it, although I have some suspicions ... I You see, I've figured it out. Relationships with think it has something to do with genuine feelings women are simply vicious cycles that feed off them- of friendship and caring for each other. But those selves, never ending. I just can't win. are just nasty, unsubstantiated rumors. I've come across two different relationship sce- I think I've got the only real answer: Give it up. narios which have become virtual motifs in my life, Call it quits. Throw in the towel, before it's too late: each ultimately just as unsatisfying and unfulfilling Before anyone else is unnecessarily hurt or any as the other. Allow me to elaborate: more real friendships are sacrificed! Scenario one: I like woman. She doesn't like me. After all, what's really so great about the oppo- Scenario two: Woman likes me. I don't like her. site sex, anyway? I mean, women have breasts, but OK, so maybe I simplified things just a little, that's really about it. And what are breasts but just but once you work through all the details, that's real- flabby little lumps of flesh? ly what it comes down to. OK, so maybe women can give birth. But mod- As the all-wise Ferris Bueller said, "You can't ern technology has created its own new and respect a person who kisses your ass." When I like improved breasts, so maybe childbirth isn't a long a woman, I really like her. I go all out. I'd do any- way away ... thing for her. I'd probably even kiss her ass, if she Whatever the case, I'll never like the Village really wanted me to. So, naturally, she doesn't People. For me, it's Queen and nothing else. respect me. I get used, toyed with, tossed out with - Reach Chris Farah at cjfarah@umich.edt.