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July 27, 1998 - Image 4

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Publication:
Michigan Daily Summer Weekly, 1998-07-27

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4 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, July 27, 1998
Edited and managed by CHRIS FARAH DAVID WALLACE
Sstudents at the tEditor in Chief Editorial Page Editor
University of Michigan
Unless otheri se noted, unsigned editorials re/lect the inion of t
420 Maynard Street majoriiy of the Daily' seditorial boaid. All oilier articles, letters an
Ann Arbor, MI 48109 cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Dai

I ast week, U.S. News and World Report
ranked the University of Michigan
Hospitals No. 12 in the nation. The
University made the cut in 13 out ofnthe 16
specialties ranked by the publication, with
otolaryngology, geriatrics, gynecology, psy-
chiatry, rehabilitation and rheumatology
climbing up the ranks while cancer, neurolo-
gy, orthopedics and urology took a drop in
departmental placement. It is to the credit of
the University that it made such an impres-
sive mark in the assortment of health estab-
lishments, but the bigger picture of universi-
ty rankings, which U.S. News has almost
monopolized in the information market, is
more ominous than promising.
U.S. News is well known for its ranking
of both undergraduate and graduate schools,
which it classifies according to a scale deter-
mined by varying factors; SATs, ACTs,
LSATs, MCATs and graduating GPAs of
accepted students are obvious elements in
the scaling formula. But certain other con-
stituents like acceptance rates, class sizes,
alumni donations and the opinion of judges

e sthe numbers
Students should not take rankings as final say

and lawyers (in the case of law school rank-
ings) add inequity to an equation that is
already imperfect.
The U.S. News surveys overlook the intri-
cacies of many categories which determine
the rankings of these schools. A state-run
college will always have a higher acceptance
rate than a private school, based on legisla-
tive and state policy issues. All else equal,
the purpose of the state-run institution is to
educate more students at lesser fees. This sit-
uation does not necessarily imply that a
state-run school is inferior in terms of acad-
emic standards than a private institution. But
the formulation of the U.S. News surveys
generally place public schools lower than
private schools. Similarly, factors like class
size, which is on average larger in public
schools than at private schools, hinder the

placement of public schools. It is therefore
no surprise that the top-20 national universi-
ties ranked by U.S. News in 1997 were all
private schools, while only three public
schools, including the University, were given
a spot in the top 25. So an elemental partial-
ity of this ranking exists against state-run
institutions.
Correspondingly, alumni donation rates,
which are based on financial and economic
factors, and the opinions of judges and
lawyers, who are professionals far removed
from academia and may have school bias,
are a poor reflection of a particular institu-
tion's academic standing. Such factors give
schools and their rankings a more commer-
cial connotation than an academic one.
Perhaps more portentous than this rank-
ing system are the effects it creates in the

information market. For many studen
these ratings are the final word in colle
applications; and many times these rank'
are a matter of great distress and discod
to applicants when they are not acccpte'd
the top institution of higher learnir
Analogously, in an effort to boost their rar
ing, university admissions may place utmn
importance on the components of this ran
ing, such as test scores and GPAs, instead
other qualitative elements which should
sought in students. Consequently, ma
deserving students may be left behind
their pursuit of an education. Also, schoi
that place a boycott on these rankings rue
risk of not being placed at all, exacerbati
their problem.
When it comes to selecting a school o
hospital, people need to take the rankir
with a grain of salt. Only the student c
determine what is best for him or her. G
Omenn, head of the University's Ilea
System, summed up the recent rankings w
when he said: "It is not a science. It's a beo
ty contest."

On the air
University should create national network
T he University is currently attempt- tain a surplus.
ing to establish only the second deal Another sports-related benefit of the
between a national radio network and a national radio network would come in
college football team for nationwide the form of exposure. To recruit top ath-
coverage - Notre Dame being the first, letes nationwide, the University must
broadcasting nationwide since 1968. have its name on peoples' lips. Radio
Such a network would make Michigan coverage in areas previously unfamiliar
football games heard on potentially hun- with Michigan football can yield poten-
dreds of stations spanning the entire tial recruits who previously would not
country. Given the myriad benefits such consider attending the University.
a network would provide to the football Also, the football team's exposure
program and the University at large, the likely would carry over to prospective
University should work out a deal to students who do not compete athletical-
make the network a reality. ly. Both the University's academics and
The University is negotiating with the athletics contribute to its reputation as a
One-On-One Sports Radio Network - leading institution. Increasing public
which has nearly 400 affiliates - to exposure should result in an increased
begin national broadcasts as early as this number of applications to the already
year. The financial rewards for the large pool, in turn allowing the
University are substantial, with a possi- University more flexibility when select-
ble $600,000 in earnings for this coming ing a strong student body.
season alone. If all is worked out, One- The importance of football to the
On-One will broadcast six games this University cannot be overstated; anyone
season, with expansion to a full season who doubts football's nearly sacred
in coming years. And with expansion position need only look at the 100,000
would come a great deal more in earn- plus packing Michigan Stadium on
ings, perhaps topping the $1 million autumn Saturdays to see football's
mark. prominence on campus. The first time
This revenue would go into the many past and current students heard
Athletic Department's coffers and help about the University was through its ath-
maintain it as a top-tier department. In letic accomplishments.
fact, the Athletic Department's budget The University should always search
for 1998-99 already reflects increased for new ways to expand itself and inter-
broadcasting earnings that correlate est prospective students to stay competi-
with the proposed radio network agree- tive with other leading institutions. The
ment. The funds brought in from broad- establishment of a nationwide radio net-
casting rights should help soothe the work is one such avenue of growth that
finltncial wound caused by one fewer can benefit many aspects of the
home football game this season - and University. Football is an important
perhaps a less lucrative bowl game as ambassador for the University and a
compared to last year's Rose Bowl - radio network can put an embassy in
helping the Athletic Department main- every state.

High flight
America loses astronaut Alan Shepard at 7

When Alan Shepard passed away last
week at age 74, America lost one of its
heroes. Shepard was the first American in
space when he blasted off on May 5, 1961, in
the tiny Mercury space capsule Freedom 7.
Shepard's flight boosted the nation's confi-
dence during the cold war and set the fledg-
ling U.S. space program on its way.
Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr., was born in
East Derry, N.H., in 1923. He attended the
U.S. Naval Academy and served on a
destroyer in World War II. Later he became a
navy test pilot.
In 1959, the year-old National
Aeronautics and Space Administration
named Shepard one of the original seven
astronauts - referred to as the Mercury
Seven. The honor of the first manned flight
was given to Shepard in January of 1961.
The flight was scheduled for March of
that year, but a malfunction moved the date
back to May. And on May 5, Shepard made
his historical flight - but not without early
setbacks. Bad weather and technical prob-
lems forced Shepard to sit in his capsule for
three hours on top of the Redstone rocket
that would propel him into space.
Unquestionably, Shepard had nerves of
steel. Life magazine called him "a cool cus-
tomer," and his quote during the delay con-
firms that the description was appropriate.
Waiting in the capsule, Shepard radioed,
"Why don't you fix your little problems and
light this candle?" Shepard had no problem
with self-confidence; he definitely felt he
was the right man for the job.
As Shepard made his flight, America
held its breath. The shot was broadcast on
television, and everyone who could get to a
set watched. Schools showed the flight live.
And as the capsule dropped into the ocean,
Shepard radioed, "Everything A-OK." So

was the country.
While Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin c
beat Shepard into space by 23 days, the flig
meant a great deal. Shepard's flight sh
that while the Soviets were still ahead i
space race, America was not far behind. T
country's confidence soared, peaking wi
President John E Kennedy's declaration all
the flight that America would put a man
the moon before the end of the decac
Apollo 11 met that goal eight years later.
Shepard was disappointed that he did
beat Gagarin to space - due to the Mar
setback. But Shepard had a great del
control over his space capsule during l
minute flight, whereas Gagarin, more
less, was just along for the ride.
Shepard's contribution to the space pi
gram did not end with his flight. In 19;
Shepard commanded the Apollo 14 missi
to the moon, completing the mission t
famed Apollo 13 set out to accompli
Shepard became the fifth man to walk on t
moon during this mission, and spent m
than 33 hours on the moon's surface. Wh
on the surface, Shepard etched one 01
indelible images of the Apollo missio
when he swatted golf balls on the moon.
Shepard retired from NASA and t
Navy in 1974 with the rank of Rear Admit
He then took his talents to the business a
real estate worlds where he became a n
lionaire. He left behind his wife, thi
daughters, and six grandchildren.
Alan Shepard was a true American he
His flight inspired the nation and sl
stage for further ventures into space. At
pivotal point in history, when the count
thought it might be lagging behind, Shept
rocketed America into the space age. As h
tory and author Tom Wolfe have not
Shepard had the right stuff.

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