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.