4 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, August 3, 1998 Edited and managed by CHRIS FARAH DAVID WALLACE students at theCHSFAA ADWA AE uets at Mtn + + Editor in Chief Editorial Page Editor University of Michigan IJ tP f tl$1t S424MaUnless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the 42 aynard Steet majority of the Dailys editorial board. All other articles, letters and Ann Arbor, MI 48109 cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Dail U niversity theme semesters have been welcome forums to address and heighten awareness of serious issues facing students at the University and in the world at large. The last theme semester, which concentrated on the environment and all its issues, was a huge success. So it is with great promise that the University has designated diver- sity as the theme for the Winter 1999 semester. This theme semester should help generate discussion and thought on an important and controversial issue that all students at the University deal with. In the past year, diversity, or rather the means the University uses to create a diverse student body, has been perhaps the most talked-about issue on campus. And in the midst of it, some ill will has been fostered. Students' conflicting views of programs such as affirmative action can lead to heated discussions and resentment. The diversity theme semester can Strong themes University plans theme semester on diversity spread information about the University community's own conflicts regarding its admissions policies and also stress the reasons diversity is a necessary, benefi- cial aspect of today's world. The semes- ter's goal should be to create more awareness of the issue, giving students the information they need to form their opinions. The on-campus affirmative action debate definitely has left some students feeling lost. A great deal of information has come out in the past year, and numerous developments in the lawsuit have since occurred. Explaining such developments and what they mean to the University can be of great help to stu- dents concerned about the issue but not up-to-date on the current happenings. One idea being considered for the semester is to have speakers and panel discussions on diversity. This should definitely be incorporated into the semester; because of the issue's contro- versial nature, many students may sim- ply choose not to discuss diversity and its role at the University. Getting started can be the hardest part, and lecturers and dialogues can provide the spark. Also, addressing diversity can help educate students about dealing with dif- fering cultures and ethnicities. Students of all backgrounds encounter some measure of culture shock on campus, and obstacles such as language barriers can segment students who would other- wise interact. The diversity semester can help cultivate understanding between students at the University, an perhaps reduce the tendency for stu dents to remain within their own com fort zones. A further goal of the planned seine. ter should be to prepare students for th diversity they will experience after the leave the University. Multiculturalism i a goal of virtually every institution including big business. Students wil need to be comfortable dealing with al sorts of backgrounds to compete ii today's increasingly globalized society. There is no doubt that diversit' improves the University and the educa tional experience it provides to studen4 The myriad experiences, customs an< religions that come together on campu mirror the diversity one encounter throughout life. Understanding the importance of diversity is the first stet in adjusting to our multicultural world And once people are comfortable wit] differing backgrounds, one less socia limit exists. Land of plenty New acquisitions do not damage Ann Arbor T ast month, the University purchased school groups to the area. Also, University several acres of land near Michigan Hospitals draw patients from many com- Stadium for future development. No exact munities throughout Michigan, and spe- use has been determined for the land, but cialists can see patients from all over the as needs develop, the University will have world. Most of these people coming to the property to expand. The University's Ann Arbor spend money at the city's spread and continuing growth are always a restaurants and stores. sensitive issue to the City of Ann Arbor, One of the most high-profile sources of which loses valuable tax revenue whenev- revenue is University Athletics, which er the University makes a new acquisition. attracts numerous fans from all over the While Ann Arbor fears that University state. Michigan Stadium, for example, growth will have a negative economic routinely seats more than 100,000 fans on impact on the city, the University should game day, giving it a larger population continue to look to the future and purchase than nearly all cities in Michigan - and a land that potentially fills a need. size roughly equivalent to the regular pop- The conflict arises due to the ulation of Ann Arbor. And these fans University's tax-exempt status. Since the spend money in the city for souvenirs, University is a non-profit organization, food and entertainment. Ann Arbor cannot impose property taxes Also, the city should not forget that on any University properties. Given that most of the people brought into the city the University owns approximately 10 per- through the University spend money on cent of all land in the city, Ann Arbor takes parking meters and parking tickets - in significantly less property tax than it money that flows directly into Ann Arbor's could. And with every new purchase, a lit- purse. All the money spent in Ann Arbor tle less of Ann Arbor is subject to proper- likely outweighs the money lost on tax- ty taxes. exempt properties. The city should not simply look at the For the University to continue to attract lost property taxes on a piece of land, but thousands upon thousands of people, it must recognize the immeasurable contribution continue to grow and remain a leading cen- the University makes to Ann Arbor's econ- ter of higher learning. It should not temper omy. Each year, the University brings any efforts to purchase property it sees as 35,000 students into Ann Arbor. These stu- valuable to its future interests. As the face of dents spend their money largely in the city. education changes, the University needs lee- Student money flows into bookstores, way to change with it. When new projects restaurants, clubs, theaters, music stores are started, the land the University keeps in - virtually any place of business in the reserve will make sure that acquiring prop- city. And the revenue linked to the erty does not hold up the process. University does not end with students. As long as the University remains a The University attracts considerable leader people wii1 come o Ann Arbor and numbers of unaffiliated peopt into the spend money. The city and th Univrity city. Tourists come to see the museums on havy a symbiotic relatonship, and when one campus, which also frequently draw is doing well, so is the other. Di Hornic gains Economics and diplomacy settle disputes T here was a glimmer of hope in diplo-' more will develop between rival nations matic circles when the prime minis- Unrest in the Middle East remains, a, ters of India and Pakistan met last week in does the subcontinent's dispute ove an effort to restart the severed peace talks Kashmir, while domestic conflicts remai delayed by the nuclear debacle this past in Africa, South America and Ba1 May. For an area of the world that is home Europe. But it can be assuredly stated to a sixth of humanity, this diplomatic ini- as evidenced by the cooling of tension tiative was of crested importance: a bilat- between India and Pakistan once the U.S. eral peace agreement has been gravely cut aid - that dollars and cents mak needed in this region for 50 years. It is more sense than arms races and territoria noteworthy that these talks, held after hegemony, and international policies an two-and-a-half months of political stale- agendas are finally beginning to be decid mate, started a week after U.S. Assistant ed in rational economic and diplomatic Secretary of State Strobe Talbott visited terms rather than warfare. this affected region. The U.S. should con- But foreign intervention through p - tinue to use its diplomatic powers to help ticularly economic means to settle settle dangerous situations peacefully. putes should not allow powerful nations to In the aftermath of the Cold War, with hurt weaker ones. In the example o political disputes existent in Africa, Asia Pakistan and India, both countries have and Eastern Europe, the U.S. will contin- announced a moratorium on first-strike ue to play a principal role as a negotiator nuclear warfare, and Pakistan is even of international disputes. Military inter- reconsidering its previously negative ventions this decade, such as the Gulf War stance on pacts like the Comprehensive and crises in Haiti and Somalia, have met Test Ban Treaty and the Non-Proliferation with less-than-hoped-for results. Now, Treaty. near the end of the millennium, as spry Nations taking such actions should be disputes and controversies arise, the U.S. rewarded with restored benefits as should use its capabilities and direct its incentive towards peace. The U.S.'s dea - resources to pacify international disagree- ings in North Korea, where Pyongyang ments. This does not mean that the U.S. was given $4 billion in U.S. assistance to should send in the troops wherever the cap its nuclear program, is a stellar exam- bureaucratic climate gathers heat; instead, ple of trade politics. as the India-Pakistan equation indicates, If disputes can be decided and lives the U.S. should call into use purposeful can be saved through the economic and diplomatic and economic factors which diplomatic maneuvering of powerful will have positive and peaceful effects on states, then such mechanisms should be the disputing regions. adopted as a means to peace. But ing The dusk of the cold war has brought way should the world's wealthier nations with it the dawn of internationalization punish weaker, more aid-dcpendent and global totality. Free-markets have nations to gain political advuntage or ter- succeeded where wars and armies have ritorial expediency. The objective should failed. Naturally, fissures still exist and be peace, not exploitation.