Monday, August 3, 1998 - TheMichiganDaily - o NOTABLE QUOTABLE They're prisoners. They leave when we say they can leave." - Gov. John Engler speaking about the truth-in-sentencing law he initiated, which prevents convicted criminals from receiving parole before their sentences are completed tEaT R OTHE EDITOR uses do not run late enough To THE DAILY: I have just returned from Summer Orientation '98 and was very impressed with the thorough job done by the admin- istration in assisting us parents ith the difficult task of adjust- ng to college life. I therefore read the letter from Craig Barker ("North Campus lacks weekend busing,' Orientation issue) with interest, as my daughter will also be ensconced in the hinterlands of North Campus. Apparently the problem caused by the infrequency of bus service to North Campus is Ixacerbated when service is dis- continued altogether at 2 a.m. (Not a particularly late hour by collegiate standards I'm told. My own somewhat foggy recol- lections seem to corroborate this fact). I agree there are many positive aspects to North Campus, but I also agree that the limited bus service probably isolates 0 students unnecessarily oom the main campus. A shame or all arties involved. Good luck with the effort to increase bus service to this underserved and very important part of the U of M campus. GEORGE J. GELs, M.D. PARENT Theme semester overdue To THE DAILY: This response is concerned with the article "Diversity Semester Planned" (July 27). I'm going to make this short and sweet. Congrats UMICH! It is finally time that the University is offering students a chance to learn about cul- tures of fellow classmates and instructors. This should have been done a very long time ago. Why did an incident such as the affirmative action law- suits persuade University offi- cials and faculty to devote some time to diversity? This University is about as diverse as a bag of "M&Ms" - they never come in just one color. I applaud the University for finally offering'this in the cur- riculum. But, may I ask this: Why did it take so long and why is it only offered one semester? Wouldn't the fresh- man class of 1999 be missing out on something valuable? Learning about diversity is as important as learning biology, botany and chemistry. NIcOLE M. YOUNG LS&A SOPHOMORE Columnist's remarks worrisome TO THE DAILY: Asia Sherman's article ("LGBT director brings fresh ideas," July 13) on E. Frederic Dennis, the new Director of the Office of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Affairs, provided a well-researched and well-written overview of Mr. Dennis' back- ground and the role he will ful- fill as he leads the office into the new millenium. I do have some concern about Daily Editor in Chief Chris Farah's comments on sex- ual orientation in his recent (July 20) column. Such remarks risk being used as yet another plat- form from which homophobic and genderphobic individuals and groups will launch verbal and physical attacks on LGBT people. For nearly 30 years I have experienced The Daily as provid- ing strong and consistent advo- cacy for LGB individuals and groups. I trust that this respected campus newspaper will continue to voice that advocacy and offer comparable support for transgen- dered persons as well. JIM TOY CONSULTANT, OFFICE OF EQUITY & DIVERSITY SERVICES Road Rules 'and 'The Real World'killed the video star n 1982, the worlds of music and telvision col- what-you-see-is-what-you-get style of personal I lided with the formation of MTV. "I want my image management with her unkept hair, bad skin MTV" became a sort of battle cry for the post- and huge glasses. Jessie "I'm not an idiot, I just 1970s yuppie generation. Though now, it's diffi- play one on TV" Camp has also given every PCP cult to remember a time when cinematic represen- addict with an eighth-grade diploma and no combs tation of music was revolutionary (especially con- hope that they, too, can rise to the top. sidering most of us were under the age of eight), And then there are the shows. "Sif & Olly" - MTV's genesis marked a unique a more recent addition to the MTV fam- moment in the country's popular cul- ily - shows the American viewing pub- ture and changed the way that music x lic all of the entertainment value that is was made and promoted. hidden in their sock drawer. And then But over the years, MTV has changed there's the "10 Spot" - or let's-throw-a- from being a station focused on music bunch-of-unrelated-shows-that-have to one of the dozens of other tacky nothing-to-do-with-music-together cable stations with mindless program- because-otherwise-we'll-have-dead-air ming, albeit with a musical pretense. programming block. Take, for example, a day's worth of Of course, quite possibly the wors MTV viewing and you come up with, at offenders are the magnets of the teenie most, two-dozen different videos (and JACK bopper audience that MTV so often about a dozen playings of "The Boy is SCHILLACI courts - "Road Rules" and "The Rea Mine" by Brandy and Monica). .SL.AM1v1 IT TO World." Indeed, the original idea for th But Viacom (MTV's parent compa- ItHE LEIT latter was interesting - throwing a bunc ny) manages to fill the time well, hir- of geographically, ethnically, sexually ing idiotic vee-jays for its simple-minded shows. etc.... diverse group of people together and jus It always struck me as an odd career choice to seeing what happens. But now in its seventh sea become an MTV VJ. At best it's an unstable start son, the idea has been burning on both cylinder in a tough industry. With the exception of Kurt for years. And after all, every college studet Loder (who doesn't actually host any shows with who's had to live in a dorm in any part of the coun videos), none of the station's past VJs have stayed try for the past hundred years has experience around for more than a couple of years. Anyone much the same thing. And if I have to see on remember Martha Quinn? Downtown Julie more hunky-dorry, cross-country trip in Brown? Mark Goodman? Their post-MTV "Winnie," I'm just gonna puke. careers have really taken off, with one becoming What I pray for would be a few hours out of th a Neutrogena spokesperson, one spending her day devoted strictly to videos. No trials and tribu time in front of the camera hosting 'E!' gossip lations of 20-somethings living rent-free, n sp pcials, and the last trapped in the equivalent of crack-snorting VJs asking Jennifer Love Hewi cable hell - hosting Illinois State Lottery on about how music has influenced her life. Jus public access. videos and maybe a few countdowns. Amen. Some of these ilk have made some contributions - Jack Schillaci is at home watchin to pop culture, though. For instance, the forlorn VHI and can be reached ov Kennedy could be credited with initiating the e-mail at jschilla@umich.ed 1 e a e t s - n Al Y, st - rs rt - ;d 1e a e u- Itt tst lu. KAAM' 'AAN HAFEEZ AS. IT IHAPPEN MRS. MUcGLESTON? I HAD A DRESS HERE ON MY DESK? YES, MR. STARR. I SENT IT TO THE CLEANERS ALONG WITH THE REST OF YOUR CLOTHES. /M 91 HEY WALLY! WHERE DO WE KEEP THE STAIN REMOVER? Li fe full of questions, but I'm on the road to find out t's early Tuesday evening. Or maybe Wednesday we've seen this road or that lake or this bridge or Monday or Friday, or really almost any day of before; maybe when we were kids, and we drove the week at all. The humid air is warm, heavy and through the country with our parents. sweet, as if you could drink it in by inhaling. The A lot of the time, neither of us says a word. We sun is growing red as it nears the trees to the west, just soak up the evening, soak up the slowness. We and the light of the sky is thick and hazy. just watch life pass us by, not caring where we're It's one of those days; one of those evenings. going, and trying to forget about where we've been. When the whole world seems tobe mov- This has been a hard summer for me. I ing just a little slower than usual, and life graduated college not knowing what I is just a little more relaxed. was going to do with my life, and I still Like many nights this summer, I find don't know. In the midst of this confu- myself at my friend's house on the out- sion, I turned to the people closest to me skirts of Ann Arbor, just before the city for support and help. I've learned a diffi- becomes the country. Like many nights cult and painful lesson - that ultimately, this summer, we have nothing to do. aside from a very small number of friends But tobe perfectly honest, that's exact- and family, I have to rely on myself. ly the way we want it. Nights like this are My life is filled with more unknowns, meant to do nothing. Ambition and more uncertainty, than ever before. I don't adventure just wouldn't seem right. CHRIS know where I'll be at this time next year, So, we go for a drive. FARAH much less who I'll be. People have We don't run errands or go to the FAAt '8 become very good at telling me what's movies or pick someone up. We just FA UCEt Tbest for me. But if I don't know, how can drive. No destination, no nothing. We just . they? choose a direction and start heading that way, my Some people relish uncertainty. A life without friend's dusty-brown '83 Cadillac chugging along answers is a life of excitement and adventure, they lazily, letting faster cars pass on by. say. To a certain extent, I agree with them. I'm the Almost always we end up meandering down a last person who would look forward to a life of rou- country road. There's barely any traffic, except tine and monotony. I have a long way to go, and a maybe the occasional turtle making its way through lot of things to find out. the dirt. We try to get lost, try to lose ourselves in a But everyone needs a base. Everyone needs place we've never been before. But somehow we something - at least one thing - that they can always find our way back, for better or worse. trust no matter what, that they can fall back on We talk alittle while we drive. I wish I could say we when life gets a little chaotic. share "deep thoughts" I wish I could say we've Regardless of where I go this year, who I meet, unlocked the meaning of life, figured out exactly what I do, or who I become, I'll always have those what's important in this world, what's real and what long country roads. I'll always have my friend, and lasts. I'll always have those long, aimless drives on those But mostly, if either of us says anything, it's just lazy summer evenings. to make a small, unimportant comment. We note No matter what may change, some things - the the strange way the sunlight seems to reflect off a good things, the best things - will always be there. certain cloud in the sky. We remember atime when - Reach Chris Farah at cjfarah@:smich.edu.