4 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, May 10, 1999 Edited and managed by EMILY ACHENBAUM NICK WOOMER students at the 4 4 + Editor in Chief Editorial Page Editor t iUniversity of Michigan 1 atrI U n e utotherwise noted, igned editorials reflect the opinion of tk 420 Maynard Street tnajority of the Dails editorial board. All other articles, letters anr Ann Arbor, Ml( 48109 cartoons do not necessarily releet the opinion of The Michigant Dail N o one would deny that one of the federal government's paramount responsibilities is to protect the United States against nuclear holocaust. The government has a duty to do everything it can to ensure the safety of those living within its borders. It naturally follows that the government should be especial- ly careful with its nuclear weapons secrets. But careful is exactly what the government has not been. The investiga- tion into security leaks from the United States' nuclear weapons labs points to past carelessness and amazingly intoler- able current dangers. The investigation into the security of the nation's nuclear weapons labs focus- es around one man - a Los Alamos, New Mexico scientist named Wen Ho Lee. Although Lee has not been official- ly charged, the New York Times report- ed that Lee downloaded highly classi- fied "legacy codes" - strings of num- bers which explain how nuclear Looking the wrong way Nuclear security breaches unacceptable weapons in the United States' arsenal explode - from secure computers in Los Alamos to insecure computers. Additionally, Lee is suspected of leaking these secrets and others specifying the design of new nuclear weapons technol- ogy to the Chinese government. The surprising thing is not that the United States is spied upon, but that the government is so lax in trying to prevent it. Government officials told Newsweek that "both the Energy Department and the FBI failed to act aggressively on sus- picions that Lee may have been leaking secrets - despite warning signs that spanned nearly 20 years." FBI director Louis Freeh told the Senate Intelligence Committee that in 1982, the FBI intercepted a call from Lee to another Chinese scientist who was then suspected of leaking neutron bomb secrets to the Chinese. In the early 1990s, two top security officials at the Energy Department, Glenn Podonsky and Edward McCallum, tried to warn their superiors of security risks in the computer system. The risks were ignored, and when Podonsky suggested increased security, officials rejected the idea, calling the risks acceptable. Obviously, there is no such thing as an acceptable risk when it comes to nuclear weapons. Further frustrating observers is the fact that despite the recent media atten- tion given to the security breaches, the nuclear weapons labs remain easil infiltrated. Last week, it was reporte that even though new security measure have been put in place due to the fin ings of the investigation, scientists at government's weapons laboratories cat still download secrets onto a floppy disl and leave the site without bein; checked. It seems that the governmen still has a long way to go to make it nuclear weapons labs secure. Mistakes in nuclear weapons testin; cannot be taken lightly. Mistakes dt happen, but there is no excuse for the 24 years of irresponsibility that continue to this day. Even worse is the slugg response to these problems once t came to light. Whether the problem lie in bureaucracy, personnel, or some othe internal body, it must be identified an< dealt with aggressively. It is frighteninj that these security breaches origitall: took place. It is infuriating that they nov continue. Giving back Summer months perfect time to volunteer Get on the busP. Public transportation key to city's rejuvenatior F or many students, spring and summer terms will provide a welcome con- trast to the stress and anxiety that charac- terize the fall and winter terms. The sur- plus of time that will inevitably confront students in the coming months, while well deserved, should not go to waste. Hopefully, with reduced schedules and responsibilities, students will open them- selves up to the spirit of volunteerism. University basketball player Louis Bullock already seems to have the idea. Saturday, Bullock headed to Pioneer High School to participate in a novel pro- gram designed to give high schoolers a better idea of what it is like to drive drunk. Teens drove golf carts while wear- ing goggles designed too simulate intoxi-. cation. With thoughts of the school's upcoming prom firmly entrenched at the forefront of the student's minds, the activity occurred at one of the best times possible. This year, summer offers an equally opportune time for students at the University to give back to the surround- ing community. Thoughts of the recent riots in East Lansing undoubtedly remain fresh in the minds of the Michigan voters who elect regents for the state's public universities. Students at all of this state's public Universities will have to put forth a strong effort to reclaim their tarnished reputation. As images of drunk students and burning cars flooded into living rooms across the nation, it is likely that people not only formed unfavorable views of Michigan State University but of university students in general. Despite the profound impact the views of a single regent can have on the day to day functioning of a university, the vast majority of voters are apathetic towards electoral races for those seats. A poor opinion of university students will only raise the level of such counterpro- ductive attitudes. As the University's ambassadors to the world, students should not fail to see the benefits of their altruism. Practical considerations should not overshadow the moral obligations of the University to the areas and people within its immediate proximity. Due to its size and resources, the University has obliga- tions that extend beyond academic spheres. The surrounding community stands to reap significant benefits from the experience of students and faculty. Taxpayers put money into their state schools with the expectation that those schools will be churning out productive individuals whose skills will benefit soci- ety as a whole when they graduate. In the meantime, there is no reason why citizens should have to wait four years to see the results of their investment. Most students may be absent from Ann Arbor this summer, but the needs of the community surrounding the University will not change. While the typical student volunteer network is gone, others will need to fill in the gap. With reduced schedules, fewer commit- ments and a somewhat blemished image in the wake of recent news events, stu- dents should be able to find at least a few hours out of their summers to devote to community service. Not only will stu- dents be able to redeem themselves in the eyes of disillusioned Michigan voters, but they ought to receive a degree of sat- isfaction from helping others. It should not be forgotten that selflessness is often reciprocal. Last Tuesday, Vice President Al Gore spoke to an audience attending the fourth and final day of the National Town Meeting for a Sustainable America at Cobo Center in Detroit. He spoke about a broad range of environmental topics, including how the auto industry will be affected by Washington's more stringent emissions policies, but perhaps his comments stung the most when he mentioned Detroit's lack of a decent public transportation system. In the past, Detroit had a wonderful system of buses and streetcars. Today, according to the U.S. Census bureau, only 2 percent of Detroiters use public transportation to get to work - if they have any work to begin with. There are terrible economic inequalities in the Detroit area, thousands of people can not get jobs in the city and can not afford a car to get to low-paying jobs in the suburbs. This obviously needs to be remedied, and public transportation sys- tems are the way to ease Detroiters' eco- nomic troubles. The "Smart" bus system is known for its patchy service (there is usually an hour's wait between buses) and limited routes. The Detroit Transportation buses intermittently transport people out of the city to let them shop at suburban malls. And of course there is the People Mover, which only goes to a limited number of sites in the downtown area and costs the city a $1.50 for every person who pays 50 cents to ride on it. These are the three rotting hulks that remain of Detroit's once comprehensive system of public transportation. Certainly, the "white flight" into the suburbs after the riots of 1967 has a lot to do with this degeneration. The "Smart" bus system's predecessor "Semta, was killed in the late eightie by city officials. Another bad decisioi resulted in the People Mover. The auto industry has been named a one of the parties guilty of keeping pub lie transportation from expanding in last ten years. The "Big Three' h aggressively lobbied Ed McNamara, th executive in charge of Wayne Count' and its roads, and Detroit Mayor Denni Archer, to continue the same inept poli cies that have contributed to the decay o Detroit and prevented its citizens frot getting the jobs that have moved out o the city. Public transportation will certa : play a vital role in Detroit's revitali'a tion. City officials can designate lane on the freeways for high occupancy vehicles to encourage carpooling ant lessen the environmental impact of ca exhaust on Detroit's already heavily pol luted air. Currently unused rail system should be reestablished to deliver peopl to and from the city and into the sub urbs. Most importantly, Archer ant McNamara need to make Detroit's bu system "Smart" in action as welt name to offer the people of Detroit window to the jobs in the suburbs. Bringing some sort of public trans portation to Detroit will not be easy. Tt do so involves the expansion of the city' bus fleet, increasing its routes and effi ciency, and seeking state and federa assistance to help the system get off it feet and stay affordable for the economi cally disadvantaged. Clearly, pi transportation is necessary to unlocl many Detroiters from poverty. The metr< area will surely see great returns on at investment in public transportation.