MondayMay 8, 2000 - The Michigan DaFl - 5 SU 5 *Marijuana legalization long overdue To THE DAILY: Your editorial for ending marijuana prohibition was right Son target. A stop to this abysmal, failed war on drugs is long overdue. In 1967, as Editorial Director of the Daily, I wrote a similar editorial. Back then it was national news. ABC Radio called from New York, as did various TV interview shows, Most of us thought pot would be legalized within a very few years. We figured the big tobacco companies would just start marketing it them- selves. Rumor had it they were already copyrighting brand names like "Maui Wowee" and "Panama Red:' We didn't see Nixon or Reagan coming. Or Clinton, for that matter. We also didn't realize that one of the key reasons pot isn't legal is that it's too easy to grow. Corporations can domi- nate tobacco to feed nicotine addiction, or booze for alcohol addicts. But pot, which is not physically addictive, can be grown by anyone. There's no money in it for big corporations because any consumer can grow weed in their own closet or backyard that's just as good as the big guys'. It's pretty much the same reason that we don't have solar power - if you can power your house with roof top collectors, who needs the utilities? Many people thought they'd jump in. But how do you charge for what's otherwise free. So for the time bein2 the sun's energy, which Could power the world, is somehow "impractical." If it keeps threat- ening to shut down the nuclear power industry, maybe it too will soon be illegal. In the meantime, keep chip- ping away. Both major candi- dates for president have clearly inhaled. It doesn't seem to have done much good. But sooner or later, something will give. HARVEY WASSERMAN ALUMNUS Loss of Nike will hurt 'U' TO THE DAILY: The University of Michigan was one of the inaugural col- leges to sign with Nike and was its biggest university seller in the nation. I am very upset that Nike severed ties with UM. Interim Athletic Director William Martin made com- ments along the lines that there are many Nikes but there is only one Michigan. While I agree that Michigan stands alone, Nike is the premier ath- letic company in America and that label, like it or not, brings in top recruits across the nation for all of Michigan's athletic teams. I can only hope Michigan eitheraresigns with Nike or agrees to a deal perhaps with Adidas, probably the best remaining company to sign with. Now I get to wonder what to do with all my now obsolete Michigan Nike gear. BRIAN WALBY ENGINEERING SOPHOMORE Pot need not remain a gateway drug To THE DAILY: . Great editorial on marijuana reform! The racist history of marijuana prohibition is a com- pelling reason for legalization. However, protecting the children is an even stronger argument. If marijuana had been legalized in the 1970's there would be no methamphetamine problem in North America. The crack epi- demic of the 'os would have never happened. Current drug policy is, in effect, a gateway drug policy. While there is nothing inherent in the marijuana plant that compels users to try harder drugs, its black market status puts users in contact with unscrupulous indi- viduals that push hard drugs. Equally disturbing is the manner in which children have an easier time purchasing mari- juana than beer. While a liquor store will refuse to sell alcohol to a minor to avoid losing its license, a drug dealer will sell to anyone with cash. As long as marijuana remains illegal, the established criminal distribution network will ensure that North America's children can sample every new poison concocted by drug pushers. As counterintuitive as it may seem, legalizing marijuana would both limit access and sep- arate the hard and soft drug mar- kets which serve to introduce youth to the truly deadly drugs. ROBERT SHARPE STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY Field of political dieams E, vcr since ihe end ofihe Mor League Nashal strike of 1994 he sport has taken or propor- tions tihat eveis its hall-of-famers never sav. Two years ago, the Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa home run race turned into a lesson in racial and national tolerance, where people put aside their own biases and rooted for their favorite athlete or team. In the New York senatorial cam- paign, the race between First Lady Hillary Clinton and Mayor Rudy Guiliani has come down to baseball alle- giances rather than political motivations. Rudy, a life-long New Yorker has always cheered for the Bronx Bombers (ugh), while Clinton, spending most of her time in baseball-less Arkansas and Washington has no affiliation. She now claims to be both a fan of the Yanks and Mets (vote for Hillary; no Yankee fan Aaron should ever hold an elected office). T(t In Detroit, Mayor Denny Archer and his brain trust now hope that a new sta- dium for the Tigers will bring about a renaissance in the once-lively downtown. The new field, Comerica Park (a.k.a the CoPa; a.k.a. the Commie), has everything from a Ferris wheel to a beer garden to a fountain that shoots colored water. Sometimes at night they play baseball. It seems that considering the game's enormous power these days, Commissioner Bud "Less Filling" Selig could step in to the U.S. foreign poli- cy arena and solve some troubles with a little four- bager solution. The most important issue to deal with is of course the Elian Gonzalez custody battle. Considering little Elian is from Cuba, it makes perfect sense that this problem should be solved with a bat and ball. Judging by last year's Team Cuba embarrassment of the Baltimore Orioles, a World-Cup style winner-take-kid tournament would not be an especially good idea (that is, as long as the American team is owned by Peter "Idiot"Angelos). Instead, we must organize an international limit- ed al-star game. L a cruniry uris tso m i la- poe (a ptriser and a hiter)ad a puluicaj 9ui- tary The format of the game is essentially a home- run derby. The teamr that hits the most homeruns in nine innings wins the boy. Any hit that does not clear the fence is considered an out. There are three outs to an inning. Any player who hits Elian in the head (a la that Tony Gwynn video game commercial) gets two bonus runs. If any dignitary hits a homerun, he gets a cigar to put where he pleases (behind the ear being the suggested location). The teams will be as follows: For the U.S., Captain Bill Clinton (a cigar man who is in favor of the new McDonald's at the CoPa) will lead his squad of pitcher Randy Johnson and hitter Mark McGuire against the Cuban club of former Yankee, n Rich Fidel Castro (of course), current Yankee Uch f pitcher Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez C1a<. and Devil Dog Jose Canseco. The game will be played in the new Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco because it has easy. access to the water. Considering the Cuban delega- tion will be forced to arrive in a cardboard dingy, the right field dock will definitely come in handy. Little Elian will be the designated batboy and will be given the day off from school in order to attend. During the seventh inning stretch, Elian, along with his dad, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, will play pickle with Tigers slugger Juan Gonzalez. The Tiger, hailing from Puerto Rico, will be considered a U.S. citizen, despite the fact that he pays no feder- al income taxes in his homeland. This exercise will have no effect on the outcome of the game, but it should serve for some creative play-by-play from color woman Marge Schott. There's been no comment from Vladimir Putin and the Chechen leaders on whether they're inter- ested in taking swings. -Aaron Rich can be can be reached via e-mail at arich@umich.edu. / \t LA UTES AND CiENThErtEI'l{ L.ECTZf* ZtOO"w For the children, whether they like it or not A sk any self-respecting American what they in college only goes to class as much as they want think is the most important issue facing the to. There are no troublemakers present because of country today and "education" is the answer you'll the threat of detention. Everyone you see in your most frequently hear. Or so pollsters have been nightmare inducing calculus 27 class is there by telling us. Upon hearing this news, candidates low choice and it's shocking how easy it is to learn and high have dutifully prepared reams of effica- when everyone around you also wants to. cious talking points on the subject. The problem with earlier education, The masters of education sound bites particularly high school, is that probably are, of course. those candidates gunning half the kids in any class don't need tobe for the top job. Little George and Al jr. there, either because they know what are trying to win their way into the hearts they're doing or aren't paying attention of soccer moms everywhere by throwing anyway and are just screwing around, out heaps of the most easily explainable making it harder for the teacher to teach miracle quick-fixes. Most involve peren- and students to learn. Yes, letting students nial solutions of hiring more teachers and skip class at will would mean a lot more paying them more along with stripping kids flunking classes, but in order to them of the protections of tenure. Bush graduate they'd have to buckle down and also suggests using vouchers because he PETER study eventually. thinks unconstitutionally channeling CUNNIFFE This may lead to some absurdly old public money into unregulated schools O-E F students, but oh well. Maybe the shame with no public accountability is a good 11 Roa of being a high school student in your idea for some reason. 20's is what's necessary to get some peo- These plans, short of the vouchers, are decent ple to study. and deserve implementation, but they're fairly tame Also, to continue driving education costs up, and uncreative. If we want to truly improve educa- students should be required to finish twelfth grade. tion in this country, we need to look somewhere Education is becoming more and more important besides the same old ideas. and its about time we did our country and all its kids So let me suggesta few radical and costly ideas a big favor by requiring that everyone have a high to truly improve education. Most importantly, K-12 school education. And while I'm atit, what the hell teachers should stop taking attendance. Who cares do we still have three-month summer breaks for. if some kid wants to skip class. Either they'll do Obviously I've only scratched the surface of the fine anyway and didn't need to attend that class, or . issues facing our educational system, but I'm not they'll fail and have to take it again, which will con- hearing these ideas coming from anywhere else and vince them to be studious eventually. I really think forcing more education on kids is the I'm sure everyone who has gone from high nicest thing we could do for them. I'm sure I've school to college has noticed that college classes enraged anyone tinder 18 who's reading this, but I require a lot more work and cover tougher subject hope their parents and our politicians can look matter And yet, most people make the transition somewhere besides recycled and tired plans from just fine. Suddenly having enormously higher years past to improve education. expectations placed on them is completely man- --Peter Cunniffe can be can be reached via ageable by most students. Why? Because everyone e-mail at pcunniff@umich.edu.