Editeudent manaed by JACQUELYN NIXON AUBREY HENRETTY
University of Michigan Editor in Chief Editorial Page Editor
1e1 Ij,4 .R Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion oft
420 Maynard Street majority of the Daily's editorial board. All other articles, letters
Ann Arbor, MI 48109 cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Dal,
Just as much of the nation has forgot-
ten - or at least forgiven - the fias-
co of the 2000 Presidential Elections,
Former President Gerald Ford and sever-
al other di nitaries will meet tomorrow
at 11 a.m. In the University's Gerald R.
Ford Presidential Library (located on
North Campus) to discuss possible
improvements to nation's problematic
election process. This, the final hearing
to be held by the National Commission
on Federal Election Reform, will con-
tribute to a report slated for publication
in September that will suggest ways to
improve federal elections.
Although tomorrow's panel does not
allow for public comment, students
should still attend to learn more and to
show support for serious action toward
election reforms. While the ballot war
waged in Florida was undermining the
authority of the electoral college, other
major problems, such as minority voters
being blocked from the polls, also came
to li ht. The dubious election of 2000
left the nation questioning the validity
both of the election process and of Presi-
dent Bush's right to office. In a nation
Students should support election reforms
that has always demanded the highest
integrity from its government (if not
from its officials), the problems of the
November presidential election cannot
go unresolved. Since Congress has qui-
etly dropped the election issue in favor
of partisan bickering, it is important that
the people send a strong message to
Washington that they demand to see
improvements.
The Commission, formed in February
in response to the disputed November
Elections, will give Congress a report, a
slate of ideas straight from election offi-
cials and experts. While Congress may
have eventually returned to the election
issue on its own (probably with just
enough time to discuss but not act before
the next election), this report could
jump-start reform efforts. Co-chairing
the Commission with President Ford are
former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill
Clinton, as well as former White House
counsels and former members of Con-
gress; this list definitely lends credibility
to the report and to the concerns with the
election process, but public support can
outweigh all these names. Members of
Congress must hear the call for election
reform from their constituents.
As the discussions and the report
unfurl, the hearing members and the
Commission should consider a wide
range of reforms. For example, it is
essential that voters across the nation
have enough time to vote. Some states
close the polls at 6 p.m., leaving little or
no time for people with day jobs to get
to the polls. Ideally, there should be a
national holiday on presidential election
day to give all voters plenty of time to
vote.
Also, standards need to be set t
maintain the highest integrity and securi-
ty on voting day, while still allowing
each state its own applicable process.
Densely populated states like Florida
may benefit from optical scan voting
machines, while more sparsely popula -
ed states like Oregon might prefer
keep their tried-and-true vote-by-mail
systems.
Additionally, the federal government
should pay for the reforms and support
the states' movement toward better elec-
tions. Less wealthy states must not be
left with deficient election processes
while more affluent states make neces-
sary and possibly expensive changes.
Every state, regardless of its budget,
should have top-notch voting procedures
and (if necessary) state-of-the-art equip-
ment.
Hopefully, the Commission already
has brilliant plans to address all of these
issues. But there's only one way to find
out.
For more information on the National
commission for federal election reform,
visit http://www.electionrejorm.org.
Cruis-ng on the green
Disabled golfers should be allowed to use carts
T he U.S. Supreme Court ruled shin splints demand a 10-second head
seven to two Tuesday that the Pro- start? Could Martin himself demand to
fessional Golf Association must be allowed to play professional base-
allow disabled golfer Casey Martin to ball if he was really good at hitting the
ride a cart between holes during PGA ball out of the park and had somebody
tournaments. This decision has caused a else run for him? Not only are these
bit of a stir in the pro-golf world, with kinds of demands unlikely, but they do
some arguing that walking is an integral not fall under the precedent set by the
part of the sport; professional golfer Court.
Jack Nicklaus even suggested that the The Supreme Court's decision was
justices in the majority would "change largely based on the Americans With
their minds" if they would just go out Disabilities Act, which says that opera-
and play a few holes. But the Supreme tors of public places {golf courses
Court acted prudently in their assess- included) must make reasonable"
ment of Martin's case; given the cir- changes to their facilities, provided that
cumstances, the right of this man to they do not "fundamentally alter the
play golf took precedence over the nature" of the activity. The seven jus-
interests of the establishment. tices in the majority reached the con-
Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome clusion that walking is not
- a rare circulatory condition - has "fundamental" to the sport of golf.
caused Martin's right leg to become Indeed, walking (or not walking) does
small and weak. Whenever he walks on not affect the way the game is scored or
it, he runs the risks of bone fractures, the way that shots are taken. Writing for
internal hemorrhage and blood clots. the majority, Justice John Paul Stevens
Despite this debilitating disease, stressed that "the essence of the game
Martin has proven that he is a very has been shot making" since golf's
skilled golfer. He was a member of early days.
Stanford University's 1994 champ i- Giving a runner a head start in a race
onship team and continued to play directly affects the way that race is
NCAA golf in subsequent years. As his scored. Running and stealing bases is
condition grew more severe, the NCAA arguably more important to baseball
waived the walking rule for him, as did than batting; it is also inseparable from
the organizers of the Pacific-10 confer- scoring. But riding in a golf cart does
ence. He made it to the PGA Tour last not give a player a distinct advantage;
year, taking home more than $140 thou- regardless of whether or not a player
sand. Thus, this ruling is not a case of walks, shots are taken and points are
Martin exploiting a minor ailment for scored identically. Therefore, the
his own gain; rather, it is a reasonable Supreme Court's decision does not
accommodation for a disadvantaged place the integrity of golf - or any
pro. other sport - in jeopardy.
However, the nay-sayers do raise a The Supreme Court should be
valid question: The physical nature of applauded for their support of individ-
sports will inevitably exclude people ual rights. There is no reason why Mar-
with certain disabilities. If the PGA has tin, or any other player for whom
to change its rules for Martin, where walking is "beyond their capacity,"
will the line be drawn? should not be able to ride a cart in tour-
For instance, could a runner with naments.
Una- ptable sim
Taliban should not require distinctive clothing
n a controversial move eerily remi- became a massive operation of geno-
niscent of Nazi Germany, Taliban cide. And one of the first measures
officials in Afghanistan recently enforced by the Nazis was the require-
proposed to require the non-Muslim ment that Jewish people wear the Star
population --which consists mainly of of David on their clothing.
Hindus-- to wear distinctive labels on Secondly, the Hindu community has
their clothing. While the Taliban main- made it abundantly clear that they do
tains that the law's purpose would be to not desire this type of "protection" fro
protect Hindus from the Taliban's reli- the Taliban. Hindus in neighboring,
gious police, something far less noble India have been angrily protesting in
lurks beneath this veneer of altruism. response. Indian Foreign Ministry
The Taliban - a militant Islamic spokesman Raminder Singh Jassal told
fundamentalist group - rose to power the New York Times that they
in Afghanistan in the 1990s and has "absolutely deplore such orders, which
since been denounced by numerous patently discriminate against minori-
other governments, including those of ties." Afghani Hindus have also ques-
nearly every other Islamic nation. Most tioned the proposed law, with many
Muslims do not support the Taliban's saying that the Taliban's religious police
extreme views and fear the group has have never given them any trouble.
given Muslims worldwide a bad name. Neither the Taliban nor any other
The Taliban prohibits Muslim government should be passing laws that
women from going to school and apply to one religious group and not to
requires Muslim men to grow beards, another; this creates barriers between
standards that are not imposed upon people where there were none and
non-Muslims. Taliban leaders claim strengthens barriers between people
that Hindus should be readily identifi- where they already existed. Forcing
able for their own protection against Hindus to wear labels on their clothing
prosecution for breaking any of these will only stigmatize and separate them
types of laws. They say that the since from the rest of the population. Once
the religious police cannot always tell this process begins, there is no telling
the difference between a clean-shaven where it will end. What's next? Will the
Hindu who is within his rights and a Taliban force Hindus into ghettos t
clean-shaven Muslim who is breaking "protect" them from potentially hostile
the law, Hindus could be unduly (and neighbors? Will they find hack "scien-
unintentionally) punished for breaking tists" to proclaim that Hindus are
Muslim-only laws. They say that the genetically inferior? Will they ultimate-
Hindus have asked for protection. They ly decide they're better off without
say that their only concern is for the indus at all?
safety of the non-Muslim citizens. Many may say that these questions
But this reasoning flawed. First, the are unreasonable. Naturally, many may
idea that one's religion should dictate say, it would never get to that point.
one's legal rights is a tried and true But no one ever thought that a small
recipe for disaster. The most prominent yellow Star of David worn in publi4
example of this is what happened dur- would lead to the systematic elimina-
ing the holocaust; what began as a tion of millions of people. If they had,
series of small restrictions on the free- maybe it wouldn't have gotten to that
doms of Jewish people eventually point.