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.