4 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, June 10, 2002
420 MAYNARD STREET
ANN ARBOR, MI 48109 LISA HOFFMAN ZAC PESKOWITZ
letters@michigandaily.com Editor in Chief Editorial Page Editor
EDITED AND MANAGED BY
STUDENTS AT THE Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN the majority of the Daily's editorial board. All other pieces do not
SINCE 1890 necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily.
incredibly significant. Coleman's decision
hile the Communication Workerse Ii wasthe first instance where Iowa had uti-
of America Local 14177 have lized its Code of Conduct for apparel
recently agreed to a labor contract U must continue to recognize New Eas failures licensees to terminate a contract. While
with New Era Cap Company, the company Coleman was willing to enforce labor stan-
has yet to prove that it is committed to ensur- - -- dards at Iowa, New Era did not provide a sig-
ing the safety of all of its employees. increased the physical danger to workers. yet to significantly reform its practices and nificant source of revenue for Iowa.
Problems still persist in the company's facto- With the l-month strike finally settled, the contract should still be terminated unless Coleman must be willing to uphold labor
ries, where workers endure an abnormally the University must closely monitor New New Era unequivocally proves that they are standards for companies that offer the
high rate of puncture wounds, musculo- Era's labor treatment to determine the most committed to workers' rights. University lucrative contracts, such as Nike,
skeletal disorders and instances of carpal ethical response to the company. While inter- At this important juncture in the and must aggressively monitor the safety of
tunnel syndrome. New Era management has im President B. Joseph White has pledged University's treatment of labor unrest, their facilities to uphold the University's
yet to prove that the safety and health of the that the University will not renew its contract Coleman is qualified in to lead the Code of Conduct for apparel licensees.
company's workers is its priority, with New Era, this course of action is now University. At the University of Iowa, The University cannot simply believe the
New Era's shortcomings extend beyond complicated with the new contract. Although Coleman chose to terminate the university's promises of New Era executives and accept
the safety conditions at its plants. When New Prof.Larry Root, chair of the University contract with the company after thoroughly the new contract as reason to extend the con-
Era workers joined the Cormsunication Committee on Labor Standards and Human reviewing the safety of New Era factories. tract after October. The University must
Workers of America last year, New Era man- Rights, does not foresee any changes in the Coleman adhered to the recommendation of remember that the contract merely settles
agement retaliated with lay-offs and shifted University's plans, it is possible that the con- Iowa's Charter Committee on Human issues of compensation and while it is an
production to non-union facilities in an tract with New Era could be extended Rights. Coleman should use her response to important first step for the company, the
attempt to subvert its workers'rights to freely beyond Oct. 1 if other parties take action. New Era at Iowa as precedent for her choic- safety and health of New Era workers has yet
organize and improve their working condi- Incoming President Mary Sue Coleman es at the University. to be adequately resolved. The safety and
tions. The company demanded its employees or other top administrators could possibly As only the fourth school in the nation to health of the workers who manufacture
take pay cuts while increasing the speed of disrupt the University's decision. However, terminate its contract with New Era due to Michigan clothing should be a paramount
production lines, a practice that would have Coleman should recognize that New Era has labor abuses, Coleman's actions at Iowa were concern for the University administration.

A potential for abuse
Registries need to protect rights of individuals listed
S ex offender registries have from the possible harassment or dis-
become popular throughout the crimination of their neighbors. This
country since May 1996 when for- however, has not always been the case.
mer President Bill Clinton signed Some law enforcement officials who
Megan's Law, which requires states to gained information about the offenders
release information about sex offenders. in their neighborhoods have repeatedly
In a decision which will limit the poten- harassed the offenders.
tial for abuse of these registries, U.S. The legislature should create a just
District Judge Victoria Roberts ruled registry in which each case would be
that as currently utilized in Michigan, considered individually. A panel of psy-
the registry is unconstitutional. chiatrists, social workers and judges
Connecticut will face a similar case in should analyze each case to determine if
the Supreme Court next year, an offender deserves to be
which would determine the fate Sex offenders placed on the registry. The
of the registries in over 20 must be appeals process should allow
states. staunchly those who have committed
Michigan's registry required protected from the non-violent offenses not to
offenders to register 10 days possible be placed on the registry. A
after moving in Michigan and harassment or list consisting solely of indi-
within 14 days of moving into discrimination of viduals who pose a direct
the state and placed them on their neighbors threat would best serve both
the registry for 25 years to life. the rights of sex offenders
The registry was updated daily to keep and the interests of communities.
residents informed of sex offenders' A similar panel should review cases
identities in their neighborhoods. to determine if the offender deserves to
While many have decried the reg- remain on the registry. Offenders should
istries as an unnecessary intrusion into have the right to have their name
sex offenders lives, the information expunged from the database and an
these registries contain is already pub- appeals panel should provide for these
licly available. Since criminal proceed- demands.
ings are matters of public record, the In order to create a registry that
registries offer information in an easily would both serve the public while main-
accessible format. The public has the taining the rights of the offenders, pos-
right to know if there are convicted sex sible legislation must protect the
offenders living in their neighborhoods. offenders from widespread abuse,
However, the public good that the harassment and vigilantism. While the
registry offers is overshadowed by the registries do provide important informa-
many faults that are associated with the tion to the public, they must do more to
registry. The Michigan registry and oth- protect the rights of sex offenders. The
ers throughout the nation must mini- registries cannot become a cruel means
mize the possibility of abuse. Sex to punish individuals in perpetuity for
offenders must be staunchly protected their past misdeeds.

Sexual orientation equity
Adoption decision shows biases toward LGBTs
n a decision which immediately restrict- will be an almost impossible task to entirely
ed the rights of homosexuals in Ann root these remnants out of the court system.
Arbor, Washtenaw County Chief Justice An upspring of popular support for
Archie Brown banned adoptions for homo- homosexual rights and a change in societal
sexual couples last week. "It's certainly attitudes toward the LGBT community will
great news for children. Obviously, there be the most effective way to assure that indi-
are many citizens of Michigan who believe viduals are not discriminated against and
homosexual adoption is wrong because their rights are not limited on the basis of
they believe homosexual behavior is sexual orientation. This will not be a simple
wrong," was how Gary Glenn, president of process, but will require the dedication and
the American Family Association of devotion of many individuals
Michigan, responded to the Although homosexual advo-
news, according to the Detroit While in the past cates have struggled to improve
Free Press. It is clear that irra- the courts have the rights of homosexuals and
tionally prejudiced views toward served as an end discrimination for many
homosexuals still persist. excellent tool for years, homosexuals are still
Until last Tuesday, Washtenaw the improvement excluded from many aspects of
County was the only county in the of homosexual civil life in the United States.
state that did not prohibit same- rights, there are They cannot marry and civil
sex couples from adopting chil- clearly limits to unions are only legally recog-
dren. Following Judge Brown's how effective they nized in Vermont. Many munici-
decision, unmarried partners in can be. palities have not done enough to
Michigan can no longer petition or end discrimination against
be considered to adopt children. homosexuals through legislation.
Judge Brown cited a state law, which While groups such as the Triangle
allows for adoptions only to individuals or Foundation of Detroit exist to raise aware-
married couples as the justification for his ness for the problems the LGBT communi-
decision. Presently, homosexuals individu- ty faces, they have been unable to create
als may adopt, but this right should also be widespread support in the general public to
extended to homosexual families. While support homosexual rights. Brown's deci-
past adoptions to homosexual couples sion illustrates that this cause must use the
granted under the Second Parent Program combined efforts of many organizations to
since its inception in 1995 will remain, new generate support for their positions.
adoptions will not be permitted. These groups must work to change the
Judge Brown's decision illuminates the popular perception of their situation. Their
greater problems that face the LGBT com- arguments must be framed as a human
munity and its activists. While in the past the rights issue that show that homosexuals do
courts have served as an excellent tool for the not enjoy the same freedoms and rights as
improvement of homosexual rights, there are heterosexuals in this country. This process
clearly limits to how effective they can be. will be the most effective way to guarantee
Judges and laws that are overtly discrimina- that homosexual rights do not continue to be
tory to homosexuals continue to exist and it infringed upon.