LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Michigan Daily - Monday, May 12, 2003 - 5
The hunt is on
JOHN HONKALA TOO EARY IN H UN
Governor spoke the
truth in address
To THE DAILY:
I'd like to renpond to Natalie
Moran's letter to the editor (Gover-
nor's remarks distasteful, she should
apologize, 05/05/03). For a person
with a college degree, one might
assume she would have learned
how to glean e take-home mes-
sage" from a lecture, seminar or
speech. I admit that I was not at
commencement, but I did read the
transcripts of Gov. Jennifer
Granholm's speech. She never said
that you were destined to be a
loser in life. The message she was
trying to convey was that having a
degree from the University - or
any other school - is no guaran-
tee of success. That, unfortunately,
is the truth. The job market is bad,
or haven't you seen the unemploy-
ment numbers lately? Another
truth is that those who do have
jobs should not only enrich them-
selves, but also work hard to
advance their professions, restore
their communities and improve
our country. There are many recent
examples of CEOs and CFOs
being complete losers, even with
their fancy degrees and million-
dollar severance packages. The
bottom line is that even with your
degree, you must continue to work
hard, and you must be resilient
when facing the unexpected.
Granholm finally told the truth that
too many people are unwilling to
tell students and graduates. Do
you want to live your whole life
with your head in the sand? I
wouldn't, but then again, what do I
know? I am not a University grad-
uate - I am only a Michigan
State graduate, a Penn State grad-
uate, a University faculty/staff
member and (I am certainly) not a
loser.
VERNA SIMON
Manager; Affymetrix Core Facility
Column unfairly
described U.S. Jews.
TO THE DAILY:
I am writing in response to
Jason Pesick's diatribe (What does
my religion have to offer?,
05/05/03). Pesick ridiculously
charges that many Jewish sup-
porters of Israel believe that Jews
are superior to Arabs and that this
sentiment is widely held among
Jewish leadership. Perhaps Pesick
has conducted surveys on Jewish
public opinion, and is an expert
on the subject, but more than
likely he is merely drawing an
unfair generalization based on a
few people that he knows.
Pesick also mentions the cam-
pustruth.org advertisements, which
expose the glorification of terror
within Palestinian society. Con-
trary to his criticism, these ads are
important because they effectively
reveal what most Palestinians
actively seek, the murdering of
innocent Israelis. In fact, a recent
poll conducted by the Jerusalem
Meda : Cofvsmmuicaion Center
(April 5th-9th, 2003) shows that
over 60 percent of Palestinians in
Gaza and the West Bank support
suicide bombing against Israeli
civilians; 75 percent said that the
violent intifada, which has so far
killed 765 Israelis, must be contin-
ued. By contrast, polls have also
shown that the vast majority of
Israelis are in favor of the
roadmap to achieve a peaceful set-
tlement to the conflict, even if it
means giving up settlements and
land. Pesick is quick to criticize
U.S. Jewish leadership for preying
on Jewish fears vis--vis Israel;
however, these fears are very real
and must be taken seriously.
Pesick downplays the fact that
Israel is fighting for its very sur-
vival and has been for the last 55
years. I implore him to reconsider
his rather impetuous and unfair
assessment of U.S. Jewish support
for Israel.
BEN ROTH
Alumnus
U.S. support for
Israel important
TO THE DAILY:
It is disheartening how Jason
Pesick, in his article (What does my
religion have to offer?, 5/5/03), speaks
of an ancient religious tradition. I
was especially offended when he
described the Passover ceremonies
as "cute." Passover is a celebration
of unity, togetherness and, of course,
remembrance. It is a holiday where
Jewish people from all over the
globe are connected by honoring the
strength and longevity of the Jewish
religion and its people.
Pesick goes on to describe how
the president of his congregation
made a speech about how U.S.
Jews should purchase Israel
bonds. He describes the speech as
attempt by the president to "tap
into the segment of Jewish thought
that feels that Jews are continually
under attack," and he explains that
the Jewish leaders "try to appeal
to their fellow U.S. Jews by teach-
ing them that Jews are superior to
non-Jews." The speech that he
described by his president is only
about how U.S. Jews must support
their fellow Jews. If U.S. Jews
had helped and given more sup-
port to European Jews during the
Holocaust, maybe the death toll
wouldn't have been as catastroph-
ic. It is absolutely absurd that
Pesick tries to portray the presi-
dent's speech as something to con-
vey Jewish superiority. The
president of Pesick's congregation
was expressing this dire need to
help Israel and support their fel-
low Jewish people in this difficult
time. It is not about instilling fear
into the congregants, but instead,
instilling hope that maybe they can
help to end the bloodshed and
pave the way to peace.
YAEL GRANADER
LSAjunior
L ast week, I seekers unite!
started mak-
ing my White, bear
resume. If there's the question) s
anything that makes organization tht
me more uncom- thing - to m
fortable than having place. Historyn
to boast about break room. M
myself in print and cal views, occa
passing it around to indie-rock T-shi
a bunch of strangers, it's having to do Will not a:
it in corporate speak (e.g. Team-ori- buddy or any;
ented player with creative vision.). name. Will anss
The thought makes me want to Not having
wretch. Lucky for me, I haven't even is unacceptable
gotten that far yet. So far, I've spent Company s
more time fumbling around with the Paid vacation
tab button and the space bar than any- hard - tireli
thing else. work, but will
So instead of buckling down and off in order tot
just finishing the damn thing as a ed. Happy w
good job applicant should, I've decid- workers, remei
ed that bartending and waiting tables Must not de
really wasn't that bad after all. Oh ment to workp
sure, I've visited the career center a cubicle. Wor
few times, sought advice from other paid to sit onn
recent graduates, moped around my case I would n'
apartment muttering: You do have Must not b
vision, John, just make something up. by HawaiianT-s
But try as I might, I can't bring Will not w
myself to write these silly little bullet- intentionally me
point sentences about myself. not at least liste
So in lieu of a standard resume and orders dutifully:
cover letter, I am publishing in this really indignan
space the sort of resume I think we Civil LibertiesI
should all be required to submit. Job ness Bureau or I
ded male (shaving out of
eeking employment with
at does something - any-
nake the world a better
major. Must have smoking
ust tolerate liberal politi-
sional tardiness and ironic
irts on casual day.
nswer to boy, son, ace,
similarly condescending
wer to Johnny, if you must.
a health insurance policy
oftball team a huge plus.
time a must. Will work
essly even - while at
require occasional time
remain sane and ground-
orkers are productive
mber?
emand emotional attach-
lace, boss, coworkers or
k is work, unless I get
my front porch, in which
ever retire.
e expected to be inspired
shirt Day.
ork with anyone who is
an, or for anyone who will
n to my ideas. Will follow
if respected. If not, will get
it and call the American
Union or the Better Busi-
Neal, who has been known
to use a ballpoint pen as a weapon.
Possess unique and highly honed
skills of responding to hate mail, losing
breath by simply walking up small flight
of stairs and forgetting things.
Will research, edit, archive, plan,
design, plant, coordinate or tap, but
would prefer a job that rhymes with biter.
Would really rather not wear a polo
shirt with the company logo on it. Ever.
(I mean, seriously people, how lame.)
Will not work for corporation like
Wal-Mart that discriminates against
women, busts up unions and drives
out of business untold numbers of
local entrepreneurs.
Radio broadcasts of Chicago Cubs
games must be allowed in office/cubi-
cle/timeout corner at all times.
E-mail must be safe from the prying
eyes of management, corporate bigwigs
and John Ashcroft. So too must appli-
cant's personal file. Applicant may one
day desire alderman position in Chicago
neighborhood, would prefer that citation
for sassing boss kept quiet.
Pension plan must not be tied up in
stock market, susceptible to whims of
Porsche-driving, trophy-wife-seeking
CEO or have anything to do with any-
thing in Texas.
Most importantly, applicant desires
job. We'll leave it at that.
Honkala can be reached at
jhonkala@umich.edu.
"A plague on all your houses"
DANIEL ADAMS ADVANTAGE? PUSH.
wo weeks
ago, I went to
a big party,
celebrating the birth-
day of a mutual,
friend. Next door,
three guys were
relaxing in their liv-
ing room, taking a
break from the
crowds. As the minutes passed, there
came a knock on their door. A few men
showed up, members of a local fraterni-
ty, demanding that the location of one
of the party guests, that according to
rumor, had in some way wronged a
member of their sister sorority. Without
explanation - or warning - these men
proceeded to assault a good friend of
mine as he was escorting them outside.
He was sucker punched by guys who
were so drunk that they, in the throes of
their righteous indignation, not only
assaulted the wrong guy, but did so in
the wrong house. Classy.
Did I expect more of our Greek
system? Hell no. I've always been a
loud opponent of fraternity life, con-
vinced that it was an exclusive club
that, rather than let in the brightest and
best, purposely let in men of different
(and lowly) aspirations - men with
weak character, unable to hack it on
their own without dozens of other,
similarly weak companions to share
the load of college life.
This is only partially accurate. The
fact of the matter is the Inter-Fraterni-
ty Council, with leaders like Joel Win-
ston (sic), has spent a great amount of
time and money improving the way
their system operates. They run clinics
and informative meetings, and moni-
tor Greek-run parties, to discourage
the behaviors that fraternities and
sororities are notorious for.
Notorious. There is no need for a
scientific analysis of the Greek system;
frats have spent the past half-century
earning their disgraceful reputation,
and done so with an enthusiasm that is
only exceeded now by their desire to
escape that same status.
Undoubtedly, there will be a small
flood of e-mails waiting for me after
this is printed, demanding an apology.
I have a number of friends who are
involved in the system, and often
lament the negative attitude many har-
bor toward the Greeks. Does the Greek
system get a bad rap? Absolutely.
Greek life tends to attract abuse from
all directions, much of it unfair and
unearned. But this institution deserves
no sympathy, least of all an apology.
Who apologizes for the trash, festering
and rotten, littering the grass and
walks surrounding the Michigan
Union after weekend binges? Who
apologizes when GHB finds its way
into the Kool-Aid in the chapter room?
They demand my kind words, but will
surely be the first to exclude me from
their functions, and the last to apolo-
gize for their missteps.
The reforms taken up by individuals
like Winston, laudable as they are,
amount to squat insofar as my friend's
nose is concerned, broken so badly he
may need surgery. Ever-evolving but
unable to escape the nature of their exis-
tence, fraternities remain at the core,
bastions of male superiority, privilege
and ignorance. These characteristics,
though mellowed by years of reform,
are nonetheless an immutable facet of
Greek life. The same rituals and tradi-
tions continue. Pledges are still hazed
and abused, all in the name of making a
few friends. Outsiders are still ostra-
cized, as if those "worthy" of brother-
hood had something more to offer. And
the proudest tradition of all, the Greek
party, continues with the same drunken
zeal that it did thirty-years ago.
Will this archaic system stand fast
against the march of time? With any
luck, no way. With dwindling recruit-
ing classes, and its prestige all but
gone, what could possibly draw stu-
dents willing to drag themselves
through the mud of pledging? Desper-
ately, the Greeks throw up the false
promise of "brotherhood," "tradition,"
and "community service." Those
thinking about joining a fraternity and
sorority should think twice before buy-
ing that steaming load. I can assure
you, brothers don't come in solo cups,
date rape isn't considered community
service and traditions shouldn't
include locked doors and a ping-pong
paddle. You want brotherhood? Visit
mom and dad. You want tradition?
Start one. You want community ser-
vice? Volunteer. Otherwise, stand back
and watch the past catch up to this old
boys' club, burning by its own match
and its own kindling. No need for
water - just let it burn.
Adams can be reached at
dnadams@umich.edu.