4 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, July 12, 2004
420 MAYNARD STREET
ANN ARBOR, MI 48109 NIAMH SLEVIN SUHAEL MOMIN
tothedaily@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.
Big hair, big smile, big personality
- the attributes that supposedly
drove John Kerry to select a senator
with six years experience as his running
mate. Edwards, the first-term junior sena-
tor from North Carolina, burst unexpect-
edly onto the national political scene dur-
ing last year's Democratic primaries.
Running a campaign filled with optimism
and charisma, he captured enough atten-
tion to earn him a vice presidential nomi-
nation, solidifying his position as a rising
star amongst the Democratic ranks.
Political pundits everywhere are hailing
his boyish good looks and exuberance to
match as a refreshing addition to the oth-
erwise dull Kerry campaign. However,
these superficial comments, which reduce
Edwards to a pretty face, do a disservice to
the ticket: John Edwards strengthens the
Kerry candidacy by bringing his political
skill and uplifting vision for America, not
merely his sexual appeal.
The choice of Edwards as the vice presi-
dential nominee was a politically smart ven-
ture for the Kerry campaign. He brings with
him a renewed optimism and energy to a
ticket that lacked both personality and
Johnny boys
Edwards perks up otherwise flat, dull campaign
excitement. Edwards is a populist whose
streamlined rhetoric is able to connect with
middle America and perhaps more effective-
ly communicate the dry, policy-oriented
Kerry message. While Kerry, at first glance,
is the archetypical socially elite New
England "snob," Edwards is a self-made
man with the "southern charm" so impor-
tant in today's television-driven electoral
process. In many ways, Edwards is able to
smooth over Kerry's fine lines and wrinkles,
giving the ticket a more attractive, accessi-
ble, down-to-earth appearance.
But most importantly, John Edwards
has given a face-lift to Kerry's message as
well. During his campaign, Edwards
spoke of "two Americas," highlighting
that the separation between rich and poor
grew during the 1990's boom. Taking cues
from Edwards, Kerry has started to talk
about the great socio-economic divides
that separate the citizens of this country.
While this strategy - which points out
the unfortunate and often unspoken injus-
tices of a post-industrial economy - has
been labeled "class warfare," it is
nonetheless a crucial critique of America's
social condition. "Class warfare" is an
issue that involves the fundamental issues
of health insurance and substandard
salaries of service-industry workers. It is
not rhetoric about class envy, but rather
the inability of lower income citizens to
procure secure employment, safe housing
and adequate health coverage. Especially
in Michigan and the "Rust Belt" at large,
these concerns are paramount; it is
refreshing to actually hear major candi-
dates discuss it openly.
Edwards, however, does bring his own
imperfections to the ticket. Republicans
have already attempted to exploit these
blemishes, but have overwhelmingly come
across as desperate. The charge that
Edwards lacks experience is weak -
George W. Bush had less national security
experience when he took office in 2001.
Additionally, assaults on Edwards' back-
ground as a trial lawyer fail to mention that
he mainly sued negligent corporations and
insurance companies. Indeed, Edwards'
major flaw is of concern only to social lib-
ertarians already alienated with the
President. While in the Senate, Edwards did
not merely vote for the USA PATRIOT Act,
he helped author it. If the Kerry team is seri-
ous about attacking Bush on the invasive
and arguably unconstitutional provisions of
the bill, it will have a hard time maneuver-
ing around Edwards' critical role in drafting
and approving the legislation.
Metaphorically, John Edwards has done
for John Kerry what Botox has done for
Teresa Heinz Kerry's cheeks - he has
injected a new sense of vitality into a ticket
suffering from signs of fatigue and simple
dullness. Even while Kerry campaign was
clearly performing well, it lacked the spark
and wit needed to capture the hearts and
minds of voters. With the addition of Jo
Edwards, Kerry might have finally found
what his campaign has been missing.
Who you gonna call?
SAPAC changes preserve, strengthen organization
Off the charts
Grants to charter schools divert public funding
fter much heated debate involving the
University Administration and stu-
ent groups, the University recently
decided to keep the Sexual Assault
Prevention and Awareness Center's crisis line
operating at SAPAC. Initial plans called for
the crisis line to move to SAFEHouse, with
SAPAC relocating to the Michigan Union to
focus solely on sexual assault advocacy and
prevention. Instead, the crisis line will remain
at SAPAC, and the student volunteers who
normally answer the phones will be replaced
by full-time paid staff. The dedication and
selflessness of the student volunteers who
have put in countless hours helping victims
of sexual assault deserve recognition and
applause. However, using full-time staff is a
positive change that will ensure that victims
of sexual assault can deal one-on-one with
trained professionals at any time of the day
and will not have to worry about calling a
pager or waiting for a callback. SAPAC is a
vital program, and the fact that the University
is providing increased funding by hiring staff
members atla time of budget shortfalls shows
just how seriously the Administration takes
sexual assault.
It's important to note that these beneficial
changes would not have come about had it
not been for significant student input. The
student group Our Voices Count spoke out
vehemently against the initial proposed
changes, and the current changes were decid-
ed on only after substantial lobbying and
negotiating with the Administration. Our
Voices Count did not get everything they
wanted - they are unhappy that the
University is transferring SAPAC counselors
to Counseling and Psychological Services,
saying that dividing up services only hurts
their effectiveness. However, under the new
agreement, services are limited to only two
groups, both within the University. Both the
students who made sure SAPAC remained a
valuable resource as well as the
Administration, which listened to student
input, deserve applause. It is particularly
commendable that the director of SAPAC
sent an e-mail to all students regarding the
changes, keeping dispersed students
informed over the summer.
SAPAC will now focus more heavily on
sexual assault education and prevention.
These are both important, because it is
through them that the number of incidents of
sexual assault are reduced, making the crisis
line less of a necessity. Outreach services,
which are just as important as actual counsel-
ing, will now be emphasized. However,
despite increased education and prevention
work, sexual assault will remain an unfortu-
nate reality; the University decision to keep
the crisis line and staff it with trained profes-
sionals is surely a positive one.
Now, it is important that SAPAC makes
good on its promise to increase outreach. The
services they offer are invaluable, and it is
important that the student body is aware of
what they have to provide. The e-mail that
SAPAC director Kelly Cichy sent to students
lists the location and contact information for
the organization, in addition to offering
workshops to interested student groups. This
outreach is necessary to ensure that students
are aware of and have access to such a valu-
able resource. Through increased outreach
and education, the indispensable services
offer by SAPAC will only get better.
federal grant of 21 million dollars
was recently awarded to the
Michigan Department of
Education for the purposes of developing
and improving charter schools throughout
the state. Charter schools will have to
compete over the next three years in order
to receive the funds that will be allocated
toward staff development, classroom sup-
plies and marketing. Instead of going to
charter schools, state funding should be
spent towards eradicating the existing eco-
nomic deficiencies of public school sys-
tems. These misplaced funds will only
serve to jeopardize the future of public
schools and leaves students vulnerable to
the horrid effects of privatization.
Charter schools are privatized public
schools - they are privately owned, but
publicly funded and open to all. However,
unlike public schools, where school board
officials are elected, charter school adminis-
trators are appointed by private interests and
cannot be held accountable by the people
that they are servicing. Contributing to this
dearth of accountability, a generous donor
will perhaps have a greater influence on the
school than the community because private
donors are essential to the sustenance of
these schools. This shifts the focus away
from the students and community members
toward profits and private ambitions.
Further, in order to receive funding, pub-
lic schools are held to standards that are tai-
lored toward the best interest of the student.
Curriculums and teacher qualifications
must meet a specified set of criterion.
Charter schools are better able to circum-
vent these standards and may make deci-
sions autonomous from the state's recom-
mendations. This significantly impairs the
state and parents' means of holding charter
schools liable to both high academic stan*
dards and providing students with suitable
learning environments.
Proponents of charter schools argue that
they are held accountable through their suc-
cess and ability to attract enough students to
remain open. However, the accountability of
a free market is unacceptable because it is
the student who suffers most. Student can-
not afford to gamble their education on tria
and error efforts. If a charter school is
forced to close, the student is then subject to
the troubles of the public school system
whose very same funds were diverted to the
failed charter school.
Charter schools exacerbate the troubles
that the ramshackle public school system is
already facing. State funding follows the
student to the charter school, consequently
detracting funding from public schools. This
is not only the case with monetary units, but
human resources as well. Teachers are lured
toward charter schools with the promise o*
higher salaries, leaving public schools with
little money and less qualified teachers.
Public schools were created for the wel-
fare of the community. Teachers and par-
ents have a invested interest in the progress
and academic growth of their students.
However,' when private organizations
become involved in community education,
the focus shifts away from the students an
toward profits; public funds can be use
for private marketing and a child's educa-
tion becomes a number factored into the
bottom-line.