41 Monday, May 21, 2007 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Cl he 1WICbtoan 43ailg Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu 1ALE QUOTABLE Evidence of a turnaround is absent:' - Sam Kahan, economist for the Federal Reserve Bank, speaking about Michigan's $802-million deficit, as reported Saturday by the Detroit Free Press. JOE LUCAS FI AK JA<;KET TEAM PlAYER EDITION NOW AVAILABLE IN STORES* * DISCLAIMER: Except Iraq & Afghanistan 4 IMRAN SYED EDITOR IN CHIEF GARY GRACA EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorialboard. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solelythenviews of their authors. A Greek tragedy IFC must not shirk responsibilities 4 After years of disregard- ing disciplinary action, the Beta Theta Pi fra- ternity no longer has a home at the University following a deci- sion by the national organiza- tion last week. The organization disbanded the local chapter after the fraternity repeatedly violated the organization's alcohol poli- cies. But the real tragedy here is not that the University is losing one of its most insubordinate fra- ternities; it's that the Interfrater- nity Council let this situation get so out of hand that the national organization needed to step in. Since April 2005, when photo- graphssurfaced of Beta Theta Pi members drinking in excess, the University chapter has perpetu- ally defied the alcohol policies of both the IFC and its nation- al organization. But only the national organization seemed concerned enough to take action. While the national organization put the chapter on probation for its violations in 2006, the IFC was content to stand by as the national organization did all of the disciplining. But now the actions of Beta Theta Pi have reached the point where they are no longer just an embarrassment to the fraternity; they are an embarrassment to the entire Greek system at the Uni- versity. And part of the blame for this embarrassment has to fall on the IFC, which skirted its disci- plinary obligations and let this situation spiral out of control. Unlike the Greek systems at many colleges in the country, the Greek system at the University enjoys autonomy from Univer- sity administrators. The Univer- sity recognizes the IFC, which is composed of fraternity represen- tatives, as a student-run organiza- tion and therefore largely refrains from imposing its own regula- tions. Hence, it is the responsibil- ity of the IFC to regulate itself. But with that autonomy comes a greater deal of responsibility. When a fraternity is openly vio- lating the IFC's policies, it should not be enough to use the national organization's actions as an excuse for IFC inaction. This disband- ment needs to be a wake-up call to the IFC that its current self-gover- nance policies are inadequate. Ifthe IFC is able to make its own rules, it should be able to enforce them. Whether that enforcement means assigning more monitors to houses during parties or plac- ingharsherpenalties onviolators, the IFC needs to make sure that minor infractions don't add up or become as grave as the violations of Beta Theta Pi. The Greek system is a unique and important community at the University, largely because it is allowed to operate independently of administrators. To ensure the healthy future of this community, it is essential that it recognizes its duty to itself and the University to improve its enforcement policies. A fond farewell University needs another Krislov to fight for values and students The University lost one of its most respected and important leaders last week when Ohio's Oberlin Col- lege announced its decision to appoint Marvin Krislov as its new president. Krislov served as the University's vice presi- dent and its general counsel for nine years. While Krislov may be gone, his dedication to the student body and campus diver- sity must be values for which all University faculty and adminis- trators continue to strive. Although he was a prominent figure at the University, Krislov's most noted accomplishment L E T TE R .TT.H E E DITOR Rogers's law misrepresented TO THE DAILY: There are many facts miss- ing from The Michigan Daily article (Strides for student vote, 05/14/2007) and editorial (Rog- ers Et me, 05/14/2007) on the state law that requires all Mich- igan residents - not just col- lege students - to have a single address on their driver's licenses and voter-registration cards. This whole issue came up as a result of the federal voting law in the 1990s that requires states to have a single database for voter registrations. In 1998, at didn't happen in Ann Arbor. It happened in Washington D.C., where he argued that affirma- tive action is a legitimate part of the college admissions process as partoftheteamthatdefendedthe University before the Supreme Court in 2003. Krislov's efforts were instru- mental in renewing the Univer- sity's commitment to diversity, despite the challenges. We hope that the next general counsel is as committed to the cause as Krislov was. While this successful ven- ture was thought to be the most important of Krislov's accom- plishments by Oberlin College Krislov impacted the student body on a more personal level too. He was a dynamic professor who had a reputation as a stu- dent-oriented man.As anadmin- istrator, he actually listened tc the concerns of students. It is unfortunate that the Uni- versity will be losing a person of character like Krislov, but ii should make every attempt tc replace him with a person of sim- ilar characteristics. Instead of considering Krislov as an excep- tion to the rule, we should con- sider his traits as a prerequisite for a suitable replacement. 4 4 SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU the request of the Michigan Sec- it was known that Rogers would retary of State office, then-state be running for the Congressional Sen. Mike Rogers introduced seatvacated byDebbie Stabenow? legislation that would make a Democrats who voted for the singledatabase ofeachresident's bill in 1998, including Byrum, address based on voter registra- suddenly opposed the measure tion and driver's license because and found a way to make it seem it was less costly for taxpayers political. and more efficient to manage. I certainly hope the Daily is The measure passed the state not falling into the same politi- Senate with bipartisan support cal pit with its coverage of state and only one vote against it. Democrats' current efforts Unfortunately, the state House to change the law, which was of Representatives was unable upheld by the courts. Students to get to the measure that year. who depend on the newspaper The following year, again at the for information deserve to have request of the Secretary of State, the complete story, not just the Rogers reintroduced the legis- political spin. lation, but this time it was sud- denly a big deal. Sarah Dansereau Could that have been because LSA senior 4 4 Editorial Board Members: Mike Eber, Jennifer Sussex, Kate Truesdell, Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Wagner