4 Tuesday, May 29, 2007 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com C e Midiigan Bailj Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu IMRAN SYED GARY GRACA EDITOR IN CHIEF EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles and illustra- tions represent solely the views of their authors. Passing the buck Irresponsible legislature passes problem on to universities After letting Michigan's deficit balloon to $802 million, you would think that the state's lawmakers had finally done their worst. Well, think again. In one'of its most irresponsible and incompetent acts yet, the state legislature slashed $179 million of that deficit on Friday by either postponing or cutting fund- ing to state universities and community colleges. Quite literally, it borrowed from Michigan's future. MIKE EBER jVFEWP 1N War of words After Don Imus forced us to eliminate the phrase "nappy- headed ho" from public discourse, I think we can continue with this progression and retire the term "Islamic fundamentalist." Like many Americans, I understand the word through an association with individuals like Osama bin Laden and Aya- tollah Khomeini. Because I build my understanding of Islamic fundamentalism from the nar- row imagery associated with bin Laden and Al Qaeda, all Islamic fundamentalists are, therefore, like bin Laden. Bin Ladenand AlQaedagivethe meaning to the phrase. We then understand the intention of the speaker using the phrase: to asso- ciate the subject and significance with contemporary terrorism. We construct the word to have a new meaning, one that brings to mind bin Laden and other terrorists. Without him, we cannot be sure people agree upon the meaning of "Islamic fundamentalism." Removing bin Laden from the realm of "Islamic fundamental- ists" results in a different inter- pretation of the term. The term, when broken down, is "Islamic", pertaining to the religion Islam, and "fundamentalist", which is someone who adheres to unabridged followings of certain principles. Putting the adjective and noun together in a phrase now can be interpreted as "a Muslim who follows unabridged tenets of Islam." The two definitions clash to create starkpolitical implications. However, the strict interpretation ofthe Qurandoesnotadvocatethe destruction of America any more than our Christian fundamental- ist president's scripture requires an occupation of the Middle East. When we fight a war to elimi- nate an Islamic fundamentalist insurgency, while we claim to not be waging a war on Islam, natu- rally some people are confused. We ascribed political meaning to the term, and that has conse- quences. We must learn to refer to a ter- rorist as a terrorist and nothing more. As President Bush repeat- edly preaches, Islam is a religion of peace. We must cease equat- ing terrorists with members of a peaceful religion, unless we truly want to cause a tenth crusade. Mike Eber is an LSA senior and a member of the Daily's editorial board. I I For the past three months, Michigan's Democrats and Republicans have squabbled like children over how to balance the state's budget. But instead of reaching a long-term agreement that combines tax increases with spending cuts, the state legisla- ture continued to argue while the deficit grew to the embar- rassingly large number of $802 million. Friday's deal was an act of desperation to fix the problem they created. Of the total $316 million cut from the deficit, the legislature took some from the supposedly restricted 21st Century Jobs Fund and borrowed against the state's future tobacco settle- ments, among other cuts. How- ever, the majority came at the expense of Michigan's higher education system. By "postpon- ing" $140 million in payments to the state's universities until the next fiscal year, cutting outright $26 million from state universi- ties and "postponing" another $13 million in payments to com- munity colleges, the legislature gave the illusion of solving the budget problem. In actuality, it just dumped its burden onto the universities. At best, the deal temporar- ily pushes Michigan's budget- ary troubles back a few months until the next fiscal year while causing a fiscal nightmare for the state's universities. At worst, the deal slashes more than 10 percent from the universities' 2007 funding, raising tuition by double digits and crippling the only institutions that have kept Michigan attractive as its manufacturing-based economy crumbles. Because the state legislature has repeatedly proven incom- petent on handling the budget, we're inclined to believe the lat- ter. The reality of the situation is that Michigan's universities will never see that money again. While it may be good that the legislature passed something by June 1, which was the deadline before per-pupilfunding for pub- lic schools would have been cut by $122 a student and Medicaid costs would have increased by 6 percent, this situation is just as devastating. If Michigan hopes to ever break out of its slump and compete in the 21st century, it will need an intelligent work- force that attracts competitive jobs. We can't achieve that goal by slashing funding to the point that students are hit with dou- ble-digit tuition hikes. As much as Gov. Jennifer Granholm's vow to double the number of college graduates in the next 10 years was a laudable goal, the actions of the state law- makers are encouraging exactly the opposite. Lansing has prob- ably done more to double the number of college students that will leave the state after they graduate than anything else - provided they stay here to study in the first place. Friday was a sad day for Michigan and for the University. Rather than providing Michi- gan residents with the long-term solutions that they need, Lansing opted for a quick fix that does anything but inspire confidence. Let's hope that in the next few months Michigan's leaders can correct their mistakes and final- ly pass the tax increases neces- sary to balance the budget. Until then, Michigan's residents need to speak up and tell their law- makers that their irresponsible behavior is unacceptable. E SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU Daily unfair to blame IFC were placed. Therefore, w nity's national 1 IFC defers to authority that, TO THE DAILY, That is not bei I served as vice president of the the other way University's Interfraternity Coun- brewing. It is cil in 2001, which made me the ligent thing to chief judicial officer of the IFC. at-risk student After reading the Daily's editorial defering to a (A Greek tragedy, 05/21/07) blam- with more pmv ing the IFC for being lax in regu- has. We only w lating Beta Theta Pi, I find the governing boar Daily's opinion to be off the mark. when we turn t While I am no longer on the Make no mis inside, I have no doubt that IFC happy to see B and Greek Life Advisors did any other fra everything they could to regulate students at ri Beta Theta Pi. However, there is the University, only so much authority an elect- campus. But I ed body of students can have and let the DaiI over a fraternity house. When I That organizat was on IFC, we struggled to get ensuring that t fraternities to understand they nitystays alivec were putting themselves at risk. of its greater m We often felt that our regulations and sanctions were only as good Justin Bright as the people upon whom they Alum whenever a frater- board steps in, the it because it has the IFC does not. ing lax or turning when trouble is doing the intel- insure that these s remain safe by governing body wer than thebIFC 'ish more national rds would help us to them. take about it, Iam eta Theta Pi, and ternity that puts sk and disgraces be expelled from cannot stand by ly defame the IFC. ion is the only one he Greek commu- despitethe actions embership. U A Editorial Board Members: Mike Eber, Jennifer Sussex, Kate Truesdell, Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Wagner