4 -The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 4, 1995
420 Maynard MICHAEL ROSENBERG
Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Editor in Chief
Edited and managed by JULIE BECKER
students at the JAMES M. NASH
University of Michigan Editorial Page Editors
Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of a majority of the Daily's editorial board. All
other articles, letters, and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily.
JORDAN STANCIL
LAST-DITCH APPEAL
'The best an
U' betrays reputatioi
n he University of Michigan - "leaders
T and best." It's in the fight song; many
would claim it's the University's unofficial
slogan. But to what extent must it ring true?
Last Wednesday the University's interim
provost, J. Bernard Machen, accepted a task
force proposal to eliminate the master's de-
gree program injournalism. The reason given
for this severe action: The University is not a
"national leader" injournalismonthe master's
level.
Journalism, one of the most popular pro-
fessions in the country, will no longer have
an academic breeding ground in Ann Arbor
because it seems the program did not rank
high enough in the polls. Yet there is no
possible way - and no need - for every
program the University offers to be among
the elite. Just because one program does not
hold its own compared to other top universi-
ties - most of them private - is a poor
reason for the University to turn its back on
journalism.
This move is simply another in a long line
of University assaults to the field of journal-
ism education. This past January it cut all
undergraduate journalism classes, under the
rationale that they did not fit the "mission" of
the College of LSA - ignoring the high
demand for the classes among the under-
graduate student body. University officials
also misspent funds that were intended for
scholarships out of the endowments contrib-
uted forjournalism programs. When the mis-
handled money was discovered, the Univer-
Under t
Wilson, INS botc
R ecentraids on California garment sweat-
hops have seen scores of illegal Thai
immigrants released from years of forced
servitude. These immigrants, smuggled into
the United States by an organized crime
gang, had their passports confiscated and
were told part oftheir earnings would be kept
to repay the costs of bringing them here -
forall practical purposes, making them slaves.
Unfortunately, closer examination of this
apparent Immigration andNaturalization Ser-
vice success story reveals some alarming
questions about the agency's competence.
Politics and a lack of communication
among federal, state and local officials have
left these workers at the mercy of Asian
-organized crime groups for seven years. The
INS apparently received information ofthese
sweatshops as far back as 1988. But person-
ality clash, tied the INS's hands until late last
month, leaving many illegal immigrants in
appalling conditions for years.
One man tried to end the abuse. In sum-
mer 1991, INS special agent Phil Bonner Jr.
- who is now suing the agency - repeat-
edly requested raids on these sweatshops, but
was refused and subsequently disciplined.
Bonner says he was not allowed to speak
Thai in the office or pursue cases related to
Thais. He claims that he was discriminated
against because he married a Thai woman
and is able to speak Thai Due to the internal
problems the INS had with Bonner, the agency
failed to act on information that could have
nd brightest?
in with journalism cut
sity had few explanations - and now that
there is no journalism department for these
intended funds, they have no concrete expla-
nations about where the journalism money
will be rerouted.
Instead of using these funds to rebuild a
bigger and better journalism department, the
University has suggested replacing it with a
certificate program. The program, modeled
after the Women's Studies Program, would
require a small number of formal courses and
the completion of an internship to supple-
ment other graduate training. This, the Uni-
versity claims, is what the journalism profes-
sion is looking for today. However, a certifi-
cate program would not hold a candle to what
a solid journalism department would offer.
Even if a journalism graduate program may
not be the best step for future journalists, it
should be an option at a school renowned for
its large selection of academics.
In cutting journalism from undergraduate
and now graduate education, the University
has shown complete disregard for the needs
and desires of its students. Faced with a
program it considers substandard, the logical
reaction would be to try to improve it - but
instead, the University has simply decided to
give up. When it cut undergraduate journal-
ism last year, it noted that students interested
in a journalism degree should "go to Michi-
gan State." For a University that purports to
be a world-class institution, the latest cuts
show nothing but world-class laziness and
ignorance of student concerns.
Don't besadO.J trad i over
{ - there will be more lessons
It was good when the O.J. trial was still be a "wake-up call." There would be a dia- The wake up calls from the verdict will
going on. It was good because there was logue. be followed by residual wake up calls,
something for everyone to talk about with "Dialogues" in this country are held on stimulated by the coming deluge of books
each other. The best part was that you didn't talk shows. I like this because it's on TV and movies, about issues like How People
have to know anything about anything. All which means that, even if you don't get Sell Out and How Commercialized Every-
you had to do was find any person and make dressed or go outside, you still get to partici- thing Is Getting These Days. It'll be sad
some sort of comment about O.J. You could pate in a national dialog which was started when there are no more wake-up calls and
say, "Jeez, Johnnie Cochran sure did one by a wake-up call and which deals with a no one has anything to talk about anymore.
helluva job on whatsisname." very serious thing like domestic violence. Or at least not anything good like money
Thenyou and the other person could start One wake-up call in this case was that O.J. and sex and Marcia Clark topless in Eu-
to talk about all sorts ofother things, ranging abused Nicole. The message from the wake- rope. There won't be any more lessons, and
from domestic violence to racism to civil up call was that men sometimes abuse their it will be hard once again to strike up a good
liberties to the utility of defense lawyers. wives or ex-wives or girlfriends. conversation with just anybody.
You could talk about psychology and pas- I'm sure glad we learned that lesson. But that won't be the worst part of post-
sion and about the role of football players in Maybe it would have been learned sooner if trial America. The worst part will come
society. With O.J., you could talk about people had been paying attention to their when people start to realize that it's a lot
these things, whereas usually, you don't get very own local circuit court. Or even to their more difficult and a lot less fun to actually
to talk about big societal issues with just neighbors. The problem is that it's no fun to participate in your society than it is to watch
anybody. head on down to the county building to see it on TV. It's been fun to think about all the
Another good thing was that O.J. and Joe Blow on trial for spouse abuse. No lessons, and, when you and your friends
Johnnie and everybody else taught us a lot lessons there. And no dialogues. Plus, you make big generalizations about the Nature
about our society. It seemed like the number have to go outside. It's more fun if you wait of Our Society based on what you've
of major social lessons taught per day went 'til you get a wake-up call. learned, it makes you feel pretty good. The
way up. In your average real estate case in Now the trial's over, but there's still the only problem is that we might have forgot-
circuit court, there just aren't as many les- verdict (unknown at this writing), which ten what happens when you're actually in
sons to be learned. Maybe there would be if will itself be a wake-up call of one kind or the society and, as a citizen, partially re-
it were on TV. But in the O.J. trial, there was another. It might start a dialogue. The wake- sponsible for what happens there.
a new lesson virtually every day. The big up call will be interpreted. It will teach us But it's OK because before you know it
lesson came in August when we learned that some new lesson that we didn't know be- there'll be another trial or a scandal or
there definitely is at least some racism in the fore. This will happen because everyone something really fun to watch. And it too
Los Angeles Police Department. This was a likes to learn O.J. lessons, and if you had a will have lessons ...
good lesson because it would be the catalyst talk show (or a column), you'd find a lesson - Jordan Stancil can be reached over e-
for anational discussion about race. It would just as fast as you could. mail at rialto@umich.edu.
JIM LASSER SHARP AS TOAST NoTABLE QUOTABLE
:--
I'PEV Murderer.'
-Fred Goldman, Ronald
Goldman 'sfather, after
the delivery ofO.J.
Simpson's not-guilty
verdict for first or second
degree murders of his son
and Nicole Brown
Simpson
he cloak
h sweathouse bust
released the immigrants from their plight.
Moreover, it was not only an appalling
lack of communication, or even discrimina-
tion within the agency that allowed the prob-
lem to fester for years -but the major block
was external and government-sanctioned.
California Gov. Pete Wilson has twice ve-
toed bills that would hold big manufacturers
responsible for monitoring their subcontrac-
tors' compliance with labor and immigration
laws. These laws would make it much more
difficult to exploit illegal aliens. But Wilson
says that such restrictions would be to bur-
densome for manufacturers and would drive
them out of the state.
Once again, it is clear that Wilson, mas-
termind of the anti-immigrant and almost
certainly unconstitutional Proposition 187,
has forsaken the welfare of immigrants for
political popularity. However, what is more
interesting in this case is Wilson's motiva-
tion. He has risen to fame in the past year in
large part due to his promise to keep illegal
aliens out ofthe country, and thus, away from
U.S. jobs, has done just the opposite. Evi-
dently, Wilson's strong stance against illegal
immigration does not extend to situations
where it will hurt big businesses.
So the real question this situation raises is:
What leaves a worse taste in the mouth of
Americans - the existence of forced servi-
tude in their country, the incompetence of the
INS or the staggering hypocrisy of Republi-
can presidential candidate Pete Wilson?
VIEWPOINT q
O.J. comes full
By Antoine Pitts
It seems like more than a de-
cade has passed since I was an
intern in the KTLA newsroom.
KTLA is an independent station
in Los Angeles owned by the Tri-
bune Co., and I was selected to
spend the summer of 1994 with
its news team.
KTLA was the first television
station west of the Mississippi
and through its 53 years ofopera-
tion has hadplenty ofearthquakes,
floods, riots, murders and more
to cover.
WhathappenedJune 11,1994
and in the days to follow easily
ranks up there with anything else
the station has ever covered. I
remember seeing the face of Stan
Chambers, a reporter who has
been with KTLA since it first
went on the air.
Chambers was in awe of what
happened that Friday - Bronco
Friday, as it should be remem-
bered. A look of surprise, aston-
ishment and incredulity filled his
face as well as everyone else's
that night. The unbelievable was
happening.
I'm sure many had the same
reaction following yesterday's
reading of the verdict.
That summer was my first trip
to Los Angeles and didn't quite
know what to expect. When news
of the murders first came out, I
didn't understand the magnitude
it would have on that city and this
country. It was just the ex-wife of
a famous athlete. Murders hap-
pen all the time in this country.
Pitts is the Daily's managing
sports editor.
Bronco Friday
other day for me. I
to report at'4 p.m
That morning I h
nounce an arrest o
imminent. The ph
utes later with s
KTLA asking me1
help with the cove
All essential
cameramen, repo
cians, writers, inter
summoned for th
situation. KTLA w
live for the rest of
Working at tI
desk for the rest c
evening, I saw all t
and developmer
America glued to
sets. I assisted tt
editor in coordina
ment and news g
ties of our crews./
veteran news peol
the story of the ce
Never before h
famous been accu
Others had becom
committing mur
were American
Older people reme
as a Heisman Trop
star in the NFL.T
generation, he wa
ABC and NBC sp
Everyone from
works to ESPN, t
others wanted to c
It's because every
have some involve
in the Simpson Tri
some, it repulsed
the last year ever
some portion of tI
KTLA ran eve
circle; will the
began like any testimony from the preliminary
was scheduled hearing all the way to yesterday's
. for my shift. verdict.
eard CNN an- At the end, just as in the be-
f Simpson was ginning, everyone was watching,
one rang min- and how could you not? In the
omeone from future our children will ask us
to come in and "Where were you on Bronco Fri-
-rage. day?" They will also ask "Where
personnel - were you on Verdict Tuesday?"
)rters, techni- We've seen all the twists and
ns, etc. -were turns for the last nine months -
is "code red" the opening statements, the dis-
vould be going missed jurors, Rosa Lopez, Kato
the day. Kaelin, the DNA evidence, the
he assignment gloves, the Fuhrman tapes, the
of the day and closing statements and the ver-
he commotion dicts.
nts that kept It's all over, for now. There
its television are still the possibilities of civil
he assignment trials asking for monetary dam-
ting the move- ages against Simpson but he can
athering abili- never go to jail on these charges.
All day, I heard A lot of people were outraged
ple calling this that race was ever brought into
ntury. this trial. I believe race was
ad a person this brought in the day O.J. and Nicole
sed of murder. were married more than a decade
e famous after ago. They are plenty of people in
der, but none this country that believe interra-
sports icons. cial marriages should not be al-
mber Simpson lowed. Mark Fuhrman, the police
hy winner and officer who handled critical evi-
ro the younger dence in this case, is one such
s known as an person. Race was a factor in this
ortscaster. case from day one - there's no
the major net- doubt about it.
CNBC, E! and It outrages many people that
cover this trial. with so much evidence Simpson
gone wanted to was set free. How many black
ment somehow people in the history of this coun-
al. It enchanted try have been killed by white
others, but for people without any retribution?
yone has seen You need go back only a few
his case. decades to find instances of sub-
ry single day of stantial evidence against a white
Country?
suspect ignored or thrown out in
cases of black victims. How many
lynchings, knifings and shootings
have gone unpunished?
In this case, even though the
evidence was overwhelming
against Simpson, you could never
forget Fuhrman's role. The man
who found a bloody glove at
Simpson's mansion, blood in
O.J. 's bronco, blood drops on the
driveway could not be ignored.
The last few night's words
from Johnnie Cochran Jr.'s clos-
ing argument have dominated my
dreams. I've been hearing the
words "If it doesn't fit, you must
acquit" - a reference to the
gloves in evidence not fitting
Simpson.
I've also heard "You have to
stop the cover-up." The jury was
the only force that could put an
end to the outrage.
You have to wonder if the
jury was hearing the same thing.
I hope this jury's verdict was
a message to all the Fuhrmans out
there. It says you can't get away
with this.
Things ended for Simpson
seemingly the way they began.
How ironic is it that Simpson
went back home to Brentwood-
this time in a white minivan -
with helicopters and news crews
following him again?
I really feel I was part of an
historic event that began some 15
months ago in the KTLA news-
room. I'll never forget it. I hope
the future will lead to the removal
of the Mark Fuhrmans of the
world from public service..Some-
how I realize we'll never find
them all.
with the Pope on these first two
ideas, I understood where he was
Ann Arbor Mayor and City Council:
Mayor Ingrid B. Sheldon
Ann Arbor City Hall
100 N. Fifth Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48107
994-2766
Tobi Hanna-Davies (D-1st Ward), Patricia Vereen-Dixon (D-1st Ward), Peter Fink (R-2nd
Ward) Jane Lumm (R-2nd Ward), Jean Carlberg (D-3rd Ward), Haldon Smith (D-3rd
LETTER
Pope maintains silence on 'culture of death'