"'I:~""""""'~~~I"">~'!'<~"' " '''' ''' . ~ '' ' W........ ~· N' i" .;>'..... ·· •.. ·· I·· · · · ~I · · " · . THE MICHIGAN REVIEW Volume 7, Number 7 March 1989 ELECTION '89 • Review Forum: PIRGIM .. '. Just Say No! ;A:! .. MSA Under Fire . " . Interviews with the Mayoral Candidates .... ,;,y_~,. .v • ..., ~' _"'.,.""" '. ,, ~ . ~~ " , .~. l.-",, ~ , ." .. ,." -'. " _. - ~'oilI~ . • The Michigan Review 2 March 1989 THE Serpent's Tooth MICHIGAN REVIEW The following correction appeared in a encourages all U-M students to stop about competence, not ideology. Above recent issue of the Michigan Daily: "Daily reading the Daily. It seems that Daily all else, we need someone who is not going The Campus Affairs Opinion Page Editor Elizabeth Esch did Editor-in-Chief Adam Schrager supports to concern him self wilh international Journal of the not defend the use of unsubstantiated facts the designated-hitter rule. issues. We need Michael Dukakis. University of Michigan in editorials. TheDaily misrepresented her statements in a news story yesterday." If the Daily cannot represent its own people With the MSA election right around the Michael who? Editor-in-Chief correctly, then who can it represent? comer, we have been thinking about what Marc Selinger kind of president the student body needs. We need someone with political The Review would like to thank the Publisher In the same spirit of the NOW boycott experience. We need someone who can departing duo of Phillips and Overdorf for Mark Molesky against Domino's Pizza, whose owner guarantee students good jobs at good providing us with countless ideas for this Tom Monaghan made contributions to wages when they graduate. We need column. You will be sorely missed. Arts Editor anti-abortion groups, the Review someone who believes this election is Jennifer Wori,ck 1 Assistant Editor Matthew Lund Letters to the Ed itor Associate Publishers Vicky Frodel Ryan Schreiber The La La Legacy Personnel Manager I understand the disappointment you ex­ progressive position; denounce all others, Tom Roelofs John Miller press in your February 1989 editorial and argue their position to its extreme so as Engineering 1978 C'Living in La La Land") about how far the not to be outdone in espousing the virtuous Executive Assistant Michigan Daily Opinion Page is oul of point of view. Dana Miller touch with the everyday University of For example, 12 years ago the campus Michigan student, because it was the same Palestinian groups were on their own. The Is the Review Improving? Production Assistant way when I attended the University of so-called progressive students largely The Michigan Review is definitely im­ Rannie O'Halloran Michigan in the mid-1970s. considered them pariahs who had the gall proving. Your February 1989 issue fairly Back then as well, the Daily had no to support terrorists. The Daily did not oozed editorial equilibrium. The straight, Editor Emeritus grass- roots support. It was nothing but the even know how to spell "Palestinians," informational stuff was excellent. Overall, Seth Klukoff expression of an elitist clique of intellec­ much less editorialize on their behalf. But in fact, the only things I reacted violently to tual snobs who felt that the more radical now that the Daily has been informed that were the lame cartoon accompanying the Stall their position was on a given issue, the the Palestinian cause is an acceptable part book review ("Storming the Ivory Tower") Ian Beilin, Mark Binelli, Karen Brink­ more intellectual, moral, and beyond re­ of the progressive agenda, they can tell us and the patently stupid "Liberal Arts" rep­ man, Mark Brodson, Judy Cheng, proach that position must necessarily be. all we need to know about the Palestinian resentative pictured on the cover in a tacky Rick Dyer, Annette Elert, Brian In their view, there was no need to explain issue with absolute certainty. They have early-1970s shawl. To be taken seriously, Gambs, Stephen George, Ash Jain, it to the drifting masses who were neither given their full and unqualified support to I should not have to tell you, you must take Jeffrey Leiman, Ajay Mehrotra, Peler intelligent nor compassionate enough to the struggle, complete with compassion your readers seriously. Miskech, Chris Moore, Carol Nahra, comprehend. Possibly the worst example and moral indignation, and the campus Your Michigan Daily-bashing is more Jim Ouevaere, Belinda Pelt, Lisa of this attitude was their comparison of Palestinian groups have gone from wall­ pointed, and it seems like you really do Perczak, Brian Portnoy, Dan then-President Gerald Ford to Adolf flower to homecoming queen of the "sen­ want to help resolve some campus issues Shonkwiler, Perry Shorris, John Tran ­ Hitler. sitive" elite. Meanwhile, we drifting instead of adding fuel to the fires of rheto­ sue, Elisabeth Weinstein, Bob Wier­ In addition, I see they still cannot grasp masses are still pondering the immense, ric. You have obviously done some of the enga, Chau-Ye Wu the concept of an issue having more than and often perplexing, historical, political, growing up which you prescribe for the one side worth considering. Rather, they religious, and strategic questions involved Daily, but not all of it. There are still a few The Michigan Review is an independ­ ascertain which is currently the acceptable in the matter. ugly kinks to work out, such as irrelevant ent, non-profit student journal at the I. What makes the Daily's pontifications name-calling ("neo-hippie," "La La Land") University of Michigan. We welcome all the more sickening is the way its mem­ and shamelessly rehashing certain campus letters and articles and encourage StM-Letters to the bers are often intimidated into taking their fiascoes (President James Duderstadt's comments about the journal and issues Editor to: one-sided position by campus pressure inauguration, the 1988 Martin Luther King discussed in it. We are not affiliated groups. They could not consider another Day). with any political party. Our address side of some issues if they wanted to, for In other words, your generally admirable is: fear of violating the wrong party's sacred views are way ahead of your persuasive­ IThe Michigan Review! cow. Thus, their opinions are too often writing,skills. Cut the propaganda and you Suite One arrived at by default-with all other con­ mighffind,yourselves with a disarmingly 911 North University Suite One siderations having been censored-in­ lucid anq progressive following (n .b.: that Ann Arbor, Mich. 48109 stead of by the free and open exercise of is not a paradox). (313) 662-1909 911 North Un~verrity thought nn Arbor, M1481(J9 Ninety-nine years of editorial freedom Andy Shaver Copyright 1989 indeed. LSA Junior • Xi'ta lI(_l:«n W\&at~/ol<~&~>~~'I~~W"">,IJf'_"'"h> The Michigan Review March 1989 3 From the Editor MSA's Presidential Challenge Two years ago, Seth Klukoff, my prede­ strate a willingness to work with, rather Furthermore, the next president should those students whose disenchantment with cessor as editor-in-chief of the Michigan than against, the administration. He should try to make MSA more prudent with its student government is the least ingrained Review, ran unsuccessf ull y for president of also refrain from one of the most divisive finances. Instead of feeling obligated, as it and who have the most arnount of time left the Michigan Student Assembly. He was antics of the current president: the shout­ does now, to give away extra funds it has at in theircoilegecareers to become involved seeking, in part, to reform a student gov­ ing down of dissenting representatives. the end of the academic year, MSA should in campus politics. The next president emmentconsidered by many to be ineffec­ Likewise, he should not spend his time save its money for the following year's could also meet periodically with the lead­ tive and unrepresentative of the student labeling students "apathetic leeches" (see budget. MSA could then lower its fee ers of various student groups to get feed­ body. Since that election, not much has the Ann Arbor News, Feb. 24, 1989) be­ request to the Board of Regents. Although back and exchange ideas. improved at MSA. If anything, the situ­ cause they have shown a lack of interest in this savings would have a negligible im­ MSA will only become a credible and ation has deteriorated. In fact, a number of MSA. Rather, he should playa positive pact on students' pocketbooks, it would effective student government if these or articles that have appeared in this and other role and encourage students to become improve MSA' s credibility by demonstrat­ similar steps are taken. Hopefully, students publications illustrate that a growing more active in campus politics. ing that the Assembly can exercise self­ will elect the presidential can~idate who is number of students, as well as The next president should also lead restraint. MSA representatives would also most willing to accept this challenge. administrators, have given up on the belea­ MSA in addressing only those issues that be in a better position to criticize the ad­ guered Assembly. However, MSA could concern and directly affect students. He ministration for not cutting its own costs. still be saved. But to do so, the next should convince the Assembly to refrain In a4dition, the next president should president, who will be elected this month, from addressing national and international work to increase student awareness of, as ~~ must make some major changes. issues, except those that are education­ well as participation in, student govern­ To begin, the next president must em­ related' such as federal financial aid pro­ ment. Shortly after taking office, he should brace what some past MSA presidents grams. Then, MSA could concentrate on hold at least one formal Assembly meeting Marc Selinger is a junior in political have often rejected: diplomacy.