THE MICHIGAN REviEW THE JOUR NAL OF CAMPUS AF FAirS AT THE UNivERSitY OF MICHIGAN 1.23.07 VOLUME XXV, ISSUE 7 Martin Luther King Symposium: A Little Less Features Martin Luther King, a Little More Symposium ning committee choose events like a keynote The University’s speech, most events are submitted by student Martin Luther King groups. Day symposium Gena Flynn, the committee’s spokesperson, events are profiled by stated that in her “two years of experience, no Review event has been turned down for endorsement.” the She explained the criteria for an event being turned down would simply be if the event did P. 3 not take place on campus or somewhere near it. This process came to the delight of student New Develpments in groups. Matt Linke, who helped plan the Peo- ple and the Sky event, said his group found the the attempts for an process “quite convenient.” Ann Arbor- Detroit When a group submits their event on the Rail Line site, it is checked for spelling and relevance, and then it is considered an official symposium P. 12 event with almost no other considerations. One thing groups are sometimes asked to clarify and change is the abbreviation “MLK” in their title or description to “Martin Luther King” because some many people may not News know what the letters mean. Ironically, the ab- breviation appears on the University’s homep- The University age to direct audience to the symposium web- plans the construction site. of the much-discussed North Quad Adam Paul/ The Michigan Review P. 6 Nothing like elderly white people protesting the elimination of racial and gender In the past two years, no preferences. event has been turned Michigan reorganizes down for endorsement by the state sales tax (OAMI) works hand in hand with the MLK the MLK symposium Although officially called a Symposium Planning Committee to give some “planning committee”, the guidance to this prominent, annual University P. 8 event. MLK symposium planning According to the symposium’s website, the Although the University provides endorse- Congress committee leaves the leg- program offers “events that focus on historical ment to groups in their leaflet and website, they considers funds for authenticity and the Civil Rights Movement of do not provide help planning the event. The work to students the 1960’s” as well as “programs [that] high- University attempts to accommodate the time Greek housing light historical and contemporary issues of and location requests of each event, and they BY SHANDA SHOOTER, ‘10 renovatons race, class, social justice, diversity, and societal allow students to undertake planning. Further- change.” more, events are rarely given funding from the P. 10 N HONOR OF Martin Luther King Day, The theme for this year’s event is “Build- Ithe University sponsors a month-long sym- ing the Beloved Community.” This phrase was posium that includes a host of events. The used by Dr. King several times throughout his See “MLK Planning,” Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives career to stress social harmony. While the plan- Opinion Page 3 U-M admissions of- ficers promise “see Committee Members, University Take Silent no race or gender” approach Approach to “Diversity Blueprints” Task Force P. 10 Despite much fanfare in Novem- our community.” Yet more than two months post-Prop 2 era, and why the committee was ber, President Coleman’s com- after this announcement, the administration not launched “immediately” as indicated in Amanda Nichols mittee is established with little and committee members are reluctant to an- President Coleman’s email, but a month later profess her love for swer key questions about the task force. when most students were home for break. campus attention Notably absent from President Coleman’s Out of thirty-five members of the Task Steve Yzerman November 21 e-mail announcement were the Force that The Michigan Review attempted to BY ADAM PASCARELLA, ‘10 means by which committee members would be question, only three members of the commit- P. 5 selected. tee answered our inquiries, Task Force co-chair HEN UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT “More details will be coming soon about Provost Lester Monts, Professor Scott Page WMary Sue Coleman announced the cre- members of the task force,” the e-mail read. and Professor David Munson. ation of the Diversity Blueprints task force on Following the announcement, The Michigan Many other committee members referred Arts November 21, she encouraged broad participa- Review made several attempts to inquire as to inquiries to University spokeswomen Julie Pe- tion and “thoughtful input from everybody in how committee members would be selected, terson or Kelly Cunningham. Peterson could & Culture and how interested members could apply. Us- not be reached, and Cunningham refused to be ing the e-mail addresses provided in Coleman’s quoted. OC and TRL finallly e-mail, no message elicited a response. Attempts were made to collect comments recognize their own “I don’t even know how I Following the announcement of the Task from the members of the Task Force, as well irrelevnce was selected to serve on Force launch—which came on December 21, as to contact U-M spokesmen for a statement. during the tail end of finals week—The Michi- Again, one University spokeswoman “couldn’t the committee.” gan Review made attempts to contact members be quoted,” and another spokeswoman was out P. 11 of the committee in order to find out how they -Engineering Dean were selected to the committee, what views See “Diversity” David Munson committee members had on diversity in the Page 9 MR WWW.MICHIGANREVIEW.COM First two copies free, additional copies $3 each. Stealing is illegal and a sin. (Exodus 20:15) P. 2 Page Two 01.24.07 THE MICHIGAN REVIEW www.michiganreview.com page two. Editorial Board: the michigan review Nick Cheolas Editor-in-Chief Reviewing the Presidential Favorites Michael O’Brien Executive Editor The first presidential election without an incumbent in 80 years is as wide open as an election with that sort of billing would be expected to be. Still, frontrunners are being Adam Paul Managing Editor clearly defined, and the money is already flowing into these well-supported campaigns. The primaries, the first of which is just under one year away, will include both new faces Amanda Nichols and former candidates among the front runners. Here we assess the candidates that we Content Editor see as having the best chance to make it into the general election, along with some things you might or might not know about the 2008 candidates. Brian Biglin Assistant Editor Republicans pace from the current president, if for no other reason than his fine speaking skills. Business Staff: 1) John Sidney McCain III: Supported by many grassroots Republicans, he combines a delicious blend of fruity social 5) Ronald Ernest Paul: Of no relation to another fine lib- Karen Boore policy and empha- ertarian of Michigan Review fame, Ron Paul is no ordinary Publisher sis on military. His Texas Republican. The longtime congressman was a Dem- perceived tough- ocrat until the 1994 Republican revolution, but has main- Danny Harris ness, which comes, tained ties with libertarians throughout the duration. Paul justifiably, from his is a medical doctor originally from Pittsburgh who did his Jonny Slemrod experiences in Viet- residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He is perhaps Associate Publishers nam and long-time the most unorthodox Republican in the race, having voted involvement in for- against the Iraq War because of his strong non-interven- Staff Writers: eign policy, could tionist views. He is strongly against increased spending and be his greatest as- taxes, and if the 2008 campaign becomes an indictment Michael Balkin, Steven Bengal, Maria Blood, set given the state against the growth of government seen under President David Brait, Erin Buchko, Kelly Cavanaugh, of global affairs. Bush, then Paul could be in a strong position. Jenni Chelenyak, Rebecca Christy, Tom McCain’s appeal, to Church, Jane Coaston, Marie Cour, some, also comes Lindsey Dodge, Blake Emerson, Eun Lee, from his reputation Anna Malecke, Brian McNally, as a maverick; giv- Democrats Miquelle Milavec, John O’Brien, en that even many Eddie Perry, Danielle Putnam, Republicans are 1) Barack Hussein Obama: He’s the darling of every 18- Shanda Shooter, Evan Wladis, looking for a new 24 year old female, but brings the race factor into the cam- Christina Zajicek, Zack Zucker direction for Iraq, paign, and this will drive pollsters crazy. Obama has a knack McCain could be just the right man for the job. At some for untimely fits of Contact Us: point during the campaign, he will have to answer tough honesty, which may questions about his views on social issues, and this may or may not be to his The Michigan Review accepts and encourages decide his fate. It will be interesting to see if his once foe, benefit in a closely- letters to the editor and viewpoints. Letters to the editor should be under 300 words. Viewpoints now friend, George W. Bush, will be by his side during the watched campaign. can be arranged by contacting the editorial board. campaign. If he can overcome We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. the Clinton ma- 2) Rudolph William Louis Giuliani III: Probably the only chine, he could be Send all correspondence to [email protected]. Republican with a “Jew” in his name. His powerful appeal, one step from the forged after 9/11, covers a wide range of Americans. This presidency. It is al- About Us: assessment, of course, is according to the New York Times, ways possible that which might say something about just how far right Giu- he could drop out of The Michigan Review provides a broad range of liani is—or is not.