the michigan review - University of Michigan

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW
T HE J OURNAL
Inside
Opinion
M
Is President Coleman
Fit for Duty?
Editorials, P. 4
Adam Paul and Amanda
Nichols on the Election
Columns, P. 5
Race, Litigation, and
Sports
Staff Opinion, P. 9
Features
Post-Election Analysis
P. 3, 6-7
The Big Controversy
Over Changes to the
Big House
P. 12
R
Arts & Culture
The Review has Added
You as Our Girlfriend
on Facebook
6HH3WR&RQÀUP
Detroit Native Jeffrey
Eugenides, author of
Middlesex and The
Virgin Suicides,
Visits Campus
P. 11
MR
OF
C AMPUS A FFAIRS
10.14.06
AT THE
U NIVERSITY
OF
M ICHIGAN
VOLUME XXV, ISSUE 5
Proposition 2 Passes; Racial
and Gender Preferences End
Coleman Addresses U-M Students; Vows to Fight on for Diversity,
Then Uses Word “Diversity” About 20 More Times
University President promises
fight in courts challenging the
legality of the MCRI during Diag
address
BY ADAM PASCARELLA, ‘10
D
ESPITE THE EFFORTS OF virtually the entire city of Ann Arbor
to defeat Proposal 2, voters ultimately
decided that race and gender will have
QR LQÁXHQFH LQ FROOHJH DGPLVVLRQV DQG
public service hiring. While a clear majority supporting the Michigan Civil Rights
Initiative sent a strong message denouncLQJ DIÀUPDWLYH DFWLRQ WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 0LFKLJDQZLOOQRWDEGLFDWHWKHLUÀJKWWR
DFKLHYH GLYHUVLW\ 80 3UHVLGHQW 0DU\
Sue Coleman recently decided to take the
As President Coleman addressed students on the Diag, the crowd swelled
from about 500 to nearly 2,000.
pletely committed to building diversity at
Following Coleman’s speech, demMichigan, and I will do whatever it takes,” onstrators from pro and anti-MCRI orshe commented. While she claimed she ganizations passionately expressed their
will conform to state laws concerning opinions about Proposal 2 to anyone who
this issue, she stated, “I will guarantee my ZRXOGOLVWHQ8QOLNHWKHDFULPRQ\LQLWLDWHG
complete and unyielding commitment to by the radical group By Any Means Necincreasing diversity
essary (BAMN) on
in this institution.”
Pro-MCRI demonstrators the Diag in other
In regard to
cases, most of the
were overjoyed but
how the MCRI
reaction after the
PLJKW DIIHFW 80
FRQYLQFHGWKDWWKHLU¿JKW speech was conin the immediate
However,
for equality will not end in structive.
future, Coleman
as pro-MCRI stuthe immediate future
SOHGJHGWRKDYH8
dents made their
M use only one set
presence known
of admissions standards for the class of by holding up signs stating “Yes on 2,”
2011. A judicial stay requesting the use of certain individuals hurled obscenities at
UDFHDQGJHQGHUSUHIHUHQFHVLQ80DG- this these demonstrators, adding to the
President Coleman gets diverse
missions this cycle is likely. She pledged very tense atmosphere.
after her remarks
WR ´VHHN FRQÀUPDWLRQ IURP WKH FRXUWV
While most of the pro-MCRI demopportunity to galvanize support in the to complete this year’s admissions cycle onstrators were overjoyed by the passage
ÀJKWWRQXOOLI\WKHUHFHQW0&5,HOHFWLRQ under our current guidelines.” Coleman of the Proposal 2, they were convinced
results.
IXUWKHUVWDWHGWKDW80ZLOOFDUHIXOO\DQD- WKDW WKHLU ÀJKW IRU HTXDOLW\ ZLOO QRW HQG
During her speech the morning af- lyze the MCRI and see if it is actually law- in the immediate future. Junior Clark
ter Election Day to pro- and anti-MCRI ful. “I have asked our attorneys for their 5XSHU WKH FRFKDLU RI WKH 80 <RXQJ
forces, Ann Arbor residents, and curious full and undivided support in defending Americans for Freedom, said that “the
students walking through the Diag, Cole- GLYHUVLW\ DW WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 0LFKLJDQ 8QLYHUVLW\LVGHVSHUDWHDQGWKH\DUHJRLQJ
man repeatedly emphasized that diversity I will immediately begin exploring legal to try to get around the law for years.” He
KDVDOZD\VGHÀQHG80DQGZLOOQHYHUEH action concerning the initiative,” she deSee “Prop 2,” Page 3
absent from campus. “I am fully and com- clared to the enthusiastic crowd.
W W W. M I C H I G A N R E V I E W. C O M
First two copies free, additional copies $3 each. Stealing is illegal and a sin. (Exodus 20:15)
P. 2
11.14.06
Page Two
The Michigan Review Election Night Diary
We all expected the Republican
beatdown. But that doesn’t mean we
can’t have a little fun. If Bill Simmons
can chronicle the ALCS, then we’re going to cover Election Night. The action begins at 10:17pm.
10:17pm – My roommate, a Chris Carney
'3$ VWDIIHU WKLV VXPPHU JHWV D SKRQH
call announcing Carney’s victory, rendering him giddy and leading him to announce
to every member of the household “Chris
Carney. US Congressman. Great AmeriFDQµ 7KLV LV ZKDW VWXGHQW JRYHUQPHQW
cronies do in their spare time.
10:20pm – My dove hunting plans are
GDVKHGDV3URSJRHVGRZQLQIHDWKHUV
10:23pm ² /RRNV OLNH -RKQ 'LQJHOO KDV
ZRQWKDWWRXJKEDWWOHRYHUQRERG\*RRG
thing he had all those death squads running
around campus today.
10:37pm – CNN PROJECTS PROP 2
WILL PASS
10:38pm – I try to call my black and female
IULHQGVWRGLVFXVVWKHQHZVEXWWKH\·UHDOO
JRQHQRZ
10:44pm ² -RKQ .HUU\ UHDSSHDUV WR FHOHEUDWHWKHUHHOHFWLRQRI 7HG.HQQHG\,Q
DUHODWHGVWRU\WKH'HPVDUHÀQDOO\OHWWLQJ
-RKQ.HUU\WDONDJDLQ
10:56pm²%RE6FKRFNPDQLVGRZQLQWKH
SROOV,·PFUXVKHG:KDWDUHZHJRLQJWR
GR ZLWKRXW %RE 6FKRFNPDQ FRPPHUFLDOV
running every 5 minutes?
11:26pm ² :ROI %OLW]HU KDV 'LFN $UPH\
RQ ZKR MXVW ORRNV WHUULEOH $UPH\ WDONV
like he’s giving a eulogy before being cut
RII E\:ROI ZLWK´PRUHEDGQHZVµ
11:32pm – After somebody reminds Wolf
WKDW KH KDV 'LFN $UPH\ RQ KROG &11 WKHIUHHZRUOGSRWHQWLDOO\UHVWVRQ<HOORZFXWVEDFNWR$UPH\ZKRORRNVOLNHKH·VMXVW stone County in Montana. “They don’t like
book learning much over there,” remarks
WDNHQWZRNLFNVWRWKHJURLQ
my roommate. I love democracy.
11:40pm²&11UHSRUWVWKDW6RXWK'DNRWD·VDERUWLRQEDQKDVIDLOHG6RXWK'DNRWD 2:10am ² 0DWWKHZV DQG 2OEHUPDQQ LQWHUYLHZ &ODLUH 0F&DVNLOO ZKR JLYHV VXUspring break plans are still on!
SULVLQJO\ VXFFLQFW DQG PRGHUDWH DQVZHUV
12:00am²DVZHUROOLQWR:HGQHVGD\P\ Unfortunately, the guy behind her in the
URRPPDWHKDVDQQRXQFHGKHZLOOQRZUHIHU &DUGLQDOV KDW ORRNV OLNH D FURVV EHWZHHQ
to “Missouri” as “Missoura” because the $GROSK+LWOHUDQG-RKQ0DUN.DUU
politicians do it.
2:15am – My roommate asks if McCaskill
1:07am²,UHWXUQIURPDKRPHZRUNEUHDN LVWKHZRPDQWKDWZDVLQYROYHGZLWK´WKH
WR VHH %RE &RUNHU GHFODUH YLFWRU\ RYHU Rush Limbaugh guy.”
+DUROG )RUG -U LQ D YLFWRU\ WKDW FDQ EH
completely attributed to his hot daughters. 2:30am – Looks like it’s about done for
*HRUJH $OOHQ :RQGHU KRZ KH GLG ZLWK
7KDW·VWKH5HSXEOLFDQZD\
the Indian vote?
1:13am ² +LODU\ &OLQWRQ JLYHV KHU DFFHSWDQFH VSHHFK ZLWK D FDUGERDUG FXWRXW RI 2:40am ² .HLWK 2OEHUPDQQ DQG &KULV
0DWWKHZV DUH RIÀFLDOO\ RQ PXUGHU ZDWFK
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The stdudio just isn’t large enough to hold
1:14am – “Cardboard cutout” has been ERWK RI WKHLU HJRV 0DWWKHZV EULQJV XS
XSJUDGHG WR ´IRUPHU 3UHVLGHQWµ DV %LOO +DUROG )RUG·V ORVV DQG 2OEHUPDQQ ORRNV
OLNHKH·VVWXFNLQDSKRQHERRWKZLWK*LOblinks.
bert Gottfried.
1:34am ² 5HYLHZ ([HFXWLYH (GLWRU 0LNH
2·%ULHQ LQIRUPV PH WKDW ´D OLEHUWDU- 2:45am²0DWWKHZVDQG2OEHUPDQQFXWWR
ian in Missouri might be responsible for 1RUDK 2·'RQQHOO DV LI VKH·V DW VRPH XQWKH 'HPRFUDWLF WDNHRYHU RI WKH 6HQDWHµ disclosed location. Turns out she’s in the
Good point. I mean, if the Republicans VDPHVWXGLRIHHWDZD\
KDGSUREOHPVZLWKVD\,UDT0DFDFDVFDQdals, overspending, and touching little boys, 2:48am ² 2·'RQQHOO DQG %RE 6FKUXP
WKHQ,·GEODPHWKHP%XWVLQFHWKH\GRQ·W begin a shouting match. Pat Robertson is
FDXJKWLQWKHPLGGOHZLWKD´,ZDQW1RUDK
,ZKROHKHDUWHGO\EODPHWKH/LEHUWDULDQV
to take her top off ” look on his face.
1:43am ² $ UDFLDO ÁDPHZDU HUXSWV LQ P\
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DQG E GRQ·W WKLQN ZH KDYH HQRXJK ZKLWH 0DWWKHZV7KHQWKH\H[FKDQJHJRRGE\HV
SHRSOH RQ FDPSXV <HW ZKHQ , VXJJHVW that approach “kicking the freshman girl
UHSODFLQJ WKH -HZV RQ FDPSXV ZLWK EODFN out of your bed on Sunday morning” level
SHRSOHWKH-HZVLQWKHURRPJHWDOOXSVHW RQWKHDZNZDUGVFDOH
, JLYH XS 7KLV LV ZK\ , QHYHU EHFDPH D
3:06am ² , WKRXJKW 061%&·V FRYHUDJH
liberal.
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2:02am²:HQRZÀQGRXWWKDWWKHIDWHRI RXW 0DWWKHZV KDV NLOOHG 2OEHUPDQQ DQG
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on-air strokes every Saturday.
3:30am²&11DQG)R[1HZVKDYHSXWLQ
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3:39am ² 3DW %XFKDQDQ WULHV WR UHDVRQ
ZLWK &KULV 0DWWKHZV OLNH D JX\ WU\LQJ WR
coax his drunk buddy into giving him his
car keys. While I’m typing this, Chris MatWKHZVDVNV´GLG+HDWK6FKXOHUWKURZRUGLG
KHUXVKµZKLOHVFULEEOLQJLQFRKHUHQWO\RQD
WHOHSURPSWHUFLUFOLQJWKHZURQJVWDWHVDQG
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set already.
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test tube as Nancy Pelosi. My roommate’s
comment after the speech: “Was that a sentence?”
4:49am ² 6RPHERG\ JRW &KULV 0DWWKHZV
VRPHVDOWLQHFUDFNHUVDQGZDWHUDQGWKH\·UH
just keeping him on the air until he’s sober enough to drive home. This is out of
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THE MICHIGAN REVIEW
THE JOURNAL OF CAMPUS AFFAIRS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
NICK CHEOLAS
Editor-in-Chief
STAFF:
ASSISTANT EDITORS:
BRIAN BIGLIN, KAREN BOORE
$QGUHZ%DULQRY6WHYHQ%HQJDO
0DULD%ORRG'DYLG%UDLW
(ULQ%XFKNR.HOO\&DYDQDXJK
Jenni Chelenyak, Rebecca Christy,
Tom Church, Jane Coaston,
0DULH&RXU/LQGVH\'RGJH
%ODNH(PHUVRQ'DQQ\+DUULV
,DQ.D\(XQ/HH$QQD0DOHFNH
%ULDQ0F1DOO\0LTXHOOH0LODYHF
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-RKQ2·%ULHQ(GGLH3HUU\'DQLHOOH
Putnam, Shanda Shooter,
Jonny Slemrod, Evan Wladis,
Mary Wilcop, Christina Zajicek,
Zack Zucker
WEBMASTER:
SHAWN OLENDER
-DPHV'DYLG'LFNVRQ
MICHAEL O’BRIEN
Executive Editor
ADAM PAUL
Managing Editor
AMANDA NICHOLS
Content Editor
EDITOR EMERITUS
The Michigan Review is the independent, student-run
journal of conservative and libertarian opinion at the
University of Michigan. We neither solicit nor accept
monetary donations from the University. Contributions to The Michigan Review are tax-deductible under
section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service
Code. The Michigan Review LV QRW DIÀOLDWHG ZLWK DQ\
political party or any university political group.
Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the editorial board. Ergo, they are unequivocally correct and
just. Signed articles, letters, and cartoons represent
the opinions of the author, and not necessarily those
of The Review. The Serpent’s Tooth shall represent
the opinion of individual, anonymous contributors
to The Review, and should not necessarily be taken as
representative of The Review’s editorial stance. The
opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily those of the advertisers, or of the University
RI 0LFKLJDQ:HZHOFRPHOHWWHUVDUWLFOHVDQGFRPments about the journal.
Please address all advertising, subscription inquiries,
and donations to “Publisher,” c/o The
Michigan Review:
7KH0LFKLJDQ5HYLHZ
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Copyright © 2006, The Michigan Review, Inc. All rights reserved. The
Michigan Review is a member of the
&ROOHJLDWH1HWZRUN
P. 3
President Coleman Blows
Opportunity to Show A True
Commitment to Real Diversity
BY NICK CHEOLAS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
T
11.14.06
Aftermath of Prop 2
8(6'$< 1,*+7 5(6725(' 620( 2) MY
faith in humanity.
:HGQHVGD\DIWHUQRRQGLVVROYHGZKDWZDVOHIWRI P\
faith in the University of Michigan.
On Tuesday night, Michigan voters put an end to
VWDWHVDQFWLRQHGGLVFULPLQDWLRQDQGSDYHGWKHZD\IRU
0LFKLJDQGHUVWRIRFXVRQWUXHLQHTXDOLW\ZLWKRXWHUHFWing senseless racial barriers.
7KHDGPLQLVWUDWLRQKDGNQRZQWKLVGD\ZDVDSRVVLELOLW\IRUWZR\HDUV7KH\KDGH[DPSOHVWRIROORZLQ
Texas, California, and Washington. They had ample
WLPHWRSUHSDUHDQHZDGPLVVLRQVSROLF\QHZLQLWLDWLYHV
WRVWUHQJWKHQ.HGXFDWLRQRUSURJUDPVWRKHOSLQcrease the number of academically competitive minority
students.
So as President Coleman took to the podium last
Wednesday, she had a golden opportunity to prove that
KHUQRWLRQRI GLYHUVLW\ZDVDERXWPRUHWKDQVNLQFRORU
DQGWKHÀJKWIRUGLYHUVLW\ZDVDERXWPRUHWKDQDQHDV\
ZD\WRDWWDLQPRUDOOHJLWLPDF\$V3UHVLGHQWRI WKLV8QLversity, she had a chance to extinguish the smoldering
UDFLDOWHQVLRQWKDWWRRRIWHQÁDUHVRQWKLVFDPSXV
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Caught like a deer in headlights, all Coleman could
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21 times in an 18 minute speech.
In rather militaristic fashion, and under the guise of
“diversity,” Coleman defended a policy that seeks only a
meager, arbitrary amount of skin tone variation.
7KLVZDVKHUDWWHPSWDWXQLW\7DNHDORRNDURXQG
FDPSXV+RZ·VWKDWUDFLDOXQLW\ZRUNLQJRXWIRUXV"
I’ve learned not to expect too much from the adminLVWUDWLRQDWWKLV8QLYHUVLW\%XWRQ:HGQHVGD\3UHVLGHQW
Coleman essentially told Michigan voters (her employHUVWRJRVFUHZWKHPVHOYHVWKDWWKH\KDGQREXVLQHVVHV
TXHVWLRQLQJKHUUDFLDOHQOLJKWHQPHQWDQGWKDWVKHZRXOG
H[SORUHHYHU\SRVVLEOHDYHQXHWRFLUFXPYHQWWKHODZ
Of course, the diversity cult cheered.
And perhaps, that’s all they need. Members of the
FXOWQHHGDIÀUPDWLYHDFWLRQEHFDXVHLWPDNHVWKHPUHsponsible for change. When a black student achieves on
KLVRZQQRERG\JHWVDQ\PRUDOLW\SRLQWVDQGWKHUHDUH
QRFKHHULQJFURZGV%XWWKHUHZHUHSOHQW\RI FKHHUVDQG
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SOHGJHµ´,ZLOOQRWVWDQGE\µ´,DPIXOO\FRPPLWWHGµ
So our righteous leader defends a policy that gives
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good about them being there.
,GRQ·WGRXEWWKDWWKHPRWLYHVRI WKRVHZKRKLGH
EHKLQGWKLVIDOVHQRWLRQRI GLYHUVLW\DUHVLQFHUH%XWDV
76(OLRWRQFHZURWH´+DOI RI WKHKDUPWKDWLVGRQH
LQWKLVZRUOGLVGXHWRSHRSOHZKRZDQWWRIHHOLPSRUtant. They don’t mean to do harm – but the harm does
not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify
LW%HFDXVHWKH\DUHDEVRUEHGLQWKHHQGOHVVVWUXJJOHWR
WKLQNZHOORI WKHPVHOYHVµ
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We haven’t solved a damn thing.
Make no mistake: true cultural, intellectual, and asSLUDWLRQDOGLYHUVLW\LVGHVLUDEOHDQGEHQHÀFLDO0DU\6XH
Coleman had a golden opportunity to display her commitment to this true diversity. As passionate supporters
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opportunity to unite this campus like never before, and
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diversity, and not by discrimination.
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a smoldering pile of ashes, told reporters she had no
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OHDYLQJDULOHGXSFURZGLQKHUZDNH6WXGHQWVVREEHG
LQWKHDUPVRI SURIHVVRUVDQGDGPLQLVWUDWRUV)LHUFHGHEDWHVHUXSWHGEHWZHHQ´<HVRQµDQG´1RRQµVXSporters, and cameras rolled and beamed these pictures
DFURVVDVWDWHZLWKDGHHSO\GLYLGHGSDVW
6RRQWKHVWXGHQWVOHIW7KHPLQRULW\VWXGHQWVZHQW
back to their University-sponsored minority lounges,
EODFNIUDWHUQLWLHVPLQRULW\KRXVHVRUWRPHHWZLWKWKHLU
PLQRULW\SHHUDGYLVRUVLQWKHPXOWLFXOWXUDORIÀFH7KH
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peer advisors.
$OOWKHZKLOH0DU\6XH&ROHPDQVDWFRQÀGHQWWKDW
she had saved “diversity.”
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racial games and engage in social engineering to achieve
WKHÁDZHGQRWLRQRI GLYHUVLW\LQWKHLUPLQGVÀQH%XW
they needn’t use 60,000 members of the campus community as their guinea pigs.
,I 3UHVLGHQW&ROHPDQZDQWVXVWREX\WKLVSHUYHUVH
“commitment to diversity,” then she should resign as
President, and an African-American should be named as
KHUUHSODFHPHQW,I VKHLVZLOOLQJWRHQIRUFHDSROLF\RI discrimination in order to achieve her perverted concept
of “diversity,” then she should hold herself to the same
standards.
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some friends. I didn’t see an African-American in the
entire place.
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the entire line.
I couldn’t help but think that inside these establishPHQWVZHUHVRPHRI WKHVDPHLQGLYLGXDOVZKRKDGFDPpaigned so diligently in the name of “diversity” just days
earlier.
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WKH VDPH FDPSXV WKDW , VDZ DQG LI VKH WUXO\ EHOLHYHG
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cult. MR
“Prop 2,” From Page 1
further commented, “No human being should be given
preferential treatment by the color of their skin.”
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supported Coleman’s plan, but had concerns about the
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but let’s see if she can back it up,” said Anderson. When
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VWDWHG ´(YHU\RQH KDV D ULJKW WR WKHLU RZQ EHOLHIV EXW
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At least in the short term, the battle over the MCRI
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DFWXDOO\KHDUFKDOOHQJHVWRWKHDFWXDOODZWKHQLWFRXOG
become a very long process. Just because the MCRI has
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QRWFHDVH7KHVWDWHRI 0LFKLJDQLVLQIRUDORQJÀJKW
to obtain a community of fairness and diversity for all
FLWL]HQVMR
Diversity Tracker
President Coleman’s Diag address
featured the word “diversity” 21
times in an 18-minute speech. For
those of you who were absent,
here’s how it sounded:
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´'LYHUVLW\PDWWHUVDWWKH8QLYHUVLW\RI 0LFKLJDQµ
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5. “[Proposition 209 in California] has been a horribly
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diversity of the state’s most selective universities”
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7. “I have asked our attorneys for their full and undivided support in defending diversity”
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courts”
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Proposal 2 attempts to place on our reach for greater
diversity.”
10. “The University of Michigan embraces diversity.”
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dedicated to minority affairs and campus diversity to
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12. “The University of Michigan promotes diversity”
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14. “The University of Michigan believes in diversity”
15. “The University of Michigan is diversity”
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17. “I guarantee my complete and unyielding commitment to increasing diversity at our institution”
18. “I am fully and completely committed to building
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19. “We absolutely must continue to think creatively
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model for diversity in higher education”
20. “The University of Michigan embraces … proPRWHV«ZDQWV«DQGEHOLHYHVLQGLYHUVLW\µ
21. “Let’s stand together to say: We are Michigan and
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P. 4
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Editorials
THE MICHIGAN REVIEW
11.14.06
The MCRI Has Passed;
It’s Time to Move Forward
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libertarian opinion at the University of Michigan. Unsigned editorials represent
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Signed articles, letters, and cartoons represent the opinions of the author, and not
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in the State of Michigan. Whether to ensure some arbitrary “critical mass” of
[email protected]
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discrimination, racial and gender preferences have been a cancer in this state for far
too long.
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WKHLQLWLDWLYHZHUHQRWRQDFUXVDGHWRWUDQVIRUP0LFKLJDQLQWRDQDOOZKLWH8QLYHUVLW\
7KH\ZHUHQRWRXWWRSUHVHUYH´ZKLWHPDOHSULYLOHJHµDVPDQ\JXLOWODGHQZKLWHPDOHV
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AST YEAR, UNIVERSITY of Michigan President Mary Sue &ROHPDQZDVEH- 0&5,EHOLHYHWKDWPLQRULWLHVDQGZRPHQFDQFRPSHWHLQVRFLHW\ZLWKRXWUDFLDODQG
LQJFRQVLGHUHGIRUWKH3UHVLGHQF\RI +DUYDUG%DVHGRQ3UHVLGHQW&ROHPDQ·VUH- gender preferences.
cent actions in strong opposition to Proposal 2, university communities may be better
7KRVHZKRRSSRVHDIÀUPDWLYHDFWLRQZRXOGEHQDwYHWREHOLHYHKRZHYHUWKDWGLVVHUYHGLI &ROHPDQDYRLGHGWKHSUHVLGHQWSRVLWLRQDOWRJHWKHU+HURSSRVLWLRQWR3UR- FULPLQDWLRQDQGLQHTXDOLW\GRQRWH[LVW%XWDVWKHYRWHUVRI 0LFKLJDQKDYHH[SUHVVO\
SRVDOKDVHOHYDWHGKHUWRLGROVWDWXVDPRQJWKRVHZKRVXEVFULEHWRWKHUHOLJLRQRI rejected a discriminatory policy that has succeeded in little more than erecting interGLYHUVLW\RXWVLGHRI WKLVIROORZLQJKRZHYHULWLVDSSDUHQWWRPRVWWKDW&ROHPDQKDV racial barriers, the time could not be better for the state to move beyond its scarred
proven herself unable to lead and unite the University during this time of transition.
racial history.
&ROHPDQ·VUHPDUNVRQWKH'LDJODVW:HGQHVGD\ZHUHLOORJLFDODWEHVWLQFRPSUHUnfortunately, many students and administrators at the University have left no
KHQVLEOHDWZRUVW)RUH[DPSOHVKHDQQRXQFHGWKDW0LFKLJDQYRWHUVKDGUHMHFWHGWKH doubt that they have little interest in actually confronting educational inequalities in
means to achieve a “fair and equal” community. The tools to build such fairness and 0LFKLJDQ7KH2UZHOOLDQOLNHVXSSRUWIRU3UHVLGHQW&ROHPDQ·VUDPEOLQJLQFRKHUHQW
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6KHDVVXUHG0LFKLJDQHGXFDWRUVWKDW´RXWUHDFKHIIRUWVµZRXOGFRQWLQXH²WKHVDPH administrators seem perfectly content to spend even more time and resources de´RXWUHDFKHIIRUWVµWKDWZHUHVXSSRVHGO\DERXWWRHOLPLQDWHGE\3URSRVDO+DUGO\RQH fending a policy that gives predominately middle-class, suburban minority students
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“diversity” or remedies educational disadvantages.
actually add outreach programs as a mean of achieving diversity.
7KLVLVDFRPSOHWHDQGXWWHUIDUFH%HIRUHWKH0&5,SDVVHGNLGVLQWUXO\GLVDGYDQ&ROHPDQWKHQDVNHGIRUWKHVXSSRUWRI DOXPQLZLWKDSSDUHQWO\QRFRQFHSWLRQRI WKHWKRXVDQGVRI 80JUDGXDWHVZKRVKDUHIHHOLQJVRI RXWULJKWGLVJXVWDWRXUDGPLV- WDJHGFRPPXQLWLHVZHUHUHFHLYLQJDVXEVWDQGDUGHGXFDWLRQ$IWHUWKH0&5,SDVVHG
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sions policies.
&RQVSLFXRXVO\ DEVHQW IURP KHU UHPDUNV ZDV DQ\ LQGLFDWLRQ RI WKH SDWK 80 their support of a meaningless, ineffective, policy as evidence of their “commitment
ZRXOGWDNHZLWKRXWUDFLDOSUHIHUHQFHV'RHV&ROHPDQUHDOO\EHOLHYHWKDWKHUIXWLOHOHJDO to minorities.” A failure to educate minority students is not the result of racism. This
DFWLRQVZLOORYHUWXUQWKHHOHFWRUDWH"$FFRUGLQJWRWKHZLOORI &ROHPDQWKHIXWXUHRI failure is the result of calculated educational policy decisions, such as those that target
80ZLOOEHVSHQWUHVLVWLQJLQHYLWDEOHFKDQJHUDWKHUWKDQGUDIWLQJDOWHUQDWLYHSROLFLHV only the symptoms of the problem, and do so in discriminatory fashion.
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)RU\HDUVWKLV8QLYHUVLW\KDVPDGHLWFOHDUWKDWWKHLUYLHZRI ´GLYHUVLW\µFRQVLVWV
'HVSLWHWKHHOLWLVWKROLHUWKDQWKRXWRQHWKLV8QLYHUVLW\KDVRIWHQWDNHQRQLVVXHV of importing just enough black students to campus to demonstrate this commitment.
RI GLYHUVLW\ &ROHPDQ·V FRPSOHWH GLVUHJDUG IRU WKH ZLOO RI WKH HOHFWRUDWH ZDV UDWKHU 1RZ ZLWKRXW DIÀUPDWLYH DFWLRQ WKLV 8QLYHUVLW\ FDQ VWLOO WU\ WR DFKLHYH WKLV QDUURZ
VXUSULVLQJ7KH8QLYHUVLW\·VODZVXLWVZLOOHIIHFWLYHO\WHOOWKHSHRSOHRI 0LFKLJDQWKDW8 form of diversity, but must focus on raising minority students above the bar of acaM does not trust them to govern themselves, instead believing itself immune in some GHPLFH[FHOOHQFH7KLVLVDIDUPRUHGLIÀFXOWDQGFRPSOH[WDVNEXWDIDUEHWWHUUHPHG\
ZD\RUDERYHWKHODZVRI WKHVWDWH6RPHVWXGHQWVIHDUHGWKDWWKHSDVVDJHRI 3URSRVDO for a complex problem.
ZRXOG´VLOHQFHµJURXSVRI VWXGHQWV,WLVLURQLFWKHQWKDW&ROHPDQFKRRVHVWRLJQRUH
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,I &ROHPDQLVGHDI WRWKHYRWHUVWRZKRPLVVKHOLVWHQLQJ":KDWVKRXOGPDNH VDWLVI\WKRVHZKRQHHGWRHDVHWKHFUXVKLQJSDLQRI ZKLWHJXLOW
VWXGHQWVEHOLHYHVKHFDUHVDERXWZKDWWKH\KDYHWRVD\"&ROHPDQPD\EHDIULHQGWR
%XW0LFKLJDQZRXOGEHZLVHWRWDNHDKLQWIURP&DOLIRUQLDZKHUHLQWKHZDNHRI ´GLYHUVLW\µ SURSRQHQWV QRZ EXW LQ WLPH VKH PD\ ZRUN DJDLQVW WKHLU JRDOV ZLWK KHU 3URSRVLWLRQWKH8QLYHUVLW\RI &DOLIRUQLDKDVDFFRUGLQJWRWKHLURZQDVVHVVPHQW
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than a progressive visionary.
education, and implement race-neutral alternatives designed to strengthen is ability to
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Unfortunately, Coleman is intent on preserving this very label of diversity based SHUFHQWDJHRI VWXGHQWVLQVWDWHKLJKVFKRROVLPSOHPHQWHGD´FRPSUHKHQVLYHUHYLHZ
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DUHSUHGLFDWHGVROHO\RQDFKLHYLQJGLYHUVLW\ZLWKSUHIHUHQFHV³DVDSROLWLFLDQDQGDV to facilitate community college transfer students.
the president of the state’s preeminent university are at an impasse.
Instead, the administration of this University seemed utterly blindsided by the
7KH VLPLODULWLHV EHWZHHQ D SROLWLFLDQ DQG D 8QLYHUVLW\ SUHVLGHQW DUH QXPHURXV passage of the MCRI, and has chosen to expend its money and resources on defend%RWKPHGLDWHEHWZHHQTXDUUHOOLQJIDFWLRQVDUHWKHVSRNHVSHUVRQIRUWKHLUUHVSHFWLYH LQJDSROLF\WKDWZDVVRXQGO\UHMHFWHGE\WKRVHZKRSURYLGHWKH8QLYHUVLW\·VPRQH\
SDUW\RUXQLYHUVLW\DQGIXQGUDLVHIXQGUDLVHIXQGUDLVH+RZHYHUWKHUHLVRQHHVVHQWLDO and resources.
GLIIHUHQFH3ROLWLFLDQVVHHNWRHVWDEOLVKFHUWDLQSROLWLFDOSULQFLSOHVZLWKLQWKHLUJRYHUQ:HZRXOGQHYHUEHVRQDLYHDVWRH[SHFWWKDWWKLVVKLIWLQSROLF\ZLOOHOLPLQDWHHGXmental jurisdiction. Presidents of Universities serve to preserve the sound education FDWLRQDO GLVSDULWLHV $ FRPSUHKHQVLYH RYHUKDXO RI WKH HGXFDWLRQDO V\VWHP KRZHYHU
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become glaringly obvious.
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of the voters.
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%XWWKHUHKDVEHHQDGHEDWHDQGWKHYRWHUVKDYHVSRNHQ,I 3UHVLGHQW&ROHPDQLV a U of M education. The leaders of this University have an unprecedented opportuXQDEOHWRDFKLHYHGLYHUVLW\ZLWKRXWGLVFULPLQDWLRQWKHQSHUKDSVWKLV8QLYHUVLW\VKRXOG QLW\WRPRYHWKLVVWDWHIRUZDUGDQGLI WKH\IDLOLQWKDWWDVNZHZRQ·WEHWKHRQHVZKR
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should feel guilty. MR
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President Coleman: Move
on, or Move Out
L
P. 5
11.14.06
Columns
ʄThe Feminine Mystique
I
This Column is Not About the MCRI
AM NOT JRLQJ WR ZULWH DERXW WKH Michigan Civil
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about the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative.
Why, you may ask? Well,
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here at the Review have focused on for almost a year.
Gearing up for this election,
ZHNQHZWKDWLI ZHGLGQ·WSURvide an alternative voice on
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up their minds for “fairness and
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copies on the school buses and asked their “members”
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So I am not going to talk about the MCRI, because
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any other voices and opinions to be heard. No one is
going to listen to Ward Connerly, the African American
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California’s Prop. 209 and Michigan’s Proposal 2 pass.
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spearheaded this legislation.
No, instead our esteemed President stands on the
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raise our tuition again?
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distract the University from its primary goal: education.
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say that the President of our nation has acted in such a
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MCRI.
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EDVWDUGL]HGWKHODQJXDJHRI WKLVFRQVWLWXWLRQDODPHQGPHQWKDVEHFRPH7ZRHYHQLQJVDIWHUWKHGD\WKDWHQGed all diversity at Michigan, one of my roommates said
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from getting mammograms. Who, I asked, is against
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an engineer, but I thought that engineers could at least
read.
Apparently, though, our esteemed University PresiGHQWFDQQRWHLWKHU6KHVHHPVWRLJQRUHWKDWZLWKWKH
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a different form, focused more on the true factors that
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can’t.
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individual over another solely because of skin color or
gender.
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their true, elitist colors.
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Election Failure and Moral Victory
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proposal election in Michigan, don’t use Ann Arbor
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to not expect. Ann Arbor and the University of MichiJDQVXIIHUHOHFWLRQP\RSLD,QWKHFLW\ZDVVKRFNHG
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banned gay marriage in the state of Michigan. This year
students and community members again managed to
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ballot initiatives.
Students and community
members feared the passage
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0LFKLJDQ'DLO\H[SOLFLWO\VXJgested that students vote no
on Proposal 4 and yes on
Proposal 5, the voters rejected
this advice. In the case of ProSRVDO ZKLFK SURKLELWV WKH
state from taking property for
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private development, passage
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the governorship and a contentious US Senate seat. It is
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come from their incumbency and the poor performance
of Republican candidates. Yet if Michiganders are re-
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instance Granholm advocated strongly against Proposal
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rejected her stance.
,WVHHPVWKDWWKHYLHZVH[SRVHGE\'HPRFUDWLFSROLticians, and parroted here in Ann Arbor, prevail by deIDXOW7KHIHDURI ´ZDVWHGµYRWHVOHDGVWRDOHVVHURI WZR
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turnout is rallied not in support of a candidate but
through fear mongering against another. One of my faYRULWHH[DPSOHVFRPHVIURPWKHHOHFWLRQZKHQWKH
'HPRFUDWVVXJJHVWHGWKDWPHPEHUVKROG´%XVKVFDUHV
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This sad dialectic approach gives fuel to Ann ArERULWHV· PRUDO RXWUDJH ZKHQ EDOORW SURSRVDOV VZLQJ
against the advice of established political leaders. Students use disliked voting results to claim that secret
bigotries that only surface from the anonymity of the
voting booth still exist. What they ignore is that their
favored leaders are not the bastions of public approval
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than the next-best thing. Students and the local commuQLW\QHYHUH[DPLQHDGHIHDWLQWHUPVRI WKHLURZQLQDELOLW\WRFRQYLQFHYRWHUV,QVWHDGWKH\YDORUL]HWKHLURZQ
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In the case of the gay marriage ban, opponents are
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come from value-sets that simply dislike homosexuality. The real lesson from the passage of the gay marriage ban is not the discrimination creates an unscalable
boundary to logic, but that the rhetoric and approaches
XVHG LQ 0LFKLJDQ GLG QRW ZRUN ,QVWHDG RI IHHOLQJ GHfeated, a loss provides an opportunity to reexamine and
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of itself.
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EDOORWSURSRVDOV$VORQJDVWKHWZRSDUW\GLDOHFWLFFRQtinues to pervade the mainstream politics, referenda provide one of the only changes for the electorate to curb
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The side-effect of proposals is that the losers, especially in the safety and relative political homogeneity of
$QQ$UERUPDQDJHWRWZLVWIDLOXUHLQWRPRUDOVXSHULRULW\7KHVHVDPHDFWLYLVWVZKRWRXW´SURJUHVVLYHµSRSXOLVWSROLF\FULQJHZKHQWKHYRWHUVGDUHWRRSSRVHWKHLU
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WRZLQRQHKDVWRFRQYLQFHYRWHUVWRVKDUHWKHDERYHEHliefs. Wrapping themselves in moral outrage and claiming moral victory against actual defeat does not get the
MREGRQHDQGZLOOIXUWKHUDOLHQDWHWKHPIURPWDNLQJSDUW
in the political process post-election. MR
P. 6
11.14.06
Election Follow-Up
Michiganders Speak Convincingly on Five Ballot Measures
PHQWVZLOOFUHDWHVSHFLÀFDFFRXQWVWRHQ- VXFK WKH JRYHUQPHQW ZLOO EH UHVWULFWHG
sure that the money collected from Mich- from taking private property in order to
LJDQFLWL]HQVLVVSHQWLQLWVLQWHQGHGZD\ give it to other private entities in the pur)RU H[DPSOH PRQH\ IURP VQRZPRELOH suit of “economic development.”
UHJLVWUDWLRQVZLOOEHSODFHGLQ WKHVQRZIt is important to note the strong
BY JENNI CHELENYAK, ‘10
mobile account, and thus used for things voter turnout in this year’s election.
+( '(%$7( ,6 over, the results VXFK DV PDLQWDLQLQJ WUDLOV DQG VQRZPR- Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land announced a turnout of nearly 3.8 million
are in. The outcome of Michigan’s bile safety courses.
According to the Detroit Free Press, YRWHUVDQHZUHFRUGIRUDQRQSUHVLGHQHOHFWLRQRQ1RYHPEHUZDVPHWZLWKD
mixture of surprise and relief. Surprise the victory of Proposal 1 may be attrib- tial election. The heavy campaigning for
because of the results, and relief because
OLEHUDOV ZRXOG QR ORQJHU EH DFFRVWLQJ
VWXGHQWV LQ WKH 'LDJ³ZHOO DW OHDVW QRW
about the Michigan Civil Rights InitiaWLYH7KDWÀHU\FRQWURYHUV\KDVFRPHWR
DQHQGZLWKUDFHDQGJHQGHUSUHIHUHQFHV
EHLQJEDQQHGZLWKWKHVXSSRUWRI SHUcent of voters.
6LPLODUO\ WZR RWKHU SURSRVDOV ZHUH
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funding schools or any other purposes,
Randy Johnson violently protests the failure of Prop 3
thanks to the support of 81 percent of
YRWHUV DQG WKH JRYHUQPHQW ZLOO EH UH- uted to previous attempts of government the ballot proposals and especially ProVWULFWHG LQ LWV HPLQHQW GRPDLQ SRZHUV WRWDNHPRQH\DZD\IURPVXFKFDXVHV,Q posal 2 probably played a role in the high
after 80 percent approved Proposal 4. the past, former Governor John Engler turnout.
Although the passage of the other
0HDQZKLOHGRYHKXQWLQJZLOOQRWEHOH- DWWHPSWHGWRWDNHPLOOLRQDZD\IURP
JDOL]HG LQ 0LFKLJDQ DIWHU WKH IDLOXUH RI outdoors funds to “balance the state bud- SURSRVDOV ZDV VLJQLÀFDQW PRVW YRWHUV
3URSRVDODQG3URSRVDOZLWKLWVDUP\ get.” The legislature has also tried to use ZHUH IRFXVHG RQ WKH RXWFRPH RI WKH
of opponents against compulsory public money allocated for outdoor funds for 0&5, &DPSDLJQLQJ ZDV VWURQJHVW IRU
school funding increases, also failed to RWKHU FDXVHV DV ZHOO HVSHFLDOO\ VFKRRO WKLV SURSRVDO ZKLOH LW VHHPV WKDW YRWHUV
funding.
ZHUH DOORZHG WR H[SORUH RWKHU LVVXHV RQ
pass.
7KH SDVVDJH RI 3URSRVDO UHÁHFWV WKHLURZQ0RVWLPSRUWDQWO\SURSRQHQWV
0DQ\ZRQGHUZKDWZLOOFKDQJHQRZ
that the proposals have been implement- a similar attempt of voters to limit the of Proposal 2 expressed their displeaed. With the success of Proposal 1, sec- SRZHU RI WKH JRYHUQPHQW 3URSRVDO VXUH ZLWK WKH LVVXH E\ IRFXVLQJ RQ ´WKH
WLRQV ZLOO EH DGGHG WR $UWLFOH ,; ZLOOLPSOHPHQWWKHGHFLVLRQRI County of actual effects of the proposal rather than
in the State Constitution. These amend- Wayne v. HathcockZKLFKUHTXLUHVDWKUHH on scoring rhetorical points,” as Profespart test to permit eminent domain. As VRU +RZDUG 6FKZDUW] 3UHVLGHQW RI WKH
Propositions 1, 2, and 4 pass,
while 3 and 5 were rejected by
Michigan voters.
T
Michigan Association of Scholars, suggested.
With the passage of Proposal 2, race
and gender preferences should ostensiEO\FRPHWRDQHQG$IÀUPDWLYH$FWLRQ
ZLWKUHVSHFWWRUDFHJHQGHURUHWKQLFLW\
is no longer legal in public contracting,
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WKDWZKHQLWFRPHVWRSUHIHUHQFHV´QRµ
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University of Michigan president
Mary Sue Coleman addressed the campus
about the MCRI in an emotional address
RQ WKH 'LDJ WKH PRUQLQJ DIWHU WKH HOHFtion. Coleman claimed that the University
´ZLOOQRWEHGHWHUUHGLQWKHDOOLPSRUWDQW
ZRUN RI FUHDWLQJ D GLYHUVH ZHOFRPLQJ
campus.”
Coleman also stated that the UniverVLW\ZRXOGWDNHOHJDODFWLRQWRHQVXUHWKDW
this year’s admissions are completed “under our current guidelines,” and she said
that “there are serious questions as to
ZKHWKHU WKLV LQLWLDWLYH LV ODZIXO SDUWLFXlarly as it pertains to higher education.”
It seems that the University is already
ORRNLQJ IRU ZD\V WR GHIHDW WKH UHFHQWO\
SDVVHGLQLWLDWLYH³EXWFDQWKHSUHIHUHQFes of the University overcome the preferences of the entire state of Michigan?
With the end of campaigning for the
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RQO\WLPHZLOOWHOOZKDWWKHHIIHFWVRI YDULRXVOHJDODFWLRQZLOOEHMR
What Would Jesus Do About Prop 2?
tion,” it reads.
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BY ANNA MALECKE, ‘10
Church’s choice to become involved in the heated Proposal 2 political debate. “I do not believe it’s appropriate
7 :$6 35(6,'(17 7KRPDV -HIIHUVRQ ZKR ÀUVW for the Catholic Church to take a stance on a political
FRLQHG WKH SKUDVH D ´ZDOO RI VHSDUDWLRQ EHWZHHQ issue,” she said.
FKXUFK DQG VWDWHµ 7KH H[DFW GLPHQVLRQV RI WKLV ZDOO
)U7KRPDV0F&ODLQ6-3DVWRURI 6W0DU\·V6WXKDYHEHHQGHEDWHGDQGGLVFXVVHGIURPDOOSHUVSHFWLYHV GHQW3DULVKDJUHHGZLWKWKH0&&·VFRQFOXVLRQ
KRZHYHUKLVWRULFDOO\LWLVWKHVWDWHZKRPRVWRIWHQGDUHV against Proposal 2 but disliked their reasoning.
to breach this barrier. Concerning the recently passed ,QKLVSRLQWRI YLHZWKH0&&HVVD\IRFXVHGRQ
Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or Proposal 2, the op- the historical and societal background of civil
posite occurred.
rights instead of presenting an argument based
In September, the Michigan Catholic Conference RQ &DWKROLF VRFLDO MXVWLFH WHDFKLQJV )U 0F(MCC) published an essay entitled “Proposal 2: Unjust Clain authored an article for the church bulletin
WKHZHHNEHIRUHHOHFfor Michigan.” The reasons
behind the Catholic bishops’ “As Christ made special efforts tions urging parishioRSSRVLWLRQ ZHUH FRQFHUQV for the neglected, it behooves ners to vote against
about “detrimental effects it
us as a society to ensure that the Proposal 2. “Saying
no to this proposal continues
ZLOO KDYH XSRQ SURJUDPV DQG
same
happens
to
this
day.”
to leave in place the ability in
policies in our state.”
our State of Michigan to be
Citing historical practices
proactive on behalf of those
RI DIÀUPDWLYHDFWLRQWKHHVVD\
-Father Thomas McClain,
focuses on the repercussions Pastor, St. Mary’s Student Parish LQ QHHG RI DIÀUPDWLYH DFWLRQ
WR OHYHO WKH SOD\LQJ ÀHOG IRU
of Proposal 2 for the state,
WKHPµKHZURWH
rather than the church. “Proposal 2 represents an ominous policy shift for Michigan
The pastor structured his remarks around tradiZKLOHFRPSURPLVLQJWKHLQWHJULW\RI WKHVWDWHFRQVWLWX- tional Catholic values and teachings, using the actions of
The Catholic Church came out in opposition
to Proposition 2, but did parishioners listen?
I
Jesus as an example for society. “As Christ made special
efforts for the neglected, it behooves us as a society to
HQVXUHWKDWWKHVDPHKDSSHQVWRWKLVGD\µKHZURWH
'HVSLWHWKHHIIRUWVRI WKH&KXUFKWKHPDMRULW\RI &DWKROLFVLQ0LFKLJDQYRWHGIRUEDQQLQJDIÀUPDWLYHDFtion. According to exit polls, 64% of Catholics supported the proposal as compared to 58% of the general
SRSXODWLRQ ZKR YRWHG WR SDVV LW ´&OHDUO\ ,·P GLVDSSRLQWHGµVDLG)U0F&ODLQ ´EHFDXVH,WRRND
stance on it myself.” The Pastor fears for the
future of the state. “I am concerned that any
HIIRUWWREHSURDFWLYHZLOOEHVXEMHFWWROLWLJDtion,” he said.
Miller believes Michigan Catholics, like
KHUUHDOL]HGWKHFKXUFK·VVWDQFHZDVQRWRQHRI UHOLJLRXVGRJPD´$IÀUPDWLYHDFWLRQLVQRWRQH
of the infallible beliefs of the church. It just
happens to be a current politic stance that the
church took,” she said. “People looked inside
WKHPVHOYHVWRÀQGZKDWÀWVZLWKWKHLUSHUVRQDOPRUDOVµ
Catholics’ decision to refuse the guidance of the
clergy could simply be motivated from their inability to
VHHDFRQQHFWLRQEHWZHHQD\HDUROGSROLWLFDOFRQÁLFW
DQGWKHLURZQIDLWKYDOXHV$V0LOOHUH[SODLQHG´$IÀUmative action does not fall into the realm of religious
principles.” MR
A look at Jennifer Granholm and
what her economic policies hold
for the state of Michigan
BY JONNY SLEMROD, ‘10
'
,&.'(926:$6right about one
thing in his unsuccessful campaign
for governor: Michigan has some seriRXV HFRQRPLF ZRHV ,WV SHUFHQW XQemployment rate and tens of thousands
of “lost” jobs has made Michigan the
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economy.
While one cannot hold a politician such as governor solely responsible
for the failing state of an economy, it is
important to examine the policies that
Governor Jennifer Granholm endorses,
DQG GHWHUPLQH ZKHWKHU RU QRW WKH\ DUH
GHVLJQHGWRPD[LPL]HJURZWKRUDUHVLPSO\YRWHJHWWLQJSOR\VZKLFKRQO\VRXQG
good.
Granholm’s media-savvy, populist
rhetoric about the failing state of our
HFRQRP\LVGHÀQHGE\KHUSODFLQJEODPH
on other blame on the economic effects
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brag about past accomplishments, and
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are accomplishing. Granholm is no excepWLRQ %XW WKH WUXWK DERXW KHU UHFRUG RQ
the economy is nothing groundbreaking,
11.14.06
Election Follow-Up
P. 7
Four More Years
nor does it require a degree in economics.
While Granholm has taken a multitude
of positive steps, she has also instituted
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economic climate in general.
Granholm’s “21st Century Jobs
Plan” consists mainly of diverting private sector jobs to the public sector. AcFRUGLQJWRKHUZHEVLWHWKH-REV3ODQDOlots over $1.1 billion to road and bridge
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construction projects at state universities,
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7KLV VRXQGV HHULO\ VLPLODU WR )'5·V
1HZ'HDOZKLFKKHOSHGWRSURYLGHUHOLHI IRUWKHSHUFHQWZZZEOVJRYXQHPployment rate at the time by establishing
a multitude of government agencies in
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Michigan’s economy can afford to transfer this valuable labor from the competitive private market to the often mismanDJHGSXEOLFVHFWRUDQGZKHWKHURUQRW
WKHSURSRVHGZRUNZRXOGLQIDFWEHWDNHQ
care of by the private sector at all.
Perhaps the most chilling area of
Granholm’s plan for the future is the
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enormous amount of money and tax
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search and venture capital, and “ensure
that small businesses have greater access
WRFDSLWDOµ7KLVFRUSRUDWHZHOIDUHLQLWLDtive has garnered opposition from several
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Center for Public Policy, a MichiganEDVHGWKLQNWDQNZKLFKVSHFLDOL]HVLQÀVcal policy.
As Gary R. Wolfram remarked “One
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LQ FLWL]HQV· WD[HV WR D JRYHUQPHQW EXreaucracy to disburse to the politically
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If the Granholm plan is going to
invest massive amounts of money into
venture capital, it should be immediately
reconsidered and revised. Venture capitalism is by and large one of the most
SURÀWDEOH VHFWRUV LQ WKH PDUNHW DQG
PRVW SURÀWDEOH DUHDV DUH JXDUDQWHHG WR
EHGLVFRYHUHGZLWKRXWJRYHUQPHQWKHOS
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FRUSRUDWHZHOIDUHDOVRNQRZVDVZHDOWKIDUH FUHDWHV WKH SRVVLELOLW\ IRU ZDVWHIXO
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an unnecessary burden on the already
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Instead of thrusting government
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obstacle to Michigan’s efforts to create
jobs. What can our governor do to help
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to prospective employers?
)RURQHWKLQJ*UDQKROPPXVWFRQtinue to encourage the build-up of our
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ZLOO PDNH 0LFKLJDQ ODERU PRUH SURGXFtive per dollar. Workers need to appear
PRUH DWWUDFWLYH DQG HIÀFLHQW WR HPSOR\ers by developing abilities not strictly
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can help usher in this economic diversity
E\VHFXULQJIXQGLQJIRUHGXFDWLRQZKLOH
PDLQWDLQLQJ HGXFDWLRQDO ÀVFDO UHVSRQVLbility to alleviate the burden to Michigan’s
taxpayers.
Jennifer Granholm, fresh off her guEHUQDWRULDO YLFWRU\ DJDLQVW 'LFN 'H9RV
has secured herself four more years in
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decisions to make. Will she continue
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attention on promoting Michigan’s infrastructure in order to raise the value of
our labor?
One thing is clear after her lacklusWHUÀUVWIRXU\HDUVLQRIÀFH0LFKLJDQGHUV
ZDQWDFKDQJH2QO\WLPHZLOOWHOOLI VKH
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path. MR
Dems Roll to Election Night Victories Nationwide
Republicans get throttled in midterm elections, losing congressional seats and governorships
BY ZACK ZUCKER, ‘10
'
(02&5$76 :(5( &(/(%5$7,1* all over
WKHQDWLRQRQ7XHVGD\QLJKWDVWKHSDUW\RI +RZDUG'HDQHDVLO\FDSWXUHGWKH+RXVHRI 5HSUHVHQWDWLYHV
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time to celebrate again as it became apparent that the
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WDNH FRQWURO RI WKH )LQDQFLDO 6HUYLFHV FRPPLWWHH DQG
+HQU\:D[PDQ'&$FRXOGEHKDQGHGWKHUHLJQVRI the Government Reform committee. On a local level,
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Judiciary Committee, respectively.
,Q WKH 6HQDWH WKH 'HPRFUDWV RIÀFLDOO\ WRRN seats, including six formerly held by the Republicans, to
WLH WKH *23 7KH UHPDLQLQJ WZR LQGHSHQGHQWV ZKR
ZLOOFDXFXVZLWKWKH'HPRFUDWVDUHOHIWLVW%HUQLH6DQGers of Vermont and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, the
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after losing the democratic primary to Ned Lamont.
7KHUHIRUH LQ UHDOLW\ WKH GHPRFUDWV QRZ KROG D advantage.
(DUO\ RQ 7XHVGD\ QLJKW KRZHYHU LW DSSHDUHG WKDW
WKH5HSXEOLFDQVZRXOGKROGRQWRWKH6HQDWH7KHGHPocrats needed to grab six seats to take control because
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African American candidate Michael Steele had hoped
to pull a Republican coup in the historically democratic
leaning state. Republicans barely held in heated contests
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That left Virginia as the deciding state. In a race
that eerily paralleled the 2000 Presidential election, incumbent Republican George Allen, considered a Presidential candidate in 2008, appeared to pull ahead of his
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1HZV$OOHQOHGE\YRWHVZLWKRI SUHFLQFWV
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out to support Webb by a substantial majority to give
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PHGLDZHUHUHDG\WRFDOOWKHUDFHIRU:HEEDQGWKHUHIRUH JLYH WKH 6HQDWH WR WKH 'HPRFUDWV +RZHYHU DFFRUGLQJWR9LUJLQLDODZEHFDXVHWKHYLFWRU\PDUJLQZDV
under 1%, Allen had the right to demand a recount after
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$WWKHVWDWHOHYHOWKH'HPRFUDWVSLFNHGXSVL[5Hpublican governorships and held on to 14 others. They
QRZFRQWUROVWDWHH[HFXWLYHRIÀFHVWRWKH5HSXEOLcans 22.
Republicans did not pick up a single seat held by a
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News
P. 8
11.14.06
Head West, (Unemployed) Young Man!
Wyoming officials recruit Michigan blue-collar workers to move
west for a job
BY DANNY HARRIS, ‘10
I
1 7+( &855(17 employment
market, it seems that getting out of
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$WOHDVWWKDWLVKRZ)OLQWDUHDUHVLGHQWVIHOWZKHQWKH\WXUQHGRXWIRURQH
of many job fairs early in October, a truly
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the state of Wyoming attended in order
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$OWKRXJKIHZRI 0LFKLJDQ·VFLWL]HQV
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a tempting offer: $28 an hour plus beneÀWVZLWKXSWRSRVLWLRQVWRÀOO7ZR
KXQGUHG 0LFKLJDQ ZRUNHUV KDYH DOUHDG\
made the move, even though most conIHVV WR EHLQJ OHVV WKDQ WKULOOHG ZLWK WKH
ORFDWLRQ´$OO,NQRZDERXW:\RPLQJLV
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commented Scott Parkinson, one of the
job seekers at the fair, to the Detroit Free small population of Wyoming cannot
Press 7KH VWDWH·V HFRQRPLF JURZWK DQG ÀOORQLWVRZQ$OOWUXPSHWHGXQGHUWKH
ORZ XQHPSOR\PHQW DUH XOWLPDWHO\ D VHOO- VWDWH·V QHZ PRWWR WR SRWHQWLDO ZRUNHUV
ing point. Unemployment in Wyoming ´)UHVKVWDUW)UHVK$LUµ
LVSHUFHQWFRPSDUHGZLWKSHUFHQW
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in Michigan, and 8.3 percent in the highly EXWWKHFRQFHSWLVDZDNHXSFDOO7KHODFN
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Representatives from the state of alienate the unemployed. With little positive outWyoming
claim they Stories like this are inevitable as look, they
are easily
target Michithe state retools its work force V Z D \ H G
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ers because
to be geared more towards a
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of the largtunities.
est pools of
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similar climate. What they fail to mention GR]HQ SHRSOH DW WKH MRE IDLU LQ )OLQW DOO
LV WKH GHPDQG FUHDWHG E\ WKH GZLQGOLQJ but three already have jobs here. Yet the
0LFKLJDQHFRQRP\7KLVLVQRWWKHLUÀUVW economic forecast is so gloomy that even
time recruiting here, nor their last. An- the currently employed feel it is necessary
other job fair took place in Grand Rap- to seek out other opportunities. Thus, the
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of the state’s third trip to Michigan in have the effect of the economy losing its
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On the other hand, observers of
the Michigan’s economy should have
seen this coming. It is only logical that
the driving motivation of Michiganders
is their ability to provide for their families. Stories like this are inevitable as the
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in one economy to move to an economy
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that college graduates do not have to
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have the human capital to get rehired. As
terrible as it sounds, Michigan residents
are going to hear many more stories like
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in Michigan turns around or not. MR
Detroit Public Schools Furthers Corruption
Opponents of the MCRI pointed to educational inequality in urban areas as a reason
to support affirmative action. But to what
extent are these inequalities the result of
poor policy decisions?
BY EDDIE PERRY, ‘09
I
1)250$7,21 62/87,216 *5283 sub-conWUDFWLQJXQGHU*9&1HWZRUNV//&ZDVRQHRI companies that bid on an information technology manDJHPHQWFRQWUDFWIRUWKH'HWURLW3XEOLF6FKRRO'LVWULFW
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chosen from the heap to complete the contract over the
PRUHTXDOLÀHGDQGPRUHOR\DO&RPSXZDUH:K\DOORI the commotion?
GVC, of the 17 other companies vying for the IT
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integrated general
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performance and
history, cost, expertise, and employment of minoriWLHV DQG ZRPHQ
On the other side,
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the highest score
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dexterous candidate for the job.
Prior to 2000,
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The city of Detroit is
no stranger to waste
and fraud (see Mayor
Kwame Kilpatrick’s
red Lincoln Navigator
and the Detroit Zoo
dilemma).
This is just another
case in a long list of
corruption.
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in reformation and advancements in ordering processes,
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reached out to parents, students, and administrators. We
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be successful.”
On the other side of the fence, examine the victoULRXVSDUWQHUHG*9&1HWZRUNV//&,QIRUPDWLRQ6Rlutions Group. As mentioned earlier, their evaluation
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not paying tens of thousands of dollars in company bills.
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Easily.
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Coleman III referred a friend to one of the companies.
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Group. As superintendent, Coleman has a great deal of
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contract. Coleman is believed to have recommended
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case in a long list of corruption. Surprisingly, race does
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With approximately 135,000 students, 231 schools,
roughly 19,000 administrators, a $1.5 billion annual budget, and a district of 133 square miles, it is irrational,
FRXQWHUSURGXFWLYHDQGGRZQULJKWUHSXOVLYHIRU6XSHUintendent William Coleman III to gamble the already
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P. 9
11.14.06
6WDII2SLQLRQ
Prop 2: Part 2
The Legal and Political Ramifications of Challenging Prop 2
BY MICHAEL O’BRIEN, ‘08
T
+( 81,9(56,7< /267 LWV ÀJKW
DJDLQVWWKH0&5,SROLWLFL]HG¶GLYHUsity’ should be over.
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University is planning a legal challenge to
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banning racial preferences and other afÀUPDWLYHDFWLRQSURJUDPVLQFROOHJHDGmissions and state hiring and contracting. Mary Sue Coleman, in her speech on
November 8, proclaimed, “I believe there
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LQLWLDWLYH LV ODZIXO SDUWLFXODUO\ DV LW SHUtains to higher education.” And so Prop
2: Part 2 begins.
The University of Michigan, of
course, is a public educational institution,
affording it status as a federally registered
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the MCRI.
,QWKHSDVWWKH8QLYHUVLW\ZDVFRPSHOOHGWRGHIHQGLWVSRVLWLRQRQDIÀUPDtive action. As a defendant in the Grutter
and Gratz cases, it had to respond in court
and articulate a legal position in favor of
racial preferences.
In the past year, President Coleman
Michigan is not content to simply
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might not have been the most appropri- FRQFHUWZLWKWKHÀQDQFHODZVJRYHUQLQJ
our school? Well, that remains unclear.
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taxpayer dollars to defeat a measure that our money (remember, some of us actually voted yes)
ostensibly repZLOOEHXVHGWR
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of the taxpayIn the past year, President Coleman ÀQDQFH ZKDW
ers. Michigan
had the option, as a policy making is essentially a
political camis taking up a
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campaign of its
paign.
voice her opposition to the MCRI
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This
is
not
even
to
University has
rather publicly.
mention that
no mandate in
Now, the University will be
the legal chalthis instance,
devoting taxpayer dollars to defeat lenges
are
and its standing is no great- a measure that ostensibly represents likely to be futile. When the
er than Wayne
the will of the taxpayers.
Review asked
State UniverUniversity
sity, Michigan
6WDWH 8QLYHUVLW\ RU WKH 0LFKLJDQ 'H- *HQHUDO &RXQVHO 0DUYLQ .ULVORY ZKDW
partment of Labor. This legal challenge the nature of the legal challenges might
ZRXOG UHSUHVHQW VRPHWKLQJ PXFK PRUH be, he refused to elaborate, saying only,
VLJQLÀFDQWWKDQWKH8QLYHUVLW\·VSDVWOHJDO “We’re considering lots of options.”
2QHFKDOOHQJHPLJKWDUJXHWKDWDIÀUquibbles and defense of racial and genGHUSUHIHUHQFHV%\ÀOLQJOHJDOFKDOOHQJHV PDWLYH DFWLRQ LV FRPSHOOHG E\ WKH )RXUDJDLQVWWKH0&5,³DQRSWLRQRI FKRLFH teenth Amendment in order to effect
DQGQRWUHTXLUHGDWDOO³WKH8QLYHUVLW\DV ´HTXDO SURWHFWLRQµ %XW VXFK D FODLP LV
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cal position.
far as to compel its use. Also, given the
current makeup of the Court, and the
traditional reluctance of the high court
to force a state to adopt a given policy,
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doomed to failure.
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is, the claims of fraud in canvassing for
SHWLWLRQVLJQHUV %XW WKHVH FODLPV ZHUH
almost summarily rejected before the
election, and they are unlikely to succeed
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President Coleman is content to poOLWLFL]H RXU H[SHULHQFH DV VWXGHQWV 1RW
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about to engage in high stakes lobbying to
engage in embryonic stem cell research.
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Race, Political Correctness, and the Sporting Life
to the stands next time and [mess] somebody up…It’s WKHVODYHRZQHUZRXOGEUHHGKLVELJEODFNZLWKKLVELJ
sad that this is still going on in America.” Attempting ZRPDQ VR WKDW KH ZRXOG KDYH D ELJ EODFN NLG³WKDW·V
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BY JANE COASTON, ‘09
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Sports is no longer just a form of entertainment, it
,.(0%( 08720%2 &(17(5 for the GROODUVWR0XWRPER·VIDYRULWHFKDULW\0XWRPERLVZHOO
is
a
microcosm
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values
and
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have been insulting the opposing team’s players
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VSRUWDQGKRFNH\D´ZKLWHµVSRUW":K\GRHVDGVLQFHWKHGDZQRI VSRUW)URPLQVXOWLQJWKHSOD\vertising used during college football games have
er’s intelligence (i.e. Penn State quarterback Anwould prefer not to answer
an entirely different demographic than during
thony Morelli) to physical appearance or sexual
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cratic Republic of Congo.
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How far is too far when it comes to race and
sports in society?
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Arts and Culture
P. 10
11.14.06
It’s Complicated With...The Facebook
EVENTS CALENDAR
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hand supporting your head, the other
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The Theology of Kurt Cobain
Professor from the University of Rochester
examines the music of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain
and its Christian implications
BY CHRISTINA ZAJICEK, ‘10
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nature, and poking fun at his age on more than one
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make parallels to.
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then after each “Alleluia,” the volume diminishes
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“Alleluia’s?”
“It’s a deliberate inversion of monastic chant. The
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except they use incoherent rhetoric and loud guitars to
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Nirvana, one of the most popular grunge rock
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The similarities are endless...
nel he could: music. The pain and suffering Cobain took
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up their lives.
The speaker continues on to read graphic excerpts
IURP WKH MRXUQDOV RI .XUW &REDLQ :KHQ &Rbain asserts himself to be a “Pisces Jesus-Man”,
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once the song has completed. These are the infaPRXV ZRUGV WR WKH WHHQDJH DQWKHP 6PHOOV /LNH
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exist.
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Christianity, and if you listen closely enough to Nirvana,
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that’s true in a lot of rock music.” MR
P. 11
11.14.06
Arts & Culture
Pulitzer Prize Winner Comes Home For Residency
Native of metro Detroit, Jeffrey
Eugenides spends a week at the
University discussing writing,
research, and even bodily functions
BY AMANDA NICHOLS, ‘07
S
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IRU D OHFWXUH RU VLPSO\ WKH ZRUNLQJV RI a great mind? On October 31, an audiHQFHDW5DFNKDP$XGLWRULXPZDVWUHDWHG
WR DOO WKHVH WKLQJV DV 3XOLW]HU 3UL]HZLQQLQJ ZULWHU DQG 0LFKLJDQ QDWLYH -HIIUH\
Eugenides read from both his acclaimed
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The image of the author on the dust
jackets of his books proved quite accurate:
he is every bit the stereotypical Greek (or
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taller than expected, certainly taller than
the image of his grandfather, George Eugenides, published over ten years ago in
the New YorkerPD\EHLW·VWKDWRWKHUKDOI of him, the Anglo-Irish lineage from his
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Introducing himself as a member of
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of Michigan dropouts (Eugenides himVHOI JUDGXDWHG IURP %URZQ DQG 6WDQ-
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Middlesex, Eugenides’ sophomore efWKH WRS RI DQ HOHYDWRU ZKLOH RQ 3H\RWH
buttons. Eager undergrads looking for IRUWWKDWWRRNWHQ\HDUVWRZULWHJDUQHUHG
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IHVVRUV ZKR DGPLUH KLV LQVLJKW DQG WKH Introducing the audience to Cal, Middlesex’s narrator, EuAARP constituency
genides commentWKDWNQRZVWKHZRUOG
ed that, because
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of a genetic mix'HWURLW DERXW ZKLFK
up, Cal can never
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Middlesex, all laughed
charismatic and
raucously in admiraself-deprecating
tion of such an esEugenides pauses,
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and gestures to his
In his reading,
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Eugenides
shared
“What
an
selections from his
imagination
I
novels, The Virgin
have,” he said to an
Suicides and Middlesex,
auditorium full of
and then indulged the
DXGLHQFHZLWKDVHOHFlaughs. Middlesex,
tion called “Special Jeffrey Eugenides, Detroit native D VZHHSLQJ HSLF
'D\Vµ IURP KLV QHZ- and author of award-winning novels VWRU\ WKDW IROORZV
est novel. Written in Middlesex and The Virgin Suicides the Stephanides
family from Asia
1993, he commented
that The Virgin SuicidesZDVFDOOHGKLVEHVW 0LQRUDQGWKH7XUNLVK*UHHN&RQÁLFWWR
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book by Germany’s SternPDJD]LQH
´,RQO\KDYHWZRERRNVµKHUHPLQG- suburban perfection of Grosse Pointe,
ed the audience. “I haven’t earned that ZKLOH LWV ELJFLW\ QHLJKERU LV URFNHG E\
VXSHUODWLYHµ+RZHYHUVLQFHWKLVZDVKLV racial tensions in the 1960s.
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“best book,” and one he hadn’t read from
in quite some time, Eugenides decided to Eugenides crafts a coming-of-age tale
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a major motion picture, The Virgin Suicides progresses, discovers she’s not exactly
LVDWDOHRI WKHVXLFLGHVRI WKHÀYH/LVERQ the girl her parents have raised her to be.
VLVWHUVLQWKHFRXUVHRI RQH\HDUDQGKRZ Eugenides said the title stemmed from
the obvious middle ground of hermaphrodism, but it is also the Grosse Pointe
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When asked about the autobiographical nature of Middlesex, Eugenides
told the audience that, contrary to some
popular ideas, he is not a hermaphrodite.
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6WHSKDQLGHV IDPLO\ IROORZV (XJHQLGHV·
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nameless group of narrators in The Virgin
Suicides WKH 3XOLW]HU 3UL]HZLQLQJ DXWKRU
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about college-aged adults, Eugenides
deftly shared a boyfriend’s observation of
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and, after much serious subject matter,
earned even more laughs. When pressed
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though, he dodged the question, saying
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In Ann Arbor from October 30-NoYHPEHUDVDZULWHULQUHVLGHQFHWKURXJK
the University’s Zell Visiting Writers
Series, Eugenides also visited English
classes and gave a lecture entitled, “On
Obstacles and Omens” about the chalOHQJHVRI ZULWLQJMiddlesex)ROORZLQJWKH
UHDGLQJ(XJHQLGHVVLJQHGERWKQHZDQG
tattered copies of his novels, quipping at
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U-M Fosters Great Relationship with Britain’s RSC
BY MARY WILCOP, ‘08
T
+(52<$/Shakespeare Company Residency
came to a close this Sunday, ending its 5-year, 3-resiGHQF\ FRQWUDFW ZLWK WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ :KLOH RYHU attendees this year’s performances and events became
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While UMS has sponsored music and dance for
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honor its late founder, Martha Graham. The success of
this initial residency proved UMS capable of pulling off
additional groundbreaking projects.
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project as a great opportunity for Michigan. Explains
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religion, gender, history, drama […] all the themes one
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project, as long as education and community engagement
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outreach projects to communities throughout England.
Another important aspect of the UM-RSC relationship has been the close professional friendship that
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Shakespeare devotees found mutual respect for each
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says, “I think that has really been part of the glue.” While
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are anticipate the future of the residency and UMS’s reODWLRQVKLSZLWKFRPSDQ\7KH56&LVRSWLPLVWLFDVZHOO
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is comparable to their base in Stratford. The residency
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has found in the University an enthusiastic partner open
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Feature
P. 12
11.14.06
The Invisible Hand of Enclosed Seating
Group opposes U-M Athletic Department’s
plans for stadium renovation, but questions
are raised about future economic impacts
BY EVAN WLADIS, ‘10
B
$1621/8;85<Restrictions on SURÀW. Equality in name only. Sounds more like a
communist state than Michigan Stadium,
doesn’t it?
Yet with debate raging over how best to
repay the debt accrued by a massive renovation of the nation’s largest collegiate stadium,
these are the effects that one group, Save the
Big House, seemingly endorses.
:KLOHDOPRVWHYHU\RQHDWWKH8QLYHUVLW\
of Michigan agrees that its iconic stadium is
badly in need of an overhaul (which would
include a new press box, upgraded player facilities, and wider seats and aisles, among othHU DPHQLWLHV WKH 8QLYHUVLW\·V SODQ WR UHSD\
FRQVWUXFWLRQ FRVWVKDV EHHQ PHW ZLWK ÀHUFH
resistance. Their plan, which proposes creating new streams of revenue by installing club
seats and luxury boxes, or “enclosed seating,”
DVWKH¶8·HXSKHPLVWLFDOO\FDOOVLWLVVWURQJO\
RSSRVHG E\ VRPH RI WKH 8QLYHUVLW\·V PRUH
“traditional” alumni.
The most vocal and active of these
forces is Save the Big House, a coalition of Wolverines
expressing concern that enclosed seating will cripple the
stadium’s ability to expand in the future. In addition,
they believe that luxury boxes disrespect the “egalitarian
LGHDOVWRZKLFK80LVGHGLFDWHGµ
Their proposal, the Big House Renovation Plan,
calls for the addition of 10,000 more bleacher seats
around the outer rim of the stadium, scrapping any
plans for luxury boxes, which members claim “divide
Michigan fans by income, undermining the unity and ca-
If the stadium was truly “dedicated
WRHJDOLWDULDQLGHDOV´DQGWKHGHVHJUHJDWLRQRISHRSOHIURPGLIIHUHQWWD[
brackets, why not just sell every ticket
DWWKHVDPHSULFHDQGODEHOLWXQDVVLJQHGVHDWLQJ"
fessor at the Ross School of Business, notes that, if
the Athletic Department’s plan is implemented, the Big
House’s standing as the largest collegiate stadium in the
country will not be in jeopardy. “The architect has said
that the proposed renovation will easily support up to
7,500 more seats in each end zone. And if, in 10 or
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OX[XU\ ER[HV WR WXUQ D SURÀW ZKHUHDV WKH %LJ +RXVH
Plan would need only 3 years to get out of the red.
Looking at all the available numbers, it appears he
is correct. In the 22 years between these estimates, the
10,000 new bleacher seats would generate an income
of about $65.34 million ($2.97 million per year). Not
bad, especially when you consider that after 25 years, enclosed seating will not have earned a single
dime. The 35-year-mark, however, tells a different story; ten years after reaching the black,
luxury boxes will have generated a whopping
$140.1 million dollars: outpacing the proposed bleacher seats by nearly $45 million.
Income from luxury boxes grows almost exponentially in the years that follow as well;
ÀIW\ \HDUV DIWHU FRQVWUXFWLRQ WKH GLIIHUHQFH
LQSURÀWLVDQDVWRXQGLQJPLOOLRQ
Still, Professor Kennedy claims that even
these comparisons are conservative. “It’s
almost guaranteed that private donations to
the athletic department will go up [because
of enclosed seating],” he says.
“Access to the best boxes and club seats
near the 50-yard line will depend on cumulative giving. Ford, GM, and Comerica, in
order to secure access to the ‘good’ locations, [will] have to up their donations. This
Damn those capitalist pigs and their brick architecture!
is probably worth another $5 to $15 million
SHU \HDU DOO RI ZKLFK LV SXUH SURÀW IRU WKH
additional concourses in the end zones [to get up to] athletic department and can be used to fund all the ath140,000 or 150,000 seats,” Kennedy says.
letic teams.”
Even doubts surrounding
the new stadium’s attractiveness,
2IWKHSRWHQWLDOIRUUHFUXLWLQJ.HQQHG\VD\V³7KH
thought to be compromised by proQHZVWDGLXPZLOOPHDQWKDWWKHDWKOHWLFGHSDUWPHQW
posed brick concourses several stoKDVPRUHUHVRXUFHV>WRSXWWRZDUGV@WUDLQLQJIDFLOLries high on the east and west sides
RI WKH ÀHOG DUH D PDWWHU RI SHUWLHVORFNHUURRPVDQGVFKRODUVKLSV,GRQ¶WWKLQN
sonal taste. John Pollack, a former
WKDWUHFUXLWVZLOOVD\µZRZSUHPLXPVHDWLQJ¶EXW
speechwriter for the Clinton administration and current spokesperson WKH\ZLOOEHDWWUDFWHGWRWKHWKLQJVWKDWWKHQHZUHYfor Save the Big House, compares
HQXHVWUHDPVZLOOIXQG´
the new stadium’s exterior to “a collision between the Roman Coliseum
and the parking structure on Fourth and Washington.”
Perhaps most importantly, the new structures will
However, Save the Big House maintains that their better capture noise generated by Michigan fans, and
SODQ LV ERWK PRUH YLVXDOO\ DSSHDOLQJ DQG PRUH ÀVFDOO\ GLUHFW LW WRZDUG WKH ÀHOG 7KH UHVXOW LV DQ LQFUHDVH LQ
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ing enclosed seating “don’t add up.” Luxury boxes, in WKHFXUUHQWVWDGLXPDOORZFURZGQRLVHWRHVFDSHWKHÀHOG
his opinion, are merely an effort by the university to EHIRUHHYHUUHDFKLQJWKHÀHOG
“keep up with the Joneses,” in this case, Ohio State and
As the Michigan crowd has been characterized, perMichigan State. Pollack says it will take 25 years for the haps wrongfully, as one of the quietest in the nation, the
structural changes meant
to challenge that reputation may be a major selling point among students
and players. It all adds up
to the largest and loudest
home crowd in college
football. MR
maraderie that fans of all ages and backgrounds share as
they experience the game
together.”
These grand notions
of equality, however, are
perhaps a bit overdone.
Most students sit in the
cheap seats behind the
end zone while wealthy
patrons who can afford
the steep costs of premium tickets get the seats
20 rows up on the 50yard-line.
Robert Kennedy, a
The blueprints look promising
corporate strategy pro-
to some, but are a strike in the heart to others. Only time will tell if they will
pass.