To the Daily:
I found it a little odd that the back of the Daily on Nov. 25 had about half of the space taken up by two articles regarding dangerous tobacco use ("No one knows how to stop youth from tobacco use" and "Tobacco companies may get subpoenas") while the other half was taken up by a big, bright yellow "Rooster Snuff" smokeless tobacco ad. It seems, at least from my perspective, that the ad and the articles may conflict with each other. Ah well.
Walter Braunohler
LSA first-year student
To the Daily:
After enduring three games against sub-par opponents (Northwestern, Notre Dame and Minnesota) thanks to the historical split-season ticket I received this year, I thought that my football pains would be alleviated after I was allowed to purchase an Ohio State ticket (which was made possible by the kind folks at the Ticket Department who saw my disadvantage). Visions of hugging Lloyd Carr and picking up Big House sod were soon dashed when I learned that the Department of Public Safety was going to arrest anyone who "endangers the safety of others" and stormed the field after our victory on Nov. 22.
If the real concern here is safety, then maybe instead of catering to the wishes of alumni whose well-being would be threatened from their front-row seat as they react to our victory over Ohio State by mere applause, their fine seats could be divvied out to us current University students who happened to get split-season tickets. There is no doubt that we would quickly abandon our seat to rush out onto the field and celebrate the triumph. That way, the University could kill two birds with one stone by giving we "season-ticket holders" a game to watch against a quality team while preserving the safety of the alumni, who would watch the celebration from their secure seats in the 69th row.
Eric Crouch
LSA first-year student
To the Daily:
As members of the LSA Executive Committee, we write to the students, faculty and staff of LSA to express our concern that recent discussions of collegiate admissions policies neglect an important point. Every student admitted to LSA was accepted for the same fundamental reasons: Each holds extraordinary promise for developing his or her own intellectual talents, for enlivening the intellectual activities of the University, and for enhancing the well-being of society.
Earlier this month, a lawsuit challenging LSA's admissions policies was filed in a federal court. This suit brings to our own campus the national debate that has been going on for several years regarding the use of race as a factor in admissions. We, as individuals, are committed to the concept of affirmative action, and we welcome the opportunity to place our personal values, as well as our expectations and aspirations for LSA, before the public as the national debate unfolds.
The issue of how American higher education can best serve our increasingly diverse population is important, and it merits the kind of serious discussion with suspended judgment that President Lee Bollinger described in his inaugural address.
As this discussion proceeds, it is important that we remember the many things that unite us. After all, the goals, values and mission which we share are far more significant than any disagreements that may emerge among us. During this period, let us strive to treat all members of the LSA community with the respect and recognition of their belonging.
William Adams
Susan Gelman
Diane Kirkpatrick
Ludwig Koenen
Hugh Montgomery
Henry Pollack
University faculty
To the Daily:
I was very proud to see the Michigan victory on Nov. 22, even from a distance. I attended the University in the '70s during the era of Dennis Franklin, Dan Dufek and other luminaries.
It is doubly satisfying to see the success the team enjoyed, particularly with the many questions that were present at the beginning of the season. Michigan beat a very strong football team in the Buckeyes.
So, what is the meaning of a strong football team, in the scheme of things? In the Wolverines' case, they represent what is excellent and upright about the University as a whole. As a 40-plus person with four children, a business and 20 years between today and when I graduated, I can tell the Daily's readers that they should attempt to maintain the same discipline, focus and belief in their educational pursuit as the Wolverines demonstrated for all to see.
Belief in oneself, and one's team, can create wonderful results. Go Blue.
Jeffrey Grover
University alumnus
To the Daily:
Frankly, I find it quite pathetic that the only front-page story about Nike focuses on the mix-up of color scheme in the warm-up suits ("'M' team gets blue and white apparel," 12/1/97). The truth is that Nike doesn't give a shit about the University. In fact, they don't care about anybody, including thousands of their exploited, over-worked and under-paid sweatshop laborers in Asia. All that Nike cares about is profit. We are just one more tool to use in order to achieve the almighty profit. They try to appease us with Nike gear (they can't even get the colors right), tailgate parties and other such meaningless trinkets. It's time to end the Nike contract and the University support of a proven corporate violator of human rights and fair labor practices.
Debbie Kolben
RC senior
To the Daily:
This letter is regarding comments made by Representative David Jaye on Nov. 19 at the Affirmative Action Symposium held by the Michigan Student Assembly. Jaye's opposition to affirmative action is based on the idea that it is in itself a discriminatory program, that we are looking for a diversity of minds which is not necessarily achieved through a diversity of race. Jaye is a prime example of why we need racial diversity on this campus. Jaye, at the symposium, constantly referred to people of Asian decent as "Orientals." For those of you lacking this diversity of thoughts, people are not pleased to be referred to as Orientals. The term "oriental" is to reference objects such as food, clothing, rugs, etc. The term is not to be confused with Asian or Asian Pacific American (which can be used to categorize racial backgrounds). For people who do not understand the achievement of mental diversity through racial diversity, this is a prime example. You would never know you were being offensive if there were not racial diversity. And you could never achieve racial diversity here at the University without its affirmative action policies.
Rudhir Patel
Engineering senior
12-05-97
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