First, when Vice President Probir Mehta's rules violation first came to light, the Daily blamed the assembly for even having the rules ("Inappropriate allocation," 2/6/97). Now, when we have voted just to investigate the incident, the Daily asserted that the integrity of the vote was questionable ("On shaky ground," 2/18/97).
Personally, I changed my vote the second time around for two reasons: the negative reaction I received after our first vote, and Probir's active attempts to avoid his own investigation made me doubt his intentions. You see, when we voted the second time, Probir chose to vote against the investigation instead of abstaining, as would have been proper.
Furthermore, it must be noted that both our president and general council, Fiona Rose and Dan Serota, who are both leaders in the Michigan Party, did abstain from the vote. If either one of them had chosen to defend Probir, this investigation would not have begun.
It seems to me that we chose to investigate Probir in spite of partisanship, not because of it. The Daily should stop questioning the assembly's integrity and stop calling this investigation a vendetta. Instead, perhaps the Daily should spend its ef forts investigating this matter itself.
David Burden
Engineering sophomore,
MSA representative
One of the main features of Judaism is that we do not go seeking out people to convert to the religion, nor do Jews openly advertise. UJA's attempt to have 70 percent of the University Jewish community wear the buttons openly violates this notion.
There is no fear of a lack of Jewish identity here in Ann Arbor. The strong Jewish presence is already represented by a strong Hillel organization and other Jewish groups. I've heard anywhere from one-sixth to one-fourth of the school is Jewish.
So why do we need to wear buttons, making Jews stick out like a sore thumb, in the name of unity? Is the self-esteem on campus of Jews really that much in danger where we need to wear identifying markers to make us feel better in a sense of communit y?
No. I urge my fellow Jews not to partake in the UJA Half-Shekel drive if they feel that is the best way to support the Jewish community. Why must we wear these badges that are not of honor, but of some sort of guilt?
There are many ways a Jewish community is sustained, whether it be through religious practices, participation in a Jewish club or otherwise. I don't want to feel that just because I do not support this campaign that I am any less a member of the Jew ish community. But I feel that this campaign says that.
They want eventual 100-percent participation, but count me out. I hope others in the community make the same ethical choice.
David Taub
LSA first-year student
I beg to differ. I did not think the Wolverines looked at all good in the first half, despite their 18-point lead at its close. The team did not pass effectively and had no patience on offense. Their scoring depended on exploiting the individual adv antages in size and quickness of Michigan over Indiana, rather than crisp passing and working for an open shot.
They exhibited several moments of individual offensive brilliance, with Baston, Taylor, Traylor and others dunking the ball home. Unfortunately, whereas the Wolverines played brilliantly as individuals, the Hoosiers played brilliantly together -as a team - in the second half. As a result, they did not have to improvise every shot, or depend on spectacular athletic ability to create a dramatic "highlight reel" play.
After the heartwrenching loss, Michigan fans once again left the arena wondering how the heck we could have blown that game. I am familiar with that feeling, having first experienced it at Crisler Arena in 1990. The answer is not that the players didn't concentrate hard enough. The answer is not, of course, that they lacked the talent to keep up with Indiana. The answer is that they lack the discipline and patience to work as a team, to stick to an offensive system and to forgo the glory of wa tching their individual highlights on ESPN. The answer to this problem is not effort or concentration. It is a question of character.
The choice is clear: The coach needs to recruit the type of player who understands the concept of teamwork. The coach must instill this value every day at practice and reinforce the concept by benching those "stars" who look at college ball as a chance to show off for pro scouts. As a result, maybe we won't get a top-five recruiting class every year. Of course, that hasn't stopped Gene Keady from winning a bushel of Big Ten championships for Purdue (an honor that has eluded Michigan for 11 yea rs).
I am left to ponder three difficult questions: Should we not expect, as a minimum qualification for the privilege of playing for Michigan, respect for the values of discipline and teamwork? And should we not demand, at the barest of minimums for the privilege of coaching at Michigan, the ability to teach, instill and reinforce these values? Do our players and coaches meet this minimum?
Leroi also stated, "If you wondered what happened to the Wolverines in the second half, you're not alone." The answers are all too clear.
Jon Margolin
University alumnus
This is a very heartening rumor, as Nagrant has proven that he is an effective student leader. His success in securing city council appointments, as well as his work as chair of the Campus Governance Committee, has demonstrated a solid concern for t he student voice on campus. So far, Nagrant has yet to purchase planners with assembly money or illegally allocate any student funds to groups he is involved in.
Furthermore, Nagrant, according to the article, has left the Michigan Party - a very wise and commendable move. His accomplishments should not be overshadowed by the misrepresentation of students by Fiona Rose and Probir Mehta.
I find it very disheartening that the Michigan Party has nominated Probir to be their presidential candidate. Probir has had approximately one year to change this campus and demonstrate a competent concern for students. If Probir was capable of ch anging this campus or impacting students' lives on a regular basis, he would have already accomplished it as an influential Vice President. If Probir can't do it as VP, will students be better off with him as their MSA president?
I certainly hope that Michael Nagrant runs and I urge him to do so for the sake of this campus. He has proven himself as a representative, while Probir has failed, or at the very most, maintained a very lackluster vice presidency.
Christian Spencer
Engineering first-year-student