I see this as my part in cramming diversity down the throats of those around me. Not only that, but I demand that whenever the three or so members of my group meet, we earn a front page article on the Daily. I also plan to keep my group similar to other activist groups on campus by defending our First Amendment rights to free speech whenever applicable. Unless, of course, anyone should have the audacity to disagree with me within the Daily, in which case we shall take to the streets and conf iscate all copies of the newspaper on campus. Any other course of action just wouldn't make sense.
Due to the fact that enrollment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Jewish amputees has been declining the last few years, we demand that new quotas be set up by the University, such that for every white male that has held us oppressed for so long, there is at least one gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender Jewish amputee. We also require our very own Diversity Day.
We know that since when a certain group yells "jump," the entire campus yells "how high?" (despite the presence of intellectual merit), our demands will be met quickly and with ease.
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Jewish amputees are people, too. Please try to increase your understanding of their struggle in this most hated country of ours that so ruthlessly oppresses all those who don't fit the "accepted" mold.
John Debay
LSA sophomore
As Ron Simmons, he received his first big break in the wrestling industry in the Atlanta-based NWA. In 1990, he and Hacksaw Butch Reed formed the team of Doom (before Simmons won the world title, not after, as the story reported). Doom won the NWA W orld tag titles from The Steiner Brothers. (It wasn't incidental that the Steiners wore Michigan letter jackets. Using their real names of Rob and Scott Rechsteiner, they were U of M wrestling legends in the '80s. Scott holds many team records, incl uding the honor of being an All-American.)
Simmons went on in 1992 to defeat Big Van Vader, not Ric Flair, to become the WCW World heavyweight champion. Simmons indeed broke the color barrier as the first and only black world champion.
Currently, Simmons gave up his "slave name" and wants to be referred to as Faarooq. He is the leader of the Nation of Domination, a take-off on the Nation of Islam. Faarooq may be in the twilight of his career, but I see bright things for him and th e NOD in the remainder of 1997.
David Taub
LSA first-year student
Deneweth inaccurately generalizes Republicans as "elitist" and "exclusive" who reject those of different social and economic status. However, I would like to offer a first-hand account to Deneweth (since she has been misled) that I, as well as those with whom I have worked, are neither exclusive nor elitist and certainly do not reject people of different social or economic classes.
In fact, my co-workers and I represent a wide array of religious, racial and socio-economic backgrounds and participate with the Republican Party not because of these, but because of ideology and common beliefs.
The actions of Nicholas Kirk did deserve punishment, yet the actions of an individual should not represent the group, similar to the way President Clinton's questionable actions should not represent the Democratic Party as a whole.
Rather than applauding Kirk's impeachment, we should applaud the members of the College Republicans who were strong and smart enough to do what was right. Perhaps Deneweth will eventually learn not to generalize groups of people based on the action s of one.
Contrary to her belief that Democrats have always been inclusive and openly welcomed any person, I suggest Deneweth read the history of her party, paying close attention to the practices employed before John F. Kennedy.
Scott Lovernick
LSA junior
Unfortunately, the majority of states have not followed Michigan's lead. Currently, 38 states and the federal government have the death penalty. And it is used to punish the innocent, minorities, poor people and political radicals.
According to a recently released study by University of Florida sociology professor Michael Radelet, 68 inmates have been released from death row because of doubts about their guilt since 1972. Radelet said, "It makes you wonder how many people were n't so lucky."
Unfortunately, the number of innocent people to be executed in the coming years is only likely to grow. The federal government and over half of the states with capital punishment have enacted laws that severely hamper the right of death row inmates to appeal their convictions and death sentences.
Even when individuals are guilty, whether or not they receive the death penalty is usually determined by race and class. African Americans make up over 40 percent of those on death row (and over 50 percent of those who have been executed since 1930) . A disproportionate number on death row are Asian, Latino/a and Native American.
The economic status of a person on death row also plays a significant role in whether or not a person receives the death penalty. High costs make private investigators, psychiatrists and expert criminal lawyers out of reach for most working class an d poor people. As the saying goes, if you've got the capital, you don't get the punishment.
The people of Michigan must never give the repressive government the power to execute the innocent, the poor, people of color and those who challenge the unjust system that exists in the United States. Nor should capital punishment be passively acce pted when it is carried out by other states or the federal government. The entire system of death needs to be wiped out.
Micah Holmquist
LSA first-year student