To the Daily:
I would like to express my extreme disappointment in this year's choice of University President Lee Bollinger as the Spring Commencement speaker.
The University has a reputation of being a first-class, nationally recognized institution. What message does it send when schools such as Harvard are having Secretary of State Madeline Albright while the best the University could do is to have their own president speak?
Commencement is one of the few times our family and friends will have any contact with the University. If the University wants to keep its reputation of being in the same class as Harvard, it must attract speakers of the same caliber. The president of the University usually speaks in addition to the main speaker - why couldn't that be the case this year? With no disrespect to Bollinger, on May 3, the students and families of the University of Michigan had to settle for second best. And after the time and money we seniors have put in, that just doesn't seem right.
Bradley Paskievitch
LSA senior
To the Daily:
I am writing this letter in response to Brian Gnatt's column ("Goodbye, Michigan. Love, Brian," 4/17/97) on life here in Michigan. First of all, if his article is strictly tongue-in-cheek, fine. He made a few accurate observations about Michigan and, in general, the Midwest. However, by the tone of his piece, I'm led to believe that he is either inept at conveying humor (sorry, pretentious sarcasm is trite) or just plain bitter about his years here at the University. Why? Is it not sophisticated enough for him? Then why didn't he transfer to a place where he would be happier? It's his life; he wants to be happy, right?
As to the specifics of his piece, what was most ludicrous is his self-aggrandizing advertisement of tolerance for other people and cultures. Yet he slanders Michiganians for saying "pop" instead of "soda," our driving habits (what's the big hurry?), and the fact that it snows here (he must have seen snow before he came here; every time there's a snowstorm back East, it's a big deal on NBC). Brian, one standard will do, thank you. Also, has he ever travelled throughout Michigan? It's a pretty large state - there's much more to it than what you see on I-94 coming to and from Detroit Metro Airport. Before Gnatt leaves, he should take a day or two and travel up north to the Upper Peninsula. If you come back to campus some summer, take a short trip to Lake Michigan, perhaps to the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes. Granted, Michigan doesn't boast of large cities and rat races, but isn't variety the spice of life?
As for myself, I did grow up in Michigan. While I have had the fortune of seeing other parts of the country, I have never been to the East Coast, so I can't pass judgement on it. It sounds like a great part of the country and I look forward to going there someday and seeing why Gnatt loves it so much. Please, save your narrow world-view to yourself. That newspaper space could've been used for something more valuable and meaningful - like a Nike advertisement.
Eric Sheneman
LSA junior