Letters to the Editor

Influential woman spoke on campus

To the Daily:

A recent article in the Daily about the 25th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision ("Campus to honor decision," 1/21/98) began by mentioning the fact that many U of M students were not alive during the legal and social drama of this historic decision. I would like to inform the Daily and its readers that there was someone visiting U of M who was not only alive during Roe v. Wade but was a key player.

Dr. Mildred Fay Jefferson is a founding member of the state and national Right to Life movement, serving in the past as chair of the Board of Directors and for three terms as president of the National Right to Life Committee. Before the Roe v. Wade decision and continuing today, Jefferson acted on her interest in medical jurisprudence, medical ethics and the problems that arise when medicine and law interface. She has been an expert witness in key trials and significant legislative hearings surrounding the issue of abortion.

As the first African American woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School and the first woman elected into membership in the Boston Surgical Society, Jefferson has also served as assistant clinical professor of surgery at Boston University School of Medicine. She stands as a pioneer for women in the field of medicine, as well as being at the forefront of the pro-life movement.

Jefferson addressed the University community in a series of lectures, titled, "What's the Choice? Abortion: Reconsidered," sponsored by the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship.

Beth Mathews
Engineering senior

Daily music poll omitted many musical genres

I'm writing in response to Nate Webb's letter to the editor ("Daily music poll ignores R&B, hip-hop," 1/21/98). I mainly want to say that I completely agree with his comments on the Daily's top 10 albums of 1997. I especially agree with Webb's statements about EryKah Badu.

But I think that he need not imply that it is necessarily a racial thing. I think that there are several albums of 1997 that the Daily overlooked. How about Kathleen Battle at the Met for opera lovers, Dee Dee Bridgewater's tribute to Ella Fitzgerald for the Ella fans, or, my personal favorite of the year, "Songs from Ragtime" for the musical theatre fanatic. The truth is, the Daily's list consisted of "college rock" - music that is written, performed and, most important, marketed for college students. The truth is, many college students don't listen to these, unfortunately the Daily staff obviously fits into this stereotype. Maybe that will change this year.

Patrick Elkins
School of Music

'U' community should not support Nike

To the Daily:

In the context of Michigan's recent Rose Bowl victory, I would like to take a moment from our basking in well-deserved glory to draw attention to issues of human rights involving Nike and the University's Athletic Department.

Being a woman from Malaysia, Nike's labor violations in South East Asian countries such as Indonesia hit a little too close to home. If there were a Nike factory in Ann Arbor - say, right next to Michigan Stadium - there would be masses of students, faculty and community members protesting. So what is stopping us? The thousands of miles that separate us from the Nike factories?

I am fighting for very basic, fundamental human rights - three square meals a day and a safe working environment free of toxic fumes from chemicals that have long since been outlawed in the United States.

I am not advocating to close down Nike factories - many people need these jobs. This is an effort to pressure Phil Knight, chief executive officer of Nike, who has made more than his share of $800 million in annual profits. Or rather, how can he justify selling shoes for $180 and paying an average worker in Vietnam $1.60 per day?

Meanwhile, Nike pays Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods millions of dollars to fuel the skyrocketing consumerism for Nike products. I am targeting Nike specifically because it has set a precedent for many other companies in violating human rights while continuing to make record-breaking profits. More important, we, as U of M students and faculty, should care because of Nike's close ties with the University. Together, by signing petitions to pressure Knight into improving labor wages and conditions, we can make a difference.

President Bollinger and Athletic Director Tom Goss, I urge you to take a stand. Nike needs us more than we need them. In pursuing quality education at the University, educate yourself about Nike. If you would like to read about well-documented and referenced incidents and facts, please refer to the "Just Don't Do It" campaign Website at http://nike/bounce.to/com or e-mail nikerights@umich.edu

Ellen Wang
LSA senior

Nebraska did not deserve national championship

To the Daily:

The 1997 football season was perhaps the greatest in Michigan history. The only thing that kept this season from attaining ultimate perfection in the eyes of the media was the questionable split of the national championship with the undeserving Nebraska Huskers. To add insult to injury, the Husker fans are now insulting Wolverine fans with claims that they lack class ("'U' students lack class," 1/20/98).

First, Huskers fans need to realize that their winning the national championship was an act of God himself. That miracle play against Missouri was intentional and should have been judged illegal. This single point alone should be enough to make any sane Nebraska fan realize that they did not deserve to win the title. But the Huskers' fans continued to delude themselves with hopes of winning and managed to convince some of the media that they deserved to win the title too. Second, the Huskers played an entire season pandering to the pollsters. Last, I think that the best indicator of the class of the Huskers could be seen in Scott Frost begging the coaches to award Nebraska the national championship after the Huskers' victory over the Tennessee Volunteers.

Michigan, on the other hand, played a classy game on and off the field. The Wolverines did not trash the opponents before game and did not insult them by running up ridiculous scores even when the game was already won. Michigan never laid claims to a national championship until after the Rose Bowl victory. Brian Griese and Charles Woodson never begged the media for anything but were still rewarded with the MVP of the Rose Bowl and the Heisman Trophy. Overall, Michigan had a great season and solidly deserved to win the national championship without sharing it with a mediocre team from a lousy conference.

So, Huskers fans, all I can say is that Michigan played well and their fans deserve to be angry with the Huskers for trying to steal their glory. If you want to talk about class, please come down from your subpar conference to Big Ten country where there is actually more than one good team to play. This is the traditional home of college football and here Michigan reigns supreme.

Go Blue!

Adnan Zuberi
LSA junior

01-27-98