Poor methods: State funding puts admissions under fire
Last week, the state House of Representatives upped Gov. John Engler's recommendation for a 1.5-percent funding increase for higher education to approximately 4-percent. While the nearly $50 million increase is welcome, an attached amendment that challenges the University's admissions policy must be removed from the legislation. The University's right to use its own criteria when individually evaluating each prospective student must be preserved.
Loud and clear: School district should accept cell phone deal
As the number of cellular telephone users continues to increase, the need for the antennas that support them also grows. The Ann Arbor school district has been offered $45,000 per year over a multi-year deal in exchange for allowing OmniPoint Communications to install three cell phone antennas on district property. While a few school board members worry about the towers becoming an eyesore, the district badly needs this additional source of revenue and should accept the company's proposal.
Bad medicine: Kevorkian's latest assist hurts organ donation
Last week, Jack Kevorkian helped a 45-year-old quadriplegic patient die, whose kidneys were then extracted for donation purposes. The aftermath was as turbulent as could be expected. The medical community condemned his actions, Gov. John Engler asked for a remodeling of assisted suicide laws, the United Network for Organ Sharing urged an immediate moratorium on all non-licensed organ harvesting, and Jack Kevorkian simply defended his doings. Even the coroner added his bit by marking the death as homicide by mutilation and intravenous drugging. The issues of assisted suicide and organ donation came to the forefront. The medical community must take charge of assisted suicide, while the system for organ donation must react to quell people's fears and encourage participation.
Moses isn't leading the NRA to protect the mainstream
If you buy what's printed in The Good Book, you probably believe that the real Moses delivered the Ten Commandments and rescued the Jews from Egypt. The NRA is hoping that another type of Moses will rescue it as well. Charlton Heston - who played Moses in 1956's "The Ten Commandments" - was recently elected to the presidency of the gun-toting hick group. He was a last-minute addition to the organization's board of directors last year and was then quickly elected to the vice presidency, only to be bumped up again this year.
Shoes and atmosphere make bowling game of gods
June 10. The greatest day of all days. A time to celebrate, a time to share, a time to love, a time to give gifts ... to me. That's right. June 10 isn't some new international holiday of joy and peace and brotherhood. But as far as I'm concerned, it might as well be. June 10 is, of course, my birthday.
06-08-98
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