To the Daily:
As we face this crisis of the presidency, and as we face candidates like Geoffrey Fieger who serve only to lower the political discourse to a debate over sexual habits and personal girth, I am afraid that many people are turning their backs on politics, the election and the American political process. In fact, I fear that many people believe the American presidency and even the American form of government to be in peril.
As the 1998 election approaches, I would plead with my fellow citizens to get out and vote. The only way that our form of self-government may perish is if we all turn our backs and decide not to vote.
On Nov. 3, we must affirm our faith that the presidency is above any one man, and that our belief that our representatives should maintain a moral standard at or above our own is resilient. We must send the message that we want our state's and our country's leadership to be strong, moral, credible and focused.
There is no message in not participating, but only in voting and working to restore the strength of our country and to continue the strength of our state.
Matthew Fogarty
LSA sophomore
To the Daily:
I'm a first year engineering student and I was guaranteed season tickets to the football games. When they came in the mail, I was overjoyed and ecstatic. Little did I know that section 42, where my seat resides, is nowhere near the student section.
When I showed up for the Syracuse game, I sat in my seat, row A, seat 42, in between an elderly lady from Muskegon and a gentleman who worked in the auto industry.
Looking frantically for other students, I was told the student section was located about 10 sections away -sections 26-31. My roommate had it even worse, being seated in section 16, right next to the screaming Syracuse fans. When we asked politely to enter the student section, we were told by stadium security, "Sorry, I don't care if you're a freshman, this is not section 42." I don't want to seem greedy, but why was it not possible for the athletic department to give me, a student, seats in the student section?
The game was a lot less enjoyable (not only because we lost) because when I stood and waved my cap as a tradition for the kickoffs, I was told to "take a seat." On another occasion, a woman threw a frozen yogurt cup at my head after I stood up to sing the "The Victors!"
Having seats in the student section would have prevented me from making my "seatmates" angry and made my experience more enjoyable. I commend the efforts that Athletic Director Tom Goss undertook to expand the Big House so that all the first-year students could have full-season tickets. But give me a break ... how hard is it to seat all the students together?
Hopefully, there is an explanation for this procedure, and I can't wait to hear it.
Scott Weiss
Engineering first-year student
To the Daily:
Despite the attempts by the University to wipe out of existence the heart-felt words in the women's restroom at Angell Hall, there is always something interesting to read.
The favorite stall of many, including myself, is the one on the farthest left. There is a list of inspirational books, discussions about religion, some empowering exclamations and even requests for advice. But nearly every stall is laden with personal contributions, which also include art, quotes, song lyrics and the occasional rhyme about "tinkle."
However, as much as I enjoy these distractions and deep thought-provoking displays of character and strength, I know just what would make my bathroom experience even more enjoyable: those wax-paper toilet seat covers. That way I could stay longer and read to my heart's content without worrying about the hygienic state of the toilet seat.
Let's petition for thicker and softer toilet paper and for the availability of toilet seat covers! Rise up and voice your anger!
Marina Lembert
LSA junior
To the Daily:
During this past summer, I watched in awe on the way to Meijer as then the second largest stadium in the nation became the largest. And no, I was not in awe because of the added seats or the new scoreboard. It was those unsightly large blue letters.
I am not quite sure why those letters were added because they sure don't make the stadium look any better. They are the epitome of ugly self-promotion, as if the University needed any. The University is one of the best known colleges in the nation. Visitors to the Big House need not be reminded that they are at the University; they are well aware of that.
Similarly, fans of the Wolverines need not be reminded of the verses in "Hail to the Victor" because we know them by heart, or at the very worst, learn quite quickly as the marching band plays the song after every Michigan touchdown. You will never see Yankee Stadium decorated with such large letters reminding the fans that it is "The House That Ruth Built."
Everyone knows that, just like everyone knows that the Big House belongs to the Michigan.
It is ironic that the stadium was renovated for self-promotion while our team makes a dramatic turnaround from being the best in the country to the worst. (We'll see about that this weekend.)
Jin Yamamoto
Rackham
To the Daily:
I know that it's early in the year and mistakes are bound to occur, but I felt I couldn't let the one I found on Sept. 10 slip by. I could let the wrong year on Dan Stillman's basketball article in the New Student Edition ("Tumultuous season ends with first Big Ten title in 13 years, 9/8/98) slip by (he said it was the 96-97 season) without too much of a fuss. Also, the use of the title, "The Screaming Dog" in the restaurant guide ("Evening restaurants offer wide variety for hungry students body," 9/8/98) for what has been "Amer's First Street Grill" for at least a few weeks now didn't annoy me too much.
However, after reading Chris Duprey's cross country article in the Sept. 10 sports section ("Harriers to face MAC attack in quad meet"), enough was enough. He said that the fourth and fifth runners prevented the team from an NCAA berth during the 1997 season.
Although these runners weren't up to speed with Michigan's top three last year, it still didn't keep the team from qualifying for NCAAs. They took second at regionals and seventh at the championship, very nearly beating rival Wisconsin for the fifth spot.
The Daily should get its facts straight before publishing them.
David Kouchnerkavich
Engineering sophomore
09-16-98
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