Letters to the Editor

Computing center in Angell Hall is not the 'Fishbowl'

To the Daily:

In the "Best of Ann Arbor" section, the Best Computing Site, Angell Hall, was referred to as the Fishbowl. One question always seems to be murmured around campus. "Where is the Fishbowl?" We know that one exists on this campus, but no one can really agree on where it is. Although the large glass windows allow passing students to be overseers, the Angell Hall Computing Site is not the Fishbowl.

The real Fishbowl is the area where we pick up our copy of the Daily on the way to class and buy a bagel or doughnut on the way out of class. To go along with everything else at the University, the Fishbowl has its own myth as to how it got its name. When the sun shines in to the area through the glass wall, the students walking back and forth supposedly look like fish swimming in a fishbowl. So while the Fishbowl nickname is already occupied, maybe we can start calling the Angell Hall Computing Site the Aquarium.

Katie Bondy

LSA sophomore

Criticism of Michigamua needs perspective

To the Daily:

I suppose it was only a matter of time before Michigamua was compared to the Nazis, and in her letter "SCC fights campus racism" (4/7/00) Cameron Schultz didn't disappoint. Please, let's keep our perspective. Engaging in insensitive and potentially offensive activities is one thing. The systemic slaughter of millions of innocent people is quite another. Let's not confuse the issue by even uttering the two in the same breath.

And for those like Schultz who throw around the phrase "institutionalized racism," I'm wondering to what they're referring, space allocation policies for University buildings, or the blatantly racist and discriminatory admissions and financial aid policies which are employed on a daily basis by the administration under the euphemism of "affirmative action."

Tim Maun

LSA junior

Insensitivity should not be tolerated

What constitutes freedom of speech and what constitutes sheer insensitivity to oppressed peoples? On the one hand your Apr. 6 editorial, "Michigamua's choice," supports freedom of speech by saying Michigamua can "mock Native American chants on the Diag," if they desire even though it may offend many people.

On the other hand columnist David Horn, on the same page, lambastes the South Carolina General Assembly for continuing to fly the Confederate flag even though this offends many people.

I'm confused. Where are the differences in these situations? Michigamua has a well documented history exploiting Native American culture and promoting negative stereotypes of Native American people.

The Confederate flag is a symbol of the enslavement and continued oppression of African people on American soil. Both are offensive symbols and need to be exterminated immediately.

Rhonda Dzakpasu

Rackham

Offensive people still have rights

To the Daily:

School of Social Work student Cameron Shultz in his letter to the Daily ("SCC fights campus racism" 4/7/00) incorrectly stated that "Just as the Arian (sic) Brotherhood, the Neo-Nazis, the KKK and any other group that promotes ethnic and cultural oppression would not be allowed to exist within this public University ..."

Shultz, any group, no matter how offensive to anyone, should be and will be allowed to exist at this public university because we are a public university, and our rights to freedom of speech and expression are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Your argument that privileges for certain student groups over others are unjust, I believe, is valid. Your argument that any student or student group should be silenced because of an unpopular opinion is simply wrong.

While I don't believe the comparison of Michigamua to violent hate groups a fair one, the "Tower Societies," the Aryan Nation, the Neo-Nazis, the KKK and the SCC all reap the benefits of free speech. If you try to take away their rights, who will protect yours?

Michael Simon

MSA student rights commission

Naked Mile:

What's the fuss?

To the Daily:

What is the problem everyone has with the Naked Mile? It's something that has been going on as long as I can remember. No one is forced to partake in the event, everyone involved makes a decision to participate. Why is it that this year, now everyone who for some reason has a chip on their shoulder about the run has been raising a ruckus about it happening? As far as I can recall, I've never heard of anyone being arrested for participating in it. Why does Ann Arbor believe that they now need to arrest people for participating?

From what I know, those who wanted to run in the mile ran in it, those that didn't didn't, and those that couldn't stand the idea of the run stayed home. At what point was this not enough? At what point was it the right of some people to dictate what others chose to do when it wasn't harmful to others?

Greg Buczynski

Engineering first-year student

RA door defacing radiates ignorance

To the Daily:

I am writing to address the issue of the anti-Arab display as of late. The student who marked "Kill More" on the door of South Quad Resident Advisor Will Youmans is obviously someone who is ignorant of the world around them. Do people not realize that race is perhaps the most petty thing to discriminate, aside from social class?

I find it pathetic that people are to this day ignorant the reality the world. each of us have the same chemical make-up, the same features, the same brains. What makes you think you are better than anyone else? We are all the same. Further, in a University as diverse as ours, how can someone attend here who feels they can discriminate against others? you're in the wrong place if you feel you have found a place to set yourself upon a pedestal.

The message I am trying to relay is that there is no need for such ignorant acts. Acts such as this are all too common, to all minorities. Blacks, native americans, and anyone who is considered a "minority" face this on a daily basis, and it needs to stop. Is it so hard to come to terms with oneself and admit that you are equal to everyone else?

Bashar Al-Madani

LSA Junior

Don't check 'optional' boxes

To the Daily:

We need the removal of race, religion or sex from the admissions forms, so it can not be a consideration. Anything less is discrimination. The fact that "the University has reiterated that it uses race as a 'broad array' of many factors" confirms that they are discriminating against someone based on race.

Defending of Affirmative Action as asked for by "BAMN," is requesting discrimination based on race! It is unconstitutional to determine acceptance for employment or education based on race. The fight for equality will never be won as long as the questions are asked on applications of any kind. The boxes to check are now optional, so choose not to respond.

Laura Brancheau

University alumnus

AIESEC, Delta Gamma wronged

To the Daily:

I think there might have been some confusion about what two of this year's "Best of Ann Arbor" winners, Delta Gamma and AIESEC (Best Sorority to Party with and Best Student Organization on Campus respectively) are all about. I happen to be a member of both. The comment about the women of Delta Gamma having less back hair than the men of Pi Kappa Alpha was almost funny, because although considered to be sexy in certain countries, to my knowledge back hair is not an problem among members of either one of those fraternities. As for AIESEC, I was disappointed that after their 6th win in a row, the Daily still has no clue about the nature of the organization. AIESEC provides students all over the world with an opportunity to work and live in a different country, thus promoting an international and cultural experience to young people.

I wholeheartedly invite the staff of the Daily to participate in Fall Member Recruitment (Rush) and verify for themselves the high standards of personal hygiene among the members of Dee Gee and Pike. I also invite the staff of the Daily to participate in one of AIESEC's programs in hopes of bringing back to their office some of the "foreign" culture: Tact.

Agnes Blasko

LSA junior

In defense of academic advising

To the Daily:

Last week's editorial "Advising blues," (4/4/00) painted the advising office as a typical example of impersonal Michigan bureaucracy. Long lines, rushed meetings and distant advisors were amongst the list of complaints. The main criticism is that there is a dearth of personal attention and relationships between students and advisors.

Such complaints address a fundamental misconception about the role of advising at a large university where students are given the autonomy and responsibility to devise their own life plans. Academic advisors cannot and should not determine a student's course of study. Students also feel that LSA advisors don't have the time or resources to form close relationships with their advisees. We have not found this to be the case. In helping to determine the LSA academic advisor of the year award, the Student Advisory Panel to Academic Advising have received e-mails about advisors who go above and beyond the call of duty to help their students.

There are many outlets for personal attention on campus. Your concentration advisors, Career Planning and Placement, your professors, Resident Hall Advisors, and departmental student clubs can provide a personal relationship combined with valuable advice. Unfortunately, we cannot escape the fact that there are 16,000 students in the College of LSA, but the University does not have to be the bureaucratic nightmare that students sometimes make it out to be. With a little assertiveness, students can find the guidance they are looking for.

If you want to help change things, e-mail suggestions to the Student Advisory Panel to Academic Advising suggestions at lsasg.sapaa@umich.edu.

Ryan Barrett Victoria DiCarlo

LSA juniors

'U' minority populations are segregated

To the Daily:

In light of the current affirmative action court dates and the Michigamua and secret tower societies controversy, I'd like to talk about diversity at the University. I think that I am correct in assuming that the University claims to be diverse.

The University claims to promote diversity and multi-culturalism. I'm having a real hard time however understanding where these claims come from. Why is this University so diverse? Maybe it's the 0.8 percent population of Native American students on campus, maybe it's the existence of the Trotter House, which is one building that serves several minority student groups on campus, maybe it's the very word "minority" that reminds us of the huge wall that divides us yet at the same time makes us "diverse."

I do think that there is some diversity on campus and in Ann Arbor. For example, many of the ethnic restaurants in town have people of color working in the kitchens, slaving over hot burners and serving the Ann Arbor community for great low prices.

I particularly enjoy walking around Ann Arbor and seeing the many diverse shades of white. And what makes this diversity even more apparent is that the people working behind the counters in the restaurants are typically much more different in both color and economic status than the people eating in the restaurants.

I also want to point out the diversity within the Ann Arbor geography. For example, on North Maple and South Maple Streets there are several government subsidized housing complexes where the majority of the population is African-American. Not many residents of Ann Arbor know about these complexes, which further adds to the diversity in the ignorant mindset. So, is the University diverse? Is the University culturally sensitive? Oh, by the way, do black and latino fraternities and sororities have their own houses? I don't know, but I'm guessing that the answer is no, which also adds a little more diversity to this campus.

What I've written is in a very sarcastic tone if you couldn't tell. I'd like to challenge the University on it's pride in diversity and multi-culturalism. Because basically what I see here is "White" both in the color of skin and the color of mind. I also think that the words diversity and segregation are interchangeable here at the University, seeing is how I have yet to see a true embracing of different ethnic, racial, gender and sexual groups here on campus. So, the next time you're walking around campus or Ann Arbor take a look around and see how diverse or rather how segregated we really are.

Claire Seryak

School of social work

Running 'Mile' jeopardizes future of students

To the daily:

To all graduating seniors, my former student employees, and soon-to-be fellow alumnae; it has been a privilege and indeed a pleasure, even in my own small way to have helped you through the educational process and see you come into adulthood.

Don't waste those four years in one short night.

Please, don't run.

Stephen Hipkiss

University alumnus and staff