Letters to the Editor

Administration fails to address concerns

To the Daily:

It has been over 15 days, and the administration has not adequately addressed the concerns of over 400 students of color on our campus. The four-page petition did not center around Michigamua, but rather included it as one part. Several other extremely important issues have been ignored.

If our University claims to be diverse and sensitive to the needs of all students, including minority students, then why in the world does it take so long to get a decent response to a wide-ranging petition? The fact that it is taking so much time and energy just to address Michigamua and the other tower societies is disgusting - and it's not even close to being resolved! If adequate response to student concerns is not on the administration's agenda, then what is?

Chithra Perumalswami

LSA senior

Faculty, staff call for consideration of SCC's demands

To the Daily:

This is a request that University President Lee Bollinger consider the issue put forth by the Students of Color Coalition regarding the 5th, 6th, and 7th floor spaces to be of utmost priority to this institution. We, as staff and administrators at the University of Michigan, have been working around the clock with all of the students involved in this issue and believe that this has gone on far too long. We are very frustrated and disappointed about the leadership demonstrated on this matter. It appears to us that it is you who has the ultimate authority in helping this situation come to a resolution immediately.

You have indicated that you will not negotiate with students who are occupying a space, yet, you have negotiated with students who have occupied spaces in the past. Hence, what we ask is that you change your mind on this issue. Please have the conversations with SCC, Michigamua, staff, and everyone who is being severely affected by this matter. The university climate and our ability to get on with the work we are committed to doing is being disrupted by your unwillingness to involve yourself and make this a priority at the University of Michigan.

- This letter was written by Jackie Simpson and over 40 other faculty and staff members.

Letter ignored alternatives to sweatshop labor

To the Daily:

In his recent letter to the editor ("Sweatshops have and will always exist," 2/21/00), Jonathan Janego accuses SOLE and the anti-sweatshop movement of having forgotten the basics of American history. He points out that the (often brutal) industrial revolution helped make America what it is today. This is quite correct, but while business leaders revolutionized the way we lived, it was workers and middle-class progressive reformers who made sure that the new world being built would be one worth living in. If history can teach us anything, it is that progressive social action will be as necessary in the age of globalization as it was in the age of industrialization.

Janego is thinking too small to see the alternatives as being either miserable unemployment or miserable sweatshop labor. There is a third possibility: Decent labor, at a decent wage, in a decent factory. And with University President Lee Bollinger's decision to join the Worker Rights Consortium following SOLE's sit-in, that third possibility may soon become a reality for the many workers helping to fund our educations by making University apparel.

Bill Abresch

LSA junior

SCC occupation based on flawed argument

To the Daily:

The Students of Color Coalition have made a mockery of the University. No organization no matter how "grand" the cause has the right to break the law. Yet the SCC has committed several acts that are illegal; breaking and entering, theft of private property and slander against Michigamua. The SCC claims the seventh floor is public space, but it has been reported the University gave an unlimited lease on the seventh floor to Michigamua. Even if the space is in fact public, that doesn't give the SCC the right to break in. Protesters don't storm the White House or the Capital building when they feel they have a worthy cause.

The most amazing thing about the SCC attack on Michigamua is how the University is coddling groups like SCC and SOLE. Leaders should not give in to terrorist organizations, or else a small group of extremists will always be able to force their opinions over the rest of the student body.

The SCC argument really comes down to Michigamua's use of Native American culture. What an insane idea! This country is built on the idea of using other cultures practices folded into our own. Should a group be punished because it is trying to enjoy practices that are 100 years old? Should any group be forced to give up icons of its past? Michigamua is not racist or elitist.

They are an organization committed to furthering the University, something the SCC should consider doing rather then embarrassing the University with their outrages claims and criminal acts. Maybe next they will attack students for having animal pictures in their rooms, because we all know all animal symbolism is the sole right of Native Americans, along with drums and dancing.

Paul Lankheet

Engineering first-year student

SOLE's actions an embarrassment to the University

To the Daily:

To the members of SOLE:

Have any of you been to Washington, D.C. lately? There are thousands of groups lobbying for ideals, which arguably, may be more crucial to our nation than your cause. But what do these groups do when the representatives don't do what they want? They send letters, talk to their politicians, and get support from their fellow constituents. But they never trespass the office of anyone on Capital Hill and refuse to leave until their demands are left.

Your idea of taking over an administrative office is childish. I thought I would just ignore this and let it go by as one of the daily protests that students hold at the University. But when I heard that you were preventing the Dean of LSA from accomplishing their job I was appalled. There are 30,000 plus other students here who are focused on their education. How ignorant are you to prevent their access to to an administration that is able to work effectively and in the students' best interest?

I doubt many of you have been to class lately to see this but there are many problems with this University that need to be addressed immediately: Lack of new technological resources, GSI shortages, affirmative action/racial issues, and much more. Sadly, but obviously (to everyone but you), the University does not have time right now to deal with global problems. I realize that sweatshop labor is important to you and if you'd look around you would find many channels at the University for expressing that concern.

That was a lovely picture in last Friday's Daily of you guys reading about yourselves in USA Today. Here you are occupying the office of someone who has a real job to do so you can have the national publicity. Can you explain the e-Bay auction for a reason other than enjoying having people talk about you? The reason you had for placing the auction as a satirical comment was ridiculous and only proves that even you find this whole takeover a joke.

Well, it's not a joke any longer. I am just as concerned about sweatshops as most people. But your ideas on how to get your point across are so immature, so pointless, that you're an embarrassment to the University.

Jeremy Shapiro

Engineering senior