Letters to the Editor

Cohen, Lehman did not contradict one another in viewpoints

To the Daily:

Law School Dean Jeffrey Lehman and I each wrote a short essay on Grutter v. Bollinger, appearing in the Daily on Tuesday. I wrote: "For Justice (Lewis) Powell (the only Supreme Court justice who ever addressed 'diversity' in this context) ... an array (of characteristics weighed) is a necessary condition, never a sufficient condition for the consideration of race." Lehman wrote: "The five-justice majority (no, this was not Justice Powell speaking alone) declared ' ... the courts below failed to recognize that the State has a substantial interest that may legitimately be served by a properly devised admissions program involving the competitive consideration of race and ethnic origin.'" I write now to explain that Lehman and I were both entirely accurate in our reports and did not (in these passages) contradict one another.

Powell's opinion in the Regents v. Bakke case had many parts. All that he said about "diversity" as a possible justification for the consideration of race in admissions was said in Parts IV-D, V-A, V-B and his Appendix. No other justice, then or since, joined Powell in any one of these portions of his opinion. Powell was indeed the only Supreme Court Justice who ever addressed "diversity" in this context.

The passage quoted by Lehman is the whole of part V-C of Powell's opinion, in which four other justices, led by Justice William Brennan, joined. All five held that "a properly devised admission program involving the competitive consideration of race" might serve legitimate state interests. But the interests the Brennan group thought legitimate were remedial and had nothing to do with diversity. Powell had carefully considered and rejected all remedial objectives as justifications for race preferences in university admissions.

So, lest it be thought that one of us was not reading carefully, I emphasize the point that Lehman, my learned colleague and a distinguished legal scholar, reports accurately in this matter, of course. Five justices did think one reason or another might serve. And I report accurately also: Only one Supreme Court justice, Lewis Powell, has ever addressed diversity as a justification for the consideration of race in admissions.

Carl Cohen

Philosophy professor

BSU disrupted BAMN rally to show hatred

To the Daily:

Personally, as a member of the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action By Any Means Necessary (BAMN), I am really tired of the hate and the anger that still exists amongst BAMN and the Black Student Union (BSU). In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., instead of rejoicing and placing all bitterness aside, the BSU chose to come to the Diag during the affirmative action rally and try to display their hatred for BAMN.

It seems that one of the many reasons that the BSU has such a big problem with BAMN is because some of the members of BAMN are not students here at the University. So what? What difference does it make who is running the organization? The point is, the goal that was sought out is being fulfilled. BAMN is building a movement, which the BSU can take part in, but chose not to. Why complain about who is getting the job done when the BSU does nothing?

To be one of the well-funded black student organizations on campus, the BSU does nothing at all but take every given opportunity to criticize BAMN. BAMN hinders no one from taking their own individual part in this movement. It would be nice to see more organizations collaborating, but even if this does not occur, that does not mean that the BSU can't still take part in the movement.

The BSU held up signs on the Diag that stated: "This is Our Fight," placing particular emphasis on "our." Yes, this is the fight for all minority students on this campus and nationwide, but we cannot win this fight through being exclusive of white students either.

The cause that we are fighting for has nothing to do with the organizations themselves. The fight has to do with the dream of King and the goal of creating equality for all people in this nation. Being exclusive of one another pulls us away from the dream of King and keeps us from obtaining a just society. I write this not to cause an uproar amongst BAMN and the BSU, because enough of that was portrayed on MLK Day. I write this to formulate peace and tell the BSU that the battle for equality is for minority students to fight but it is also a battle in which we can use white students and even of people who don't attend the University in order to win.

Ebonie Byndon

LSA sophomore

Knowledge of Ecstasy is key to safe use of the drug

To the Daily:

As the director of DanceSafe Detroit, the local chapter of a national harm reduction organization, I applaud the Daily's efforts to educate the students at this University about trends in, as well as effects of, Ecstasy use. However, there are some inaccuracies in the article "Ecstacy use rises among teenagers," (1/16/01).

The article starts out by naming some "potentially fatal side-effects," including hypothermia and dehydration. If anything, Ecstasy intake may cause hypothermia, or overheating, but this effect is more likely caused by the environment in which Ecstasy is frequently taken, such as clubs or raves. Similarly, dehydration is not a direct effect of the drug, but rather the effect of dancing for hours in hot crowded environments without drinking enough water. While the stimulant properties of the drug do raise blood pressure, hypothermia and dehydration certainly aren't effects that can be attributed to Ecstasy itself.

Next, while I strongly agree with the statement that "the biggest fear with ecstasy is the probability that it is laced with more dangerous drugs, which can produce fatal effects," the University student claiming there may be cocaine in the pills is misinformed. Cocaine is hardly, if ever, added to pills, since the practice of "cutting" pills with non-ecstasy substances serves the purpose of driving down cost. Much more common are inactive substances such as aspirin, clay or chalk, psychoactive substances such as methamphetamine, caffeine or ephedrine, or even dangerous substances such as DXM or PMA. The latter two are the biggest concern, as DXM in combination with MDMA can increase the chance of heatstroke by dehydrating the body, while PMA can raise body temperature to dangerous, even deadly, levels. Harm reduction efforts are underway.

Finally, Lloyd Johnston's claim that "people don't realize the long-term consequences, which include neurological disorders, respiratory failure, anxiety and liver damage" gives the impression that these effects have been confirmed. While frequent or high doses have been linked to neuron damage in laboratory animals, it is still unknown whether such damage occurs in humans, or, if it does, whether this has any long-term negative consequences. Also, I am not aware of any lung damage derived from Ecstasy use, perhaps it is another factor that can be attributed to environment.

Education is one of the key components in a safe and healthy lifestyle but is easily tainted by false publicity. The University has a student group dedicated to providing unbiased information about these substances (Ann Arbor Harm Reduction Project), the members of which would be happy to speak with anybody planning to make public statements about Ecstasy in the future.

Doris Payer

LSA senior

Campus Crusade for Christ tried to be 'open and honest'

To the Daily:

I was deeply grieved to read that Rob Goodspeed found the recent outreach programs sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ deceitful and not forthright in "Dan Korem, Scott and trickery in evangelism," (01/16/01). We hoped to be very open and honest about our intentions by printing our beliefs in bold print in the Daily during Scott week, by placing our sponsorship on the advertisements for Dan Korem and by handing out leaflets to all in attendance at Dan Korem's presentation describing the intent of the program.

We want the campus to have a clear opportunity to decide for themselves what they believe about God. Sadly, it seems that our intentions have been misunderstood. On behalf of the leadership team of Campus Crusade for Christ at Michigan, I apologize to those who felt deceived in any way. I would love to speak with anyone who has further questions or concerns.

Dan Trepod

LSA junior