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W01Jlen .Take Back the Night BY .M oHAN KRISHNAN

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.. rather forget, such as abuse in lestine White, who made headlines when . bian relationships. They stressed vioshe, as a survivor of violent sexual VER.THgYEARS, THE TAKE lence against children 118 a major iscrime, volunteered to be pictured in . Back the Night rally has been ue, claiming that 33 percent the source oftiome conlroversy ..of girls and 10 percent of boys on campus. The event, which consists are sexually abused before the of 01 rally with numerous ~peakers , age of18. , and a march through the streets, and One speaker, Dawn nsore'd by the Ann Arbor Coali, Ritchberg, also stressed the tion AgrunstRape, has been held andangers of racial prejudice in nually in Ann Arbor since 1979, and the public perception of Ih......~'" . .ulso is held in many other locaJes~ Its exuaJ violence. She empha. , purpose is to help stop violence against sized that rapists are not all women. Ov~rthe past'several years, stereotypicalublack men lurkit has recClved criticism for using this ing around," and that many cause to crudely veil a podium for sex offenders are people who left-Wlnf ideologues. It also has betn eem "safe." She also emphadecned fot bemg anti-male, and fot size~ that society must not questionable practices in the past such How itself to say1;hat it is Students hear speeches on violence against women as a prayer to Artemis. .~omehow a lesser crime when • Over'lll; this year the rally !jearn homosexuals. prostitutes, or any the newspaper, emphagized the need have l'vndl'd such complninL-;, HowOtap whose behavior it considers to focus on the cri minal and the crime. ever. tumoutat the event was minusunacceptable, are victims. She stated that people, particularly . cule, and it may be that this evasion 0 Another, speaker focused on vil'hepoticp, need to take survivors more cnnl roversy was_simply a result of lcnce ogainst those WIth digl\bililie~, seriously. She cmphasiz(·d the need to treat rape as a viohmt crime, say· lack Qfgeneral knowledl!e about the stating that over three million people : rally. '" , with disabilities are "incarcerated" in ing "rape is not sexual - it is like · Take Back the Night begins with being hit over the head with a basenursinginstituti~ns, and are "beaten, · yery·solid id_e.~ls _ While people '~ay . raped, robbed, and left to die in their ball bat," and that the offender is "a horrible person [whowiU] do it again." · argue about statistics, no one can own urine." She claimed that 90 perdispute that Violence against women However, in the midst of all the cent of tho~ YJ ho incur a disability · ~ particularly sexual violence - is a positive words were liberal sprinklings before the age of 18 are assaulted. of anti-male, anti-conserserious problem that society mutit vative propaganda. Al"confront. Between speakeJ'!-! Ilnd the ., informatiol11l1 program distributed to though one speaker con, participants of the rally, the organizceded that "some men are comrades too," the organiz'era did a. tremendo\Jsjob of raising •. ' awareness; . ers once again chose to alIa\" only women to particiSpeakers at the event 'hit upon pate in the march and " very important points; such as preventing those convicted of multiple stressed repeatedly their feelings that the help of men violent cnmes from receiving a single (relatively short) sentence that covin preventing violence against women was of quesers the cntire set of crimes, the need . for increased ' suppOrt opportunities tionable merit. for the. friends and family of victims, Worse yet, many of the Women march through Ann Arbor to protest agalnst rape speakers had far more to . and the need to support a survivor regardless of whether sbe chooses .to· . say about politics than about violence. More than one specch quickly ba.ve a trial. The director of Latino Family degenerated into attacks on conserServices, in Detroit, spoke about abuse They also focused on domestic viovative politicians, particularly Govlence ofkinds that many liberals would against women in prison, and Chris-

ernor John Engler. One speaker~ s , .' member of ADAPT, decried Engler for caning the group "militant terror. ists," while simultaneously and pointedly embracing that description. She aJso assailed nursin g horne lobbyists" and demanded that states provide . frecin-bome care to the disabled. She failed to provide any method for this or any details about cost or feasibility: Another speaker blasted State Sena- .. tor Van Rigcnmorter for not recogniz~ .• ing gay marriage ceremonies. Many of the speakers felt that poverty was at the root of domestic violence, and used this to begin an attack on initiatives such as the "'Cont ract with America." Touting figures about the oppression of women and minorities in the workplace, and using this as the basis for broad attacks on the middle' class, they called for redilitribution of government handouts, !'ttntmg that, while the govcrn~ ment spends $7000 n year on each student, it on Iy gives $5000 in weltar to a family of three. They denounced welfare reform plans from the GOP a "economic violence," and claimed that it would "fan the flames of all other kinds of violence against women." lfTake Back the Night continues . to use violent crime as a soapbox for ' political agendas and tirades against the conservatives, it will undoubtedly continue to dwindle. Although this year's rally was a step in the right direction - away from politicking and male-bashing - more needs to be done. One important step is to aIlow men to participate in the entire, program. As one speaker said, "an injustice to one is an injustice to all," and violent crime, particularly ofa sexual . nature, is not just an affronttowomer" . but to all of society. Take Back the Night does remind us that violent . crimes against women a re unaccept- . able, and that something needs to be done about them. For.this it should be., ... ' . praised. Mt

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A Letter From

the Editor

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Wondering what the lichigan Review is all about? Find out

From Suit e One

I I5

Interview

Columnist linda Chavez discusses higher education and the controversies it now faces .

Our suggestions to the administration for19961997 and a look at affirmatlve action policy.

11 Extravaganza Life at U-M I 15 Living I Culture Four of our best relate their experience at U-M and give their ideas on how to enjoy your time here.

Original poetry, book reviews, a look at The Arrival and music reviews courtesy of our arts staff.

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THE MIblflGAN REVIEW

April 12, 1995

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TIll : lVlICIIIC,:\N REVIE\V

o SERPENT'S TOOTH

The Campus Affairs Journal of the University of Michigan 'Rashing our cluelessness like an AMEX platinum card."

Due to an unfortunate typo, the U- M has announred that it will be instituting a "Code Cuniculum" this year instead of a "Core Cuniculum." VicePresident for Student Af:fairs Maureen Hartford quickly used her emergency powers (granted by the Code of Student Conduct) to gain control of the department, and then announced it would begin offering courses, including "Code 101: The Code and You," to be taught by ex-President Duderstadt, and "Code 233: Your rights, or the absence thereof" The courses will not run for the usual University semester, but rather have a variable duration of 5-10 years, with time off for good behavior. Recently, the Information Technology Division instituted an a la carte system for picking computer services IJUCb. as e-mail.printing. and file storage apace. Many students voiced concerns that this system was too complicated and could result in students being denied computer usage. When asked to respond to this, lTD staff said it would be unable'to do so, because it previously had used all ofits computing allocation for storage space for the allocating software system, and could no longer afford e-mail access. 'Ibis summer, McDonald's began a massive campaign to promote its new Arch Deluxe sandwich, targeted at an aging fast-food audience. The cam-

paign featured an "adult" Ronald McDonald's golfing, dancing at disco clubs, and doing other "adult" things. We have a suggestion for some new ads: how about "adult" Ronald spilling coffee in his lap and burning himself, getting his arteries de-clogged, and contacting his lawyer? Upon hearing ofth.e Arch Deluxe campaign, President Clinton quickly stressed that the ads should not be considered contributions to his campaign. He then jogged straight to the nearest McDonald's to try the sandwich, to show he is a good sport. In related news, Republican candidate Bob Dole launched ads attempting to make him appeal to a younger audience. The "younger" Bob Dole will .. allegedly be featured riding Big Wheels and molding Play-Doh. Upon hearing ,(jt' this, Senator S1;tom Thurmond began to babble incoherently about pfans for his fresh start and his outline for his next hundred yean in office; '!he summer saw the continuing popularity ofre-makes, with the release of MiBaion: Impossible. While it's great to see these shows, as well as others like The Brady Bunch and Batman return, we're still waiting anxiously for the return of Green Acres. Dammit, Eva Gabor, where have you gone?

National protest is brimming over the

re-release of a 1978 novel entitled The Turner Diaries, a white supremacist's manifesto, which may have inspired McVeigh to plan the Oklahoma City bombing. Opponents of the re--release maintain that the book should be suppressed due to its racist content. In related news, protesters also are demanding the suppression of any further books by Howard Stem, because "he is an idiot. ,. Serpent's Tooth hopes that 1996--97 will be a more productive school year for the Michigan Student Assembly (MSA) , the U-M's student council, which seems to have wasted previous years arguing over mandatory student health care and whether or not certain members were losers. Here's a recommendation for where to start off the next year:' have your oversight committee try to find out what ever became of your reason for existence. Capitalizing on his recent court victories, "Dr. Death," Jack. Kevorkian, reportedly has decided tostartJi chain:' of franchise assi8ted-suicide 8h~ps. His high-stress theme shops will be installed in every college, starting with locations in U-M dorms that will accept the M-Card. Now you know what to do after you make the mistake of eating in the dorm cafeterias. Speaking of assisted suicide, the UM football team is starting its season ... oh, wait. Never mind.

Unsatisfied with the Arch Deluxe? Double Mochas no longer worth it? Does Greenpeace not return your calls? You can give us the money We"ll give you a subscription!

--------------------------------------Yes, I want to subscribe. For a tax-deductible contrtbution of $25 or more, you will receive a one-year subsCription, including all of our great issues during the &:hoool year, plus our fantastic Summer Orientation issue. please send my su bscrtptlon to: Name:

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Mohan Krishnan PUBLISHER: Pat Eskew MANAGING EDITOR: Geoff Brown ASSISTANT EDITOR: Thomas Jolliffe MUSIC EDITOR: Drew Peters COPY EDITORS: Evan Knott, Anthony Wen ADVERTISING MANAGER: Eddie Sanguanruang COMPUTER CONSULTANT: Mark West LITERARY CRITIC: Bill Ahrens PHOTOGRAPHER: Lisa Wagner STAFF: Joe Arciero, Devorah Adler, Aaron Clements, Kevin Cooney, David Dodhenhoff, Jennifer Feria, Calvin Hwang, Ben Leroi, Mel Myers, Rodeen Rahbar, Don Robinson, Craig RogOWSki, John Squier, Michael Wheaton, Mary Jane Wagg, Michelle Williams. EDITOR-at-lARGE: James A. Roberts, II PUBLISHERS EMERITI: Benjamin Kepple, Aaron Steelman The Michigan Reviewis an independent, monthly studentrun joumal of classically liberal and libertarian opinion at the University of Michigan, We are a race of listeners - we listen. We neither solicit nor accept monetary donations from the University of Michigan, and we don't really respect anyone who does, Well, we do respect some of our professors, but we draw the line at the administration. And, well, the working people who earn their wages. Oh, yes, and any furry animals that the U-M might donate money to, Oh, and fruit bats. Wait, that has nothing to do with this. Wait-maybe we do respectpeople who accept gonations ftom the U-M,butnot very muÂ˘h. Oh dear,l don1 khowilny more. This is all so confusing. 8ythe way, contributions to the Michigan Review are tax-<leductable under Section 501 (c)(3) 01 the Internal Revenue Code. The R~wis not affiliated with any political party or universilY political group. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the editorial board. Ergo, they are unequivocably correct and just Signed articles, letters, and cartoons represent the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of the Review. The opinions presented in this publication are not necessarily those of the advertisers or of the University of Michigan (and in the U-M's case, aren't), We 'welcome letters and encourage comments about the journal. For more information on joining our staff, see the ad on page 7, In fact, I can't believe you would possibly miss the ad and be reading this, Please address all subscription inquiries to: Associate Publisher, do the Michigan Review All advertising inquiries should be directed to: Publisher do the Michigan Review, Editorial And Business Offices: Suite One 911 N. University Avenue Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1265 EMAIL: MREV@umich.edu Tel. (313) 662-1909 Fax (313) 936-2505 copyrigltt 0 1996, by The Michigan Review, Inc, AI righII ...... ad,

This paper was made possible by the Constitution of the United States ofAmerica. \\e hold dear our fundamen tal righ t to spread the truth.

Summer 1996

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

DA LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

EADING THIS, YOU ARE probably wondering (at least a little bit)just what the Michigan Review is. Perhaps you've seen one of the other newspapers that are published by students at the U-M, probably the Michigan Daily. Ifyou've leafed through this issue already, you have probably noticed that we are not exactly like most newspapers . The Review doesn't contain any classified ads or a crossword puzzle . It doesn't come out daily, and we don't try to be a definitive source of information on every little thing that happens on campus. In fact, we really are not a newspaper in the normal sense. I think we're more of a newsjournal. We address issues in the news, but we atte!Upt to do it in a more detailed way. We like to invigorate people in addition to informing them - I'm less interested in whether you agree with me than I am with whether I've made you think about a topic. We were founded by students on campus in 1982 to be a conservative reacti on to (at the time, at least) a very liberal Daily. Over the years, we've grown from being a reaction to a full-fledged commentator on sociopolitical issues. We have in the past (and will continue to do so)championed the ideals of c1assical1iberalism and conservativism. Although the nature of students' political sympathies has changed over the years, conservative views still are not voiced in the media at large, aside from a few exceptions, such as Rush Limbaugh, who unfortunately also dance the line between being comedians and having serious political idelis. As this is the case, we feel that there should continue to be a way for conservatives and classical liberals, particularly those who are students on campus, to voice their opinions, and we try to the best of our ability to be that way. However, we are open-minded people, and we want our readers to be open-minded. We often print pro--<:on forums in which two sides of an issue are debated, and as editors, we never press views upon writers. Many times, I find that I disagree personally with much of what is said in an article that we print, but I encourage its author and I appreciate its appearance in our issue. Readers should not mistake us as wishy-washy because of this; we are all strong- willed (perhaps bullheaded) people, we aren't clones, and we do disagree. In fact, in many cases we have conflicting opinions on issues even if we agree completely on the fundamental principles involved. Disturbingly, as I've met more people at U-M, I've found that many are afraid to take a stand and admit their true opinions on social and po-

reveals that they are pervasive in rest on the belief that none of the litical issues . This is worsenec:l. by the effect and invasive in scope. They policy changes at the University will excessive band-wagoning th~t ~s affect us all. affect them. And by doing this, they on at the University. For instance, If you want to be different from blind themselves to a Code of Student two years ago, when a certain book the norm, to actually use the mind Conduct that saps away their most (The Bell Curve) was making intellecthat God gave you, then I commend important rights (rights like due protuals everywhere squemish, it became you. Read this and other papers, and cess and protection from double jeopso popular to attack the book that one think about issues, even ifit is painful ardy), speech policies that make the person told me, unabashedly, that he to do so. Carry with you beliefs and Constitution a joke, and a deputized did not even feel it necessary to read conclusions that you made for yourcampus security force that has, in the the book, but that he could know that self and that you understand. Words, past, ignored the bounds placed on it it was unacceptable based on his inthis method of communication that by state and federal law, such as liminate ability to see the truth in what we have, are both the most stout shield tations to its ability to perform others said about it. In such an atmoand the strongest sword that we can searches and seizures . sphere, it becomes im possible to think. control. But truly, we are no more imPerhaps the ideas in that book are Read on, and consider our opinmune from changes in campus policy obviously wrong. (I never read it, and ions and thoughts on issues like rathan from changes in national policy. likewise restrain from commenting cial relations, being a conservative, The infamous Federal Telecommunion its validity and contents.) Howthe government's involvement in scications Act of 1996 and the so--<:alled ever, even in the most seemingly obvience, and the right directions for Uni"Clipper Chip" seek to deprive us of ous cases , we must never become so versity politics. Ifyou find you harmoprivacy when using computers, even complacent in our beliefs that we stop nize with our way of thinking, or that though that privacy still is honored questioning them . you have opinions that no one is voicfor written communications (tradiDue perhaps to the suffocating ing, come and join us (look for infortional mail) and voice communicaenvironment fanatics create, or permation elsewhere in the issue). As tions (telephone systems). Meanwhile, haps to the easiness of such a stance, you continue your journey at the Uth~"V Chip" will raise the price you many more simply choose apathy. M, we hope that we can continue to pay for a television and force manuThey don't care about "political" isserve you by keeping you informed sues . By applying this blanket term -..facturers to adopt the technology by and helping you to think for yourself force, all because Congress has deto things like ca.m(us affairs and the the issues that affect you. Good on laws passed by our government, they .. cided that it knows morality better luck, and (you'll hear it a thousand than our nation's parents. Drastic somehow exonerate-themselves from times) welcome to the University of changes in affirmative action laws the need to be conscious tennents of i\1ichigan! being considered in many states will the USA and of this campus. Some even become fanatics themselves, not have a profound affect on the adIl!is- .. for any specific view , but for apathysions process for uiriversities. Even if Sincerely, I have actually met a good number of you already graduated and already people who spend much oftheir spare have been accepted to the U-M, many time trying to convince others to stop of you have brothers, sisters, cousins, caring. or friends who will be affected by Many of these people who do not these policy changes. care much about "politics" care even Mohan Krishnan Any serious consideration of political issues (both local and national) Editor-in-Chief less about campus affairs. Here they

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o LETTERS The Creation Process: An Engineers' Perspective

NGINEERSAREMAINLYRESPON-

sible for the highly regarded inventions of the last centuries that made our way ofliving easier. Nobody can deny the advantages of the technological wonders such as planes, cars, televisions etc. , to mention a few . These products require lengthy calculations, experiments and numerical simulations at the design stage, and high precision techniques atthe manufacturing stage. Engineers are involved at all stages, beginning from the selection of the material to the final stage of assembling the parts. Any technological product whether it be a simple pencil or a more complex system such as a refrigerator should pass through two broad stages: The first is the design stage and the second is the manufacturing stage. The design stage includes the selection of the materials best suited for functioning, the design of each part separately and the design of the

whole unit. At this stage, extensive calculations, experiments and/or numerical simulations might be inevitable to determine whether the system or parts of it would bear the functioning assigned to them. After a successful design stage, the next step of manufacturing the product according to the guidelines of design should follow. Highly sophisticated machines and techniques are needed at this stage to produce satisfactory products. Examining nature itself, we also encounter vast amount of engineering products such as plants, animals, or human beings, the so-called living organisms. An immediate question the comes into the mind: Are these products more sophisticated than ours, or are they merely poor designs? A simple argument may give the answer. All engineering products that we highly respect are results of human intellect. However, human be-

ings are themselves one type of the engineering products found in nature. Therefore the products existing in nature should be far more sophisticated than ours. Investigating any species of plant or animal, whether it be a microscopic or a giant creature, we reach the following conclusions: They have been specially designed to adopt their environment. They own the precise and perfect skills, organs or defense mechanisms needed for their survival. They are so perfect that none of our engineering skills are enough to produce even somewhat close designs to those organisms. We also have to mention that products in nature are alive, a concept which has not been yet precisely understood or even described despite our improvements in technology and science. Examples supporting the above See CREAnON, Page 8

Summer 1996

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

o FROM SUITE ONE Plans for the Future of the tJ.!:M

HE APPROACHING FALL SEMESTER CONSTITUTES A MONUMENTAL transition in the history of the University of Michigan: Not only will the school usher in its first class of the 21st century, it will also welcome a new, albeit interim, president. To replace the outgoing James Duderstadt, former Vice-President for Research Homer Neal has assumed the temporary leadership role at the U-M. While this change to new leadership is certain to create logistical problems in the upcoming months, it also presents a great opportunity to bring improvement to this campus. Throughout its nearly 180 years of history, the U-M has established itself as one of the most prestigious and well- known institutions of higher learning in the world. What has contributed significantly to the greatness of the University is the school's embodiment ofliberal education. This has granted to students the qpportunity to openly discuss and consider the ideas of others, as well as pursue unique thoughts of their own. Over the past several years, however, the U-M, either through definite action or a lack thereof, has abandoned various aspects of this liberal tradition. This regrettable occurrence not only may threaten the once impeccable reputation of the University, but it also shortchanges students, preventing them from experiencing the true intellectual potential of a higher education. It is for this reason that the new administration, in conjunction with the student body, must not hesitate to take the following steps, for the future of the U-M, and its ~ students, is at stake. • Reconsider its past positions concerning the Code of Student Conduct. The Code of Student Conduct - or, more simply, tPe,Code - has been The subject of a rather contentious debate on campus ror the past decade. Sinfply stated, the Code is the University's means to regul~te the non-academic behavior of students . The document establishes a set of rules that govern students, and it also maintains a "court system" to prosecute any alleged wrongdoings .. Much ofthe controversy surrounding the Code concerns the administration's almost dogmatic insistence that the document is in fact necessary. While federal law requires some type of conduct code, the University's Code extends far beyond what the government insists, often duplicating federal , state, and local laws. This hurts students, for it denies them the freedom and autonomy that a liberal education requires; if a student violates a law, he should adjudicate his difference with the state in a court of law, free of interference from the University. Other problems, too numerous to transcribe within these confines, also abound, including the Code's embodiment of double jeopardy, historically u\lfair judicial practices, and total disregard for civil liberties. The new president now has an opportunity to address these concerns. Though the Review consistently has advocated abolition as the ideal alternative, and still maintains this position today, it also sees the value in negotiations that may lead to a more optimal outcome. It is the new administration's responsibility to its students to consider these arguments of its students. • Alleviate the growing racial tension on campus. In reaction to recent racial conflicts on campus - including the discovery of racist graffiti at the Law School and the publicized incident involving Director of Academic Multicultural Initiatives John Matlock and two white Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers - race relations on campus have grown increasingly bitter. As mentioned earlier, a liberal education depends upon the ability to hold intellectual dialogues with those of differing backgrounds and ideas. Racial tension, however, stifles this discussion, for it serves to polarize the campus into impenetrable ethnic groups. Thus, it is vital for the administration, as the leader of this University, to seek a solution to this problem. While the incidents mentioned above are not the direct fault of the administration, there is much the University has done to foster an environment conducive to racial tension. With initiatives such as the Michigan Mandate, which seeks to increase minority enrollment, the University has placed skin color and ethnic background - one's collective identity - at the forefront of what is relevant. That is, with its emphasis on ethnic identity, the University, whether intentionally or not, addresses students not as individuals, but as racial and ethnic subdivisions. To seeks diversity while de-emphasizing racial conflict, the University should look for diversity beyond the confines of race. The move into the 21st century should be an exciting time for all people, especially those involved in the development of ideas that will shape the future. Though the above problems, as well as others, do plague the University, it now has a new president and a new opportunity to improves its reputation and the education of its students. This is an opportunity it must seize. Ml

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o COMMENTARY Reconsider the Mandate s

NEW U-M ADMINISTRATORS ENTER OFFICE, ONE ISSUE THEY must seriously reconsider is the Michigan Mandate, outgoing President Duderstadt's flagship program, and U-M's plan to stop the historic underrepresentation of women and ethnic minorities at the university. It consists of incentives (and easings of restrictions) to encourage minority students and faculty both t.o join aJ.l~tto .remain at the U-M. . · · Th~ Mandate has l)eensc1lUt'ifilzed heavily; many say it either clb~~too little, too much, or the wrong things . In fact, when'Duderstadt announced his resignation, he cited this as a key factor. As national debate on affirmative action roars, Michigan must reconsider the fundamental ideas behind it. First, what should it accomplish? Traditionally, the premise of affirmative action programs has been to remove the historical barriers of race and gender and to transform the educational system (and thereby the entire country) into one in which no one is disadvantaged because of race or gender, a system which is stable, diverse, and in which affirmative action itself is unnecessary. However, this has very rarely happened. Rather than receding into history as goals are accomplished, most such programs have instead become evergrowing behemoths with no real signs of meeting goals . In many of the fields where diversity is most lacking - engineering, the sciences, and the professional schools (particularly medicine and law) - has the least evidence been found to believe that affirmative action programs are solving these problems at all. Michigan must also consider the moral implications of policy. Does affirmative action implicitly discriminate against groups that are traditionally well-represented? While proponents of such programs emphasize vehemently that they are not "quota" systems, we must honestly attempt to learn if qualified students have been rejected simply because too many other people with their skin color or gender are accepted. We have no reason to believe that the number of non-minority applicants diminishes appreciably as a result of increased minority enrollment, and yet their percentage in the total pool of accepted students must go down for the minority percentage to go up, and this must happen to correct the underrepresentation. If any students are rejected for reasons of race or gender, is this acceptable to the people ofthe state? Finally, are there insufficient applicants from these groups, or are there insufficient number of accepted applicants from these groups? If there are insufficient applicants from a certain group, no amount of preferential treatment at the application level is likely to change the long-term situation, since members of that group have decided to shun the higher education system before they even applied. That programs that give heavy incentive and eased restriction for entry to the U-M for these groups have not completely succeeded in solving the diversity problem suggests that a good solution must also act at an earlier time - perhaps in the community and targeted at children. - These things are not being honestly and fairly considered by either side of the debate. If future policy 'i n the state of Michigan and specifically at U-M is to actually end the historic lack of diversity in higher education, then these points must be discussed rationally, with all hatred, political prejudice, and bitterness left at the door by all sides.Ml - . -Mohan Krishnan

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Summer 1996

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

OINrnR~EW:UNDACHAVEZ

A Discussion of Race in America 't< ~, 4'

N APRIL 23, JAMES A. Roberts, II, of the Review, interviewed Linda Chavez. A weekly columnist for USA Today, Chavez is the founder and president of the Center for Equal Opportunity, a policy institute in Washington, D.C.

tural diversity simply by substituting racial or ethnic membership for those other criteria is simply false.

ments then it defeats the whole purpose of an institution of higher learning.

MR: Would there be a justification for invoking any type of affirmative action policy on campus?

MR: I would like to look at affirmative action in the broader context of American society.

MR.: Many universities now articulate the need for a multicultural curriculum. What are

CHAVEZ: I think that universities, so long as their purpose is not to judge your thoughts concerning this? people on the basis of the color oftheir skin, can in fact aim for a diverse CHAVEZ: I think that the problem is student body. Lots of schools look for regional diversity, they look for diver~ that many of these proposals for multicultural curricula really are not sity between small-town and big city, truly multicultural. Their purpose is they may look for diversity of background, having a certain percentage to promote a curriculum that is basiof their students be older students cally anti-Western and that draws from left-wing ideology. who have not come into college directly out of high school- all ofthose MR: Many believe that racial tension now kinds of attempts to have a balanced plagues the environment on college camstudent body I think are quite perpuses. What do you believe Is the root of this missible and do not really infringe on problem? our notions of discrimination. They do not invoke discrimination based on CHAVEZ: I think it is twofold. I think race or ethnicity,,,. ~ere we get into the emphasis on racial and ethnic trouble is when we decide that we preferences has exacerbated racial going to use race pc etbnicity .as a and ethnic tensions on campuses. I proxy for these other types of diverthink the idea that everybody isjudged sity, and I see no reason why univeron the basis ofth~ color oftheir,skin or ~iijet:l cannot continue to try to seek their membership in ' ~p~ef~~~~d ~i~ , ' balanced student bodies so long as nority group causes resentment, and they are not using race or ethnicity as I think it places altogether too much their criteria. emphasis on the importance of race and ethnicity. I also think, on the MR: Calls for tolerance are quite prominent other hand, that it is because there is on the campuses of today. In his book The such a backlash against those kinds ClosingoftheAmerican Mind, however, Allan of preference programs that it is easy Bloom suggests that an argument for tolerto ignore the history of discrimination ance displays atype of intellectual laziness, against blacks and others in this socifor such an argument fails to make any ratioety. Because people ~ho are in school nal judgment concerning right and wrong. In today were not alive prior to the civil your view, is Bloom correct, or is tolerance', rights laws, it is very easy for them per se, a value important to college camÂˇ not to be aware of that history of puses? discrimination. So I think that also exacerbates tension. CHAVEZ: I think tolerance is important, but I think we need to underMR: You have alluded to affirmative action stand what we mean by "tolerance." I policies on campus. Many universities openly think it is perfectly acceptable to proadmit to using such policies as a means to mote the idea that we should not be create more diversity on campus. Is It posjudging by characteristics that should sible to ensure an IntellectualJy-diverse and have no significance, like race or sex active campus without considering racial or or ethnicity. On the other hand, the cuhurald~erences? academic community should be intolerant of ignorance and it should be CHAVEZ: Sure, and in fact using intolerant ofarguments that are antirace as a proxy for intellectual diverintellectual, and I think that is again sity does not work very well. It does the' problem that many of the divernot work well using race as a proxy for sity movements and multicultural socio-economicdiversity. We presume movements have gotten themselves that students who are admitted uninto. They've promoted a kind of valder affirmative action programs tend ues neutrality, where we have to be to be economically disadvantaged, but neutral between right and wrong, we the data suggest that they are not. In have to be neutral between what is fact, they are the most privileged memworthy, what is meritorious and that bers of their respective groups. So the which is not, and that we can't make idea that you can assume a kind of judgments of any basis. Once you beintellectual diversity or even a culgin to say that you can't make judg-

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grants who are coming now - some 80 to 85 percent - are members of groups that qualify under one or another preference programs makes Americans less willing to accept these newcomers. When we tell Americans as a whole that we're going to welcome these new immigrants and we're also going to give them special preferences based on their membership in a racial or ethnic group, we actually discourage Americans from wanting more immigrants to come here.

MR: What should U.S. policy be toward immigration?

Columnist Linda Chavez ~

What impact have affirmative action policies ~. had on the minorities they seek to help? ~.

CHAVEZ: !think. they,have had, by and large, a negative impact. Whenever you say to a group of people that they are going to be judged by a differentstandard from the norm"that they are going to be judged.by a standard that expects less from them, you're sending a very clear and strong message that you don't think that the members of that group are capable of achieving at the same level as everyone else. I think that's been largely a bad effect of affirmative action programs. I also think that they discourage some members ofpreferred groups from actually doing what it takes to be able to succeed under the usual process. If a young person knows that he or she is going to be accepted to a prestigious university with lower grades and lower SAT scores, that student is not as likely to spend the hours necessary to improve their grades or to improve their test scores. And so, in essence, it's sending a message that that student doesn't have to work as hard. In the long run that catches up, and I think then students become disappointed when they actually end up enrolling and finding out that they're not as well prepared and they're having much more difficulty competing.. MR: Americans take pride in the fact that the United States is a nation of immigrants, but there are increasing calls to limit foreign entry into this country. What is the cause of this apparent contradiction?

CHAVEZ: I think actually that affirmative action is one of the causes. I think the fact that most of the immi-

~~~~

CHAVEZ: I think immigration on balance has been good for the United States' economy, and I think we ought to base our immigration policy on self-interest. I think that we ought to look at reforming our current immigration laws to favor more highlyskilled immigrants; I think that we ought to encourage the assimilation .ofimmigrants whom we do admit into the country. We should encourage them to learn English, insist that thE)ir children are taught English in ." j;~blic8chools,and that they learn about the histoTyand cuJ~re of the .â&#x20AC;˘ United States.

MR: There has been an ongoing debate among conservatives and libertarians concerning the welfare state and immigration. Some insist that the existence of the welfare state in America makes it too costly to maintain high levels of immigration. What is your view toward that argument?

CHAVEZ: I think there is a merit in that argument, but my solution would be to dismantle the welfare state, not to close our borders. MR: What steps has the Center for Equal Opportunity taken to ensure the more open .immigration policy that you have discussed?

CHAVEZ: We have been very active in the debate. We published a monograph called "Strangers at Our Gate," which I think outlines the basic arguments - both pro and con - on immigration . We have people who are very pro-immigrant represented in that book. We've also compiled what we call the "Leading Immigration Indicators," which show statistics on the effect of immigration on American society and put it in some historical context. And we've been very active in the debate on Capitol Hill, doing briefings and being a part of a coalition of various groups promoting the view that immigration, on balance, has been good for the United States. Mt

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Summer 1996

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

o CAMPUS AFFAIRS

Rethinking ,Gampus Diversity BY JAMES

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RoBERTS,

INCOMING STUDENTS quickly discover, today's institutions of higher learning - the University ofMichigan included - openly embrace the value of diversity. Yet if one considers these efforts within the context of liberal education, one will discover that many of these diversifying initiatives preclude the values of liberalism, stifling the dynamic climate of academia. To evaluate these calls for diversity, one must comprehend the broader context within which these

RES E R V E

calls arise. That is, one must understand what constitutes a liberal education, as well as how institutions of higher learning seek to implement it. A derivation of the philosophy of liberalism, a liberal education grants to students the opportunity, as well as the means, to augment their intellectual capacities. This education focuses upon the production ofideas, and the intellectual dialogue that results. It is the role of the university to provide students with this type of education; it does so largely through an orthodoxy of academic freedom, allowing students to pursue their individual

interests, engage in open dialogue, and enhance their own minds. Within the context of this discussion, it is important to note that the primary focus of a liberal education is on the individual, as the aforementioned definition suggests. One may assert quite reasonably that the camaraderie of college life, the assistance in the intellectual development of others, is a valuable aspect ofhigher learning. While this may be the case, the obvious fact remains that students attend the university to engage in an individual thought process, and this individualist core results in the

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intellectual diversity that is vital to the existence of liberal education. Given the University's insistence that it remains an institution of liberal education, and accepting the prior discussion, one may assume that the U-M has not rejected the importance of the individual's thought process in regard to higher education. The University, as a service both to its students and to the intellectual climate in general, should strive to embellish this thought process on campus. Within this context, the University's efforts to foster its notion of diversity are quite puzzling, for the manner in which the U-M implements these efforts contradicts the individualist intellectual foundation of liberalism. The Michigan Mandate best exemplifies the University's effort to create a diverse campus. This initiative, though, frames diversity primarilyin the context of race and ethnicity. That is, it seeks diversity by attempting to increase the number of minority and hi$torically-underrepresented students on campus, thereby including a greater abundance ofethnicities m 'the student body. ThiS effort, however', looks to foster a kind of collective diversity, as each student serves as a represent ative of his respective racial identity. In basing diversity upon racial percentages , the U-M has made the implicit assumption that one is an embodiment of one's racial identity, that one's thought process is a derivative of this identity. If such is the case, the U-M has contradicted the ideal of liberal education itself, for it has trivialized the individual thought process upon which this education rests. To reach a conclusion regarding one's intellect or ideas solely on the basis of one's race is to ignore one's thought process altogether. By doing so, the U-M has failed to fulfill its purpose as a liberal institution. One may respond to this argument by asserting that the Michigan Mandate also attempts to provide educational opportunities to disadvantaged groups. Such may be the case, but this response fails to address adequately the broader issue of diversity. What remains apparent is that the University's efforts to create diversity conflict with the individualist aspect of a liberal education. A manipulation of racial percentages in the student body, regardless of which groups benefit, does not foster the intellectual diversity that is vital to academia. If the University wishes to create intellectual diversity, as it should, then it must discover a more adequate means of doing so. Mt

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Summer 1996

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

o CAMPUS AFFAIRS

History Dep~ment Revisionism BY BENJAMIN KEPPLE

HE PROBLEM OF BIAS WHEN teaching history is an important and emotional topic. For history is not just rote memorization of facts: how one views and explains the history of a person, nation, or culture has a powerful impact on the people learning. To distort history is in a very real way distorting reality itself for many individuals: to take an example, have you ever seen a diehard conservative and an irate liberal arguing over the Reagan era? Both will paint distorted pictures of the man and his policies. While the LS&A does not have a core curriculum (for some reason that escapes me, personally), it does have a distribution requirement. In a way this is nice, for it allows people to pick and choose courses that are of interest to themselves. It allows a chemistry major a practical way to take courses in, say, classical literature. As you have found or will find out, many introductory history courses fulfill these various requirements, and many of you may be taking some this term. The history department at the University, from my own view, has teachers and professors who, overall, are unbiased in regards with the material they teach. There has been no bias in my classical or medieval history courses (and I highly recom-

mend these to everyone), and I have postwar Britain and how the State only had one course, dealing with did not do enough for people, and Modern European history, that I scanning a textbook that I feel miswould personally gripe about with represented little things, like supfellow sympathetic students and ply-side economics and USA-Eurofriends, out of many modern history pean relations. Not that I am bitter in courses. any way! (I had fun on the readings evaluation sheet.) However, from personal experiPersonally, I feel that the few who ence and the experiences of others, many introductory courses are somedo bias the coursework do so in these what biased. But what is this bias? It introductory courses because they have a "captive audience.Âť Since many has to do with the analyzing of events and texts, and also with what texts students in these courses won't be taking many other history courses are used in the class. One friend told me that he was taught in one history and very few are actually going to go class that the atomic bombing of Jainto graduate history work, I feel that pan was an act of racism and nothing the responsible parties here feel they more. I do not have room throughout have a free hand. And of course, many this article (and probably not the ismay feel that this material needs to sue) to point out the flaws in this be taught and that it is the important argument, but I think you will agree material. with me in finding that conclusion . However, I must say that I feel odd. The reading lists from History ~ the bias is very limited, and in a vast 160 (USA before 1865), as of the last majority of courses nonexistent. Most professors are not going to inject their time I checked, still contain J:)!'l personal feelings into a lecture unless Toqueville a.I?Mefferson. But my reading list from the History of Modern it is with a joking remark or two. Europe course,ÂŁontained only basic Especially in the ancient and mediinformation and texts on political and eval history courses, there is no bias military history; the textbook used that I have seen. And if you do see bias in the' for the course found room for the arts and social development of the 20th courses, the worst thing I think you century in Europe, but I found no can do is just sit there. I wouldn't recommend interrupting the mention of other important events, professor's carefully constructed lecsuch as the German use of poison gas ture (unless he specifically says it's in 1915 at Ypres. The little time spent on postwar Europe was spent reading OK to do so with a question) but I a dreadful 150 page tome written on would defmitely encourage a visit to

office hours to talk about it, and getting more information on your own. Do some research in the libraries (as if you haven't guessed already, yes, I'm a history major). In discussion section, be active and speak out you may find other students who agree and join in with you. If the course is really bad, do not hesitate to find a newone. As for choosing courses, always ask for advice. Ask your academic advisors, ask your professors when you have a chance, and always ask friends and acquaintances. In this way, you will learn a great deal about courses that will help prepare you to best prepare for them. As students and as people, we may not be able to change history, but we can change how that history is taught. It is a lesson that we must learn, and when we learn it, we must be careful about how we put it to use. To sum up in a sentence: If you're taking a history course here, and you are worried about some liberal professor teaching you the "wrong" stuff in a course you thought looked inter.esting, I feel your fears are mostly unfounded. When compared to some of the horror stories of bias I have heard from other colleges, U-M is not among the worst offenders. And by the way, be sure to read the non-text readings. They absolutely love to ask questions about the non"':'text readings. You'll see what I mean. Mt

plants, to animals, or to blind and deaf nature does not make sense at all. Another example is the development of embryo in the uterus. From the manufacturing point of view, this development can only be explained with one simple word: Miracle. In engineering practices, the size of each part in a product is pre-cletermined and manufactured separately. Those parts are then assembled together to form the fmal product. Let's name this type of manufacturing as static manufacturing (a contribution to the engineering literature) since the sizes of the parts remain the same during assembling. In the case of an embryo, the sizes of organs are changing with time while a continuous assembling takes place under those conditions. New organs are created inside, without any interference from outside, developing in size by the time, yet holding the assembly in a perfect condition at each interval of time. This process is an example of dynamic

manufacturing which is, to be honest, impossible for us to achieve. In usual manufacturing, the size of a part is smaller than the raw bulk of mate rial from which it is produced, and some of the material is wasted. In some occasions, molds are used to acquire the desired shapes. In the creation of the embryo, however, there are no molds at all nor any spare parts thrown away. These manufacturing techniques are by far beyond the limits of humanity. Note that we have not yet mentioned the events that may take place at the micro level inside the cells. Even a global glance shows us how extraordinary the development of an embryo is. The Creator of earth and cosmos describes himself as "The Best of Creators" (Qur'an, Mu'minun 14). The reader may consider this article as a faint attempt trying to contribute to the understanding of this verse.

Creation \

Continued from page 3

arguments are endless covering all branches ofscience. I will only present a few for illustration purposes. Fish flow in a medium of liquid. They are exposed to two components of pressure while swimming: the static pressure and the dynamic pressure. The static pressure is directly related to the weight of water above them and does not vary during swimming at constant depths. However, this is not the case for dynamic pressure. It increases or decreases depending on the velocity of the liquid flow around the body. Researchers have found out that the eyes of fish are precisely located on the body so that the dynamic pressure is always zero. Therefore the vision is not distorted while swimming at varying speeds. The heart of the fish is located at a point where the dynamic pressure is most negative. This enables the functioning of the heart to be much more easier at high swimming speeds. The

mouth is placed at the very front of the body where the total pressure is highest. This high pressure makes it easier to take water for oxygen in fast swimming. Consider another example, the octopus, which is one ofthe more primary creatures in"the socalled evolution process. For thousands of centuries, the octopus has been using the conservation of momentum principle. The octopus takes in the water and propels through a narrow pipe to the opposite of its moving direction. This jet propulsion principle has been effectively used in jet motors only in this century. It should be evident then that these sophisticated designs and techniques cannot be handled by those animals nor by the so-called blind nature of self unawareness. The physical laws and the perfectly suited designs should then originate from the same source, The Utmost Engineer. This explanation is the logical one reflecting the truth. Other explanations attributing design and engineering skills to

Mehmet Pakdemirli Associate Professor

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----.. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~-Summer 1996 10 THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

o CAMPUS PROFILE

IASAEnhaRces Student Life liI.7

BY EVAN KNorr

NE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF Michigan's most valuable resources is its myriad student organizations. Hopefully, as a new student you will quickly discover that the number of student organizations Michigan ofTers almost matches the number of students enrolled on campus. However, the possibilities for new student groups are endless; new students should be encouraged to apply the creative, intellectual, and cultural talents instilled in them to further contribute to the rich social environment present in Ann Arbor. The Indian American Student Association (lASA) is the University's prid/:.'--und-joy student group. Not only is IASA one of the largest groups on this campus, but also in the United States. With a membership well over 400 students and growing each year,

The Review would like to thank the entire IASA board for providing llS with valuable information that aided in the writing of this article. Email the group at iasa.board@umich.edu

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IASA helps to unite Indian and nonthrough its volunteer activities and other service initiatives. Members Indian persons on campus to share have actively participated in volunthe enormous diversity of culture found amongst its members through teer projects at the Motts Children Hospital, Habitat For Humanity, loits annual cultural show, community cal soup kitchens, and the Ronald service opportunities, newsletter, and other social events. McDonald House. Its efforts are even starting to span the globe through its An important goal of IASA is to collaboration with organizations in promote awareness of Indian culture to both Indian and American commu2 nities. Through its annual cultural Not only one show, the group emphasizes the importance of educating people about the largest groups on the richness ofIndian culture and its preservation among our generation. this campus, but also The show has grown from a cast of 20 students to over 300 participants in in the United States. last year's sold-out performance at the Hill Auditorium. Audience memIndia to send food, money, clothing, bers experienced the beauty ofIndia's vast diversity as well as the dynamic and books to needy families there. interaction between Eastern and IASA also plays host to many social activities for University students. Western customs. A wide range of traditional and modern performances ;; The organization is a member of the United Asian American Organization convey the duality that exists among (UAAO) and is active in the GeneraIndian-Amer}..c$ills. IASA's next cultural-show/performance will be ~n tion APA show. The group plans to November 2 at the Hill Auditorium. unite with Indian-American students from around the world during "The This orgaIilzation is also highly involved within the community First Annual Midwestern Indian Stu~

is IASA

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dent Conference" in the winter of1997. On campus, lASA has plans in the works for a "Welcome Back Dance" , a talent show and casino night, a billiards tournament, and the annual IASA Olympics held at the CCRB. Members can easily keep up to date on all social gatherings through its impressive monthly newsletter, the IASA Link, run by one of the nicest guys on campus, Rahul Shah. The Indian American Student Association is just one of hundreds of valuable student groups here at the University of Michigan. Like IASA, many organizations provide an excellent medium for students to express their talents and heritag<;: while interacting and learning with other students. By participating in our student groups, students will gain a strong sense ofcultural and intellectual pride that will foster greater awareness and unity on campus. Your short time at U-M may be the only chance you have to take advantage of opportunities such as these; I encourage you to engage yourself and make Michigan a better and more diverse school for all students to enjoy. m

Do you have any comments about an article in this issue? D,oes it make you laugh, or make you cry? Does it make you sad, or make you mad? On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate it? Does it have a good beat? Can you dance to it?

TELL US THEN!!! E-Mail the Michigan Review at MREV@Umich.edu or call us at 662-1909. -

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Summer 1996

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

o SATIRE A Common Man's, Guide to Orientation .

BY TOM JOLLIFFE

ET'S SEE,ITS THE PROVERBIAL

summer after high school. You look forward to a few months in limbo, where composition and chemistry are but faint blips on the academic horizon. With an application to "Haggen-Daaz," you deftly relieve parental pressure to find employment; you are free for the summer. Ofcourse, as an incoming U-M student, you'll spend three days at orientation becoming familiar with University life. Despite all the rumors, this can be a helpful, fun experience. You should, however, know what to expect - this is an insider's scoop that will make your Orientation the all-time best. Day One -7::30 a.m. Student ID Photos: The M-Card captures your early morning vitality perfectly. Our advice: comb. -10:30 a.m. Money at Michigan: Fiscal fitness is big at the U-M. If you can remember that the M-Card isn't "free money," you'll be okay come May. -11:30 a.m. Lunch: At U-M you'll meet people from all over; lunch is a great time to say, "Hi, I'm Phil from Farmington and this macaroni scares me." Out-of-staters marvel at the Michigan-hand map ("Charlevoix is

\~-

Day Three right here at the third knuckle") until discussion of sensitive issues like rac-7:30 a.m. Breakfast: Nearly comaism and sexism is followed by skits on they see it for the fortieth time. tose, you stumble in for Lucky C's and the crises of college life, like "What if -1:00 p.m. Placement Tests: "The flapjacks. In the back of your mind my roommate throws up on me?" Resinumber of bonding sites on magneyou think, "Breakfast ... I don't see sium sulfate ... heh?" Don't worry, dence Hall life is all about tolerance, myself doing this too often next year." because these tests won't matter. ie., "How much Dave Mathews can -9:00 a.m. Individual Academic Adyou take before 'rewiring' the Sony?" -5:00 p.m. Dinner: A lot ofin-staters and Schedule Preparation and vising will underestimate the number of -12:00 p.m. Lunch: No matter where Registration: This advising session is their Tri-County peers: ''You're from you're from, you really do have a reas personal as high school used to be. Northville? I'm from Troy! No way!" gional accent. Don't eat too much or If, all of a sudden, you decide to be-6:00 p.m. Information Sessions and you'll be dozing through Academic come a theater major, your advisor Walking Tour: After eating, the tempAdvising. Wait, that's not so bad. will help you reschedule. Less pleastation to nap is strong, but you ought -12:45 p.m. Group Academic Advisant is the automated CRISP, a voice to attend the meetings with the Deing: I slept through this one and it you'll know well: "I HAVE not partment of Public Safety (DPS) and... hasn't hurt me yet. This is a good time recEIVed a reSPONSE ... " Like HAL, other services. After all, come Sepfor a walk in the Diag or some iceonly it's 1996 ... tember, you've got to know to stash cream at Stucchi's. Or, ifit's raining, -11:00 a.m. Establish an E-Mail Acthat Schlitz when DPS knocks. go hang out at the Union. Meet people. count: This mode of communication -6:30 p.m. Getting Involved at Michi-9:15 p.m. Dance: Line dancing rewill own your soul at the U-M. It's the gan!: "Learning outside the classroom" ally is fun, so don't be ashamed to get best means of procrastination since funky on the Union hardwood. Then, is more than a cliche at U-M. Besides doodling. munching popcorn, stroll over to the any club you can name, U-M even has class banner and scrawl "Class of'OO a Greek system. -9~00 p.m. Peer Academic Advising: Well, there you have it, Orientation rocks the Code 4-ever!" This is when the engineers and prein a nut-shell. Perhaps you'll want to meds and B-schoolers pick up precheck out your dormitory room before Day Two , you leave Ann Arbor so that, in the -6:45 a.m. Fresh start Run or Walk: ~ fab schedules, and everyone else wonders, "Shoot, what do I want to do?" fall, you won't be wandering around Participate in the "fresh start sleep or . snooze" instead. -11:00 p.m. Quiet Hours on the Hall: Markley with an armload of crates. In -7:15 a.m. Breakfast: Lucky Charms The following day you'll hear about the meantime, take it easy, peruse is such a staple. You'll soon want it at people who went out and partied dur- .' your course guide, and have an exceldinner with lasagna. ingorientation.Apparentlytheywer~r lent summer. Enjoy your three days -8:30 a.m. Commitment to Diversity out, while everybody else labored over at Camp East Quad '96. See you in and the Real World, Ann Arbor: A prospective fall schedules - the dupes. September! l\R .

The Second Fall of Man (Tips on Eating the Apple) BY MEGHAN ROEKLE

N MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE movie, Annie Hdll, Woody Allen, in one of his frustrated moods, says to a friend, "Everything our parents said was good for us isn't. Red meat, eggs, ... college." I don't know if college is necessarily good or bad for a person. It changes a person totally; there is no going back. You are forever a serpent's plaything, tainted by the first line-up game at orientation, and malicious after the first grimace you give to the back of your roommate's unwashed and headphonedhead. But, you must submit. Get crazy. Run naked. Sleep with someone in your hall when you are both drunk, late one Saturday night. As Woody Allen says, "A shark has to keep moving or it dies." Don't be a dead shark. The real trick to surviving the bombardment of pseudo-intellectuals, religious freaks, and RAs who think a fun canoeing trip for the hall should include stopping to pick weeds . for herbal tea, is achieving the right balance between approach and avoidance. Here are a few tips:

- Be sure to learn and use words like hegemony, altruistic, and matriarchy when you speak, and throw in some "i.e."s and "e.g."s in both your speech and writing. - Know how to read the Michigan Daily. Approach every news article as if it were a Mensa analogies test; subversive messages is to the Daily as plutocracy is to fraternity. -Take English courses, even if your passion is biophysics. Boys like girls who speak succinctly, and girls like boys who can wax philosophical. Also, the world-at-large loves quotes. "As H.G. Wells says ... "is a nice way to get the conversation kicking. Plus, bytaking English, you get to learn about all those references that have left you in the dark for so long. And mental masturbation does sometimes leave you satisfied. â&#x20AC;˘ Dress up when you go to the Angell Hall computing center. Opposite-sex friends may be easy to come by in the dorms, even if you only get to see flashes of wet legs and shoulders on their way back from the shower, but it gets harder every year. Angell is the University's oiferingto the single stu-

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dent. Take advantage. Bring candy . noxiously, wear a Tammy Faye Baker mask, or quote those Bible passages and gum to share with the cute calculus student next to you, or take a Kevin Bacon used in Footloose. framed picture of your favorite rock -Get involved. Go to the Michigan Theater to see shows you have never star to sit on top ofthe computer and make you look cooL heard of. Go to speaker events and book signings. Write for a newspaper. - Be satisfied with dancing in your dorm room on Thursday nights after Join an intramural team. Or even you get out of an exam, because the just stay in a coffee shop for nine Nectarine sucks. hours straight and listen to people's conversations. The sense of power is - Be afraid of the free campus packs the bookstores give away each semesenergizing. ter. My freshman year they gave us shaving cream, deodorant, and some That's about it. These suggestions yummy snacks. This past semester it may seem random and unattached to was Robitussin, Vivarin, and some anything you have experienced yet, but that's okay. Think of them like razors. Watch out for needles, Minithins, and cooking spoons this year. your mother's whispered suggestions Stay healthy. when you made small, naive choices -Buy Birkenstocks today. Even if in your youth. You forget them until you're a geek like me, with a pair on you really need them. Personal unyour feet, all your worries will disapcertainty has to be balanced with a pear. little sense of mastery. As Deepak Chopra says, "The unknown is the - If you smoke, study at Amer's, Renfield of all possibilities, ever fresh, dezvous Cafe, or Gratzi. If you don't ever new, always open to the creation smoke, start today. of new manifestations. Without un- Don't get into it with the wacko preachers on the Diag. You11 end up certainty and the unknown, life is just wanting to punch them in their just the stale repetition of outworn sandwich boards. Instead, laugh obmemories." 1Wt

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Summer 1996

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

o LoST IN THE EIGHTIES

Welcome to the War Zone - '-'Ii"

-The Liberty Party. The Liberty Party face when their views are presented the" Ad Hoc Committee Against the is a libertarian student-government and when they try to speak out and Bullshit In The Michigan Daily," a party that was formed last spring. It make changes. Most of the time they SYOUWILLLEARNWHEN shadowy group of (an estimated) five is founded on solid principles offiscal are shouted down or are otherwise you walk through the doors angry radicals who deemed the Daily responsibility and accountability to ineffectual. This hampers the forum racist and liberated (their word) 8,700 of East Quad for Disorientastudents, values that MSA has been for debate. It's as ifyou were sitting at tion (to be force-fed indoctrination copies of the Daily for qur Own Good. accused oflacking. It also is working about how the liberal wonders of culThis angered many-_W.D---' for real meal-plan reform, greater tural relativism, diversity, and affirstudents, primacampus safety, abolishment of the rily because they mative action make your life a better Code of Student Conduct, improveplace), the politicization of your days couldn't solve the ment in the dorms, and making the at the University begin on Day"One Daily's crossword funding of MSA by students volunand seemingly never ends. puzzle during their tary. Although it was formed two days Conservatives and libertarians EECS lecture. before the filing deadline for the MSA face a challenging predicament. At a However, it also inelection during Winter '96 term, the campus where the majority of atticensed many othLiberty Party proved to be a great tudes is overwhelmingly liberal, how ers because the success, winning one seat in MSA and First Amendment does one survive with the ideals and capturing 4.2 percent of the vote, while traditions in which one strongly berights of the Daily spending about 4.2 percent as much were violated. Unlieves? Equally important, how can as any other party. fortunately, this is conservatives and libertarians com-The U-M College Republicans or not an isolated inbat the seemingly all-pervasive inCollege Libertarians. Both of these . cident; all three fluence of the University, a mostly groups have worked hard to improve major papers on liberal faculty, and bastions of stu,Opponents of frJ speech sponsored an anti-Daily protest. student conditions and educate the campus (the Redent liberalism out there? general student body about the mesdinner in a good political argument view included) have had issues disapFirst rhetorical question: Is the sage of their respective national parand you were the only member not University really this bad? Is it really pear (or Wo.T~ because they have ties. allowed to speak. full ofsocialist professors and dictatovoiced opi:tlions that were very -The UM-AcLU. The U-M chapter However, this certainly can be popular with lYcertain group at the rial administrators who only wish to oftheAmencan Civil Liberties Uni on, changed. There is no reason why the overthrow the evil, oppressive, patritime. student · governments ~annot be " . ' far from being training ground for' There are also a lot of ot;her noisy archal state of the bourgeois.ie and create an egalitarian state in which left-wing groups on campus, groups staffed by conservatives and libertar~ young liberals eager to tear down The everyone owns twenty square meters that seem to voice their own illians, There is no reason why an alterEstablishment, works very hard to of vegetable garden? thought-out opinions with a noise ensure the civil rights and liberties of native press cannot be printed. There No, it isn't, and not everyone is students on campus. It has strived level that is inversely proportional to is no reason why people cannot form this extreme. Speaking personally, diligently in the fight against the Code their membership: the National political groups oftheir own, and there most of my professors have been great. Women's Rights Organizing Commitof Student Conduct and in educating is no reason why people cannot work tee (NWROC), SPARK (a socialistic the public about its rights. However, I've had friends who have for change. That is what is needed told me the opposite in very harsh activist group), the Revolutionary and your help is what we, the conserterms . I am sure that I have missed many Workers League, the Maoist Internavatives and libertarians on campus, groups simply due to space contional Movement, etc. ad nauseum et I've also had .a few teachers here really do need! infinitum. These groups seem to enwho, I am willfpg to bet, if given the straints, but this is a good start to at Any involvement is better than choice, would put us all under a soleast get you guys acquainted with joy latching onto some cause and carno involvement at all, and there are cialist system, like it or not. What is the campus and student political rying it as their own for the week scads of conservative and libertarian worse, and what troubles me, is that scene. Whatever your decision or beduring which it carries their interest. groups out there that would be benthey make no secret about it in lecliefs politically, please do remembeI: The plethora of liberal groups efited greatly from new members putture or even sometimes in discussion that when you enter todafs Univerdoesn't even stop here. Student govting in even just a couple hours of sity, you are not just attempting to get sections. time a week. I helpfully have proernments, such as the Michigan StuBut it doesn't just stop there. As an education but also defining what dent Assembly (MSA) and the LS&A vided a short list consisting of some of goes into that education. Unfortuin every university, there are many Student Government (LSA-SG), are them. Not only is working with these nately, politics plays a'large part in students here who are very liberal institutions that affect every student groups fun and a good time, it is a this scenario; in order preserve conand very vocal about it. Take the great way to meet people and looks on truly important issues such as stuMichigan Daily . If you ever came up servative and libertarian views in dent group funding, curriculum, wonderful on a resume . Join more to the U-M for Campus Day, you education, we must all work together bringing speakers to campus, and stuthan one. No one's stopping you. to bring about change, because if we probably know free copies of the Daily dent life, in gslneral. Unfortunately, are handed out to read during your they are dominated by liberals, with • Shameless Plug: The Michigan Redo not, we will in essence be depriving complimentary continental breakfast view . The Review has been my interourselves of a true liberal education, very few outspoken conservatives who est for the past two years and I honand the students of the future will in some isolated cafeteria. Historiparticipate. One MSA political party, cally, the Daily has had an extremely estly have enjoyed my time as a staff also be at a disadvantage. the United People's Coalition, runs member. The Review is the libertarSo, without further ado, welcome liberal editorial page whose editorial an "all people of color" slate every ianlclassically-liberallconservative aboard. I hope that you enjoy your opinions sometimes seep into the news election, excluding Caucasians rejournal of campus affairs at the U-M, minimum of four years at the Univergardless of their views. reports. It's been getting better, but and we would always love new people sity of Michigan, and let me be the My point is not to belabor the fact over the past few years it has been far to join! first to wish you Good Luck! Mt too liberal not only for my taste, but that conservatives and libertarians face real challenges. It certainly is not also for that of many others. The Review presents two columns in every issue, featured .to try to insinuate that there are radiThe Daily, however, is in a nohere on these two pages. These columns are a way for us tocal liberals behind every corner waitwin situation . It's not nearly consershowcase some of our best writers in a more relaxed, casual ing to snuff out free thought. My point vative enough for any moderates or tone of writing. Look forward to the antics of our columnists. is to try to show what kind of opposiconservatives to really like it, but it They're sure to keep you entertained for the rest of the year. isn't liberal enough either .. So says . tion conservatives and libertarians

BY BENJAMIN KEPPLE

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THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

Summer 1996

o ROLL UP FOR THE MYSTERY TOUR

The Real BY GEOFF BROWN

ELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY

of Michigan (motto: "By attempting to make fun of our motto, Geoff Brown has violated the Code of Student Conduct, and is currently serving a sentence of extremely hard labor in the new Code Prison. He, of course, was convicted under the Code without due process of the law."). By now, you already have attended Orientation, or arejust about to do so. During this fun-filled indoctrination , you received much propaganda- uh , I mean informationabout the good 01' U-M . You've taken many tours, and attended many programs . Or at least, you're about to, if you haven't. Well, simply put, much of what you learned/are about to learn is a bunch of doo-doo (to use the technical term). The University, in its everlasting se~h for diversity (read: "let's all act differently in a manner prescribed by the administration.") has concocted a program featuring a lot of things that don't really prepare you for college life. So, as a service to you, the Mystery Tour is dying to take you away for our next trip: a tour of the real U-M . The real U-M is much different from the one you see at Orientation. The Orientation leaders would like you to think that a day at the U-M is a fun-filled day of classes, diversity, and political correctness. But you don't really get a true idea of what goes on here at the University until you've been here for a while. And I have certainly been her~ a while: three years to be exact. So, as a service to you, I have decided to provide you with this Handy Guide to Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan. Hell, it can't be any more misinformed and skewed than what the Orientation folks will tell you. LIVING IN THE DORMS: As someone who (foolishly?) lived in dorms for three years, I can tell you that it's quite the experience. It's a really good place to meet people, but that's about where the pluses end. Most of you will likely end up living in Markley (dorm motto: "You11 feel like you've never left New York City except we have fewer muggings and rude cab drivers"} or South Quad (dorm motto: "Sometimes our residents stop partying long enough to go to the bathroom") or East Quad (dorm motto: "East Quad dorm rooms: where two's company and three's a fire hazard!"). You might even wind up in Bursley, which is way up on North Campus, where they stash the engineers, some of whom are still working

Uni'Z~rsity

of Michigan

through another policy that will engraduate from the UniversityofMichion Fortran programs from 1993. able her to have powers previously gan, the giant stone pumas in front of Dorms are also full of Resident Adviheld solely by God. The regents are the Natural History Museum would sors, who act in the capacity of sullen still debating this one. come to life and hunt himJher down. resident policemen. While the UniDRIVING IN ANN ARBOR: This is also patently ridiculous. Howversity trains the hell out of these This is not a good idea for those of you ever, what they don't tell you is that people in the area of diversity, it who are easily frustrated or frightanyone caught stepping on the "M" doesn't usually train them to be soened. The streets of Ann Arbor were ciable . Most originally laid out by blind men high RAs will hole on amphetamines, resulting in streets themselves up that suddenly change from being twoin their rooms, way to one-way in the opposite direcnot bothering to and also in streets that can be tion try and be simultaneously parallel to, perpenfriends with dicular to, and diagonal to the same you , and they road. Also, many Ann Arbor drivers will only come graduated from Ed's Mail-In Driving around to enSchool and Book Store, and conseforce some arquently don't know the first thing cane rule upon about traffic laws and other such you (that likely trivial matters. Other hazards are has been broken pedestrians. These are fearless people by everyone else have little regard for what kind who on the hall) and of vehicle is bearing down on them at write you up high speed. Pedestrians will cross in Most people see a ~rmal campus; Geoff sees a commie plot. without any front of you incessantly and make it sort of warning . '; ' .• will be prosecuted under the Code, as near impossible for you to drive. As if or regard for the actual disciplinary will all virgins who graduate from the that weren't bad enough, orbiting procedures of the hl)l1. Now, there are University along with anybody who spacecraft await the opportunity to some reasonable RAs out there: I was might be walking around or just sith.~am down pedestrians out of nolucky to have decent, friendly RAs for ting downfor awhile. ,"· ·~ where, should there be alack of ap.yin the past two years. I had a couple of THE CODE: This is an evil policy, your immediate area. friends at South Quad this year, howenacted by the regents, that allows Basically, the best thing I can tell ever, who were not so lucky. the administration to basically ignore you about Ann Arbor and the U-M is EATING IN THE DORMS: This the Fourth Amendment, civil rights, don't be afraid to strike out and disis a risky activity at best. The food you due process of the law, and common cover for yourself what the city and eat in the dorm cafeterias will likely sense whenever someone mayor may the campus are like. Ann Arbor really be among the worst tasting and least not have committed anyone of the is a great place (especially in the sumnutritional you have ever eaten in myriad offenses contained within, mer) and you'll probably like it a lot, your entire life, unless, perhaps, you if remember not to get caught up in including murder. WHOO BOY!! It count camp food. They always have a sure is good to know that the Univerwhat the University tells you is right large variety of starchy foods to choose sity is there to punish people for muror wrong. Have fun at Orientation (to from, and even the seemingly harmder. The Code is what Vice President do this, you'll have to wait until the less salad bar items apparently have for Student Affairs and Codemaster night time, when they fmally release extra added starch. They also have Maureen Hartford utilized to gain you from their inane activities and this really scary item that keeps popthe powers previously held solely by allow you to go out on your own a little ping up unexpectedly, that is perhaps the epitome of really, really bad food: the president of the University. Rubit), and in the fall, come to campus The Edward X. Delaney Sandwich. mor has it that she plans to push and join the Review! l\R Nobody's really sure where they got the name, but I can tell you that nobody has seen Edward X. Delaney in a long time. CLASSES: These are annoying little things that tend to get in the way of sleeping, eating, and doing anything fun or of real educational value. However, if you plan to earn a degree, graduate, and then flounder around for several years hoping for a job of some sort, you're going to have to take a few classes. THOSE CRETIN MYTHS ~ tha n pizza THAT THEY TELL YOU ABOUT: I'm sure by now you've heard the one that if you step on the big blue "M" in the middle of the Diag, you will fail your first "blue book" exam. This is utterly ridiculous. There's also a myth that states if a virgin were ever to

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Summer 1996

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

jr SPORTSCENE

Looking Fopward to This Fall • ll";'

about that he threatened to leave early if Carr was not named the permanent head coach. With Irons at lineba<;ker, Big Ten. rookie-of-the-year Charles Woodsonatcornerback,andenormous lineman William Carr in charge, the defense can be expected to turn in a performance on par with last season's stellar effort. Though defense has not been Michigan's strength in the past, this year's team will continue to be a welcome relief from the soft-as-orange-jello sets installed during the infamous "Moeller years." A safe bet in the preseason, Scott Dreisbach will return to start as quarterback after finally recovering from a mysterious hand injury that took ov~r three months to fully heal. Dreisbach, though shaky in his first season as playcaller, was 5-0 before suffering the season-ending injury. His replacement, Brian Griese, the . son of NFL Hall of Famer and former ; Rose Bowl winner Bob Griese, was 44 at the helm. , Last l\fatCh, Griese broke the front glass window of a local bar after the establishment'asked him to leave. This was the third alcohol-related incident for the program in less than a year. The first occurred during last year's spring practices when Dreisbach attempted to purchase alcohol with fraudulent identification. The second incident involved former Coach Gary Moeller - an event that requires no further comment. It is indeed sad that the national media has turned to cover these incidents as well as the exodus of superstar underclassmen to the NFL Draft in the absence of athletic successes. Despite all of the off-the-field distractions, Michigan is in shape to be one of the pre-season favorites to return to Pasadena. The Big Ten football race appears to be as wide open as it has been in the past few seasons, with many of the conference's prominent names gone to the NFL. This year, Michigan has a very real chance to return to the Rose Bowl for the first time since Penn State entered the conference in 1993. The tests for this team will begin immediately with an August 31 match-up against traditional rival Illinois in the "Big House." The biggestchallengeoftheseason,however, may come next, as the Wolverines travel to Boulder with a very, very, very bitter taste in their mouths from the last match-up against the Colorado Buffaloes. Forget about Ohio State - this year's most anticipated potential victory could come during this second contest. " . ., The Wolverines then return home

BY PAT ESKEW

E GROANED A LOT this year. The Wolverine football and basketball teams were not good in 1995-96; in fact, they stunk. You were lucky not to have been here to watch them in person. We (the success-spoiled children of the Chris WebberlDesmond Howard era) all would have died for a remote control while we sat watching our teams accept defeat. From a woeful fourth-place finish in the Big Ten and a bowl loss in football to being bounced in the first round ofthe NCAA basketball tourney by a lower-seeded team, the Maize and Blue played like we, as fans, felt: awful. As a know-nothing hockey fan (l come to the University of Michigan from Atlanta), I even was denied a chance to rootfor the University's one premier money-making team this year. The hockey team was dominant all the way through to the NCAA championship, which it won with flair in overtime by a goal from CCHA superstar and Hobey Baker finalist Brendan Morrison. Of course, I jumped up and down and screamed obscenities in my living room for 30 seconds with all of my c(}-phoneyhockey-fan housemates as we watched the shot hit the back of the net on ESPN. All of that jumping and screaming, however, left me quite winded, and I soon flopped back onto the couch and quickly flipped the channel. Being a fan can be hard work. The rest of this article will focus on something lIdo have a feel for: the upcoming football season. As has been my tendency in the past, I will unfairly heap massive expectations onto the shoulders ofthe team. This is not to say that they will come true. It is true, after all, that I picked the Wolverines to win the NCAA basketball tournament at the start of last season. So, Iwaswrong.Aguycandream, can't he? Last year there was one brilliant moment for the Michigan football team, and it came in the form of the eighth overall pick ofthis year's NFL Draft. But Tshimanga (pronounced "chee-MUNG-uh," as he told the New York Times ... on the eve of the Draft) Biakabutuka will not run for more than 300 against Ohio State or any other team this season. He will not carry this team on his back. Hence the problem for the Maize and Blue: who will carry the burden? The answer comes from the defensive side of the ball. Jarrett Irons returns this year to play for Coach Lloyd Carr, a man he feels S9 st]'Qqgly ,

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to take on Boston College and UCLA, two powerful programs, before returning to the road for more vengeance, this time in Evanston. The Northwestern program is not ajoke, and all ofthe key players that "took the Purple to Pasadena" last year will be back. This game, which takes place the first week of October, could determine the fate of the Wolverine team. In the four games that follow the Northwestern contest, only one - a home game against Michigan State - has any significance. Last year the Spartans beat Michigan on a frigid night in East Lansing. Don't expect the same to happen this time around. Michigan should win this by thirty. Once again this season, the schedule-maker has done the inexcusable and scheduled Penn State and Ohio State in back-tG-back weeks to close the regular season. This is one of the dumbest ideas since velcro shoes. While Penn State and Ohio State play one another much earlier in the conference schedule and have the rest of the season to prepare for the Wolverines, Michigan has to cram for both in a period of 13 days. Penn State has

won the last two contests against Michigan, and the Buckeyes are fuming mad from getting beaten in the Big House last season. For Michigan to be successful, the offense must be more consistent than it was last season. Penalties were a constant nemesis, especially at crucial points in the game. This year's team will be much more inexperienced than last season's. True sophomore Tai Streets will anchor the receiving core while his classmate Clarence Williams is a leading candidate to replace Biakabutuka. With Dreisbach (a red-shirt sophomore) at the control, this team will have the excuse of immaturity to use in case of thoughtless mistakes and losses. Hopefully, this won't be necessary. The Wolverines, despite their difficult schedule and unproven offensive weapons, will be the Big Ten champions in 1996. You will all be in Michigan Stadium with the rest of us to cheer them on - one big Maize and Blue family. To fit in with the rest of us seasoned veterans, bring your marshmallows and screamin~ voices; Jeave the r~mote control at honlEt Mt

Books Continued from page 18

ful short-term alliance in order to ensure that they are abolished. Unlike most critics, Bolick points out that affirmative action is just a single part of the larger problem in civil rights legislation. He argues that in addition to rethinking affirmative action policies, we must also rethink almost all of the civil rights laws that have been passed over the past several decades - perhaps the worst of which was the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As Bolick points out, "no matter how modest the law's objectives, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 clearly sanctioned an unprecedented intrusion into individual autonomy. No meaningful restraints existed to prevent future expansions of government power. Perhaps predictably, in every area covered by federal civil rights statutes, the powers have expanded even as the 'emergency' justifications have receded." As the debate over affirmative action heats up, those who argue for its abolition should read Bolick's book and remember -or discover - why all legislation based on the premise that people are first members of an ethnic or racial group and individuals secondarily is destructive to the liberal order and should be repealed.

Unfortunately, a good deal oflibertarians are ignorant of their intellectual predecessors. Many quickly declare the Declaration of Independence or the Bill of Rights to be creations of great libertarian heroes, but do so without actually knowing anything about what the men who drafted these documents really believed, beyond the most basic of questions. As a result, the reprinting of Liberty and the Great Libertarians (Fox & Wilkes, 362 pages, $14.95), edited by Charles T. Sprading, is an important event. Originally published in 1913, the book contains excerpts from articles and books written by 18th and 19th century libertarians, as well as brief biographical sketches of these authors. Among the writers included are Thoreau, Stirner, Spencer, Tucker, and Herbert, as well as $ome rather strange choices such as George Bernard Shaw and Abraham Lincoln. Why Sprading chose to include the work of these last two men in his anthology of pro-liberty authors is a mystery. But, nevertheless, the book is a valuable reference tool for those already familiar with the work of the great libertarian minds of the past and an outstanding introduction for * those who are not. l\R

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At the Kentucky State Fair In the summer months Louisville sweltered like a sandbar blazing and smelled like baked asphalt, the exhaust of lawn mower engines, the weeds I cut to make money when I was young. Early August, when the heat had visited for over two months and three weeks before school began again, the state fair came to the expo center and all the kids bought tickets to see two pound tomatoes and the finest beef cattle in the state. If you had forgotten the taste of corndogs and ketchup, the right way to sling nickels to win goldfish, how fast armadillos could run; you were reminded in the time it took to buy your first lemonade. I ate cotton candy that was fluffy pink and sticky soft like my heart at the fair; spend money on pennants and roasted peanuts and things I never once used; won stuffed bears and feather clips that I threw away as soon as I got home.

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Amrd,~he sterile plasticinicity and photo album covers glanced at between ritual activities like the News at 10 and 11, there's some store-bought pie and some microwaved instant hot chocolate. More than a dustless colloquial memory-laden stop in the tour. A kid on the bus is slapping at the air, and the rest of us are feeling disturbed. Funny how the least-liked tends to be the most talked-about. So when someone-who-ought-to-know suggested Ern's Taco Palace we said ok because it was cheap. But twice in one day had me well-acquainted with the bathroom floor. Never underestimate the aftershocks of economical TexMex. All was well but we've let something evolve into a crisis, and now you're left having to chose between the half-eaten cake and th~ spoonful of chocolate sundae you hadn't qeen aware of until you tasted how sweet it was. But feelings would be hurt if you sent the first dessert back to the kitchen and re-ordered. -Mary Jane Wagg "

At night I rode the tilt-a-whirl which spun like a dervish and blurred my dizzy mind between reality and dream world; between Louisville and Neptune, which I swore I could see from my place pinned up against the iron caged wall like a stone in a sling shot, until the wheel stopped spinning. -Pat Eskew

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Deep within the Fine Arts Library, While researching for English class, My eyes grew tired, ventured to meet Those which all others did surpass. The flashing green gripped my deep brown, Refused to leave my memory, And forced my mind to think of none Other than his surreality. The instant comprehension seemed To come from long ago, a time From where neither of us came; And yet familiar bells did chime. But what was this? Confusing, this Strange puzzle laid for me to solve Walt! But can It be, this face Unreal before me does dissolve? -Michelle Williams

iron pyrite

The Truth

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So many of us often think, "If I were but a kitchen sink, I'd have no worries, cares at allNor would I feel neglected, small." For, kitchen sinks, I have been told, Are even used when they are old Some even several times each day; For such attention, most would pay. Women and men will ever whine, Gripe and complain each time they dine, "Oh, no one really cares for me A small stone 1 might as well be." We humans claim, in tones so bitter, To be as scorned as kitty litter. 'Tis now almost a game, a boast, To see which one was hurt the most, "I was deserted, shunned, abused, Prejudged and mocked, hardly amused." If only they'd behave and sit Relax, and simply just admit That I am more alone - it's true; Yes more alone than all of you. -Michelle Williams

Iron pyrite and dramatic decadence Filling her days and spilling a haze, A puddle, just so she can walk through it. Repose beneath the pulled shade finds her Readjusting her cheek on Its pillow to catch Moon beams Just so, posing In delicate glow: Acts for the Invisible audience -Mary Jane Wagg "<".,,,,,,,,,, .. ,,.,,~=T,,,,,,,,,.,..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,...,,.,'rif',"""'''''''''"'"'''''''''\''=i'N""'''''""M",,,,«,.,,,",~,,,,,,,,,,"'r,p""'~"W\'~"""I;\''''~~Wl~"'''i>'r~'%~'I'>.'I:~ ,;

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true, but then one must conceed that, government's involvement in science as these spinoff technologies were not has been under close scrutiny. Many initially conceived of for solving pracHE ARRNAL IS A STANDARD projects, born under a cold-war govsummer science fiction movie. ernment that gave It stars Charlie Sheen as Zane scientists large Ziminsky, a radio astronomer who budgets and autonomy to protect specializes in SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, Along national superiorwith his partner, Calvin (Richard ity, are now being Schiff), he mans a dismantled belonely radio telescope cause the public and searches the and congress are stars, one by one, tryno longer ! coning to find a signal that vinced of their might be communicapractical merit. tion from aliens. For many So far, this is not years, the principle so different from realargument in deity. But Zane actually fense of such profinds such a signal grams has been the Terl Polo plays the loyal, yet rebellious girtfriend, Char not just any signal, but benefit of spinoff one that is as perlect technology. Though most programs tical problems, likewise the scientific as he could possibly ;, are not as questionable philosophitechniques used were not formulated originally for solving problems, but cally as SETI is, they nevertheless do wish for. However, it is late at night and he not often offer direct short-term rewere seemingly abstract ideas. If no Charlie Sheen pretends,t9 pe a scientist suIts. However, manyofthem do bring cannot reach another one had funded researches who were observatory to verify the signal, and new technologies to industry that interested in the seemingly unimporrun by aliebs who are intent on transit disappears. Undaunted, he takes make their way to consumer prodtantsubatOmicworld, then why would forming earth?into a warmer, more his recording of the signal back to ucts. we expect that things like nuclear tropical climate so that they can inTwenty years ago, no one would , ,,«ipowerwouldhaveeverbecomearea};;' " NASA's Jet. P,ropulsion Laboratory, vade. He also finds out the .aliens and presents it proudly to his boss, imagine that such "space age" materi~' ity. If no one had been interested in have discovered how to make themGordian (Ron Silver), who then breaks selves appear human and infiltrated als as carbon fiber, boron carbide, and the abstract topic of the behavior 'of the news to Ziminsky that NASA is society at all levels, even NASA. titanium would find their way into fluids, the Wright brothers would not facing cutbacks, his work is unmarThrough special effects, help from everything from cars to sporting equiphave had the scientific basis to design ketable and that he will be layed-off. his doubting girlfriend Char (Teri ment. When the laser was invented, a working airplane. Soon, Ziminsky finds out that Clearly, the solution lies somePolo), and lots of explosions,.Ziminsky no one would have imagined that comthere is a conspiracy underloot to manages to warn the earth of the pact discs would be invented, much where in the middle. Science must, if aliens, drive less become common. Researchonmiit expects to keep government subthem away, and sidy, move into more practical areas. crowaves for military and scientific At the same time, without abstract purposes eventually led to the microrepair his love wave, nick-named the "radar range." frontier science, there is no guarantee life, just in the Not only have many scientific venthat continued success in practical nick of time. The plot of tures that seemed impractical led to matters can be sustained. Furtherlife--changing advances in consumer more, other countries will continue to this movie, which fund their scientific efforts even if we products, but typically they have done was written and directed by do not; if we do not continue to fund so without these advances being obviour advances in technology, we may ous from the beginning. David Twoky At the same time, it seems as if soon be driven out of competing in (who wrote the advancing consumer technology many areas with other nations. story for The Futhrough such spinoffs is a painfully Although we may never have to gitive), is unexworry about invading aliens, like slow method. Would not spending ceptional, and there are many government research dollars directly - Ziminsky did, there are significant holes and inconreasons to continue pursuing seienon problems of practical interest be sistencies in the tific knowledge.Mt more fruitful? This could indeed be As Char waits in the US, Zane puts the moves on a hot geoscientist in Mexico "science," but exsupress his results, when he discovcellent special effects (done by Pacific ers that the signal, which had every Data Images, who worked on Batman appearance of coming from outside Forever) and beautiful scenery bring the solar system, actually had been the movie up to the general quality of transmitted from Mexico, apparently "summer movies." In addition, Sheen having something to do with spy satcaptures well the role of a growingly ellites. He is pushed to this conclusion paranoid man who finds himself sudwhen his partner is killed mysteridenly on a mission to save the world. ously when his house burns down. However, one thing this movie So, Ziminsky catches a plane and does well is highlight the growing flies to Mexico, where he meets a issue of the interaction between scigeoscientist, lIana Green (Lindsay ence and the government. From the Crouse), who had also been drawn Superconducting SuperCollider to the mysteriously there because of unbeS.pac~ ~tation to semiconductors, the lievable readings in a survey of greenhouse gas emissions. At this point, the movie becomes markedly unbelievable. Ziminsky and Green discover that there is a futuristic power plant in operation in Mexico, in secrecy. Then, after the operators of the plant kill Green, Ziminsky discovers that the plant is actually being

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In Defense of the Old Republic BY AARON STEELMAN

ILLIAM APPLEMAN Williams was a patriot in the truest sense ofthe word. He yearned for the America of his idealized childhood - an America that derived its greatness from strong local communities, rather than an omnipotent federal state. Understanding that a belligerent foreign policy was the greatest obstacle toward the realization of such a society, he spent his life valiantly attacking America's march toward empire, following the path that had been set by two other great foes of U.S. imperialism, Charles Beard and Harry Elmer Barnes. The steadfastness of Williams' views gained him many critics, particularly the federal state's court historians, of whom Arthur Schlesinger, Jr, - Williams' lifelong nemesis - was the principal figure. But it also earned him many admirers and disciples, including dozens ofgraduate students who came to study under Williams at the University ofWisconsin after reading a number of his remarkably thought-provoking books and articles. Two such admirers are Paul M. Buhle and Edward Rice-Maximin, the authors of the splendid William Appleman Williams: The Tragedy of Empire (Routledge, 318 pages, $16.95) - the first full-scale biography of one of the American Left's fmest thinkers. To understand Williams' intellec\ tual odyssey, one .must understand his roots. For, as Buhle and RiceMaximin cogently point out, Williams' life work was profoundly affected by his early years. Born in 1921 in Atlantic, Iowa, William Appleman Williams was isolated from the radical movements of the time. Unlike other future left-wing intellectuals, he was not exposed to the labor movement, members of the American Communist Party, or other "fellow travellers." Instead, his friends and neighbors were typically middle-American in nature. They were men and women who did what they had to do to get along and to care for their families and community. And inevitably that consisted of running the family farm or business, educating their children as best they could, and helping others in their times of need, not because they were compelled to do so by law, but because it was the decent thing to do. During the Depression, the people of Atlantic, Iowa, were not building utopian schemes as to how the proletariat would lead them to a postcrisis utopia; they were too busy liv-

ing their lives. Williams saw something noble and virtuous in this type of life. It was, in his mind, how things should be. As a result, his "socialism" was markedly different from that envisioned and hoped for by most of his colleagues. As Buhle and Rice-Maximin write: "Williams later made much ofthe mixture ofcommunityandindividualism that he had known in Atlantic. He believed that the country needed a specifically American brand of communal and regional socialism created by the kind of independentminded, diligent, and determined 'ordinary' citizens with whom he had grown up." To Williams, the good could not be achieved by relying on faraway planners who had no stake in the community - it had to be achieved through decentralization. No wonder that as the country prepared itself for its bicentennial in 1976, Williams was urging for a retUJln to the Articles of Confederation. 'And little surprise'~ that, according t~ the authors, he would later praise "a libertarian, antistate think tank in Washington" (here we must assume they are speaking of the Cato Institute) as) in his mind, representing "the historical legacy of guild socialism." In the span of three years, Williams would publish his two most cited and influential works: The Tragedy of American Diplomacy (1959) and The Contours of American History (1961). In these two books, Williams charged that the United States had, somewhat unintentionally, pursued a foreign policy that had dis astrous consequences for not only itself, but also the world as a whole. He attacked the claim - which was common wisdom at the time - that the United States' foreign policy during the 1920s and 1930s was characterized by isolationism. Instead, he asserted that America had set its course unerringly on the path of interventionism, and that such policies had set the stage for World War II. And during and immediately following that bloody conflict, the U.s. made the same error once again - its own actions had led directly to the Cold War. Far from being a Soviet apologist, Williams looked at the evidence objectively and concluded that had the U.S. acted differently, Stalin would have as well. Such findings were a radical departure from the conclusions drawn by most previous diplomatic historians. Thesehistorians-manyofwhom were hired by the Roosevelt administration to put a positive spin on its policies - saw diplomatic history as

being an endless and righteous march toward world stability, with the United States' actions always being reactive in nature. When a conflict came along, the U.S. acted to squelch it and retain the "balance of power"; it was never thought that America's policies might have played a role in originally causing the conflict. Obviously, Williams and his growinglegion ofsupporters on the nation's campuses posed a threat to the leftliberal foreign policy establishment. Not only was he attacking the benevolence of American foreign policy, but, by implication, he was also attacking the sacred icon of Washington liberalism: FDR. Williams was a heretic, and his conclusions dangerous; he had to be dealt with swiftly and firmly. The establishment Left s~nt out its top gun, Schlesinger, to handle Williams' deviationism. Schlesinger-who early in life changed his middle name so that he could become a "Junior," thereby linking himself to his famous historian father and helping himself professionally spared Williams no mercy, slandering him as c; "pro-Communist scholar." In addition, thenotably~liberal" Kennedy administration called him before the House Committee on Un-American Activities, demanded to see the text of an unpublished book he was working on, and ordered the IRS to audit and harass him annually. As the authors keenly point out, if Williams had once needed anymore reason to be skeptical ofWashington's ability to do good and bring happiness to the people of Atlantic, Iowa, he no longer did after his own personal runins with the federal government. Though Tragedy and Contours had brought Williams a good deal of grief, they had also brought him tremendous notoriety and fame. He was now thought of as the critic of American foreign policy, and he became a hero to the fledgling New Left. WHliams shared the New Left's distrust of centralized power and hatred of militarism, but he could never embrace its movement with open arms. This was due, at least in part, to his distinctly"ordinary"upbringing.Williams was simply repulsed by the New Left's disdain for established cultural norms and by what he saw as its antiintellectualism. Buhle and Rice-Maximin write: "Its utopian counterculture offered ordinary people ('the straights,' and he counted himselfamongthem)nothing but put-offs and put-downs. [U]nless and until the New Left found a way to reach the majority of the population with a vision of a better

society, unless it learned how to use the campus for the testing of ideas, and unless it abandoned its sheer arrogance toward others, all the energy expended in protest would bring no significant, structural change. The young radicals needed more than anything else a positive vision of 'what it means to be an American,' and how Americans could make 'their lives ... richer and more purposeful.'" Growing disenchanted with Madison - which had become a hotbed of student activism - and with his second marriage, Williams, toward the end of the 1960s, was looking to start anew, and accepted a low-paying, untenuredposition(heneverfullygot over the charges leveled against him by Schlesinger years before) at Oregon State. And while there, he finally began to attain some respect, albeit begrudgingly, from many of his old enemies. As Buhle and Rice-Maximin write: "IfmanyofWilliams'former critics had come to agree with him, it was hardly their amiability or his growing respectability but surely the Vietnam War that broke their faith in cold-war liberalism's narrative ofthe American saga and found them accepting many criticisms set forth by Williams and the New Left." At the same time, Williams also began to gain the admiration of a good deal ofAmerican rightists who looked at America's foreign policy with increasing skepticism and who, by now, viewed corporate liberalism and the military-industrial complex as the unabashed evils that they surely are. Indeed, as these dissident rightists began to rapidly move in Williams' direction, so did Williams in theirs, as Buhle and Rice-Maximin attest: "He urged, as in his newspaper columns, that the Constitution be used to attack the oppressive national state through diminishing its power oftaxation. [And] He urged the state legislature be used to return authority to the citizen, and take it away from the corporation." William Appleman Williams led an admirable - if somewhat troubled -life and fought for a worthy cause. In his later days, he joked that he was determined to live as long as he could so that, if nothing else, he could give Schlesinger a few more restless nights. Whether he was successful in this we cannot be sure. But, thanks to his own writings and to this remarkably comprehensive biography, we do know that he lived up to the following maxim that he wrote in 1976:"1 prefer to die as a free man struggling to create a human community than as a pawn of Empire." M t 路 .

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'Book搂

The Latest in Libertarian Literature BY AARON STEELMAN

LTHOUGHHEAUTHORED numerous scholarly books and articles, many of which were original and some profound, Murray Rothbard's greatest talent was as an essayist. Unfortunately, many of his essays were doomed to obscurity, as Rothbard never saw himself as being above writing for small libertarian publications - many of which were extremely short-lived and at their peak amounted to nothing more than newsletters or pamphlets. As a result, we have little record of many of the great Rothbardian essays of the 1960s and 1970s. Luckily, however, the same is not true for many of the articles that Rothbard authored during the 1980s and 1990s. As the libertarian movement grew larger and more diverse, the publications for which Rothbard wrote also grew and improved. Indeed, if one were to go to any major library, one would find a number of publications cataloged there that published Rothbard's work during this period - including the Ludwig von Mises Institute's monthly publication, The Free Market. In an attempt to bring many of these great pieces together in one volume, the Mises Institute has recently published Making Economic Sense (LVMI, 439 pages, $19.95) - a collection of over 100 essays that Rothbard wrote for The Free Market between 1982 and 1995. The book is divided into eleven sections. The first ten contain essays dealing with a 'specific topic - monetary policy, for example - while the last contains an insightful article that Rothbard wrote just after the 1994 midterm eleCtions, entitled "The November Revolution ... And What to Do About It." In this essay, Rothbard presciently warned against putting too much faith in the GOP promise to fundamentally change the way things are run in Washington. Instead of leading the revolution against centralized government, the Republican leadership, Rothbard correctly feared, was just as likely to betray it. Other pieces the reader should not neglect include "Are We Undertaxed?," "Rethinking the '80s," and "William Harold Hutt: 18991988," the last of which is Rothbard's tribute to one of the greatest, yet most unappreciated, economists ofthis century. In "Are We Undertaxed?," Rothbard refutes one the most absurd notions spouted by left-liberals: that when compared to the citizens of other industrialized countries, Ameri-

can taxpayers are actually undertaxed. As Rothbard points out, this argument is only valid if 路one thinks the U.S. should be running even faster toward democratic socialism, as many European countries have. He argues that we should not be gauging our economy by how socialized it has become but rather by the degree of freedom that remains; and the only way to do that is to rid ourselves of the belief that because Sweden, for example, has confiscatory taxation, the U.S. should as well. And with his essay "Rethinking the '80s," Rothbard takes on one of the sacred icons of the Right: Ronald Reagan. To Rothbard, the 1980s were not a heyday for the free market, let alone classical liberalism. Instead, Reagan stunted the libertarian mood that was quite prevalent throughout the country when he was first elected in 1980 by proceeding to pursue a policy of military Keynesianism and erroneously.di'lling it laissez-faire. If one wishes to read Rothbard the scholar, th'en one should start with Man, Economy, and State or Power and Market, but if one wants Rothbard the polemicist and political observer, then there is no better place to start than with this book. Of the three principal figures of 19th century European anarchismProudhon, Bakunin, and Kropotkin there can be little question that Proudhon came the closest to representing the individualist ideal of classical liberalism. Indeed, while he is best known to libertarians as being the fountainhead of Benjamin Tucker's economic ideas - almost all of which were remarkably wrongheaded - Proudhen was fundamentally a friend ofindividual liberty and an opponent of all authoritarian forms of collectivism, particularly state-socialism of the Marxian variety. While Marx wanted to create a world in which even the most personal of decisions would come under the totalitarian..:..like regulation of the state, Proudhon knew that all the virtues oflife could only blossom in an environment where people are free to make decisions on their own, be they right or wrong. As he said, "God is evil, but I no more want to make it a crime to believe in God than I do to abolish property." With Proudhon and His Age (Humanities Press, 184 pages, $45.00), John Ehrenberg has written what he terms a "social biography" of the great French thinker. In Ehrenberg's opinion, to understand Proudhon and his politics is to under-

stand the environment in which he came liberals by reading Rand and lived and studied. For Proudhon, then Rothbard and, perhaps, Spooner Ehrenberg argues, was writing - the natural law-natural rights consquarely within the French tradition struct simply does not seem valid, let and his thought was profoundly influalone compelling, to many younger liberals, particularly those who beenced by his environment: a France moving rapidly toward industrialism. came libertarians after, say, 1980. In this way, the fra:tnework of Theseindividuals-buildinguponthe Ehrenberg'S work resembles Chris thought of Hayek and Popper - have Sciabarra's Ayn Rand: The Russian developed a humane, yet radically Radical; and, because ofthe approach libertarian consequentialism that he has taken, his book is a valuable they view as being far superior to the supplement to George Woodcock's overly simplistic and, more fundaPierre-Joseph Proudhon, which, as a mentally, unsound doctrine of natubiography, is much more conventional ral law that was once so popular in its approach. among American liberals. Machan If there is one glaring problem and Rasmussen - both ne~Objectivwith Ehrenberg's book it is that he ists - seem oblivious to the fact that fails to address Proudhon's relationthis shift has even occurred. ship with perhaps the most imporOf the 19 essays in this volume, tant group of French intellectuals of only a few were written by individuthe 19th century: the "harmony" or als who could be described as anylaissez-faire school of Say, Bastiat, thing other than overtly hostile to Dunoyer, and, later, Molinari. Bastiat consequentialism; indeed, some even - who Woodcock rightly termed "the appear to be entirely ignorant of what nearest thing France produced to a consequentialism actually is. ParticuManchester liberal" - was a frequent larly unsatisfactory in this respect is intellectual sparring partner for Gregory R. Johnson's "Against Moral Proudhon during the late 1840s, inciMinimalism." In this essay, Johnson sively critiquing Proudhon's plan for.r-"'" does what many natural-rights proponentshaveattemptedtodorecently: a "People's Bank"; Ehrenberg's ofilission oftheir often heated exchanges is equate consequentialism with an absurd Benthamite utilitarianism. more than a bit peculiar. While the editors bill this book as Just 40 years ago it would have an anthology of "contemporary" liberbeen nearly impossible to put together tarian thought, in truth, it reads as if an anthology of philosophical essays it were put together in 1973. by contemporary libertarians. In toGiven the way that many consertal, there were no more than a handvatives - particularly those located ful of libertarian academics (excluding economists) who were doing imon college campuses - decry affirmaportant and original work at that time. tive action policies as being the worst Thankfully, the U.s. recently has exthing since the crucifixion of Christ, it is often difficult for libertarians to perienced somewhat of a renaissance become particularly interested in the in the way of liberal thought, with now nearly every major institution issue. While such policies are clearly in opposition to the ideas and prinhaving at least one libertarian among ciples of classical liberalism, it is not its faculty. Moreover, in addition to an increase in the sheer number of at all clear why affirmative action is any more worthy of abolition than liberal scholars, the quality of the Social Security, Medicare, food work these thinkers have been prostamps, or the entire welfare state for ducing is also substantially higher that matter. In short, it's tough to go than the stuff churned out by many libertarians in the past. And it is to the mat on an issue with a group of precisely because of this that the anindividuals - notably mainstream conthology Liberty for the 21st Censervatives - who believe that the modem leviathan is fundamentally tury: Contemporary Libertarian Thought (Rowman & Littlefield, 386 okay, but just needs some trimming around the edges, such as eliminatpages, $67.50 retail, $29.95 from Laissez-Farre Books), edited by Tibor ing affirmative action. As a result, Clint Bolick's The R. Machan and Douglas R. Affirmative Action Fraud (Cato Rasmussen, is so disappointing. Institute, 170 pages, $10.95) is a The most significant development timely and much-needed reminder in libertarian thought over the past that preferential racial policies are several years has been the gradual indeed sufficiently destructive to rebut steady demise of natural rights quire libertarians to form a distastethinking among libertarians. Once nearly dominant among rank-andSee BOOKS, Page 14 file libertarians - most of whom be-

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