vol_16_no_2 by Michigan Review

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW Volume 16, Number 2

October 8, 1997

The Campus Affairs Journal of the University of Michigan

LEADERSHIP-2017: A Conflict of Interest? BY EvAN

KNOTT AND lEE BocKHORN

VERY SUMMER, THE University of Michigan sponsors and facilitates Leadership 2017, a highly selective summer internship program for students involved in top positions of select student organizations on campus . Intended to foster a unique collaborative experience for the campus's most involved students to interact with University staff, administrators, and other student organizations, most students at U-M know little about the program, its selection process, or how it has affected the University communityas a whole since its inception in 1994. While administration officials boast about the numerous campusoriented services and projects performed during and after each year's sll1tlmer program, a critical analysis of 'the program reveals numerous questionable attributes inherent in Leadership 2017's structure and poli-

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INSIDE! • See our coverage of Leadership 2017 - continued on pages 3 and I 7 inside. Managing Editor Evan Knott and Campus Affairs Editor Lee Bockhorn collaborated to bring you this report. I

I • We examine the IRS and offer \ our opinion on page 4. -

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dership 2017 on

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• Editor-in- Chief Benjamin Kepple examines problems with Student Government in his reckless column, Lost in the Eighties T

ogy on page 8 . • Managing Editor Matt Buckley stares down Bruce Babbitt on page 9.

)! •

• Staff writer Maureen Sirhal examines the real lessons the campus should be learning from the Tamara Williams tragedy. See page 6.

• Staff writer C. J. Carnacchio debunks environmental myiliol-

Leadership2017 originated dul-~ . ing a public forum of student leaders in the 1993-94 academic year. The program, under the direction of Assistant to the Vice-President of Student Affairs Debra Moriarty and Associate Vice-President and Dean of Students Royster Harper, is provided as one of the programs ofMichigan Leadership Initiatives (MLI). MLI's Board of Directors, which gives 2017 the "seal of approval" each year, consists roughly of 22 members, comprised in halfby students and in half by faculty, staff, and alumni. Corporate representation is also present, currently through a U-M alumni working with Proctor and Gamble. The intentions for the program were to allow student leaders to collaborate with one another and the administration to build a stronger student voice on campus. Each internship session was designed to facilitate five goals - to enhance participants' leadership skills, to create and implement a project to improve specific organizations or campus as a whole, to initiate and continue strategic planning for individual organizationa, to allow student leaders to build relationships with their J1eers and university staff, and to have participan t s work with administrators in

• Sports Editor Rob Wood covers all aspects of Michigan football from future games to interviewing the Superfan. See pages 10 and 11. • Music Editor Chris Hayes reviews albums and shows . His wisdom is nicelXbottled for you on pages 14 and 15.

See LEADERSHIP 2017, Page 3

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THt MICHIGAN REVIEW

October 8, 1997

TIm lVlwHIGA:--': RE\' II<:\\'

o SERPENT'S TOOTH

The Campus Affairs Journal of the University of Michigan 'Oh my God! They killed Kenny!" EOlIORIAL BOARD

We couldn't help but notice Paul Serilla's (author of the infamous "SeriIla Warfare" column) latest putrid installment in last Friday'sDaily. Normally, we'd gleefully begin to tear him apart, but we can't really start a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent. It would be kind of mean to engage in a battle of wits with someone who is not only unanned, but apparently wearing a large, flashing, target sign that screams "LOOK! I'M A CLASS-A MORON!" on it. We here at Serpent's Tooth find it incredibly shocking and extremely disturbing that participants in the vaunted Leadership 2017 program did nothing this summer except get paid $11 an hour to Party Like It's 1999. In an unparalleled event, the University of Michigan has raised close to $1.4 billion dollars over a five year period. However, whether President Bollinger will use the money to build new buildings or focus on what goes inside those new buildings remains to be seen. As great fans of the Comedy Central

show "South Park," we here at the Review thoroughly enjoyed watching the episode where Kathie Lee Gifford comes to South Park. As for the

Spring 1998 Commencement Committee, however, we're warning you: Don't get any funny ideas.

when their Master Plan is lifted directly from the script of The Life of Brian?

In the spirit of CBC's "This Hour has 22 Minutes," the Michigan Review would like to sound, as a public service anouncement, a warning to MSA President Mike N agrant:

Demonstrating their penchant for hard-hitting investigative journalism, we're proud to congratulate the Daily for their September 30th feature entitled «Alcohol Common for Students Under 21." Keep your eyes peeled for future Daily stories, possibly including but by no means limited to: • "Class Attendance Common on Exam Days."

DO SOMETHING! Former MSA President Fiona Rose was recently featured in Glamour magazine as one of their ''Top Ten College Women of the Year." When asked to name the one item she· couldn't make it through college with- ~ out, she replied, "My running shoes. Running is my escape; it's the only time I'm al<f"ne to think, plan ~d focus." Serpent's Tooth would like to remind her that a nice $150 Franklin planner purchased with MSA money helps one plan and focus, too ... Look, we don't know about the rest of you guys, but wejust can't respect the Coalition to Defend Mfirmative Action By Any Means Necessary, Yadda Yadda Yadda. What kind of student group expects to get anything done, much less Save Affirmative Action,

Benjamin Kepple Sang Lee Matthew Buckley Evan Knott Lee Bockhom Kristina Curkovic

EOlIORIAl STAFF MUSIC EOlIOR: SPORTS EDITOR: ., ILLUSTRATOR: COMPUTER CONSULTANT: THE LAW:

Chris Hayes Rob Wood

Astrid Phinlps Jesse Kepple OffIcer Barbrady

STAFF WRITERS: Nate Boven, C. J. Camacchio, S. C. Einspahr, Craig Garthwaite, Andrew Golding, Doug Hillho"", Jacob Oslick, Maureen SirhaI, Jamie Smith. CORRESPONDENTS: Tom Jolliffe (Madrid), Dan Succarde (Los Angeles)

• "Flower Delivery Common on Valentine's Day."

Geoff Brown

EDITOR EMERITUS:

• "Michigan Winters Commonly Un- . pleasant." WDIV-TV (channel 4, Detroit) hasn't much in the way of local news, but they pointed out that NWROC had been thrown off their picket line at the Detroit newspaper strike for be. t 'l't t b the rn t ,_,.. rng 00 mIl an - y .I. ea~. ers,· We'd like to take a moment to encourage many of our readers who have felt depressed and sadd~ned with the political situation here. Believe us when we tell you that there are so many schools even worse off than we are. So very many ...

o LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Michigan Review is the independent, studenktln joumal of conservative and libertarian opinion at the University of Michigan. We neither solicit nor accept monetary donations from the u-M. Contributions to the Michigan Review are tax-deductible under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Review is not affiliated with any political party or university political group. Ooooooh, Kathie Lee, I wanna lay ya down ... OK, 'Chef, we'll stop righttherelThe Reviewstaffare huge fans of that new cult classic, South Park (Comedy Central, lOpm Wednesdays)..Pe&fcakelBEEFCAKEfRememb8rloduck and cover whenever you see lava, or any other potential harbingers of sorrow! In addition, we advocate listening to classical music, jazz music, and classical iazz music. However, we must admit do not have crazed elementary school teachers attempting to assassinate annoying television personalities. However, Ben Kepple dies every staff meeting. Irs pretty cool. Unsigned edHorials represent the opinion of the editorial board. Ergo, they are unequivocably correct and just. Signed article~, letters, and cartoons represent the opinions of the author and nol necessarily those of the Review. The opinions presented in this publication are nol necessarily those of the advertisers or of the University of Michigan. We welcome letters, articles, and comments about the joumal. Please address all advertising and subscription inquiries to: Publisher c/o the Michigan Review.

To the Editor: I've got to talk to you about your article, "For Every Affirmative Action, There is a Reaction" in the Sep- . tember 17 issue.' While I disagree with your stance on affirmative action, that's not a battle anyone can win with a quick e-mail. But I can't believe the WAY you attack it in this piece. You say you want to "take a look at some of the mindless rot that's been spewed out in favorofthis bloated cadaver of a program over the past couple weeks." And you're right, most of the stuff you quote IS mindless. However, all your references are from the DAlLYl!! You rightfully trash that so~ excuse for journalism every week, but then you select it to be the spokesperson for a policy you're critiquing?! Not a fair fight at all. There are plenty of good arguments for affirmative action, which CAN'T

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: ASSOCIATE PUBUSHER: MANAGING EDITOR: MANAGING EDITOR: CAMPUS AFFAIRS EOlIOR: ARTS EDITOR:

be dismissed with a one-liner, but you didn't tackle any of them. Next time you want a good debate, and want to foster good, solid discussion of an important topic, frnd someone who knows what they're talking about. (I, unfortunately, am not that someone.)

Editorial And Business Offiees: 911 N. University Avenue, Suite One Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1265

Sclwol junior Paul Bhasin, whereas the second was written by Michigan Student Assembly President Mike Nagrant.

EMAIL: MREV@umich.edu URL: http://www.umich.edu/~mrev/ Tel. (313) 647-8438 Fax (313) 936-2505 copyright 01997, by The Michigan Review, Inc. All rights rese<vod.

MAKE YOUR VIEWS KNOWN!

The /.//chIgM! RIWI... I• • member oI1he Colloglale Network.

DAVE GINSBERG

LSA SOPHOMORE P .S. I still think you're the.best, right after the Independent, which isn't really in the same category. P.P.S. Superchunk?! IntheReview?!?! COOL.

EDITOR'S NOTE: While all three pieces quoted in the aforementioned article appeared in the Daily, on,ly one was written by the Daily staff. Of the .ot.hr!.r . .{!Vo,. . . .. .one. /.lias wr~tte.n. by . Music ,

Fire off a letter to the editors at The Michigan Review! e-mail mrev@umich.edu or write: Letters to the Editor The Michigan Review 911 N. University, Suite One, Ann Arbor MI 48109

Love us or hate us, wr:ce us . The Michigan Review Letters to the Editor 911 N. University Ave. Suite One Ann Arbor, MI48109 or email with subject "Letters to the Editor": mrev@umich.edu

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October 8, 1997

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

Leadership 2017

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

providing feedback on University programs, policies, and services affecting campus. Although comprised of an ambitious and worthy set of program goals, a closer look at Leadership 2017's application and selection process reveals potentially exclusive and elitist intentions. According to the official program description, "decision-making, project progress, and overall organizational development are maxi· mized when 2017 participants are in the top leadership position of their organization. Therefore, it is our intention to select organization presidents to participate." In keeping with such a narrow target of University students, the program allots only 15 internship positions each summer. While the program asserts that all students are eligible to apply, "priority consideration will be given to students who represent organization~ that have a significant impact or po-· tential impact on the campus community." Yet, nowhere in the program's information is "significant impact" or "potential impact" defined. Looking at the 1996-97 participant rosters, it seems that the Student Affairs division has a very clear idea of what constitutes a candidate of "impact." While the only formal prerequisite for participation in 2017 is attendance in the six day Leadershape program, an alternative program open to more students, certati' student organizations and positions on campus alJ'e represented in the program contimially. For example, representatives from MLI, Hillel, Project SERVE, Michigan Student Assembly, Residence Halls Association, and the Panhellenic Association were consistently selected. According to 2017 coordinator Royster Harper, "to not pick the MSA president would be a very difficult decision." While consistent participation from leaders of these groups at first seems to show that 2017 is committed to representing "diverse perspectives and a cross representation of campus organizations," efforts to promote the program indicate a concerted effort by the administration to target particular student leaders. Although announcements for the program are sent out to all campus organizations registered with MSA, application materials al'e available mostly in select administration offices such as the Office of Student Activities and Leadership, the Dean of Students Office, and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. In addition, members of the Roundtable group are specifically encouraged to apply, as illustrated by

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their vast representation in past sescuss their weekly reading assignPresident Anthony Scaglione; the desions. Former participants in 2017 ments taken from Stephen Covey's velopment of an information brochure also playa role in seeking out future for the Black Greek Association by "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective participants; one former 2017 partici': 1996 participant and BGA President People." Within the first few weeks, pant stated that after his election to participants are also expected to soPeter Tate; and a review of the the presidency of his student group, lidifY plans for their community or InterFraternity Council's peer eduhe "was pushed at that time by past organization-based project as well as cation programs by IFC President Ken program participants to apply to both their involvement in the Welcome to Tanner. The rest of the project time is Leadershape and Leadership 2017." Michigan program. spent on community service, joint Coordinators of 2017 claim that apFrom the beginning of the sumprojects between student groups, and plications are open to all students, yet mer session, participants are consmaller scale "tangible" projects that the typical student does not regularly sulted to design many ofthe program's produce more immediate results. visit or associate with the aforemenseminars and events by prioritizing Past participants give generally tioned administrative offices. Student 10-20 topics of interest. Then, exrave reviews of 2017's contents. leaders who have maintained posiperts and speakers are contacted and InterFraternity Council President and tive relationships with administraasked to facilitate the many daily 1997 participant Ken Tanner detors such as Student Affairs VP events throughout the 2017 summer scribed 2017 as a "positive experiMaureen Hartford before and after session. While the 1997 session inence" which not only prepared him for their 2017 participation, may thus cluded some useful information for his student leadership role but also student leaders on topics such as have an inside advantage in getting gave him leadership skills and knowlselected. The implications ofthis "old media relations and business etiedge which he was able to pass on to boys network" are twofold. First, stuquette; it also included various politiother members of his organization. dents on friendly terms with adminiscally liberal seminars and other quesFormer BGA President Peter Tate trators may have an advantage in ."'lienable activities. For example, on stated that he believes "there is no . May 28th participants devoted a two applying to 2017. Second, such a sebetter leadership opportunity in exlection process mitigates one of the ~ hour "educational session" toward istence, and 2017 definitely needs to most fundameIlMl'goals of the pro- " learning about The Michigan Manremain an option for student leaders gram. There is no point in pursuing date and Agenda for Women, former on this campu~." improved relationS"between the adU-M President Duderstadt's controPast 2017 participants also take ministration and student leaders versial blueprint for affirmative acumbrage at the assertion that there is when good relations already exist tion. On June 3rd, June 17th, July . an inherent conflict ofinterest when between participants and adminis8th, and July 22nd participants de~ .. U-M administrators provide paid internships to student leaders. Kimtrators. According to coordinator voted a total of 14 hours of educaberly Dillon, a 1996 participant, said Debra Moriarty, "our selection protionala~ssions to "dive~ity." OnJ].lly NI donJtthlnk theta is any validity to cess is complex; we're not just looking 10th, participants spent an hour sharthose assertions. Administrators were for a particular leader of an organizaing their input on "flyers on campus" never present at the educational or tion, but for qualities that will affect and later on July 29th spent almost feedback sessions." Dillon also stated the University community." Dean two hours discussing "the arts." Two that the student leaders she met in Harper concurred, adding that "our hours were spent learning about afthe program were "strong people who goal is for participants to have integfirmative action on July 29th. The would not be afraid to voice their rity, meaning to not belong to stumost interesting of all the "educaopinions to administrators," and that dents or the administration." A look tional activities" was the group's 8-11 program participants had discussed at rosters from past sessions strongly 2 hour trip to the Cedar Point amusethe conflict of interest issue and conchallenges these assertions; it is apment park in Sandusky, Ohio on June cluded that they "were not being parent that many participants were 5th. (Participants were not paid for 'bought off' by the Administration." sought with little regard for other this activity.) Another disturbing asFor compensation, each of the 15 applicants. pect ofthe program was the occurance Moreover, the exclusive and tarof several informal dinners for the participants in 1997 were paid $11 an geted application process for 2017 is participants held at the home of VP hour for a 40 hour work week, as well further perpetuated by a selection for Student Affairs Maureen Hartas provided health coverage by Unicommittee comprised of former proford. The amount oftime and resources versity Health Services. Thus, the University is in essence attracting 15 gram participants, along with the codevoted to these activities are highly ordinating staff. Emphasis for review questionable. Indeed, analysis of the elite student leaders to spend 12 paid weeks attending arguably questionof the essay question applications is program schedule shows the amount able seminars and events at a cost of supp6sed to be put on candidates' of time devoted for student input to vision, content, and goals. However, administrators on issues like the Code $79,200 (each intern earning $449 the potential for conflict of interests of Student Conduct, ostensibly one of per week for 12 weeks) for internship in allowing past participants to rethe minor components ofthe program, salaries alone. According to Moriarty, view applicants is high. For example, is far outweighed by the amount of the program attempts to provide selected participants "a paid internship 1996 program alumna Fiona Rose was time devoted to "educating" the parin a position to review the application ticipants on the administration's viewbased on research of paid internships ofProbir Mehta, a 1997 program parpoints on such things as diversity and seniors would get offcampus. We want ticipant and Rose's former MSA runaffirmative action. to be competitive." ning mate. Participants of 2017 devote 20 Where does the funding for all Once selected, participants are hours per week to these educational these activities come from? Moriarty expected to devote a minimum of 40 indicated that expenses for the proactivities and the other 20 to working hours per week to the program. Acon their projects. The main focus of cording to the program's description, this work is on each participant's inCONTINUED ON PAGE 7 2017 will "also involve evening and dividual project. Examples of these weekend work." Indeed, the 1997 are the Religious-Academic Conflict -schedule required participants tOD-isStatement'd'€\velopecl in i996"byHillel

October 8 , 1997

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

o FROM SUITE ONE 2017: Grave Conflict of Inter6·st

E WERE MORE THAN SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT 15 SELECT intern s spent the summer under the tutelage ofthe Vice President of Student Affairs, a nd concerned when we learned who those interns were. It seems unimaginable to us that student leaders, who are entrusted with supporting a nd implementing the goals and hopesofthe rank-and- file members of their respective groups , would so willingly enter into the Leadership 2017 program, where they face incredible conflicts of interest . They routinely spent a great deal of time under the watchful eyes of Vice President for Student Affairs Maureen Hartford and other bureaucrats. They spent time involved in seminars that seem oddly devoted to Administrationfriendly policies. They were paid $11 an hour to do so - an incredibly lavish sum . These are the people that many of us routinely turn to for help with problems or concerns dealing with the Administration, and they are being paid by the very people we are complaining about. Does this not reek ofjust a slight conflict of interest? When was the last time you made $11 an hour at a summer job, much less an internship? For those of you who wonder what that comes out to, $11 an hourat40 hours a week for 12 weeks ... $5,280. Fifteen of your student leaders were paid $5,280 "to work" on activities that would undoubtedly affect the University Community, such as regular "information" sessions with such U-M personnel as Vice President for University Relations Walter Harrison and 14 hours total studying the wonders of diversity. We find it incomprehensibl~;f . as to why students who pride themselves on being leaders would so blindly • enter into a situation where conflicts of interest happened on a daily basis. The participant roster from this past summer reads like a laundry list of leaders from student groups that may be potentially tr~OOlingto the University: Michael Nagrant, President of MSA; Lauren Shubo~ , President of LSA-SG; Tim Wright, Residence Halls Association; the list goe~..on, with participants UR COUNTRY GETS WHAT IT ASKS FOR. WE ASK FOR TAX from groups as diverse as the Interfraternity Council to the .United Asian collection to fund the government. We ask for exemptions and regulations American Association. Were one of a skeptical mind, one might think that the in our tax code, to subsidize ag9--penalize all manner of behavior. Over University was trying to cover all the bases. It seems unlikely that this is a mere the course of the past century, .pa:ttf~ularly the last fifty years, the result has coincidence or a fluke of the undoubtedly pristine admissions process. been the creation of a massive tax collection apparatus , given the duty of We also are shocked at the flagrant waste of resources and funds by the enforcing a thoroughly complex tax code and collecting massive amounts of Administr.a tion in implementing this program. There is no need for students to money. be paid $11 an hour for any job on campus, and considering that the participants Obviously, the result is imperfect, as recent Senate hearings show. Recently, did little useful work, we can't see why a minimal stipend or even no pay would the acting head of the Internal Revenue Service apologized for abuses by agents not have sufficed . After all, almost all internships offer those options as during tax collection. The list of such abuses is extensive. With individual compensation . To spend close to $80,000 to pay 15 interns is incredibly and branches competing to collect the most inoney, the IRS's internal organization suspicously lavish. fostered a climate where abusive practices ran rampant. In order to get ever Furthermore, itis simply impermissible and irresponsible for the University more tax dollars, fierce suspicion of all potential tax debtors was combined with to waste the valuable money of donors and students in providing these the IRS's vast authority, creating a serious threat to taxpayers . The tales reported before the Senate Finance Committee were illustrative. programs. What kind of return is the University community receiving from these programs? Do these programs truly help? Since only a few programs have One woman spent 17 years trying to fIx the IRS's mistake over the identity of ever had a direct result on the University community, we must question what her husband. Another case involved a priest wrongly assessed for his mother's . exactly is going on here. We sincerely doubt that donors would be pleased to estate, to the tune of$18,000. Comments by IRS agents suggested that middl.elearn their money is going directly to fund any number of essentially suspect class and lower-class workers were targeted by IRS employees trying to get activities offered in Leadership 2017. more tax dollarsi since the rich have better accountants, the middle and lower For $5,280 per intern, you would think that the program would create some classes were easier to squeeze. All in all, this month has been one of the worst kind of productive result. They apparently have enough time to waste so that public relations periods for the IRS ever. they can go to Cedar Point for a day, so what are they doing when they are Certainly, the actions of a few agents should not be grounds to slander the supposedly worki~g? entire IRS. The IRS fulfills its function better than similar foreign organizations, Seminars! Individual projects! Few projects affect the University as a and certainly performed admirably given hardware problems and an everwhole. In addition, these "seminars" appear to be thinly~disguised indoctrination more-complex tax code . The country could clearly do much worse than the current IRS. courses where the Administration's goal is to have participants soak up the Yet the problems posed by the recent IRS scandal are serious, and demand their viewpoints as if they were sponges. It is obvious enough why the participants were involved with the program: solutions. The best solution would be to enact a siinpler tax code. While a they were given a great deal of money to participate in a cushy internship simpler tax code would not cure the problem of agents pursuing the lower classes, it would make it easier for individuals to file their returns without filing program . But the participants themselves are suspect. They convieniently represent leaders from a wide range of influential student organizations. They errors which confuse the system. By eliminating various "corporate welfare" convieniently are handpicked by 2017 alumni and administrative personnel to loopholes which favor the rich, it would.also make standardized enforcement of attend. The program is virtually unannounced, with applications in out-of-thethe tax code easier. Not only would this path be effective at lessening the IRS's problems, but way and inconspicuous locations, further ensuring that few, if any, even know it would also be politically popular. The issues ofIRS security notwithstanding, about the program's existence. And then these students, in the summer, a simpler, fairer tax code has a resonating appeal to much of the American participate in programs that are of great interest to the Administration, even public. While a flat tax may not be possible for some time, there is certainly going so far as to have dinner at the home of the VP for Student Affairs. public demand to reduce the massive complexity found in the tax code. If All of these factors make us very concerned about who is being selected, why politicians could overcome their twin habits of complicating the tax code and they are being selected, and ifthey are more disposed to favor the Administration subsidizing large corporations, perhaps then the IRS could better fulfill its after attending. The conflict of interest that is present for student leaders is simply too great to outweigh any benefits of attanding;2017. 1\R.' ; : . , , . . essentlalrol'e iin' the{Ameriean'.gov:ernment. Mt . , . .-: Mq.t(Buckley

o COMMENTARY

IRS Requires Reforlll

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October 8, 1997

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

o LOST IN THE EIGHTIESTM

Student Mis-Governme'ntand You • ;%</.'

BY BENJAMIN KEpPLE

X-MICHIGAN STUDENT Assembly (MSA) President Fiona Rose can best be described as Michigan's version ofKathie Lee Gifford. After all, she's perky! She's cheerful! She's annoying, and she won't go away! And for her latest (dubious for some) achievement, she's cheerfully penned a chapter in a volume entitled So You Want To Be President, a primer for those people who would actually be dumb enough to pay $24.95 (yes, $24,95) for a 232page trade paperback on how to win a student government election. What I find to be deeply troublesome about this and similar episodes IS that, yet again, student government "leaders," who on the whole do little or nothing productive and as such seldom get anything worthwhile accomplished, are feted as if student government is actually important. MSA is, at best, a virtually useless conglomeration of wannabe political hacks, left-wing demagouges, resume packers, and two or three Normal Students who constantly wonder "What in the hell have I gotten into?" I have yet to see that participation in student government requires one to h(lve a sense of financial acumen, leadership skills, or charisma; in fact, the only qualification that it requires is the ability to con other students to put up approximately 14 billion bland, mindless posters for you in an attempt to convince a r~ghtfully bored, rightfully apatheti'c (what do they have to be excited' about?) student body to vote, I find it very difficult to respect a student government system where The Opposition Party hands out slices of pizza to win votes while the candidate for The Established Party dresses up in a silly beer can outfit, also to win votes. The publisher of Sf} You Want To Be President is a little known private company in Florida called Oxendine Publishing. You've never heard of it for a reason: this company's raison d'etre is to produce, market and sell books, posters, magazines, and other related paraphernelia to student government "leaders" nationwide. Oxendine Publishing was founded and is run by W.H. "Butch" Oxendine, Jr., a former student of the "University" of Florida.

This naturally causes one to wonder if anyone actually takes a man named Butch Oxendine seriously. But apparently Butch thinks so highly of The University of Michigan that "a big school like yours should be in a book like this," and thinks so highly of Rose as to proclaim that "CRose) is an atypical MSA leader." (Daily, 9/25/ 97) Oh dear. Was Fiona "Fotomat" Rose a great MSA President? No. A hideous one? No. Below average? I think that is a fair assessment. Rose's presidency was chock full of scandal, mishaps, and embarassments that were on occasion dulled by an occasional triumph. If she were a U.S. President CGod forbid!) she would rank with Carter and Johnson. But she is now being hailed as one of the Best Student Government Presidents Ever, and this is a grave error. While Fiona did do work to secure finan<;ial aid for students, successfully established a .,. child care prog:va:iri' with student ap- '" proval, and even met the President of the United States (Ii truly disturbing precedent, but I digress), she also screwed up a lot. What is beingconveniently forgotten is that Fiona was indirectly or directly responsible for: • proposing and then agreeing to a budget that spent 56 percent of MSAfundsinternally. These internal expenditures included $6,407 for office supplies, $9,000 for internal copies, $6,500 for then-and-now External Relations Chair Erin "Let's Go To D.C." Carey (and friends) to go to Washington, Lansing, and other places to Lobby on Our Behalf. If the MSA wants to lobby on our behalf, give them 35 cents for a stamp and an envelope. • making sound and responsible financial purchases with MSAmoney, such as the now-infamous $150 Franklin Planner, ostensibly for "Assembly business" (read: her own personal use). • doing virtually nothing about the Code, parking problems, meal reform, tuition hikes, and other issues she promised to take care of when she was elected, Many on campus felt that Fiona was too close to Maureen Hartford to have been any benefit to students. Personally, I feel she sold us out like any typical MSA hack, but I am willing to see other opinion on this. • forgetting that her Vice President, Probir "Funk Lord" Mehta, illegally diverted $500 ofMSA money to a student group, along with doing God knows what else. As for Mehta, his main accomplishment (from what

Benjamin Kepple is Editor-in--Chief ofthe Michigan Review. Being a rightwing ideologue has caused mostpeople to think that he's sold out to Someone. He reports directly to The Man's Dis· trici Representative.... ",,,,,,,I·CRn'WH~W3t$.tQ'hidein'tl\l€'E~ive,

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MSA needs to show that it actuOffice. ally has financial sensibility. The These are not the marks of a good members need to show that they are Presidency. In fact, nine times out of aware of the needs of their constituten, Fiona was criticized inst~d of ents, and work to solve their probapplauded when it came to her aclems. We don't care about your trips tionsorthoseofher"administration." to Washington or your meetings with And this is agood MSAPresident? My the President; we aren't amused by God, I'd hate to see what a bad MSA your cordial relationship with the President would be like. Administration; and we aren't pleased Let's fast forward for a minute. when you lie to us or are otherwise Current MSA President Mike "Better deceptive. For God's sake, DO SOME· Weather Boy" Nagrant and Vice PresiTHING to help us. We're being dent Olga "Rasputin" Savic are doing squashed under the thumb of the a great job compared to Fiona and Administration, we have no place to Probir. We've seen a slight absolute park, the Code of Student Conduct is increase in the BPC budget and a 20 lying in wait to oppress us, and most percent cut in the Operations budget, student groups have no money. That's which is a good start. They have also why we elected you people, to help us, kept out Cthus far) of any major scannot so that you could pad your redals, although I personally wonder sumes. whether they have any skeletons in This chapter in So You Want To the closet, slowly working free under Be President is Fiona's final stage of tIfe pressures ofMSA leadership. selling out, really; one could get a Now to be sure, Mike has almost migraine headache and nausea readcertainly alienated his entire consering· the praise given to her by Vice vative constituency with his recent President for Student Snppre0'50'5ion comments regarding the affirmative Affairs Maureen Hartford. It makes action debate. The inference he made you wonderjust whose interests Fiona regarding affirmative action opponents and that extremely offensive .' was looking out for when 'she became incident on campus involving a Hillel' President, doesn't it? And this is why most people have responded to Fiona's poster was completely unjustified and has rightfully angered many.con$er~ "book d~ar:wit~<Ul. u,~~.rfJfe,dE)I) ted level ofcynicism and scorn, because of vatives, who do not like to be unjustly the widespread and not-unfounded branded as anti-Semites in so many that she did not represent the feeling words. His recent "Viewpoint" on afstudent body. Instead, she reprefirmative action was perhaps one of sented her own interests. the most illogical, groundless, and This makes the fact that Fiona is painful pieces of writing I have read giving tips to possibly dozens of stuin defense of that hideous program. It dent government larvae out there may very well be arguable that Mike about how to win an election in So you and Olga have forgotten just what want to be President, (edited by, guess constituency on campus gave them a who, W.H. "Butch" Oxendine, Jr.) frusmargin of victory in their election. trating and annoying, because it Mike also has the stigma of attending makes you realize that a) she may be Leadership 2017 this summer. But a decent candidate when it comes to Mike and Olga at least have the aprunning for student government, but pearanceofcaringaboutthestudent not a decent President and b) we probbody, and still have the appearance of ably should have elected Andy Schor being honest and considerate, whereas as MSA President back in the day. I do not believe Fiona ever had, or for But who knows? Maybe MSA will that matter deserved, such an image. shape up. It's possible they'll begin to It might even be said that some or be taken seriously QY campus. It's most student government represenpossible. l\R tatives actually work hard for their goals and sincerely believe in what they are working for. This is something that must be proven to the vast majority of campus if student government wants to get any respect from the most important special interest group of all: not the administration, not the Greek system, not the campus press, but the student body itself. And while "respect for student government" currently is a contradiction in terms, such as "military intelligence," or "broadcast journalism," it is a state of affairs that'lean b~ch~(b:Jf f:!t.i:nr; r,', ; ":,,;',';:;'; .; ;.;:r;,:

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o ESSAY

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

October 8, 1997

Assessing A G:ulture of Choices BY MAUREEN SIRHAL

WOWEEKSAGO,THECAMpus was stunned by the death of one of its students. Tamara Williams was, as the papers gruesomely reported, stabbed repeatedly m the back by her boyfriend, Kevin Nelson. And immediately after her death, many individuals and organiZillions consoled her loved ones and offered their heartfelt sympathies. So many wanted to take initiatives to honor her memory. The Michigan Daily jumped to the task of a special edition entirely dedicated to the event. Several st.udent leaders stepped forward in solidarity and organized an "anti-hat.e" vigil. Counselors were dispersed into the different classes in which Williams was enrolled, to talk about the recent tragedy. Even newly inaugurated President Lee Bollinger offered his condolences and demanded a renewed effort in the funding and promotion of safety measures and awareness of domestic violence. As I stand back and observe all that has occurred as a result of this tragedy, I am left empty and angp.red. A..ngered by the sheer fact that this girl's death could have been avoided. Angered that university admirtistrators and student activists capitalized from the discussion of her violent death. The event simply added to their self-aggrandizement and the notion oftheir huge contributions t.o the campus community in the wake of such tragedy. And further angered that after all the hoopla is over, we'll be left \vith little in ihe way of serious dicussion for the prevention offuture ocCurrences of this nature. The questions and dialogue that ~hould follow her death should not be concerned with her canonization. Nor should money be thrown at a problem for which so many claim to have the monopoly on expertise but few have been able to document precisely. Domestic violence has long been a favored issue of politicians and activists. It is an issue that can have no defenders. Who in their right mind would defend abusers of women? But what is so often overlooked when domestic violence flares are the precursors. In the case of Tamara Williams,. she was intimately involved with a man who has fathered two children out of wedlock by different women. Williams lived with this man and knew of his violent tendencies, including fits of yelling and hitting of

}[cwreen Sirhal Z:s a senior lnajoring political science and English and IS a staff writer for the Review.

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both herself and, on at least one instance, her child. With these facts, stated clearly in the media coverage of the killing, many would ask, why did 3f!e remain with him? Critics argue that domestic violence derives from a pattern of abuse that erodes self-esteem and places its victims in precarious positions, rendering them helpless to their situations. It is a cycle. Tamara was a victim: I do not dispute this. But what is overlooked are the factors that contributed to her death and the deaths of so many other women. There is a cycle, yes, but where does the cycle begin? One of the best preventions to potentially dangerous relationships is the inital choice to become involved. Somewhere in the three-year relationship of this 20-year-old woman and 26-year-old man, there were choices ... a choice to leave, a choice to become further involved. Many critics w{)uld argue that the live-in n~: ture of the r~lt{ti.onship had nothing to do with her death, that he wouTd have killed het路-regardless, because, as so many feminists point out, domestic violence is about power. Yet I believe a key element is how they obtainthatpower. These abusive men often control women through sex. Increasingly our culture ignores the ramifications of sex and sexual activity outside of a solid, committed relationship. Perhaps in a different society -one that instilled the message of circumspection with regard to female behavior - we would not have so many of these incidents. Women need to understand the importance of choice; of making informed decisions by not allowing their emotions to dictate their sense of what is right and wrong. There is no dialogue on this matter, because Tamara made a "lifestyle" choice. She made an initial choice to involve herselfwith a man before she took the time to understand his potentially harmful personality. While some individuals consider this woman's tragedy a remote possiblity, how many other students make that same initial connection to someone under uninformed circumstances? But when do we stop acknowledging a person's right to engage in harm- . ful behavior and start acknowledging the danger of the consequences from individuals choices upon society as a . whole? One of these consequences is a little girl, Tamara's daughter, who, by no choice of her own, is left without parents. (Her father was killed by gunfire in Detroit just a short time ago.) Where is the justice for this little girl, or do we also blame the actions of

the killer? When do we stop making collective excuses and start analyzing individuals' behavior? Somewhere between the desire to displaycompassion and sympathy for this tragedy, the sense of moral obligation is lost and the social criticisms are silenced by those who believe anarchy in behavior is everyone's right, despite the consequences. But little or no attention is paid to the prevention of these situations. No one stands to scream "Maybe if you evaluated your choices a little bit better, none of this would have happened." Of course no one can proclaim this sentiment. If so, he or she would be infringing on another person's rights. Never mind that this girl infringed on the right of her child's right to safety by bringing a man into her , home who hit, and screamed, and ~ ultimately killed. I am not trying to single out this one tragedy as the example for everyone, nor am I claiming in the least that Tamara got what she deserved. Please do not misinterpret my intention. It may be harsh to hear, but prevention of domestic abuse starts by informing women how to make' better choices. And part of making better choices is understanding why morality is such a necessary component in these choices. Moral behavior is not something sent to punish but to protect people. Perhaps I generalize too much. I ask you, could this have been prevented? We'll never know. Yet there are hundreds of women on campus who continually choose to put themselves in potentially dangerous situations. They intimately involve themselves with individuals whose characters and personalities they know no better than the next-door neighbor who greets them on the way to the store. So many women make themselves vulnerable to acquaintances' and in some cases, total strangers. The dialogue surrounding the tragedy did not address these issues. The outpouring of emotion from administration officials, the student government, and campus groups indicates many feel we must combat the threat of domestic violence. However, no matter how large the expenditures of SAPAC and other worthy campus groups, the fact remains that literally thousands of individuals make morally indefensible choices weekend after weekend, year after year. Addressing a culture which increasingly abandons common sense for the sake of ''having fun" in the form of ''hookups" should be of greater concern than piecemeal attempts to help victims

after the damage is done. Choice and prevention and morality are always touchy issues. The fear of appearing judgmental on an over-sensitized campus suppresses such issues, keeping them far from our collective conscience. Short term solutions only do so much. Weare certainly a long way off from addressing the big picture. Be.ing "aware" of the problem is only the beginning. What would better suit the problem is a deep, soul-searching analysis of how we treat these issues altogether. The greatest hindrance to addressing the cultural issues ofchoice and prevention is the continued silencing of criticism of individuals' behaviors. Morality may be touchy, but it sure is necessary. And it is not about religion, it is not about extremism: it is about practIcality. Perhaps Tamara would have agreed.Ml

Notable Quotables 'There is no evidence that Gore kne bout the reimbursement scheme. [us, he insists he didn't know th vent was a campaign fundraiser in he first place. Still, an investigatio 'nto all of this could threaten one 0 ore's most important political as ets, his squeaky-clean image." ABC's Linda Douglas concluding eptember 4 World News Tonigh tory on the Buddhist temple event. "What we've done is, we've got a fac n a corrupt system and we're doubt 'ng the probity- who would ever hav hought that you woulddoubt the pro ity of Vice President Al Gore an hree nuns? So it seems to me you 'v ot to look at the system when th 'ystem is corrupting people that yo ould not otherwise think. " Time columnist Margaret Carlso n CNN's Capital Gang, Septembe

"Civil rights laws were not passed t 've civil rights protection to allAineri mis, but just to members of certai roups." African-American scholar Mar ranees Berry, one of Pre sid en linton's choices to chair a commis ion on civil rights.

The Michigan Review Purveyors of truth, justice, and liberty since 1982.

October 8, 1997

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW '\,

Leadership 2017 \1

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

gram are minor and include mostly some xeroxing costs. She also stated that expenses are donated in that seminar facilitators devote their presentation time for free. MLI plays a large role in providing finances to the program through its corporate sponsorship, while the School of Engineering and School of Business have also donated funds. Other expenses for the program totalled $7,483, including $1,129 spent on conference meals, $1 ,555 spent on Union rental and food, and $2,192 spent on "general supplies." For 1997, program expenses totaled $86,683 . Thus, two questions remain. First, if student money is used in funding 2017 , why are students not given more input in its de..;. sign? Second, if expenses are covered solely by private contributors, are they aware of how their money is being spent? Indeed, this matter warrants further investigation. In general, Leadership 2017 should stir concern within the University community. While the program certainly has virtuous goals that could positively and significantly affect campus, the administration has

' ~ "~':

shackled its potential through its overbearing influence. While participants and administrators may claim there is no conflict of interest inherent in 2017, it is difficult to see how having student leaders form , as one participant put it, "lasting friendships ... with University Employees," as well as accepting highly paid summer internships from the administration, is conducive towards presenting a strong, unified student opposition to such administration measures as the Code of Student Conduct. Moreover, past sessions show a pattern of participation by students such as Fiona Rose and Probir Mehta who are already friendly to the administration's liberal world view. In these circumstances, 2017 has little chance at providing the University community with the progress it could. While some participants such as Anthony Scaglione have done campus a great service through their participation in 2017, the program conlWmes considerable resources for questionable ends that " might otherwise b~.hetter allocated. A review of 2017 is long overdue at Michigan.m

SUMMER 1997 LEADERSHIP 2017 . PARTICIPANTS • Veronica Arriola, Michigan Leadership Institute

• Ann Kolkman Student Alumni Council

• Shelby Brown, Panhellenic Association

• Karen Lareau Project SERVE

• David Caroline Hillel

• Probir Mehta Mortar Board

.. ,....,."

• Sudhakar Cherukuri United Asian American . Organization. ~

• Cory Fryling Queer Unity Project • Lyell Haynes University Activities Center

• Michael Nagrant Michigan Student Assembly • Lauren Shubow LS&A Student Goverment • Kenneth Tanner Inter-Fraternity Council • Tim Wright Residence Halls Association

r- Does your Studertt Group tteedmoney?'" . . The budget allocation process has begun. Pick up an application at the LS&A Student Government Office at 4152 Michigan Union.

Want to be more involved? LS&A Student Government is now appointing students to these positions: • • • • • •

LSA representative to MSA LSA-SG representative Curriculum Committee Student Advisory Panel to Academic Mfairs LSA- SG Academic Affairs LSA-SG Public Activities

Applications are posted at the LSA-SG office door. Or come to a LSA-SG meeting at 2003 LSA Building, Tuesdays at 6 p.m.

4152 MICHIGAN UNION

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THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

o NATIONAL AFFAIRS

October 8, 1997

The Sky Falls on.:,Environmental Myths BY C.J. CARNACCHIO

HEN I TOLD A FRIEND that I was writing a column attacking the environmental movement, so.e immediately replied, "How can you be against the environment?" I am not against the environment. I am against the environmental movement: a movement rooted in a Chicken Little ideology of scare tactics, lies, pseudo-science, and a flagrant disregard for individual liberties and private property rights. Let's debunk some oftheis movement's myths and examine the true roots of the Greens' ideology and agenda. Myth #1: Global Warming: Despite the rantings of the apocalyptic eco-prophets, the actual temperature re.cords, taken in North America and Western Europe, show no significant or consistent upward trends. There is, instead, a series of highs and lows. According to the Greenhouse theory, the increase in carbon dioxide emissions since the beginning of the Industrial Age should have increased average temperatures by two to four oPPTees Celsius over the last 100 years. In reality, temperatures have only increased a paltry 0.5 degrees Celsius. In fact, between the 1940s and the mid-1970s temperatures were steadily declining. This led environmentalists in the 1970s to predict global cooling and the coming of a new ice age. They blamed the same industrial economy and pollutants then for global cooling tHat they now blame for global warming~ New ice age or melting polar ice caps, the environmentalists can't seem to make up their minds. It seems as long as they have a crisis to fuel their agenda and keep those donations rolling in, they'll preach anything. As for the claim that the carbon dioxide emission levels of industry are responsible for global warming, here are some facts. Both historic and prehistoric levels of carbon dioxide have shifted and changed without human intervention. Historic increases in carbon dioxide have occurred about the same time as temperature increases, but a careful study ofthe data shows the rise in temperature preceded the increase in carbon dioxide, not the reverse. In the prehistoric era, carbon dioxide levels were at times ten times what they are today, and that was during a period when life was evolving and taking

C. J. Carnacchio is a staff writer for the Review, which is printed on paper made from virgin rainforest wood.

shape. Carbon dioxide is actually a .minor greenhouse gas. Carbon dioxide, methane, hydrocarbons, and aerosol only account for two percent of greenhouse warming. The main greenhouse gas which accounts for the other 98 percent is w~ter vapor. So carbon dioxide's effect is ultimately insignificant, no matter how much industry has created. Myth #2: The Hole in the Ozone Layer: Contrary to the environmentalists' claims, there is no permanent hole in the ozone layer and no ozone shortage. Ozone is constantly created and destroyed. The interaction of ultraviolet radiation with oxygen molecules is what produces ozone. In the stratosphere, 10 to 40 kilometers above the earth's surface, several tons of ozone are produced every second. The amount of ozone present at anyone time is inflUEmced by many factors. For example, the amount of ultravioletrtdiation reaching the stratosphere (and ultimately producing ozone) depends upon latitude, solar cycle, and season. Concentrations of ozone may differ drastically from one day to the next, sometimes by as much as 50 percent, depending on the weather. Ozone holes are natural reactions to these ultraviolet light variations. Ozone levels can also be affected by the amount of volcanic matter in the stratosphere. Each volcanic eruption emits roughly a thousand times the amount of ozone-depleting chemicals than all the CFCs man has ever produced. The ozone hole that appeared over Antarctica and caused all the panic is a natural and annual phenomena. .The annual ozone hole was first measured in 1956-57, long before the ozone-destroying CFCs were in common use. The hole appears at the end of the dark, cold Antarctic winter, lasts about three to five weeks, and then disappears. There is no overall or permanent depletion of the ozone layer. Myth #3: Deforestation and Clear-cutting: America's forests are not vanishing. There are 730 million acres of forest land in the United States today. The growth on those acres is extremely dense, with a total of 230 billion trees (that's 900路trees for each American). When the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, 45 percent of what is now the 48 contiguous United States was covered by mature forest land. Today, 32 percent is still covered by forest, two-thirds of the total before the pilgrims arrived. Contrary to environmentalist propaganda, clear-cutting does not

leave behind a scarred and barren wasteland. It is usually done in a checkerboard manner leaving behind large areas offore st. The areas where cutting occurs are then replanted. Trees are a valuable commodity, and companies have an incentive not to overcut them. Today, many companies are planting millions of trees on their own land and carefully harvesting them. Even the U.S. Forest Service admits that, "Drastic as it may seem, clear cutting plays a legitimate and prominent role in scientific forestry. Properly done, it paves the way for a new, unencumbered and hence vigorously growing forest." Clear-cutting was even practiced by the Indians, who burned areas to provide a cleared space for new growth, which was favored by animals they hunted such as elk and deer. Myth #4 Endangered Species: Environmentalists claim that five species go extinct every day, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that five species, subspecies, and varieties of plants and animals have gone extinct every three and three-,路路'" quarters years since 1620. The fact is that most animals and plants go extinct from natural causes such as climatic changes, food shortages, disease, and competition with more dominant species. It's called survival ofthe fittest. Some animals are meant to go extinct and some are meant to survive. This is how species perpetuate themselves. . The Endangered Species Act of 1973 represents one of the most irresponsible pieces of legislation ever passed by Congress. The law basically gives the government the authority to stop extinction in all cases, regardless of the cost, by any means necessary. Not every species can or should be protected. Do we really need to save every allegedly endangered insect out there? Many creatures on the endangered species list are not really endangered or even a scientifically defined species at all. Yet, we spend roughly $2.6 million a year for each creature on the list. The environmentalists use their doomsday predictions as a form of political blackmail. They create these eco-bogeymen, hold them over people, and then preach the coming of the apocalypse unless their demands are met. Environmentalists see themselves as the Earth's new vanguard class, uniquely capable of seeing the impending doom while the rest of humanity remains blind to the danger. The greatest casualty oithe envi;;

',j

ronmental movement has been the property rights of American citizens. The greatest benefactor has been the Leviathan State. What better way to control someone's property than to subordinate one's private property rights to environmental concerns. Under the guise of "defending the environment," the imperial Congress has been able to enact laws wQ.ich allow government officials to confiscate private property, levy fmes for noncompliance of up to $25,000 a day, prevent owners from using their land, and even jail a land owner who uses his land for any purpose other than that which the government has dic\i;lted. This is a clear and obscene violation of the Fifth Amendment which states, "No person shall ... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation." The ideology of the Greens has roots in both fascism and Marxism. The Nazis were naturists and have been described as "the first radical environmentalists in charge of a state." As political writer David Horowitz wrote, "The enthronement. of biological imperatives, of the virtues of blood and soil and the primitive communities ofthe Yolk, the pagan rejection of the Judaeo-Christian God, and the radical anti-humanism featured in the philosophy of the Greens" are all derivatives of the Nazi ideology. From Marxism, the environmentalists derived their hatred of the free market, private property, and the upper classes. The environment has become the new weapon of choice to . attack capitalism. Dolphins and trees have become the new proletariat. In order to achieve the ecological balance the radical environmentalists advocate, it would be necessary to progressively narrow "the gap to reduce the differences between the Earth's wealthiest and poorest inhabitants" until there are "more or less equal shares for all people." Sound familiar, comrade? How ironic that it was the totalitarian regimes of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union that had the most horrendous environmental conditions on Earth. Paul Watson, co-founder of the eco-terrorist group Greenpeace, summed up the true face of the environmental movement when he said, "It doesn't matter what's true; it only matters what路people believe is true ... You are what the media define you to be. [Greenpeace] became a myth and a myth-generating machine." Amen. l\R

October 8, 1997

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

o CAMPUS AFFAIRS

Don't Under:e.stimate Babbitt BY MATTHEW BUCKLEY

ITH VICE-PRESIDENT Al Gore still reeling from recent campaign finance woes, and liberals like Rep. Dick Gephardt potentially too liberal to get elected, are there any potentially interesting Democrats ready to join the fray in 2000? A potential entrant is Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, who recently visited the University to speak about the threat ofglobal warming. Babbitt was featured at the School of Natural Resources and the Environment's symposium on eCosystem management on Sept. 23. His speech was part of an Clinton administration effort to rally support for the development of a treaty which aims to limit greenhouse gas emissions. It would be tough to pick a more knowledgeable point man for environmental issues. Since being selected as the Secretary of the Interior in 1992, Babbitt has been instrumental in a vast array of environmental legislation. While he has earned some criticism from environmentalists for

not going far enough to protect natuone name on the short list who were ral resources, he is largely seen as a said to have received serious considserious, earnest protector of environeration from the President. Though mental concerns. White House leaks led many to see His impact as Interior Secretary Babbitt as a shoe-in, Clinton later has been broad. In addition to pushrelented and chose current Justice ing for more stringent clean-air proviSteven Breyer for the slot. The Econosions, Babbitt was also very active in mist reported that opposition from negotiating the infamous forestry proWestern senators unnerved Clinton visions regarding the spotted owL enough to pass over Babbitt. Vis~ble as a protector of endangered Yet this analysis perhaps underspecies, Babbitt also has environmenestimates Babbitt's formidable politital credentials from his past as the excal advantages. As Secretary of the president of the League ofConservaInterior, Babbitt has been making tion Voters. rounds in areas around the nation. Detractors note that his environHe already has some name recognimental stance could be a trouble spot, tion Jrom his 1988 presidential run. notably his stand on government landAlthough Babbitt did not fare well in use policy. The use of governmentthe 1988 Democratic primaries, he owned tracts of land by businesses did come away with kudos for being and individuals is a political quaghonest about tough issues. Talking mire. Babbitt, under pressure from about raising taxes may have been environmental gr,oups, has angered aJathema to his 1988 run, they bolmany businessmen out West by workstered his credibility and his reputaing to limit such ~. tion for honesty. Suchactiol}8'navealreadybitBab- "" Babbitt also has a not-insignifibitt before. In 1994, the resignation of cant geographic advantage. Babbitt the Supreme Coutt Justice Harry served in elected office twice in. the Blackmun left a high court opening state of Arizona, asattoroey general for President Clinton. Babbitt was and as governor. Though Arizona is ..

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not a particularly important electoral state, Babbitt's victories in one ofthe nation's most conservative states suggest a political wiliness that could prove formidable in the primaries. A vocal proponent of the environment, vaulting from statewide office in a conservative state to a position of national prominence, Babbitt in many ways parallels Gore. When conservatives argue that Babbitt is "too left" to be a factor, they forget that leftism on environmentalism has not cost Gore. Gore's strident environmental tome, Earth in the Balance, may have raised some eyebrows, but it has not seemed to cost him any votes. Why Babbitt will automatically lose votes as an environmentalist is unclear. Conservatives may not be taking the possibility seriously,but a Babbitt run deserves some speculation. A principled, articulate Democrat running under a strong economy is someone to take seriously. While he may lack the 'fund-raising potential of a Gore or have the strident rhetoric of a . Gephardt, Babbitt has the potential to be a serious focal point in the upcoriling Democratic primaries. l'tR

LSAReady.to Fund BT BENJAMIN KEPPLE

HE RELOCATION OF THE College of Literature, Science and the Arts' Student Government (LSA-SG) office may be a factor in a decline in student group applications for available funding from the LSA-SG's Budget Committee. "The main reason I can think of for the slow start is that most student groups don't know where our new office is located. Our old office during the fourth floor renovation [of the Michigan Union] last year was located in the back of the MSA office." said Gary Zhao, Chair of the LSA-SG Budger Committee. Now'that the renovation of the Michigan Union's 4th floor has been completed, the LSA-SG offices have moved to room 4152 on the fourth floor of the Michigan Union. "When an applicant came into the MSA office asking for funding forms, they could get one from us too. MSA forms and LSAforms used to be together." said Zhao. "Now that our office has moved to 4152 {in the Michigan Union}, so have the forms." In addition to the move, Zhao also noted other possible factors in the decline of applicatiOA& .. "I alJlo think that there is a,wave

of new leaders on campus, running different clubs and organizations, and these leaders might not be familiar with the budget process," said Zhao. Applications for the $11,300 remaining to be distributed to student groups on campus this term are located on the door ofLSA-SG's Michigan Union office. Student groups can apply once per semester at any time, and interviews with the Budget Committee are conducted weekly, after the regular LSA-SG meeting every Tuesday night. In order. for one be interviewed by the Budget Committee, an applicant must fill out their application and sign up for a time slot, which can be done at the LSA-SG office. If any student leader has questions regarding LSA-SG funding of student groups, they can contact LSASG's Budget Chair, Gary Zhao, at ganggz@umich.edu. l'tR

Join the Review!

THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

o SPORTS

October 8 , 1997

A-Hunting U -M Goes â&#x20AC;˘ j~.,.l"

BY ROB WOOD

HE PAST FEW YEARS, IT seems as though the Michigan football team has been miss ing something. It is something th at has many na mes. Some refer to it as a hun ger to succeed , or thirst for bl ood or victory. All these words boil down to one concept, however: aggression. Pure and simple, testosterone-driven, physical and emotional meanness is what has been missing. For the first three games of this season, with the exception of a few plays against rival Notre Dame, that previously mi ssing characteristic has returned to our maize and blue , gridiron warriors. The hunt is on for the Roses, and while it is a bit early to ma ke assumptions, the Michigan Wolverines appear to be packing some very good clippers . The first game of the '97 -'98 season brought a highly ranked (some might say highly overrated) Colorado Buffalo squad into Ann Arbor for a high noon showdown with the number 14 Wolverines. The Buffs had become something of a rival to Michigan over the past three years due to a few close games, of which, one had been won by each team . Neither are worth remembering anymore, though, due to the 37 - 3 dismantling of Colorado by the Wolverines. Michigan employed an effective , driven , methodical offense, and an evil, aggressive, bone-crushing defense to success. Colorado quarterback Jim Hesseler misfired all day and his team's running game just couldn't get throlilgh the Wolverines' maize and blue wall of hurt, as the Buffaloes never even came close to Michigan's level of play. Colorado Coach Rick Neuheisel said in explanation, 'We got our tails whipped. They played well on both sides of the ball. I thought our defense hungin there but you can not turn the ball over the numbe~ of times we did and have success against a ball control team as talented as Michigan. It's not a mystery why the outcome was the way it was. I am disappointed with the way we played ... " The next weekend brought another Big 12 Conference team into Michigan Stadium to square off against the now-eighth ranked Wolverines. While Baylor has been a perennial cellar dweller over the last few decades, they put up a respectable performance against the Maize and Blue ... for about five minutes, or so. For the week leading up to the match-up, the media had been predicting a decrease in the intensity of the Michigan juggernaut which had plowed through

Close, but ... : this Anthony Thomas touchdown against Colorado was called back for holding.

Colorado, the week before. AE the final score of 38-3 indicated however, this was not to happen. Michigan ended up out-lasting, out-playing, and just plain out-muscling Baylor's offensive and defensive lilies throughout the game, as evidenced by the difference in total yards between the teams. Michigan had 507 yards, while Baylor advanced only 150. Michigan also got 32 first downs, as opposed to Baylor's nine. Asked about the Michigan squad, Baylor coach Dave Roberts replied, "They are a great football team. They really beat us up on the line of scrimmage. You have to give them credit for playing this game this well between Colorado and Notre Dame. That's what good football teams do." That brings us to the team to which Coach Roberts had hoped we were looking in neglect of his Bears, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Notre Dame had been struggling since the beginning of the season to get their engine started. A loss to a third Big Ten team (Purdue and Michigan State having already thrashed them) this season wouldn't have exactly given the ND fans a reason to warmly welcome their team's new head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator, Bob Davie, Jim Collettp, and Greg Mattison, respectively. While the Wolverines looked good in the third quarter, the rest of the

long conference stretch that Michigame was disappointing. The first gan has this season. The Hawkeyes quarter saw the Irish go ahead 7-0. will provide a challenge, but nothing The second saw them taking a 14-7 compared to what is s on tap for the lead into halftime. The fourth saw a Wolverines the next weekend. sloppy Michigan offense almost give the game away to Notre Dame. It was Saturday, October 25th, is the instate Day of Reckoning. MSU has a only through a series of gut-checks on the part of Michigan's defense that dYRamic and talented coach in Nick Saban. The Spartans could conceivthe Wolverines were able to hold back ably be a top ten team by the time the the Irish for the win. Granted, this Maize and Blue trek over to East was a huge rivalry game, based on Lansing fo~' t~is long-awaited, evenly decades of ill feelings between the matched contest. After that, the road two teams, but Michigan needs to doesn't exactly get any easier for eliminate those turnovers (three, on Michigan. Minnesota and Wisconsin three straight possessions, in their loom on the horizon, with both teams own territory, late in the fourth quarsalivating at the prospect of playing ter) to get to Pasadena,. spoiler to a Wolverine dream season. At press time, the Indiana game is There are two other, much larger being decided, but there are more worries on the mind of head coach games to the Wolverines' season afLloyd Carr, though. They go by the ter that one (which at worst, could be close, but no real challenge if Michi- - names of Nittany Lion and Buckeye. Penn State is #1 or #2 every week for gan plays at the level of which they're a reason. Curtis Enis is one gun on a capable). battleship for this poll heavyweight. Next up is Northwestern, here in Ohio State is always the biggest Ann Arbor. Revenge for the last two game of the year for the Wolverines . humiliating years should provide adTo expect this year to be any different eqvate motivation for the Wolverines is ludicrous. OSU may have lost to to slice the Wildcats apart. With the Michigan the last two years, but that loss of Pat Fitzgerald and Darnell kind of thing has a tendency to moti- Âˇ Autry, Northwestern has lost a good vate. These last two opponents reprepart of their Big Ten Championship sent the obstacles that Michigan will formula. be working all season to overcome. The next weekend will again see The Apocalypse cometh, and through the Wolverines playing at home, but this gauntlet lies a Rose-filled parathis time against the Iowa Hawkeyes. This may be the first true .tesLoLa . dise:. m " '" . ' . '_ _

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THE MICHIGAN REVIEW

o SPORTS

A Conversation with the Superfan

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BY ROB WOOD

HAT'SRIGHT!THEMICHIgan Review brings you, the Michigan faithful, an interview with that masked marvel: the maize-and-blue blooded, Wave starting, cow-bell-ringing, megaphonewielding, "Hail-to-the-Victors" singing, Superfan. You have all seen him at all the football and basketball games, and if you know what he looks like without his costume, at the hockey games, too. He's got the spirit to rally the entire student section and the love to keep doing it year after year. His name is Jeff Holzhausen, and he's been around for longer than even 1 can remember in myoId age.

next year. Are you there? S: If I'm still in school, I'm there. Actually, if I'm out of school, I might be there, too ... If, for some reason, I'm gonna ever have to need another costume, I 'm going to design, like, two or three. Like, one for cold weather and one for hot weather, because ... [at] the Colorado game, and then the Virginia game, two years ago, I almost passed out a couple oftimes. Purdue, a couple of years ago: it's raining and then it's freezing and then it's snowing... A coat just doesn't go right with the outfit.

thrown out of games, either at Crisler or the Stadium? S: The only place I've ever gotten thrown out of, was the Stadium. I got thrown out for standing on the wall, three years ago, and that's about it...When we kinda started the whole thing, DPS and the ushers used to give us hell all the time, and now it's like I'm really close with them. One of the DPS guys asked for an autographed picture ... I really like the DPS officers and ushers and stuff... The guy 1 usually talk with at Crisler is because I'm in the aisle, or this and that ... I actually got a Big Ten reprimand during the basketball season for ringing my cow bell, and that's why they don't want me ringing [it]. .. So I started using my megaphone more, and ... the ushers made me stop doingthat ... Technically. studdnts can't have noise-makers, but all the other ~tadiums do it .. , They told ., me r had to stop using my mega* phone, or they were g()ing to give the team a technicaL ..

MR: I'm a little unsure about the Wave. Did it start here? S: It got bighere ... When I came in as a freshman, nobody did the wave. REVIEW: How long have you Nobody had a cow bell. Now, there's, been doing this? You're a grad stulike four or five cow bells all around dent? , the student section ... I've seen three SUPERFAN: Right. different groups start the wave, this year. Hopefully, when 1leave, there'll MR: School of Public Health? still be people clom'iit, though ... Most S: Right, let me see. I came ofthe people I go out with, if it's a first here .. .'92 was my first year, and by date kind'a' thing, >.:.most people exthe end of that season, I was wearing pect me to be crazy and Wild all the a flag around my neck, like a cape ... and time, and when I'm by myself, I'm a pretty quiet guy. by '93, 1 didn't have my whole outfit. The cheerleaders gave me a megaM& Havey-ouever b~en路o~t phone ... on a date with somebody who didn't know you were the That's only fair. The Superfan Superfan? leads about as many cheers as the S: I'm sure I have. I mean, I've actual cheerleaders do. That says a lot gone out on dates with people who've more good about Mr. Holzhausen than found out later that it was me. Someanything bad the cheerleaders, though. times, it's kinda funny ... I'll be at a He grew up, and sti:lllives in, the Ann party or at a bar and ... when everyArbor / Detroit area~ His first maizebody was graduating, I had people and-blue experience came as a baby buying me drinks and coming up and Wolverine, when his parents treated shaking my hand ,and saying how him to that year's Michigan / Ohio much they appreciate it, and that State football game. If that's not the kind of thing. And when it's students, perfect way to start out your life, what it means something ... I don't know; is? the whole thing's just kinda weird. Since that fateful day, he's gone on I'll let you in on a little secret: r to become a student at the school he don't drink. grew up and fell in love with, as many ofus have over the years, U -M. When MR: Really? Jeff was a kid, Bo Schembechler was S: There's no reason I don't. Ijust his idol. As he grew up, and became a never started. I had my fIrst drink student at Michigan, he got to know three weeks ago, at a wedding, ... a Bo personally. At 23, he is serving his Long Island [Iced TeaJ. next-to-last year as our resident Superfan. You still have this season Now, along with the rest of and the next ta cheer and sing "The you, I had to pause a moment, here. Victors" along with him though, so The Superfan, the guy who everyone enjoy it while you can. generally expects to be voted "Most Out ofhis Gourd" upon graduation, is Superfan: It looks like I'm going as dry as a preacher on Sunday, or as to every game this year, and 1 went to the case may be, football Saturday. every game two years ago. Of all Well, break my leg and call me Gimpy ... games, 1 didn't go to Colorado last year. I had a wedding, so I didn't go, ... MR: Some of the security guys but hell, 1 skipped my uncle's wedding get a little upset with you somefor a home game. tim.es... Have you. ever gotten, MR: I think we play Hawaii.

... everybody goes, 'One ... two ... three ... ,' and I jump over, and the cops came after me. One grabbed my cape, and the cape tore off, sol was able to keep going, and I knew they had me, so 1 grabbed one cop and I pulled him into two others, you know, so everybody else behind me could make it through, and everybody was still just up in the stands, just...like they were about to jump off, but just stopped. So I just started dying, laughing. So I get a misdemeanor, which is about 50 bucks. Hell, I'd do it again.

Now, I don't think I ought to reveal what he has planned for the 'MichiganlOSU game this year, if it comes' down to Michigan and Ohio State for theRose Bowl, but. needless to say, he'll get a standing ovation.

MR: Any predictions for this year? S: ... Ifwe play focused, ... like we did against COlorado,:we'U beat any team in the COl,Jlltry ... It'll be a com" plete travesty if we go through the I think it's time to let those Big Ten路 entire season undefeated, which I refs and officials know who's in charge think we can, and they don't give us around here. As a Michigan student, 1 . ' the National Championship ... I hate to say we need a tournament, but we say it's the Superfan. Fellow WolveriMsi. t4ei;tiT(l,(?~metqRf?~fl!t ~g~~. .4eti~tely needs~wething \yh~re. the rihkirigsgo8.ctO:tdUlg to路 W'ho'you;rG" thing imporla~t, for a change. Ifanyplayed. . one wants to sign my petition to the Big Ten, you can find me on North MR: The last time Michigan Campus ... MR: I've only been here since '94. Have you ever seen the crowd at the Stadium rush the field? S: It's really funny. Before they lowered the fIeld, you know, before they took out the artificial turf, everybody'd rush the fIeld. Ifwe won, everybody'd rush the fIeld. That's just the way it was ... Whenever I'd sit in my regular season seats, I'd rush the field all the time, after the games ... We used to go out on the fIeld an hour and a half after the games and play football, growing up. After the Virginia game [in 1995] ... Ijumped out on the fIeld, ... and when I was coming into the stadium for the next game - I don't remember who the game was against - DPS got me as I was coming in the gate ofthe Stadium and they [told me] 'Listen, I know you ran out on the field with Virginia, and if you do it again, you're out! We'll take your tickets ... When we beat Ohio State, back in '95, it was when everybody was graduating. It's when I thought I was graduating. And everybody's like, 'All right, we'r..e rushing the fIeld. No matter what happens, we're rushing the fIelp".,.~.the.gam~ y/,a/5,al:wost oyt;r" "__________路____________

won a National Championship was 1948.

S: 50-year anniversary. That's why I think we're going to win it. I think we've got the mojo." MR: Are you there? S: Oh, God. I don't care if I gotta walk. I'll be there. I'll

Sports. Music. Film. Books. Culture. I t may not be headline news, but it is your life. You're doing it anyway, so why not write about it for the Review? Our staff meetings are in the third floor of the Michigan League, every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

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Mark Leyner's Quirky World

BY KRISTINA CURKOVIC

F YOU'VE NEVER ENCOUNtered Mark Leyner's writing, you might suffer a little bit of a shock , perhaps encounter a bit of confusion , and , ,, •• c .,,j,aSU'CiS _U I ce rtainly enjoy quite a few laughs during your reading. To put it one way , Leyner co uld honestly be called very a " unique " wr iter. If nothing else, L _ _ ---'.......:._ _ _-"--...J The Tetherballs the title of this of Bougainville a nd of his by Mark Leyner other books Harmony Books m ight give you a quick glimpse into Leyner's odd world: his previous works include I Sme ll Esther Williams ; and My Co usin, My Gastroenterologist. The Tetherballs ofBougainville is a variety act book, including autobiography, screenplay, and movie re-

view, all in one very funny package. Yet, these faults .~~ create the book's best Set during some obscure, imagined ~ \ '\ humor, usually based period, it's the story of Mark, a preco! on the fantastic combicious, well-read and horny little sevnation of inconsistent enth grader who, to demonstrate his images ; for instance, odd character, is, at the beginning of lI/! one character, in dethe novel, on the phone with his agent scribing the evolution during his father's execution by leof the fitness video , thal injection. Mark is just about the ',.lJ uses phrases like "richweirdest adolescent hero you'll ever ~ ,'" ness and complexity," encounter in li.terature. Tom Sawyer and "abject fear of morand Huck Finn can't hold a candle to ii:~": " -:-.,tU?i:,.3A*"!rt' .,.., tality" 1iiIiMIii~~~- . ·- . which simply this kid; Ferris Beuller would fear Leyner in repose. should not be used in him. Mark is a writer, philosopher, conjunction with "exart lover and, above all, tetherball thing, from government and schools ercise video." But Leyner does it anyplayer. way, and this, combined with the imto music and movies. The result is The beginning of the book sets the absurd. It's easy to see Leyner age of what the Warden happens to be often pace for the rest of Tetherballs: after participating in at the moment, crebasically depending only on the most surviving the execution, Mark's faates a truly hilarious scenario. preposterous of his thoughts as they ther is released from prison but finds Nevertheless, the lack of plot and flitted through his head and writing that he's been sentenced to "New Jerconstant tangential interludes keep sey State Discretionary Execution," .~ them down in the order they appeared. Tangential anecdotes, inserts and inthe reader from getting involved in which means that he could be on a the story. And perhaps this is Leyner's formation abound, taking us far from plane while "35,000 feet below, a New the story - indeed, making us at goal. Why not take a'-look at a totally Jersey state tJiOOper steps out of his off-the-wall world and then consider car, aims agI1oulder-held antiaircn!ft _ tilnes .forget the actual story as we those absurdities in our own world veer toward some other end ofLeyner's missile launcher, and blows your 727 off-beat world. And even when we get that we accept without question. into friggin' curds and whey." , Leyner's is a fresh approach to life back on track, we're still searching, in The book might be an exercise in vain, for the plot. .' .. ' ~.,~ and literature. m satire, for Leyner pokes fun at every-

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Band -0- rama Pleases Again BY KRISTINA CURKOVIC

AST SATURDAY, A FULLhouse crowd filled Hill Audi. torium. for the annual Bando-rama. Comptlsed ofmostly of proud parents and frioods, and eager , noisy school kids,they come to watch two fi ne ensembles - the Concert and Symphony bands - but mostly, they co me to gape in awe at the Marching Ba nd , the us ual highlight of each Band- o-rama. Although th e Marching Band is a crowd favorite , all three bands had marvelous perform'ances , each introduced by the voice of the Michigan Marching Band, Carl Grapentine. The Concert Band had a notable performance of a Sousa march - the only Sousa march that include$ a harp. It appeared th at Sousa failed to vary from his usual theme even for the elegant sounds of the harp, for the h arpist's hands amusingly bounced back and forth in the fam iliar "oompah" of the base line. The Concert Band also performed a Percy Grainger piece, "Walking Tune," and "Pas Redouble" by Camille Saint-Saens. The Symphony Band, conducted by UM's Director of Bands, H. Robert Reynolds, performed "Fanfare for a New President," a piece wrjt,ten.£91;'

the innauguration of President Bollinger, a short, unexciting piece that lacked any UM spirit. Bryan Kennedy, professor ofthe French horn at the School of Music, was the featured soloist in "Variations on a Tyrolean Song," a long piece that showcased Kennedy's somewhat amazing abilities. The Symphony Band's also premeired Michael

the Marching Band. For me,. it was the first time that I'd witnessed Bando-rama from the crowd's side; for the past three years, I'd performed with the Marching Band. A warning in the program rather frightened me: "Due to danger resulting from structural vibration in the building, please refrain from marching with the band as it enters the auditorium. We heartily

The Marching Band takes the stage.

Daugherty's "Niagra Falls," a spect acular, loud work that was a visual as well as aural event. It was an exciting, well-orchestrated performance, capped by the introduction of the composer himself. However, I must admit that~the performance that everyone really s~,~t;ne,(1.Jo , be,. 'r~~ti.nK {Ol <~~I' ,tbf!:F.,qf.

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endorse clapping." Here, then, was an ensemble that had the power to literally bring down the house, not just through it's own will, but throught the excitement they inspired in the crowd that adored them. I think the band alone could have caused a seismicly-detectable tremor ip. ,Ann 1\r99~ la~t ~.atm:dAy" willL t}m,. ,.". ·.". "."_. . -...........

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performance of some of their louder songs . Perhaps it's a fallacy to say "some of their louder songs," when, really, all of their songs are loud, louder, and loudest. Whether such volume was necessary - I saw ears being plugged during the h air-raising "Also Sprach Zarathrustra" - is beside the point. What we had was a sampling of the sound that fills Michigan Stadium each Saturday afternoon, all caught up in this small auditorium. It was riveting, ear drumpopping entertainment" at its best. . The crowd loved every song, but special favorites were "George of the Jungle" and the collection from Star Wars that included fun , crowd-pleasing visuals by the quirky percussion section. My personal favorite wa:i by far "Malaguena." Its performance had been prefaced for me during a spine-tingling band practice a Friday a few weeks ago when, amid thunder, sideways rain, and lightning seemingly cheoreographed to the music, the band performed this song as though the world wasn't coming down around them. That was a performance like no other. But Band-o-rama was certainly comparable: a great cummulation of campus talent, music and muscle, and ClQ"Vid• .plea.smg;, performances. Mt .

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MICHIGAN REVIEW LIVING CULTURE

October8,1'l97

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Broken Bones, Lies, and True True Love BY KRISTINA CURKOVIC

OPHIE IS A ROMANTIC paperback writer, whose dreams transport her and her readers into a lush world of passion and romance. She spends her days writing at the usually empty local library, which allows her to think out

Paperback Romance Directed by Ben Lewin. Featuring Anthony LaPaglia and Gia Carides.

loud. Her vivid sex scenes draw Eddie nearby and he is instantly attracted to her and her words. "Conversation with you wou18 be the most exquisite form offoreplay imaginable," he tells her. But she brushes him off, and when he leaves, we discover why: Sophie limps home on crutches (while an effective, clumsy child-version of "Fur Elise" plays in the background), suffering a paralyzed leg from a childhood bout with polio. So begins Paperback Romance, a new Australian film about secrets, passion, and, of course, romance. Aus-

tralian Gia Carides, an Alicia Silverstone look-alike, stars as Sophie, and Anthony LaPaglia plays Eddie, an American jeweler who, though engaged to another women, is' quickly won over by Sophie. Unwilling to reveal her handicap to the handsome jeweler, Sophie haunts the mall where he works until, in an unlikely, though funny, accident she breaks her paralyzed leg. Now armed with an acceptable excuse for her handicap (a skiing accident), Sophie pursues Eddie, and soon they flyaway for a romantic weekend on a tropical island. There, Eddie sells an expensive necklace and later, during a moment of absurd passion involving her cast, he bites his tongue and needs stitches. Unable to consummate their relationship because of memories of the incident, Sophie and Eddie resume a platonic, though impassioned relationship, waiting for the day her cast finally comes off - a day Sophie_ dreads, for thell~ddie will find out the truth about her infirmity, and," she believes, willJiot be attracted to her anymore. There is a lot going on in this

movie progresses toward its end on movie, from the various relationships an odd note, finishing with a wedto the subplots involving Eddie's upding, a trial, and a final view of one of coming wedding and his own little Sophie's romantic page-turners. One secret: he hasn't acquired some of his of the most appealing parts of the film jewels in a very honest way. Neveris the fact that Sophie's romantic theless, the movie, while difficult to words unfailingly capture and hold outline properly, flows very well, everyone who hears them, including thanks to flawless direction by Ben Eddie. The movie is interspersed with Lewin and unmistakable chemistry these interludes, and they provide between Carides and LaPaglia - a quite a bit of extra fire and a bit of that good thing, for the two happen to be quirky Australian comedy familiar in engaged in real life. movies like Strictly Ballroom and Yet, while the relationship beMuriel's Wedding. tween Sophie and Eddie is supposed On the whole, the movie captures to be based on conversation and friendus just as firmly. Clever dialogue, a ship, there isn't enough ofthis aspect unique plot, and great characters of their interaction in the film. We make it not just another romantic wonder exactly what it is, besides film, but offers hope for those who Eddie's good looks and Sophie's believe that the romantic, fictional pachantforthe passionate, that draws world can never overlap with their them to each other. When Eddie fiIlally discovers the truth about Sophie, 路own.l\R his reaction is difficult to interpret, and we are left waiting to find out Want to write for the Arts whether he will return. Officer Yuri, section? E-mail Kristina hot on Eddie's trail and privy to. Cl,lrkovic, Arts Editor, at Sophie's secret, supplies a more bekdcurkov@um.ich.edu or call lievable true love for Sophie, and for a 647-8438 for more info. while we think that there might be reciprocal feelings there. But the

L.A. Confidential Overrated BY MA'ITHEW BUCKLEY

VERY ONCE IN A WHILE, A criticism of a movie seems to take a life of its own. From top to bottom, critics fall in line behind a \ movie, hurling sup~rlatives as if they are a dime a dozen. This typically has two explanations. First, the movie may actually be an incredible piece of work; recent examples of this case include films like Hoop Dreams. A second explanation is that the movie may not be that good, but has some feature which tends to appeal to critics. Forrest Gump, for instance, was a feel-good flick with plot swings pulling heartstrings, pulling the film to Oscar-winning prominence. This comes up since L.A. Confidential, a new film by Curtis Hanson, is apparently the film of the year. After reading a couple of wildly positive reviews, I looked at nearly twenty more Internet reviews of this flick, all of them praising this movie as a surefire Oscar contender. I couldn't find a negative review. The criticism ofLA. Confidential, then, has taken on a life of its own, which leads to the question, "Is it really that good?" L.A. Confidential is not that good, which is disappointing, since it had potential. Based 011,. ~mesEllroy!s

complex book of the same name, Confidential is a film noir tale of corruption, lust, and money in 1950s Los Angeles. While the plot is involved and the film is well over two hours long, the movie's thrust is clear. Jack Vincennes, Ed Exley, and Bud White (played by Kevin Spacey, Guy Pearce, and Russell Crowe) are a trio of L.A. detectives seeking the culprit of a mifrderous rampage at the Nite Owl coffee shop. The three detectives are strikingly different, and approach the case with very different motivations. White, a hulking physical cop with little regard for rules and procedures, rips through the investigation to avenge the murder of his ex-partner, who had been in the Nite Owl. Vincennes, saavy and media-hungry, hopes to catch the killer to springboard himself back into the homicide division after a police brutality scandal threatens his profitable "technical advisor" role for a TV police procedural. Exley, a budding L.A. politico, is milking the case for political gain. The quest for the killers proves convoluted; a variety of subplots and seedy characters emerge as the three detectives air out L.A.'s dirty laundry. An initial search quickly leads the detectives to three suspects, yet

later facts indicate that the events of the massacre were far more complex. A suitcase of missing heroin involves a whole host of gangster suspects. The identification of one Nite Owl victim as a pricey call-girl leads the trio to a ritzy prostitution service with custom~ut girls who look like Hollywood actresses. Towering in the background, the L.A. police force reeks of good old boy networks, corruption, arid a general disregard for civilliberties. L.A. Confidential has solid, though not amazing, acting. Spacey turns in a nice performance as the slick cop who tries to make good on previous mistakes, and Pearce is convincing as the annoyingly by-thebook detective whom everyone loves to hate. James Qromwell is also notable as a folksy police commander, yanking a couple scenes from the younger actors. Not all the acting is up to Spacey and Cromwell's caliber. Danny DeVito goes about nine steps too far as a pulp magazine producer who bribes Vincennes for hot scoops. Russell Crowe plays a brooding, stiff character, but the attempts to make his character emotionally complex don't always ring true. Kim Basinger? I suppose this may be one of her best

roles ever, but since Batman that ~ays about zip. The role requires more than good looks. To her credit, she does get stuck with some ofthe movie's worst lines. Like the acting, the direction is adequate. Hanson keeps the film moving, at some points almost too fast. Granted, the screen adaptation cuts the Ellroy novel up a lot, but too much still goes on in this film. So why all the acclaim? First, the film is relatively solid, the complicated plot and rushed direction masking some acting deficiencies. Second, it has loads of southern California navel-gazing. More than a little of the sentiment regarding this film may come from people who enjoy the deflation of 1950's L.A. Finally, some believe LA. Confidential is an intellectual, well-designed movie, since it aims for the film noir feel of recent intelligent, successful films like The Usual Suspects and Pulp Fiction. However, it really doesn't follow the example of those better films, which took their time, moved slowly, and got far beyond their original beginnings. Instead, it rushes around for over two hours, making the pivotal mistake of confusing a busy movie with a smart movie.l\R

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October 8, 199

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The Dambuilders Return BY CHRIS fLUES

HERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN something intriguing about the Dambuilders. Something maybe not quite normal, something not quite safe.路~or me, that impression may have 'Come when I saw the video for "Shrine" on 120 Minutes. I mean, when a band is dressed up like fairies and spacemen while dancing and playing their instruments in an open field, someone has the right to be a little uneasy. Or, it may have been the .opening track of their first EastWest release Encendedor, when a female is screa'ming in a horror movie-style way over a mesmerizing combination of drum loops, samples, guitars, and an electric violin. You pick whichever you think is more odd. Yet without this, the Dambuilders may not be on the list of my favorite bands. Formed half in Hawaii and half in Boston, the Dambuilders achieved acclaim right away with Encendedorin 1994. Produced by their guitarist Eric Masunaga, the album brought clever samples, drum loops, and Joan Wasser's original violin playing to a pop-rock base that gave the album a quality all its own . In 1995, the Dambuilders released their second album, Ruby Red, this time with outside producer Don

Gehman. They also toured on the Lollapalooza circuit the same year. In 1996, they toured extensively through Europe and Australia. Now the Dambuilders are back with their third release, Against the Stars. "People once believed your fate was preordained," says bassist and vocalist Dave Derby. "That is how we got the title. It's so modern and existential if your fate says one thing and you say 'fuck it: I'm going the other way. I'm going against my stars." That wraps up exactly what the Dambuilders have always done, pushing the envelope of alternative rock and molding it into something they think it should be. Against the Stars is no exception. In fact, it is the perfect example. At its best moments, the album takes rock somewhere it has not gone before while still keeping its feet on the ground, primarily with the influences of Eighties new wave. "Break Up With Your Boyfriend" fits right in - you are not sure whether to take it seriously or mock it, but at the same time you cannot stop humming it, "Luster," in which Wasser steps up to the microphone for a rare, yet amazingly hypnotic and sexy number, very closely resembles a number of songs by Blondie . . . T.p.~ , re.st.ofJh~ l!l.b).lII! Ppesj,u.st

about everything right , With Masunaga back producing and U2 engineer Robbie Adams mixing, the albl)m is listening enjoyment, The instruments are cleverly layered, and Wasser's violin is rightly downplayed, but then mixed in a way which brings only strength to the songs,on which it is present. Derbie's vocals shine with melodic confidence and emotion, interpreting the heart of the songs and presentingthemhonestly and powerfully. Against the Stars rings true with the band's attitude of being original and succeeding in their experimentation, Ifthis means going against fate and the stars, the Dambuilders have the confidence and talent to do it right.Ml.

The Dambuilders play the 7th House in Pontiac on October 11.

Enjoy rt'ading til(' musil' section'! Why not try \ ..Titing for if! Stop by nne of OUl' wl'('kly staff meetings 01' ('all IH7-H138 for mOl'拢, info.

CONTINUED from PAGE 15

anticipated the start of Catherine Wheel. Although they waited nearly forty-five minutes, the audience warmly welcomed Rob Dickinson (vocals, guitar) onto the stage for the acoustic opener off of Adam and Eve. The rest of the band trickled in as Rob progressed in album fashion into "Future Boy." After playing the first five songs from Adam and Eve, the seemingly energetic andjovial group played their token hit, "Crank." Most of the show consisted of new material - all but two songs off Adam and Eve were played - yet during the generous two hour set, favorite "Black Metallic" was played for an intense fifteen minutes, and the show ended with heavy rockers "Little Muscle" and 'Way Down" from Happy Days. Catherine Wheel came to Detroit to show off their new material and prove that, while modest in retrospect to a number of over-hyped bands, they are without a doubt one of today's most talented and energetic . bands, whether played on a stereo or viewed in a concert hall. l\R

READ THE REviEW!

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October 8, 199

MICHIGAN REVIEW LIVING CULTURE

Music

If You Don't Like Urban Hymns, You Have No Taste in Music BY CHRIS HAYES

INCE THE BEGINNING OF the Verve's creation, they have had, above everything else, a pennanent spot among music news. Never dubbed "normal," the Verve has gone from being the talk in Europe to the talk in the United States, to almost none at all following a temporary breakup. The Verve formed in 1990 in the small British town of Wigan. Their ascent into semistardom came The Verve with the 1993 deUrban Hymns but release of A Virgin Records Storm In Heaven I I along with a huge buzz after their second stage appearance in the 1994 Lollapalooza festival. The Verve's debut screamed originality and perfection, which seemed almost impossible for the first release of a band relatively new to the music scene. A Storm In Heaven's appeal came from its unique combination of ambiance with rock and roll. What came out was an amazingly powerful and intense album, with the intensity

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coming not from loud and fast-tempo great moments, from the strippedtunes, but a careful and always apdown acoustic guitarof"On Your Own" propriate layering of instruments, to the symphonic ballad "History." with flute solos to entire brass secWhat became more evident on A tions humming Ir---------.....,-~~.....,_,___--------__. over the band's constant rock format. Accompanied by the distinct and powerful vocalsoffrontman and primary song writer Richard Ashcroft mixed in a reverb fashion, the album putthe Verve on the map as one of the most original bands in England during a The Verve ponders their latest album. time when Oasis and Blur were emerging onto the Northern Soul was Ashcroft's ability scene. -W add an amazing personality to the 1995 brought the Verve's second songs with lyrics about love, loss, and album, A Northern Soul, to anxious a personal struggle with drugs, His listeners. The VeNe strayed from the honesty shines in lyrics such as "Give ambiance of their first album to pro- ~ me your powder and your pills! I duce a more studio-style record that wanna see if they Cure my ills" and was less layered and less experimen"Imagined the future, woke up with a tal than the first. The album had its scream! I ' was buying some ·feelings . from a vending machine," which gave their second release a lyrical , ~rson ality that was not evident on th~r first. However, the album lacked consistency, musical honesty, and cohesion. This was explained by the Verve's breakup shortly after the album's requoted to the Review, "...draws you in lease. Explained by Ashcroft as a break and takes you all the way through." from the commercial side of the record Futter adds, "This is the record I am proudest of. On Happy Days, we made industry which was affecting the a few mistakes, one being the opening band's focus, it is evident that the was loaded up with four big rock songs. Verve was struggling during the reA person listening to the first few cording of A Northern Soul. songs would know how the record was Last week, the band released their going to be, and that was it. 'This is a long anticipated third release, Urban rock and roll record and I don't need to Hymns. It is evident that the band listen to any more to form my opinhas regained their focus and Ashcroft ion.' There were six great ambienthis ability to write (nine of the thirstyle tracks after it that were comteen tracks are written by Ashcroft pletely lost." alone). Urban Hymns is a beautiful Futter explains the influence and progression ofthe band. The first song, insight surrounding Adam and Eve. "Bitter Sweet Symphony," was writ"We knew we were going to take two ten by MickJagger and Keith Richards years to make [Adam and Eve], so it with lyrics by Ashcroft, and is a sewas a good opportunity to put somequel to "History" , on their previous album. It is performed by a complete thing together like a B-side compilaorchestra over a mesmerizing dance tion. That was an insight to the other side of this band's history for the last the last two years in the area. Howsix years. It showed exactly what we ever, their last two perfonnances were wanted Adam and Eve to be. It was a under different circumstances. The reminder ofthe other side ofthe band first was for 89X's annual birthday and it pointed us in the right direcPll:rty, and the latterwas as the suption." port act of Belly. Both shows proved Enter St. Andrew's Hall, SeptemCatherine Wheel to be amazing enber 21. tertainers, as well as talented musiCatherine Wheel is not unfamilcians, as their albums have proven iar with the Detroit area, nor is Detroit unfamiliar with Catherine Wheel .a1r~a,?Y' ~?t ,th~s. ~i~e, ~~e),' y;~re on ,-~ . their oWn tour, with their own open.,:.'sh"~'~ . ~;l';This\ . .. .~ .. . :tw··~th1ti(rSh6~i !\~\ ....... , .. . . in .

Catherine Wheel Soars W/ Album Rocks at Detroit Show BY CHRIS HAYES

NGLAND, WITHOUT A doubt, spits out rock bands as fast as BU./th can write a pathetic song. Well, m.aybe not that fast. However, the U.S. definitely gets its fill of rock from overseas. As banal as some of these bands appear, there is still one that is driving to be among the great rock bands of the decade. Catherine Wheel has been around for six years now, getting most of their recognition in tl?e States. With four releases under their belts (Ferment, Chrome, Happy Days, and Bside release Cats and Dogs), they have set a standard of album greatness by producing great album after great album. On September 21st, Catherine Wheel came to St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit in support of their recent LP, Adam and Eve . First off, it needs well-cleserved praise. Adam and Eve is Catherine Wheel's greatest accomplishment to date. Catherine Wheel wrote nearly seventy songs before choosing the thirteen that comprise their latest album. Playing like a book that has a beginning, middle and end, Adam am! ?,vf! .~.~~ !lJ.??.s~~.~s.iy.~e 9,~~I- itiiis\,·:Bftm~; .· .ity. tl...;J v'?'\'": -a, s/..ltf. '. • . , , . .... ." . . ..'-,.... r

loop. "Bitter Sweet Symphony" is followed by "Sonnet," a beautifully crafted cry from Ashcroft to God for some sign of humanity in this divine being he wants to believe in. "Yes there's love uyou want it! Don't sound like a sonnet! My Lord" brings back the lyrical honesty ofA Northern Soul with a melodic sense that was lost in the Verve's previous albums. And melody is what makes this their most accessible album yet. Song after song is full of memorable vocals and catchy guitar riffs. The Verve has definitely marked themselves as a rock and roll band with songs such as "The Rolling People" and "Come On" with guitar riffs and bass lines no doubt influenced by the likes of the Stones and Led Zeppelin. While staying primarily with that format, Urban Hymns is an obvious continuation ofthe experimentation in musical styles that the Verve is known for. A large chunk of the songs incorporate a string section as a main player in the instrumentation. Unlike many other bands, the Verve has the ability to incorporate strings in a truly meaningful manner, to the. point wher~ thesong could not exist without them. . The Verve has avoided the token use of a cello and violin by writing the songs with the particular instruments in mind, and not just adding them later. "Catching the Butterfly" brings back the eerie and haunting guitar sound of A Storm in Heaven. "Velvet Morning" also does the same, yet retains a fresh and moving tempo which keeps the album from falling into the rut of being the same old, same old . . Urban Hymns has once again confirmed that the Verve is one ofthe most talented bands in rock, with the ability to write a progressive and amazingly strong album while still maintaining the integrity that has gained them a large and loyal following in the States since their first album release and their first tour on Lollapalooza. Mt

ing band, on their own terms. After Geneva was done with their highly impressive opening performance (check their release out on Epic Records), the sold-out crowd See WHEEL on PAGE 14

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