vol_26_no_11 by Michigan Review

MichiganReview THE

The Journal of Campus Affairs at the University of Michigan www.michiganreview.com

VOLUME XXVI

March 4, 2008

ISSUE 11

The ‘Green’ Market

Inside the business, and a behind-the-scenes look at the market for marijuana on campus By Jane Coaston, ‘10

red is a student at the University. (“Fred” is a pseudonym; obviously fearing legal repercussions, his and other sources’ names have been changed for this story.) Fred has been smoking marijuana on a frequent basis for about ten years, and he is well acquainted with the structure of how marijuana is bought and sold in college towns across Michigan. He buys marijuana generally from friends or the dealers of friends, and they get their supply from other dealers or from wholesale suppliers further up the food chain. “I usually buy from a non-professional dealer,” he said. “That is to say

someone who buys a larger amount than they intend to smoke for a discounted price, then sells the excess to minimize the cost of their personal consumption.” Fred and other students from Michigan and across the country are examples of how the marijuana trade really works for college students. For most, there is no dealer loitering outside of a liquor store, as has been the stereotype for generations. Unlike substances like cocaine or even prescription drugs, marijuana is easy to transport and thus easier to sell. According to the Department of Justice, marijuana is the most common and available drug used in the state of Michigan and across the United States. But because of marijuana’s status as a

criminalized substance for most of the country, the trade is often shrouded in some secrecy. In Ann Arbor, a city well known for its lax laws regarding possession of marijuana, it is still sometimes difficult to obtain an adequate picture of how the trade works. Some marijuana is grown in the city itself, in houses purchased by dealers specifically for their use as greenhouses. These can be extremely expensive efforts, with special hydroponics that use minerals rather than soil, lights on special timers in order to mimic the activities of a real homeowner, and even solar panels to produce enough power to continue the operation. Dealers with more money to spend will own several

Illustration by Michael O’Brien

of these houses to minimize the damage if law enforcement becomes involved. Dealers are notorious for, in Fred’s words, “being somewhat paranoid and lacking in social niceties.” They are largely unwilling to discuss where they obtain marijuana, and large-scale growers of the substance make their career in being as unnoticeable as possible. But because of the difficulty and inefficiency of growing marijuana and worries about getting caught, a majority of college students rely on friends or dealers with whom they have a relationship. Some students smoke infrequently enough to obtain marijuana for free from friends or acquain-

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Feature

News

Arts & Culture

Remembering William F. Buckley National Review Founder Dead at 82

Sex Workers’ Art Show Brings Political and Sexual Controversy

Ann Arbor Sells Itself Liquor License Below Market Rate

Local Blogger Puts Unites ‘Politics and Prada’

By John J. Miller, Editor Emeritus

By Adam Paul, ‘08

By Eddie Perry, ‘09

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n February 19th, Ann Arbor City Council resolved debate on the distribution of a new liquor license. The city had been granted a new Class C license by the Michigan Liquor Control Board (MLCB) and had the charge of distributing it. City Council awarded the license to the city-owned Leslie Park Golf Course. The City received nine applications for the license, including one from the Leslie Park Golf Course.

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THE MICHIGAN REVIEW www.michiganreview.com

Editorial Board:

Michael O’Brien Editor-in-Chief Adam Paul Executive Editor Brian Biglin Managing Editor Rebecca Christy Senior Editor Lindsey Dodge Jonathan Slemrod Assistant Editors Business Staff: Karen Boore Publisher Danny Harris Anna Malecke Associate Publishers Nick Cheolas Editor Emeritus Staff Writers: Steven Bengal, Cherri Buijk, Jane Coaston, Samm Etters, Austyn Foster, Erika Gonzalez, Josh Handell, Kris Hermanson, Alyse Hudson, Christine Hwang, Erika Lee, Eun Lee, Megan Lytle, Evgeny Magidenko, Julianne Nowicki, Adam Pascarella, Shanda Shooter, Andrea Sofian, Nathan Stano, Christina Zajicek,

Letters and Viewpoints: The Michigan Review accepts and encourages letters to the editor and viewpoints. Letters to the editor should be under 300 words. Viewpoints can be arranged by contacting the editorial board. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Send all correspondence to mrev@umich.edu.

About Us: The Michigan Review provides a broad range of in-depth coverage of campus affairs and serves as the literary voice of conservatism and libertarianism at the University of Michigan. The Review is published bi-weekly September thru April.

Donate/Subscribe: The Michigan Review accepts no financial support from the University. Therefore, your support is critical and greatly appreciated. Donations above $40 are eligible for a 1-year (12 issues) subscription. Donations can be made on our website at www.michiganreview.com, or mailed to:

911 N. University, Suite One Ann Arbor, MI 48109 The Michigan Review is the independent, student-run journal of conservative and libertarian opinion at the University of Michigan. We neither solicit nor accept monetary donations from the University. Contributions to The Michigan Review are tax-deductible under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. The Michigan Review is not affiliated with any political party or any university political group. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the editorial board. Ergo, they are unequivocally correct and just. Signed articles, letters, and cartoons represent the opinions of the author, and not necessarily those of The Review. The Serpent’s Tooth shall represent the opinion of individual, anonymous contributors to The Review, and should not necessarily be taken as representative of The Review’s editorial stance. The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the advertisers or the University of Michigan. Copyright © 2007, The Michigan Review, Inc. All rights reserved. The Michigan Review is a member of the Collegiate Network.

3.04.08

page two. the michigan review

■ Serpent’s Tooth Michigan Women’s Basketball Coach Kevin Borseth is under psychiatric observation for the onset of dementia after his outburst at a press conference. Psychiatrists feel his actions displayed his belief that women’s basketball actually matters.

South Quad recently caught heat for gleaning Souljah Boy’s “Crank That” lyric on the backs of their shirt for this year’s residents. To be fair, however insensitive the song may be, it pretty accurately describes an average Tuesday night for SQuad jersey chasers.

Mary Sue Coleman recently took 150 U-M professors and various other officials on a late February trip to the continent of Africa, making for the most depressing sping break trip ever.

In recent news, L. Ron Hubbard was reported to have stolen the idea for Scientology from a 1934 German science fiction book. In a related story, Hubbard is releasing a long lost addendum to his work, co-written with Jayson Blair.

The visit follows the recent development at U-M of the world’s most powerful laser. According to the engineers who worked on the project, the beam’s intensity matches what would happen if you were to hold a “giant magnifying glass in space and focus all the sunlight shining toward Earth onto one grain of sand” (seriously, their words). In a related story, Mary Sue Coleman demanded that the African leaders turn over their budgets to the U-M endowment, otherwise she would fire her “giant fricken laser.”

Wall Street bellwether Goldman Sachs added sex change operations to its health insurance plan for employees. University Vice President for Student Affairs E. Royster Harper announced she would be leaving her U-M post soon, having taken an offer with Goldman Sachs.

The University of Michigan baseball team tied the New York Mets in a scrimmage during spring break, and only because of a bottom-ninth homerun from Mets hitter Michel Abreu. U-M baseball announced that next year, they’ll be playing the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Terrell Pryor announced another visit to Michigan soon in his quest to decide which school he would quarterback. In other football news, head coach Rich Rodriguez recruited and offered scholarships to a dozen Jewish girls from Markley for the Terrell Pryor jersey-chasing squad.

Ohio State administrators warned students last week that a message from the “Costomer Care Center” asking for their username and password was, in fact, not from the OSU administrators, but from con artists. Asked for comment, the entire OSU student population said, “What, you mean that’s not how you spell ‘customer?’”

The Academy of Motions Picture Arts & Sciences apologized for not including four-time host Whoopie Goldberg in a montage of past hosts during this year’s Academy Awards. They compensated her for the snub with forty acres and a mule.

Lindsay Lohan bared all for a recent spread in New York magazine. In recent news, here has also been a surge in biopsies for melanoma.

William F. Buckley, Jr. died last week at the age of 82. Seriously, no jokes here; the guy was a god.

■ Letter from the Editor

s I write in my piece on the late William F. Buckley, Jr. (page 12), I feel compelled to state that there wouldn’t be a Michigan Review without Buckley and National Review. Our humble publication doesn’t much resemble NR the way it did at our inception, or even the way it did four or five years ago. Each Editor-in-Chief has his or her own sense of style, and, in recent years we’ve evolved from a journal of opinion to more of a newspaper style of format. This reflects a sense that our main constituency is students, whose interests lie in issues on campus and nationally. The stories we publish should be reported to communicate ideas and information in a relevant, persuasive way for our readers. Personally, I think these changes—with no disrespect to our predecessors—have made us more relevant and influential. This issue captures that essence. Our cover story, for instance, explores an issue that, for better or for worse, students know quite a bit about: buying drugs. Jane Coaston explores that issue in a thought-provoking way. Because this issue has a lot about sex, we’ve also joked that all we need now is a rock and roll section to complete the trifecta. Shooter (page 6) reports on the truly shocking Sex Workers Art Show that came to campus, rife with obscene sexual images, and poorly made political points. Additionally, Alyse Hudson (also page 6) looks into Campus Crusade for Christ’s presentation of “Porn Nation,” where a self-described recovering sex addict made some really outrageous claims in the name of his ministry.

Of course, if there are sex and drugs in our pages, there must be coverage on the dirtiest industry of them all: politics. Adam Paul reports (page 3) on the shocking decision by City Council to lock most businesses out from the market for liquor licenses, opting instead to sell the license to themselves well below market rate. But we also have coverage of issues just as relevant and interesting, even if they’re not controversial. On page 3, Nathan Stano looks at a pilot program at the University of Washington where students are volunteering to have many aspects of their daily life tracked by researchers. And in another story, Eddie Perry (page 9) looks into where U-M students land after graduation. The surprising result? Many grads end up in the metro Detroit area. Lastly, on page 12, we have a couple of tributes to an influential figure for The Michigan Review, the aforementioned William F. Buckley. Current National Review political reporter and onetime Michigan Review Editor-in-Chief John J. Miller penned a fantastic piece on Buckley. Buckley had such a unique style; he is a true iconoclast in an era when political hegemony is becoming more and more common. I hope our little publication, as we evolve over the years, captures even a little of that iconoclasm. Best, Michael P. O’Brien Editor-in-Chief The Michigan Review

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news.

the michigan review

“Marijuana” From Page 1 tances willing to, in Michigan parlance, “smoke them down.” Most users of marijuana, however, need to buy the drug in order to use it as much as they would desire. Marijuana is typically sold in amounts designated by weight. The most typical amount sold is 1/8 of an ounce. Smaller amounts, such as a 1/10 (a “dime”) are also often sold. Prices vary based on the needs of the market, the quality of the marijuana, or on the seller. In Georgia, where Diane lives after having graduated from Lynn University, an eighth of marijuana is priced for around thirty dollars, and an ounce for $120. In California, where Peter attends Cal State, friends give him marijuana for free because they can obtain it using medical cards. Christine, a student at Butte College in California, has a good friend who buys and sells marijuana. “I used to get tons for free because I knew a lot of people who grew,” she said. “But now since I just moved [to North Dakota] I get it from my good friend. I usually just call

him up, he comes over to chill like every other day, sells me a bag, and we sit there smoking it.” Because of relative scarcity in North Dakota, she pays more than she did in California, but her friendship with her source of marijuana gives her some leeway.

In the state of Michigan, the market is dependent on the flow of marijuana across the border from Canada, and into East Lansing and Detroit. Some marijuana, particularly the more potent brands, makes its way to Ann Arbor from Southern California. Ann Arbor dealers tend to increase the price because of the relatively

small market, and an eighth of quality marijuana can cost as much as seventy dollars. Relationships with dealers are virtually the only way of maintaining a constant supply, but those are based more on personal friendships and can become extremely tenuous. “I do have a few good contacts who I will go through in a pinch now and again,” said Fred. “But I tend to avoid buying from these people as I do not wish to give them the impression that our relationship is one of business rather than mutual affection. Drug dealers can be extremely withdrawn and paranoid socially, as everyone wants to be their friend.” Dealers will frequently price based on personal feelings towards their clients rather than based on availability or market pricing. The market for marijuana, like that for any banned substance, is often based on perception and personal feelings rather than supply and demand. In Ann Arbor, those who smoke marijuana are forced to ride the waves of price increases and decreases and relationships with dealers in order to maintain their supply. MR

Ann Arbor Sells Liquor License to Itself Below Market Rate

University of Wasthington Students Volunteer to be Tracked for Study

By Adam Paul, ‘08

By Nathan Stano, ‘11

Decision by City Council stokes ire of local business owners vying for license

n February 19th, Ann Arbor City Council resolved debate on the distribution of a new liquor license. The city had been granted a new Class C license by the Michigan Liquor Control Board (MLCB) and had the charge of distributing it. According to the MLCB’s retail guide, a Class C license allows a business to “sell beer, wine, liquor, and mixed spirit drinks for consumption on the premises.” City Council awarded the license to the city-owned Leslie Park Golf Course. The City received nine applications for the license, including one from the Leslie Park Golf Course, which is operated by the City’s Parks and Recreation department. The City had voted to approve the sale of the license to the golf course at a previous meeting. Councilwoman Sabra Briere brought a resolution to reconsider the approval. Reconsideration was defeated in a 6-5 vote. “They make it sound like they are for the good of Ann Arbor. There is no plan that shows that this will help the golf course,” said Mary Campbell, the owner of Everyday Cook, a Kerrytown Market restaurant that the council considered the top private applicant. Campbell said that the city did not disclose that the City’s own golf course was an applicant. Campbell said she has been looking for a license since opening. She said that several years ago a license on the private market would sell for between $50,000 to $60,000 but that licenses now exceed $100,000. “They sell quickly and they sell for a lot of money,” said Campbell. “If we are concerned about the process, then we need to reconsider who we give this license to. I know that the city can go out and purchase a liquor license for the golf course,” said Councilman Chris Easthope of Ann Arbor’s 5th ward. Easthope said that the City’s option to sell the $2,000 license to itself was unfair to local businesses who had applied for the license. He instead recommended that the City seek to buy an existing license or apply for a $20,000 resort license. Easthope estimated that the City could obtain a license on the market for about $75,000 and predicted that the license could pay itself

off in just several years if the projections of its sales value for the golf course are correct. Easthope, who was not present for the original approval, voted along with four colleagues, including Councilwoman Joan Lowenstien, to reconsider the approval. “I won’t support reconsideration unless we take it back to the beginning,” said Councilman Stephen Kunselman. Kunselman said he had not heard concerns that the selection process had “failed” until the meeting. Councilman Leigh Greden agreed, stressing that since the City intends to buy a license for the golf course, looking for a more expensive license in the private market would betray the Council’s fiduciary duty to the tax payers. Three other council members, and Mayor John Hieftje, also voted not to reconsider their decision. “It was an arbitrary process from the beginning,” said Mayor Hieftje. While he saw problems with the selection, he thought it followed the rules established to obtain the license. Councilwoman Higgins noted that the situation of a city agency competing with private interests in a council decision was “an unusual circumstance at best” and is unlikely to happen again. In December, Golf Convergence Inc. presented the city with a business plan for the two golf courses. The report’s executive summary points out that play at the city’s courses has declined 51.2 percent over the past decade, in part due to higher prices compared to private courses. The report, whose revenue projections assume that a Class C license will be obtained for the Leslie Park course, claims that a license “would be a primary draw for leagues and outings.” For most types of licenses the number available is set by population quota. It is then up to the local governments to decide if they will approve the maximum number and approve them based on statutory guidelines. Angie Simpson, a representative of the MLCB, said that before Ann Arbor made its decision there were already twenty two municipal golf courses in the state that hold Class C licenses, with sixteen of those course in nearby Wayne County. “THE MLCB does not make subjective judgments on the distribution of licenses,” said Simpson. MR

magine a future where if you want to meet up with a friend, you can log onto a website and check his location electronically. The RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification, can be applied to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification using radio waves. These signals can be uploaded to the Internet for the world to see. Whether this strikes you as reasonable or 1984, the technology is being explored at the University of Washington. Delving into this issue is a group of faculty researchers and student volunteers, whose every move was tracked within the Paul Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering at U-Washington. When asked how the system worked, Hannah Hickey, an Engineering writer with Washington’s Office of News and Information, explained, “The team has installed some 200 antennas in the Paul Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering. Early next month researchers will begin recruiting 50 volunteers from about 400 people who regularly use the building.” While the system tracked the volunteers, it also tracked their personal items. Some of the researchers have placed RFID tags on certain belongings, making losing them, at least in the test building, a thing of the past. It also allows those tagged to track their own movements, even how many times they went out for coffee. “A central question in this research is in the balance between privacy and utility. Are there user-centered RFID applications that are truly useful,” questions the project’s website.

See “Tracking,” Page 11

Illustration by Michael O’Brien

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editorials. the michigan review

The Review welcomes letters to the editor. Send letters to:

The Michigan Review T

he Michigan Review is the independent, student-run journal of conservative and libertarian opinion at the University of Michigan. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Editorial Board. Ergo, they are unequivocally correct and just. Signed articles, letters, and cartoons represent the opinions of the author, and not necessarily those of the Review.

City’s Religious Suit Exposes Alternative Motives

he City of Ann Arbor recently paid out $175,000 in legal fees to DF Land Development, the company that manages Domino’s Farms. The City finally agreed to pay after appealing the sum all the way to the Supreme Court. In a fair world, Ann Arbor would have to pay more for abusing zoning as they did in this case. A federal court assessed the fee after Ann Arbor used zoning laws as a façade to discriminate against the Apostolate for Eucharistic Life, a conservative Catholic group who sought to hold religious retreats at Domino’s Farms. The City first refused to grant a useof-land permit outright, only backtracking at the order of the federal courts. This led to the pathetic and truly laughable issuance of a permit for the land to operate as a “bed and breakfast.” (A bed and breakfast permit includes rules that would, in practice, deny the use of Catholics’ sacramental wine.) The federal court system rightly eviscerated Ann Arbor’s flimsy defense in these cases. We are glad that Ann Arbor has to pay in full the attorneys’ fees for DF, as assessed by a federal district court. However, will a few hundred thousand dollars throw the City, or its residents, off its high horse, looking down its nose at communities of faith? We are doubtful. This type of creative zoning to discriminate against religious communities has been seen before. When the student evangelical New Life Church was trying to acquire and move to its current location on Washtenaw in recent years, it was caught up in zoning complaints, as well. The church was eventually granted a permit, but Ann Arbor has continually shown a preferred path of measured resistance against religious communities in its midst, particularly Christians who take a more traditional approach to their faith. The fact is, for many persons of faith—regardless of tradition or denomination—religion is not something you can zone. The practice of their faith is not confined to houses of worship on designated days of the week. Rather, their faith lives are lived out on a daily basis, and often include gatherings of laypersons on, yes, retreats. For many Christian groups in particular, faith is shared in intimate gatherings in homes and retreat centers. There has been much talk on campus in the wake of the LSA publications’ distribution policy controversy about the value of the First Amendment. And, indeed, in the many protests and ad hoc assemblies on campus, we see the importance of a vigorous exercise of the speech and assembly rights guaranteed by the Constitution. The provisions respecting the religious liberties of all Americans are no less part of the First Amendment than those protecting speech, free assembly, and the press. Many in this community—even those who might describe themselves as civil libertarians—may often overlook these equally important civil rights. In that sense, when it gave DF Land Development the run-around, Ann Arbor was merely acting on the conventional wisdom that dominates the minds of a number of Ann Arbor denizens. And that, precisely, is the root of the problem. Rather than be intimidated by plurality, everyone in this City should be secure enough of his or her spiritual or religious conviction to allow (if not encourage) the faith lives of others to flourish. Religion is a cornerstone of public life, and Ann Arbor should be more open to allowing its citizens to act on their faith. M .R

mrev@umich.edu The Review reserves the right to edit letters to the editor for length and clarity.

To Solve Problems, Rethink the War on Drugs

Dear Mary Sue, Come Home Soon!

ver the years, it has become abundantly clear that Mary Sue Coleman has her own vision for the University, which seems primarily composed of increasing the physical appearance of diversity on campus, ignoring and subverting the will of the Michigan voters, and, in general, relieving white guilt as much as possible. Yet somehow it is still striking how little she truly cares about alumni and students’ interests, as she embarks on a U-M delegation to South Africa and Ghana from February 22 through March 5. (Spring break, whoo!) The purpose of the trip is for Coleman to “discuss initiatives that can be incorporated into U-M’s newly established African Studies Center, and explore proposals that extend many longstanding projects undertaken by the more than 120 U-M faculty across the University involved in scholarship related to Africa.” Why is this trip an important focus of U-M resources? Is this really going to be the distinguishing feature about U-M among other universities nationwide? Despite a number of more pressing issues facing the University—the site of graduation, construction on Michigan Stadium, dealing with the aftermath of the MCRI, and ever-rising tuition costs (to name a few)— Coleman continues to yank the University around like an unruly puppy, chasing after her pet interests and concerns. With so many other problem areas at the University, the trip to Africa seems superficial and misprioritized. According to many students, the Art and Design program is disorganized, spreads students too thin (as opposed to letting them concentrate in one medium), and is losing a fair amount of talented artists to schools with better programs. Why is this not significant enough for Coleman’s focus? Time cannot possibly be best spent for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor traveling thousands of miles away to South Africa. While so much that concerns U-M students and past students receive no more than a cursory glance, the demands of a few are granted full sway. This is not the way to run the nation’s top public university. They may as well change the lyrics in The Victors from “the leaders and the best” to “the leaders and the rest.” What are U-M students really gaining from Coleman’s trip? Hooray, we now have stronger relationships with the Ghanan government. That long-soughtafter study abroad program may now become a reality. (Mosquito nets not provided.) We agree that Africa ought to be more prevalent in the social consciousness of students and Americans writ large. But is Mary Sue Coleman the best ambassador to accomplish this? Hardly. Which is why it makes even less sense that her trip is being underwritten by the University. She brings in a hefty three quarters of a million dollars a year. She can afford a trip to Africa on her own dime. And if she wants to bring along 120 of her best buddies, she can pay for them, too. So we are at a crossroads. Once again, Coleman is dragging the University along under the pretense that this is what students as a whole want. Perhaps some students do want a greater University focus on African studies. But these students say: Get back to basics. Shakespeare and Vonnegut. Biochemistry and Economics. Arts and Design. Teach what students will need to know once they leave Ann Arbor, and leave the rest up to the students to personally decide. If you make the decision for people, it’s not really their choice. M .R

n a message to Congress in 1977, President Jimmy Carter said, “Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself.” And yet, the War on Drugs and the black markets that have developed in its wake, specifically the one for marijuana, have been far more problematic than the use of cannabis itself. The legal penalties for possession are frightening enough—outside of Ann Arbor, small amounts of marijuana can result in jail time, years on probation, and major court fees. But working within the market to obtain marijuana can be just as, or even more, dangerous. The illegality of marijuana forces people to depend on dealers, who can control entire regions by acting as the only source for drugs and forcing out the competition. These dealers can so alter the market that in some regions of Michigan, cocaine is easier to obtain than marijuana. Prices skyrocket and quality can plummet. Tons of marijuana enters the country from unknown sources in Canada and, though extremely rare, it can be mixed with other drugs that make a normally near harmless drug extraordinarily dangerous. Given the danger of brining drugs into the country, those who do so are likely to be the same people who use futon mattresses and boxes of fertilizer to hide pills of Ecstasy and bags of uncut cocaine. Though it is expensive to do so, some grow marijuana themselves at great personal risk. Far from being a perfect free market, the drug market is built on personal alliances and the feelings of individuals. Marijuana legalization is not a pipe dream of elderly hippies. In regions across the country, medical marijuana has been recognized as a viable option for those suffering from a myriad of diseases. In some western states, patients suffering from terminal diseases and painful illnesses can obtain marijuana that can limit swelling and make pain more bearable. Even in areas where medical marijuana is not legalized, it is often used for medical purposes: easing the pain from bone cancer, lessening the occurrence of migraines. Numerous students at the University use marijuana on a regular basis, and face far less harm than those who drink alcohol. The federal government has spent billions on advertising to stigmatize the use of marijuana, with little effect. As the War on Drugs nears 40 years, there is very little to show for its progress. Though teen drug use has decreased, it has done so at great monetary cost and the dramatic expansion of government. The Department of Justice and its offshoot, the Drug Enforcement Agency, have used tax dollars to expand surveillance of individuals who may be involved in drug trafficking. And yet a large proportion of Americans have used marijuana, and there has never been a reported overdose death. The wars on methamphetamines, cocaine and its various forms, heroin, and illegal prescription drugs are understandable necessities. And yet a large majority of drug charges that enter into the court system are based on marijuana, not harder drugs. And drug dealers make a remarkable profit off the desire of millions of people to obtain marijuana with no legal means to do so. Its time that the federal government takes a long hard look at the decisions it has made regarding marijuana and make changes that will not only decrease the size of government but improve the lives of millions of people. MR

3.04.08

■ Big Talk

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The World According to Mrs. Obama

here has been no shortage of eyebrow-raising statements in the heated Democratic race, and some of this has gone beyond standard political blather. Michelle Obama’s recent statement that, “for the first time in [her] adult lifetime, [she is] really proud of this country” comes to mind. Beyond the fact that she is trashing her country solely to exalt her husband—the candidate-savior—to amazing heights, she is just plain lying. Or, she’s the most hard-toplease person of all time. I could spend all day assembling a list of things in Brian American history—before and Biglin after Mrs. Obama’s adult lifetime began—that we should truly hate. There’s slavery, Jackson’s Indian Removal Act, Grant’s expulsion of the Jews from Tennessee, the Eighteenth Amendment, appeasement during the Holocaust, race riots, and so on. I’m not going to make a similar list of things to be proud of about America. We know that in every decade we have had our triumphs, and every day we

should be proud that we are one of the most free and prosperous societies in the world. Michelle Obama, who surely is proud like the rest of us in light of these things, simply lied in order to add even more impact to her husband’s campaign. But the larger point is that the Obama campaign—and it is a great one—is feeding off the feeling that so many Americans have: that in Obama, we are witnessing history, a moment that will allow America to ascend from its past, with all of its negatives which the potential First Lady harped on, to a brighter future. Obama is the savior to so many people (who aren’t particularly rational) and, to them, what his wife said makes perfect sense. While there are many rational reasons to support Obama, so little of his campaign is rooted in substance. In these rhetorical constructions of the Obamas, everything previous to his ascendancy is, by default, bad. We witnessed this hyperbole when, in the recent Texas debate, Obama said that the American economy is currently in shambles. I appreciate the high standards for economic performance in America, but as an economist, I will say that Obama was far from accurate, and playing off the concerns of the middle class, turning these trifles into their worst fears. True, there’s a bit of a credit crunch, gasoline

prices are high, and a lot of mortgages have blown up lately, but does the fact that you might have to refinance your house, or move out and rent (Oh, that would be so un-American!), and get a more efficient car mean that the economy is in shambles? “Shambles” seems to connote that our economic foundation has totally collapsed; this would be inaccurate when there is hardly a threat of major upheaval. To be sure, parts of America are in shambles. But I don’t think anyone in politics, even Obama, is truly concerned with the hopeless and forgotten American neighborhoods where the truly impoverished (by world and American standards) live. They aren’t prized voters, and aren’t people that Middle America comes into contact with daily. But maybe the worst part about this rhetoric from Obama is that it totally undermines the more humble approach he says he will take in foreign affairs. He feels that America is too arrogant and haughty on the world stage, but how do you think people in the Middle East feel about his assessment of the supposedly embattled American economy? Obama’s best supporters tend to be the college-educated, “worldly” types. At some point they will listen to him and his wife more closely, and will, without a doubt, become very, very disillusioned. MR

■ No, I Will Not Make Out With You!

henever someone gets down on Walt Disney, Disney movies, or anything in the Disney family, I get irrationally defensive. Is this because I grew up watching “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin”, and so I grow anxious at the idea that I was adversely affected? Maybe. Or perhaps it’s because Disney movies rock, and are totally underground to the liberal establishment, especially at U-M. The social scene at Michigan can be an ugly, Lindsey evil place. Deep in Dodge the Arbor woods, there lurk trolls, evil queens, and power-mad villians masquerading as faculty members. It is just as likely for some villain to offer a poisoned apple today as it was once upon a time, although today it’s probably laced with Adderall. And when was the last time

In Defense of Disney some dragon-lady put you to sleep for a hundred years? For most of us, last Orgo lab. Some critique the unrealistic “Prince Charming” from these films, and I don’t blame them. The entire concept is fantasy, but even a decent Quasimodo is more challenging to find when monogamy is passed over as blasé and frank talks about people’s favorite sexual positions start after random hook-up number two. Not only that, but no fairytale princess would be caught dead speaking, dressing, or acting the way half of us girls do on a regular basis. Certainly, Disney films represent an ideal. Yet despite the sociological denigration, the important things I learned from them have absolutely nothing to do with my ideal waist-breast ratio or a learned inability to do math. Instead, I learned to be kind. The most prevalent thread in Disney stories is that the people we root for, the people we want to succeed, are those that look beyond themselves. We’re all individuals, and we all have ambition. That’s healthy, especially for young collegians.

By Michael O’Brien, Editor-in-Chief

here’s a controversy brewing at the University of Colorado, and it could easily reach other campuses. On February 18, the Campus Press, the student newspaper of UC-Boulder, published a column by one of its editors, Max Kawson, entitled, “If it’s war the Asians want…” The column, overwrought with hyperbole, targeted the school’s Asian students for what Karson saw as their arrogance (in his words, “hate”) towards the school’s white students. The misfire at satire trafficked in a Staff number of stereotypes, characterizOpinion ing the students as emotionless math whizzes who eat rice and drive, well, “rice rockets.” The column was unfortunate. The editors of the Campus Press should not have run it. But been the reaction at UC-Boulder has been even more unfortunate.

But learning some restraint to purely personal benefit, by considering others’ thoughts and feelings, makes living in this world a heck of a lot less tiring. Also, I learned to take action. No one, not even the ever-popular Cinderella, sat around waiting for things to happen to her, or waiting to do the right thing. Initiative is a highly undervalued virtue in college, probably because we all want to soak up these last years of “childhood.” Yet these childhood movies teach us far better how to act as adults, or which adults to emulate, than so many of the cheesy chick-flicks and insipid action blockbusters. Additionally, I learned to be myself. The heroes and heroines of Disney movies are always individuals, which is certainly a reflection of our American psyche. The models in these movies were always true to themselves, which seems the very foundation of our Michigan idea of “diversity.” But the fact that so many people decry these films speaks to the fact that what the societal critics of these films really desire is not diversity, but unanimity of opinion and

personality—that is to say, their own. Cinderella was industrious, optimistic, and obedient. Mulan was strong, revolutionary, and smart. Both very indicative of their times, both completely different personalities, neither of them better than the other. These are good role models for children, and for many so-called adults who despise Disney films. So let’s be frank, for all my liberal friends who are foaming to say, ‘There are racists in Disney movies, subtle or not so subtle.’ Yes, there are, but this does not mean that Disney movies are condoning these behaviors. It’s not the admirable characters that exhibit these features, but rather the “bad guys.” This is because there happen to be racists in real life, whether we like it or not, and so these movies capture a great range of characters that teach us how best to cope with the world. Especially when combined with thoughtful parental discussion, it is not only enjoyable but also beneficial for everybody to enjoy the magic of Disney. MR

Editors, Beware According to Boulder’s Daily Camera newspaper, after meeting with the dean of the UC’s School of Journalism, editors agreed to staff-wide diversity training, in conjunction with the school’s diversity coordinator. Additionally, the editors will be meeting with members of the student community—presumably from Asian student groups—and will adopt an “opinions policy,” to set guidelines for the acceptability of such pieces. Karson’s column was in poor taste. No one disputes this. Yet these new guidelines could endanger the Campus Press’s independence. It’s important for a newspaper to be responsive to the community it covers. Part of that includes sensitivity towards the students who may be minorities of some sort. But the determination of what’s insensitive and what’s not should be left to the Campus Press’s editors, and no one else. If they make a poor decision, there are consequences in the market (decreased readership and credibility, to name two) as their punish-

ment. By forcing the Campus Press to operate from hereafter under the umbrella of the “diversity” moniker, the paper is now subject to any future claims by special interest or identity politics groups. By accepting the outside reprimand, it has given its readers’ agendas capital to work with. The effect may be worse than the original column. Though it remains to be seen what the effect of the new policy will be, it may have a chilling effect on smart commentary or reporting on issues involving different campus communities. The potential loss of those pieces is discouraging. Though it would be easy to pretend that this instance is isolated to the University of Colorado, any college student knows that when it comes to identity grievances, UC is interchangeable with any other college campus. And for that, editors everywhere should be wary. MR

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sex.

the michigan review

Sex Workers’ Art Show Receives Warm Welcome on Campus By Shanda Shooter, ‘10

n Wednesday the 20th, the University of Michigan hosted the Sex Workers’ Art Show. The show was sponsored by Michigan Student Assembly, Arts on the Hill, and Project SERVE, among others, to expose the lives of workers in the sex industry. The show, currently touring campuses across the country, is comprised of “people from all areas of the sex industry including strippers, prostitutes, dommes, films stars, phone sex operators, internet models, etc.” It showcases all types of acts including poetry and story readings, singing, dance, and performances that could only been seen in this type of show. The show sold out and additional seats had to be brought into the Michigan League Ballroom to accommodate everyone. The crowd was filled with energy and more than happy to have the group on campus. No students objected to any of the content. The show opened with a humorous tale by “The World Famous *BOB*” on how she entered the sex industry. She stripped to reveal her ninety-eight percent nude body in a burlesque fashion. She later performed the amazing feat of making a martini completely with her cleavage. Burlesque dancer Miss Dirty Martini performed a political protest performance dancing and stripping to Dolly Parton’s “Proud to Be An American.” Clad in red, white and blue, she ate wads of American money and proceeded to “flip off” the crowd as her finale. She received a standing ovation for her offensive and blatant anti-American statement. The show also featured a University of Michigan alumna, Erin Mackey. She made the crowd laugh with

tales of her life as an undergraduate. She talked about her college diet (of eggs and Kraft singles) and lack of desire to obtain a job other than working on her bachelor’s degree. She told of her choice, after graduating, to pursue a career as an exotic dancer at Dèjá Vu in Ypsilanti and of her segue into the sex industry. She explained that she chose Bridget as her stage name, after her sister’s Catholic confirmation name of Saint Bridget.

Asian dominatrix Keva I. Lee also performed, making use of a more than willing audience volunteer as a “pet.” She told a story about her life as a dominatrix and trying to overcome the objectification of Asian women while commanding the audience member around the stage. In the end, the female volunteer was forced to perform oral sex on Keva I. Lee’s strap on sex toy as the crowd chanted “faster” in Cantonese. This raunchy performance also received a standing ovation for the two women. Krylon Superstar, a drag queen and the only male performer, presented the last segment of the night. He also chose to turn his part into a political protest by singing an anti-war song. He also stripped until he was completely nude to reveal a profane message about President Bush written on his chest in red electrical tape. This also received an outstanding reaction from the crowd. As his finale, he bathed in a pool full of sparkles and lit a Sparkler while it was in his buttocks. Although there were no protests at U-M, the show has received opposition on other campuses. At the College of William and Mary the president was forced to resign recently, in part for sponsoring the show. Some of the acts tried their best to show talent and expression of the artist, however in general it really didn’t reveal much about the plight of sex workers as was intended by Project SERVE. MR

Courtesy: Sex Workers’ Art Show

Mackey then stripped, sang, and pole danced all while receiving a “telepathic hand holding” from the audience since both of her parents were present that night.

Self-Professed “Porn Addict” Shares His Story By Alyse Hudson, ‘11

or most people Wednesday, February 13 was a day of preparation before sweet and sugary Valentine’s Day, but for the attendees of Porn Nation, life was not so sugarcoated. “Porn Nation-The Naked Truth” was an event sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ and held in the University’s Rackham Auditorium. It featured speaker and self-proclaimed former sex addict Michael Leahy. Leahy recounted of his own struggle with pornography and showed video interviews with counselors, a former prostitute and recovering sex addicts who condemned porn as the reason for society’s degradation. Leahy grabbed the audience’s attention by shouting statistics such as “ten to twelve billion dollars is spent on porn every year, more than football, baseball and basketball combined” and “Forty million people view porn on the Internet every year and of those one in three are women.” He did not reveal his sources for these figures, but tried to frighten the audience with his foreboding pronouncement, “In the world of porn, things aren’t quite what they seem.” Then he played sexy clips of celebrities taken from stations such as MTV and E! and declared that porn is not just sex but anything remotely erotic. “When we’re in a culture where 14,000 sexual images come from mainstream media, the freedom of choice to see it is gone,” said Michael Leahy, accusing the media of oppressing citizens’ rights. Then he tried to rally the audience with his cry, “If there is some potential harm, then we have need to recognize that.” The most important word in that sentence is “If.” He did not proceed to provide concrete proof of

porn destroying countless lives, only his own. He referred to porn as his “drug-of-choice” and conveniently blamed his addiction for his affair, which ultimately ended his fifteen-year marriage. For Leahy cheating on his wife with a sultry porn star look-a-like “was an escalation for me of something that I had been doing for 25 years.” While Leahy said he realized that porn did not cause his choices, he did not point to other motivating factors. He admitted, “I started to realize that there were deeper issues.” Still, he maintained that it was porn that destroyed his life until he reached “rock-bottom,” where thoughts of suicide pervaded his thoughts. To detoxify his life, he had his cable television cut and installed Covenant Eyes, computer software in which three close friends monitor his Internet browsing. If he disables the program, they will receive email alerts. After his emotional recount of his divorce, he warned the audience that there would be spiritual content after the short intermission and anyone who felt uncomfortable should feel free to leave.

Leahey referred to porn as his “drugof-choice” and conveniently blamed his addiction for his affair, which ultimately ended his fifteen-year marriage.

Throughout his presentation, Leahy neglected to offer any suggestions of how to maintain a healthy, sexually lifestyle nor did he provide solutions to ending an addiction. MR

Total Revenues (in billions) of Major U.S. Sporting Leagues (2006) Major League Baseball

$5.2

(MLB.COM)

National Basketball Association

$3.75

(Nytimes.com)

National Football League Then he abruptly transferred from porn to preaching by recounting a conversation he had with porn star Ron Jeremy in which Jeremy told Leahy that if there were a heaven and a hell, he would be in hell. Leahy then divulged into his spiritual journey, “I see myself as a sinner, who needed a savior all along.” Then he called the audience to invite Jesus into their heart and to let him know by checking the corner of a feedback card.

$5.8

(msnbc.com)

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news.

the michigan review

Zoning Religion Out of Ann Arbor?

City forced to pay $175,000 in fees to Catholic group that successfully sued for discrimination By Julianne Nowicki, ‘11

nn Arbor Township recently paid over $175,000 in legal fees over a lawsuit regarding the use of private property for religious reasons after the United States Supreme Court rejected an appeal to reduce those fees. The case stems back eight years, when DF Land Development, which manages property for Domino’s Farms was denied a permit to use a house for religious purposes. The property is on Dixboro Road, which is northeast of campus, and a short distance from the headquarters of the namesake Domino’s Corporation. Timothy DiLaura, Director of the Apostolate for the Eucharistic Life and DF Land Development, sent a letter to the Ann Arbor Township zoning official asking whether or not the proposed property use under the donation was prohibited by Ann Arbor zoning laws. The zoning official at that time, Michael Moran, responded with a letter that prohibited the proposed land’s use. DiLaura filed an application for a variance in the zoning law, but was denied, leading to a lawsuit against the Township of Ann Arbor and Moran. However, the lawsuit was initially dismissed by the District Court, which said the plaintiffs lacked standing, and that their claims “were not ripe.” The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which oversees Michigan, reversed,

ruling DF did have standing and “ripe” claims. As the matter returned to Ann Arbor, the Township’s Board of Trustees gave DF Land Development a conditional permit to operate as a “bed and breakfast,” which would require that guests be charged a fee for their stay, and would forbid serving alcohol or meals other than breakfast or light snacks. The Apostolate for the Eucharistic Life, as a Roman Catholic group, invites guests to participate in the Catholic sacrament of Holy Communion. In the Catholic tradition, wine is consumed and theologically seen as Jesus’s actual blood. On November 14, 2002, the plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint. In this complaint, they claimed violation under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized PerCourtesy Google Maps sons Act (RLUIPA), arguing Domino’s Farms are off Dixboro Road, just northeast of U-M’s North Campus. Ann Arbor Township’s suggestion to change this AposUIPA. It stated that the defendants could and court fees. The magistrate judge tolate to a bed and breakfast was com- not enforce the bed and breakfast provi- found the fees to amount to $178,535.61, pletely lacking in respect for religious sions upon the plaintiffs. Ann Arbor which the City appealed all the way to tolerance and diversity. Township appealed this judgment, but the Supreme Court. After the Supreme After another hearing, the District the District Court affirmed its stance. Court declined to hear the case, the Court concluded that the defendants’ After all the quarreling, the plaintiffs Township paid the full amount to the bed and breakfast proposal violated RL- requested compensation for attorneys’ Apostolate. MR

Anti-War Action Hopes Protests Spur Mass Movement By Megan Lytle, ‘10

t noon on Friday, February 15, students from Anti-War Action gathered on the Diag to protest what they see as an unjust war in Iraq. Asking the U.S. government to bring troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan immediately, these students chanted, “Money for health care, not for war!” and “Money for schools, not for war!” Jonathan Seid, the spokesperson for the organization, which has a small but dedicated membership, said that they believe the war was executed in the interest of big corporations rather than in the interest of national security. On a campus where demonstrations are not necessarily unusual, questions still are raised about what Anti-War Action is trying to accomplish. As a passing student remarked, “I’m against the war and all, but does protesting like this achieve anything?” “We believe that the only way to end these unjust conflicts is through a vigorous, active anti-war movement that makes it impossible for the war-machine to continue to function,” Seid said in an interview. “If you examine the history of opposition to the Vietnam War, it is clear that the American people cannot rely on the election of a new party or leader to end these destructive, imperialist adventures.” The members of Anti-War Action argue that merely supporting candidates from either party who say they want to end the war is inadequate. More common forms of activism like writing letters, drafting petitions, and

calling Congress members, they say, will not work. By demonstrating instead, they hope that they can stimulate a mass movement to serious action that they feel will eventually end the war for good. “It took enormous demonstrations and strikes at home, combined with extreme discontent verging on mutiny within the ranks of the armed forces to end the Vietnam War,” said Seid. “It will take a similar constellation of factors—strikes, continuous protest, etc.— to end the war in Iraq.” As for the types of responses their protests get, Seid says the results are mixed. Reactions were not universally negative. Recalling the protest, Debra Lauterbach, a graduate student, said that she appreciated the protesters’ dedication to their cause. “I think their protests are effective, because even if they don’t spur a massive movement, they at least keep the war on people’s minds,” she said. “I think it’s great that these students care enough about the war to do something about it. Real change only happens from the bottom-up, so this is a start.” Seid expressed frustration at what he sees as the large number of anti-war students on campus who are unwilling to take what his organization sees as the necessary action against it. Many of the reactions from students, ranging from cynical comments to resigned sighs, seemed to confirm Seid’s inclination. MR

NPR Journalist Speaks on Supreme Court’s New Direction By Adam Paul, ‘08

n a lecture just before spring break, National Public Radio Supreme Court correspondent, Nina Totenberg, discussed her impressions of the Court and speculated on where it may be heading soon. Totenberg, who has been covering the Court for NPR since the mid1970s, stated that the institution has become more conservative within the last few years. The retirement of Justice O’Connor and the death of Chief Justice Rehnquist resulted in two Bush appointees, Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito, shifting the Court toward the political right. While Roberts has publicly commented that he would like to see more unity on the Court, Totenberg indicated he has been unable to achieve this goal. Adam Paul/The Michigan Review “No amount of charm or experience is going to get people who think they are just as smart as he is to give up on their own views, and so the Roberts Court is more fractured than any in recent memory,” said Totenberg. She noted that the number of unanimous decisions has fallen under Chief Justice Roberts, while the number of five to four decisions has risen. At the same time Justice Kennedy has replaced Justice O’Connor as the likely swing vote in close cases. The outcomes of decisions have also shifted. “The result was an explosion of conservative decisions,” said Totenberg, referring to the previous Court session, which marked the first

See “Totenberg,” Page 12

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the michigan review

Race, Gender, and Democratic Nominations By Cherri Buijk, ‘10 and Megan Lytle, ‘10

he progressive tenor of the 2008 presidential contest is demostrated by its female and African-American candidates, each of whose elected would make history. Yet the discourse within the Democratic party of its own progressiveness has surfaced in forms that may be more complex than is apparent, as a January article in The New York Times suggests. Covering a recent comment of Senator Hillary Clinton’s, when she said that Lyndon B. Johnson had greater responsibility for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., The Times questioned whether tensions among Democrats surrounding issues of race or gender may be gaining significance. At U-M, with a high concentration of Democratic voters, such a question would seem to be particularly relevant. But when asked whether or not he has observed any such divisions coming between Democrats at the University, Students for Obama president Tom Duvall said emphatically that the race and gender of the 2008 Presidential candidates has created no such tensions and that he, like many Obama supporters, feels that such discourse is unproductive. “We also have not had anything dealing with this in any way come up in the group and don’t see it as an issue,” said Duvall. “Senator Obama’s message is one of unity and of America coming together. Focusing on race-based divisions is not something that his supporters will do and is something that we will work pretty actively against,” he added. Indeed, among all Obama supporters asked, the subject of race and gender was, if anything, decidedly a non-issue. It was suggested by Obama supporter Caroline Hogan that the kind of demographic where enthusiasm for a candidate is based more strongly on their race or gender as opposed to a more objective affinity for their stances on issues might be among older Americans, who would like to see such a historic step made in their lifetime. Those who did say that race or gender mattered in their decision seemed to refer more to the candidates’ actual platforms than to the candidates themselves. Anne Ebbers said that she explored each candidate’s policies thoroughly before picking whom to support, deciding on Clinton primarily because of gender-related issues. “I am extremely concerned with the lives and rights of women, as workers and mothers and citizens, and the fact that women are not yet socially equal to men… I want a president who is going to consider all of this, and further, I want a president who is going to fight for a woman’s right to choose... that candidate is Hillary Clinton,” she said. Ebbers’ strong concerns over such issues may not necessarily reflect on a majority, however. Most Democratic supporters interviewed expressed a greater interest in a candidate’s stance on issues transcendent of the candidate’s personal attributes— African American or female. Associate Professor of Political Science Vincent Hutchings pointed out that while such a perspective is indeed groundbreaking, other facets of civil rights debate languish in wider discourse, despite their implicative airplay in the current political spotlight. “Although each of these candidacies is clearly historic, it is much too easy to interpret the success of Obama and Clinton as indicative of gender or racial progress,” said Hutchings. “In many ways, their candidacies indicate how far we haven’t come as much as how far we have come.” “What has not been discussed very much is the persistence of race and gender discrimination and race and gender inequality,” he added. MR

Marriage at Michigan By Christine Hwang, ‘10

t a school like the University of Michigan, academic and career plans seem paramount; long-term romantic relationships take a back seat. Nonetheless, according the Census Bureau, the average age for first marriage for men and women is 26.7 and 25.1, respectively. In Michigan, the average is slightly higher: 27.1 and 25.6 for men and women. “I plan to get married during or after grad school. Probably around twenty-seven or twenty-eight,” said senior Kevin Wilson, falling within the average for Michigan residents. Junior Jennifer Lowing said she was conflicted about when she wanted to get married. That meant, Lowing said, that she would have to choose between having a big family and going to medical school. With the average size of families decreasing since the baby boom of the 1940s and 1950s, students increasingly adhere to goals they have set for themselves before considering marriage. As one freshman put it, “I think times have changed a lot and women have changed a lot.” “I think you have to ask yourself, ‘Do you want to have kids or go to grad school?’” Lowing said, articulating a tough decision many students see for themselves. “I think a lot of my friends think they really want to be with the person they’re in a relationship with for the rest of their life, but they also keep in mind that some of them are leaving for grad school in separate places.” “I want to get married between the ages of thirty and thirty-five,” said engineering sophomore Doug Rigterink. “I think it’ll give me time to get a career

started, figure out what I want in a wife, and have enough money so we won’t have to be one of those couples who lives paycheck to paycheck.” As a whole, most students said that more people from their high schools were probably going to get married before their peers at U-M. Sociologist Margaret Mooney Marini demonstrated as early as the 1970s that the level of educational attainment has a causal effect on the age of marriage. “I come from Shelbyville, Kentucky,” said Wilson, “I went to a rather large county high school and a lot of people got married after high school.” “Most of my friends in Arkansas are already married and I think it’s because they think of themselves as adults,” said Senior Zach Tanner, who went to his first two years of high school in Arkansas and his last two years of high school in Ohio. “I think my friends from Ohio will get married before my friends in Michigan.” Although the Wolverines’ school spirit ties University of Michigan students together, many students point out that it is hard to meet potential marriage partners. “It seems like the University is very impersonal,” said one student. U-M has more of a hook-up scene than an actual dating scene, they said. The University provides housing for both married couples and domestic partners in the Northwood Apartments on North Campus. Tax breaks due to marriage was a commonly cited issue among students who decided to get married. “It makes sense if you’re going to get married anyway,” said Lowing. “You get to a point when you know you’re going to be with a person for the rest of your life, so you have no real reason to wait,” Lowing said. MR

Rwandan Ambassador Explains U.S. Delay in Halting Genocide By Christina Zajicek ‘10

avid Rawson, the United States Ambassador to Rwanda during the 1990’s, gave a lecture in the Gerald R. Ford School’s Weill Hall before break. During this lecture, Rawson discussed his involvement in one of the greatest atrocities in modern history. Located in eastern Africa, the country of Rwanda underwent an episode of genocide in spring of 1994 that left 800,000 dead within 100 days, and countless others mentally and physically handicapped for the rest of their lives. This modern demonstration of genocide occurred in the context of a civil war between the Tutsi dominant army, the Rwandan Patriotic Font, and the Hutus. In August of 1993, the Rwandan government and the RPF signed a “final” cease-fire agreement known as the Arusha accords in order to more evenly distribute power within the government. The peace agreement ended abruptly as the Tutsiled RPF shot down the plane carrying the new Hutu president of Rwanda on April 6, 1994. In response to the assassination, the Hutu military killed 800,000 Tutsis and Hutu moderates in what is now known as the Rwandan genocide. Rwandans were killed in places of sanctuary, tortured by machetes, and women were sexually abused. David Rawson stayed in Rwanda until all U.S. citizens could be evacuated. He recalls bullets flying past his head and the moment he saw a “child shot by a man in a tree. I had to hold the dead child in my arms.” After three months of mass killings, the United Nations sent forces to calm the genocide, but Rawson explains they came too late. “We knew genocide was happening. Hundreds of thousands of people were being killed. The only way this stopped was when the RPF was victorious. Our work in getting the UN in Rwanda came several months too late.”

Why did help come too late? The former ambassador argues that issues of legality prevented foreign aid from arriving quickly. An act of genocide had to occur before action could be taken. Genocide, according to the 1948 Convention on Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, is an act committed with intent to destroy a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. “You can’t just kill someone and call it genocide, but you have to kill someone because you intend to cause harm to the group he belongs to. You have to prove the intent in order to call it genocide,” Rawson explained. This partially explains why the Rwandan genocide intervention was inoperable in a timely manner. Rawson suggests forgoing the title of “genocide” altogether in favor of the more visceral, yet general “acts of atrocity” in order to more quickly surpass legal red tape. Rawson also pointed to several other reasons why the response to Rwanda was so slow. “The United States had no political, economic, or social interest in Rwanda. Perhaps we finally did take action because the conflict threatened to flow over into the neighboring country of Zaire, where the U.S. has vested interest.” The United States government lacks an office of human rights. “We have trained professionals and planes filled with resources that arrive immediately in the wake of a natural emergency. We need the same system for genocide,” says the ambassador. What David Rawson is proposing is called a tripwire response, an international union of countries that promise to provide security, medical aid, and foodstuffs immediately to victims of mass killings. In the meantime, he offers advises the general population to seek improved domestic laws, and more importantly, “raise concern for the least of our brothers and sisters.” MR

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the michigan review

Where U-M Graduates End Up: From Coast to Coast By Eddie Perry, ‘09

ichigan attracts students from a geographic area spanning all 50 states and over 100 foreign countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. U-M is the largest pre-law and pre-med university in the country and over 50 percent of incoming undergraduates come from the top five percent of their high school classes. Toss in the fact that U-M is also the leading research university in the country, receiving over $374 million in research expenditures annually, and it is safe to say that as a University of Michigan graduate, one is in excellent company. Furthermore, with the largest alumni base worldwide at more than 440,000 people, it is interesting to see not only where U-M graduates land after their four years in Ann Arbor, but how cohesive these recent alumni are in their respective cities. The most popular option to staying connected as an alumnus is the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan. The AAUM has 60 officially recognized clubs/chapters and 20 other “spirit groups” across America. Seventy five percent of alumni live in nine major metro areas. Detroit houses the most U-M grads with more than 50,000 in its area (15,000 of which are part of the AAUM). Following Detroit in order of alumni population is New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Flint/Lansing, San Francisco, Washington DC, and Grand Rapids. Catherine Serrin Niekro, the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for AAUM, has noticed the successes of the association. “Through a lot of alumni research we know that new grads really want the ability to leverage the vast alumni network,” she said. To help with that, there are a variety of programs offered that help new grads network with alumni, find jobs with U-M connections, and improve job-related skills. According to Niekro, these programs are very well received and are used by many new grads–as well as older grads. However, while U-M’s unprecedented alumni base may be the most valuable asset to a new alumnus, it can also be an intimidating one in the sense that many graduates do not even know where to begin. With the majority of students leaving Michigan after college, Niekro has several recommendations for establishing a strong network. “All new graduates of the University can take advantage of a free one-year membership in the Alumni Association [of the University of Michigan],” she said. “It’s a great, easy way to stay connected to U-M. Members get automatic membership in the local club, which is the best way to make a U-M connection when you move to a new city after graduation. A lot of clubs have welcome parties for new grads in the early fall to help them meet others who are new to the city and to meet alumni who are already established in the city.” While U-M is obviously not the only alumni base with strong roots in cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, it certainly distinguishes itself well according to Niekro, “U-M alumni have a passion for the University that is unlike that of alumni from many other schools. I hear it when I talk to colleagues from other institutions. They’ll ask, ‘What do

you do to people at Michigan? They’re so loyal!’ I think it’s a result of students who have amazing college experiences who feel committed to the school and want to give back by helping other alumni, talking about the school, getting involved with alumni activities, and so on.” Marquina Iliev, a 2001 U-M grad, works for the interactive, branding, and design firm 4 Corners and is also an active AAUM organizer in the New York chapter. The New York club has won the AAUM’s Innovation Award of Excellence the past three years for such events as happy hours for recent graduates, an expanded dinner series, and career mentoring and networking. To illustrate the importance of alumni networking in a city such as New York, Iliev has noticed that “most big cities are very polarizing and it’s a given that wherever you go, you are networking. But with AAUM’s New York chapter, it’s more than just building résumés; it’s about becoming a better-rounded person. Sure, by surrounding yourself with U-M grads you will develop a wide

Illustration by Michael O’Brien

range of contacts, but you will also be surrounding yourself with motivated and dependable lifelong friends.” MR

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arts & culture.

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the michigan review

Campus Corner

Spring Breaking in Ann Arbor

By Adam Paul, ‘08

FTER SPENDING my first two college spring breaks going home to Macomb, and last year in sunny Orlando, I picked a rarer locale this year. My choice involved little sun, a healthy amount of snow and was less populated than the Ugli on football Saturday. Yes, I stayed in Ann Arbor for the break. Sure, it wasn’t an exciting- or a warm- choicejust like I expected. Then again I did not stay in our little college town for its beauty; I chose it for its economy (not the one that’s faltering). While most students put their bank accounts in the red on plane tickets, drinks, and tanning beds, my inertia helped put me back in the financial black. Yes, that involved making a lot of copies and spending time in the library rather than on the beach, but it’s going to be worth it when upon graduation I am still solvent. In the short run, its also going to be nice to not have to spend the next week catching up on all the work that I negelected over the break. I will be the first to admit that this city died over the break. By Thursday evening, everyone had taken the Air Bus to ship out of town. Walking around town on the first Saturday of break, I thought I missed the Rapture. While there were fewer students on campus, the tenor of activity changed little for spring break. I went to class about as often as if courses were in session. I drank as copiously as usual, although Charley’s closed for the week. Yet each time I ventured out to the Jug, sometimes in the snow, the place was as full as one would usually expect. While many students were getting drunk on beaches some were continuing the everyday, which for some poor underclassmen during Spring Break included group vomits in the men’s room, captured digitally by a close female friend, of course. As I walked home from the Jug that night, as it snowed, I realized that the time that I have left to enjoy Ann Arbor is quickly slipping away. The next time that I leave the city for a week or more, I probably won’t be coming back anytime soon. So really, I’m not bitter at all that a lot of people took trips to warmer climes for a week. I just hope that seniors manage to retain the level of excitement they mustered for spring break for their last two months in Ann Arbor. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t plan on missing our college town a ton; I’ m ready to get out of here and start a career. After four years, though, I just don’t have a single thing to complain about anymore. It’s cold, the city doesn’t really like students, and honestly, I’m over it. If I learned to get over those petty things sooner I think I would have enjoyed my experience on campus more. I won’t admit to have a lot of sage, senior advice. Look, I’m the guy who stayed in Ann Arbor for his spring break, so if you want to live on the edge you need to get in touch with someone a few steps closer to it. Rather, I will advise that any grudges you hold against your city have to be put aside if making it through four years at this institution is your goal. My best advice is get out of Ann Arbor for the break, preferably for somewhere warm and sunny. Unless pretending that the Diag is a nature preserve is your thing. Just don’t gripe, as my friends already have been, that there is still snow on the ground when you get back. MR

Prepare to Pay for Good Food & Coffee at Bert’s By Erika Gonzalez, ‘09

t does not take much more than caffeine and free sweets to bring in a crowd, and Bert’s Café lived up to its promise the Wednesday it opened with both. Tucked away in the corner of the UgLi, the muchanticipated grand opening of this new coffee shop was a great success. Local media, students, and the café’s namesake, Bert Askwith himself, were among the clusters of curious people awaiting their turn to receive a sample of the café’s coffee and chocolate cake. Judging by the number of customers who dipped into their pockets to get a taste of Bert’s menu, the café’s presentation was well received. Bert Askwith was the celebrity of the hour, and was surrounded at all moments by admiring students and local vendors alike. As the face also behind the library’s Askwith Media Library, he is already much appreciated among the local student population. Bert’s Café will add to his local fame, and he has confidence that this utilization of space will be “good for the whole educational experience.” Although the coffee itself is standard to the taste, the convenient location and the amount of variety in its food selection sets the cafe apart from local coffee shops. As explained by Keith Soster, Food Services Director for University Unions, since Bert’s doesn’t have

a kitchen it must purchase its food every morning from local vendors. In this way, the café will support local businesses while providing the three qualities Soster says students appreciate the most: “freshness, quality and value.” Bert’s Café will host a selection from Lucky Kitchen, Manchester and Avalon Bakery, sushi from Panda Express, and there is discussion of including Big Ten Burrito, a local favorite, in the selection. Bert’s promises to cater to the needs of all students and provides an impressive selection of vegetarian and vegan foods on its menu, as well. Humus with pita, spinach pockets, and vegetarian grape leaves are just a few of the health-friendly choices the café has to offer. As a whole, Bert’s Café presents an appealing package to University of Michigan students and staff. With a convenient location, good food, hot coffee and a comfortable space to chill out between study sessions, the only major wrinkle in this café heaven is the prices. These mouth-watering treats will empty your pockets as quickly as they fill your stomach. With a medium cup of coffee priced at $1.70, and a medium cappuccino at $2.95, the dollars disappear pretty quickly. So if a cheap snack is what you’re looking for to hold you through that last couple of hours of cramming, you may not find Bert’s $5.49 Veggie Wrap or $4.49 fruit cup all that appealing. MR

Ann Arbor Named Amazon’s Sexiest City in U.S. By Lindsey Dodge, ‘10

ight before Valentine’s Day, Amazon. com announced its list of the Top Twenty Most Romantic Cities in America, and with that data, the Sexiest City in America: Ann Arbor. With twenty-four percent of its romantic Amazon purchases coming from books about sex, Ann Arbor beat out such lovespots as Miami, San Francisco, and well, Salt Lake City to prove that Wolverines know what it’s all about. This means that almost a quarter of sales to Ann Arbor come from such Amazon purchases as, “Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God: What Every Christian Husband Needs to Know,” a 2008 Intimate Romantic Position Wall Calendar, or such family fun as erotic board-games. So what makes Ann Arbor so much sexier than everyone else? The first stop has always got to be lingerie. The “4 Seasons” store on E. Liberty sells sexy undergarments, perfume, and anything else one might need for a romantic night in. However, salesperson Kate McConville says that easily half the sales come from “Hanky-Panky.” These skimpy, lacy thongs that come in every color imaginable are one size fits all, and apparently every woman in Ann Arbor IS wearing them underneath her trendy jeans. Sales jump in more interesting undergarments come at Halloween and Valentine’s Day. “We get a lot more garter orders around Halloween, lingerie around Valentine’s Day. You know at Halloween people are turning these things into costumes, and then at Valentine’s Day people just go all out.” At two pieces from the store easily selling for two hundred dollars, that better be one happy camper back at home. Ann Arbor women are apparently very comfortable and expressive in the store. McConville laughingly says, “I’m kind of the female version of a bartender. I was really surprised how many people will come in and say they want one thing for their husband and then one thing for their lover.” Unfortunately, the husband mostly gets stuck with nice cottons. Recently Forbes also listed Ann Arbor as the third smartest city in America, due to the number of bachelors, masters, and Ph.D.s who live in the city. So maybe the rumors are true: smarts are sexy. Looking at the U-M curriculum, sex is apparently not only on the minds of the undergraduates, but the faculty as well. Tim Dodd, Director of the LSA Academic Advising Center, says “every educator knows that there are two words that guarantee enrollment: Sex and Medicine.” Perhaps if they appeared concurrently in a course description, all 17,000 students would show up to class.

With over 101 classes that contain the word “sex” in the title and descriptions, Dodd understands that “it’s a hook to get students interested in larger cultural, political, and social issues. You’re looking for a sexy course title, and we want to make it relevant.” This does not appear to be particular to Ann Arbor. The advertising and designing of courses through a sexual lens is common at other top universities, and according to Dodd, every college he’s visited is aware of this particular hook. Maybe these other colleges are just a little more conversation, a little less action than Ann Arbor. MR

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arts & culture. the michigan review

U-M Production of ‘As The Michigan Review You Like It’ Easy to Like is now in your ear. By Lindsey Dodge, ‘10

ith opening night on Valentine’s Day, Shakespeare’s classic comedy “As You Like It” was a fun choice for many couples seeking a more unique date setting. The play was presented by the U-M Department of Theater and Drama in the Mendelssohn Theater. The recent production updates the setting of Shakespeare’s play about love, gender-bending, and brother against brother violence by moving it from the English country to rural 50’s Americana. The kingdom, which Duke Frederick (Alex Polcyn ’08) usurps from his elder brother, Duke Senior (Dylan Saunders), is shown as an apple orchard rather than an English dukedom. To fit the period Rosalind’s (Jaime Lyn Beatty) mannish attire in Arden includes jeans and a baseball hat. Here is where her father lives with his exiled courtiers, which in this production are a bunch of 50s, counter-cultural hipsters. When Rosalind discovers the love poems Orlando (John Jarboe) in the woods, she pretends to counsel him to cure him of his being in love, while her cousin Celia (Rebecca Whatley) watches her torment her love. The court jester Touchstone (Joseph Walker) accompanies the lover’s and he falls, more in lust, for a local woman. Meanwhile, the shepherdess Phoebe (Ali Kresch), with whom the shepherd Silvius (Brian Holden) is in love, falls in love with Rosalind (dressed as a man, of course). At the same time, Orlando saves his previously evil brother, Oliver (Aaron Seeburger), from a lioness in the woods, causing Oliver to repent and coincidentally, fall in love with Celia. Rosalind successfully conspires to marry everyone, after which they discover that Frederick has repented his faults and decided to restore his brother back to his dukedom. The best work of the play, as

“Tracking” From Page 3 Seen as inevitable by the researchers that started the project, they have made it their mission to reap all the benefits while maintaining people’s privacy. “Our goal is to ask what benefits can we get out of this technology and how can we protect people’s privacy at the same time, we want to get a handle on the issues that would crop up if these systems become a reality,” stated project leader Magda Balazinska, who is a UW assistant professor of computer science and engineering. Privacy is at issue here; and UWashington has taken precautions to allow for people’s privacy. “Each participant will be able to control who can see his or her data, and

well as the heart, came from the nonprofessionals: the students. The McCarthy-era setting makes an effort to present a “brother against brother” world. The backgrounds, though, did not clearly support this premise. Whenever Duke Frederick came on stage, the sound of prison doors slamming rang out, and the color palette was muted, restrictive, and grey (so, clearly, he is the bad guy). Yet his costume was very militaristic, and the self-portrait that hung behind him for the majority of his stagetime was more reminiscent of Stalin, or European dictators rather than American politicians. In contrast, the Arden forest was represented in constantly fluctuating color patterns spread across the back wall, with butterflies and leaves hanging down in strings from the ceiling. Although the color patterns were a great addition in helping to reflect the mood of the scenes, the leaves, etc. did not do much to convey either a forest or the revolutionary beatnik world of the 50s. “As You Like It” is unique among Shakespeare’s plays for it’s use of music throughout, and this was played up. There were a number of talented musicians among the cast members, and the musical arrangements of the play’s songs as well as 50s song choices, in general, increased the show’s dynamism and charm. In particular, at the play’s end the cast took it’s curtain call to the song “Do You Wanna Dance” while staying in character, which was high-energy, artistic, and fun at the same time. Although at times a little campy, all in all “As You Like It” was precisely as we liked it. MR

can delete any data or opt out of the study at any time without explanation or penalty. Researchers also note that they have not placed any RFID readers near bathrooms or eating areas, because these are considered personal spaces,” stated Hickey. “Even if you wanted to study just privacy, or just utility, you’d have to study the other as well,” said Evan Welbourne, a doctoral student in computer science and engineering at Washington. “People are more likely to give out information if there’s a benefit to them. You can’t really separate issues of privacy from issues of utility.” MR

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wf b.

the michigan review

William F. Buckley, Rest in Peace By John J. Miller, Editor Emeritus

still remember discovering National Review as a freshman almost twenty years ago, on the rack of a small library in Markley. Little did I know that I would come to write for the magazine professionally, or that I would get to know its famous founder, William F. Buckley, Jr. But that’s what happened, and I’ve been thinking about it a lot since Bill died on February 27. When people learn that I write for National Review—I’ve been on the staff for ten years now—they often ask me about Bill. What’s he like? How’s he doing? What’s the deal with his accent? The night before his death, I was at a Washington Capitals hockey game with a few friends. They wanted to hear about Bill. It’s no wonder. With the exception of Ronald Reagan, Buckley was the most important conservative of his era. Without him, America’s postwar years probably would have seen the rise of the Right, but it would have looked and sounded different: less libertarian, less spirited, less eloquent--and a lot less successful. Maybe there wouldn’t have been a Reagan. In truth, I wasn’t around Bill a lot. I’m based in D.C. and he spent most of his time in Manhattan or Connecticut or elsewhere. I don’t remember ever seeing him in our Washington office. When he came to town, he was always hurrying to a function and leaving soon after. The first time we met was at his home in New York City. I had been on the staff for a little while and

he had let it be known that he wanted to meet me. So I was invited to a regularly scheduled dinner with the editors. I was both excited and intimidated. As the owner of National Review, he was my boss’s boss. As its founder—and as one of the country’s great public intellectuals—he was also a Legend. My goal for the evening was simply to avoid saying anything dumb in his presence. I soon discovered that he was a most gracious man. He was renowned for his big words, of course. Even before I worked at National Review, my parents used to give me a Buckley-themed word-a-day desk calendar for Christmas. This may be a good time to look up a word we already know. Gracious, according to my dictionary, means “characterized by kindness and warm courtesy.” That was Bill, precisely. Next to the word, they should print a picture of him. He asked me what I was working on for the next issue. I can’t recall the topic of the article. I do remember his interest and curiosity. He listened. He asked questions. He raised his eyebrows in that distinctive way. It was strange to think that I was talking to him more than he was talking to me. Yet that’s what happened, and Bill made it seem natural. I never felt anything but comfortable around him again. A few hours after he died, we posted a short obituary on National Review Online. It observed that Bill had “a talent for friendship.” He sure did. I wouldn’t call myself his friend—I was more like a fawning admirer who knew him slightly—but I caught a glimpse of what friendship with him must have been like. It was a gift. His friends—and he had plenty of all political

persuasions—were lucky people. As a freshman in Ann Arbor, I fell in love with National Review. It spoke to my conservative instincts and articulated them in ways that I hadn’t yet imagined were possible. It was also a funny magazine that combined a seriousness of purpose with good cheer. Bill had a first-class wit and one of the world’s great grins. His smile was so radiant you could almost see it when reading his prose. National Review became a chief inspiration for my joining the Michigan Review, which owes its very name to the magazine Bill created and built. After becoming editor during my sophomore year, I would sometimes daydream about writing for National Review. Like an anxious prospect in the farm system of a major-league baseball team, I wondered if I would ever be good enough. How many 38-year-old men can say that they occupy the jobs they aspired to have when they were half a life younger? I’m blessed to be one, thanks to Bill’s efforts. The conservative writer Russell Kirk—who wrote a National Review column for a quarter century from his home in tiny Mecosta, Mich.—used to say that modern people are dwarves who stand on the shoulders of giants. If we can see farther than our ancestors, it’s only because of their great stature and the accident that they preceded us. I’m a dwarf. Bill Buckley was a giant. MR John J. Miller, the Michigan Review’s Editor-in-Chief from 1990-1991, graduated from the University of Michigan in 1992.

In Memoriam: William F. Buckley By Michael O’Brien, Editor-in-Chief

ould there be a Michigan Review without William F. Buckley, and his landmark publication, National Review? Doubtful. A force for good in the world, and a person who arguably helped define—albeit indirectly—my college experience has now passed away, leaving a gap larger than imagined. Say what you will of his politics, but Buckley was one of the most influential political figures-liberal or conservative-of the twentieth century. But while he may have been a denizen of contemporary America (though “standing athwart history, yelling, ‘Stop!’” the whole while), Buckley was a Renaissance man; a man of enormous talent in so many ways. He was a wordsmith, an accomplished fiction and nonfiction writer, a concert pianist, influential politico, a public servant, seasoned sailor, television star, entrepreneur, and so much more. He accomplished more in a single lifetime than it would take a collection of a dozen talented individuals to achieve. But his most lasting contribution will be to political conservatism, where he was one of the key architects in the ascendancy of the right wing in the past sixty years. But what was remarkable about his work was the way he staked his work on principle. Buckley exorcised the John Birch-ers from the GOP when they began to verge on nativism. Instead of toeing the Republican line on the War on Drugs, Buckley led a

“Totenberg” From Page 7 full year of the Roberts Court. She further indicated that ‘conservative’ has not necessarily correlated with a reliance on precedent. Decisions reversing precedent on partial birth abortion, campaign finance, and voluntary school desegregation showcased a willingness to strike down federal statutes. Totenberg commented that this trend began in 1994 when the Court began struck down sixty-four federal laws in a ten year period compared with striking only several laws a year in previous decade.

symposium in National Review arguing for the legalization of drugs, with an audacious editorial stating, “The War on Drugs” is lost. And when his movement lost touch with its small government ideas, Buckley didn’t hesitate to excoriate those who fell out of line. When Ann Coulter made her controversial, post-9/11 statements, National Review dropped her column. You might not have admired Buckley’s politics, but you have to admire his consistency and principle. This past summer, I was the sole intern at National Review. When I found out I was being placed at NR, I changed my Facebook profile to reflect that. Under the job description portion, I wrote, “Living a dream…” I’ve been a NR reader since high school. I always admired the magazine from a distance, with its eloquent articulation of political ideology. I might not have always agreed with the positions being taken, but NR always makes you think. I remember, in my naïveté, applying for an NR internship after my senior year of high school. After all, I had almost a year’s worth of college credit under my belt. Graciously, I never heard back, but once I got the chance to intern in their DC office this past summer, I seized the opportunity. It was a blast. Amongst all the coffee-fetching Capitol Hill interns I rode the Metro with to work every morning, I felt like I was doing something important. I was working for Bill Buckley’s NationalFreaking-Review! It was Buckley’s work that laid the foundation for what I did this summer. Though I never met him-he

had been ill with emphysema, and his wife passed away last spring-his influence was transcendent, even among the other NR legends I worked with on a daily basis. Last year, The Michigan Daily’s editorial page editor, Chris Zbrozek, tried to insult The Michigan Review in one of his columns. He wrote of us, calling us “youthful William Buckley-wannabes,” as if it were a bad thing, that we were trying to emulate William F. Buckley in our work. Never mind that The Michigan Review, at least anymore, hardly resembles National Review. But even if it did, the insult missed its mark. To call something Buckley-esque is far from an insult; it’s a compliment. But The Michigan Review would not exist but for the movement Buckley created, catalyzed, and made consistent. The environment in which we were born in the early 1980s (the beginning of the administration of Ronald Regan, himself an avid NR reader) would not have been possible without Buckley. Buckley begat a movement, and that movement begat The Michigan Review. So in that sense, Buckley’s responsible for one of the most powerful experiences in my life, my work with The Michigan Review. And for that, I’m forever grateful. But even the thousands of mini-Buckleys spawned in the past sixty years cannot fill the void left by his passing. MR

“They are supposed to strike down laws that are unconstitutional; I am simply pointing out the frequency of doing so,” said Totenberg. Totenberg was brought to campus by the Institute for Research on Women and Gender and the Women’s Studies Department, with other sponsors. She spoke to the role women on the Court, noting Justice Ginsberg “pioneering journey on behalf of women’s rights.” She stressed Justice O’Connor’s role as a swing vote. She spoke of several recent cases that limited the ability to sue for workplace discrimination, including one that limits the damages that workers can collect in back-pay to a 180 day period even if the worker is arguing that wage discrimination persisted over many years.

“From this array of employment discrimination cases, you can see the difference that one vote makes,” said Totenberg. She speculated that Justice O’Connor would likely have voted for more expansive interpretations of these statutes and on issues such as the partial birth abortion ban. Several audience members asked Totenberg if she thought this skew in the Court could justify changes to the Court’s structure. “I think it’s a rotten idea,” replied Totenberg when asked about the possibility of imposing term limits on justices. She believes that Justice Souter may retire soon, especially if a Democrat is elected to the White House. MR