vol_26_no_4 by Michigan Review

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

VOLUME XXVI

Ross School Students Giving Recruiters ‘Business’

uch like Michigan football, U-M’s Ross School of Business has fallen from a high pedestal, at least in terms of rankings, this year. Last year, the Ross Business School was the top ranked MBA program in the country, according to The Wall Street Journal, and Michigan football spent most of their season near the top of the polls. How quickly things can change in one year. On September 17, the Wall Street Journal published its annual rankings of MBA programs, and this time Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business took the number one spot. Michigan did not just get bumped from the top spot, it plummeted to number seven. Director of the Offices of Career Development and Student Affairs Al Cortone said that the drastic change was propelled by two large factors: lack of space due to renovations and a bad economy. The Journal did not change its rankings methodology. The renovations at the Ross School have taken up 190,000 square feet, which is half of their available campus space. In order to secure classroom space for students, 334 corporate presentations took place off-campus, which consequently affected recruiting logistics. The Business School plans to schedule all presentations on campus for the 2007-2008 year. The Wall Street Journal accounts for the fall in ranking by listing reports from companies who have commented that Ross School students are ““arrogant” or “socially unprepared” for the competitive industry. ”No question, those words sting,” said Cortone. “We know that whatever behavior gave a few recruiters reason to comment in that vein is not representative of Ross. It’s certainly not representative of how the Office of Career Development counsels students to behave.” Despite the rankings, Ross officials do not expect a change in the number of companies that recruit from U-M. Cortone said that the quantitative assessment of a school’s caliber does not reflect the reason why the same corporations continue hiring Michigan stu-

Arts & Culture

ISSUE 4

Sex ‘U’

By Christina Zajicek, ‘10

October 23, 2007

at the

What Students are Really Doing When the Lights are Low and the Door is Closed By Rebecca Christy, ‘08 & Lindsey Dodge, ‘10

TUDENTS AT THE University of Michigan face an increasingly ambiguous and nondescript dating and sex scene, according to a Michigan Review survey, and numerous campus experts. An informal survey conducted online over the past month captured the responses of 407 students on various topics regarding sexuality on campus. The multi-faceted survey explored the sexual habits and attitudes of students. One respondent’s answer to a question asking for their attitude towards “friends with benefits” sums up the broader attitude toward sex at the university best: “It’s college.” Results of the survey suggest that sexual standards have evolved by leaps and bounds from what was considered normal by previous generations, and they continue to be redefined.

News

Editorial

Arts & Culture

Republican Candidates Debate in Dearborn

Social Conservatives Maintain Campus Presence

Editorial: Alumni Decision on Scholarships Wrongheaded

‘Enough’ Protestors Continue to Try to Revive Old-School Activism

By Michael O’Brien

By Adam Pascarella, ‘10

By The Editorial Borad

By Cherri Buijk, ‘11

ccording to The Michigan Daily, the Alumni Association here at the University has raised more than half a million dollars in scholarship money, which it plans to distribute to incoming students on the basis of their race and ethnicity. The decision by the Alumni Association to create set-asides on the basis of race is reprehensible and should be immediately shelved.

www.michiganreview.com

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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 Jonny Slemrod Associate Editors Chris Stieber Editor-at-Large

10.23.07

page two. the michigan review

■ Serpent’s Tooth To help navigate the rocky waters of the events calendar at U-M, and in the wake of the infamous “don’t tase me, bro” event at the University of Florida, The Michigan Review has created its own taser rating system for upcoming events on campus. It is completely arbitrary and based on our own pretensions. Thursday, November 1, 12:00 p.m. BAMN Marches on the Diag

Wednesday, October 24, 8:00 p.m. NAACP Awareness Day

Given BAMN’s storied history of stuggling for the “revolution” here on campus (oh, and their identification as a potential terrorist group by the FBI), we’re rating this event:

There’s Thurgood Marshall, Brown v. Board, and then people who write fliers with vague claims about racism on campus. Nonetheless, NAACP has more class than BAMN.

Friday, October 26, 12:00 p.m. Mike Gravel Speaks on the Diag

Monday, November 5, all day Guy Fawkes Day

Everyone’s favorite crazy candidate (sorry, Ron Paul) will be speaking on the Diag about the War on Drugs. Fair enough, but Senator Gravel might just be the one tasering you. Or, he’ll throw a rock.

It just seems self-evident that a holiday celebrating an attempt by Catholics to blow up the Houses of Parliament in England should have a high taser rating. Watch out for poisoned fish & chips.

4/4 tasers.

1/4 tasers.

Business Staff: Karen Boore Publisher Danny Harris Anna Malecke Associate Publishers Nick Cheolas Editor Emeritus Staff Writers: Steven Bengal, Cherri Buijk, Jane Coaston, Marie Cour, Alexa Dent, Blake Emerson, Samm Etters, Austyn Foster, Erika Gonzalez, Mike Hamel, Josh Handell, Alyse Hudson, Christine Hwang, Erika Lee, Eun Lee, Adam Pascarella, Alex Prasad, Danielle Putnam, Shanda Shooter, Andrea Sofian, Nathan Stano, Christina Zajicek, Zack Zucker

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 $35 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.

2/4 tasers.

3/4 tasers.

■ Letter from the Editor

Everything We Do, It’s All For You

ike most other seniors these days, I spend a lot of time thinking about what I want to do with my life. And like some of my classmates, though certainly not all, I want what I do in life to be meaningful. Which brings me to the issue that you’ve got in your hands today. The Michigan Review doesn’t have the innumerable resources that many other papers at U-M and on campuses across the country have. It’s the price we pay for being not just editorially independent from the University, but also virtually entirely without any support from U-M. But we still manage to produce a dozen or so issues filled with high-quality journalism that’s of value to our readers. Indeed, I believe the Review is the best paper on campus, and indeed, one of the best in the country, due to the sheer value per story we’re able to provide. This issue is no exception. Our feature story in this issue by Rebecca Christy and Lindsey Dodge has long been in the works, and, I think, is one of our best pieces this year. In the story, they try to pin down, using a wide variety of sources, what the culture of sex is here on campus. A short answer: it isn’t as racy as you might think. We also continue our best political coverage on campus with our stories on the Republican presidential contest. I interview Ron Paul, and Brian Biglin writes up candidate Paul’s speech on the Diag several weeks ago. We’re going to try to continue this coverage because it’s important to inform students of their options with the impending primary in January. And it’s important to me that these stories be written by students and for students, not simplistic wire reports, lacking depth. Look for more stories in the future. (One quick note: we

would certainly be covering the Democratic candidates for president had they not made the lamentable decision to withdraw from the Michigan primary.) Adam Pascarella looks at the presence of social conservatives on campus in this issue. Christina Zajicek examines how the Business School has responded to its fall in the Wall Street Journal rankings, and Adam Paul takes a look at the effect of exchange rate fluctuation on the cost of studying abroad. In Arts & Culture, Rebecca Christy muses on why we had a homecoming parade, queen, and king this year, let alone spend $5,000 on it. Andrea Sofian informs students about Matthaei Botanical Gardens, and Marie Cour reviews everyone’s least favorite alumnae, Ann Coulter’s, new book. All this content brings me back to my original point. We do what we do here at the Michigan Review because we think it’s an important public service to our readers. We provide news, insights, and analysis you’re not going to get anywhere else. That’s something I want to continue doing with my life. Unfortunately, journalism is a waning profession, and the premium on hard-hitting work has decreased over time. But as for us, we’re not going to resort to stunts or Sudokus to get us readers. We’re going to let our work speak for itself. We may not know what we’re doing with our lives, but we are at least trying to do somethig with our time here at U-M. And that’s pretty damn meaningful.

Michael P. O’Brien Editor-in-Chief

10.23.07

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features. the michigan review

Leading among these new developments is the idea of “friends with benefits.” 18.5 percent of students said they are involved in this type of relationship, a type that many say did not exist even twenty years ago. In the oft-noted book ‘Unhooked,’ Laura Sessions Stepp discusses the cultural pendulum swinging from the fabled chastity of the fifties to the devil-may-care sexual attitude of the sixties and seventies. Today, she says, young people have no idea where to stand. This indecision was reflected through the written survey responses, in which most respondents refused to pass judgment on whatever sexual habits other individuals chose. The majority of these students, despite their non-judgmental stance, looked down on “friends with benefits” and hook-ups. Often dismissed as “skanky” and “trashy,” many students said that this relationship would be nice if it worked—but said it usually does not. This view was particularly prevalent among women, who were concerned that these non-committed relationships have disproportionately negative consequences for them. The survey reveals that 30.2 percent of male respondents are in monogamous relationships, compared to 48.9 percent of women. Additionally, there appeared to be a difference in the attitudes of freshmen and seniors. Whereas the number of students in relationships remained fairly constant over the four years of college (44.3 percent of all respondents said they were in a relationship.), every single freshman respondent in a relationship called it monogamous, male or female. This contrasted with the senior statistics, where a small minority admitted their relationships were not monogamous. Erica Karmeisool, a store manager at the Safe Sex Store on South University, provided greater insight into the sexual climate at U-M. She dispelled some of the common assumptions that arise when a store specializing in adult products is in close proximity to a college campus. “[The] majority of customers who come in here are genuinely looking for help,” said Karmeisool, when asked if she frequently deals with immature students. “Almost on a daily basis one or two students are coming in for the first time.” Even in a progressive environment such as Ann Arbor, the Safe Sex Store strategically markets some of their products conservatively to make customers feel more at ease. One example Karmeisool provided was a product in which the store managers drew lingerie over naked women to make the packaging less provocative. “With our adult products we tend to be on the conservative side. We do this on purpose to break down the stereotype that sex stores have to be uncomfortable,” said Karmeisool.

Austyn Foster/The Michigan Review

Something makes us think she’s not listening to Bruce Springsteen.

While the store may cover up some of its more erotic material in order to provide a comfortable environment for its customers, Karmeisool was adamant that sex, unlike some of her products, should not have to be concealed. The Safe Sex Store has large, uncovered windows, which conveys the idea that sexual issues should not be hidden or a reason for shame. “If you’re interested in learning about your sexual health, [that] is being responsible, not abnormal. There seems to be a societal misconception that someone who purchases products that our store offers is not normal,” said Karmeisool. PULSE (Peers Utilizing Leadership Skills for Education) Communications Director Katie Peters said that she has found the most common anxiety expressed by students over the years to be over their lack (or perceived lack) of sexual experience. She added that one of the biggest overlooked issues about sex among college students is that men do not realize how often women fake orgasms. “By the time one has reached a certain age, it may be assumed one has had a certain level of sexual experience,” said Peters, adding that women tend to express this anxiety over lack of sexual experience and men tend to perpetuate the myth that people are frequently

POLL RESULTS Would it be of concern to you if you graduated from college without having had a serious monogamous relationship?

Do you feel like being in, or having had, a committed relationship is a component of being a successful individual?

sexually active. Sexual norms are also not different in the LGBT community, said Jacqueline Simpson, the Director of LGBT Affairs at the University. Students in the LBGT community have similar issues to those of heterosexual college students, Simpson said. Often perceived as more promiscuous by heterosexual students, she asserts that the idea of promiscuity is the same across gender boundaries. Most of the data from the survey represented straight students (although slightly less than 10 percent were bisexual). U-M is famous for its emphasis on individuality, which Simpson noted. “There’s no question that every college student knows someone who is gay or lesbian,” said Simpson, adding that people come to U-M knowing that they will encounter all forms of diversity. Overall, the study demonstrated the refusal of respondents to pass judgment. This appears to be rooted in the ambiguity of contemporary sexual norms for relationships, and the ambiguity of the very idea of a relationship today. MR The Michigan Review’s

TOP 5 RESPONSES: WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON

FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS? 5. Maybe if I was desperate. 4. A way to make one feel better 3. 2.

about one’s self without having to work hard. Kind of trashy...who knows maybe I’ll have one someday. I like?

1. They’re good...as long as that

other individual isn’t ENGAGED!

56.7% 3 Unanswered

YES 43.3%

53.3%

YES 46.7%

HOW MANY SEXUAL PARTNERS HAVE YOU HAD?

2 Unanswered

*** This survey was administered by “The Michigan Review” staff. Approximately 407 undergraduate students took the survey.

10+

5-10 7.4% 11.3%

NONE

1- 4 51.8%

29.5%

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10.23.07

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.

Sex and the Univer-sity

-M students often talk about what separates them from others student bodies. From football to academics, we like to brag about what makes our school special. In the sports and scholastic arenas, our bragging and sense of pride seem warranted, but a place deserving of more humility may be the perception of fellow students’ sex life. Yes, for those of you who did not know (or would prefer to forget) some students are having sex. Now that that fact is out in the open, get over it. In a feature story this week, Rebecca Christy and Lindsey Dodge set out to find out how students’ perceptions of sex on campus met reality. Their survey found that many students greatly overestimate the amount of people who are having sex. When asked to speculate on the percentage of campus who was sexually active answers concentrated up around 70 percent, with some students estimating up to the mid 90s. But when asked about themselves, those students produced much lower numbers. Only about 44.3 percent of respondents were in relationships. Sure, stable relationships are not perfectly correlated to sexual activity. In fact, much of the imagined sex life of others revolves around fleeting hook-ups or “friends with benefits.” Yet only 18.5 percent of respondents indicated being involved in such a relationship. At the same time, when asked about such relationships, students often indicated an unwillingness to judge those who undertook them. So it appears that campus is not thirsting for bacchanals or eager to become the next batch of Girls Gone Wild, except perhaps in our heads. More students appear engaged in voyeuristic fantasies than actually having sex. Students are willing to assume that everyone is having sex. It is not entirely surprising just look at the way some couples behave on the dance floor and, well, it does seem obvious where their night will lead. However, despite the awkward dry-humping that constitutes dancing nowadays, most of that energy gets left on the dance floor. Yet we cannot entirely fault students for their misconceptions. One of the things that most surprised our Editorial Board when writers embarked on this story was that no reliable data, actually no data at all, existed about the sexual habits of students on this campus. Nor do front page pictures of a few female students auditioning for a space in Playboy add any sense of reality to most students’ sexual ambitions. While ignorance is never a good defense, the facts show that U-M students are not living in a sex-crazed fog. It is time to stop imagining that we are. Those students who are sexually active appear to be mostly involved in actual relationships. 51.7 percent of our respondents reported having only 1-4 sexual partners and 29.7 percent (yes, more than a quarter of the sample) reported being virgins. The conception that students are engaged in a devil-may-care sexual lifestyle is simply not true. Instead, we seem to be living in a cycle of untruth where the unfounded belief that all students are copulating feeds into our own sexual actions and perceptions. So break out of that cycle and stop worrying so much about everyone else’s sex life, or lack thereof. There are two things to remember. First, most students express a “live and let live” towards sexual activity. Secondly, most students are clueless as to what their peers are actually doing behind closed doors. We’re not competing for popularity in high school anymore. Given how deeply personal sex is, it is unlikely that we will ever get a comprehensive sampling of the student body to flesh out every aspect of sex life on campus. We can see that sex is only one facet of life at U-M, one that many students opt out of entirely. MR

Alumni Decision on Scholarships Wrongheaded

ccording to The Michigan Daily, the Alumni Association here at the University has raised more than half a million dollars in scholarship money, which it plans to distribute to incoming students on the basis of their race and ethnicity. Under the MCRI, there is nothing illegal about such a plan. The Alumni Association is a private entity—free to make whatever decisions it wishes. The law, however, does not necessarily equate to right and wrong, and a group’s freedom does not protect it from criticism. The decision by the Alumni Association to create set-asides on the basis of race is reprehensible and should be immediately shelved. The voters of the state of Michigan may not be able to assert authority over the Alumni Association, but they made their vision for the University abundantly clear during last fall’s vote. The group’s decision flies in the face of the broader University community. The promotion of diversity, as ever, is important. But the Alumni Association’s decision demonstrates an astonishingly myopic view that race and ethnicity are the sole constitutive elements of “diversity.” The men and women making up the University’s alumni base should know better. After becoming the ‘leaders and the best’ in their respective fields, they know that the ‘leaders and the best’ are those with records of success, with proven results. Excellence is a characteristic independent of race and ethnicity.

Against set-asides by the Alumni Association in scholarship decisions We also wish to express our dismay at the arrogance of the Alumni Association in its presumption to speak for the broad and (yes) diverse alumni of the University of Michigan. Take even the most conservative estimate: assume only a quarter of the University community supported the MCRI. Apply that proportion to the 425,000 living alumni of the University. That gives you over 100,000 alumni who presumably oppose the actions of the association charged with representing their interests. While the Alumni Association is a private organization, it enjoys a privileged position with the University. With a building in the center of campus, unfettered access to the students for the sake of recruitment, and countless co-hosted events with the University, to name a few, the Alumni Association perhaps has the most privileged relationship. This makes the scholarship program all the more disconcerting. It’s not farfetched to suggest that this arrangement provides numerous ways for the Alumni Association to assist the University in circumventing the rules established by the MCRI. All of these aspects of the murky and unobserved relationship give reason to be concerned about this new scholarship program. Furthermore, a scholarship does not even directly address the admissions problem that the University claimed that Proposal 2 would create. Scholarships increase the chance that selected students matriculate to the University, not that they are able to get admitted in the first place. As we approach the one-year anniversary of the passage of Proposal 2, a bill with dire and apocalyptic consequences if you listen to the opponents, it is worth noting that this latest announcement is one in a long line of stonewalling efforts by people close to the administration. MR

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

Presidential Primary Beneficial to State, University

he State of Michigan has faced a great deal of criticism for moving up its primary date for the presidential primary next year. Along with Florida, Michigan’s decision has imbalanced the age-old power structure that has long given Iowa and New Hampshire national importance in deciding the Presidential nominees for both major parties. The move that took Michigan from the early March “Super Tuesday” date put it in direct competition with Iowa and New Hampshire to become one of the first primary dates. Michigan’s January 15 primary date put it only one day after the Iowa Caucus, until Iowa announced last week that it would move its caucus date up to January 3. Furthermore, a representative for the Iowa Republican Party acknowledged the possibility that other states may push their primaries up to as early as December. The move originally moved the date before the New Hampshire primary except that New Hampshire, in accordance with its states constitution, is looking to move up its primary date to stay the first in the country. While the current tussle may unseat Michigan’s new position, the state has already been able to attract greater national attention, at least from Republicans. Now that Obama, Edwards, Richardson, Biden, and Kucinich have already withdrawn from Michigan’s primary ballot, Senator Hillary Clinton remains as the sole frontrunning candidate in the Democratic field. At the same time that Democrats are fleeing the state, Republicans have been making extra efforts to reach out to Michigan and take advantage of Democratic blunders. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has suddenly begun to refer to his Michigan roots more often. At the Republican Leadership Conference on Mackinac Island, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani gave a speech that focused on the struggles of the Michigan economy and even promised to help unseat Governor Granholm if elected. Within the last two months, Republican candidates have gathered in the state twice, at the Republican Leadership Conference and then again for a debate in Dearborn, where candidate former Senator Fred Thompson made his first campaign appearance. All of these moments highlight the point of state primaries: force the candidates to bring a local perspective to their national policies. Democrats, on the other hand, have succeeded in sending a clear message to Michigan voters: we don’t care about you. That’s why, under the pressure of the Democratic National Convention, these Democrats signed a pledge in which they promised to not campaign in either Michigan or Florida. The only rationale for this maneuver is the preservation of power for the national Democrat structure, even at the expense of local representation. Keeping the current primary structure gives a disproportionate amount of influence to Iowa and New Hampshire, where the DNC is wellestablished, and strips Michigan of the prominence it deserves. Listening to concerned voters and their specific local concerns shouldn’t be a partisan issue, but Democrats have forcibly changed the political landscape by refusing to stay in the Michigan primary. Come January, look for a liberal Republican like Rudy Giuliani to get a huge boost from Democratic voters in Michigan who want to express their political voice, rather than be swallowed up by the nameless Democratic crowd. The mainstream voter will remember this maneuver for many years, and it can’t but help the GOP in years to come. MR

10.23.07

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■ Strict Scrutiny

Self for Sale M

ichigan’s deer hunting season won’t begin for several more weeks, but here at U-M a different group of game enthusiasts has found a creature, many of whom are just as likely as their white-tailed counterparts to freeze in big spotlights, to target. With events like Law Day and the Career Center’s Career Fair happening in the past month, the recruiting season is now open. Sure recruiters aren’t coming to campus to do students physical damage, but for those seniors among us, many of whom are anxious about getting into the proper graduate school or securing that first job, the Adam whole, often impersonal, proPaul cess involves getting shot down. Honestly, getting dressed up in our best suits to go pander to a nameless representative to a big company or school is always going to be an awkward process. Students have to feign enthusiasm for the achievements and corporate culture of companies whose names, like Aon Corporation or Shilo Industries (just try to guess which of these firms is an auto supplier), give no clue about the companies’ business. Simulta-

neously, recruiters reassure us that our resume will receive attention, never mind those other ones that may have already made it to the trash. I never expected the process bring me enjoyment or to be easy but what surprises me is the general impression that the whole process is dirty. I got the same impression when standing around with about a half dozen other students listening to an IBM representative talk about his firm, watched resumes change hands, and walked away feeling like I just wasted some time. Many students now bemoan the task of having to “sell themselves.” Sure the phrase sounds demeaning, and maybe even vaguely sexual, but it’s actually an honest depiction of what we have to do. We have to show employers that we have something that justifies paying us, a hopefully generous, salary. There’s a reason that Wall Street Journal columnist Sue Shellenbarger often uses that phrase enthusiastically in her column. Last year, she said to a stay-athome dad returning to the workforce that “In interviews, make selling yourself a first priority.” Sure, my friends think I am a great guy (or so they tell me) but I strangers interviewing dozens of students in a day don’t and will only give me a brief moment to show that I am. “Like it or not, when it comes to job search we’re

all in sales. Sends a shiver up your spine, doesn’t it?” quipped Jamie Fabian, a career coach for online job posting site Career Circle in a 2004 article. Even though Fabian contends that an aversion to self-promotion can indicate desirable traits like modesty, getting the blow horn out for yourself remains an essential part of seeking employment. The encouraging thing on campus is that as U-M students we shouldn’t have to invent or exaggerate our stories. By no means, I am I telling anyone to “Expect Respect” from potential employers but institutional name recognition can’t hurt. Rather than lament having to sell our skills, students here should be encouraged by the fact that they have something valuable to sell. Selling myself isn’t about knowing when to smile and nod; its about knowing how to tell people how writing this column or tutoring economics makes me perfect for the job they’re dangling. So buck up, and be ready to move when the headlight shines on you. It’s confidence in my own value and a willingness to make it, not just muddle, through the recruitment process that could make the difference between winding-up employed or left as road kill. Oh, and anyone from IBM, if you’re reading, I’d still take a job if you offered. MR

■ No, I Will Not Make Out With You!

Gender May Overshadow Policy in Clinton Campaign W

ith the upcoming presidential election, every college student holds the responsibility of researching the candidates. At a more basic level, we have to know what we believe and desire in our government, and then see who matches up with that best. What is striking about this election is that, for the first time, a plausible female candidate is running for President of the United States. As a woman, Lindsey this sounds appealDodge ing. As a conservative, realizing that the woman is Hillary Clinton is terrifying. The last thing I want is Bush, then Clinton, then Bush, then Clinton again. Yet the fact that she is a woman always draws me back to considering how her gender will affect her role. Have we really progressed so

much in our society that we can look beyond a person’s gender or race when considering their attributes? No, not even close. People still malign Clarence Thomas for being a black conservative, praise Obama for being a black liberal, and we are not color or gender-blind yet. Yet unlike race, feminism is not politically mutually exclusive. You would be hard-pressed not to find a woman on either end of the political scale who did not feel that woman deserved the same choices the same. So how will this play into women’s collective outlook on Hillary Clinton? According to the recent Charlie Rose interview with Mark Penn, author of Hillary’s biography and a campaign advisor, women will support Hillary because she is “one of their own.” In his mind, policy issues and gender are inextricably linked. However, he raises a valid point, which is that 54 percent of voters are women, and yet there has never been a female president. Perhaps this is because there has never been a strong option like Clinton. Perhaps

another is that policy issues are different from gender. Although there are slightly more liberal women than conservative women, there is not a great discrepancy between the two. Rather, what our parents voted for is far more likely to influence what we ourselves vote for. So despite the gut feelings most women will cross when viewing Clinton’s name on the ballot, the majority of women continue to vote based on policy, not on sex. How will men vote? I think it is naïve not to assume that some consideration for her gender will come into play. Ironically, I do not believe that men will not vote for Hillary because she does not wear a poodle skirt and get pinned (unlike her husband). I think that men will vote for another candidate because she demonstrates masculine characteristics that we do not want in a president. Most people are thrilled that the Cowboy is finally being wrangled out of office. The last thing they are looking for is another stereotypically hard, implacable leader in the White House.

Clinton’s major disadvantage, which outweighs any sympathy for her sex, is her historical reputation. Few people can or want to forget the hilarious SNL episodes of the 1990s where Clinton was lampooned as the frigid wife of the libidinous president. Furthermore, her actual political decisions do little to encourage a softer image, as she is not only regarded in a similar vein by Washington politicos, but voted in support of the Iraq War initiative. At this point, the Iraq War is the number one issue for many voters, and the fact that she is a liberal and supported it will only work against her. Even Penn acknowledged that during the Charlie Rose interview, when he emphasized the changes Clinton has made over the last 15 years. By avoiding her past reputation as anathema, Penn inadvertently underlined how much Clinton has to overcome in the way both men and women view her. MR

paign while recording his show. Additionally, on the night he announced his intentions, he unconsciously violated campaign laws when he directed viewers to download the South Carolina Presidential Primary Petition on his show’s official website. Even if Colbert legally gets on the Republican and Democrat ballots in South Carolina, courting voters for an allegedly faux campaign will be easier said than done. Sure, some 18-25 year olds, the majority of his viewers but the least dependable voters, have exhibited excitement towards the campaign. But does Colbert really think that he can convince older and more politically inclined South Carolinians to endorse a campaign that feels like a stunt?

In the end, though, Colbert is most likely entering in the political arena only to court more viewers for his show and to achieve more sales for his new book, I Am America (And So Can You!). With mixed reviews towards the book, Colbert will use his Presidential run to gain more name recognition throughout the country. So all of you U-M students that want to start a Students for Colbert club: don’t waste your time. While Colbert’s efforts have admirably encouraged more young people to participate in politics, it will be shocking to see him receive even 10 percent of the vote in the South Carolina primary. MR

Colbert Shows His Primary Colors By Adam Pascarella, ‘10

he outburst of chatter on the netroots was particularly surprising on October 17, 2007. No, Al Gore did not win another international peace prize, nor did Ron Paul gain a postmortem endorsement from Milton Friedman. With obStaff vious glee spreading across Opinion his face and balloons falling from the studio ceiling, comedian Stephen Colbert announced his candidacy for President of the United States on “The Colbert Report.” Colbert later stated that he would only be on the Republican and Democrat ballot in his home state of South Carolina. Within five days, over 350,000

people joined the Facebook group, “1,000,000 Strong for Stephen Colbert,” and bloggers stressed to write-in Colbert’s name on the primary ballots in other states. To put this enthusiasm into perspective, it took over nine months for Senator Obama’s Facebook group to gain 350,000 members. Although there is overwhelming passion to elect Colbert, a satirist with no political experience and no campaign platform, his campaign could be finished already. The limitations of FEC election laws will inflict punishment on Colbert’s campaign, especially since he cannot promote his candidacy on “The Colbert Report.” Because of equal time rules, he is strictly limited in promoting his cam-

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the michigan review

“Business” From Page 1 dents. “They recruit with us because the Ross graduates they have hired over the years have been exemplary performers who have added value to their organizations,” said Cortone. “That’s why they continue to come and offer the jobs and salaries they do.” Likewise, Ross admission officials do not foresee a drop in the number of students who apply to the school. Since the Wall Street Journal list began, the business school has reacted with measured concern. Cortone

“No question, those words sting. We know that whatever behavior gave a few recruiters reason to comment in that vein is not representative of Ross. It’s certainly not representative of how the Office of Career Development counsels students to behave.” -Al Cortone, Dir. Office of Career Development & Student Affairs said he thinks that the problem does not lie with the quality of the program, but the quality of the recruiter experience, and wants to take appropriate action to improve this experience. “Everyone takes great pride in the reputation of the

school and in the service we provide to our many constituents. So we’re asking recruiters what they think we should do to make the process work better for them,” said Cortone. The Business School plans on improving venue management during the period of transition into their new building. Additionally, Cortone said there will be more ac-

tive coaching of students, “so that they represent themselves and the school to the high standards that our recruiters and everyone associated with Ross have come to expect.” Next September, everyone will be able to see if these efforts pay off by yielding a higher ranking. MR

Falling Dollar Impacts Costs for Study-Abroad Students Students Advised to Plan Costs Ahead of Trips Abroad By Adam Paul, ‘08

ach year, students are shocked that the price of just about everything has gone up. They aren’t getting their tuition bill, they have gone abroad. In the past several years, the value of the US dollar has dropped against a number of other currencies worldwide. As of this publication, it costs more than $2US to buy £1 and even the Canadian dollar is trading at close to one-to-one with the $US.

How changes in exchange rates have quietly raised the price of studying abroad. For many students, these changes in exchange have little impact, but for the more than 2,000 students who go abroad every year through the University, including the approximately 600 students who go abroad on programs sponsored by the Office of International Programs (OIP), these changes can make a big difference. “I am horrified with what’s happening to the dollar. We are at a point on campus where there is more encouragement and moral support to go abroad, but it’s also the time that the dollar has gone south,” said Dr. Carol Dickerman, Director of the Office of International Programs. Adding to the problem, Dickerman pointed out that OIP has no room in next semester’s budget to offer scholarships to students going abroad. Financial aid will still be available through the Office of Financial Aid and a student’s college or department.

While Dickerman said that students do a decent job of planning for cost differences, she explained, “There is always some sticker shock. Until you get to a place it’s hard to judge.” Dickerman recommends that students save before going abroad, talk with returning students, and realize that they will want to spend money on things like travel and museum trips that they would probably not be spending if they were in Ann Arbor. While Dickerman did say that there has been a rise in students going to destinations outside western Europe, where exchange rate declines in the dollar have been most pronounced, that factors other than cost may drive those decisions. Dickerman said cost may have less impact on a choice of location and more on the choice to go abroad in general. “I worry that rather than think of less expensive destinations that students may not go at all.” Dickerman said that she believes that the current dip in the US exchange rate is likely to continue for some time. Professor Jim Adams of the Department of Economics, who teaches a course on the European

Economy, agrees that projections look unchanged for the coming months. With the exception of China, exception for the China which heavily controls the value of its currency, the dollar has lost value against most currencies. “When you are talking about foreign exchange rates are prone to change quickly and without notice, so it’s dangerous to extrapolate too far,” he qualified. Adams recommends that students planning on studying abroad focus on the way they obtain foreign currency. He stressed that options from ATM cards, travelers checks, or converting cash each have different fees. Dickerman agreed saying that bank fees vary widely across banks and often change. For example, the U-M Credit Union does not charge

a separate fee, other than the $1 fee for use of other banks ATM, but users are charged a 1% fee by Visa. TCF Bank charges a 3% international service fee for all interactions made abroad. “If you are going to be gone for a whole semester or a whole year, these differences can really add up. It’s important to check out and cost these options,” said Adams. Dickerman explained that some students make up for a falling dollar by trying to cut costs while abroad. She cited the example of a female student living in the UK who switched to eating a lot more oatmeal and pasta to save on food costs. “The good news is that U-M is more supportive and making it easier to get abroad,” said Dickerman. MR

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GOP Hopefuls Gather in Dearborn for Debate By Michael O’Brien, Editor-in-Chief

Dearborn, MI

he nine Republican presidential candidates descended on Dearborn, Michigan on October 9 to engage in an official debate, angling for votes in the high-stakes Michigan primary. The debate was a highly anticipated first for former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee, and it focused heavily on economic issues. The two-hour debate was broadcast on CNBC and later on MSNBC, and was moderated by Chris Matthews and Maria Bartiromo. The Republican candidates commented on the state economy, which has the highest unemployment rate in the country, and underwent a recent budget crisis from which a tax increase resulted. “It’s inexcusable that Michigan is undergoing a one-state recession,” said Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who was raised in Michigan. “[F]or me, Michigan is personal. I’m going to go to work to help Michigan.” “A president can’t be an economic forecaster,” said former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. “So the reality is a president has to work on the fundamentals…Keep taxes low. Keep regulations moderate. Keep spending under control.” “One of the big problems right here in Detroit,” Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) said, is that “before they turn a wrench on a new car, it’s a $1,700 legacy cost for health care for their retired employees.” Former Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas was one of the few candidates to use populist rhetoric on economic issues. “For many people on this stage, the economy’s doing terrifically well, but for a lot of Americans it’s not doing so well,” Huckabee said. “People who handle the bags and make the beds at our hotels and serve the food— many of them are having to work two jobs.” For many, the debate was noteworthy because it was the first for Senator Fred Thompson (Tenn.), who had delayed his candidacy since toying with the idea in the spring. “I think he probably exceeded expectations in the sense that he handled himself very well,” said Saul Anuzis, the chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. “He clearly got more comfortable as it went through. I think he had some good

Republicans gather with Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis before the debate in Dearborn.

lines, and, overall, I think he did very well.” Oakland County Sheriff and 2006 Senate candidate Mike Bouchard was in the spin room following the debate, representing the Romney campaign. “I think [Romney will] have much greater connection to the Michigan issues and the manufacturing issues,” Bouchard said. “This isn’t an abstract thing for Governor Romney. This is a real thing that is affecting friends and families.” This debate was filled with sharper jabs than had previously peppered the previous ones. Congressman Ron Paul, who is considered more of a libertarian Republican, continued insisting, contrary to his opponents in the primary, that the United States was wrong to invade Iraq. One heated exchange came when Paul claimed there has not been any imminent attack on the United States in 220 years. “The thought that the Iranians could pose an imminent attack on the United States is preposterous,” Paul said. “I don’t know where [Congressman Paul] was on September 11,” Giuliani responded, to audience applause.

Jonny Slemrod/The Michigan Review

There was one relatively heated exchange between widely considered frontrunners Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani over who was more fiscally conservative. Each claimed to have kept spending lower during their respective tenures in office. “The place we differ is on the lineitem veto,” Romney said of Giuliani. “I’d have never gone to the Supreme Court and said it’s unconstitutional.” “If I had let President Clinton take $250 million away from the people of my city illegally and unconstitutionally, I wouldn’t have been much of a mayor,” Giuliani shot back. The most interesting exchange came towards the end of the evening, between Governor Romney and Senator Thompson. The debates, Romney said, “are a lot like Law & Order,” the show where Fred Thompson most recently appeared. “It has a huge cast, it seems to go on forever, and Fred Thompson shows up at the end.” “And to think, I thought I was going to be the best actor on the stage,” Thompson replied, to laughter. MR

Former FBI Official Speaks on Hillary Clinton Conservative Critic Goes on the Offensive Against Campus Progressives By Nathan Stano, ‘11

ary Aldrich, a former FBI Agent who served in the White House, provided strong encouragement to young conservative students on campus earlier this month. “Stand up, speak up, and don’t let a GPA get in the way of free speech,” Aldrich advised conservative students at U-M. Aldrich spoke earlier this month at an event called “Hillary Clinton: Exposed” hosted by the College Republicans. Leaders of the College Democrats later characterized the speech, in a letter to the Michigan Daily, as part of smear campaign by the College Republicans. Aldrich used most of his speech to detail his own experiences as an FBI Agent at the White House. It’s a journey he detailed in his book Unlimited Access: An FBI Agent Inside the Clinton White House. In his lecture, he sprinkled anecdotes about his experiences in the Reagan, Bush, and Clinton White Houses along with his own interpretations of current politics and the upcoming election. His days at the White House began under Ronald Reagan, and he made it quite clear that the Reagan and Bush administrations “restored [his] faith in government.” He described ap-

pointed officials from those years as being simply the best and the brightest at the time, more polite, better dressed, and better smelling. He then moved on to the Clintons. An antagonistic relationship with the Clintons began before they arrived in DC. Whereas previous administrations submitted lists of personnel to receive security clearance shortly after winning election, the Clintons waited until Christmas to submit the list, giving the FBI five days to clear all the nominees. This proved impossible, and President Clinton demanded people without clearance be let through. Aldrich felt that those people who were cleared had dubious backgrounds. Many were part of radical groups during the sixties, such as the Students for a Democratic Society’s offshoot The Weather Underground, most well known for blowing up an apartment in Greenwich Village. The backgrounds of the appointees alarmed the FBI agents that they went to Congress in secret after FBI higher-ups refused to cross the Clintons. He also stated that many Clinton appointees viewed the FBI as a symbol of the old rules, old rules to be done away with. Switching gears, Aldrich had advice for the students gathered there. He told students that college was

a time to learn and be open minded. Yet, he lamented, many of the professors and administrators of colleges around the nation have set up roadblocks against conservative thought, in an attempt to stamp out ideas like capitalism and individualism, abuses that are well documented by organizations like the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). “I encourage you to raise hell,” he said, but not the way violent radical leftists have done. He told them to raise hell by continuing to resist pressure to conform to the leftist ideology of the campus, continuing to be critical and skeptical. He advised any student unable to exercise their right to free speech to call him, and he’d come to their aid with a lawyer and Rush Limbaugh. It certainly says something about the character of politics these days when any speaker specifically remarks at the end of his speech that he was surprised that he was not in some way interrupted. With the recent “Don’t Tase Me Bro”-gate and many other fairly recent instances of speakers who have been silenced, like the leader of the Minutemen when he spoke at Columbia, the fact that speakers must brace themselves against loud-mouthed student protest is unsettling, to say the least. MR

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the michigan review

University Resources Seek Out Mental Health Problems By Alexa Dent, ‘11

ince the aftermath of the Virginia Tech massacre, many universities are reevaluating their mental health and counseling services. The University of Michigan has always been conscious of these necessary health services and has not needed to make drastic changes to these departments. However, the University was planning on expanding their services long before the events of last April. “College students’ mental health issues range from developmental to emergencies. Sometimes it is assisted by a professional, but a friend or classmate often helps as well—you don’t have to be a professional to help. U-M covers everything,” notes Dr. Todd Sevig, Ph.D., director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). The University is focusing on trying to help students and staff to be more informed about mental health and know that it is normal to have questions or problems. “It is important for students to define the crisis themselves. To do this, they must become aware of others and help their peers receive help,” he adds, “because they are the ones that know the inside scoop.” Students are able to contact the University Health Services (UHS) or CAPS and receive help from a professional for free—no insurance or money is necessary to get help. These professionals may offer suggestions and ask specific questions to ascertain the severity of the problem. A student has both the option

to call the office or stop by in person. A diverse staff offers help that fits the student’s comfort level. Because students are worried about what others may think, asking for help doesn’t always have to be verbal— it can be as simple as checking a box on a piece of paper. “Students should not be scared to discuss problems or be afraid. It is something we deal with daily,” says Dr. Chrisitine Asidao, Ph.D., also a director of CAPS. The crisis can be defined with questions and paperwork to further protect the student’s comfort. “We respect the students’ desire for privacy,” says Dr. Asidao. The Psych Clinic, from the Department of Psychology, is a mental health agency that allows graduate students of psychology to offer help to students. UM has also developed a Depression Center, which is the first of its kind. “We also have the hospital, which allows problems to be addressed from a clinical perspective,” says Dr. Sevig. In the staff training that all RAs receive, mental health is a topic that is covered thoroughly. U-M provides this intensive training so that they can make the community safer and more comfortable for each student. Furthermore, CAPS provides training in Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) is “a behavioral intervention which will provide you with the tools” to question, persuade, and refer students with suicidal thoughts. CAPS’s new “Do Something” campaign kicked-off Oct. 17 in the basement of the Michigan Union. Free t-shirts,

hats, and flash drives were distributed. Pierpoint Commons held a similar event Oct. 24. The website, at MiTalk. org, is going to begin running in January 2008. The goal of this site is to create a “community of caring” and to help anyone at the University of Michigan to become informed or to help others in regards to problems they may have with issues ranging from the hardto-handle stress of college to life-threatening difficulties. Screenings and information will be provided. Students can learn from other students’ stories and be educated through interactive modules —suitable for iPods for those on the go. “It is for their personal benefit and is private. It cannot be seen by anyone except that person,” says Dr. Asidao. She stresses that any service is confidential. The positive effects following a tragic event such as Virginia Tech is its ability to evoke conversations around the country and allow people to ask questions, and discuss issues that may have been latent before. It has provided a clear need to change mental health services to better serve students.

Austyn Foster/The Michigan Review

U-M is taking full advantage by setting new goals for their programs that are sure to be noticed. The brochure has been redesigned and more important information has been added to increase the current 3,000 students that have already requested services each year. There have small changes since Virginia Teach, but U-M’s programs were set in place well before—not as a response. MR

New York Times Survey Yields Results on U-M Experience By Erika Lee, ‘11

hile the freshmen recover from the lingering memory of the frantic college admission process, the alumni can offer them some retrospective wisdom that the undergrads have yet to gain. In hopes of gaining such insight, the New York Times and MTVU conducted a survey over this summer on 500 Michigan alumni and 473 University of Pennsylvania alumni from the class of 2002, 381 Reed College Alumni from the class of 2001 to 2003, and 271 people who were randomly chosen graduates. The survey asked which factors influenced the Alumni’s choice of college and how satisfactory their college experience was. 96 percent of Michigan Alumni who took the survey rated their overall experience in college as “good” or “excellent.” This is a good reflection of the national poll results, where 93 percent responded their experience was good or excellent. As to the question of whether college was worth the money, 84 percent of Michigan alumni responded that it was worthwhile. Michigan is one of the most expensive public colleges in the country, and this percentage is slightly lower than that of the national poll results (89%). When asked about what their biggest regrets are and what they would do differently, the answer with the highest response was “nothing.” The runner-up answers offer words of wisdom on how to best take advantage of college experience. Many said they would do more extracurricular if they could relive their college days. Another 10 percent responded they regret not taking advantage of school resources and not diversifying their classes. Diversity appeared repreatedly throughout Michigan alumni responses. 30 percent of the alumni responded that the best part of going to Michigan was

experiencing the diverse student body, culture, classes, and resources. The same answer did not have a dominant place in the national poll, or in the Reed and Penn alumni survey. “This university took such a leadership role in the admissions lawsuits [regarding affirmative action] that ultimately went to the Supreme Court,” said Malinda Matny, Ph.D, a senior research associate for the Division of Student Affairs in an e-mail. “It is possible that many students were attracted to the University of Michigan precisely because of its advocacy for a diverse student population.” Such diversity may intimidate the freshmen coming into U-M. They may be overwhelmed by the wide variety of options available to them since preparing for college often means getting into one, rather than learning how to explore options or strike a balance once there. “Perhaps we should be spending a little less time coaching and cajoling high-school students about how to get into college, or even how to identify that mythical ‘right’ college,” offered Jacques Steinberg in an article for the New York Times. “Both the Office of New Student Program (ONSP) and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions stress that admission to Michigan is not a prize to be won but a match to be made,” said Ann Hower, Ph.D, the director of ONSP. She also added that “on the online student evaluation many mention academics, the size of the campus and meeting other people (including living with a roommate) [as their concerns] so we definitely acknowledge the importance of the social transition, as well as the academic.” MR

Results @ Michigan

Do you think that a

college education is necessary for a person to be successful at their work?

69% Necessary 31% Not Necessary

Do the U.S. News

rankings of the undergraduate college you attended seem more or less important now than it did when you were applying to college?

20% More Important 46% Same 30% Less Important 3% Not Applicable

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the michigan review

Social Conservatives Remain Active on Campus By Adam Pascarella, ‘10

n the hot and sticky summer days during the Ann Arbor Art Fair, Rev. Don Nuendorf and other volunteers make the trek from the St. Paul Lutheran Church to the Diag in order to distribute bottled water to the parched art-goers. “It seems like the compassionate thing to do,” he said. “Without street corner testimony or soapbox persuasion like other churches, we simply try to comfort our guests.” On the back of the water bottles is a label containing the church’s location and an explanation of their Christian faith. If he is ever asked about the label, Nuendorf replies with a message of reciprocity. “Since God has been so generous to us, we acknowledge his charity and give to you,” he declares to the thankful visitors. While Ann Arbor may have a reputation as a predominantly secular and liberal city, social conservatives, with the help of community churches and student religious organizations, comprise a small group that makes their presence known on campus. Over 48 religious clubs exist on campus, in addition to 111 churches, synagogues and mosques in Ann Arbor. Nate Ardle is the director of the Campus Crusade for Christ, one of the largest Christian organizations at U-M with 300 total members. Although the club’s official mission statement strives to “turn lost students into Christ-centered laborers,” Ardle insists that the group’s purpose is to reinvigorate Christ’s message in people that have strayed from the word of God. “A lot of students walk away from Christ because they never truly held their views in the first place,” said Ardle. “However, once they realize what Jesus’ message is, many walk back to their faith and begin to believe in Jesus for the first time even though they may have grown up Christians. Our group is here to facilitate this discovery and give a Biblical understanding of who Jesus was.” The Campus Crusade for Christ holds weekly Bible studies in the majority of the dormitories and a fall retreat for all U-M students. While membership has slightly decreased, Ardle has faith that the club is at the low point of a constant participation cycle. There may be other answers, however. The recent release of the documentary “Jesus Camp” has brought extra scrutiny throughout the country towards evangelical Christianity. The documentary follows an evangelical summer camp for children in which camp leaders claim that children must free themselves from moral degradation in order to contribute to an “Army of God.” Closer to home, the actions of activist Michael Venyah of the Soulwinners Ministry may have marginalized social conservatives on campus. Venyah is must notably known for his extreme rhetoric in which he claims that “No homos go to heaven.” A regular on campus, Venyah has also claimed that people that participate in intercourse outside of marriage are doomed to hell. He has stated that he is committed to continue preaching his message to

universities across the country. “It is really disturbing what he is

fetuses in order to show the brutal consequences of pro-choice views. De-

Campus Crusade for Christ holds weekly Bible studies in the majority of the dormitories and a fall retreat for all U-M students. While membership has slightly decreased, Ardle has faith that the club is at the low point of a constant participation cycle. saying. I encourage everyone at U-M to not judge our organization based on Venyah’s actions” said Dave Denyer, President of Students for Life at U-M. Students for Life, an organization dedicated to defending life from conception until death, propagates its message by holding events on campus, such as chalking 4000 hearts on the Diag to symbolize the number of abortions that occur every day. The group also travels to Washington, D.C. every year to protest the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. Some pro-life organizations across the country have vigorously protested against abortion rights activists at Planned Parenthood clinics. Some protestors use graphic pictures of aborted

nyer stated that his group is different, though. “It is true that in many cases, we are the minority on campus. But we can’t blame anyone that’s pro-choice. We can’t judge them, since they have been brought up differently,” said Denyer. While the social conservative and religious club membership may be lacking at U-M, religious students are in abundance. According to a recent study of over 100,000 American students by UCLA, 79 percent of college freshmen believe in God or some type of higher power, 69 percent frequently pray, and 81 percent attend weekly religious services. Nuendorf sees a different story at his

Lutheran parish, however. “About a dozen undergraduate students show up to weekly sermons and about another dozen are registered parishioners. In general, we do not have close relations with campus,” said Nuendorf. Much of this may be due to a lack of Lutherans on a campus where other mainline sects dominate, in addition to the location of St. Paul relative to campus. The two campus-area Catholic parishes, both on or near State Street, enjoy high rates of student attendance, and the U-M Hillel on Hill Street is the second largest student organization on campus. These larger religious entities are able to link students who are interested to socially conservative movements, from pro-life movements at St. Thomas Catholic Church to the American Movement for Israel through the Hillel. Perhaps there is strength in numbers. Either way, there exist plenty of avenues leading to conservative activism at U-M. MR

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Campus Corner

We Have Homecoming? Seriously? By Rebecca Christy, ‘08

hen I had a bad hair day or was feeling fat during my senior year of high school, I found solace in the fact that I was nominated for Homecoming Queen. Beyond that little self esteem booster, the extent to which the experience was beneficial was minimal. The process often appears frivolous even though it is a well established tradition at high schools around the nation. While it is often portrayed as a beauty contest, at least at the high school level there is a possibility that people may actually incorporate a candidate’s personality into their vote. With around 24,000 undergraduate students at the University of Michigan the possibility to vote for someone on anything but their looks is unfeasible. By the way was anyone aware that U-M had a Homecoming king and queen this year? MSA spent $5,000 to revive the Homecoming tradition after an eleven year hiatus. During the crowning ceremony, Seniors Phil Drazewski and Gabrielle Sims won due to the fact that they exhibit what it means to be a “Wolverine.” Were students really expected to make a well informed decision on a homecoming king and queen based on their ability to display characteristics of a Wolverine? Many Americans can’t even do that when voting for a president. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for school spirit. I wouldn’t be a student at this university if I didn’t have pride in long-standing tradition. I appreciate the efforts that MSA has taken to provide a sense of community on campus; I just think there are ways to improve the long standing traditions we already have. Before Michigan spends $5,000 to have a Homecoming parade at 3:00 p.m. on a Thursday, we should actually try to bolster school spirit on the national stage. Hands down, Michigan Stadium is the first place to start. I’d rather see MSA spending their money to give out Maize and Blue towels for the Ohio State game where we can receive recognition for pride in our school in front of millions of television viewers. Since apparently an e-mail along with a reminder right on the ticket isn’t enough to get a legitimate Maize Out, we could even use the money to hand out cheap shirts at the game. Unarguably, MSA is spot-on in the belief that Michigan could improve on their school spirit. Every Saturday, I am impressed by schools such who organize coordinate students to form a prominent letter in the stands or wear one solid college. Both of these options require simple creativity, not funds. MR

HBO Show on Sex Has a Little Too Much Reality By Lindsey Dodge, ‘10

he hype around HBO’s new series “Tell Me You Love Me” has mainly circled around sex—and this show has a lot of it. The sex is not intended to be sexy, either. What is motivating the series is a quest for gritty realism, and the writers and producers have certainly succeeded in that. However, the question remains, is reality really that entertaining? The series vacillates between the intimate struggles of three couples, and their eventual turn to therapy to resolve their issues. All the age groups are covered. There is the extremely passionate engaged couple in their twenties, Hugo (Luke Farrell Kirby) and Jamie (Michelle Borth). Their relationship is comprised of sex, sex, doubts about Hugo’s fidelity, and then more sex, on the hardwood floor. Then there is the power-couple in their thirties, Carolyn (Sonya Walger) and Palek (Adam Scott), who are obsessively and unsuccessfully trying to conceive. Dave (Tim DeKay) and Katie (Allie Walker) are the parents in

Tell Me You Love Me lacks the entertainment value to become a show that people sit down and watch every week, even in spite of gratuitous sex scenes. their forties, so caught up in their roles as parents that they have neglected and ignored their role as lovers. Lastly, there is the therapist they all turn to, Dr. May Foster (Jane Alexander), who, in her sixties, still has a very fulfilling sex life and career. (Of course.) The key to the show is not the sex, which is mostly distracting and uncom-

fortable. The camera lingers on these scenes, not to titillate or arouse, but to capture the routine and reality of these couples’ sexual relationships. Unfortunately, this puts the audience in the position of watching this really boring, awkward sex. No one wants to watch that; in fact, it is what most of us desperately want to avoid. The problem, and crux of the series, appears to be the lack of communication in all the couples. It is often painful to observe how passive-aggressive and uncommunicative the characters are

Courtesy HBO

in their relationships. Contributing to this is the actors’ inability to speak in Standard Atlantic Dialect, instead mumbling the majority of their lines. The idea that this is what most relationships are like, and that this show is in search of “reality,” makes it understandable why many college students avoid intimate relationships altogether. This theme of people not communicating their emotions is repeated throughout the series. When Jamie overhears and confronts Hugo dismissing the commitment aspect of their future marriage, he responds, “Let’s not talk about it.” When Dave and Katie’s daughter gets her period far too early for her age, Katie fumbles around for words and then says, “do nothing.” Carolyn and Palek’s relationship builds deceit on top of deceit, first with not informing their family that they are trying for a baby, then with Carolyn getting fertility testing without Palek, and so forth. Everyone’s reaction to confrontation is to avoid it at all costs.

This does not a healthy relationship make, which the show explains by guiding them all towards therapy. Yet much of the couples’ actions are assumed and never explained at all. The reason why Palek and Carolyn want a child is unclear, and seems inadvisable considering where they are as a couple. The word “love” is also thrown around with no meaning whatsoever. The characters, in particular the men, bandy it about as a band-aid for deepset issues in the relationship. This must be intended as satire, but the problem with viewing this show as a satire is that despite how “real” a depiction of life is intended, it is hard to believe that most people are so completely unskilled with confrontation. These are not college students just learning how to be in an intimate relationship. These are middleaged men and women struggling to even speak to each other about anything unpleasant. The situations presented appear too far-fetched to be completely objective reality. It could be argued that this type of representation is essential to TV viewers, as it balances out the superficial, fluffed-up characters apparent on shows such as “The Hills” or “Gossip Girl,” in a way that only HBO can do. However, those shows are some of the most popular on television because they are entertaining fantasy. Look at the most successful shows that have run: “Sex and the City,” “Friends,” “ER,” even “I Love Lucy.” Each of these was on the air for a long time because they achieved the balance between deep, meaningful connections with the characters and humor that spoke to their generation. Not only does “Tell Me You Love Me” fail to create sympathetic characters, it is completely devoid of humor. Although, perhaps, it can be appreciated artistically, it lacks the entertainment value to become a show that people sit down and watch every week, even in spite of gratuitous sex scenes. MR

Michigan’s Secret Garden Matthaei Preserve Awaits Students from U-M By Andrea Sofian, ‘08

nn Arbor has a lot to offer. The downtown area, with its variety of restaurants, bars, and entertainment, are the usual hang-outs during students’ free time. Yet, few U-M students have heard of, let alone visited, the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, a parkland in northeast Ann Arbor which is actually affiliated with the University and the Nichols Arboretum. “The only reason why I knew about the botanical garden was because I was required to go there for my biology class,” says LSA Senior Cecilia Luu. Perhaps, though, it is time for more students learn about this unique place. “I think [students]

should come [to Matthaei] for the same reason that anyone else should come. For recreation [and] rejuvenation, it’s a beautiful place to walk and take pictures,” said Matthaei Development Associate Joan Wolf. She added that students get into the grounds and conservatory for free. With its many trails, gardens, and opportunities to learn about ecology and the environment, MBG is a place for nature lovers. It could be a new destination for a date. There are significant differences between MBG and the Arb, beyond the simple fact that one is on campus and the other is in the country. “There is a different landscape at Matthaei. There are more formal gardens

such as the Gateway and Perennial Gardens, and it is very easy to park here,” says Wolf. The parking is important since getting there will probably require a car. For people without a car, it is an opportunity to experience something new with a friend with a car. It can always be refreshing to get away from the rush of classes and campus itself, and going to MBG can help relieve your stress and help you forget about everything that is going on for awhile. For more information about Matthaei Botanical Gardens, such as directions, hours, and events, you can go to their website at www. mbgna.umich.edu. MR

The Michigan Review’s Arts & Culture Section:

75% Less Pretentious than other campus publications

10.23.07

P. 11

arts & culture. the michigan review

New Coulter Book Falls Flat By Marie Cour, ‘08

nn Coulter’s new book, If Democrats Had Any Brains, They’d Be Republicans, is much like many of her other books. She attacks liberals throughout the country, and her usual targets, such as Katie Couric, Ted Kennedy, and the Clintons, appear in this book as well. In fact, the ultimate point of this book is to argue the same thing that she has argued in her other books or weekly columns: liberals are irrational, shrill, unpatriotic, stupid, and morally weak.

The book is filled with quotations from Ann Coulter’s columns, television appearances, and interviews. She selected the comments that have garnered her the most attention in the past ten years and some of the wittier lines that have gone unnoticed. The comments she made about John Edwards and Bill Clinton, calling them homosexuals, for example, are featured, as well as other comments she’s made in such venues as cable news. As a whole, however, this book is a disappointment because it is simply an encyclopedia of Coulter’s favorite insults. She is a polemical writer who takes some liberties with her arguments, but she is appealing precisely because she is controversial. Nevertheless, her books always have a larger point and some carefully detailed research. Indeed, the lines that have gained her the most attention usually follow fairly standard conservative arguments. By focusing on lines the political humor, she undermines any credibility of her serious commentary. The most significant shortcoming of the book is that Coulter does not mix the acerbic comments with real commentary. This book removes all substance. Without context, the material is ineffective, and it reads like a joke book appropriate for a first grader. There is one “funny” line after another. And although these

might occasionally elicit a response, as a whole, they are simply throw-away lines not worth remembering. The only new material in the book is a short introduction and brief comments at the beginning of each chapter. This does help to unify the seeming random

This book removes all substance. Without context, the material is ineffective, and it reads like a joke book appropriate for a first grader. collection of quotes. In the introduction to this book, she argues that the book was designed to demonstrate to young conservatives and the “mainstream media” that the proliferation of media, such as the internet or talk radio, provides conservatives with access that they were previously lacking. She uses this book, a “bestof” Ann Coulter insults, to demonstrate that those who have predicted the end of her career have simply been wrong. Ironically, however, the book which chronicles her most scandalous moments will almost certainly not get her any attention. MR

Protestors Out to Break Ann Arbor’s Comfort Zone By Cherri Buijk, ‘11

ou have probably seen them. Every weekday from five to six, they’re out on the streets, so long as it is not raining. “That’s only because of the cardboard,” one man said, turning around from behind the giant sign he was holding on the corner of Liberty and Fifth. On campus, they’re commonly referred to as “the war protesters,” or “those people with the signs.” Some students scoff at them, most ignore them. They are a puzzle for many students and residents. Why would anyone spend so much time protesting a war in a town where signs that read “Impeach Bush” stick out of every third lawn? Libby Hunter, the founding member of the group, was glad to answer this question. On March 6, 2006, Hunter read an article on the progressive website CommonDreams.org. The article critiqued the comforts of Internet debate and the outraged voices confined to its blogs, insisting that protest was is dire need of being taking to the streets. Hunter found that critique strikingly applicable to Ann Arbor. Having returned to the city in 2003 after living thirty years in Boston, she felt the need to reawaken just that kind of protest in a place where, in the 1960’s, it once existed with such vitality. The last thirty years have seen Ann Arbor become too comfortable, Hunter said, claiming that is now a city of wealthy elites and “ruling class conservatives.” So Hunter took to the streets: she got a sign, stood out on the corner, and sought to give public voice to her beliefs. Soon she was joined by several others. But Hunter is no simple war protester. Her biggest concern is the control of the media, and for that, she’s convinced that the current times even more disconcerting than the 1960s. “Four major corporations control the media now,” said Hunter. “Twentyfive years ago, 2,000 companies owned our mainstream media.” For Hunter, this is not a matter of partisanship— this is a problem with its foundations in a wealthy elite. “They have control over everything right now. The government is no longer by and for the people,” she said. Citing social and economic problems in west Michigan’s Benton Harbor, Hunter decries what she believes to be gaping holes in media coverage of racial, criminal justice, and poverty issues. In an effort to fill in those gaps, Hunter is initiating screenings of progressive films in the Ann Arbor area, and would like to use progressive businesses as venues. And, of course, she continues her street protest every weekday. No matter what one’s politics may be, there’s something to be respected in Hunter’s efforts. She and those who accompany her on an Ann Arbor street corner are a reminder that, though it may keep things from being too uncomfortable, a society cannot be progressive by way of lawn signs and bumper stickers alone. MR

www.michiganreview.com

P. 12

10.23.07

news.

the michigan review

A few questions for...

Ron Paul ...as told to Michael O’Brien

Why did you choose the University of Michigan for your speech after the rally? I think they chose us. They asked us and said, “We have a group here that’s really enthusiastic,” and we were in town. I thought, “Well, they’ve been inviting me, and they wanted me to come, and they said there was a lot of support on campus,” so, since we were here, we decided to go to Ann Arbor as well.

What are the issues you think make you so appealing to the younger voters you seem to have attracted? Most of them tell me honest answers, defense of the constitution. They like personal liberty, and the fact that I’ll protect the internet—I won’t tax the internet. They like the fact that I tell them they can get out of Social Security if I had my way. They hate the War and they don’t like the idea that the War is spreading. They know that they’re going to have to pay for it, and, all of a sudden, they’re interested especially when I talk about who owns one’s life and how there should never be a military draft. If we’re threatened, we should all join in the fight, and not put the burden on 18 and 19 and 20-year-olds. And I think all those added up to say that a free society based on the Constitution is very popular, and they’re supporting us.

What do you make of some claims by critics who say that a number of antiwar liberals have jumped on your campaign because you are the “antiwar” Republican? Well I would say that if that’s the case, that maybe you’d have to ask them if they believe in a “big tent.” So if we can bring disgruntled Republicans, independents, and Democrats into our fold because the Democrats offer nothing on foreign policy—it’s just the same old stuff that we have today—then I would say they should welcome me because we’re tapping into a source of votes that, so far, they haven’t made any inroads in.

The Michigan Democratic primary seems to have dissipated. Michigan election laws call for an open primary. Do you think, perhaps, you’ll try to court those Democratic voters who are against the war? Well, most of this stuff comes about naturally. If they hear my message, a lot of them will make up their own mind, and the message is always courting everybody. So hopefully, that’ll maybe work out to our benefit. MR

Kristen Hermanson/The Michigan Review

Ron Paul addresses campus during his October 9 visit.

Paul Brings Unconventional Message to Campus By Brian Biglin, ‘08

EPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE Ron Paul brought his populist, anti-war campaign to the Diag on Tuesday, October 9th, in an appearance before thousands gathered on UM’s most prominent square. Students for Paul Co-Chairman Alex Makris ‘08 said that police estimated a crowd of over 2,000 on the Diag. Planners of the event hoped to reach or top the 1,600 attendance seen at Paul’s appearance in Nashville; given that they exceeded that number, and drew a diverse mix of people with many strong supporters in the crowd, the event was a great success, Makris said. Showing up over a half-hour late following a debate in Dearborn, Paul repeatedly called for greater emphasis on freedom of choice, self-reliance, and responsibility in America. He said that all of America’s complex problems, from a spreading war on terrorism to an alleged monetary crisis, could be solved by looking to the constitution. “We’re in so much trouble because we don’t listen to the constitution,” said Paul. The Texas congressmen called for an end to overseas spending, although the terms he spoke in made it unclear if he wants to reduce or completely cut off spending. He suggested that bringing this money back to the states could make Americans significantly better off. “This is not an empire, but a republic,” said Paul, adding the common refrain that America is not the world’s policeman. Some of the loudest cheers came when Paul called for liberal marijuana laws, which he put under “freedom of choice” issues. Not judging, and not legislating

against, people’s actions, even if they are condemnable actions that others don’t approve of, is the central aspect of freedom of choice, Paul said. Paul called the income tax an evil notion that assumes that the government owns an individual’s life, which elicited a strong response from the throng. He said that the easy solution to Michigan’s economic problems is the same recipe that will work for others states: less taxation and less regulation. Much of Paul’s speech featured him delving into his controversial views on the economy; he decried the long-standing Federal Reserve system, interest rates, the printing of money, and the entire monetary system. He said that the system in and of itself supports the ongoing growth of the government, and contributes to harmful inflation, declines in real income, the current dollar crisis, and the transfer of wealth from the middle classes to the upper classes. “He explained that he doesn’t want to get rid of the Federal Reserve, but [wants to] introduce competition or at least an audit,” said Makris, clarifying Paul’s rhetoric. The concluding minutes of Paul’s featured abstract, populist rhetoric. He restated his belief that the constitution will solve all problems, and said that he is running on the things he does not want to do. “I don’t want to run your life, I don’t want to run the economy— I don’t know how to run the economy,” said Paul. In these matters, and in overseas affairs, Paul said “we ought to mind our own business.” Responding to those who believe that Paul is too abstract in his speeches, Makris said that Paul is able to get specific when he needs to be specific, and noted that, in this case, it was important for Paul to have a more general, unifying mes-

sage. “Something big is going on, which no one understands yet,” said Paul. “This is a continuation of a peaceful revolution, an experiment which started 220 years ago,” he added, referring to his back-tobasics, constitutionalist approach. Makris said that Paul’s appearance has put his campaign in a much better position at U-M. Earlier in the fall, Students for Paul representatives struggled to overcome a lack of name recognition when they campaigned outside of Michigan Stadium. Since the speech, there is a buzz about Paul, and the Students for Paul are receiving many new inquiries, Makris said. MR

Kristen Hermanson/The Michigan Review