vol_27_no_2

MichiganReview THE

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

VOLUME XXVII

September 14, 2008

ISSUE 2

Campus and Community Safety

An Investigation

PHOTO JOSEPH XU / MR STAFF

BY NATHAN STANO ‘11 & ALYSE HUDSON ‘11

NO ONE LIKES to think about crime on campus, and crime statistics at major universities are largely relegated to the parents section of any college presentation. Yet crime on campus is very real. In the last few weeks, students have become aware of a slew of crimes, from an armed robbery near central campus to two attempted abductions. Though the police were out in force to slap Minor in Possessions (MIP) on freshmen stumbling back from Welcome Week festivities, what do the statistics say, and does this relate to proposed

Obama Rallies and McCain Speaks mail to

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civic improvements for the Ann Arbor Police Department?

The Fifteenth District Court, located here in Ann Arbor, is moving to its own building after a non-renewable contract for space with the Washtenaw County Courthouse is set to expire in December of 2009. This gives the courthouse the opportunity to expand its facilities. According to a press release about the new building, the city of Ann Arbor stated, “In addition to the County requiring the 15th Judicial District Court to relocate, the current court space is inadequate for the operation, safety and security of the court. The space

does not separate the public from potentially violent offenders, it does not provide adequate security for prisoner transport nor does it allow for sufficient holding space during court proceedings. The proposed Court/ Police facility also offers solutions for the current Police facility.”

The site of the new courthouse will be a redesigned Guy C. Larcom Jr. Municipal Building, which is located at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Huron Street.

The new building will also provide a new home for the Ann Arbor Police Department. In 2006, Washt SAFETY Continued on PAGE 5

U-M Students and Money A Disappearing Number...

A Look into the Financial Life of U-M Students

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BY JULIANNE NOWICKI ‘11

AS THE ECONOMY continues to take a turn for the worse, students at the University of Michigan are undoubtedly being affected. Years before, Mom and Dad were the ATM that was a phone call away, but times have changed. Parents can’t afford to fork over the money to the son or daughter who is at college, especially in households with younger siblings at home.

FINANCES Continued on PAGE 5

A Vanishing Performance Brought Exlusively to Ann Arbor

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THE MICHIGAN REVIEW www.michiganreview.com

Editorial Board Lindsey Dodge Editor-in-Chief Jane Coaston Executive Editor Adam Pascarella Managing Editor Eun Lee Graphic Design Editor Jonathan Slemrod Editor-at-Large Nathan Stano Cherri Buijk Assistant Editors Business Staff Karen Boore Publisher Jonathan Slemrod Anna Malecke Associate Publishers Michael O’Brien Editor Emeritus Staff Writers & Photographers Alyse Hudson, Christine Hwang, Megan Lytle, Julianne Nowicki, Evgeny Magidenko, Samm Etters, Austyn Foster, Shanda Shooter, Joseph Xu, Christina Zajicek, Dane Hillard

Letters & 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.

Serpent’s Tooth ...A Bite of News

• DEMOCRATIC PARTY SUPPORTERS have been questioning potential Republican-VP Sarah Palin on her strong religious beliefs, including her decision to carry her Down-Syndrome son Trig to term. In response, the McCain camp reportedly stated that the Democratic Party has no need of religion, as they’re self-righteous enough already.

• THE RABID HISTORICAL preservationists in Ann Arbor have taken an interesting stance on Michigan’s flailing economy, saying that the nice thing about a recession is that it makes their jobs much easier.

• IN THE DISAPPOINTING Michigan vs. Notre Dame game last Saturday, Notre Dame coach Charlie Weiss tore his ACL and MCL when a Notre Dame player accidentally bowled him over. As Weiss pointed out, he was ironically kind of proud because this was the first athletic injury of his entire life.

which may or may not go up because Adam was in charge of that.

• THE PRIME MINISTER of Thailand has been ousted from office and abandoned a bid for re-election over two paid appearances on a cooking show. We didn’t even have to make that one up. I guess that what he gets for not helping Mrs. Prime Minister out in the kitchen.

• AFTER LOSING 35-3 to top rated USC, OSU head coach Jim Tressel, feeling a weakening in the powers of his sweater vest, began to look into buying Steve Jobs’s turtlenecks.

• A NEW STUDY shows that just over 1 in 5 employers use social networking sites to screen potential employees. Be sure to keep José Cuervo off your references list.

• AT ENERGYFEST, THE main draw was a table giving out mass quantities of free t-shirts and hot dogs.

Unfortunately for the environment, these huge student draws are two of the most environmentally unfriendly products ever invented.

• TO END A well publicized court battle, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick pled guilty to various charges and will spend 4 months in jail. As the Mayor’s private security posse will not be accompanying him, his lawyers have advised him not to drop the soap.

• TWO ARMY DOCTORS and Riddell sportswear manufacturers recently came out with a study, showing how much better football players fare when it comes to head injuries compared with soldiers due to advances in helmet technology. This could come in handy, considering the fact that we will have to beat the Michigan football team’s collective head in if they don’t learn how to hold onto the ball.

• FORMER PRO-WRESTLER and Minnesota Governor Jesse “The Body” Ventura spent 9/11 telling people at Arizona’s 9/11 memorial that the government isn’t telling the truth about what happened seven years ago. Note to Jesse: This isn’t the world of pro wrestling.

This is reality.

• UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE Michigan Daily, their diabolical plan failed when during the Review’s layout on Sunday, two false fire-alarm evacuations of the League took place. Our staff proudly turned up Kiss’s “I Want to Rock & Roll All Night” and stood their ground, and our Managing Editor Adam Pascarella nobly went into the heart of the flames, fighting with the fire of his wit and pen. The dramatic struggle can be seen in Technicolor on The Review’s podcast,

Letter from the Editor

IT’S JUST TWO weeks after the beginning of the school year, and there is clearly politics in the jungle juice.

One can see with the return of school and the end of summer, people are transitioning into businessas-usual. New students are weaving themselves into the campus fabric, and returning students are once again observing that far more goes on in Ann Arbor than any other college town has any right to see.

“A Disappearing Number,” an award-winning production brought exclusively by the theatrical group Complicite to Ann Arbor, is reviewed by Christine Hwang (pg. 9). Assistant Editors Nathan Stano and Cherri Buijk cover both the recent Obama Rally in Detroit and McCain’s speech in Sterling Heights on page seven. Two pieces open up our issue with investigations pertaining particularly to U-M students: One on the state of the Ann Arbor police, and the other how students can realistically cope with their finances in the wake of Michigan’s struggling economy.

Much of the lure in attending U-M is the notion that this is the quintessential college town: Large and in-charge campus life, tons of politics (academic and national) to bicker about, and loads of school spirit. Well, Michigan football has been interesting, but let’s not be fair-weather fans, people.

To whit, for a Midwest institution, there is an awful lot of metropolitan hubris in our little city.

There is a nuanced difference (see freshman English teacher, I told you I would learn nuance someday) between awareness of the issues and the belief that you are completely aware of ‘the issues.’

One is a state of action, the other a state of mind.

So how do we overcome this layer of condescen-

• A MAN WAS arrested in Ohio for stealing two cans of beer. His last name: Duff. That’s right, Duff man. Writers for The Simpsons are high-fiving themselves right now.

• THE ACTOR, KAL Penn of “Harold & Kumar go to White Castle,” visited the U-M Campus last Wednesday to promote voter registration and his support for Barack Obama. Unfortunatley, he could not locate the local White Castle on Packard and left Ann Arbor with the munchies. MR

sion that far-too-often permeates conversation? Let’s be realistic – it’s not going to change. We live in Ann Arbor only for four years, or five or six or seven depending on several factors. However, we can start by taking personal responsibility and helping ourselves, which is where we should probably start on everything, if possible.

There’s a reason it’s called the pursuit of knowledge, not the land of knowledge. Actually, the land of knowledge may exist in a sequestered part of campus, the inhabitants lounging around with ethnic instruments, drinking bitter beverages, and surrounded by books borrowed accidentally-on-purpose from the Undergraduate library.

I guess the moral of this story, which I like to insert in all my writing because it helps me make sense of things, is that knowing that you still have much to learn is not the worst place to be.

Yes, it may mean an embarrassing social situation for now, but it beats the stasis of many U-M students, thinking that at the end of college they will have a completely resolved view on every political topic under the sun. Those are the people who will crash and burn when they finally get into an indepth political discussion later in life. Or maybe they won’t, as luck will have it. And frustrating as that is for us, it’s the worse for them.

Rather, as always from this point-of-view, keep questioning. Keep learning. Keep growing. That’s what U-M is for.

Best, Lindsey Dodge Editor-in-Chief MR

08.14.2008 4.1.08

Editor’s Notes

PAGE 3

An Editorial Page for Those Interested in How the Other Side Thinks

intended to win elections. Those willing to throw their chips behind McCain are banking on the proven efficacy of conservative principles, such as limited government, economic freedom, and tax-breaks for business owners.

McCain didn’t support Bush’s tax cuts for one simple reason: You can’t cut taxes if you don’t cut spending. When McCain articulated that tax cuts weren’t feasible with Bush going on the biggest government spending-spree since Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society, he was making the conservative argument, not the Republican argument. Cut spending, then cut taxes. This is a good development.

Contrary to the media push on either side of the election, McCain is neither a complete ‘maverick’ nor a stooge for old-time Republicans. What McCain would do in office is not split from a lot of the ideals of President Bush, but theoretically the execution and understanding of their shared conservative mores: cut spending, cut taxes, and shore up the military.

Whether people feel that McCain will fulfill his promises, which has more to do with the listener’s bias than anything else, the fact remains that we need true conservatism in our government. As appealing as the idea is to have an African-American man in office – and let’s face it, fifty year ago the possibility wasn’t there – to have a minority President at the cost of higher taxes, increased government, economic limitations and a weakened military is insufficient reasoning.

The idea of a straight-talker is refreshing in that we haven’t really had that for eight years, and now is the time to get our country back on track. We believe the best way to do that is to give people the liberty to think and make decisions for themselves. Rescinding power to the government never has and never will be the way to solve our nation’s problems.

The current Republican administration really struggled with this, and hopefully conservative voters can rise above Republican errors to find the right balance between government and economic stability with personal freedom.

That’s reform. MR

BY NATHAN STANO ‘11

The Constitution, in Article 1, Section 8 states that, “[t]he Congress shall have Power…To establish an [sic] uniform Rule of Naturalization.” That said, we must remind the more liberal elements on campus, especially the editors of the Michigan Daily, that for the City of Ann Arbor to cast off its “submission” to the federal government, their word not mine, would be, at its core, wholly unconstitutional.

The city has no right, or power, to define an immigration process to compliment or subvert the one set up at the national level. Congress alone is granted this power.

We must also remind them of the difference between civil and human rights. The Daily bemoans “it could be an untold amount of time before immigrants are treated with the respect they deserve as residents of the United States and human beings.”

Yet, what are the precepts for these concepts in the American tradition? The Declaration of Independence defines human rights as, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The Constitution’s First Amendment defines civil rights. Civil rights are guaranteed by a state for its citizens and legal residents, while human rights are rights that all humans

should enjoy. If you are not a citizen or legal resident of this country, then you must look to the nation you are a citizen of to see what civil rights you enjoy.

This is a nation of laws, and the Constitution is a big one. It’s the law of the land. If you don’t get how important this is, take Polisci 111. It must be followed or changed; it cannot simply be cast aside on a feeling.

Imagine if other laws could simply be avoided if we felt like it. The country would descend into chaos. You say ICE too vigorously pursues immigration criminals? Imagine if the Ann Arbor Police or DPS didn’t vigorously pursue criminals. Could you honestly say this would be good for the city? As for the Daily’s accusations about the ferocity and the pure inhumanity of ICE, they fail to provide one single, specific case to back up these statements. If you can’t be burdened to provide proof of an allegation, we don’t feel burdened to believe it.

Agreed, immigration is a mess. It is a mess we can solve, though. Expanding legal immigration would be a boon to American businesses, giving them the incentive not to leave our communities. If you are worried about losing your job to an immigrant, thank Congress for the second highest business taxes in the world. While high taxes and foreign competition sap the strength of American business, illegal immigrants fill the economic

MR STAFF

Law and Immigration

XU / PHOTOS JOSEPH

In the movie, “O Brother Where Art Thou,” a southern, Depression-era version of Homer’s “The Odyssey,” there is a hilarious moment between the tough, fat, Irish governor and his even fatter, dense, tag-along son. Fans flapping away against the southern heat, the son remarks to his incumbent father, “People like that reform, daddy. Maybe we should get us some reform!” The governor slowly looks over to his son, disbelieving, then angrily yells that, as the current Governor, he cannot possibly run as the reform candidate.

This inherently strikes home for conservative voters, who have been simultaneously applauding Republican presidential nominee McCain’s maverick reputation and defending him against the highest of liberal critiques – that McCain will be a third term of the current administration. In essence, people want change. But what kind of change are we looking at here?

The current Republican administration is leaving office with its tail between its legs, having overseen one of the most unpopular wars in American history, a large government deficit, and a President with a penchant for verbal gaffes. It is an easy year to preach reform.

And yet, there are still many voters willing to go with McCain, enough so that he and Obama are neck-and-neck for most of the country. How can we explain this? Perhaps it’s because Republicans are stiff-necked and unwilling to change, even under these conditions. There might be some truth to this in Washington, where a resistance to change is usually a matter of job preservation. Or maybe it’s because people feel that a McCain administration would be different from a Bush administration.

How can this be, if they are both running under the Republican ticket? How can we fix our problems with the same party’s solutions?

Is fifty percent of the country mad?

On the contrary. Fifty percent of the country (making room for the right-wing extremists, so let’s say forty-five percent) understands that the Bush administration may have been Republican, but in many respects it was not conservative.

Conservatism is a core of principles, whereas Republican means a political party

void. If we lower taxes or let more people in legally, or both, it would go great lengths in increasing our competitiveness and maintaining jobs here in America. We must also streamline the process for allowing workers into the country, making it simple and affordable to maintain an economical workforce.

However, we cannot remit the illegal immigrants themselves. Regardless of how you feel about immigration, these people have committed a crime.

Who have they wronged? They have wronged the thousands of people who wait to come to America; they have presumed themselves above them. By protesting to remain here, they disrespect the very American laws they seek to live under. We don’t care about culture or language differences, we care that some people have the respect for America to follow our laws. They cannot be remitted simply because they’re hard-working and honest. It is irresponsible to generalize, but even as a whole, if we rob a bank just to get by and we’re known as honest, hard-working people, does that entitle us to forgiveness?

Wherever one stands on the immigration issue, Ann Arbor needs to learn the difference between real change and petty subversion. MR

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08.14.2008 4.1.08

Free to Choose

Composition as Implication

Opinion

Be Careful What You Wish For Sarah Palin, Artichokes, and Frontier

BY JONATHAN SLEMROD ‘10

Who cares who the next president is?

Nothing can get done without the consent of the House and Senate, the stakes of which have been largely ignored by a country fascinated by newcomers Senator Barack Obama and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. One thing seems certain about the election: Democrats will expand their majorities in both the House and Senate. They are likely to pick up Senate seats in New Hampshire, Colorado, and Virginia. Some analysts have gone as far as to say that Democrats will jonathan wake up on November 5 with a filibuster-proof, slemrod sixty-seat majority in the Senate.

A filibuster-proof Democratic Senate would lead to a push for some of the big-ticket policy changes that have been on the Democratic wish list for quite some time: a reversal of the Bush tax cuts, an increase in discretionary spending, and a cap-and-trade scheme intended to limit carbon emissions. But the most troubling item on the Democratic agenda trumps a tax hike of any size. Instead, it is littleknown bill deceivingly coined the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). Labor unions are spending tens of millions of dollars this election season to ensure that EFCA is at the top of the Democratic Party agenda. A steady decline in union membership has caused unions to focus squarely on Washington politicians to satisfy their legislative agenda. And as the Wall Street Journal put it, “This is payback day.”

Make no mistake, EFCA is a scary bill and should be of serious concern for anyone that believes in democracy. The bill amends the 1935 National Labor Relations Act to allow for a system called a “card check,” which strips workers of the right to a secret ballot when voting whether or not to form a union in the workplace. Instead of a confidential, federally supervised ballot which ensures fairness and safety, unions will only need to obtain a majority of cards or workers to form a union. Proponents claim that the bill will help workers join unions. They’re right – but at a cost.

EFCA invites intimidation, harassment, and violence reminiscent of the Sopranos if a worker decides to vote against unionization. Allowing Congress to pass the EFCA sends the clear message to Americans that the desires of special interests trump the fundamental pillars of a democratic society. Eliminating secret ballots puts an employee’s vote in plain sight of employers, union organizers, and co-workers. Public votes belong in the Soviet Union, not America.

The AFL-CIO and other unions with a major stake in the EFCA are spending over $200 million to lobby for the bill. They have found a friend in Barack Obama, who has promised to promptly sign the bill into law. John McCain is strictly opposed to the EFCA and is joined by a broad coalition of business groups that have pledged to spend millions of their own to fight the bill.

But don’t forget that behind the candidates, Democrat or Republican, come policies that will fundamentally alter the political landscape.

Getting caught up in election-year hype can be exciting and entertaining. But don’t forget that behind the candidates, Democrat or Republican, come policies that will fundamentally alter the political landscape. In the case of the Employee Free Choice Act, it will be in an overwhelmingly negative manner. Voters should ask themselves whether workers should be worthy of the same privacy rights that Americans enjoy every time they head to the ballot box, or whether special interests should guide the direction of our country. A filibuster-proof Democratic majority in the Senate will prove the latter. MR

BY CHERRI BUIJK ‘11

THE NEW YORK Times ranks the current popularity of its Times Topics – informative profiles and discussion of subjects ranging from American Oriental Bioengineering to Ben Afleck. On September 4, that ranking read as the following: 1. Sarah Palin; 2. Hurricane Gustav; 3. Georgia; 4. Barack Obama; 5. Google Inc.; 6. China; 7. Artichokes; 8. Global Warming; 9. John McCain; 9. Todd Palin.

The list in sum, then: current U.S. National politics; a topic, place, and corporation of major international interest; a weird vegetable. I clicked, of course, on number seven.

“Among the items that at some point in history were cherri deemed edible by our ancestors, artichokes have a great deal buijk in common with lobsters: it’s hard to imagine how anyone saw their potential,” explains the NYT profile.

When put that way, the star of the top ten doesn’t seem so far from those rich layers, soft and even bland until punctuated by surprising pickers on each leaf end, all held fast in place by a thick, rigid stalk.

Bloggers, media pundits, journalists, politicians and the rest of us have scrambled through countless terms of approaching the Palin phenomenon since her nomination acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention last week. She’s the GOP’s first female candidate for vice president; represented at times as a bulldog with lipstick; a small town, corruption-tackling straight-talker. And there are the questions that have drawn perhaps even more attention: does she have too little experience for the position away; is the infant really her daughter’s? But perhaps it’s important to move beyond Sarah Palin as artichoke and toward one of the simplest parts of her elusive political identity: Sarah Palin is a proponent of offshore drilling in her home state of Alaska.

Alaska is the youngest state in the country (younger than John McCain). It’s got tons of land, making it twice the size of Texas. In 2000, its population density was 1.1 people per square mile. And Alaskan oil reserves are no less impressive. The state’s Prudhoe Bay produces 400,000 barrels a day – America’s highest yielding oil field. The Trans-Atlantic Pipeline pumps a greater volume of barrels than any other crude oil pipeline in the country. And to top it all off, though the figures themselves are contested, the conception of a large volume of oil reserves potentially tapped by offshore drilling in the Arctic completes the picture of Alaska as, in the echo of everyone’s favorite historian, Fredrick Jackson Turner, a frontier dreamland.

Turner claimed that the American frontier closed in 1893, responding to 1890 census data showing a population density of 2 people per square mile in the region – notably, a figure higher than Alaska’s current state. The frontier, according to Turner, was the process by which “Americanization” turned Europeans into something uniquely new, by which wilderness was processed into civilization. But even more, the idea of a “Wild West” in the American mind presented the possibility that, through application to free land, the American economy could grow its own independence away from the necessity of European imports and manufactorers.

We’re not in Kansas anymore, and we’re not fantasizing about wheat. Today’s featured independence dream is with energy.

With the price of crude oil above the $100 per barrel mark, Americans are talking about big problems with reliance on imports. A July Detroit News article on gas prices and politics included the results of a phone survey of potential voters in Michigan.

Of the 600 surveyed, it was revealed that “nearly half of likely voters identify the economy as the No. 1 problem facing the nation”; that “36 percent of Michigan voters say the price of gas is having a ‘major’ impact on their lives”; and that fifty eight percent – almost two thirds - of voters support offshore drilling.

As Geological Science professor Stephen Kesler put it, “A year ago, few people even considered the term ‘energy independence,’” he said. “But now, you hear every next politician talking about it.”

So what does that make Palin? An artichoke: firm, unexpected, layered, surprisingly bland? Or a Teddy Roosevelt, drumming up a band of Rough Riders donning pelt of moose? Not quite. But in both cases, the resemblance has to make one pause and remember those frontier narratives that pull the heartstrings of the American popular heart. MR

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08.14.2008 4.1.08

PAGE 5

Michigan Congressional Elections Heat Up The battle for Michigan’s ninth district, currently represented by Republican Joe Knollenberg, is also emerging as one of the most competitive and expensive in the nation. Knollenberg, who has represented the seat since 1993, will have his toughest reelection campaign to date, facing Gary Peters, a former state lottery commissioner and professor at Central Michigan University who has long-standing ties to the Democratic Party. Also running as an independent is Jack Kevorkian, a pathologist best-known for his advocacy of assisted-suicide. Knollenberg’s campaign has referred to Kevorkian and Peters as “death and taxes.” The Cook Political Report pegs the seat as leaning Republican.

Carl Levin, who has represented Michigan in the Senate since 1979, is being challenged by Jack Hoogendyk, a staunch fiscal and social conservative, who has been in the Michigan House of Representatives since 2002. Hoogendyk’s bid is a longshot- recent polls put Levin ahead by a margin of eighteen to thirty percent. MR

SAFETY Continued from FRONT PAGE enaw County informed the city that they would not allow the city to renew its lease of space in the Washtenaw County Court building, citing the need for expanded space in order to close outlying facilities and reduce costs. Fortunately, the Ann Arbor City Council had been investigating creating a new housing for the court and police since 2004. The project for the new courthouse was kicked off in 2007, when council formed a committee to plan the project that included council members, architects and court and police staff.

The bidding for the project is expected to be completed this fall, and council projects the project will begin in the winter of 2009 and take 24 months to complete.

The City expects the project to cost $47.4 million to complete and intends to pay for the new building through several different funds, but the city council has decided to release up to $31 million worth of bonds to pay for the project. Council intends to repay these debts at a rate of $1.86 million a year for the next thirty years.

The city has made it quite clear that it does not intend to raise taxes to pay for the project, nor does it intend to make cuts in existing city services.

The city also plans to make this new building a “green” one. “The City will seek Gold Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) certification by the Green Building Council. The building is being designed to be consistent with benchmark green building practices and proposed design guidelines developed by the A2D2 task force. The architectural design team

has evaluated and made recommendations on sustainable design strategies such as a “green” or vegetated roof/plaza design; energy efficient building envelope design; day lighting/building shading design; natural ventilation design; selection and specification of materials with recycled content; design and specification of energy saving building systems controls; environmental site planning and landscape design; and innovative storm water design to minimize runoff and meet requirements,” a city statement stated.

Each year, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) publishes a Student Safety Handbook, a resource which is often neglected by students. The handbook contains the crime statistics for the last three years, as well as emergency contact information and tips for reducing one’s chances of being the victim of crime. Crime statistics show, in the last three years, a general decline of crime around campus, with the exception of Liquor Law Arrests and Citations, which were up in 2006, despite declining in 2005. In terms of combating crimes around campus, an ounce of prevention can go a long way. Suggestions given by the DPS in their Safety Handbook include leaving valuables in secure places.

Laptops are particularly tempting targets if left unattended in the libraries; having a lock for one’s laptop is encouraged. Students, especially female students, are encouraged to walk in groups when out at night, especially if coming back from a party.

Among the state’s three major universities in 2006, the University of Michigan Ann Arbor had a higher

reported crime rate than both Wayne State and Michigan State. The bulk of reported crimes were larceny, but students reported two rapes, four robberies, ten assaults, fortyfive burglaries, twelve vehicle thefts, and eight arsons. Does that make this the most unsafe university? U of M has 41,000 students to MSUs 46,000 and Wayne’s 33,000.

The population of Ann Arbor is about ten thousand persons larger than East Lansing, but both pale in comparison to Detroit’s.

However, the numbers of more serious crimes are lower at U-M. Compared to national averages, crime rates per 100,000 persons were well below average in the city of Ann Arbor for all the crimes reported above. Crimes in the City of Ann Arbor were overwhelmingly property crimes, and even then, rates for those crimes in Ann Arbor were only about half of the national averages. By all accounts, Ann Arbor is a safe city.

Perhaps most interesting is the increased visibility of police officers on campus, especially officers on bicycles. These officers are up noticeable from last year, despite no increases in police officer hiring. It remains to be seen if such a change in tactics will work, but it certainly sets a different mood here on campus. MR

one who has seen success.

A few years ago, students came to college with the comfort of knowing that if they every needed to, they could call their parents for a few “emergency” bucks.

This year, however, parents are not always able to help out their students even in the smallest ways. For most of 2007, Michigan held the highest unemployment rate in the country at 7.6%, higher than the national unemployment rate of 5%. For 2008, the rate is 8.5%. With many parents laid off from the Big Three and other companies, and in many cases with other children to care for, they cannot afford to pay for students’ small necessities. Ryan Knapp, a sophomore, summed it up well in saying, “Some of the burden falls on the student. The student is expected by the University to contribute more by the University. But here’s the catch-22: it’s harder to find summer or part-time work during the school year, and without a job, students can’t pay for college necessities.”

Knapp also pointed out some of the hidden costs that come along with an undergraduate education at U-M. Additional course fees, coursepacks, Qwizdom clickers, club dues, intramural fees, and fraternity/ sorority fees are just the beginning of a list of college “hidden fees.” These “hidden fees” can be a real pain to students barely scraping by.

So what can struggling students financially do to ease the burden? A student can first visit the Financial Aid Office to discuss his or her financial situation. No appointments are necessary and walk-in appointments are welcome. Part of students’ tuition pays for these U-

M services, so students should take advantage of these opportunities.

Applying for scholarships is another option for financially strained students. Many students feel overwhelmed when desperately searching for the perfect scholarship.

Rather than becoming apprehensive, students should try searching out the scholarship page on U-M’s Financial Aid Office webpage. The scholarship page lists many reputable, private scholarships that are usually from local businesses and charities. This means that millions of students will not be applying for the same scholarship. Students should also capitalize on their unique characteristics. In finding scholarships that are specific to a student’s religion, organization involvement, ethnicity, or parent’s career and governmental experience, that student often has a better chance of obtaining that scholarship.

While the economy in Michigan continues to struggle, students also struggle to pay for college expenses. Students need not worry too much, because there are financially creative ways to stay afloat. Getting a job, saving money, investing money, and applying for scholarships are key ways U-M students can expect to beat Michigan’s beseiged economic state. MR

FINANCES Continued from FRONT PAGE

So how are students dealing with being broke or in debt? What actions can students take now to prevent a lifetime of financial distress?

When students come to U-M, one of the easiest ways to find some cash is to get a job on campus. Some students are worried about a time conflict between academics and working, but with a job that only requires 10-15 hours a week, academics and work are easily manageable. On the student employment website, www.studentemployment.umich.edu, there are new job listings everyday. Usually, students can earn anywhere from $8-15 per hour for these jobs.

For students that do not want the obligation of working during the year, working during the summer provides a great opportunity to earn some cash.

Sophomore Laura Khadra says, “I worked at Bordine Nursery during the summer to save money for costs during the school year.” This year, many more students like Khadra are taking the initiative to pay for schoolrelated costs.

Rather than pay for tuition with a part-time job, one U-M sophomore used his savvy investment strategies to deal with a failing economy. With his own money, he made wise private investment decisions in stocks.

The stocks paid off, even in a struggling economy. He was able to pay for half of his tuition this year with his investment gains. If you are a student with extra funds, why not invest them to pay for next year’s tuition?

Websites like www.sharebuilder.com make online investing affordable and easy. For those without experience in investing, it is helpful as well to consult some-

News & Continuations

With the election less than two months away, Michigan has emerged as a key battleground state for Democrats eager to expand their majority in the House of Representatives. All fifteen seats in Michigan’s delegation are up for reelection, but the seventh and ninth districts in particular have emerged as the most competitive and most watched according to political analysts.

The seventh district, which includes cities such as Adrian, Hillsdale, and Albion in Southern Michigan, is conservative-leaning and is currently represented by freshman Republican Tim Walberg, who barely won the seat in 2006 against Sharon Reiner, an unknown Democrat with substantially less fundraising than Walberg. Walberg, a fiscal conservative who has put tax cuts and a reduction pork-barrel spending at the forefront of his image, received substantial help in his 2006 primary against Joe Schwarz from the Club for Growth, an influential and well-funded political action committee that supports fiscal conservatives in the House and Senate.

This time, Walberg might not be as lucky. His op-

ponent, Mark Schauer, currently serves as the Democratic Senate Majority Leader in the Michigan Senate, and has proved to be a formidable challenger to Walberg. According to the latest numbers from the Federal Election Commission, Schauer has out-fundraised Walberg, a marked change from a few months ago. Schauer has seized on the message of “change,” closely linking Walberg’s voting record to that of President Bush. “It’s Time to Fix the Walberg/Bush Economy,” states a banner on Schauer’s campaign website, which outlines his plans for health care, the economy, energy, and the War in Iraq. For his part, Walberg’s campaign has focused on increasing offshore drilling, extending the Bush tax cuts, and national security.

The Cook Political Report, a non-partisan organization that analyzes Congressional races, identifies the seventh district as a Republican “toss up.” Democrats certainly agree. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), headed up by Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) has more than $50 million to spend in 2008, and has identified Walberg as a top target of its “Red to Blue” campaign, which aims to boot Republican incumbents. Independent votes will play a crucial part in the seventh district.

BY JONATHAN SLEMROD ‘10

08.14.2008 4.1.08

Construction on Campus Is There a Method to the Madness?

News

PAGE 6

PHOTO JOSEPH XU / MR STAFF

BY JANE COASTON ‘09

The campus of the University is experiencing remarkable change. Utility tunnels are being replaced near the Natural Science Building, North Quad is under construction at the corner of Huron and State Street, and the renovation of the Alumni Art Museum is reaching its final phases. According to a list compiled by the Ann Arbor Business Review, 23 projects have been launched since 2003. These projects range in cost from the renovation and development of the Milpon Baseball and Softball complex, with a cost of $5.5 million, to the replacement of the C.S. Motts Children’s and Women’s Hospital, with a cost of $523 million. Though the rate of construction has remained stable since the late 1980s, the type of construction has changed, as larger and more expensive projects are being suggested and approved. The State of Michigan generally funds up to

An Update on Justin Zatkoff Justin Zatkoff, who faced recent controversy as a result of a Michigan Review piece published on April 1st which drew attention to unorthodox voting tactics at the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference, a threatened lawsuit against the University of Michigan chapter of the College Republicans, and the ultimate departure of several university chapters from the Michigan Federation of College Republicans, has been selected as regional field director of the Michigan Victory Center by the Republican National Committee.

Zatkoff, a long-time McCain supporter prior to his nomination as the Republican candidate for the Presidency, will be working with Ann Arbor and Washtenaw-county Republicans in an effort to challenge the Democratic hegemony in the area. He will also be working to help elect other Republicans to notable seats, including the 52nd district in Saline and the Michigan Supreme Court. Many of those supported, including Eric Lielbriedis of Saline, are strong fiscal conservatives running on a platform of low taxes and greater freedoms for small business owners.

The position is paid for by the Republican National Committee as part of its efforts to battle Barack Obama and the Democratic Party in Michigan. Zatkoff, a former leader within the Michigan Federation of College Republicans, is not a member of the University Chapter of College Republicans. According to Brady Smith, Chair of the College Republicans, Justin Zatkoff no longer fulfills membership requirements as he is no longer a student in the University. The position Zatkoff now holds is in no way associated with any organization at the University. MR

two-thirds of the cost of most construction projects after the University submits a five-year plan and a formal request for perusal.

Though these changes may seem varied and unrelated, the new construction is representative of the vision that the University first articulated during the massive increase in enrollment that occurred as a result of the GI Bill after the Second World War. According to the 1987 study of Central Campus commissioned by the University and performed by the firm of Johnson, Johnson, and Roy, the campus is meant to be an “interrelated urban precinct, which is still tied to the surrounding commercial and residential areas.” The main elements of this concept originated in the first commissioned study of the University of Michigan campus, completed in 1963. In that study, the elements of walking distance and what is “central” to the campus itself were first introduced.

Unlike other universities, Michigan was intended to have a series of “centers” linked to one another.

The Diag connects to the area in front of the Rackham Graduate School, which connects to the Life Science Institute, which connects to the dorms on the Hill and to the Medical Campus. North Campus has its own Diag, with buildings and facilities operating from that center and busses shuttling students from Central to North.

Every building is intended to be a five-minute walk from its designated “center”. Future growth hinged on the ability of planners to make “zones of influence” that “could be smaller, more intimate, more personal...

They would be more fitting environments for living and learning.” This is why construction, particularly on Central Campus, occurs within already developed regions. Buildings are renovated and redeveloped, rather than new construction being planned for areas outside of the “center” of campus. Even the design of campus foliage was discussed in the 1963 study: “Similar to campus walkways, campus foliage also is one of the common denominators which helps to pull a many faceted campus together into a singular image…Without sacrificing beauty, however, the planting program could become a simpler, stronger, unifying fabric for Central Campus.”

Campus walkways are at the center of the development of the campus. This concept was highlighted in the 1963 study: “If exploited, this walkway system could become a major stroke of order, beauty, and vitality for the University’s academic environment. Such an observation excites the imagination when considering how these natural movements of students and faculty could occur along avenues of varied functions: such as meandering through an exhibit structure, ducking into a library, past a classroom building, moving toward a theatre/auditorium ahead with the opportunity of cashing a check at the local bank. The walkway could become the dominant force in architectural concepts of Central Campus form.”

The major construction projects currently underway on campus have completion dates ranging from this winter to 2010. Further projects, such as a new health education building with an expected cost of $122 million, will keep campus under construction for the foreseeable future. MR

I Want to Go Back to Michigan to Dear Ann Arbor Town...

BY ALYSE HUDSON ‘11

Ann Arbor is a thriving little metropolis, the perfect setting for a large university. It has the ability to blend history, culture, and modernity. However, it is not just the perfect college town; for many, it is the perfect retirement location.

Recently, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), a nonprofit organization serving the over fifty crowd, published its bimonthly magazine headlining “America’s Healthiest Hometowns.” Ann Arbor received the title of Healthiest Hometown in America, beating out Honolulu, Hawaii and Madison, Wisconsin, which took second and third places, respectively.

AARP used 20 key criteria to whittle down the 324 metropolitan areas it researched to only 20 contenders.

The characteristics included: average life expectancy of residence, percentage of the population who receives regular check ups, percentage who say they get enough emotional support, fast-food outlets per capita, and hospital beds per capita, among other criteria.

Then AARP proceeded to look at housing prices, average sunny days, and features unique to each city in order to make their final selections.

As the Healthiest Hometown, the article declared Ann Arbor as the most active and invigorating place to retire and live a long life, highlighting the golf course, Nichols Arboretum, and, most importantly, the renowned hospital.

Is Ann Arbor really a great place to settle down?

Art thrives in Ann Arbor. Galleries and niche stores envelop Main Street, along with upscale dining, and any type of ethnic cuisine can be found within Ann Arbor’s city limits for affordable prices. There are live musical performances and literary readings everyday

of the week at various locations. Plain and simple, Ann Arbor is a bustling little city.

Ann Arbor residents, Ron and Kathy Zernicke, who moved to Ann Arbor only eleven months ago, agreed with AARP. “We love walking in the Arb and in Gallup Park. We love the Summer Fest, theaters, and music. Ann Arbor is a fun, healthy place to be. It is nice having quality healthcare around the corner.”

Then again, is Ann Arbor too active? Do retirees really want to be neighbors with 25,000 undergraduates?

According to the 2000 Census, almost 16,000 residents ages 55 and older do.

From September to April, college students plague the streets, making it difficult to drive for seniors. The expression “the pedestrian has the right of way” is severely abused in the mass rush to avoid being that obnoxiously disruptive, perpetually late student.

We are the employees of the service industries around town. However, come midterms, we do not really care if your water glass is full.

While the retirees are trying to sleep at a perfectly reasonable hour, like midnight, we flood the streets with blaring drunken debauchery. Once while at the corner of Washtenaw and South University late on a Friday night, I witnessed an older couple walking hand-in-hand, watching our foolish festivities. I could not help but wonder what they must be thinking. Do they scoff at our antics? Do they mourn the loss of their youth? Do they reminisce?

In a way, are they trying to live vicariously? The invigorating atmosphere on Game Day is palpable.

You cannot walk down State Street or Hoover withRETIRED Continued on PAGE 11

08.14.2008

Obama Courts Michigan Dems McCain Rallies Republican Base

BY CHERRI BUIJK ‘11

VP Pick Palin a Crowd Favorite

Politics

Republican presidential nominee John McCain has campaigned heavily in Michigan, appearing more than forty times since 2007 for primarily town hall style meetings.

His Democratic contender Barack Obama has taken a different approach in Michigan. Since May of this year, he’s made several appearances out of a total of 14, putting him in at just over one-third of the time than McCain has devoted to campaigning in Michigan.

Two of those events – a September rally and a June speech/ fundraiser in Detroit – attracted significant attendance and attention.

LSA junior Rohen Shah attended the Detroit speech held at Joe Louis Arena, where former Vice President Al Gore and Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm made introductory remarks. Gore stressed Obama’s candidacy as a potentially positive turn for the environment; Granholm stressed an Obama administration’s focus on revitalizing an economy now struggling especially in the automotive sector, and in the future putting a priority on developing green and fuel efficient technologies.

Beyond endorsements from major political figures, the make-up of the crowd itself struck Shah.

“I had heard the word ‘grassroots’ throughout the campaign, but when I heard it come out of Obama’s mouth for the first time, I took a moment to look around me and I saw all of the different kinds of people around me, people from every race, every social class, both genders, all sexual orientations. I realized that the people around me in the rally were the people who traditionally haven’t had the power, the people at the bottom of our political hierarchy,” he said.

Kym Lovell, an LSA senior, made similar observations of an Obama event she attended in Grand Rapids. “[I,] a 21-year-old white girl

from Midland, and a 60-year-old African American woman from Detroit, [were] side by side, witnessing history, speechless,” Lovell said. “She told me that she never thought she’d see this day come,” she added.

The May Grand Rapids event packed a local arena to its 12,000person capacity, forcing about a thousand to experience the event from outside, according to a Grand Rapids Press correspondent.

Shah felt lucky to have been only five feet away from Obama and Gore at the Detroit rally. That was no easy position to have in a 20,000-seat Joe Louis Arena filled with Obama supporters, two of which were Muslim women who were asked by Obama volunteers to move out of camera view.

“We all are rational and know that it wasn’t Obama that ordered it, and I was just frustrated to think that there are such shallow minded people that are helping run the campaign,” Shah explained, referring to the Obama campaign’s apology issued directly following the incident.

College Democrats Chair Nathaniel Styer was in attendance at Obama’s town hall meeting in Troy, working as a volunteer. An unemployed auto worker introduced Obama, who focused his discussion heavily on economic issues, his plans to bring a new kind of economic base to Michigan through green jobs, and the need for renewable energy. The talk was followed by an open Q&A session.

“The first question came from a guy who stood up and said he couldn’t pay for gas because of the high prices,” said Styer. “Obama said that drilling is not the quick-fix solution we need, that there is no quick-fix, but we need a long-term solution,” he added.

Everything, Styer found, was run very smoothly from a campaign standpoint. He added, “People were lining up as early as 8 am – it was really great to see that.” MR

PAGE 7

PHOTO DANE HILLARD / MR STAFF

BY NATHAN STANO ‘11

Blaring music and cheering, adoring crowds have not been the hallmark of Republican events in the recent past, but that was just how Republican Presidential nominee John McCain was greeted at Freedom Hill Amphitheater in Sterling Heights on September 5.

McCain was joined by his then recently appointed pick for Vice President, Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin. Palin herself generated great excitement in the crowd, making it difficult for her to begin her introduction of the Arizona senator. When she did begin, she immediately appealed to the crowd by portraying herself as one of them, mentioning her own small town roots and less than simple life.

The Governor then turned to the task of introducing the man at the top of the Republican ticket. “John McCain has served this country in good times and bad,” she began.

Speaking of his credentials, specifically to be the Commander-in-Chief, the Governor criticized those who doubted Senator McCain’s qualified position on the War in Iraq. “They forgot the caliber of the man himself…the sheer guts of John McCain,” she said of those who had thought that the troop surge spearheaded by Senator McCain would fail. She also reminded the crowd that even Senator Obama’s position on the troop surge has gone from one of pure condescension to a realization of politically unpalatable success. “[John McCain is] a true profile in courage.”

She framed the choice between the candidates in the vapid term that has become the buzzword for this election: change. “[S]ome candidates use change to promote their careers, some use their careers to promote change,” she stated, in a line borrowed from her convention speech.

Moving on, the Governor tried to portray herself as a fellow maverick. “[A McCain-Palin administration would be] a threat to business as usual in Washington,” she promised, going on to remind the crowd of the ongoing reform efforts she has spearheaded in Alaska, ranging from her ethics reform to her cutbacks in the perks of the governorship.

She promised that McCain would veto any and all bills containing pork barrel earmarks. When it came time for the Senator to finally speak, she introduced him as “the only great man in this race.”

McCain came out swinging, and made a confident promise to the audience. “Let there be no doubt my friends, we will win this election,” he said, causing an eruption of cheers from the crowd that made it difficult for the Senator to continue. “Change is coming to Washington,” he assured.

“I was not elected Miss Congeniality in the US Senate,” McCain stated, an injection of humor that was well received by the crowd, but he made it quite clear that this was because his true interests coincide with the electorate. “I fought the big spenders in both parties,” he explained, and he vowed to veto any earmarks that came across his desk. McCain also vowed to fight corporate welfare, keep taxes low, cut spending, therefore creating more jobs across the country.

As for his well-known, “leave no option untried” energy plan, McCain made the same bold pledge as his Democratic rival: energy independence in the next ten years. He stressed that energy independence was a national security issue, and that America cannot afford to maintain its energy relationship with the Middle East.

On healthcare, he stressed that Senator Obama’s plan would greatly expand government control, and that a McCain plan would rely on market freedom to improve care and reduce cost.

McCain closed by saying, “I believe I can motivate a generation to serve a cause greater than their own self interest.” He went on to say, “I need to win the state of Michigan…[w]e need your support.” MR

PAGE 8

08.14.2008

Campus

Students on Campus Improve the Community

PHOTO JOSEPH XU / MR STAFF

University of Michigan Dance Marathon (UMDM) participants plan and discuss their charity event. UMDM is one of the largest student-run non-profit organizations on campus, and it aims to raise monetary support and awareness for the needs of pediatric rehabilitations programs.

For more information, visit their official website at http://www.umdm.org.

BY SHANDA SHOOTER ‘10

THE STUDENTS AND faculty at the University of Michigan have a long history of giving back to the community through service and volunteering. Students have greatly improved the communities around them through a surprising number of ways.

Many students interested in volunteering contact the Ginsberg Center on campus for help finding community service opportunities. Their website claims 1,900 students participate in one of their programs every year. The website also contains links to an astonishing number of organizations that are in need of volunteers.

One of the major programs the Ginsberg Center fa-

cilitates every year is Alternative Spring Break. It gives students the opportunity to travel to different cities across the nation where they can gain work experience through volunteering with a public service organization. Students go during the week of spring break, and their travel and lodging costs are paid for by the program.

Like many students who chose to get involved, LSA senior Margaret Yancey simply felt the need to help out. She first became involved in community service through her church in high school. Yancey is now the President of Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fraternity that facilitates volunteer opportunities for members based on their personal interests.

Alpha Phi Omega organizes the University’s an-

nual Blood Battles through the American Red Cross.

Yancey explained that throughout the year the blood drives they organize help to provide 13% of Washtenaw County’s blood supply.

Yancey also volunteers her time at the Student Book Exchange, which helps make textbooks more affordable for University students each semester. She says it’s one of her favorite events to volunteer for because it directly helps students right here on campus.

The service efforts of University of Michigan students often go beyond campus as well. LSA senior and veteran of the United States Air Force Derek Blumke is the founder and President of Student Veterans of America. Blumke founded the University of Michigan chapter in 2007 and helped the organization go nationwide this past year.

Blumke says he started the organization in response to the number of barriers and difficulties that face veterans on campus. There are 60 to 70 veterans who are currently students at the University. Because of his efforts, student veterans across America now have access to networking and different programs to help ease the adjustment from life in the military to life at college.

In addition to services provided through volunteering time and resources, student organizations can also be instrumental in changing political policy.

Blumke and the Student Veterans of America have been lobbying Congress for improvements to the G.I. Bill. The President signed a new 21st Century G.I. Bill in June, providing for full tuition and fees (not to exceed the most expensive in-state school), updated housing allowances, and $1000 yearly stipend for books and equipment. Since education is another key aspect to reentry for veterans, Blumke’s organization finds it critical that it is available to all those interested that have served our country.

Community service is not only a great way to better the lives of others, it also helps prepare students with real world experience. Through volunteering, students may gain valuable connections and references that will help them with job placement after graduation.

With the many different opportunities available for volunteering, it seems as though there is something for every interest and goal. When needs or interests are not being met, University of Michigan students are often among the first people to step up and create the resources necessary to make the positive difference they want to see in the world. MR

How Much is Education Worth?

HOW IS IT possible that we are one of the top universities in the country, and yet it feels that one cannot walk into a classroom without the professor or GSI complaining about thier “teacher’s salary?”

Salaries are a rather contentious issue. They are also a fertile discussion and gossip topic. Who is making how much? How much more are they making than someone else?

Which tax bracket are they in? The salaries of University of Michigan employees (including administrators, professors, lecturers, etc.) in particular are worthy of examination, especially with a seemingly perpetual state budget crisis.

According to the most recent University of Michigan news release, published in December 2007, the highest paid employees of the University are, in descending order:

$ ’ T E L !

E U L B GO

BY EVGENY MAGIDENKO ‘09

• Dr. Robert P. Kelch, the Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and Professor of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, Medical School, at $663,479 N EUN TRATIO ILLUS

MR LEE /

STAFF

• Mary Sue Coleman Ph.D., the President of the Univer-

sity, Professor of Biological Chem-

istry, Medical School and Professor of Chemistry, College of Literature, Science and the Arts, at $531,996 • Dr. Douglas L. Strong, the Director and Chief Executive Officer, University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers, and Adjunct Associate Professor of Health Management, School of Public Health, at $530,450 • Dr. James O. Woolliscroft, the Dean, Lyle C. Roll Pro-

fessor of Medicine, Professor of Internal Medicine and Professor of Medical Evaluation, Medical School, at $480,000 • Timothy P. Slottow, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, at $454,385 The list goes on. The press release lists 32 of the University’s highest-paid employees, with the latter part of the list including several professors from the Ross School of Business who each earn around $300,000. At first glance, few would dispute that these salaries appear rather sizable. However, one should not fall into the trap of bemoaning EDUCATION Continued on PAGE 10

PAGE 9

08.14.2008

Football Saturdays without Football

BY JANE COASTON ‘09

PHOTO CHRISTINE HWANG / MR STAFF

BY CHRISTINE HWANG ‘10

THURSDAY NIGHT’S PERFORMANCE of Complicite’s A Disappearing Number not only had the Power Center filled with its usual Ralph-Williams-and-humanities-students audience, but also a noticeable number of students and professors from math and science fields. As a haven for diverse intellectual pursuits, Ann Arbor, the only place A Disappearing Number is being performed in the United States, provides the ideal audience for a performance that combined artistic elements, superior acting, creative technologies, and complicated mathematics.

When asked why he attended the event, Kyle Ornsby, a third-year graduate student in mathematics said, “A friend gave me an excellent review…and I happen to know the subject matter.”

A Disappearing Number, based loosely on G.H. Hardy’s The Mathematician’s Apology, tells the story of the collaboration between G.H. Hardy, a renowned British mathematician, and Srinivasa Ramanujan, a young Indian genius who lacked any formal education. Its use of technology, lights, projected screens, and echoing sounds enabled the theatrical performance to simultaneously tell the parallel, un-chronological story of a modern-day mathematician and her businessman husband, Al Cooper. Cooper is a character with whom the majority of the audience can easily identify: he is someone trying to figure out why the other characters, and mathematicians in general, spend their lives grueling over mathematical beauty.

A lack of a mathematical background, however, did not prevent anyone from enjoying the performance, unless mathematics was somehow the cause of the tears, laughter, and a standing ovation from the audience. LSA senior Lara Vanderheiden, an English major privileged to be among the first to view the play in England, explained in her speech at Arts & Eats before the production that the final production is “revolutionary because it appeals to audiences who are nowadays used to the cinema.”

Mathematics, after all, “is everything,” claimed one actor as clips of everyday life were played on stage.

The play used the mathematical concept of infinity, tied in with continuity, to explain how everything is interconnected, with “no gaps in between.” A narration at the beginning of the performance asked the audience to think of a number n, multiply the result by 2, add 14 to that result, divide the whole thing by 2, and then subtract the number n from it.

“Now we are all imagining the number seven,” the narrator told the audience, demonstrating how mathematics, art, and most importantly imagination, can make the audience all ponder over the same thing.

More encompassing is the idea that unchangeable, infinite mathematics can be used as a way for all of us to understand a simple idea.

Interconnectedness was also illustrated by weaving in elements of Indian culture. Al Cooper, the businessman married to the mathematician in the story, has a personal connection to India because his parents NUMBERS Continued on PAGE 11

Arts & Culture

A Disappearing Number...

It’s a rebuilding season, so every football game is more painful than watching Michael Phelps host Saturday Night Live.

So what else could you do on a Saturday afternoon? Here are a few options to fill up your day and make life a little easier: 1.) Drink: It’s fun, it’s easy, and you’d be doing it anyway. Because you won’t be watching the game, you don’t even have to drink bad beer. Use this time to drink all those mixed drinks you’ve always wanted to try. Go ahead; see if you can make a rum and coke with 151 that doesn’t make your roommates throw up. Freeze an ice luge.

Mix up a giant margarita and by nightfall, you won’t even remember there was a game anyway. (Ed.: I recommend a diet Coke and Jack Daniels. Goes down easy, goes down smooth).

2.) Study: Well, you could. I mean, that would be a nice idea. Or, you could just say that’s what you’ll be doing. Add in lots of sighs and mope about how much reading you have. Whining about how much work you have is the only real fun part of studying anyway.

3.) Sleep: My personal favorite. If you partied a little hard on Friday, nothing will cure your ills like 12 hours of solid shuteye. Admit it, you love spending all day in giant sweatshirts and soccer shorts taking periodic naps on the couch while watching old episodes of Law and Order. Wake up around 5PM, get a burrito, and then start pre-gaming.

4.) Get out of Town: You don’t have to go far; a quick day trip to Detroit to check out the museums or see a live show is a great way to take a break. And the further away you go, the less likely it is that anyone will put the words “Stevie” and “Brown” together in one sentence or complain about Morgan Trent.

5.) Watch Bad TV: Those VH1 marathons of I Love Money? Watching Ninja Warrior on G4 and wondering if you could climb a 30 foot tower in half a minute? (Answer: Absolutely not.) Pure entertainment, with no need for conscious thought.

6.) YouTube: It’s there, it’s hilarious, and you can watch old Michigan-Michigan State games and long for the days of Chad Henne (and no, I never thought I’d say that either. Excuse me as I stick pencils in my eardrums).

7.) All-Day House Party: You know how you start drinking before football games at 6AM? What if you just didn’t stop? Yeah, you might wind up passed out on your own front lawn by 4PM, but hey, that’s why there’s Sunday.

8.) Watch the Game: Every time an announcer says “Rich Rodriguez,” mentions YouTube when discussing Sam McGuffie, or notes how much Michigan football has changed since January, drink. You won’t make it to the second quarter, but is that really that bad?

As you can see, you have a lot of options for your Saturday entertainment. Good luck! MR

Hot, Flat, and Crowded Nudge: A Book Review

IMAGE HTTP://WWW.AMAZON.COM

BY MEGAN LYTLE ‘11

BY ADAM PASCARELLA ‘10

IN HOT, FLAT, and Crowded, Thomas Friedman discusses the threats – and opportunities – posed to America in the near future. He argues that America has the potential to lead the world in what he terms a “Green Revolution” – that such a revolution is not only necessary, but would be politically and economically advantageous for America as a world power.

The title Hot, Flat, and Crowded refers to three trends he sees coming together in the near future. First of all, he argues that climate change is a serious and immediate threat that must be addressed immediately. Secondly, he points out that increased globalization has leveled the economic playing field – a topic he

WITH LESS THAN two months before the 2008 Presidential election, the Obama and McCain campaigns are undoubtedly heating the campaign rhetoric. Both sides agree on something, however. The campaigns, along with almost every American, believe that some form of change is required from the Bush administration’s policies. The question is how to accomplish the change. Republicans vehemently assert that a vote for Obama pushes America closer to socialism; Democrats, on the other hand, claim that conservatism and free markets have failed and that the government needs to take a more active role in improving the welfare of all Americans.

However, what if there was a

HOT Continued on PAGE 11

NUDGE Continued from PAGE 9 IMAGE HTTP://WWW.IMAGES.GOOGLE.COM

NUDGE Continued on PAGE 11

PAGE 10

08.14.2008

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THE MICHIGAN REVIEW is looking for interested students with background in InDesign or who are willing to learn the program to become a graphic designs / layout staff member.

For more information, please contact Eun Lee at mrev@umich.edu.

EDUCATION Continued from PAGE 8

the fact that certain people have a higher salary than one might expect.

Some numbers to consider: According to the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), the average salary of a full professor is $103,521; of an associate professor - $73,275; of an assistant professor - $61,359; instructors and lecturers earn, on average, $44,382 and $50,215, respectively. And there is a wide gap between the professors from public versus private institutions, with those from private universities earning as much as $30,000 or more, on average, than their public university counterparts.

According to the AAUP, average faculty salaries have risen by 3.8 percent this year, compared to an inflation rate of 4.1 percent.

With that, average faculty salaries have actually declined.

Interestingly, the University of Michigan is ranked fourth in the nation among public research universities for full professors’ compensation, averaging a $137,000 salary. The University of Maryland at Baltimore, the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill all offer their professors higher salaries. Private universities’ salaries are quite a bit higher.

The University of Michigan does not make it into the top-10 lists of either associate or assistant professors’ salaries.

The University of Michigan’s professors do make more money than the average ($137,000 versus $103,521). However, when one considers the competitive hiring process at our University, the quality of education that one can obtain here, and the name recognition, then it’s entirely arguable that these salaries are reasonable numbers.

Going back to the University’s top earners listed above, it is easy to immediately focus on their salaries. How to measure work is a subjective and pretty fruitless argument most of the time. It would just be easier to swallow the teachers’ complaints if they weren’t making more than most of our parents. MR

08.14.2008 4.1.08

PAGE 11 P. 11

RETIRED Continued from PAGE 6

out glowing maize and blue.

Ron and Kathy Zernicke enjoy football and hockey games because of the excitement and enthusiasm.

“You can’t help it when you’re surrounded by over 110,000 fans. The students are not jaded. The energy at the University was a draw for us. There is a definite difference between summer and fall.” MR NUMBER Continued from PAGE 9

HOT Continued from PAGE 9

explored in his last book, The World is Flat. Finally, he warns that a global population boom – especially in the world’s middle class – will further strain the limited resources we have, so we need to use them wisely and effectively so that more people can have a high standard of living. If nothing is done about the energy crisis, these trends will converge to create an economic and environmental disaster.

Friedman tackles the misconception that environmentalism means economic stagnation; in fact, he argues the opposite. Should America pioneer the transition to new energy technologies, the economic rewards will be substantial. If not, he argues, we will fall behind, because eventually someone is going to have to do it. He details the failed attempt to found a solar energy company in the United States, and the company’s consequent move to Germany. Friedman also cites the mixed successes that green movements have had in China: one of the richest men in the nation is a solar power entrepreneur, while China’s major cities are known for their pollution problems.

Furthermore, he observes that higher oil prices often coincide with less democracy worldwide (as measured by the Freedom House index). He cites Bahrain’s move to democracy after their oil supply was depleted and Russia’s slide into dictatorship as oil prices rose.

Oil dependence means funding and thus perpetuating dictatorships such as Saudi Arabia and extremist Islamic groups: oil buyers are forced into a position of negotiation lest oil supply be cut off. He goes on to criticize the Bush administration’s failure to raise fuelefficiency standards, guaranteeing unchecked oil use and cash flow to powers that support terrorists.

In many ways, Friedman effectively demonstrates the intersections between environmental, political, and economic factors in necessitating a “green revolution,” but there are also considerable flaws. Some of his scientific sources are poorly cited – or not cited at all. More thorough citation of his sources would have made his arguments a lot more convincing, particularly to those who do not believe that climate change is a threat. As it stands, the doubtful reader has an easy time dismissing his arguments concerning the urgency of immediate action because he gives little concrete scientific proof.

Despite this, and his constant use of tiresome catch-

phrases like “Code Green” and “the year 1 ECE (Energy-Climate Era)”, Friedman has a lot to say not just about the doom that awaits us lest we stick to fossil fuels, but also the opportunity that this new worldwide demand for sustainable fuels presents Americans. His approach is mostly rational, and he addresses many aspects of a complex, multifaceted problem. Contends Friedman, “It’s not about the whales anymore. It’s about us.” MR way to combine free market principles and governmental intervention in order to solve our nation’s most pressing problems?

Two professors at the University of Chicago surely think so. Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein, authors of a book entitled Nudge, emphasize how average Americans can be “nudged” into making improved decisions about their welfare and happiness through a process called libertarian paternalism. Choice architects, whom Thaler and Cass describe as people that “organize the context in which people make decisions,” try to influence one’s well-being by recommending certain policies that are likely to be favorable to him. Choice architects, however, leave open all other choices to the individual in order to give him the ultimate freedom of choice.

Thaler and Sunstein’s new theory has received much attention and praise from some politicians throughout the world. David Cameron, the Conservative Party leader in the United Kingdom, is beginning to develop a complex strategy to stop knife crime by “nudging” young Britons in a way to make it socially unacceptable to carry knives throughout the country.

Barack Obama has also met with the authors to discuss his plan to nudge Americans into creating sound retirement plans by automatically enrolling workers in their employers’ pension systems.

Throughout the book, the authors discuss possible nudges that could help solve some of the nation’s most pressing problems. After explaining some of the fas-

cinating aspects of human behavior when confronted with a major decision (the status quo bias and framing strategies are particularly significant), the professors propose solutions to school choice, global warming, and Social Security, among other topics.

The main question that emerges from Nudge, however, is not only its feasibility, but whether Americans should be encouraged to act in a certain way by choice architects. The authors correctly point out that by just maximizing choices in a given situation, Americans, especially seniors, can become confused at the numerous options available to them (Thaler and Susntein make a strong argument when discussing the baffling array of options given to seniors as part of the Medicare prescription drug program). On the other hand, though, if the government is the choice architect, why should it be given the power to determine what is best for the populace? There is obviously never a one-size-fits-all formula to problems in public policy. According to famed economist Friedrich Hayek, when the government chooses what is “best” for the populace, it can only lead to one thing: the eventual rise of socialism.

Refreshing in its originality, Nudge causes the reader to see the world in a different way in a manner similar to Steven Levitt’s Freakonomics. Especially with consistent partisan bickering in Washington, it is inspiring to see a theory that has the potential to unite conservatives and liberals across the country. It could possibly be a welcome change for both parties. MR

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moved from India to the United States before he was born. The lineage of the characters in the play that are linked to India demonstrate how each person is connected to places in the past, even before they were born.

Al Cooper gains the audience’s sympathy because they are able to identify with him.

Because of this, the audience accompanies him on his journey into understanding the main ideas behind the story. Perhaps the most unifying moment in the story is towards the end when Cooper says, “Now I understand,” because he finally recognizes the ideas of continuity and interconnectedness. It is as if at this moment in the play, the writers are telling the audience that they have been engaged in this journey long enough that they should be thinking, “Now I understand too.” MR

Sarah Palin

08.14.2008 4.1.08

The Female Card: Balancing a Full House with the White House

BY JULIANNE NOWICKI ‘11 & LINDSEY DODGE ‘10

Sarah Palin came out swinging with her first national speech at the Republican National Convention.

Sarah Palin is “a pig in lipstick.” Palin is a mother first.

Palin is a politician first. From all the media hullaboo in defining what Palin is, it would seem that the most accurate description would be: Sarah Palin is a woman.

What is it about women in power that defies, or seeks out, a definition? One hates to generalize, but let’s, let’s. People would not care half as much about Palin as a vice president if she weren’t a woman. And the people who seem to care the most are women themselves.

Just as Obama has garnered appeal as the first possible African-American president, so too Palin has captured the imagination of female voters, who to be fair, make up 50% of the population, yet have never had a leader of the same gender. While liberal media outlets may characterize new Palin voters as either testosterone-ridden men or Bible-beating women, the reality is that all kinds of voters are fleeing from a Democratic vote to a McCain-Palin ticket. Take the disappointed Hillary voters for example - they’ll vote for Palin despite differing views.

While Palin maintains a conservative stance on social issues, she embodies the assertive woman longlauded by feminists. The blogosphere is ridden with comments like,” I don’t care that Palin’s views on abortion are different than mine… The pundits are telling us that angry would-be Hillary voters won’t vote for Palin. The pundits are wrong. They will vote for Palin…” from one popular feminist blog. Other disgruntled Hillary voters reside at “The National Association of Ex-Hillary Clinton Supporters for John McCain, www.hcsfjm.com, www.hillarysupportersformccain. blogspot.com, and www.hillaryvotersformccain.com.

In a new McCain ad, a former female Hillary supporter named “Debra” is shown endorsing the McCain-Palin ticket.

Palin has underlined this common ground in her first speech, stating, “it was rightly noted in Denver this week that Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America. But it turns out

the women of America aren’t finished yet, and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all.”

For women voters, it is an exciting moment. There is, for the very first time, an opportunity for a strong female leader who has stood up to corrupt male-dominated industries.

In addition, here is a woman trying to balance home and work, and it seems liberal feminists, including the lackluster writers of SNL, can’t handle that she didn’t just choose the latter.

As Governor of Alaska, Palin led one of the most powerful offices in the United States. Thad Beyle, a political scientist at the University of North Carolina, keeps an index of “institutional powers” in state offices. He specifically rates governorships on length of service, budgetary and appointment authority, veto power, and more factors. In 2008, Mr. Beyle rated Alaska a 4.1 out of 5. Only one state, Massachusetts, concentrates more power in the office of Governor than Alaska. As shown by these ratings, Sarah Palin knows a thing or two about executive leadership.

On the home side of the spectrum, microscopic attention has been paid to her role as mother. While Sarah Palin will continue to be popular in the gossip magazines, it is important for voters to remember why she should

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garner media attention. Not because she’s a mother of five or because she has a pregnant teenage daughter.

The only really sure thing we can take from her son Trig’s birth is that despite ones’ political perception of Palin, she is not a hypocrite about her pro-life stance.

It’s an interesting psychological test for some people whether they can reconcile a woman effectively performing the duties of mother as well as vice president. It appears a lot of women, including those former Hilary supporters, have faith that it can be done.

On the other hand, we cannot overrate her gender.

A woman in the Oval Office, in case of McCain’s untimely demise or resignation, would demonstrate the progress of women in the United States in a profoundly powerful way. Yet this is not enough in regards to voting for her. It’s tempting, but insufficient, to vote based on race or gender. As South Park puts it, “Jesse Jackson is not the President of black people,” and neither would Sarah Palin address all issues affecting all women. Simply put, the president is the people’s representative, and many people feel that it would be a refreshing change to have an option that represents the other 50% of the population. It’s not necessary, otherwise women would never feel moved by a candidate, but it is an exciting prospect. MR

ILLUSTRATIO N EUN LEE / MR

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