No room for weakness in anti-war resolution
I found Tuesday’s forum on the impending war in Iraq and the University’s role during wartime informative and interesting. I was impressed by the eloquence and knowledge of the speakers. However, the issue of a possible Faculty Senate resolution regarding the war requires clarification.
In response to a question regarding the possibility of the senate enacting an anti-war resolution, University President Dave Frohnmayer stated that he did not believe it is within the senate’s purview to issue a resolution not directly relating to the University and its educational mission. That seems like a reasonable explanation to me.
However, one thing the senate president said concerned me. In response to a question about why OSU’s faculty senate passed a resolution opposing the war and ours did not, he stated, in part, that we need to be “cognizant” of the “budget realities” of the state legislature and aware of the “political ramifications” such a resolution would cause. I took that to mean he was afraid an anti-war resolution would have negative political consequences for the University in the Republican-controlled legislature.
If the Faculty Senate truly felt motivated by a consciousness of role, that’s one thing. But if it failed to act because they feared recourse from the legislature, it smacks of cowardice. This war debate is too important for weakness of will. OSU’s faculty senate had the courage to condemn the Bush administration’s march toward war. Why doesn’t ours?
Chuck Slothower
sophomore
pre-journalism, political science
Meeting allows discussion of Iraq issues
At the request of the University Senate, University President Dave Frohnmayer has called a University Assembly meeting for Friday at 3 p.m. in 180 PLC. This meeting “may only undertake discussion; it will not have legislative power.” The meeting is open to everyone.
It is an opportunity to speak and be heard. For example, those attending will seek answers to the following questions:
Since the Constitution declares that ratified treaties become the law of the land, would President Bush be in violation of the Constitution if he ordered an invasion of Iraq without either U.N. authorization or convincing evidence of immediate threat to our country?
Do the violations of our Constitution that have been threatened by the present administration represent a danger to free inquiry in universities?
Does the money spent on the military result in a perilous strain on funds available for education? Will invasion of Iraq exacerbate that strain?
According to The Washington Post on Jan. 25, federal authorities have begun enlisting campus police officers in the domestic war on terror. Thus, consequences of rampant militarism are, clearly, of immediate concern to American universities. Will the University community be informed when the Department of Public Safety starts working for the FBI? Will actions taken by officers be openly declared so that they may be examined for compatibility with University regulations and values?
It’s important to attend — it’s an opportunity to influence the University’s stand on the impending invasion!
Franklin W. Stahl
professor
molecular biology
Racial quotas should not be used
I would like to applaud President Bush’s stance against the University of Michigan’s admissions system, which uses racial quotas to determine who will be accepted. It is simply wrong to use race at all as a factor when reviewing an application.
Let me say that as a white American, I am deeply ashamed of the way my country has treated blacks and other minorities in the past. However, we cannot fix the errors of our past by committing new injustices. My belief is that people of all ethnic backgrounds are equal. When a university uses racial quotas, even if for noble purposes, what happens is another instance of racism. Racism should not be tolerated anywhere, especially in our universities. What is happening at Michigan and other places is legalized racism.
If a white applicant is more qualified to attend a certain school than a black applicant, then there is absolutely no reason that the black applicant should be given preference over the white applicant. To do so is racist and unfair; plus, I think that the system is patronizing to African-Americans since they are being held to a different standard than whites.
When applying to college, people should not be judged by their skin color, but rather by their abilities and accomplishment. The University of Michigan needs to realize that by using racial quotas, they are simply perpetuating the racist forces which exist within America.
Zachary White
sophomore
history