Renovation of the MCD is good for city of Detroit
To the Daily:
I completely disagree with the editorial concerning concerning
the Michigan Central Depot (Don’t rush renaissance,
03/09/04). Whether we want to admit it or not, we base a lot of our
judgements on first impressions and physical appearance. Hundreds
of thousands of workers, immigrants and tourists entered Detroit
through the MCD in the early 20th century, during the auto boom in
Detroit. They were greeted with an exceptionally beautiful building
that inspired them and made them happy to have come here. Today the
MCD stands as the biggest symbol of blight in Detroit. I
can’t tell you how sick I am of hearing both out-of-state and
in-state students tell me Detroit is a dirty dangerous place with
nothing going for it. They can’t see past the abandoned
buildings to Comerica Park, Ford Field, the Book-Cadillac
(hopefully), Compuware, the casinos, the new downtown residences,
the Riverfront boardwalk and Campus Martius. By restoring the MCD,
Kilpatrick is helping to save Detroit’s past and one of its
most beautiful and unique buildings. There will be public space for
shops, restaurants and community meeting rooms. The added business
will also help the Corktown and Mexicantown neighborhoods continue
to develop. After years of standing as a depressing reminder of the
city’s problems, the restored MCD will be a beacon to all
that Detroit is alive and well. Don’t rush renaissance?
Detroit has waited long enough, and we deserve this.
Paul Indyk
LSA junior
General studies is too broad to be marketable
To the Daily:
The job-hunting student in a recent story (Frustrated in the
job hunt, 03/08/04) fails to mention a very important point:
Her degree is in general studies. Although the article relays the
concerns and frustrations of recent college graduates in search of
a job, it fails to mention an important point in one of its
examples: A quick check on the University directory will reveal
that the student earned her degree in General Studies. Unless she
studied to be a general (and I know for a fact that the military is
hiring), this degree is not a very effective way to get a job, and
she should understand that this is why she is having trouble
finding a job. Those who have the most right to be frustrated about
not finding jobs are those who have worked hard in more challenging
majors. I don’t think any job offer could, as she said,
“fully utilize her college education” as a general
studies major. I, at least, have not heard of any job openings for
a bio-Shakespearean, modern-dancing, underwater basket weaver. Then
again, I haven’t been looking.
Douglas J. Douma
Engineering senior