Dangerous words: Vandals struck the Grace Hauenstein Library sometime before morning on Thursday, Oct. 30. Student witnesses recall finding the words “Bomb Abortion Clinics” scrawled across the brick signage. The threatening language struck a particularly sensitive chord on campus, as it came in the midst of Pro-Life Week on campus.”Nobody has been identified at this point,” said Campus Safety Director Tony Nolan in a voicemail message on Friday. “The police have reported and logged it as debasement of private property. We consider it vandalism and have cleaned up the paint.”

An anonymous source has told The Saint that the surveillance cameras which would have captured the incident were either inactive or positioned incorrectly.
Despite the College’s efforts, the damage was still visible on the Library facade as of Monday.

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

In many of our contemporary western lives, the people who called Turtle Island home before any trader or explorer have been resigned to “history”. We often look at their struggles and hardships as part of “the past” but we have missed so very much. It was a world changing experience to see a beautiful people, who are at this very moment, living lives with dignity, pride and love, in a world of poverty and hardship. A feeling of hope among the “hopeless”, in our terms, a way of living that escapes the western world. Working alongside the Lakota we learned a caring that fills a hole in western hearts, a love and acceptance we can’t rationalize or explain with logic. Here at Aquinas College we remember that we are called to love one another, the Lakota never needed to be called, they have done it all along.

- John Lohrstorfer, junior

Brooklyn, New York

Living and working in Brooklyn, New York, the experience was not only eye-opening, but also invigorating, saddening, appalling, jubilant, heartwarming, and hope-inspiring. As a group, thankful for the lovely accommodations provided us by the sisters and brothers of St. John the Baptist Church, we encountered a world of filth and cold, inhabited by joyous, wise, faithful, and driven people. We may have had reservations about the tasks we were assigned, like teaching math skills learned years ago, or working at an overwhelming soup kitchen. We accomplished all of these tasks and more- many of us helped with moving a literal mountain of trash bags of donated clothes in the thrift store. After this trip, my heart is stronger and I am better acquainted with the truth of this vast country. Love transforms all.

- Bridget Hibler, freshman

Dominican Republic

Students joined forces with the organization Building Bridges of Hope to provide clothing, medicine, vitamins, and medical attention to the poor living in the isolated mountain communities surrounding the town of El Llano in Aquinas’ fourth trip to Dominican Republic. Participants experienced and contributed to the inspiring work of Dr. Angel Valdez and Sister Roselyn Nicholas, who have devoted their lives to the work of the foundation, to increase the standard of living of the people in the communities they serve. Assisting with the health clinics, students distributed vitamins to children, took patients’ blood pressures, and assisted in physical examinations. The most valuable part of the experience for many, however, was the daily interaction with the children, who were simply grateful for a reason to smile.

- Emily Ferstle, senior

Nazareth Farm, West Virginia

Not very well known to the public, Naz Farm is located in the Appalachian mountains in West Virginia. This region is one of the poorest in the United States. This retreat helps emphasize four main values which include: Prayer, simplicity, service, and community. Unlike other mission trips you are asked not to use your cell phone while being down there so you can fully devote yourself. Many amazing activites occur during the week which include: climbing up into the mountains, star gazing, stations of the cross, using out houses and my personal favorite midnight bucket showers! Naz Farm was a phenomenal time for me. The people there are sensational and it was great being able to bond with other college students whom also gave their breaks up to come and help out. Naz Farm is great because you are on God’s time and you don’t have any other worries. Naz Farm was such an amazing mission trip and I totally recommend it, and hope I will be able to get to go again next year!

- William Gonsler, junior

Arcadia National Park, Maine

Working in Arcadia National Park, we spent a week living right on the ocean and volunteering to help keep the coast beautiful. Much time was spent cleaning (Ct’d. from page 2) …up Thompson Island and planting trees alone newly created trails. The students cleared brush from a top Mt. Sauveur Mountain and cleaned the carriage roads that were created by John D. Rockefeller. During our free time we were able to enjoy some of Maine’s natural beauty. Amazing ocean views along Scalene Head and Sand Beach gave time to reflect and take pictures. Challenging hikes up the Precipice Trail and a drenching at Thunder Hole provided adventure and excitement. We closed the week with a fresh cooked lobster dinner with their new friends from the National Park Service, a fitting way to end an exciting and enriching trip to the coast of Maine.

- Doug Seites

Senator Carl Levin visited Associate Professor and Political Science Chair Roger Durham’s World in Crisis class on Friday, Nov. 17, supplementing the course with his expertise in military and foreign policy.Levin, a Democrat and the longest-serving U.S. senator in Michigan’s history, currently serves as chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee. Despite his Democratic alliances and his own reelection bid against Republican Jack Hoogendyk, Levin was insistent in his focus on the issues.

“People were really impressed,” said freshman Kyle Pray. “He wasn’t focused on the election. He was very bipartisan and not at all confrontational.”

Levin focused his remarks on the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Regarding Iraq, the senator cautioned students that a difficult road lay ahead for the United States, predicting that as power shifts within the Iraqi government, the pressure to withdraw U.S. troops will only intensify.

Whereas Levin sees a gradual withdrawal from Iraq on the horizon, he also spent time at Aquinas advocating a troop “surge” to reinforce U.S. efforts in Afghanistan and prevent resurgent Taliban and al-Qaeda forces from advancing further.

Such a sudden influx of U.S. troops into Afghanistan would be similar to the recent “surge” strategy implemented in Iraq, according to Levin.

Levin additionally took the opportunity to commend students for their interest and activism in the 2008 campaign cycle.

“I’ve never seen this kind of energy level to get out the vote,” Levin said. Levin, who supports Barack Obama, did take a moment to address the Democratic candidate’s much publicized tour overseas.

“He talked about how Obama went to Germany and 200,000 people went to hear him speak, and then Americans criticized him for it,” said Pray. “Levin said people shouldn’t criticize him for that because when people are excited about the United States abroad, it’s a good thing.”
According to Pray, Levin struck students as both courteous and knowledgeable.

“He knew what he was talking about,” said Pray. “It was really interesting.”

Responding to the varying national circumstances and situations that establish the tenor of any serious election season, the American youth is voicing its concerns about the future leadership, and hence direction, of the United States of America.In the past few months, Aquinas College hosted numerous politically oriented programs aimed at registering, informing and exciting college voters. Campus Ministry organized a two-part reflection on the United States Catholic Bishops’ document, “Faithful Citizenship.” Also, events like “Barack the Vote” and the visit of Will.i.am and Tatyana Ali overall encourage participation in the election.

Past elections have shown that the youth vote has been relatively small in comparison to other age groups. In 2000, only 36.1 percent of eligible 18- to 24-year-olds voted,
and in 2004 only 47 percent of eligible voters in the same category voted. Though these statistics attest to non-participation, they also show the largest increase in voting among other age groups. In addition to an increase of voting, the amount of registered 18- to 24-year-old voters increased seven percent.

There is a high expectation for these previous trends to continue and dramatically effect this election.

Though Democrats have an obvious lead with the youth vote and did also in the last election (nine-percent in 2004), polling shows that young Republicans are more loyal and more intensely Republican than their older counterparts, according to a George Washington University study. Regardless of loyalty, Republicans could gain much electoral ground by attracting a characteristically democratic age group.

Both major candidates are utilizing youth-directed efforts to sway the youth vote in their direction. Senator Barack Obama’s website, BarackObama.com, features a “Students for Obama” page which has Obama Mobile, the Action Center and numerous articles of interest for students supporting Senator Barack Obama. Similarly Senator John McCain’s website, JohnMcCain.com, though lacking a specifically student or youth page, has “McCainSpace” which hearkening to MySpace seeks to serve as an information portal for youth supporters.

Amanda Chatel, an Aquinas Student and Deputy Youth Vote Director for Minnesota’s Campaign for Change, works with the Obama campaign to register and inform voting age students in high schools and colleges across Minnesota. “In high schools,” Chatel says, “We register voters and work through community volunteering programs to encourage political involvement.”

“In colleges, we help students register or re-register through voter registration drives,” Chatel explained. The college program also helps students equip themselves with the proper documents to vote on election day.

The McCain-Palin Campaign did not return messages left by The Saint.

Beyond the major party campaigns, there is a clear movement within American culture toward a greater rate of youth participation in the election. Websites directed to youth particiaption like Rock the Vote, Youth Noise, A Million Reasons to Vote, Generation Engage, and Do Something.org enable visitors to register to vote and research the candidates.

Of the numerous issues that may concern 18- to 24-year-olds, the economy ranks primary importance according to a study conducted by Harvard University Institute of Politics in April. After the economic situation (30 percent), 18- to 24-year-olds are concerned about the Iraq War (20 percent), health care (nine percent), social issues (six percent), the environment (five percent) and foreign policy (three percent).

As effects of increased youth particapation appear in the various polls, questions have been raised about the methodology of polls that use only landlines. According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, in polling surveys limited to landlines, 18- to 29-year-olds are 14 percent of respondents, whereas in cell phone surveys, 18- to 29-year-olds are 48 percent of respondents. In addition significant statistics show that 18- to 29-year olds generally favor liberal policies and clearly support Senator Barack Obama over Senator John McCain. Hence, some researchers imply that strictly landline polls are skewed toward a sample that is not representative of the current political body.

These trends will hopefully continue and concrete a concerned and educated American body politic that is oriented to a better world and a better government. Regardless of the participation of the youth demographic, or lack thereof, the future of the United States of America will eventually be passed into the hands of this 18- to 20-some group of citizens.

With the state unemployment rate at 8.9 percent in August, foreclosure rates skyrocketing, and an insufficient minimum wage, Michigan’s economy is facing what financial analysts are calling the worst recession since the Great Depression, an outcome that has been developing for nearly a decade.Analysts at the University of Michigan say the state has endured seven years of manufacturing job loss, and 70 percent of those jobs were within the auto industry. What was once a prized possession for Michigan’s economy has been transformed into its most scrutinized source of profit. In 2006, Michigan was the only state with a shrinking gross domestic profit, falling 0.5 percent according to The Detroit News - a result of the significant plunge in the Big Three market: General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler Group.

Roger Durham, Political Science chair at Aquinas, says the current state of Michigan’s economy is a direct result of globalization that has essentially gone untamed. “With free trade being spread out the way it is, Michigan has really been hurt, especially in the auto industry,” Durham said. “Private capital has been able to do whatever it wants without any loyalty to companies or workers.”

With the auto industry no longer a reliable source for supporting the GDP, state economists have been compiling alternative plans for creative profit and job opportunities. Among them is the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s effort to promote the state’s natural beauty and support environmental sustainability. An example of this can be seen in the high visibility television commercials in which Jeff Daniels encourages prospective employers and business owners to move to Michigan, a plan to bring in a younger generation of workers with fresh new ideas.

Durham also agrees that by focusing on enhancing Michigan’s “green” identity, doors will open up for alternate means of production that could help balance the declining auto industry. For example, he says, “Michigan could turn the auto industry into a mass transit industry…green public policies for mass transit is a win-win for everyone.”

Vijay Dillet, an insurance agent at a local bank in East Grand Rapids, said that Michigan’s economy has significantly effected all banks as well, no matter their stability in the stock market. “The sub-prime [market] has affected a lot of people,” Dillet said. “Every bank has been less profitable in the last year, no matter their national rank.” The bank he works at (which for reasons of confidentiality must remain anonymous) is considered lucky for having only lost $200 million in the last year, as opposed to the billions its competitors lost. Dillet also said that his bank has given out fewer loans because of recent restrictions for those seeking them. “More people are going into debt and losing homes to foreclosures and simply do not have good enough credit or equity to get a loan,” he said.]

Other local businesses are feeling the effects of the state’s economy as well. First year Jersey Junction owner Elias Oliverez said that there has not been a decrease in customers, but with the rising costs of food and fuel, it has been a challenge to make ends meet while keeping prices low. “Like any other business we are being affected by the downfalls of the economy, but we are trying to minimize how that effects our customers as much as possible,” Oliverez said. “Families should not have to worry about where to get ice-cream.”

With so many factors going against the economy, what steps are necessary to improve the future financial stability of Michigan? According to Durham, “The government at both the local and state level needs to ensure that people are paid a living wage.” In addition, he says, “Private corporations need to realize that a little tax can go a long way.” In addition, Durham encourages college students to support local businesses as much as possible.

Hopefully there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.

For Ron Pederson it isn’t about the award he received from the International Sculpture Center for Educator of the Year. It isn’t about his new art exhibit “Professing Sculpture.” For Pederson, it’s all about the students.

“Basically the award is for teaching and because I’ve always had the attitude that it’s all about the students,” said Pederson.

Although Pederson is characteristically humble about the award, a look at his teaching philosophy fully justifies the award. His entire career has not only been about teaching art to students but also about teaching them to follow their passions.

“The Aquinas Art Department, myself included, wants people to be great art students but also to be able to take what they’ve learned and apply it to everything in their lives,” said Pederson. “As teachers we not only teach art but also creative thinking. Our students learn to apply this concept of logic and non-logic to their lives. It makes them…calculatedly analytical.”

Pederson sets a high value on the importance of mentoring and passing along talent and knowledge from one generation to another. While in the AMC a week before his exhibition, he was visited by a current student and her parents. She was showing them a sculpture she had made in one of Pederson’s classes.

“The dad of my student came up to me and said ‘I was your student in 1983 and you were an amazing teacher.’ That’s what I want to see. It’s all about helping young people find their way,” said Pederson. “This man was my student, and now his daughter is. They’ve found the same passion. I want to help people find their passion and equip them to make good decisions in every aspect in life.

“I think about the big picture,” he says. “I want students to experience their passion and pass it on to generations after generations. I want to be a good mentor and I want those people I teach to be in the habit of helping the next generation. That’s my vision of eternity.”

Pederson’s most recent art exhibit “Professing Sculpture: Ron Pederson and Seven Students from Three Decades” reinforces that vision. This exhibit focuses on sculpture, but not all of them in traditional form. Some of the pieces will be video and sound infusion sculptures. All of the artists featured in this exhibit are past students of Pederson who have grown under his insightful teaching and care.

“I had a mentoring relationship with everyone in this exhibit. I had so many talented students to choose from but I chose the ones in the exhibit because they represented the different times in art and teaching of myself. I had to pass over many good sculptures, but the ones I chose define me over the past three decades,” explained Pederson.

Pederson’s son, Ben, will also be featured in the exhibit. Ben Pederson graduated from Aquinas in 2003 and went on for his graduate degree in Sculpture at University of Massachusetts.

“I’m very proud of my dad,” said Ben. “I think people are critical of those who teach art. They say if you can’t make it as an artist, you teach instead. And with my dad he’s thrived more because of teaching.

“He gets his students to speak their own artistic language. His teaching has enriched his own work, it’s fed him,” said Ben. “He has never, ever complained about teaching and it’s always been about the students for him-that’s why he won this award. He has touched many people’s lives.”

One of Ben Pederson’s pieces in the exhibit is one of the non-traditional sculptures.

“I set up these conference calls… between different McDonald’s in different countries-Spain, London, Paris,” explains Ben. “They’ll be talking to each other thinking the other person called them when really they both called each other. They are confused and they just can’t figure it out. But it forces a relationship between people, regardless of their language or cultural barriers.”

It just goes to show how creative and innovative artists can be, especially when those artists are mentored by Ron Pederson. Exhibit visitors will be able to pick up various telephone extensions and hear the different conversations from around the world.

Another exhibit, by former Aquinas student Amy Sharp, is also a non-traditional piece that focuses on video sculpture, and a famous theory developed by Pederson himself.

“I have this theory called the Beckoning and Humming Theory of Junk Collecting. I encourage students to go to junkyards and look for scraps to use in their artwork. I tell them that there are pieces that will beckon to you and demand your attention. And then there will be pieces that hum,” said Pederson, “You’ll always pick the things that hum because they will hum forever.

Sharp elaborated on Pederson’s theory in her own artistic way. She video taped different people ‘beckoning and humming’ and compiled the separate videos so that they responded to each other. Her videos will be playing at the exhibit. “The video will keep beckoning and humming until it’s turned off,” she said.

Pederson’s artwork and teaching will also be traveling across the sea next semester. Ron, along with his wife and professor at Aquinas, will be joining the Ireland study abroad program to Tully Cross for the fifth time. Pederson will be offering an art class for non-majors while abroad.

“It will be a drawing and painting class with an emphasis on creating landscapes,” said Pederson, “It will be perfect while in Ireland. Tully Cross is an unbelievable place to learn how to paint and draw landscapes.”

“I am so excited to go back to Tully Cross. It will be like going back to my home town,” said Pederson, “When I make that final turn in Connemara, the last turn towards home, that’s when my heart starts. I love it.”

The ISC award ceremony will take place Friday, October 3rd at Fredrick Meijer Gardens. All of the students in the exhibit will be attending the award ceremony as well. When asked if he was excited about receiving such a prestigious award, Pederson responded, “Well, I have Scandinavian heritage and when people ask if I’m excited about something, it’s hard to say yes. But I do feel very lucky and I’m very pleased to win this award.”

“Professing Sculpture: Ron Pederson and Seven Students From Three Decades” will be displayed in the AMC Thursday, Oct. 2 through Friday, Nov. 14. The artists to be featured alongside Pederson are: Amy Sharp, Ben Pederson, Jamie Watson, Joyce Recker, Lee Bowen, Lisa Burrows Dionne, Sr. Phyllis Mrozinski.

Ron Pederson’s philosophy on teaching art is simple, but will resonate forever: “In the end,” he says, “It’s all about love.”

Aquinas College continues its healthy presence among other institutions of higher learning on the annual college rankings compiled by U.S. News & World Report. For this year’s 2009 rankings Aquinas College landed 13 out of 15 Best Values Colleges in Top Tier Midwest Colleges offering Masters Degrees. Also, Aquinas was ranked 55 out of 67 schools for Best Colleges offering Masters Degrees.

USN&WR yearly ranks colleges and universities that participate in its “ranking system” and has been doing so since 1983. The ranking methodology first categorizes each college or university into its appropriate group - National Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Masters Universities, and Baccalaureate Universities. Next, USN&WR ranks each college or university according to “15 weighted factors relating to academic excellence”. Though the methodology changes year to year, for improvements, a longitudinal look at the history of Aquinas’ rankings can give a look at the strength of the institutional advancement.

Aquinas College press records show that Aquinas made its debut in these notable national rankings in 2002, as third in Best Value among Tier One Colleges that offer Masters Degrees. The next two years Aquinas qualified as a Tier Two College and placed 12 and 14, for 2003 and 2004 respectively. In 2005 rankings, USN&WR consolidated Tier One and Tier Two Colleges into a new category, Top Tier Colleges. From 2005 on Aquinas ranked seventh, second in 2006, no ranking in 2007, twelfth in 2008 and thirteenth in 2009.

From 2005 rankings to present, Aquinas has also ranked in the “Best Universities - Masters” in the Midwest. Beginning in 2005 at 48, Aquinas continued to rank as 46 in 2006, 47 in 2007, 56 in 2008 and 55 in 2009.

These rankings supplement college visits and personal research for countless high school seniors across the country. The value in such an objective ranking is not found in an exhaustive view of all aspects of a given college or university. Rather, these ranking form a strong foundation or jump-off point for any college search.

Aquinas’s thirteen of fifteen Best Value ranking among Colleges with Masters Programs for this year’s rankings shows some interesting statistics in relation to the others ranked. Aquinas discounts 51% from the total cost and gives need-based grants to 76% of students. The top ranked university in this category discounts 46% from total cost and gives need-based grants to 47%. Only one university ranked above Aquinas College had a higher average discount from total cost. Three universities ranked above Aquinas gave a higher percent of need-based grants.

These rankings are determined by three variables - ratio of academic excellence ranking to discounted price (60%), percent of undergraduate students receiving need-based grants (25%), and average discount (15%).

These facts suggest that Aquinas’ Best Value ranking among Colleges with Masters Programs may be caused by generously discounted costs and a high percent of need-based grants rather than an exceptional ranking in areas of academic excellence.

Ranking 55 out of 67 Midwest Universities with Masters Programs, Aquinas shares its ranking with Lawrence Technological University, Eastern Illinois University, and Alverno College.

Notwithstanding the lack of a clear trend in either direction within the rankings through the past eight years, Aquinas College’s consistent presence in the popular publication in the very least attests to its strong orientation towards the future.

New or returning to Aquinas this year and interested in print and online journalism? If so, I encourage you to contact us to discuss opportunities on the 2008-09 newspaper staff. We are currently seeking student writers interested in news, arts and entertainment, and sports reporting. We have an exciting year in store as we move to build upon the success of our recent redesign and revamped website, AQsaint.com.

Our first writers meeting is Wednesday, August 27 at 10:30 p.m. in the lower level of the Wege Center. If for some reason you cannot attend but are still interested in writing, please e-mail me at dtreul@aqsaint.com.

Finally, be sure to check out our Clubs & Orgs table on Wednesday afternoon before the meeting. Barring bad weather, we’ll be on Wege Mall.

I look forward to meeting you,

Dan Treul

President Bush and other leaders from the world’s eight most powerful countries yesterday met in Japan to discuss ways in which to address the global food crisis.

Then, they and their spouses enjoyed an 18 course meal.

Themed “Hokkaido: Blessings of the Earth and Sea,” the elegant affair prepared by renowned chef Katsuhiro Nakamura boasted the following menu:

• Corn and caviar
• Smoked salmon and sea urchin
• Hot onion tart
• Winter lily bulb and summer savoury
• Kelp-flavoured beef and asparagus
• Diced tuna, avocado and soy sauce jelly, and herbs
• Boiled clam, tomato, shiso in jellied clam soup
• Water shield and pink conger with soy sauce vinegar
• Boiled prawn with tosazu vinegar jelly
• Grilled eel and burdock
• Fried goby fish with soy sauce and sugar
• Hairy crab bisque soup
• Grilled bighand thornyhead fish with pepper sauce
• Milk-fed lamb flavoured with herbs and mustard, and roast lamb with cepes and black truffle
• Cheese, lavender honey and carmelised nuts
• G8 ‘Fantasy’ dessert
• Coffee and candied fruits and vegetables

That’s to say nothing of the earlier “Working Lunch,” which included:

• White asparagus and truffle soup
• Chaud-froid of Kegani crab
• Almond oil foam and tapenade
• Supreme of chicken, with stuffed thigh, nuts and orange savoury and beetroot foam
• Cheese selection
• Peach compote, ice cream, and rasberry coulis
• Coffee and petits fours

And that’s not to say anything of the wines and champagnes - flown in directly from Europe and the United States. That list included:

• Chateau Grillet 2005
• Chambolle-Musigny 2005
• Le Reve Grand Cru Brut/La Seule Gloire Champagne
• Sake/Isojiman Shuzo Shizuoka
• Corton Charlemagne 2005/Louis Latour Bourgogne
• Ridge California Monte Bello 1997
•  Takaji Esszencia 1999

“It is deeply hypocritical that they should be lavishing course after course on world leaders when there is a food crisis and millions cannot afford a decent meal,” said Dominic Nutt, an employee of charity Save the Children.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in attendance at the G8 meeting, was quoted as recently as Sunday by the Daily Mail as saying it was vital to reduce the “unnecessary demand” for food. As the Daily Mail reported, last night’s dinner was served “at the Windsor Hotel, on the shores of Lake Toya, where the presidential suite costs 7,000 pounds [roughly $13,790 U.S.].”

Despite the risk of sounding “holier than thou,” why each and every citizen of Detroit isn’t picketing City Hall right now is beyond me. If he loves his city and its people as much as he loves to say it, disgraced Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will resign. Immediately.

Tonight’s news that Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy will bring evidence of multiple affairs against Kilpatrick in support of her case that he lied under oath is hardly unexpected. After the Detroit Free Press’ publication of Kilpatrick’s damning text message transcripts, the mayor is “innocent until proven guilty” in legal courtesy only.

The messages speak for themselves. Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is the disgraceful public face of an already deeply wounded city, and he must either resign or be removed. Either way, I suspect, he will be brought to justice in a proper court. But only one way can end the nightmare now. The Detroit City Council’s request that Gov. Jennifer Granholm intervene is tangled in bureaucracy and excruciating diplomacy; the same is true of the council’s own efforts to remove the embattled mayor.

Of course this says nothing of the fact that several members of the Detroit City Council are currently under F.B.I. investigation, and that several executive staffers have recently been caught on tape accepting money for what an elementary education could determine to be votes. In conclusion, the highest levels of Detroit city government are tainted, and one can only imagine how the situation has filtered on down the line.

An immediate resignation by Kilpatrick won’t stop the bleeding. That will come with time - probably years - after all the sludge seeps its way through the court system and, hopefully, into one of Michigan’s finest. The damage already wrought by the mayor and others is immense, but with time and a fresh start, will heal.

A surefire sign of the incompetence and treachery of the Kilpatrick era is the public’s growing numbness in response to the scandal of the day.

I don’t live in Detroit, and I can’t speak for its people. But I will say that in the few years I’ve been alive I’ve seen the people of Detroit rally and do some amazing things despite overwhelming circumstances. Now is just the time for the people of Detroit - and the people of Michigan, really - to stand up, rally, and let their voices be heard.

Kwame Kilpatrick must go.