THE JEWISH NEWS
THIS ISSUE 60tP
SERVING DETROIT'S JEWISH COMMUNITY
FEBRUARY 24, 1989 / 19 ADAR I 5749
Michigan Students
Hit Daily's Editorials
SUSAN LUDMER-GLIEBE
Special to The Jewish News
Approximately 170 University of
Michigan students and faculty
members rallied in front of the
Michigan Daily on Tuesday afternoon,
protesting what they called the
paper's persistently anti-Jewish
editorials. Ann Arbor rabbis and a
representative from Detroit's Anti-
Defamation League of B'nai B'rith
were also in attendance, as were a
handful of anti-Zionist protesters.
Holding aloft signs that read
"Stop Jew Baiting," "Print Facts not
Slander" and "Responsible Jour-
nalism Now," the demonstrators
chanted slogans and listened to
speakers denounce the paper's
editorial policies. "The opinion page
of the Daily maintains a consistently
anti-Jewish bias which has con-
tributed to an atmosphere of bigotry
toward Jews at U-M," law student Ted
Detuch told the crowd. "We are here
now to hold the Daily accountable,"
said Brad Kurtzberg, spokesman for
the ad hoc group of students. "We're
not looking for trouble but we want
to send a message."
U-M Regent Philip Power, who
was editor at the Daily in 1960 and
is publisher of the Observer and Ec-
centric newspapers in suburban
Detroit, said in an interview prior to
the rally that it was appropriate for
students to protest the paper.
"Because it (the Daily) is free they
don't have the ability to cancel their
subscription," he explained. "I think
readers have every right to protest."
Power did not think, however, that the
regents should get involved. "I get
really nervous when a board of
regents starts telling a student
newspaper what not to and what to
say."
According to Kurtzberg, the rally
was held "to raise public and univer-
sity consciousness and we want to
confront the Daily and tell them that
we don't think they have a right to do
this — Jew baitng."
Rally leaders said the issue was
not the Daily's position on specific
political issues. "We all acknowledge
that criticism of Israel's policies is
clearly within the realm of editorial
freedom enjoyed by any newspaper,"
said Deutch. "Anti-Jewish racism,
however, cannot be tolerated."
Todd Endelman, U-M professor of
history, detailed what he called the
paper's "obsession with Jews and
Jewish nationalism." One looks in
vain for any kind of balance,"
Endelman said.
On Nov. 1, a Daily editorial equated
Zionism with racism. A Jan. 23
editorial, entitled "Ethiopians Ex-
ploited" said immigration of Ethio-
pian Jews to Israel was "but a ruse
South African Jews are choosing
the United States, Australia, England
and Canada over Israel.
Continued on Page 20
Official Sees Peace
Atmosphere Improved
ALAN HITSKY
Associate Editor
A foreign service officer with the
State Department's Israel Desk
believes the Soviet Union can play a
helpful role in the Middle East and
sees a place for an international peace
conference.
But Margaret Scobey, speaking
Tuesday to the Detroit District of the
Zionist Organization of America, add-
ed some conditions.
"The fundamental position with
the United States is direct negotia-
tions between the parties," Scobey
said. "Properly structured, an inter-
national conference could be the pro-
per forum for direct negotiations to be
achieved. But the important words
here are 'properly structured.' "
Scobey, assistant secretary of
state for Near Eastern and South
Asian affairs, said an international
peace conference cannot make deci-
sions for the Arabs and Israel. "And
the Soviet Union must resume rela-
tions with Israel for it to play a pro-
per role."
Scobey was optimistic that the
U.S.-Israel relationship and U.S.
policy in the Middle East are on the
right course. "At no time in the last
40 years have U.S.-Israel bilateral
relations been any stronger. The
developments of the last eight years
have now been institutionalized," she
said, citing:
• U.S. security assistance to Israel
and Egypt.
• Israel's $1.8 billion in military
Continued on Page 22
Singles
Put Judaism
On Hold
Newcomers
Adopt
Detroit
Page 76
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