........ .... . , ., . ...... . ...................... _ .......""."4".':."..."..'.^i .".t. .h".".:h'."..:M....."1.,"."::":{ti"1.:tititi",V:.:'.q...1f:St4 1"P:1V,1{":'ilK1^ :" ..A ."111'. .,:"M1 .'" 5 ".v~.^:4'h.11. :"'. 'rhR'i.*}: h"":1'L:}*: 7.'hY1 :"}. YY. u rAtraigatt Batty Seventy-Seven Years of Editorial Freedom EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN UNDER AUTHORITY OF BOARD IN CONTROL OF STUDENT PUBLICATIONS If YoU' ROGER RAPOPORT: re Going To San Francisco.. I Where Opinions Are Free, 420 MAYNARD ST., ANN ARBOR, MICH. Truth Will Prevail NEWS PHONE: 764-0552 Editorials printed in The Michigan Daily express the individual opinions of staff writers or the editors. This must be noted in all reprints. SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 1968 NIGHT EDITOR: WALLACE IMMEN A First Step for Sororities BACK IN THE FALL of 1965, when sororities still conducted a separate rush for upperclass women, a Negro girl from just north of the Mason- Dixon Line made it through third set at an all-white sorority. An in- vitation to fourth set - final desserts - would have insured the girl of hav- ing her name placed somewhere on the sorority's first or second list of possible pledges. Had she preferenced the house and had the computer been forced to delve into the depth of the sorority's second list to complete the house's quota, the University's sororities might today be racially integrated. But this girl never got asked back to final desserts. Her credentials were all in order - an alumnus from her. hometown had generously sent the sorority a positive recommendation on her and thereby a go-ahead for pledg- ing her The girls in the house, how- ever, embroiled in controversy and threatened with the use of the first blackball in the chapter's history, de- cided just to drop the girl from further consideration rather than hassle over her. THIS WEEK the University's sororities voted to eliminate the use of bind- ing alumni recommendations by next September so as to be able to "comply with the Univesrity policy of non-dis- crimination in membership selection." They did not vote, however, to eliminate the sort of discriminatory selection activity described above, and consequently it appears that real com- pliance with Univesrity policy will be a long time in coming. Although the motion passed this week by a Panhellenic Presidents Coun- cil did not have the support of five of the largest houses on campus and is potentially limited in effectiveness, its passage must nonetheless be seen as a significant and hopefully curative step for the sororities. And this comes, none to soon, for the feminine side of, the University's Greek system is cur- rently suffering. Hesitant to admit to an affliction, sorority women continue to soothe themselves with an antidote of fair rush statistics. But the truth of the situation. is that fall rush has been a failure. Next year the girls will undoubtedly return to spring rush. Most of the houses on campus are not filled to capacity and some are operating at a financial loss. In addition, senior women are reluct- ant to live in the house during their senior year. One house on campus pledged 19 freshman women in the spring of 1965. Now seniors, only seven of them still remain in the house and of those that moved out, only one kept her affiliation. THE AFFLICTION obviously has to do with the system's sickly regener- ation. Inbred for so long, whether by choice or by the force of binding alumi recommendations, the sororities are in need of a shot of the diversity which is evident elsewhere on campus. The sorority system is not incapable of handling divergent cultural back- grounds among its members, nor will the sororities alone benefit when new strains are added to the breed. The day-to-day living situation of- fered in a sorority is unique at the University. Generally friendly, per- sonal, and relaxed, the sororities could be the great campus melting pot pro- viding a social context for intellectual exchange. But the melting pot right now needs a fire built under it and perhaps the spark has been ignited by Panhel's move to eliminate recom- mendations. Of course, neither Panhellenic nor the University can legislate away dis- crimination within the sorority system. There remains nothing to stop any sorority from going off-campus in order to avoid compliance with any Panhel edict. Sororities unwilling to confront their national organizations over any issue may in fact find it more comfortable outside of Panhellenic and the Univesrity's immediate auspices. On the other hand, if the sorority women are in earnest about altering the nature of their membership select- ion practices and broadening the scope and impact of the Greek system at the Univesrity, they are finally being given the necessary backing and means for loosening the national's vice-like grip. Panhellenic and Student Government Council are both offering substantial suport, and President Fleming has indicated to Panhellenic President Ginny Mochel that he too is wiling to stand behind the soror- ities' bid for local authonomy in mem- bership selection. THE QUESTION then becomes wheth- er or not the sororities themselves are interested in revitalizing both their membership lists and their position on campus by progressing along with the rest of the Univesrity. Eliminating binding recommendat- ions by September is undeniably a big move down the right road. But in comparison to the long path to elimin- ation of clandestine discrimination as well, the motion passed this week is' nothing more than a token footstep - on tiptoe. -MEREDITH EIKER Managing Editor IT'S 5 P.M. FRIDAY afternoon and traffic is pouring out of San Francisco on the Bayshore Freeway. Sud- denly a bone-shattering earthquake that sends out two- foot high land waves at a rate of 800 miles an hour jars the expressway. Drivers lose control of their vehicles. The result: a colossal chain-reaction collision that piles up cars for miles. It will take rescue workers days to untangle the battered vehicles and rescue survivors. Meanwhile, the Golden Gate and Oakland Bay Bridges are collapsing. Downtown, frantic office workers panic and rush out into the street where they end up dodging crumbling building facades. In an effort to aid stricken victims, doctors rush to hospital emergency rooms, only to discover the facilities aflame-the result of bottles of flammables like acetone cascading to the floor and exploding. The fantasies of a science fiction ghoul? HARDLY. THEY'RE some of the possibilities envi- sioned by one of the nation's top physicists-who thinks California is in for a devastating earthquake within the next 10 to 20 years. The physicist is 39-year-old Prof. Peter Franken and he is not a quack. Franken has just returned to his post in the physics department here after taking a leave of absence to serve as head of the Defense Department's $280 million Advanced Research Project Agency (better known locally as sponsor of the University's counter- insurgency work in Thailand). He won the American Physical Society Prize last year and is a specialist in lasers and non-linear optics. For the past 16 years he has maintained a side-interest in seismics and the potential for an earthquake in Cali- fornia. He is in frequent contact with experts in the field. "If I were offered an attractive permanent job in California right now, I wouldn't take it," says Franken. "There is at least a 50-50 chance that California will be hit by a major, bone-shattering earthquake. The chances are good that Los Angeles and San Francisco would be hit hard. And I seriously doubt if any national geo- physicist in the country would disagree." BACKING FRANKEN'S view is one of the Univer- sity's top research administrators,. Dr. James T. Wilson, head of the Institute of Science and Technology. Wilson, who has worked in the seismic field for 35 years and is former chairman of the University's geology depart- ment, says, "There certainly is going to be a major (Richter 8 plus on the seismic scale) quake in California in the near historical future. "A look at the history of the area establishes that. I might be a little more low key and suggest that the quake might be a little farther off than 10 to 20 years. But I feel most of the people in the, field would back Franken's general view." And in his 1964 book "Earthquake Country," author Robert Iacopi wrote that "few" scientists "would be astonished if a major earthquake occurred along the San Andreas Fault during the next 20 to 30 years." Franken, who is married and has three daughters, says, "I don't change my travel plans to avoid San Francisco because it is a lovely area and has some of the nicest restaurants anywhere. The possibility of an earthquake coming on any given day is remote. But I would not want to go out therevand live because I'm rais- ing a family and the risk is simply too great." He adds that "every major sign that we know about points to the fact that an earthquake in California is overdue." California is situated on the San Andreas Fault Letterfos: 1PA 2 To the Editor: in the introduction1 OU REALLY blew it this time, anities and the social Daily, in your inevitably fa- Our greatest di cetious manner. You not only try date, has been in ac to stomp your enemies into the and faculty; althoug ground, you kick your friends in ulty members are quit the teeth. The Daily has had our proposals, none numerous editorals against the teer to teach the cou war, the present handling (or departments have a ignoring) of the country's inter- to other courses. nal problems, the ineffectual state The budget cut is of the political system, the Uni- sponsible for this si versity's need for money, and we have also found ti above all, the right and respon- dential College (RC) sibility of students to speak, to considerable funds dissent, to try to affect the sys- from the LSA depa em they will inherit. permients such as th We at Vail - the people who scribed will now ber sent the telegrams (Daily, Jan. number of students, 19), and the many others of us near future could be who fully supported the move, the entire college. Wh are just as concerned with these experiments be aband issues as the most dedicated Daily sake of the RC, a staffer. idealistic dream whic We were not playing games. fits a random few a The telegrams were sent without expanded (or even b much hope for response, but in ed) without a tren good faith. The news media have crease in funds, facu rewarded sincerity with their time cilities? and attention. National networks Should not our im took Vail seriously, while The terest be directed t Daily snickered and pointed. proving the qualityt Your deviation from fact in your education? Let us ta snooty portrayal was dishearten- dent-to-teacher ratii ing, but the sadder thing is that when money is more r+ you could not accept rational dis- able! sent in a positive form. Hurray -M~,ichael for the voice of freedom, as long as The Daily is it. -Marian Klopp, "70 T To the Editor: Honors Program URBAN LEHNER' To the editor: (Daily, Jan. 19), COMENR brof Dis Union," ostens SCOMMEND Robert Klivans on attack on President his two part discussion of the true in many respects, University (Daily, Jan. 24 and the point in the finala 25), but I wish to interject sev- trouble with the Pres eral comments. that he does not have The efforts of the Student ties in ordering his Honors Steering Committee have is that his only pri begun to aim towards such aca- ficiency, to get thing demic changes as establishing a is tragic today. There student counselling service (to be sible paradigms, two tried next month for advance sid which men may li classification), the expansion of the world-the may li opportunities to take interdepart- the worcd m mental courses, and overall cur- vidualistic and egali rimi a Wih , . A traditionally America System, which has prompted an earthquake in Cali- fornia "roughly every half century." (Previous quakes were 1800, 1838, 1865, and 1906.) Franken argues that fatalities in the April 18, 1906 San Francisco quake were "relatively small (about 600 persons died) "because it happened at the best possible time, 5 a.m. on a Sunday morning when everyone was in bed. That's one of the best places to be during a, quake." (Another is underneath a door frame.) But he feels that if a quake were to hit this time, the results would be far more serious. "I just don't know how to describe the potential damage if the. quake hit during a rush hour." FIRST, FRANKEN thinks that both San Francisco and Los Angeles could be hit by the quake. Both cities are located on the San Andreas Fault System, one of the largest in the world. Built like a feather, the San Andreas Fault forms a spine with other smaller faults jutting off the side. kitchen table. But without an office or a hospital, to- day's doctor can give about as much first aid as a Boy Scout." And because contemporary America "depends on so much frozen food, much of the food supply would be ruined in a matter of days." IF THE RISK IS so great, why haven't the experts spoken out sooner? Franken says he felt it would have been "inappropriate" for him to use his "government post" to crusade for public awareness on the potential disaster. "Most of the experts will tell you the quake is com- ing." But they think it would be unprofessional to serve as a Ralph Nader-type crusader on the issue. Franken says he is convinced that research and publicity could drastically cut the potential damage in the quake. Last year the Federal Council for Science and Technology recommended spending $200 million over the next 10 years for basic research on the problem. 4 4 -Lane Book Co. Prof. Franken and San Francisco in 1906 Franken thinks it likely that the next quake could "focus" at a point between San Francisco and Los An- geles that would make it possible for both cities to be hit. If one or both of the areas were hit, it would be the first time that a complex major population center with features like skyscrapers and freeways has been hit by a major quake. Franken adds that many of the current assets of contemporary big city life will prove liabilities if the quake should come. "Look at it this way. The 1965 blackout of the Eastern Seaboard couldn't have hap- pened 10 years ago. The power system wasn't complex enough to permit total breakdown due to the failure of one component. Likewise we have never had a high- speed freeway system hit by a bad quake. If just two or three cars out of a hundred lose control, the results could be beyond belief."+ Similarly, he argues that many flammable liquids could fall off hospital supply shelves, explode and start fires that "would put every emergency room in the city out of business." Franken notes that in 1906 such dangers weren't "so + serious because doctors were used to working on the elegram'sVi One crucial area is prediction. "We could reduce damage if we could have earthquake forecasts like weather forecasts," explains Franken. "If the scientists could telf us 'there is an 80 per cent probability of a major earthquake in the next 20 days,' it would aid in providing time for evacuations, stockpiling and other emergency measures. "I also think it is imperative that the state inform the public on what to do during an earthquake-stay inside. There should be earthquake drills every month or so. "Major stockpiles should be built up of food and other supplies. Those flammables in the hospital should either be strapped into a shelf or kept on the floors." FRANKEN REMAINS pessimistic about California officials really moving on the earthquake issue. "They probably are afraid it would scare people and discourage them from living in the state." At least Californians aren't alone in their problem. Franken indicates that St. Louis is also due for an earth- quake.. "But they don't have to start worrying about that one yet. It's probably about 100 years away." AMea n ing IE Vietnam war, but must reign supreme at the expanse rays a tragic lack of of efficiency. that this is a war If Jeffersonian Democracy (Mc- ids-it is far easier Luhan style) seems a strange sug- ntry to kill than to gestion for the problems of the teous as its cause is. future, examine the alternatives hough, it is time we -are we to lurch from, a frag- nd alternative: con- mented individualistic society to This is best exem- an organic, oppressively communal homas Jefferson-a one with nothing to show but com- temis eas lielyto promise? Or, incongruous as it may seem, can some of what has hich guaranteed the been worthwhile in the American system. Values must Dream be saved for the coming rities-that is pre- automated age? t--because all values -M. Halberstadt, '71 * The Daily IS a member of the Associated Press and Collegia'e Press Service. Fall and winter subscription rate: $4.50 per term by carrier ($5 by mail); $8.00 for regular academic school year ($9 by mail). Daily except Monday during regular academic school year. Daily except Sunday and Monday during regular summer session. Second class postage paid at Ann Arbor, Michigan, 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, Michigan. 48104. to the hum- sciences. fficulty, .,to quiring funds ,h many fac- te happy with can volun- xses since the ssigned them in part re- Atuation, but hat the Resi- is draining and faculty rtments. Ex- hose just de- nefit a large and in the expanded to y must these Boned for the n expensive h now bene- nd cannot be be maintain- mendous in- ilty, and fa- nmediate in- towards im- of en masse ckle the stu- o problems readily avail- Liepman '68 )is- Union S editorial "The State ibly a biting Johnson, is but it misses analysis. The sident is not e any priori- principles; it nciple is ef- s done. This are two pos- possibe ways ve and view anical, indi- tarian (and n) society of efficiency reigns supreme. The al- ternative is to retain the extremes of either system: individualism humanized, equality with diversity, community with privacy. The first, comp'romise, is the path chosen by Lyndon Johnson. He has lost any of the virtue of the rugged, individualistic traditional Amer- ican Dream values that an over-30 Texas rancher might, possess, by compromising them in order to deal with a nation headed toward urbanization and an organic so- ciety. He hasn't put up a decent fight. I FAVOR TB LBJ again betr the knowledge for men's min for a rich cou convince, right At any rate th chose the seco flict of values. plified by Th man whose sys "work," but wJ best of eithers not have prio cisely the point Detroit's Papers Revisited The following is an answer to a letter in yesterday's Daily by Mich- ael Dworkin, a graduate student at the University and editor of the Detroit Daily Press. Dworkin com- mented upon two articles by Dan- iel Okrent in The Daily on Jan. 18 and 19 which analyzed Detroit's newspaper strike. By DANIEL ORKENT THERE ARE a number of fact- ual errors and questionable judgments in Mr. Dworkin's art- icle. Dworkin cites a few "facts" in relation to my source use of an article in "The Reporter" written by Gene Goltz and William Ser- rin, both Detroit Free Press re- porters who worked for the Daily Press during the strike. Dworkin charges that the article was "in- stigated" by the Free Press to "discredit" the Daily Press, that "the entire Free Press staff is aware of the considerations to be given Serrin and Goltz," and that one of the authors had offered his apology to Dworkin for "mis- leading and inaccurate facts" cited in the article. Goltz and Serrin, contacted in Detroit, have denied Dworkin's charges. Goltz - who won a Pulit- zer Prize two years -ago - called Dworkin's statements "damned lie."Serincalled +hem "sal- was, indeed, a writer named "Reg- inald Dubois" who penned faked Vietnam dispatches for the Daily Press. Dworkin further charged that a statement attributing the demise of New York papers to "craft union problems" was false, con- tending that it was "publishers' stupidity and their reactionary at- titudes" to the unions that were largely responsible. This may be so, but these are, in any case, "craft union problems." LATER IN HIS ARTICLE, Dworkin hits the management of Detroit's two dailies for their po- sition toward labor in this strike, but says earlier that my "attemp but says earlier that my "attempt to equate the Detroit situation to New York's is ludicrous." Dworkin also says it is unlikely that Knight Newspapers' Miami Herald makes the major profits for the chain, but precedes this contention with a statement that the Herald is "probably the most profitable paper in the country." He criticizes my understanding of circulation-advertising relat- ions, asserting that "it costs more to print a paper than it can be sold for" H failst +n mnmentnn +ha+ Dworkin cut back circulation be- cause it costs too much to print all those papers? DWORKIN DISAGREED that Detroit's stirke paper competition was unprecedented in newspaper history, calling attention to five dailies that published during the 1962 New York strike. The April 1, 1963, issue of the New York Times says that only one, the Standard, lasted any extended period of time and reached a large reader- ship. Prof. Melvin Mencher of Columbia's School of Journalism said that "only the Standard thrived." In reference to Detroit, I discounted the short-lived Daily Dispatch, concluding only that there was real, actual competition between the widely - circulated Daily Press and Daily Express. Dworkin argues that I cannot say the Daily Press is similar to the Free Press. Actually, only their physical layout was being equated. Produced by laid-off Free Press staff members, the Daily Press' layout employed the same head-/ line type, the same reverse ding- bats, the same stock heads (such as "How They Stand" on the sports page) that are employed in the Free Press. nwown'rin failstomention i In his 4