Seventh-Seven Years of Editorial Freedom EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN UNDER AUTHORITY OF BOARD IN CONTROL OF STUDENT PUBLICATIONS Under the influence New Curricula: See It Like It Is Of Meredith Eiker Where Opinions Are Free, 420 MAYNARD ST., ANN ARBOR, Micui. Truth Will Prevail NEWS PHONE: 764-0552 Editorials printed in The Michigan Daily express the individual opinions of staf writers or the editors. This must be noted in all reprints. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1967 NJ GHT EDITOR: DANIEL OKRENT South and West Quad Councils Sell-Out To University ONE OF MY ROOMMATES is taking a psychology course in human factors engineering. Innocently known as Man Machine Systems, the course may well be one of the most potent classes currently offered at the University, Why? Take, for example, my roommate's experience at the Detroit Post Office earlier this week. Along with the other members of the Man Machine System class she went to view the city's automated postal wonder and saw instead a human atrocity. Visibly shaken, my room- mate described the scene: "Hundreds of men and women, mostly Negro, coding thousands of pieces of speeding mail rushing through machines. People bitter and jeering, themselves automated . . . it was horrible. A loud-speaker system announced that a certain section of the operation would be permitted one hour of overtime." MY ROOMMATE is among the more sensitive and brilliant people roaming the University campus, but she is also among the more sheltered and idealistic. Having spent most of her life in an upper middle class suburb, hers, until recently, has been a world which knew nothing of rats, fear and resentment. Unlike a lot of myopic, self-involved students, my roommate is open to the emotion and unrest which is outside the University but not quite so far away as Viet- nam. She is willing to see and feel, to empathize and sympathize, and to act and react. Most of the students in the Man Machine Systems class visited the Detroit Post Office and saw the machines they went to see. Few, if any, of them were aware enough to see beyond the masses of metal and grease, to experi- ence-physically and mentally-what my roommate did. The limitations of "higher" education become obvious after a while-the psychology of automation doesn't cut much ice on an assembly line, elaborate economic theories are fairly irrelevant to people on welfare, and vicarious exposure to starvation and Negro hatred for whites is like putting your hand in a fire while wearing an asbestos glove. THE UNIVERSITY has only two academic require- ments which are mandatory for almost every student- English 123 and physical education. I'd like to propose a third. It's a course which can't really be taught - kind of an independent stndy program to be completed over a four year period. There's no reading list as such although the following visual aids are required. Frshman year: Attend a tea sponsored by the In- ternational Center and have at least three Monday lunches at Guild House. Also participate in the psycho- logy department's program at Northville, a state mental hospital. The really ambitious student will, of course, attempt to talk to the peole at each of these places. and if possible establish more than a passing relation- ship with them. Sophomore year: Work with the University's tutorial project, attend a Regents meeting, go to church or temple, and start taking afternoon walks through Ann Arbor's ghetto - down past Jones School. Men should try for a summer job on the assembly line of an auto- mobile factory and women might look for a position as a typist or file clerk. Junior year: This is the year to get out of Ann Arbor if you haven't already. Take a bus ride through Detroit's ghettos in a neighborbood where you'll be the only white person on the bus. Visit the Detroit Post Office, spend a couple of hours in circuit court, talk to the people on a picket line (better yet, participate in one), and get to know a cop and a serviceman (particularly if you're opposed to the war in Vietnam). Senior year : Sign up to substitute teach one day a week in one of the Detroitcity schools or a nearby equilvalent (Sumpter, Wayne, etc.). Volunteer to work in the emergency ward of a hospital, spend a night in the Washington Hotel on Cass Ave. in Detroit (but don't plan to sleep), and if it hasn't occurred to you already, find out about the kid sitting next to you in class or even the professor. The final exam comes after you've graduated. WITH THE WALKOUT of 250 dorm em- ployes the University's labor difficul- ties have been brought to involve stu- dents personally and directly. Students now have an opportunity to engage in a significant issue at the University-one which transcends college life and is a major issue in contemporary American society. In this situation certain stu- dents have pitifully chosen to abdicate their responsibility of acting in a way befitting their role. The statements made Tuesday by South and West Quad councils betray a sorry lack of social conscience on the part of the student representatives, and an indif- ference to the human aspect of the walk- out. Their primary concern is their own welfare; filling their collective stomach three times a day is more important to them than the issue of self-respect for University employes. The only concerns of West Quad rep- resentatives were the meagre inconven- iences and increased costs. The inconven- ienpes were not serious. For those who mind the long lines, there is always the alternatives of dining out. As for the increased cost, that matter is a rather callous consideration consid- ering the workers who have dared to risk their jobs for a better situation. Cer- tainly, a school known as one for "rich, white students" can afford to give those who maintain its living quarters a chance to share in the abundance. FURTHERMORE, by ignoring to real- ize the close tie between the Univer- sity's attitude of loco-parentis toward students, and the refusal to allow collec- tive bargaining, the students overlook the effects of the walkout on their own position. While in the latter case the Uni- versity has the added goal of keeping down expenses, they nonetheless have the same paternalistic attitude toward their employes as they do toward stu- dents. The effect on students and Work- ers is similar; it limits self-confidence and erodes self-esteem. The University, of course, never considers these factors: they are not measurable and will not be detected by any agency. Finances, how- ever, are measurable, and the University prefers to fare well in that area. THE STATEMENT issued by Inter- House Assembly was so moderate, that it's being challenged by these students, is tantamount to a reaction against the strike. If IHA had advocated a walkout by all student employes, as they should have, and the impact were strong enough, the administration would have had no choice but to accept the workers' demands. All difficulties resulting from the walkout would have been ended that much sooner. IHA did not even do that much. They only asked students not to act as "strike- breakers." They asked students not to take advantage of the situation for their own selfish aims, but did not ask stu- dents for any real sacrifices. Finally, like Ford Motor Company, the University does not respect issues, it re- spects power, and the only way the work- ers could ever achieve their ends, PA 379 suit or not, would be to force the Uni- versity to give in. By voting as they did, the quad councils have hurt a just cause, or at best failed miserably in a situation wlhere they would have been able to give immeasurable help. They deserve only extreme condemna- tion for their selfish, irresponsible ac- tions. -RON LANDSMAN I Growing Up Absurd: The Case for China By PAUL WINSTON SOME SUGGEST (or assert) (or howl) that there's a screwball about in the international politi- cal realm (China, of course), and that this fact would be tolerable (or amusing) except for two con- siderations - the first being that her off-beatishness is dangerous (to her neighbors) (to the world) (to the universe) (to us), and the second being that, because of her size and population and inscruta- bility, we can do nothing about the first consideration. It appears as if the first con- sideration is questionable (though it will be called essentially accu- rate for purposes of discussion), but that the second consideration is nonsense (and in a way that is destructive of the real possibilities that exist for a resolution of this particularly knotty feature of in- ternational relations). That is: it is mainly America's fault that China is what she is (if, indeed, she is so) . FOR CHINA doesn't know how to play the game; and even if she did she isn't allowed to-which creates a remarkable situation: China can only learn the rules (and there are rules, or "accepted procedures," in the contemporary version of the international sys- tem) through participation. The United States, meanwhile, has done her best to exclude China from such conventional partici- pation, and expects her to behave responsibly and "maturely" and according to the book of approved practices, and bellows obscenities at her when she doesn't. The vehicle by which China is prevented from learning the rules, and from behaving respon- sibly, is refusal of diplomatic recognition, principally by Ame- rica-who has also demanded that several of her dependents in China's neighborhood not extend recognition, and that China not be allowed to send delegates, as a member, to the United Nations. The result of all of this is that China has been deprived of the traditional (a n d non - violent) means of influencing the small states that surround her (for ex- ample, South Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia do not "speak" to China), and the leader of the rival bloc, the United States, and any- one at all in UN activities (in which organization she has no seat). These traditional means generally include diplomacy and trade, for the granting or with- holding of utilitarian assets by a large state can be extremely in- fluential. DIPLOMATIC contact seems to be a more important source of impact, because, through direct discussions among ambassadors, the specific and general intentions and attitudes of states, regarding specific and general situations, can be made clear. This contact is peaceful and among the inter- national system's accepted prac- tices. It is only possible among states that talk to each other in ways other than through news- p a p e r headlines. Furthermore, talks must be continuous, and of- ten secret; they must be "diplo- matic" and not intercontinental screeching. The value of diplomacy may be seen in the result of its absence during the Korean War. Had talks "Sir, The Chinese Ammassador Is Here To Present His Credentials" do better than shout at us. No compromise or subtle adjustment of differences is possible without diplomatic correspondence. O f course "p o w e r speaks," and among ,stubborn states it often does so violently. CHINA, THEN, is presented with the curious problem of dis- covering means of influencing people who won't talk to her; and, as far as she can judge, the only answer is violent and fearsome posturing. Violence, and scream- ing or threatening, are the only means of influence she has been allowed. Consequently, as suggest- ed earlier, not only is she ignorant of the rules of the game, but she is also kept from practicing them. If China is a madman, and if blame is to be allocated for this circumstance, one might look to- ward those who have isolated her, and prevented her from obeying tradition and "growing up," while on the other hand demanding that she must grow up as a precondi- tion for membership in the UN or the civilized world. This is most fascinating logic. A FINAL consideration must be included: China wants to influ- ence other states and feels she has a right to so do. She is grow- ing, and she is large, and her actual power level is high--far higher than her level of influence. Whether or not it is proper or "moral," big states will influence rival powers, and the smaller states around them. We ought to decide what form we'd like China's "influencing" to take. I4 Student Course Evaluation Booklet A STUDENT COURSE evaluation booklet is one facility that must receive top priority among students and faculty members who are concerned with obtain- ing a curriculum with optimum educa- tional quality. The cost will not be small, and neither will the effort required to make it a successful, meaningful ven- ture, but despite these obstacles, every effort should be made to turn the course evaluation booklet into a reality. The booklet will aid students in reg- istering for classes by providing them with much-needed information on the ability of individual instructors to com- municate ideas and material to the stu- dent and give a more realistic picture of what the course actually covers. Given the inconsistent equality and questionable objectivity of the present course catalogue, and the generally poor quality of the counseling service, every- one involved in the consuming end of the system has observed the near-totally in- adequate level of guidance in choosing one's course of studies, and agrees as to the need for such a booklet. Those faculty members who feel that a system of student review should be set up, but that the results of this review should first be censored by faculty mem- bers, or not published at all, underesti- mate students' competence in decision making, and do not understand the ma- jor need for such a booklet. They claim that the students' criticism on the one hand is mature enough to be responsible and valued, but on the other hand, they feel that students are not quite mature enough to interpret their conclusions. Such thinking rings of an odious patern- alism. The Daily is a member of the Associated Press and collegiate Press Service. Fall and winter subscription rate : $4.50 per term by carrier ($5 by mail); $8.00 for entire 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. Editorial Staff ROGER RAPOPORT. Editor A WIDELY DISTRIBUTED booklet will enhance student participation in the decision-making process. If a course gets panned in the booklet, and no remedial action is taken by the faculty, then it would follow that the demand for the course would fall so low that the faculty would be forced to drop it from the time schedule. The great majority of the faculty, as well as the students, would benefit from the general improvement of course qual- ity that would result from such an open and widely distributed booklet. It, there- fore, is of paramount concern for all in- volved that the student-faculty commit- tee, under the chairmanship of Prof. Donald Brown, proceed with all due speed in the realization of a student course evaluation booklet. -RONALD KLEMPNER Associate Editorial Director No Comment "THE U.S. has insisted that the West Germans buy approximately $775 million in arms per year to offset the cost of maintaining U.S. troops there .. . The cost is rising . . . while West Ger- many's ... ability to absorb such equip- ment is rapidly declining .. . West Ger- many is (selling) surplus military equip- ment of American origin . . . Total U.S. sales have now reached something over the $2 billion per year level-not includ- ing grant aid. The problem of the dis- posal of surplus military equipment is certain to grow with this increase in sales. The surplus arms of industrial na- tions may provide the ingredients of an arms raceain the underdeveloped world. It should also be noted that some of the arms used by Latin American guerrillas today were exported from the U.S.- for quite different reasons-yesterday." "LET ME TAKE NOTE in passing of the recurring argument that if we do not provide arms to a country it will get them from the Soviets or possibly China. This is another example of that curious obtuseness which excessive preoccupa- +^ w7+- lin ar c,,4.nfpam mnaiwAc in been occurring steadily, between America and China, from the be- ginning of the war, we might have been aware of the point of advance beyond which the allies would not have been allowed to go by China. We passed that point and China entered the war. We've another war today, and, changes we cannot do better than guess her views, and she cannot again, we're in need of determin- ing China's position. To under- stand what will provoke her en- trance we must conduct continu- ous and intense (and probably, p r i v a t e) diplomatic exchanges with her. Without these ex- I Letters: Dorm Leaders Support the Union Cause I To the Editor: WE WERE QUITE dismayed when South Quad Council failed to support IHA's resolu- tion, which asked students not to break the sympathy walkout against the University residence halls. We believe that the Council has only harmed itself by not tak- ing a stand on this issue. We again want to express our support of IHA's resolution, in spite of the Council's inaction. --The Executive Board of South Quad Council --Connie Cleaton '69 President -Paul Milgrom '70 Men's Vice President -Ellen Bellet '70 Treasurer -Sue Butch '70 Secretary Oppose Strike To the Editor: WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, ap- plaud those University em- ployes and students who have not taken part in the illegal walkout and are brave enough in the face of intimidation to fulfill their ob- ligations to the University, the students, and the taxpayers of Michigan. If as one picket prom- ised ". . . as soon as we get the authority from the union officials, we'll use any force necessary to prevent them (referring to the responsible employes) from going to work . . .," we promise to help and protect, in any way we can, the physical well-being of the afore-mentioned non-strikers. -Michael Modelski '71 -Mark Bendure '71 Recommended To the Editor: WITH RESPECT to your story on Wednesday, Sept. 7, con- cerning the appointment of Prof. Russell A. Fraser, we wish to point out that this appointment has been recommended to the Regents for their approval at their next meeting, but that it is not official until the Regents have taken ac-, tion. In this respect, the story in" the Daily was premature. Furthermore, we are extremely All letters must be typed, double-spaced and should be no longer than 300 words. All let- ters are subject to editing; those over 300 words will gen- erally be shortened. No unsign- ed letters will be printed. pleased that Prof. Fraser has agreed to accept this appointment after it is approved. However, we feel that the story appeared to slight the many services and ac- complishments of the present Chairman, Prof. Warner G. Rice, not least of which was his Direc- torship of the University Libraries in the period 1941-1953. Prof. Rice has devoted many years of un- selfish service to the Department of English, the College of Litera- ture, Science, and the Arts, and to the University at large. Through- out that time he has been one of the most vigorous allies of the stu- dent and a leading advocate of good teaching as a primary re- sponsibility of this University. We are sure that the many members of the faculty who have been Prof. Rice's colleagues will agree that no chairman has been more anmz- tive to the needs and expectations of our students. We shall miss him when he retires. -William L. Hays Associate Dean of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts -James Robertson Associate Dean and Director of the Residential College OPINION The Daily has begun accept- ing articles from faculty, ad- ministration, and students on subjects of their choice. They are to be 600-900 words in length and should be submitted to, the Editorial Director. A FEIFFER MY- hiK- ' h / / ' i ,jW%- i THAT NE A6R EPL THAT AT N~. NAP FAIbU!2 MAGIC -- r l,,~ 1W ITrAT HEU "NAT YEAR CAF - COL2 PWAP NAP US QACi's{ COLOM AL /%, AQP~Or - TAT 146 TOO WAS HIOB (P BY A 'Y"TCM OF VA06S THAT WASt' APPAUECII 13iY PJAPALH FUT WAS y L.S C. /cl((( 4 a / (, )l