... . . . . . . ...:.... . .s. 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 ROGER RAPOPORT: How I Learned To Stop Worrying . . . ; __ =. 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. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1967 NIGHT EDITOR: DAVID KNOKEj Let the Students Decide S T U D E N T GOVERNMENT Council's procedure for filling vacancies is blatently undemocratic and should be revised if Council is seriously interested in being representative of the student body. Last Thursday night SGC chose three new members 'to fill vacancies resulting from a graduation and two resignations. After private interviews earlier in the week, eight of the 17 students who had petitioned for a seat were chosen to speak before Council. After two and one- half hours of interviewing and debate the Council made its decision. Council President Bruce Kahn, '68, said that filling vacancies in this man- ner was preferable to leaving each mem- ber with proportionately more power by not filling them at all. However, since Council members choose those who will fill the vacant seats, they can substitute students who support their own posi- tions. Rather than increasing the rap- port between the student body and SGC -and insuring a more equitable repre- sentation of all student interests--the current means of filling Council vacan- cies merely perpetuates whatever mis- representation might already exist. The .purpose of the procedure, accord- ing to Executive Vice-President Ruth Baumann, '68, is to "get them on Council and then encourage tharn to run" in campus-wide elections. But doesn't this means of selection also discourage those who differ from the majority view of SGC from running for election? ONE POSSIBLE solution to the prob- lem is a special campus-wide elec- tion to fill vacancies as they arise. To avoid the expense of extra elections, which SGC could hardly afford, alter- nate Council members could be chosen at each election. These representatives could function in much the same man- ner as do alternate trial jurors, partici- pating in SGC meetings without a vote.. A Council omniscient enough to select three qualified representatives in only 150 minutes should certainly be able to turn this concept into a workable pro- gram in half the time. Considering all the discussion at SGC meeting about how poorly, Council rep- resents the student body, and consider- ing the important actions that Council is taking in such areas as student regu- lations, student housing, and its national affiliations, SGC can not afford to con- tinue using a system of filling vacancies iwhich alienates the student body by denying them their vote. --MARTIN HIRSCHMAN WHEN I WAS a freshman this was a campus filled with issues. Some students talked of radical notions like giving students control over their own academic lives. Others dreamed of 8-month leases on their apart- ments, or winning collective bargaining rights for Uni- versity employes. And some dreamers even talked of ending the cozy financial relationship between the ad- ministration and outside business interests. All this must seem horribly outdated to this year's freshmen. No sooner do they walk in the door than the Student Government Council seizes control over stu- dent's non-academic lives. The next thing they know the University is giving its employes collective bargaining rights. Then the attorney general issues a stiff conflict of interest ruling that sends college administrators and Regents reeling and resigning across the state. And now two major landlords have initiated an 8-month lease. That any one of these developments should come to pass is amazing enough. But that all four should occur in less than two months is incredible. To those who have picketed, editorialized, ranted, and raved about such causes these are strange times. Suddenly 'things all seem to be breaking for the good. THE SURPRISING THING about all this change in such a short period is that it has prompted such little reaction. Three years ago such moves would have been unthinkable. When SGC took disciplinary power the only response was one mild letter from a vice-president. And when Joint Judiciary Council took the unpre- cedented step of acquitting two students on the grounds that they would not enforce rules that weren't passed by SGC no one said a word. The administration has not made any formal sign of opposition. Similarly there was no visible protest when At- torney General Frank Kelley said that University offi- cers or Regents couldn't serve on corporate or bank boards that did business with their school. University President Harlan Hatcher and Michigan State Univer- sity President John Hannah resigned their bank board posts as did six other officials at schools across the state. On the collective bargaining decision, Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer Wilbur K. Pierpont and other top university officials simply swallowed their old stand (at least until the courts decide otherwise) to end a strike and avert potential violence. And Ann Arbor realtors have not begun picketing University Towers or Huron Towers which have both found it economically feasible to offer students an 8- month lease. That two big landlords could break with the Ann Arbor real estate establishment so simply is astonishing.' NEEDLESS TO SAY all these changes did not just happen. Most of them were at least partially prompted by the continued pressure of various student groups. For example Voice-SDS can take some of the credit for creating the climate that made SGC's move feasible and stiff administration reprisal ill-advised. Immodestly one can say The Daily's reporting on a Regental conflict of interest helped prompt some legislators to push faster for a stiffer conflict of interest law. Steady Union pres- sure paid off on collective bargaining and the work of Student Housing Association has helped push the 8- month lease. The situation has gone so far that one can scarcely complain to an administrator about some blatant in- adequacy before he will turn around and right the wrong. For example a brief mention to Plant Extension Di- rector James Brinkerhoff that students are being drenched by automatic sprinklers on main campus which start at 11 p.m. is enough to make him see that the sprinklers are turned on at the saner time of 1 a.m. And even some of the old crusades have been drop- ped. A couple years ago everyone was wearing buttons and signing petitions in behalf of a University-run dis- count bookstore for students. The campaign lost and is now dormant. But a new cathpus bookstore now, gives students a 10 per cent discount. Few are foolish enough to think that things are going to.continue to improve here at the pace of the past two months. But the overall picture looks bright. ONE CAN ONLY pity those freshmen who have nev- er known the joy of fighting for a lost cause, struggling for some visionary ideal, beating the drums for some- thing that most people don't care about. In their youth- ful innocence they have sniffed only success; found only victory. 'y ..!V": rl. Y: t......"..... A.r.. f.. rrlr ..................J.V :Y.'rr:.14.14. ".......,...............hJ M1 ...... .... ... n ... ..'.. ........ t..............Y.... L.....J............ ............ f .. n r......"...,h....r .... :5.. p."......,(. r .........r . .. ............... " 1.....1"... ."..1..A . 4 4 L . ....... ......... ...... ........... ,...,......,.... .. .. t t 1 . M .h L .:'h 8 k rl .+ .." ..... ::. ..::r, .. ....t. r... .". r ...... ...... ... .. .... ....: ..... {. ...... ... ... .. .... ... .. f..r.n. ..511 ... ..........1.....h......, . ... . ..r5 ....." f A. .{f. . . 1 t5} . t. , . . i............,. .. 5.. { 1. } h. ". . 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In the guise of the Washington, D.C., General Services Administration which speaks for policemen, firemen and othei civic agencies, the Administration has refused to grant parade and rally per- mits for the October 21 March on Wash- ington. The GSA did not object to the parade or rally-which are the only per- mits being sought--but laid down an ul- timatum that the National Mobilizing Committee renounce any association with individuals who intend subsequent- ly to attempt ;a civil disobedient sit-in at the Pentagon.. Furthermore, the GSA said, permits would not be issued upon renouncing the sit-in unless picketing of the Pentagon is also abandoned. Reaction from representatives of a hundred peace, anti-war, political and civil rights groups sponsoring the march was predictably strong. They denounced the ultimatum as "completely unaccept- able" and engaged legal counsel to seek a lift on the permit ban. "We call on all Americans," the group said, "regardless of their stand on the war, to support the rights of assembly, speech and redress of grievances guar- anteed by the Constitution and the bill of rights." .Instead of limiting support for the march to the few millions overtly op- posed to the military war, the Johnson Administration has forced an escalation of dissent to the level of civil liberties. More persons than ever before willrally around this issue of freedoms funda- mental to the American body politic. INSTEAD OF discretely avoiding a "con- frontation with the peacemakers"' at the Pentagon , by issuing permits for routes away from the building, the au- thorities chose to blankly oppose the protestors by issuing demands that are morally unacceptable to persons who consider their actions morally righteous. Dr. Benjamin Spock has vowed, to speak at the Lincoln Memorial rally whatever the legal status of his speech, even if it means jail., And there are others more resolute than ever to go through with the program. Instead of bottling up dissent, the authorities have shown the repressive side of domestic politics that emerges from pursuit of an unconscienable foreign policy. Unless the Administration backs down or reaches an acceptable compromise, it risks making martyrs of the marchers and risks a betrayal of the freedoms for which it proclaims the necessity of de- fending in Vietnam. -DAVID KNOKE To the Editor: 1UHE SHOCK that was in store for me at the Goldwater seg- ment of Controversy '67 was only partially expected. I say partially because I only expected it from one source, the speaker. It came, instead from two: Barry Gold- water, himself, and the audience attendant upon him. I should like to say, as an aside, that Mr. Goldwater conducted himself well. This is especially true if one noticed the highly ir- responsible actions of the UAC moderator. No, he didn't smoke this time. But he did stand at the podium during the entire post- address discussion, segments of which were quite long, clapping in response to the highly partisan statements of both sides. This, I claim, is not the function of a moderator. His is not to add to the audience's emotionality. In- deed, he is expected to temper the situation, to epitomize the aspect of' calm and reason. His sole func- tion is to introduce the speakers, and to provide a medium through which those on the floor who wish to speak may be recognized. BUT, TO GET back to the sub- ject at hand, I walked out of Hill gat 5:00, two hours after the lec- ture-panel discussion commenced, a very shocked and sad person. I was shocked, mainly, by one Gold- water statement which seemed to reflect his entire political and moral position. In response to the question "Do you value the honor of your country over the respect of human life?" he replied an adamant "YES!" This response was immediately followed by long, sustained applause. One fellow in front of me was clapping so vigor- ously that, in the interests of fair- play to which I unfortunately com- mit myself at times, I felt con- strained to tell him that his par- tisanship was showing. He replied, giving me a haughty look, "Yes, I'm a partisan, and I'm proud of, it!" Upon what possible moral stance does Barry Goldwater claim that his country's honor is more im- portant than human life? I remind him, and all individuals, that gov- ernments exist for the benefit of the people, not the other way around. I further remind him of a famous philosopher, John Stuart Mill, whose stand it was, if I may sum up: the fact that a decision is made by a majority of those concerned does not make it moral- main point was that once we win (and he is assured that we will), we should have a national debate on the concept of war in general. This is a noble view, but when questioned as to the logic of the idea, he replied with the value statement I first cited: honor above life! MR. GOLDWATER emphasized -that a military victory in Vietnam is possible. He said that such a victory would be obtained when Ho Chi Minh calls for negotiation, saying that North Vietnam can't win the war. One wonders if it has occurred to Mr. Goldwater that there is a difference between ad- mitting that one cannot win, and admitting that one is losing. There is no dichotomy of win or lose, for there is also stalemate. Ho Chi Minh has resources to draw on and conviction of his own values to rely on. He will not necessarily claim defeat just be- cause he cannot win. By the same token, the U.S. cannot claim a military victory just because North Vietnam cannot win, for the U.S. seems to be in the same position. Even given the credibility gap, there is no definite evidence to be shown that the U.S. is winning the war. We do know that we are not losing it militarily, but we are not sure that we are winning it. Ac- cording to the Goldwater defini- tion and logic, then, we can allow a claim, of "military victory" to North Vietnam. THEREFORE, I make ,this ap- peal. If we want to be intelligent, we must eliminate the double-talk, the confusion of reasonable discus- sion with emotional reaction based on individual values. The world is full of differing ideas, abased on, different, but nonetheless vital, cultures. Mr. Goldwater's "honor of a country" might be foolish to some, catastrophic for others. They might be agreeable to still more. But that does not mean he is right, nor does it mean that such value must be established as fact. I lament the fact, and apologize to myself, that I was shocked; but, feeling so lost in audience obvi- ously partisan and emotional, I hope may be excused. This certain- ly gives some convincing evidence that the Ann Arbor campus is not as liberal as many fear, or would like to think. There were a great many conservative students at that lecture. Maybe someone will tell me that I am the partisan. Well, yes, I am; I love my life, despite its various setbacks, and I am proud of it! --Dane Harwood, '69 Gravy Train To the Editor: EFERENCE is made to the pro- posal submitted to SOC by Council member E. 0. Knowles, '70 which would cease SGC spon- sorship of pre-meeting dinners for the Executive Board. With this proposal, President Kahn's "mo- ment of interest" seems to have arrived. Unfortunatel'y the "in- terest" is not focused on any campus issue but on the growing conflict within SGC itself. It is pleasing to note that' Sam- Sher- man, Mike Davis, and Lew Paper have found in the proposal an ac- curate measure of what SGC means to them: all three threaten-. ed to' resign if they don't get their two free meals a week. Kahn, sup- porting the trio, likewise displayed unusual "responsibility" by threat- ening not to appoint new members to fill the vacancies, should they arise. The casual, arbitrary manner with which some Council mem- bers choose issues on which to stake the future of that body is al- arming and, indeed, a political travesty. Sam Sherman termed the motion which passed a vote of no confidence against the board. This is, of course, a highly inaccurate description of a move designed to cut expenditures in a year in which Treasurer Sherman himself has admitted revenues may easily fall short of expenses. The debated cash is $640 an- nually designated for Executive Board meals. That figure stands in addition to $680 in officers' sala- ries and is three times the amount appropriated for Student Con- sumers' Union. Surely if this out- lay can be eliminated or at least saved for use elsewhere, it would be to everyone's benefit. Let the strategy for meetings be worked out by the board on Wednesday night instead of Thursday over $2.00 a plate dinners. Finally, if members of the Ex- ecutive Board are so tired or dis- enchanted with their office as to still seek excuse for leaving, a stu- dent poll conducted on the Diag tomorrow might well provide a more substantial no confidence vote to. justify an early retirement. -Lonnie C. Von Renner,'68E Up, Up and Away in My Beautiful Balloon ly right, nor does an attitude ac- quire truth even if it is a majority opinion. The question of war? Mr. Gold- water tells us that he is, of course, in favor of eliminating war. But I. ask, how? By holding honor above human life? That is exactly what leads to war. What makes any in- dividual think that his value sys- tem is better than another's? Do you kill a man because he believes in communism? Is that sufficient cause? Is there a sufficient cause? Can you, with moral conviction, put a woman to the stake because she believes in spirits? What kind of a society do we live in where a man's even a group's, honor is more valuable than a human life? I can easily see why Mr. Goldwater was not included in the "Voices of Civilization." BUT WHAT SCARED me most was that, to judge from the audi- ence's acceptance of this philoso- phy, this is the value system that our country holds. I do not claim to be an expert on the use of in- ternational power; but, I can un- derstand now why Americans want to be the world's police force. One is led to believe, from his remarks, that Mr. Goldwater would murder Ho Chi Minh or Harold Wilson if the President-no not the Presi- dent-if Congress and public opin- ion told him that it was vital to .the "Honor of The Country" that he do so. But I conjecture; possi- bly Mr. Goldwater is more rational than that, and would question such an order. I would bet, how- ever, that my partisan friend in the audience would go right ahead. And he would be proud of this compliance. I realize that this presentation is not very scholarly. My use of first person counters, to some ex- tent, whatever logic and fact I present. I submit, however, that this is indeed a statement of opin- ion, an emotional reaction to a display of moral standards ex- hibited under which I would be afraid to live. I do not claim Mr. Goldwater to be a McCarthy; neither do I claim him to be a Hubert Humphrey. Maybe he did foresee a Vietnam involvement when he ran for of- fice in 1964. But of what relevance is this? He did not present us with a realistic solution to war. His Getting To Know You' THE ACCUSATIONS are flying fast and furious over at the Student Activities Building. SGC's executive board feels they've been slighted and consequently may have to resign, membeis of council say they "don't like to play politics, but ." and, in the words of a newly ap- pointed Council member, "the whole thing looks pretty darn complicated." The whole thing is pretty complicated, but It doesn't really have anything to do with dinners or money. The problem is really a basic antagon- ism that some members of council feel for the executive board. They seem to feel that the board is overbearing and unpleasant at SGC meetings and unfair- ly attempts to dominate the proceedings. So a motion was made last Thursday night to take the board's dinners away from them. Although some of the mo- tion's backers claim that the purpose 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 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, was to conserve Council's admittedly, limited funds, others say that they want- ed the motion to "put the board in its place." Whatever the original intent of the motion to stop financing the five-man board's dinners twice a week, not many people deny that it was mishandled on its way to the Council floor! An attempt was deliberately made to keep the con- tent of the motion from the members of the executive board for as long as possible. Bad feelings were needlessly built up. THE EXECUTIVE board is not; of course, without fault in this situation. To an extent, they are guilty of express- ing the overbearing attitude that an- noys some of Council's members. But if Council wants the board to stop acting the way they do, they should just ask. And if Council wanted to save money on board dinners, they should have just asked. But they were wrong in trying to tie the two issues together. In the end, though, it doesn't really matter who's at fault here. What does matter is that Council is falling apart- not over the ridiculous issue of execu- tive board dinners, but over the personal tensions that exist between the board nn.. +1..a m nnmlh rc' _ FEIFFER I. GDATOM INT ADVIOCATE B2U NMRG4 CTIES AtOP lt'J / I YOO CALL A MCT 7'O viscuJ55 IT OP -WT~ L4au, nMGrO TO cos' it.r /oo jI \ Wt Ak)Tl- T OMLY Ri RUACK ~ AHEPICA 'EAR t A019 -OUCAL I A ES'T 10 Tf0pKcvs !T I AM12 RM YTOU CLU5A IT- , . - I I