Cl hl Mtriigan aiy
Sixty-Eighth Year
EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
, UNDER AUTHORITY OF BOARD IN CONTROL OF STUDENT PU3LICATIONS
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS BLDG. * ANN ARBOR, MICH, * Phone NO 2-3241
"Tell You What-We'll Help Some Of You Go On
To Overcrowded Colleges"
nions Are Fre
Will Prevail"
orials printed in The Michigan Daily express the individual opinions of staf writers
or the editors. Thisrmust be noted in all reprints.
AY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1958
NIGHT EDITOR: MICHAEL KRAFT
The Daily's Obligation-
To the University Community
)
..
S A CAMPUS newspaper, The Daily could,
take any one of a variety of forms.
t could be a public relations organ for the
iversity, painting life in Ann Arbor as su-
emely idyllic, everything the way it should
It could be an announcement sheet, re-
rting every campus event - sort of an out-
ed Daily Official Bulletin. It could be the
mpus pep sheet, rooting hard for all the
ims. It could be the campus social reporter,'
ying J-Hop, I-Hop and K-Hop as the big-
st events of the year, and even, as some,
her college papers do, reporting on all the
innings" of the week. Or it could compete
th the regular newspapers, clipping all its
ws "hot" from the wires of the Associated
ess, adding a few professional columnists to
md it out.
However, if The Daily did take any of these
'ms, it would not really be a newspaper; and
would not adequately serve the needs of a,
eat University community.
'HE DAILY has a special task for several
reasons. First, it is one of the few major
:i1for all the members of the community: a
nmunity, it should be noted, with interests
diverse as those of the Classical Languages
partment and the Michigan Research In-
'tute. And somehow The Daily should be a:
ding force for all of these segments. It must
lp to serve as the head for all the arms of
e giant octopus which is the University.
Not only is The Daily a unifying force in
diversity life, but it is located in a commu-
y which stands for rather high intellectual
hievement. This means that the determina-
n of what is important must, in some sense,
govetned by the standards set by a great'
iversity. Thus, the establishment of an
inors Council on campus is more important
an a brawl in front of the P-Bell: or the
oblems in the Middle East are more signi-
ant than a rape in Detroit.
The Daily is also obligated in its role as a
ifying factor on campus to encourage dis-
ssion of issues which are or should be of con-
rn but not necessarily limited to the campus
mnmunity. This does help to bring the di-
rse groups on campus more closely togeth-
; but it fulfills another function which is
brought to Daily editorials will often not be
the best. But the issues are those the staff
believes are most important, and the thinking
is the best the staff has to offer. There really
can.be no other way.
The Daily is an idealists' paradise in a good
many ways. It may be one of the only news-
papers in the world where there neeti not be
any compromise with honesty. Sixty-Eight
Years of Editorial Freedom is something more
than a slogan; it is a fact which many staff
people and members of the administration and
faculty, have fought hard to maintain when-
ever that freedom has been threatened.
NOT ONLY is The Daily free from adminis-
trative pressure, but because it is not a
profit-making institution in the strict sense,
it also is not forced to cowtow to advertisers.
Further, The Daily is not in a competitive
situation where it has to use every device pos-
sible in order to win circulation. This does not
mean The Daily should be uuresponsive to its
readership; the contraryIs true to some extent.
But it does mean The Daily does not have to
compromise with the facts in order to titillate
its readers.
Of course, with this freedom goes the re-
sponsibility that goes with every freedom. Axd
it is more than a responsibility not to sland r
or report inaccurately; it is a responsibility to
be of real service to the community.
BUT "REAL SERVICE" to the comiunity,
must be defined broadly. It means, first,
that the welfare of the community is placed
ahead of the welfare of any individual group;
especially when the group contributes to mak-
ing the campus a poorer place to live and world,
The Daily is not concerned with supporting
any group per se and it is not concerned with
hiding anybody's proverbial dirty linen simply
because display of it might prove embarrassing.
And "real service" does not mean that The
Daily should assiduously avoid criticizing the
University or bringing unfavorable publicity
to it. Unpleasant news or critical editorials are
often more valuable to the institution in the
long run than suppression of these. As a news-
paper The Daily must hold to the belief that
an informed citizenry is not only a worthwhile
goal, but a necessary one; that blind, uncritical
belonging to an institution will never be to
the ipstitution's advantage.
The Daily staff has the obligation to help
nurture an informed and vigorous cohesive
community. It has the privilege of discharging
this task according to the highest standards es-
tablished by the journalistic profession. And
it -must work to fullfil the obligation and main-
tain the privilege despite any pressures to the
contrary.
-RICHARD TAUB
Editor
(
NUMEROUS PROBLEMS:
Campus: Issues' A ffect Students
By JOHN WEICHER
Daily City Editor
ON A CAMPUS as large as that
of the University, numerous
problems arise which concern stu-
dents, faculty and administration
--problems ranging from the es-
tablishment of a student bookstore
to the disestablishment of J-Hop.
These diverse matters are lump-
ed together under the catch-all
heading of "campus issues." They
all have one thing in common:
some part of the University com-
munity is deeply concerned with'
any given one of them, and regards
the particular issue as being of
major importance to it.
Naturally, the larger the part of
the community concerned with the
issue, the greater that particular
issue looms.
At present a large percentage of
the student body has no interest
action was "for the good of the
sorority as a whole."
This brought the national so-
rority into conflict with SGC, due
to a University regulation stating
,that no group which practices
racial or religious discrimination
in membership could establish it-
self on campus in future.
(The regulation was approved
by the- Board of Regents in 1949.
Sigma Kappa was reactivated on
campus in 1955, after the Dean of
Women read the sorority's con-
stitution to see if it had ,such a
clause. It did not.)
In December 1956, SGC ruled
that national Sigma Kappa was
in violation of University regula-
tions; two months later it gave the
sorority until September of this
year to prove it was no longer in
violation. The sorority held its
national convention this summer.
zld be concerned with help-
ae University community a
ce in which to live and to
ild work toward this as a
newspaper which will con-
e vigor of the institution in
issues The Daily staff sees as most im-
t both from a news and an editorial
oint may not be the most important in
bstract absolute sense; the thinking
Sigma Kappa in rousing many stu- sive forces.
dents from their apathy. For some, When drama proves continually
it is even more important. dissatisfying to an audience, the
SGC established for women in people, refusing to repeat their
1955 a trial period of spring rush- subjection to boredom or disgust,
ing, rather than both fall and do not support further perform-
spring, as had been the practice ances.
previously. The plan first went Lack of support results in a fi-
into effect in the spring of 1957. nancial drain on the acting group
Panhellanic Association will con- which, in turn, forces dramatic
duct deferred rush again this standards to be lowered still fur-
year, because little can be learned ther. The chicken and the egg de-
upon a one year trial. The group velop simultaneously.
has expressed dissatisfaction with This conclusio nis a valid one; it
the spring rush on the grounds forces the responsibility for the
that, with such a rush, women effectiveness and inertia of Ann
have a chance to determine which Arbor theater to be divided equal-
are the so-called "best" houses ly between producers and consum-
on campus. Consequently, women
set their minds on pledging certain Claims that student apathy, ig-
houses, paying no attention to norance, and disinterest, create an
others which might be iore suited essentially infertile field where no
to them and whose members they drama, however energetic, may
might find more congenial. survive are partially true.
-As a result, some houses do not "Name" plays - often worthless
make their quotas, as happened ones - draw the only substantial
last spring, although, it should be crowds, while more worthwhile
pointed out that members of productions 'are performed before
houses have not made their quotas rows of vacant seats. Elvis Presley
before. and Yul Brynner seem to offer
Proponents of the spring rush entertainment that is more ap-
have argued that the women are pealing to the average undergrad-
given a chance to.get their bear- uate than anything the stage can
ings before being caught up in the provide.
rushing whirlwind. Most women prvie a * C"
have had a semester of college
when spring rush comes and are THE FAULT, however, is not
therefore better able to select the entirely due to the weakminded-
houses they want. ness of overgrown adolescents.
SGC last year established a Plenty of sensible people around
committee to get the opinions of town would be perfectly willing to
women actives and. rushees on the, support plays that were reason-
spring rush system. Its report will ably well chosen, well acted, and
be made this fall, well produced. Unfortunately, they
It seems certain that the Coun- are not offered the opportunity.
cil will again consider the issue Works picked for box office ap-
this year. When it does, many peal alone are often poorly writ-
more students than is customary ten and usually unsuited to the
will take an active interest in talents available. The few good
campus affairs again, plays that manage to reach actual
s * e pre s e n t a t i o n level are either
A QUESTION affecting the en- watered-down or over-esoteric in
tire community is the proposed their appeal.
student book store. The Union Poor, business management and
Board of Directors has ordered a sparse technical resources do not
study of the feasibility of such a make for ready financial success
store, even when attendance is high.
At present, the Regents are on
record that no University enter- THE SITUATION can get very
prise may compete with local busi- little worse; it can, on. the other
nesses. However, there are note- hand, -get infinitely better. Edu-
worthy exceptions such 'as the cation brings with.it several rather
Union Grill and South Quad's binding commitments, and it
"Club 600." seems possible that a responsibili-
One point of importance here is ty to what may be called the arts
whether the store will match the is one of them.
prices of local merchants or at- A small bit of discrimination on,
tempt to effect savings for the the part of both -audience and
students by selling books at or producer would do a great deal to
near cost. Student-run bookstores improve the general tone of the
at some universities (notably theater that still exists, and pos-
Michigan State) follow the former sibly pave the way for a minor
practice. renaissance of local drama.
Why The Daily Signs Editorials:
i Promotion of Individual Thought
PURPOSE but no policy.
An aim but no target.
Contradictory, perhaps, but the description
many ways characterizes The Daily's editorial
ge and its sometimes surprising presentation
opposing opinion. For The Daily's traditional
ncept of the editorial page includes emphasis
t on promotion of a single viewpoint or edi-
rial "line" as usually found in newspapers,
t rather on discussing a problem from various
Les, stimulating thought, and providing inter-
etation of world and local events.
MEDIUM for this and a unique feature of
The Daily is the signed editorial. Presenting
individual rather than a staff viewpoint, the
Itorials are signed by their author and no
forts are made to insure that editorials in The
ily conform to a particular policy.
Only in the case of very infrequent senior
itorials, written and signed by The Daily's
nlor editors, will The Daily express a collective
inion, usually about an important campus
e.
The variety of attitudes which mark the
itorial page may have its disadvantages, but
Atr~i, I
the aim of providing the fullest possible dis-
cussion of worthwhile issues is considered far
more important, especially in a University com-
munity_ concerned with the thinking 'and
searching processes.
For the aim of the editorial page goes beyond
the first paragraph of the Code of Ethics for
The Michigan Daily which states, "The editorial
page of The Daily shall not reflect one point of
view to the exclusion of all others." The Daily
editorial page attempts In a sense to be an
extension of the University itself, adopting the
ideals of an environment that strives to ,en-
courage, stimulate and promote thought.
IMPLIED in this is a certain spirit. In part, it
is that of a questioning mind, the asking of
"why" behind certain action and the attempt
to scrutinize issues and attitudes for their,
significance and merit. At times, the editorial
examination may be unpleasant, questioning
often is, especially when directed towards mem-
bers of the University community. At times It
admittedly may be insufficient or superficial.'
But although the force may occasionally be
lacking behind the aim, an editorial page should
continually strive to aid the motion of thought'
and ideas flowing between men, in an attempt
to prevent the solidification of attitudes into
a hard rigid pattern.a
Acceptance of a set "line," whether editorial
or otherwise, often entails a lack of mental,
flexibility, and an unwillingness "to regard the
alternative approaches to issues. It can lead to
- the promotion of a bias, not thought, and of all
places, this is least welcome in an academic
atmosphere.
HOWEVER, the medium of signed editorials
is not the only way in which The Daily's
editorial page attempts to stimulate and serve
intellectual activity. Reviews, local and syndi-
cated columns, along with interpretive features
on a variety of topics also appear. A recent
innovation is the focusing of an entire editorial
AROUSED INTEREST-Occasional campus issues, such as spring
rushing or the Sigma Kappa violation draw overflow crowds, as,
pictured above, to Student Government Council meetings.
in any campus issue. For example,
the number of persons voting in
Student Government Council elec-
tions has never topped one-third
of the number of students on cam-
pus. Requests by committees for'
student opinion on various mat-
ters have met with a deep silence;
often committee meetings to hear
the views of students are cancelled
when no students show up.
THE REASONS for this "stu-
dent apathy" (the term is now a
cliche) are varied. Many students
simply do not think campus issues
--at least outside the exclusively
academic sphere - are important
enough to take time away from
their pursuit of knowledge.
Praiseworthy though this single-
minded quest may be, the students
working on this assumption fail to
take account that, like it or not,
they are not living in a library for.
four years. but are part of a com-
munity. Such students ignore the
world in which they mustlive.
There are also those students
who may more properly be termed
apathetic. They prefer to leave
such issues to other people-any
other people-to deal with; they:
would rather go to the movies
three nights a week and play cards
the rest of the time. However, they
always reserve the right to grum-
ble.
Foremost among the issues fac-
ing the campus this fall (as it has
been for the nast twon varg) is
Because racial and religious dis-
crimination are such important
issues on other campuses, the final
resolution of the issue may set a
precedent for colleges throughout
the country to follow.
Racial questions are also the
center of another campus issue:
dormitory integration. Last year a.
group of students questioned the
role race and religion played in
making . roommate assignments.
This group felt the members of
minority groups were being seg-
regated.
As a result of a student peti-
tion asking for dormitory integra-
tion, the Residence Halls Board of
Governors launched an investiga-
tion of the entire question of room-
mate assignment. The results
showed that the situation was
worse than the administration had
claimed and not as bad as it was
purported to be by the critics.
IN A MORE academic matter, a
University Committee on Rising
Enrollments has been established
by the administration. The com-
mittee, requested by SOC in May
1957, will go into operation this
Fall. A steering committee last
spring charted problems for the
group to study, in the general area
of the effect of increasing enroll-
ment at the University.
Another ,committee last spring
studied the University calendar,
in an attempt to come up with
amthini mnr e nvr4 h fr
Editorial Staff
RICHARD TAUB, Editor
1EL KRAFT JC
'rial Director
3HN WEICHE1
City Editor
DAVID TARR
Associate Editor
1NTOR....................Personnel Director
LLOUGHBY.......Associate Editorial Director
ORGENSON ........... Associate City Editor
TOMPKINS..,....Assistant Features Editor
rH ERSKINE....Associate Personnel Director
NES.........................Sports Editor
SEMAN...............Associate Sports Editor
SAN. ... .......Associate Sports Editor
RNOLD ..................Chief Photographer
Business Staff
STEVEN TOPOL Rus m inessMan a
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