CONSTITUTIONAL STORM
OVER DISTRICT SCHOOLS
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Seventy-Six Years of Editorial Freedom
VOL. LXXVII, No. 60S ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1967 SEVEN CENTS
FOUR PAGES
PASSAGE LIKELY:
House To Vote on Resolution
Challenging MSU Tuition Plan
By JENNY STILLER
The state House of Represen-
tatives Will vote today on a reso-
lution calling on Michigan State
University to abandon plans for
a proposed tuition system based
on a student's ability to pay.
The resolution, which was in-
troduced recently by Rep. Gustave
J. Groat (R-Battle Creek) with
the assent of 60 House members,
was reported favorably out of
committee yesterday.
The measure will not need Sen-
ate approval. If passed, it will be
sent to each member of the MSU
Board of Trustees, President John
Hannah and various members of
the MSU administration.
The resolution would have no
legal force, but it is expected that
it will have an effect on the MSU
trustees, who wish to keep the
university in favor with the Leg-
SIslatureits main source of funds.
There is still time for alterations
in the plan, since classes at MSU
will not start until October.
The resolution terms the MSU
plan, under which a student's
tuition would be determined by
his family's income, "unknown by
any other institution of higher
learning and untried by any oth-
er college or university."
It calls on the trustees to "re-
vise their tuition fee plan to a
straight across - the - board in-
crease or to make adjustments in
individual tuition fees based on a
set amount rather than by indi-
vidual family incomes and the
graduated scale of one's ability to
pay."
In addition, the resolution terms
the ability-to-pay plan "unsound"
and "unworkable" and charges
that it imposes an "undemocratic
principle of requiring each student
to reveal his family's income,
NEWS WIRE
Late World News
By The Associated Press
SAIGON-Viet Cong artillerymen struck close to Saigon
early this mornin, wounding 21 Americans in mortar attacks
on a large U.S. Navy installation and nearby fuel storage area,
the U.S. command said.
The 25-minute strike with mortars caused considerable dam-
age to a pier, U.S. spokesmen said. The installation is used to
direct river boats against Communist guerrillas.
WYANDANCH, N.Y.-Police escorted firemen to a series of
fires late last night in a second night of racial disturbances in
this Long Island community.
Negro youths threw stones and glass at firemen fighting
a truck fire in the city's main street. Several automobiles were
set afire and fires also were reported in a paint store and a
Veterans of Foreign Wars post. Suffolk County police said "a few
firemen were injured" by flying glass and rocks.
THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY has appealed to "all members
of the University community" for contributions to help meet the
emergency needs of victims of the Detroit riots. The Senate Ad-
visory Committee on University Affairs has sent a letter to all
faculty and staff members asking contributions to aid "displaced
families and individuals."
Checks payable to the Interfaith Emergency Committee may
be mailed or taken to the SACUA office in Room 2512 of U-M's
Administration Building. The money will be channeled through
the Interfaith Emergency Center in Detroit.
* * * *
THOMAS A. BUTTS will succeed Herbert C. Sigman as the
University's director of Orientation on Sept. 1. Butts, who joined
the University in 1964 as an admissions- counselor, has been
serving as assistant director of admissions for the past year.
Sigman is leaving the University to become assistant to the
dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Bucknell University.
MARIJUANA EXPERIENCES were reported by 37 per cent
of a recent survey at Eastern Michigan University. The poll was
taken among summer students by the Echo,. the student news-
paper. Only 161 responses were received and Ypsilanti police said
that the sample was unrepresentative and that the use of mari-
juana is much lower than the survey indicates.
* * * *
PEOPLE WHO SEE POVERTY from the loan office, the ju-
dicial bench, the government desk, and the city street will gather
at the University late this month to examine barriers to equal
opportunity. The two-day conference, Aug. 25-26, was planned
before last week's tumult in Detroit.
"But Detroit inevitably will enter into much of the discussion,
even though the conference is not intended as a post-mortem
of that disaster," said Roy W. Gaunt, assistant to the dean of
School of Social Work.
Among the speakers will be Undersecretary Wilbur Cohen of
the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; Asst. Atty.
Gen. John Doar, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights
Division; Detroit City Councilman Mel Ravitz, who is a Wayne
State University sociologist, and Judge Wade T. McCree of the
U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.
which is contrary to the American
basic principles of family secrety."
Meanwhile, MSU Trustee Frank
Merriman (R-Deckerville) ques-
tioned the constitutionality of the
new fee plan, and said he may
request an opinion from the At-
torney's General office on the
matter. He also said he might
consult with the Michigan Civil
Rights Commission (CRC) as to
whether the sliding fee schedule
might be considered discrimina-
tory. Merriman, along with the
two other Republican trustees,
voted against the - ability-to-pay
plan, which was supported by all
five Democratic trustees.
The new fee schedule provides
that in-state students from fam-
ilies earning $11,800 or less will
pay the minimum $354 and stu-
dents whose family income is
$16,666 or more will pay the maxi-
mum $500. Students from fam
ilies with incomes between $11,800
and $16,666 will pay a tuition rate
which is three per cent of their
parents gross income. At present,
in-state students pay $358.50 tui-
tion per year.
Graduated Tax
Merriman said the new fee
schedule may be unconstitutional
on the grounds that the Michigan
constitution prohibits graduated
income tax.
"If the constitution prohibites
the Legislature from passing a
graduated income tax, I don't see
how the trustees can pass a grad-
uated tuition," he said.
MSU officials have also pri-
vately raised the same question.
One said he expected the univer-
sity to be sued before December,
based on the alleged constitution-
ality.
Merriman said he was unsure
what steps would be taken if the
CRC took issue with the trustees'
action. He said that the CRC
might hold hearings with MSU,
which might result in court act-
ion if they considered the ability-
to-pay plan unfairly discrimin-
atory against certain groups.
"But it might be enough just
to bring the whole issue to the
public's attention," he said.
Critical Letters
Merriman stated that he had
received numerous letters from
students, parents, and alumni cri-
ticizing the new fee system.
"And in all my discussions with
people so far, I haven't found
anyone, regardless of income, who
favors this new system," he said.
Rep. Groat, in a letter to the
MSU trustees, argued that while
the increase in tuition adopted by
the trustees was necessary, it was
"purely discriminatory."
"I have never in my life heard
of such asinine tuition program as
the one outlined by the Board of
Trustees," he wrote. "If for one
moment you think I am going
to take this lying down, you are
badly mistaken.
Citizens' RightsI
"You can rest assured that the
Civil Rights Commission not only
deals with problems involving the
pigment of one's skin, but it also
investigates any and all action
taken by an individual, company,
board of education, college or
university when it comes within
the realm of the rights of any
citizen," he added.
Groat was also highly critical
of MSU viewing copies of income
tax returns, which students will
probably have to present at reg-
istration to determine their tuit-
ion rate.
"Knowledge of the income of
parents of students attending
college is not the concern of the
Board of Trustees of any college
or university," he said.
Hit Impasse
In Teacher
Salary Talks
Romney Warns State
Of Educational Crisis
If Teachers Hold Out
By The Associated Press
With September fast approach-
ing, over half the school districts
in the state have failed to reach
contract agreements with their
teachers.
At a meeting earlier this week
with representatives of school
boards and teacher unions, Gov.
George Romney warned that the
state "faces a real education cris-
is" becausesof a lag in contract
negotiations.
The Michigan Education Asso-
ciation, a teacher group, report-
ed to the governor that 217 of its
districts had signed contracts for
teachers and 295 had contracts
still pending.
"About 81 of these are critical,"
association attorney Ted Swift
said of the negotiations. "They are
all over the state, from Wayne
County to the Upper Peninsula.
In some, negotiations have broken
down, In others, there is no prog-
ress."
Status a Talks
The Michigan Federation of
Teachers, AFL-CIO, reported that
of 22 contract negotiations, five
had reached agreement and about
10 were "critical."
Swift said the late decision by
the Legislature on school aid and
the number of elections on school
,millage pending heped account
for the lag in negotiations and
contract agreenents with teach-
ers.
the teachers ar getting to the
point wrhere they think the onl3'
way to educate the publi : is to
show a little musle,. said Swift.
Walter Averill of Saginaw. pres-
ident of the Michigan Association
of School Boards, suggested that
the governor call the Legislature
back and ask for more money for
the schools.
'Impossible'
"What you are askng is im-
posible at this time," Romne' de-
c "red. "The Lliaure is no.
prepared to do it."
Romney said. if he did m'ke
any such recommendation, all the
school boards would sit back and
v sit to see if the Legislature ;vas
gong to give them more money.
The governor was disturbed be-
cause there were no represent-
atives atethe meeting from the
Detroit School Board of the De-
troit Board of Education. Teacher
contract negotiations in Detroit
have been postponed until Aug. 28.
"We can't let the Detroit school
situation just drift," Romney said.
He said he would try to arrange
a later meeting with Detroit rep-
resentatives.
The school districts were re-
minded they face a penalty of the
loss of two days of state aid for
every day missed from the re-
quired 180 days of school.
Millage Tax
Swift said many districts are
refusing to vote millage for school
aid. He suggested that the gov-
ernor ask the Legislature to allow
school millage elections after Sept.
1 as one way of easing the prob-
lem.
"It has some political possibili-
ties," said Romney. "I'd be willing
to support and push it."
In return, Romney asked the
school boards and teacher unions
to agree to keep schools open
while they are negotiating a con-
tract and waiting for a vote on
school millage.
It was decided to put the agree-
ment in writing to see if the
teacher unions and school boards
would approve it.
-Associated Press
HOLDING ACTION
A rigid curfew empties the streets of Milwaukee at 8:30 every night because of the recent civil
disorders. Sniping and firebombings were reported again yesterday even though National Guards-
men are patroling every major intersection. Violence erupted in Providence, R. I. and on eastern
Long Island yesterday morning, but generally the racial scene was quieter coast to coast.
WIDESPREAD CONCERN:
'U' Experts Blame Civil Strife
OnDeprived Inner City Li-ving
State Senate
To Start
By JILL CRABTREE
Second of a Three-Part Series
The causes of recent outbreaks
of racial violence in thernation's
cities and means of preventing
them are topics currently caus-
ing much debate among concerned,
individuals at the University.
Among representatives of the Uni-
versity's departments of psychol-
ogy, sociology and social work re-
cent interviews revealed a gener-
al agreement that the root of the
problem is the frustration felt by
Negroes at the inadequacy and
deprivation of their life in the
inner city.
Otis D. Duncan, a professor ofl
Invstig ation of Riot s
This is not the case. They arer
not stealing food; they are steal-
ing television sets and cashmere
sweaters. They are fighting the
system, not fighting for food."
Segal explained that the Neg-
roes' burning of their own neigh-
borhoods is considered "irra-
tional" by s o m e observers,
which the Negro lives, this be-
havior is highly rational," he said.
"If I were buying a television set
on time payments, and still had
$400 left to pay, I might very
well feel like burning down the
store where I bought it and des-
troying the records."
Although a consensus w a s
sociology who has courses on so- reached among those interviewed
cial stratification, described the as to the underlying causes of the
Negro predicament this way: riots, opinions differed widely as
"Negroes cannot turn any gains to how best to prevent them. Sug-
they make on one front to gains gestions ranged from integrated
on another front. If they manage housing programs to reapportion-
to get the same schooling as a ment or seizure of political power.
white man, they find they can Duncan felt that one of the most
only get an inferior job. If they necessary steps is abolishing the
are in the same job as a white Negro ghetto.
man, they find they are paid less. "As long as it is known that
If they get the same income, they everyone who is black must live'
will have to pay more rent for only in certain quarters and must'
the same quality house as a white stay away from others, he said,
"man."
mrioMi"tthen everyone who lives there-
Strain nMgat lh a rrn awn nc
only enforce open occupancy laws,
but also provide both protection
%nd financial aid for Negroes
wanting to move into non-Negro
areas.
Vintner, on the contrary, said
he did not .believe any program of
relocation would solve the Negro's
problem. "Not that I -am not in'
favor of integrated housing, but it
does not attack the problem of
poverty," he noted.
Vintner said what is needed is
increased political power for the
Negro. He said this could be facil-
itated by reapportionment pro-
grams, as well as "removal of sys-
tematic denial of power." He said
rather than educating the white
population in the need for racial
equality, more efforts should be
made "to educate both white and
Negro low-income groups as to
what their rights and best in-
terests are."
Robert L. Kahn, said one of the'
greatest ills that besets the Negro
community is the problem of
alienation "by which mean that
Negroes do not feel they are
members of society. This implies,
but no plans have yet been de-
veloped for some kind of organi-
zation at the neighborhood level
that will give them this sense of
belonging. There has been a lot
of nostalgic talk about the town
meetings of the past, but so far
no plans for a modern urban.
organization that will fulfill this
function."
'Special Unit
Set To Study
Hearings on Detroit,
Other Affected Cities
Slated for September
LANSING (J)-A special Senate
Crime Investigation Committee
will probe last week's riots that
rocked Detroit and spread out-
state, killing 41 persons and caus-
ing millions of dollars in damage.
The Senate approved a resolu-
tion yesterday expanding the com-
mittee, appointed last April, from
six members to eight and boosting
its appropriations from $3,000 to
$10,000.
The committee chairman, Sen.
James Fleming (R-Jackson), said
the group will conduct a "dispas-
sionate, bipartisan and objective
investigation" into the civil dis-
turbances.
"Not only will we look into the
riots, but we also will recommend
needed legislation regarding crime
and law enforcement," said Flem-
ing, a former Jackson County
Prosecutor and former President
of the Michigan Prosecuting At-
torneys Association.,t
The group also will attempt to
determine if the riots were organ-
ized, he said.
'No Witch Hunt'
"I want to make it clear that
we are on no witch hunt," he said.
"Many persons, both Negro and
white, suffered great loss as a re-
sult of these disturbances and we
will do all we can to determine
the degree of criminal intent in
connection with the fires, looting
and shooting."
"Naturally, we will work close-
ly with all law enforcement agen-
cies but our prime purpose is to
determine w h e th e r corrective
legislation is indicated and, if so,
to prepare it for the next session
of the Legislature," he said.
Center in Detroit
The investigation will center in
Detroit and will include disturb-
ances in Grand Rapids and Flint
and possibly other Michigan cities
hit by rioting last week, Fleming .
said.
However, he added that "by the,
time the mechanics and proced-
ures are set up we probably
wouldn't be conducting any hear-
ings until September."
The bulk of the hearings will
be held in Detroit and Grand
Rapids, he said, and will Include
testimony by law enforcement of-
ficials, municipal officials, judges
and others.
"We'll take the whole approach
and what people have to say,"
Fleming said.
Report to Legislature
The committee may report to
the Legislature at the October spe-
cial session or possibly not until
next year's regular session, "de-
pending on the progress of the in-
vestigation," he added.
The committee members are:
Republican Sens. . Flening,
George Kuhn of Birmingham, Lor-
raine Beebe of Dearborn, and
John Toepp of Cadillac and Dem-
ocrats Raymond Dzend&l. Cole-
man Young, Arthur Cartwrght
and Stanley Roycki, a11 of De-
troit.
Young and Toepp were added
to the committee roster Wednes-
day. Young and Cartwright are
Negroes.
Kuhn had introduced a resolu-
tion Tuesday calling for a spe-
cial committee to investigate the
riots, but said Wednesday that he
felt the existing crime committee
could do the Job.
Study Crime Problem
The committee was set up by
the Senate last April to function
until Dec. 31, 1968, studying Mich-
igan's crime problem, thecauses
.and effects of crime and determ-
ining the necessary legislative tools
to combat the increasing crime
rate.
The group, by a majority vote
of its members, may subpoena
witnesses and examine books and
records of persons or groups in-
volved in a matter before it and
!I
STATE CUTBACKS NOT CRITICAL:
WSU Medical School Growth Continues
With New Construction, Increased Grants
Several of those interviewed cit-
ed as a contributing factor the'
special strain placed on Negroes
who have migrated from the rural
South to the urban North. Robert
D. Vintner, professor of social)
work, noted that the Negroes'
"basis of comparison" changes
when he moves into a northern
city.
"They feel their deprivation
more sharply," he added. "No one
promised them affluence in the
Mississippi Delta. In the city, they
can look down the street a few
blocks and see people getting all
the things they don't have. Their
expectations have been aroused
by the progress of recent admin-
istrations and the recent successes
of civil rights efforts. But they
often find that in reality they
are no better off now than ever."
Robert L. Kahn, professor of
psychology and program director
of the University's Survey Re-
earch Center, noted that as an
individual approaches a goal, the
forces driving him to reach that
goal increase. He cited the higher
incidence of jailbreaks among
prisioners near the end of their
sentence, and said that the prom-
ise made to Negroes that they
are approaching equality are "an
'U' Centrex System To Add
'763' Telephone Numbers
wnetner or not ne woui cliume
to move, given the choice-must
day by day . . . experience the re-
striction and humiliation that this
abridgement of freedom implies."
Duncan said that in order to
facilitate abolishment of the
ghetto, the government must not
Ten thousand different tele-
phone numbers are no longer
enough for the University.
The 764 exchange has been
complemented by the new 763
prefix, which will also be includ-
ed in the Centrex system.
The additional prefix will make
no difference in dialing proced-
ures, according to David J. Mc-
Kay, communications coordinator
for University telephone opera-
tions. Callers from outside the
University may reach any Uni-
versity phone by dialing all sev-
en digits. Within the University,
only the last five digits needed
to be dialed.
While the need for additional
nhnnP nlmerc..hc hPon ontlel-.
within the University have 764
numbers. Although 10,000 numbers
are available with any given pre-
fix, some numbers are retained for
changeovers when departments
add phones, and others are tem-
porarily retired as people change
offices or leave the University.
Should they be needed at any
time in the future, McKay noted
that an almost unlimited number
of units can be incorporated into
the Centrex system. Centrex was
first installed at the University in
1964. At that time the system
containde 8,300 numbers.
Fourteen operators work in
I round-the-clock shifts to handle
transfers and calls which come to
By WALLACE IMMEN
Second of Four Parts
A planned expansion of Wayne
State University Medical School
will not be seriously affected by
the severe cutbacks in state edu-
cational financing this year. When
construction of a $23.5 million
studies was allotted recently, while
many other state projects were
being cut back and a general
"freeze" in new construction was
being asked by Gov. George Rom-
ney.
A $2.1 million request for initial
construction on the state capital
outlay budget received one of the
tal of 32 "multi-discipline" labora-
tories will serve the classroom
function for groups no larger than
16 students each, and will be
equipped with calculators, type-
writers and closed circuit televi-
sion. Research laboratories, a li-
brary and lecture halls will also
be specially designed to allow the
goal set for them in a report sub-
mitted prepared by the Committee
On Health Care Education last
year, which found that without a
massive effort to increase the
capacity of medical schools in the
state, it will fall far short of
meeting the needs of the state's
students in the next fifteen years.
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