CHALLENGE AT MICHIGAN:
Evaluation and Prospectus
Ch
a Opinions ArO Free UNDER AUTHORITY OF BOARD IN CONTROL OF STUDENT PUBLICATIONS
utb Will Prvil"
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS BLDG. * ANN ARBOR, MICH..* Phone NO 2-3241
torials printed in The Michigan Daily express the individual opinions of staff writers
or the editors. This must be noted in all reprints.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Brian Glick,
162, was recently elected Spokesman
for next; semester's Challenge pro-
gram.)
By BRIAN GLICK
Daily Guest Writer
CHALLENGE was initiated last
spring to promote critical dis-
cussion of crucial contemporary
issues. We hoped to present an
ideal program. We have not fully
realized this ideal but we now
have a base from which to build.
This semester's program suffered
from many difficulties and mis-
takes; we are working to correct
these. I evaluate the Challenge of
American Civil Liberties in this
context and then present our,
spring program-the Challenge of
the Emerging Nations.
The Challenge of American Civ-
il Liberties presented four pre-col-
loquium speakers, four colloquium
speakers, and about 50 housing
unit and colloquium seminars.
These three aspects of the pro-
gram were not sufficiently inte-
grated. The speeches did not fol-
low a noticeable order and the
seminars did not relate directly to
the speeches.
The pre-colloquium speeches
were, generally, poor. Only Paul
Blanshard offered perceptive and
stimulating new ideas. Three of.
the four speakers advanced a lib-
eral-radical position. Only John
Hannah presented a somewhat
conservative point of view. Some
important topic areas were omit-
ted-notably academic freedom,
freedom of the press and control
of mass media by vested interests.
Less crucial aspects, particularly
"Civil Liberties in Labor Unions"
were discussed instead. This was
partially determined by the topic
preferences of the men who agreed
to speak.
THE COLLOQUIUM speeches
were much closer to the CHAL-
LENGE ideal. Michael Harrington
was particularly perceptive and ar-
ticulate. Colloquium attendance
was generally poor. This was due
to several factors: 1) conflict with
mid-terms and other academic
pressures,' 2) inadequate and
sometimes confused .publicity, 3)
campus disappointments with the
quality of the pre-colloquium pro-
grams, and 4) protest against the
political bias of the program be-
cause all four speakers represent-
ed the political left. Attendance
on Saturday morning was particu-
larly poor because of conflict with
classes, labs, and sleep. The final
three speeches did not clearly re-
late. Norman Thomas' closing ad-
dress, though articulate and per-
tinent, left the program open-
ended. He was not asked to sum
up, overview', or pose future prob-
lems.
Some of the housing unit semi-
nars were excellent; others varied
from decent to mediocre. They
were hurt by four factors! 1) poor
publicity--generally only the host
housing unit was adequately in-
formed, 2) often house officers
were more interested in having
programs than were house mem-
bers, 3) the role of the faculty
was not sufficiently clarified -
these people serve most effective-
ly as resource, reference, and
stimulus-they should not lecture
or moderate.
* * *
THE COLLOQUIUM seminars
suffered from the latter.two diffi-
culties and from poor scheduling
and publicity of the entire week-
end. The first meetings of most
seminars was well attended but
attendance at the second meetings
dropped noticeably. This may have
been due to disappointment with
the first meetings but was at least
partially caused by bad schedul-
ing.
CHALLENGE has also faced or-
ganizational difficulties. We tried
to maintain a loosely-structured
and open-ended group. We suc-
ceeded admirably in the first goal,
but, somehow, failed to achieve
the second. We did not provide'
sufficient responsibility and op-
portunity for participation to stu-
dents who expressed interest. We
were received enthusiastically ear-
ly in the semester, but we failed
to capitalize because we were not
prepared. We had not been able to
plan far enough in advance.
In spite of the above mistakes
and problems, we have contribut-
ed substantially to the stimula-
tion and information of the cam-
pus, We have not achieved this
to the degree we once antici-
pated, but we have not complete-.
ly failed. This spring's program
Will test the vialibity of CHAL-
LENGE at Michigan. Now that we
have some backlog of experience,
we should be able to produce a
better program. We may not reach
our ideal, but we should demon-
strate obvious progress in this di-
rection.
WE HAVE DEVELOPED sever-
al new procedures for the CHAL-
LENGE of THE EMERGING NA-
TIONS. We will modify these and
develop new ideas as we proceed.
We will begin to allocate specific
organization responsibilities now.
By inter-session and the first
weeks of the new semester we'
will be prepared to involve large
numbers of students.
* * *
This CHALLENGE will be clear-
ly structured. It will be posed
Monday evening Feb. 13, by Sir
Hugh Foot, last British Governor
of Cyprus and former Governer
of Jamaica and Chief Secretary
of Nigeria. Foot will speak on
"The Breakdown of Colonialism
and the Formation of a National
Consciousness." Seven pre-collo-
quium Sunday afternoon open
meetings will then study and dis-
cuss the nature of the develop-
ments and changes initiated by
the emergence of underdeveloped
nations. Eah meeting will fea-
ture a speaker and a panel of two
to four discussants. These guests
will be faculty from the University
and from other schools, and in-
termediate officials of the UN and
of embassies to the U.S. Speakers
will outline a theoretical overview
and. will then apply this to a spe-~
cific case study. We will encourage
active debate and discussion be-
tween speaker, panel, and audi-
ence. We will prepare 15-20 pages
of edited background material for
each pre-colloquium meeting.
The tentative topics for these
meetings are: The Health Revolu-
tion and the Population Explo-
sion, Social Change and the Ero-
sion of Tradition, The Role of the
Elites:° Intelligensia, Military, and
Traditional, Economic Develop-
ment (with ,particular stress on
Socialist and Capitalist systems),
and two meetings on The Ideolog-
ical Struggle, one focusing on the
conflict between Communism and
Western Democracy and the sec-
ond discussing Neutralism. The
final Sunday meeting will be de-
termined later. We may continue
a discussion arbitrarily cut off at
a prior meeting, add a new topic,
or provide an opportunity for
students to present papers and
talks.
* * * - -
PARTICIPANTS in these semi-
nars will be given written ques-
tions drawn from the prior Sun-
day's topic. One weekday after-
noon each week, we will program
an open seminar, probably in the
UGLI. These will be experimental;
we will maintain them as long as
students express an interest. We
will continue the residence hall
seminars, but only when house of-
ficers guarantee interest.
The Colloquium Weekend will
begin Friday, April 21. The open-
ing speaker will present an over-
view of developments and changes
within the emerging nations and
a statement of the problems faced
by the United States in formulat-
ing policies toward these nations
in the light of these developments
and. changes. Sat., Apr. 22, two or
three speakers will present con-
flicting views of the most effec-
tive U.S. policies toward the
emerging nations. They will brief-
ly present their views and there-
mainder of the program will be
devoted to cross-questioning, audi-
ence questions, and general dis-
cussion' and debate. The closing
speaker, on Sun., Apr. 23, will in-
dicate the roles which the U.S.
student can play in meeting the
Challenge of the Emerging Na-
tions.
* * ,
WE HAVE WRITTEN to speak-
ers from across the political
spectrum and we hope that some
"conservatives" will agree to
speak.
We'will begin publicity at reg-
istration and we will maintain a
CHALLENGE board in the Fish-
bowl. We plan to send material to
our presently dormant mailing list
and to increase communication
with other schools and with Ann
Arbor civic groups.
CHALLENGE is still dedicated
to the critical discussion of cru-
cial contemporary issues. We can
contribute to the University. We
hope the campus will aid us by
participating in planning and im-
plemnting and by attending our
programs. We look forward to a
stimulating and exciting spring
program.
Hoffa
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
Fraternity Service Goals
To the Editor:
IN READING the December 8th
Daily two articles struck with
quite an impact. One was concern-
ing the IFC and its penalty to the
AEPi pledges and the other was
the note about Alpha Phi Omega
taking over the Willopolitan bus
service.
Both these groups call them-
selves fraternities, but the ideals
behind them contrast sharply.
While one group is actively help-
ing and serving the campus and
community, the other group, as a
punishment, is told to put 15 hours
per man into a community service
project. Which side is demonstrat-
ing the true brotherhood? Alpha
Phi Omega presents a brotherhood
to all while the Michigan Frater-
nity System presents a brother-
hood to hand-picked brother.
* * *
THE FRATERNITIES admit
that the pledge stunt gave them
a black eye. But is it right to force
a group of men to work a special
time for the "mitigation of un-
favorable reflections?" Why
doesn't everyone (actives too) in
the fraternity system put 15 hours
per man into campus and com-
munity service? If this was done
willingly then a true feeling of
brotherhood to all might result.
Alpha Phi Omega represents the
type of group that is needed to-
day. This could be the explanation
why the fraternities hit a startling
low in their pledge class and at
the same time APO had one of its
highest this semester. Without a
house and group living Alpha Phi
Omega is still able to present a
feeling and desire in the men so
that they work approximately 30
hours per man per semester for
the campus and community. This
represents true brotherhood, this
is a true fraternity, and Alpha Phi
Omega is the type of group needed
in today's world. My Best to APO
and I hope the fraternity men of
Michigan will feel sometime that
service to the outside community
can be done for brotherhood and
not to regain prestige.
-Downs Herold, '63
Atrocity *
To the Editor:
THE EXPLETIVES which Mr.
Sartin was required to excise
from his letter regarding the
'Messiah" review were undoubtedly
among the very ones uttered by
discriminating admirers of baroque
music upon being confronted with
the Choral Union version of Han-
del's oratorio.
Sunday's performance, which
was to Mr. Sartin "fine and mov-
ing," would have bored me stiff-
I went to hear Phyllis Curtin, who
turned out to be disappointing---
had not the occasion afforded the
opportunity of indulging oneself
in a smugly scandalized appraisal
of the many ways in which the
instrumental and haromic texture,
musical structure and dramatic
spirit of the original score had
been altered, the alterations being
rendered even more unpalatable by
dull nerformance.
loosing reviewers do so on the
most ridiculous grounds.
First, who in heaven's name ever
claims that the Daily reviewer is
an expert? He is a volunteer. If
he is not an expert, it is the fault
of the experts themselves, who
don't sign up at the beginning of
the season.So why expect them
to be experts already?
* * *
SECONDLY, WH1O ever goes or
refrains from attending any mu-
sical event because the reviewer
praises or condemns it? Nobody.
If a person is going to a concert,
he goes to a concert, then waits
till the next day so he can pan
the reviews. Great sport!
Thirdly, who ever decides- to go
to a movie because of a review in
the Daily? Nobody. We go because
of the sexy ads, the high budget,
the possibility of seeing a lot of
bosom, or because it is a "great"
movie. Then we wait till the next
day to pan the review. Rare fun!
* - *
WHY DO WE GO to a play?
Because we have tickets. Those
who do not have tickets usually
don't go. The review? Something
to pan after the play has been
seen! High entertainment!
Finally, of the reviews are so
bad, why read them? Because they
are fun to pan, of a certainty. Of
course, so are the panning letters.
So is this letter. So are SGC
resolutions. So are . . . , oh, well,
forget it.
-Brendan Liddell
Philosophy Instructor
Poem Burned ..
To the Editor:
A COPY OF Lawrence Ferling-
hetti's "Christ Climbed Down"
was recently put up as a decora-
tion in one of the women's dorms,
since the residents were urged to
decorate their doors for Christ-
mas. Other residents of the cot-
ridor, not understanding' the
meaning of the poem, removed and
burned it. The ashes of the burnt
pages were on the corridor floor.
A reasonably attentive first
reading of the poem leads one only
to the conclusion that Ferlinghet-
ti is making a plea for the recog-
nition of the religious significance
of the Christmas 'holiday. One
must also remember that a cor-
ridor doorway may not be the
place to read poetry with any
degree of attention. "Christ
Climbed Down" thus may have
seemedother than it is. However,
the fact remains that the way
to change something is not
through destruction. Ideas were
never suppressed because books
were burned, and 'progress is not
being halted by cross burning.
It is particularly shocking that
such behavior should be manifest-
ed by supposed "Christians" dur-
ing the Christmas season, as well
as horrifying that they are Uni-
versity educated women. I hope
they do not wake anyone up-when
they go to church next Sunday
morning,
-Sylvia Berliner, '63
Attorney General William P.
Rogers announced the return of
a 12-count indictment at Orlando,
Florida, charging James R. Hoffa,
President of the International
-Brotherhood of Teamsters, end
two others with misuse -of more
than $500,000 in union funds in
the incorporation and operations
of Sun Valley, Inc., a Brevard
County, Florida, land company,
according to a press selease from
the Department of Justice.
Henry Lower, Sun Valley presi-
dent and former president of
Automobile Drivers and Demon-
strators Local Union No. 376, at
Detroit; and Robert E. MgCarthy,
Jr., a former branch manager of
the Bank of the Commonwealth,
Detroit, were named defendants
with Hoffa.
The Attorney General said that
return of the indictment by the
federal grand jurors in Orlando
was the culmination of 13 months
of investigation by Postal Inspec-
tors, Internal Revenue Agents, the
FBI and legal work by Justice
Department attorneys.
* * *
MR. ROGERS pointed out that
Justice Department preparation
of the case was handled by James,
T. Dowd, a staff assistant in the
Criminal Division, assisted by a
staff of career lawyers, William E.
Ryan, Marie McCann and David
S. Ritter.
According to the indictment,
union funds in the Sun Valley
operation came from Truck Drivers
Local Union No. 299, Food and
Beverage Drivers, Warehousemen
and Helpers Union Local No. 337,
Automobile Drivers and Demon-
strators Union Local 376, and
Teamsters Joint Council 43, all of
Detroit.
Sun Valley was incorporated
under Florida law in October 1954
and maintained its principal of-
fices at Detroit.
The indictment charged that
beginning about March 1, 1954,
Hoffa, Lower and McCarthy de-
vised a scheme to defraud the four
labor organizations and others to
obtain "money and property from
those associations, their members
and other persons who would be
induced to purchase parcels oif
land from Sun Valley by means of
false and fraudulent pretenses
representations and pron'ises"
THE INDICTMENT alleged the
defendants falsely represented,
that Sun Valley was sponsored by
the Teamsters Union, ut not
otherwise connected with Hoffa,
whereas it ,was owned, operated
and controlled by Hoffa and
Lower, and in part financed by
them through use of union funds.
' 'The 12 counts in the indictment
were based on communications
sent i n interstate commerce
through the mails and by tele-
phone and telegraph in further-
ance of the scheme, Eight counts
were based on use of the mails,
three on use of the telephone and
one on use of the telegraph.
In detailing the scheme devised
by Hoffa, Lower and McCarthy,
the indictment -charged the trio
planned and carried out the fol-
lowing actions:
The defendants caused monies
of the Teamster organizations to
be disbursed fot'the use and beni-
fit of Sun Valley, Inc. and Lower,
who went to Florida at union ex-
pense to locate and acquire land
to be subdivided and resold.
SUN VALLEY, IN November
1954, bought an option to purchase
some 2,475 acres of land in Br-
vard County for $150,000 and the
defendants arranged for funds
from Local 376 to be used to pay
the salaries of Sun Valley em-
ployees and other persons who
performed services on behalf of
the firm.
In March 1955, the defendants
obtain a loan of $50,000, secured
by a personal note endorsed by
Hoffa, from'the Bank of the Com-
monwealth at Detroit.
In April the defendants opened
a checking account in the name
of Sun Valley in the Florida Na-
tional Bank at Orlando, exercised
the option to purchase the land,
and Hoffa obtained from -Lower
an undisclosed written option to
purchase 45 per cent of the Sun
Valley stock.
Hoffa urged locals and members
to cooperate in the promotion of
the Sun Valley operation and
Hoffa and Lower sold Sun Valley
lots to union members and others
at prices ranging from $150 to
more than $1,000 - lots which
were acquired by Sun Valley for
approximately $18 per lot.
. * *
T H E INDICTMENT charged
that a$ a further part of the
scheme, the defendants represent-
ed that certain funds disbursed by
Locals 299, 337, 376 and Joint
Council 43, were expended for the
benefit and purposes of those or-
ganizations and their members, as
reflected in the books of those
organizations, whereas in fact, the
funds were expended by the de-
fendants "to promote their scheme
and artifice to defraud."
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