Seventy-First Year EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN here opinions Are Free UNDER AUTHORITY OF BOARD IN CONTROL OF STUDENT PUBLICATIONS Truth Will Prevail" STUDENT PUBLICATIONS BLDG. * ANN ARBOR, MIcH. . Phone NO 2-3241 Editorials printed in The Michigan Daily express the individual opinions of staff writers or the editors. This must be noted in all reprints. "The Question Is, Would It Be Proper Foi Us To Take Sides?" LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Veni, Vidi, In Turba Steti SEPTEMBER 29, 1961 NIGHT EDITOR: ROBERT FARRELL Calendaring Mess May Kill G&S IN ITS FERVOR to protect the quadrangle Christmas dances from possible competition, Student Government Council may. indirectly have caused the ruin of one of the most out- standing student activities on campus.k Michael Baad, chairman of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society, appeared before SGC Wed- nesday night to plead for the calendaring of the G&S 'production of "H.M.S. Pinafore" Wednesday through Saturday, December 6-9. The calendaring request was hopelessly late. In presenting Pinafore once each evening and on the Saturday afternoon of those four days, G&S would have been conflicting with a Pan- hellenic Association mass rush meeting, the. Assembly Association-Inter-Quadrangle Coun- cil Sing and the quad Christmas dances. This would have been sufficient grounds for denial of the request without further consid- eration but for the fact that G&S at the pres- ent time is $650 in debt and has been warned it must make up its deficit with this semester's production or fold. BAAD SEEMED CERTAIN that with five per- formances of Pinafore, probably the most popular of all the Gilbert and Sullivan operet- tas, the organization would easily be back on a firm financial footing. He also emphasized that his group was un- able to secure use of Lydia Mendelssohn Thea- tre for any other date. These mitigating factors aroused the sympa- thies of several SGC members who pointed out that although G&S should be reprimanded for its disregard of proper calendaring pro- cedures, it would, be a great pity to let the or- ganization die. G&S has been a University tra- 'ition for many years. It keeps alivean art form which is fast being forgotten, provides acting opportunities for some of the most talented students in the Uni- versity and delights participants in all phases of campus life-faculty, students and adminis- tration alike. Grand 'Olde SParty THERE ARE THOSE among us who have often accused the Republican Party of being somewhat archaic. But surely they little expected the GOP to admit it themselves. Yet a little item in the order of the day from the State GOP Conference last weekend may confirm their suspicions: "6 p.m.-Buffet Dinner in the Tropical Room. Speaker: National Chairman Rep. William E. Miller (R-NY), whose aggressive leadership as chairman. of the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee in 1060 helped elect 44 new Republicans." Typographical error, perhaps? Or a Freudian slip? M.H. It is not just another activity. It plays a very special role in the University, and its tours have won wide acclaim. LESS SENSITIVE Council members, notably' Inter-Quadrangle Council President Thom- as Moch and Inter-Fratenrity Council Presi- dent Robert Peterson were equally unimpressed by the organization's nature and plight. "Tough luck" was their general attitude and they ex- pressed it quite succinctly. Moch's greatest concern was the quad dances. He said they generally just broke even, and if they had to compete with G&S they were very likely to go into debt. His concern was natural and it is quite true that the quads, having followed correct peti- tioning procedure are entitled to their tradi- tional dances. But Moch's attitude as well as Peterson's was unnecessarily antagonistic. He refused to consider the point raised by both Kenneth Mc- Eldowney and Women's League President Bea Nemlaha that G&S conflicted with nothing on Friday evening and that it would be very possible for anyone wishing to attend the quad dances to go to the Pinafore performance on Friday or even to go to the performance on Sat- urday and then attend the dance. WHEN ALL LOGIC FAILED and G&S was denied the Saturday night performance, it was suggested that the group be permitted to give two shows Friday night. It was obvious from the start that this ar- rangement was nearly impossible. No cast could be expected to go through two performances of Gilbert and Sullivan patter in five hours and then present a matinee the next afternoon. In addition, since Saturday night draws the greatest crowd, Baad considered it very unlikely that G&S could balance its books without the evening show, even if it made the almost super- human attempt at two performances Friday. And even with his quad dances protected from all danger of competition Moch was not willing even to permit G&S to try two shows. He protested that SGC would never have made such an allowance for another organiza- tion and should not do it for G&S. HOPEFULLY the issue is not dead. Perhaps the group will be allowed to carry its defi- cit over another semester. Perhaps it will find financial assistance elsewhere and perhaps, SGC may be convinced to reconsider the ques- tion. Certainly G&S should have learned a valu- able lesson and ought to petition for calendar- ing especially early next time . . . if there is a next time. But the hostility exhibited by Moch should be critically examined. It displays a narrow- ness of interest which should not be permitted to influence the decisions of a Council mem- ber and a stubborn lack of sympathy for the interdsts of a very broad segment of the cam- pus. -JUDITH OPPENHEIM SIDELINE ON SGC: Politics Betray Council By JUDITH OPPENHEIM Daily staff Writer THE ONE hopeful note about Wednesday's Student Govern- ment Council meeting is that ir- responsible partisan politics, hav- ing hit a new low, cannot sink much further. Emerging bleary-eyed at 3:45 a.m. from a two and a half hour executive session, SGC members announced they had filled only two of the Council's three vacan- cies. The two seats went to David Croysdale, '63, currently social director of Inter-Fraternity Coun- cil and John Vos, '63, a transfer student from the University of Arizona who has been on campus approximately two weeks. IT IS SPECIFICALLY not my intent to cast aspersions on the ability of either of the two ap- pointees. They are certainly in- telligent and probably fully qual- ified men. It would be unfair to judge their capabilities before they appear at a Council meeting. But judgment can and must be passed on the manner in which SGC made its selection. It is no secret that the Coun- cil is sharply split between two main factions popularly labled the "liberals" and the "conservatives." On minor issues, members oc- casionally vote without regard for "partisan" politics, but on major decisions it is generally possible to predict how each member will vote The few members who cannot be consigned to either camp are generally divided and hence sel- dom constitute a deciding force. THE THREE COUNCIL vacan- cies were created by the resigna- tion of members whose absence seriously depletes the ranks of the liberals. The liberals were of course an- xious to obtain liberal replace- ments and the conservatives were committed to a battle to the death to keep new liberals off the Coun- cil. But the factor which should have been decisive was the quality of the petitioners--their exper- ience, maturity and grasp of the many and crucial problems fac- ing SGC this year. In the interests of acquiring new members with these ,qualities, political motives should have been strictly secondary considerations. The members finally chosen were quite obviously a "moderate" com- promise. VOS, in spite of his impressive record of activities at the Univer- sity of Arizona has been at the University for too short a time to have a real understanding either of local problems or of Council procedure. Croysdale, with a fine academic record, is aware of the nature of certain issues the Council will have to deal with but has no specific plans or ideas on which to pro- ceed.- They are both candidates to whom no one could object be- cause they have no strong posi- tions to advance. Perhaps if they began attending SGC meetings now as observers they would have acquired sufficient background to make valuable candidates by the November elections. HOWEVER, regardless of their inherent capabilities, it will take them at least that long to get or- ganized. It would not even be fair to expect any contributions from them before their interim terms expire. Meanwhile, consideration of he problems being discussed by the Office of Student Affairs Study Committee, policies of the Com- mittee on Membership in Student Organizations and reorganization of the Council's administrative wing demand immediate and in- formed attention. Good will and high potential are not enough. Members with exper- ience are needed. And potential members with experience peti- tioned. Robert Ross, a member of the Committee on Membership, belongs to Voice Political Party and the Political Issues Club. HE ATTENDED the National Student Association Congress this summer and is informed about' student issues pertaining to this and other campuses. He attends Council meetings frequently and is probably as fully informed on SGC issues as any of the mem- ibers. This is not to imply that Ross would have been the only good choice. Several other petitioners were almost equally well qualified. The point is that they were re- jected mainly because they are as- sociated with the liberal ,roup- and the conservatives, rather than appoint a liberal were willing to substitute two new members about whom they knew almost nothing. * * BY REFUSING to make a third appointment the Council virtually said there were not three qualified candidates among the 18 who peti- tioned. Since SGC itself has never made a public announcement of the criteria it used, we cannot be absolutely certain what the mem- bers had in mind. We can however be certain that in the interests of partisan con- cerns they have sacrificed the ideal of an informed, representa- tive Co.uncilfor the rest of this elective term. 'WayBack Then- "GOVERNMENT never of itself furthered any enterprise, but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way. It does not keep the country free. It does not settle the West. It does not educate. The character inherent in the Ameri- can people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way." -Henry David Thoreau S.R.O. .. To the Editor: WFEEL COMPELLED to write a few words of praise for the beautifully remodeled language laboratory. Modern technology has made possible the efficient new dialing system, and the psychol- ogically beneficial brilliant colors, conducive to bright thinking. Not only are we learning to speak new languages, we are learning to punch a time clock- a valuable experience for our future in the working world. It was unfortunate that the technologists nIeglected to paint the hall outside in these brilliant colors, because that's where we are forced to study our languages now. This afternoon, we were again given a 45 minute wait, during which we pondered possible solu- tions to this problem. It was suggested that we wait until the "fad" wears off. Is the language lab intended to be a fad? If so, it will wear off after students tire of waiting in line. Learning a 'language has be- come an endurance test. Only the calloused soles survive. * * THE LAB is designed to cope with this. The supervisors set aside half of the booths for cer- tain courses, but somehow they forgot to include a Spanish 101 section. Instead, they set up Ger- man and French rows, which stand empty while Spanish stu- dents stand in line. - * WELL, 45 minutes later, we got into the lab, breathing a sigh of relief in our psychological splotches of color. We put on our earphones and dialed, only to hear nothing.% What wasthe excuse this time? A power failure. -Mary-ann Oltean, '64 -Michele Todd, '64 -Nancy Wolfe, '64 Generalities. To the Editor: ERNEST VDE'S LETTER in the . September 27 Daily is a dis- turbing piece of writing. It is unfortunate not because of his inept and ridiculous generaliza- tions, but because of 'his apparent ignorance of logic and objectivity in cultural comparison. The naming of Americans as "milk drinkers" and Europeans as "alcohol drinkers" is generalization at its weakest and most superficial. But it could be ignored if Mr. Vide did not attempt to develop it as a criterion of the worth of a social system. To use such a com- parison as proof that Europeans are "men" and Americans "child- ren" is stupid; and to extend this foolishness by equating manhood withosexual experience is an act unworthy of a college student. His letter shows, among other things, a complete misunderstanding of our system of social and sexual relations, and an unwillingness to consider that the system may have advantages for our own citizenry. * * * AS SUCH it is detrimental to the purpose of the cosmopolitai atmosphere the University strives to maintain. One of the main rea- sons for the foreign student pro- gram is to promote a mutual un- derstanding of differing cultures and an objective atmosphere for the discussion of international, in- tercultural problems. Mr. Vide's assertive provincialism, his dema- gogic insistence that "his way is best," is neither logically founded nor helpful to this atmosphere. Freedom of speech brings with it the responsibility to think rea- sonably about what one is saying; free speech without logic can only defeat its own purpose, as Mr. Vide's letter has done. We hope that is not a spokesman for the' majority of international students, and that there are those who are willing to generate light with their words, instead of mere heat. -Ralph Humpriss, '64 -Rick Piltz,'65 Common Law... To the Editor: ONCE AGAIN Mr. Harrah proves that he is perfectly willing to speak out fearlessly when he is monumentally ignorant. The his- tory of Anglo-American common law, dating back at least seven hundred years, shows that common law. courts have always created new law, and made significant changes in then existing law. The growth of our common law sys- tem has been mostly court-made, not legislature-made. Of course, the legislature has the power to change a rule of de- cision with which it disagrees, and the court will be bound to follow it in the future, so long as the legislation does not overstep Con- stitutional limitations, but for cen- turies, the right of the courts to change or create law has not been doubted. As a matter of fact, the whole history and development of the Law of Negligence has been based upon judicial creation. Admittedly, courts sometimes feel compelled by what is known as "Judicial restraint" from over- turning specific doctrine which has become deeply vested. Therefore they may leave it to the legisla- ture's action, although knowing that in light of changed condi- tions, special circumstances or gen- eral principles of law that the law should be something other than what it pesently is. But this is not to say that they lack either the power or the right to changea rule of decision. They created it. Cannot a creator alter his product when he sees- the need? IF MR. HARRAH had had his way in prior times, there would be today no equity Jurisprudence, no law of trusts, no development of the law of torts or of con- tracts, and (to use a familiar example) no holding in 1954 that s gegated publi c scol fcilitie Weeunconstitutional. All these were creations of, or changes in, the common law. Since 1954, many unknowing voices have been raised "that the, courts are taking over legislative functions," yet anyone with even slight knowledge of legal history must laugh at this contention. The Michigan Con- stitution surely does not forbid the courts from doing what has always been regarded as a judi- cial function. I sincerely doubt that Mr. Har- rah "had the wisdom" (to quote Mr. Harrah) to correctly exaluate the opinions of the Michigan 'Supreme court. Is there not some- one at The Daily responsible for restraining the appearance of un- educated outpourings in its edi- torial column? -Martin Robert Fine,'63L Milk Toast ... To the Editor: A TOAST to Ernest Vide, for a most astute assessment of the American student! -Grey Austin Assistant Co-ordinator of Religious Affairs Bells Are Ringing.. . To the Editor: I READ with interest-and dis- gust-your editorial by Michael Harrah in the September 21 Daily regarding the recent improvement in Michigan Bell's phone service. It was apparent to me that you were quite uninformed-or mis- informed-about the necessity of switching to the All Number Call- ing system. Incidentally, your research on the A. T. & T. company has also ;left you misinformed-the two millionth shareowner received his stock on July 26, of this year. --Robert L. Linnell, 60E Western Electric Company Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Letters to the Editor should be limited to 300 words, typewritten and double spaced. The Daily re- - serves the right to edit or withhold any letter./Only signed letters will be printed.) I: TODAY AND TOMORROW, >rThe TWil To Fioght 'VER SINCE VIENNA in June the President has been greatly concerned with a central iestion. How can he convince Mr. Khrushchev iat rather than surrender the freedom of West erlin, the United States would go to war, id if necessary to nuclear war? He has said is again and again. His brother has said it. has been said for him. Yet now, nearly four onths late, after the military build-up and 1 that, there is still great doubt in Wash- gton whether the American will to fight nuclear war has been realized in the Kremlin. Why? The simple-minded answer, which any believe, is that Khrushchev, having udied the big words about Laos and the asco in Cuba, has concluded that the Ken- edy administration is spineless and can be timidated into surrendering. This reading Mr. Khrushchev's mind is, I feel sure, quite Ise. But it is engendering a poisonous delu- n that American courage is impugned. As e delusion spreads, it is doing profound image to our own nerves, to our capacity to ork our way through this enormous inter- itional crisis with clear heads and steady earts. HERE IS SOME DANGER of a fatal mis- understanding on Khrushchev's part. But does not lie: in anything so simple and surd as the notion that the Russians be- ve the Americans are cowards. Does anyone ppose that Khrushchev supposes that if attacked West Berlin as the Japanese at- eked Pearl Harbor, this country would sur- nder? Not for a moment. The danger lies the possibility that he might misjudge what could do short of anything so obvious the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor or, let sav. Hitler's Invasion of Poland. ALTER IPPMANN f how much pressure he will exert on the West. He can go far, as he did on August 13. But he cannot go so far as to do a Pearl Harbor. The danger to the peace of the world lies in this twilight zone between intolerable pro- vocation which would lead to war and harass- ment that would not be worth a war. This twilight zone exists because the Allied position has not yet been developed fully and defined precisely in a really serious and ex- haustive diplomatic conference. In view of the illusions and miseducation of the past ten years about the German situation, I do not believe that the Allied position can now be developed and defined in public speeches. If there is to be a conference, the chief negotiator for the West must have enough freedom so that he is not immoblized in, a straitjacket. MR. GROMYKO'S SPEECH on Tuesday, which followed the President's on Monday, brought into the open, although not in precise language, the immediate issue over West Ber- lin. In essence, Mr. Gromyko said that the Soviet Union would guarantee self-determination in West Berlin and access to'it on condition that the rights of access are negotiated first with the East German government. Whether this is an intolerable demand or one that touches no vital interest of the West cannot be deter- mined in the abstract. It cannot be determined until it has been thoroughly explored through diplomatic channels. Thus, it would obviously be intolerable if what Mr. Gromyko means is that Secretary Rusk is supposed to go to East Berlin and work out traffic arrangements with Herr U1- bricht. But it would not be intolerable if Mr. 1- -- ine+ .. t +,so+7n ii..-, riirn. FEIFFER HAVC 'rOIL6t? i0 V6 VI~ePRA; OF SU$UPSAO- Ctft 06F0056 1N6~ PPOMM OF tW Ito foL4,06J&A zJ1e&W gAR W~ D t flfe, l m~jou tor coovsa SINW plFe(o&'IHCIVIL. lKMHA'iUgA04. 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