* 1w Aid~igan Mail
Seventy-First Year
EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
ere Opinions Are Free UNDER AUTHORITY OF BOARD IN CONTROL OF STUDENT PUBLICATIONS
ruth 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.
AY, MARCH 21, 1961
NIGHT EDITOR: PHILIP SHERMAN
SGC Candidates
"Too Bad We Can't Leave the Whole Darn Thing"
-s
C - p
- t
, -r
y Y
tDAY'S Student Government Council elec-
tion will result in the seating of eight new
ndividuals, each to. be confronted with very
erious problems in the coming year.
The Council, not yet warmly regarded by the
tudents as their legitimate representative
>ody, not yet secure with the administration
sand faculty as an integral, responsible wing of
niversity policy-making apparatus, not yet
Mre itself of the role it can actually and poten-
4ally perform, faces an immediate future of
especially serious proportions. With a new and
nexperienced President about to emerge, a
ommittee structure which will probably under-
ro radical revision, and a host of new ex-officio
nd elected members, SGC undoubtedly will
>e faced with a huge, deliate consideration: a
tecommendation from the Committee on Mem-
ership in Student Organizations about the
uture of one or several of this campus' Greek-
etter groups.
The handling of that case when it arises,
vith all its attendant pressures from local and
national sources, will be a crucial test and land-
nark in student government's development.
)ecisiveness, adherence to principle, devotion
o ,the Council's integrity, and powers of great
ndurance will be needed-not only by SGC
ollectively, but by the separate individuals
hat comprise the Council, and who by their
,cts define its possibilities.
In choosing a good Council member, we hold
ertain criteria as primarily important:
>1He should conceive ofthe University as a
dlace where students, teachers and administra-
ors recognize a need not only for diversity of
unction but for unity of purpose, and act
,ocordingly. He should participate boldly, not
esitantly, in the University's general policy-
naking.
He should not talk about "bringing the Coun-
Il back to campus" unless he can outline a
ride-ranging series of local programs. Council
:iembers too often are either barren of such
leas or unwilling to spend more than a mini-
zal amount of time on them at the Council
ach week. _
He cannot arbitrarily ignore issues which,
ecause they happen to occur in a geographi-
ally distant area, have been loosely called "off-
ampus." If the implications of those issues are
if relevance to the local community, then they
efinitely are "on-campus' and, whenever pos-
ible, Council members should take action.
He should not feel inhibited in acting be-
ause "some hypothetical majority of the stu-
.ent body either lacks knowledge of, or seems
ipposed to, certain legislation. He should apply
is individual sense to problem-solving, and
ot be overly swayed by outside influences.
Within such a framework, we have evaluated
he 12 . candidates. Their names appear in
,phabetical order:
JOHN "TEX" CURRY mixes the positive
ualities of ambition, vigor, desire for concrete
ccomuplishment, with less encouraging quali-
ies of hastiness, some stubbornness, and a
langerous tendency to want everything abso-
itely concrete. He has no clear ideas on the
road scope of issues potentially before SGC,
rust develop more consistent political views
ealize more subtleties, and overcome the de-
ree of narrowness that perhaps has resulted
rom two years in quadrangle government. He
s probably not ready, this year, for Council
esponsibilities.
WILLIAM GLEASON, a former Junior Inter-
raternity Council president, is a glib, relatively
mpressive sophomore, possessing a better-
han-average knowledge of University affairs.
[e has taken some forthright positions; e.g.,
,ainst restrictive speakers' policies. But his
rinciples on the vital question of membership
election have been unclear. "I will be firm if
roups show bad faith or lack of cooperation,"
e tells Voice party. But a sorority leaflet de-
cribes him differently: "His personal acquaint-
nces with many of the extremely liberal inde-
endents has increased his ability to anticipate
heir questions to many things concerning the
-reek system and thus to be able to justify our
osition as well as initiating legislation in our
ehalf."
BRIAN GLICK has the broadest experience
i important organizations of all the candi-
ates: human relations, foreign policy, civil
berties, and educational policy. He has also
erved well on Challenge and the Young Demo-
rats. Partly because he has all these sources
n which to draw, he will be an innovator. He
5 good at analysis and decisive in action, with
sound, consistent set of principles.
What Brian must do now is focus the ener-
ies-he has scattered in the past, acting with
act and aggressiveness.
MARK HALL, controversial figure in last
pring's demonstration against dress regula-
ons, now repents all his misdeeds and con-
ones the University's actions against him-
tions which would have suspended him from
chool this last semester.
National coordination of student govern-
ients against affiliate bias, which he advo-
ates, is unrealistic in terms of their widely
ifferent stands and powers. Representative of
:all's superficial outlook is this year's state-
lent-; "A student in fairly dressy clothes has a
administrator, confining himself mostly to ar-
ranging meetings and notifying people. He is
still questionable as a leader or implementer of
significant SGC policy. He has displayed politi-
cal tactics which can only be construed as
based in irresponsible self-interest. Leaving
the HUAC debate during the vote, Per returned
later to explain that particapants in a roll-call
vote would be "intimidated" on either side of
the issue. During the campaign two weeks later,
he said he chose to. dramatize his disgust with
SGC's handling of the issue by leaving at the
moment of optimum tension. A frank espousal
of values and a determination to actualize
them would enable Per to serve his constitu-
ency better than he presently does.
JOHN MARTIN, editor of the Michiganen-
sian, places too much emphasis on his possi-
bilities as a synthesizer or coordinator in the
Council structure, and not enough on the
forcefulness necessary for effective legislation.
Becauxe of his lack of forcefulness and his
inexperience, he may be hindered as a -valuable
participant in Council debate. He needs a
stronger posture, more information, a willing-
ness- to speak out, and a recognition that "co-
ordination" arises naturally if there is indi-
vidual hard work and frankness among the
Council members.
'KEN McELDOWNEY'S three years of hard
work, leading to the Associate City Editor posi-
tion on The Daily, have brought him more
knowledge pertinent to effective Council mem-
bership than any other candidate possesses. He
knows SGC, the campus, and the issues both
faicrsand has experience in national student
affairs.
This knowledge has not made an innovator
of McEldowney; rather he spots ideas which
need work and carries on from there. We have
been disappointed in his campaign, in which
he has too often tried to "be all things to all
people," instead of fighting for support of the
Voice platform on which he stands.
Once a Council member, we trust McEldow-
ney's natural diligence will lead him to posi-
tions as strong as he has affirmed in the past.
NANCY NASSET presently holds a "liberal,
position only vaguely elaborated. On most is-
sues she freely admits her lack of background
and programs, but stresses her belief that
people should be "interested" and "concerned"
about these problems, Can this sophomore
move from the general to the specific, the
idea to the program, the vague theorizing to
actual implementation? Her general position
needs more thought and better information;
she and Voice, a supposedly positive and in-
formed group, were mutually unacquainted
until she was invited to run on its ticket. She
will contribute little if she is a hollow liberal,
yet with time she could develop into a valuable
SGC member.
ARTHUR ROSENBAUM, SGC treasurer,
while thoughtfully recognizing that SGC must
expand its functions, has been none too dy-
namic in his own Council functioning. His
prepared proposals have usually attempted to
facilitate Council proceedings; he is responsible
for introducing the specious "off-campus-on-
campus" distinction between expressions of
SGC opinion.
His contributions have been modest, his
debate sometimes worthwhile, sometimes of
minor importance. Hopefully he might trans-
fer some of his drive to areas apart from the
organization of SGC-more substantive areas,
such as discrimination in fraternities and
sororities, where strong voices will be needed
in the future.
ROGER SEASONWEIN is not the "grand old
man" of the Council he would make you think;
in fact, he has disgusted more than one mem-
ber and disrupted more than one debate. He
may not be at the University next year. While
involved with many motions and programs, he
has originated none of these.
Weigh these points against three years' ex-
perience, his ability to analyze, his power to
get things rolling. Roger may also organize
the summer reading program as he has done in
the past. His assets may be valuable to a new
Council short on background and faced with a
trying two months.
M. A. HYDER SHAH cites his past experi-
ence, the need for foreign student representa-
tion and the importance of international affairs
as reasons to reelect him to-the Council, but
none of his self-listed qualifications are. valid.
Voice, past SGC minutes and'other candidates'
ideas have provided the bases for his platform
and campaign, in which he stresses academic
freedom and student rights, although he voted
against establishing a Student Rights Com-
mittee. His long-winded "diplomatic" debate
and campaign speeches are unfunny, time-
wasting masks for unproductive but opportun-
istic political behavior. All in all, his two-year
career on the Council affords no good reasons
for reelecting him.
JIM YOST says he holds "the stock conserva-
tive views found on the campus," but, when
pressed, he is unable to articulate either theo-
retical or ,practical conservative positions. "I
TO THE EDITOR:
Former Resident
Defends Quad System
To the Editor:
AS A FORMER residence hall
dweller (three years) and an,
active participant in residence hall
government (IHC administrative
vice-president and Williams House
president) I believe I am at least
as well qualified as the senior edi-
tors of the Daily to comment on
Mr. Sigman's report on residence
hall problems (March 16, 1961).
There is no person at all con-
nected with residence halls who
would say they are perfect. There
are some major problems, to be
sure, but Mr. Sigman should not
be allowed to make a blanket criti-
cism of the residence hall system
on the basis of his survey. Resi-
dence halls have never been set
up to retain men for four years,
in fact it is realized that some
men will never be happy with
dorm living. A good system re-
quires two way support and often
the students are unwilling to co-
operate.
As Dean Hale said, the method
of the survey does not make it
relevant to the entire residence
hall system. It may be a good
survey of East Quad, but even this
is doubtful due to the unscientific
method of selection of survey par-
ticipants. South and West Quads
should not be brought under thisr
survey as men living there were
never questioned.
Most of my comments are de-
rived from experiences in Wil-
liams House, West Quad. I have,
however, a good knowledge of the
activities of the other houses in
West Quad as well as the other
two buildings. If one is to make a
criticism of the system it is neces-
sary, I believe, to inspect each
house within that system as they
differ as much as fraternities or
any other living unit.
Mr. Scheub declares that "stu-
AFTER PIECEMEAL HISTORY:
Swainson Proposes Basic Tax Revision
By HARVEY MOLOTCH
Daily Staff Writer
THE TAX REFORM bill which
Gov. John B. Swainson sent
to the House of Representatives
yesterday is aimed at the correc-
tion of a Michigan problem which
originated in the early thirties and
has been tackled unsuccessfully
by eleven consecutive governors.
The positions of the major
political parties and pressure
groups have undergone almost a
complete reversal during this
drawn-out period of financial
dilemmas. The recent line-up
places the Democratic Party, or-
ganized labor and urban Wayne
County behind an income tax.
Most Republicans, the out-state
areas and the farm groups today
damn the income tax as a step to-
wards socialism and thus have
backed th3 sales tax hike as Mich-
igan's panacea.
Although the roles of the major
political groups are now reversed,
there is a close parallel between.
the events which caused the ini-
tial financial crisis in the 1930's
and the immediate causes of the
threatened "payless paydays" of
recent years. In both cases, na-
tional economic conditions declin-
ed and heavily-industralized Mich-
igan was the first and hardest-hit
victim of the general economic
trend.
When the 1929 depression hit
Michigan, property taxes were the
only source of revenue for locali-
ties, the main supporter of school
districts, and a major source of
revenue for the state government.
But as a result of the economic
collapse, property owners were not
able to pay their real estate taxes,
and thus in an effort to secure
minimum revenues, taxes were in-
creased on holdings whose owners
were in a position to pay.
In a reaction against the high
rate of taxes which resulted, an
amendment was added to the
state's decaying constitution for-
bidding government to tax real
estate for more than one and
one half per cent of its value. This
provision, known as the 15 mill
limitation, marked the end of the
property tax as a satisfactory
source of state revenue.
At the same time that the voters
effectively destroyed the property
tax, they took the executive and
both houses of the Legislature out
of Republican hands, and Michi-
gan hopped on the Roosevelt
bandwagon and ended single-
party rule in the state.
Themnew Democratic governor,
William A. Comstock, inherited a
deficit of $80 million and the loss
of the state's major source of tax
dollars, But throughout Com-
stock's tenure, the conflicting ti-
rades of pressure groups and dis-
sension within the Democratic
party proved too much for the
ineffective executive.
To meet the emergency, the
Farm Bureau and the State
Grange began campaigning vigor-
ously for an income tax-a mea-
sure which both groups stead-
fastly oppose today. This is seen
by Prof. John P. White of the
political science department as a
"remnant of rural progressivism
which was previously common in
Michigan." The two groups be-
lieved that since farmers con-
sumed much of what they pro-
duced, the majority of the burden
would fall on city dwellers who
would have a much higher tax-
able income.
Finally, in a desperation move,
a heavily regressive three per cent
sales tax was levelled on all com-
modities including food. The tax
was unpopular enough to cause
a major defeat for Comstock and
the Democratic party in the 1934
election.,
From its very inception, the sales
tax was deemed inadequate and
was criticized as inequitable and
unstable. Thus, the period between
1934 and 1942 saw a constant
pressuring for an income tax, to
be collected by the state with at
least a large segment channelled
to local governments. But because
of the unprosperous times and the
enaction of the recent sales tax,
the voters defeated a 1934 income
tax proposal at the polls.
One year later, a one and one-
half per cent flat-rate income tax
was passed by the House with
representatives , from Wayne
County leading the opposition, and
legislators from out-state areas
spearheading the support. But the
threat of a veto from Republican
Gov. Frank D. Fitzgerald caused
the bill to die in the Senate.
The state was able to stumble
forward until 1938, when a na-
tional recession once again sad-
dled Michigan with a large deficit,
as revenues from the sales tax
declined sharply. It was at this
point that organized labor for the
first time came out in support of,
the income tax while the farm
groups reversed their position and
opposed it. Even though the state
budget director declared that
Michigan's tax basis was "quick-'
sand," the political atmosphere
made it impossible for Democratic
Gov. Frank Murphy to act.
The coming of World War II
brought boom to Michigan and a
fantastic rise in state revenues.
Many were led to forget the rotten
basis of the tax structure and
during the forties there followed
a campaign to divert more state.
revenues into the hands of locali-
ties. But Republican Gov. Harry
F. Kelly resisted all demands and
attempted to point out that the
surplus was an "illusion" caused
by the necessary moratorium on
building projects during the war.
Despite Kelly's efforts, a con-
stitutional amendment for tax
diversion was enacted immediately
after the war, in effect removing
five-sixths of the sales tax rev-
enue from the hands of the state
Legislature, allotting two-thirds of
the tax to school districts.
This was the situation which
Gov. G. Mennen Williams in-
herited in his 1948 upset victory
over incumbent Gov. Kim Sigler.
In addition he faced a hostile
Legislature, mushrooming needs
for state services and sharp eco-
nomic downturns. He attempted
during his twelve-year reign to
remove the sales tax diversion
provision, to institute a graduated
income tax and to establish a cor-
porate income tax. In each case
he was blocked either by the voters
or by the Legislature and was thus
forced to leave the state govern-
ment in a complex predicament
requiring nothing short of com-
plete tax revision, as suggested
by Swainson, to solve Michigan's.
economic problems.
dents feel no identification with
the quadrangle and the House." It
is no understatement to say that
the men of Williams House retain
a loyalty to the House through
and beyond their university ex-
perience which is as strong as any
fraternal ties. This is because of a
spirit that the house conveys.
Because each house is unique there
is very little need for identification
with the Quads as we feel a rivalry
with other houses in the Quad.
We felt very strongly about our
educational program. As of this
Year Williajs had three faculty
associates who were frequent visi-
tors to the House. Our guest
speaker program has always been
very well attended. We have also
felt a need to educate the men on
campus affairs and in that light
have run SGC coffee hours with
average attendance of 50 men. The
program, I' am sure, can be
matched nowhere outside of the
residence hall system.
As stated above, residence halls
are far from perfect. There are
three major areas of great concern
to the system. Ask any man what
is the worst aspect of Quad Living
and the answer is sure to be
"food." When cooking for upwards
of 1,000 men food is bound to
become "institutional." With the
limited budget and facilities avail-
able only so much can be done.
Small improvements are continu-
ally made but this is one problem
which can never be completely
cured as it is impossible to please
the palates of 1,000 men.
The second problem area is that
of regulations. What average col-
lege male wouldn't enjoy the privi-
lege of having women allowed in
his room at all hours? The answer
--all men who frequent the living
quarters of the residence halls in
various states of nudity at all
hours of the day-95 per cent of
the residents. In dormitory style
living there is little room for wom-
en except in lounges and recrea-
tion rooms. Only last year this
regulation was eased. The other
regulation of interest is the prohi-
bition on drinking which is a state
law and one which is certainly
needed in group living.
The third area involves staff.
Our experience has shown that
staff who have previously been
members of our house do- a much
better job than outsiders. This is
proof of the spirit which is pres-
ent. Staff counselors are an asset
not only as "fathers"-their least
important role-but as advisors,
especially in the academic area.
I would certainly hope, and do
believe, that the administrators !,-
sponsible in this area are aware
of the problems. I know that the
student government is. Much is
being done and there is muc
more to be done but there is little
need for the stress given to the
problem given by the Daily.
-Arthur W. Brown, '61 BAd.
Sacrifice...
To the Editor:
YOU PEOPLE are fantastic! A
veritable th'ee ring circus!
Now that you have completely
demolished the fraternity system
with that fine representative re-
porting, cleverly ignoring all the
fine points to hit on the basic
discriminatory attitudes of the ra-
cist members, you now direct your
Mencken-like perspicuity on hoary
old' EAST QUAD!
Gentlemen, I grant you that the
quads are terrible, having lived in
one for two years, and I applaud
your sudden discovery of the press-
ing officiousness of its atmosphere
but this leads to one problem-If
quads are lousy and fraternities
are no good, WHERE IN HELL IS
EVERYONE GOING TO LIVE?
All right, say we all managed
to find apartments somewhere,
(And of course the girls couldn't;
they'd still be trapped up on the
Hill debating how much leg they
can show.) Where would the Daily
staff live? You people must have
a certain amount of outward non-
conformity above and beyond your
intellectual freedom and what will
you do?
It's a noble sacrifice, men,
--Name Withheld
4
4
SDAILY OFFICIAL BULLETIN
The Daily Official Bulletin is an
official publication of The Univer-
sity of Michigan for which The
Michigan Daily assumes no editorial
responsibility. Notices should be
sent, in TYPEWRITTEN form to
Room 3519 Administration Building,
before 2 p.m. two days preceding
publication.
TUESDAY, MARCH 21
General Notices
Regents' Meeting: Friday, April 21.
Communications for consideration at
this meeting must be in the President's
hands not later than April 11,
Foreign Student Scholarships: The
deadline for applications for foreign
student scholarships is April 25. Stu-
dents who intend to return to their
homes in other countries after comple-
tion of studies and training are 'eli-
gible to apply. The stipend is limited
to tuition, applications for Summer
Session. Fall and Spring Semesters,
1961-1962. Application forms are avail-
able from the Counselors at the Inter-
national Center.
Foreign Visitors
Following are the foreign visitors
who will be on the camnpus this week
on the dates indicated. Program ar-
rangements are being made by= the
International Center: Mrs. Henry J.
Meyer.
Dr. Heinrich Bechtoldt, Editor-in-
(Continued on Page 8)
FEIFFER
wild I l T q
%F A QPAC
-AT FR1.
'(RAIDED MK
f3aKf TO k
TIR1)eI'f46,To
M~4 06AtJof
MKI HAD
&ot M-(
AT F R~r
r.-7,
a
t
r~aT S f~C
Now 3 w6J coot A
10WTN MK~
i I
I
} L(1i/ { t v4
1