"Well, Back to the Old Grind" Seventy-First Year EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN "Where Opinions Are Free UNDER AUTHORITY OF BOARD IN CONTROL OF STUDENT PUBLICATIONS Truth Wil 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. FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1961 NIGHT EDITOR: HARRY PERLSTADT 'N ; SIDELINE ON SGC: Decision on Daily: Rational Approach (AN IFC Bias'Resolution Dictated By Dilemma AS INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL considers a statement of general policy toward bias clauses, there are indications that IFC has at once avoided one potential problem and is caught in the midst of another. The first possible plight, which IFC has luck- ily avoided, is a blanket obstructionist atti- tude. Potentially, when SGC passed the reso- lution against bias clauses, the move could have engendered such strong resentment that no possible action could have ever taken place. Instead, the IFC executive committee members have faced the question rationally and have moved in an appropriate manner. They have realized the necessity of a public statement; and although the present resolution, which asks cooperation toward the eventuality of ra- cial and religious prejudice, is largely repeti- tious of a 1959 statement, it has taken new meaning in the light of recent events. Now individual fraternities may be in danger of expulsion from the campus. The statement of a body representative of these houses can- not be taken simply as pious mouthings. Propaganda "COMMUNISM ON THE MAP," a sordid ex- cuse for a documentary, shown at East Quardangle Wednesday night, describes the United States (except Hawaii), the Dominican Republic, and Formosa as the last bastions holding out against the deadly threat of Com- munist infiltration. Without minimizing any real danger, a per- son with any degree of intellectual sophistica- tion can laugh at such idiocies. But, what one cannot pass off jokingly is the attitude of the American Legion and of several students pres- ent at the showing. Although admitting that the film contains certain "exaggerations," they seemed to feel that it is still a good thing for popular consumption. This attitude of minimizing the intelligence and ability of the majority of the American people is an idea contrary to the basis of democracy. I is nothing more than an excuse for feeding lies, half-truths, and outright prop- aganda to the people. For, as was once said, "you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." -D. M. BUT, WHAT WILL, what can, the statement mean to the individual fraternities and the campus as a whole? This question is indicative of the second problem IFC now faces-the duality of its ob- ligations. First, the group has a responsibility for the good of the system as a whole. Second, IFC has a responsibility to work for the good of the individual houses and to try to help each one in every possible way. Thus the statement must be a generality. IFC cannot say things which will put the individual houses into awkward positions. But, this is also a compelling reason for formulating a policy; if there were none, the system as a whole would suffer from the failure to combat adverse publi- city which tends to reflect on fraternities in general. O ACCOMPLISH this dual aim, the state- ment cannot and does not aim to comment on any particular situation. It leaves ample room for reinterpretation; and it is only in an extremely vague and undefined way a call for action on the part of anyone. The resolution of this problem is the ma- jor conflict which will face IFC. All considera- tions taken into account, IFC will not long be able to remain indecisive and still be an effec- tive body. Though the difficulty of their ex- tremely awkward middle-man position is not yet apparent, the conflict will become clear. To decide in favor of the system as opposed to the individual chapters will cause upheaval within the system itself. Some houses may feel as though they have been sacrificed by their compatriots. A decision for the individual houses, on the other hand, will put IFC into the public eye as reactionary and obstruction- ist but will maintain the internal cohesion of the system. THE QUESTION of bias clauses is the ma- jor problem facing fraternities. It has thrown them into a bad light publicly and re- vealed practices contrary to the trend of Amer- ican society. If there is to be any effective solu- tion, (and there will be-one way or another), and if IFC hopes to keep the solution an in- ternal one at the University, (which -it does), a choice must be made between the greater and lesser obligation. -DAVID MARCUS FACULTY REVIEWS: Generation' Shows. Young Talent By JUDITH OPPENHEIM STUDENT Government Council's decision to meet with the Sen- ior and Junior staffs of The Daily before paxsing any motion re- garding alleged Daily irrespon- sibility, shows a respect for the rational approach to problem. solving which should be a great relief to everyone concerned. The Daily is trying neither to stall for time nor to stifle opposi- tion by this meeting. It is my belief that there is nothing sacro-sanct about The Daily or anything ap- pearing in its columns. If it can be demonstrated conclusively that The Daily has shown deliberate irresponsibility, I believe The Daily can and ought to be reprimanded. * * * I DON'T LIKE hypothetical situations as a rule, but one seems particularly apropo here. Suppose an alleged criminal is brought in- to court on charges of having committed a robbery. He pleads innocent. The prosecution refuses to present any evidence to sup- port its charges but says, merely, "It is obvious that this man is guilty. Everyone thinks he is guilty. I ask the jury to return a verdict of guilty." A spokesman for the jury pro- tests, "But we don't know the facts." The prosecution answers, "Who are you to judge the facts? It is obvious that this man is guilty, Convict him." A fair trial? Rhetorical question. The metaphor in -itself seems childishly naive. But If SGC had passed the motion introduced Wednesday night by James Yost, '62, it would have been doing the equivalent of sentencing the ac- cused thief. It is frightening to think that several Council mem- bers, seemed quite prepared to do so. * * * - THE AMBIGUITY of certain terms in Yost's motion such as "calm" and "intelligent" and the dubiousness of anyone's right to demand that an editorial be "calm" are so obvious they need no elaboration. It is the repetition of the word "apparent" which furnishes the key to the gross injustice of this motion as it stands. To "convict" The Daily of "apparent irrespon- sibility" is precisely the same as convicting a man for "apparently stealing" something, or with- drawing recognition of a frater- nity for "apparently discriminat- ing". How can any intelligent council member-and they are all apparently intelligent - vote for uch a measure without consciously compromising the ethics of our entire way of life? * * * THIS IS NOT a matter to be taken lightly. The Daily does have a responsibility to report the news fairly and accurately. If it fails to meet this responsibility it must be reprimanded, not vindictively, but in hopes that the reprimand will serve as an incentive for re- sponsibility in the future. How can anyone expect a mo- tion worded as Yost's is to serve as a basis for any kind of con- scientious self-improvement? To improve you must know what is wrong. Before you can begin to solve a problem you must know what you are given, what you are to prove and what the words formulating the problem mean. How else can the outcome make any sense? * * * HOPEFULLY, Yost's motion will not be reintroduced in SGC. Nevertheless, it is entirely pos- sible that some Council members may still believe The Daily has acted irresponsibly and want fur- ther discussion of Yost's motion. If so, let them face up to the burden of proof which is upon them and cite specific instances of irresponsibility presented by in- dividual Council members with full rationale. If the Council does ,not con- sider itself competent to judge individual cases, it must have the integrity to admit then that it is even less competent to judge glittering generalities. These are always the coward's way out. AT THE CAMPUS: Plannited Chaos A FINE but unofficial way to juage a film is its after-effect; coming out of the show you should have trouble finding your mental balance, you should have the pleasure of heightened sensations, lights should seem more vivid and form sudden patterns and you will want to look into passing faces and imagine episodes around the corner. With such a film as "Breathless" it would seem a valid way to begin; for if nothing else this film could be described as a chaotic notion defying of- ficialdom. The intensity of the after-effect should indicate first of all the degree to which the director ex- ploited the technical means at hand, all the Way up to cine- mascope and stereophonic sound. S* * * "BREATHLESS" is Jean Luc Goddard's first film, and he has become a virtuoso without practice on the screen, and if there is primitiveness in -his technique it is lost in the purpose- ful chaos of the entire film. In some scenes he is methodical and straightforward to a painful de- gree, in others he ties his camera in knots and cuts visciously, barely keeping scenic sense; the overall effect being to lose all sense of pace and time, and, while slowly building his characters, to dis- jointhe senses from the imagina- tion. At this point he can suggest things to the ear which the eye cannot see but the imagination will vividly verify. The imagina- tion is terrifically envolved on the most basic level, and like the camera it is never allowed a rest. This level of illusion is part of the primitive quality of the film that Goddard devotes most of his talents to this level. Thus he works into his characters physically; through Belmondo's extravagant gestures and clothes and through Seberg's placidity, her mask-like, heavily made up face. He cuts in and out on characters while they have scarcely moved, making them a series of sketches. * * s THE INTENSE ILLUSION is, of course, built around the hero, Jean-Paul Belmondo and is ir- revocably identified with him from the first scenes when he takes us for a ride in a stolen car, speaks to us in the high-pitch yet in- cisive French (thank the gods it is not dubbed) which is his trade- mark, and commits murder in the admirably clean way that is to make a mockery of every kind of social order throughout the film, which is in a sense one long chase. Belmondo is I suppose, the existentialist man, doomed to be free. He has not compromised; rather than grief he chooses no- thing. Suffice it to say that Belmondo is good enough to carry all this off. Jean Seberg whose lack of talent has become legendary since Preminger uncovered her, is barely adequate. -Robert Kraus TODAY AND TOMORROW. To Ourselves Be True. By WALTER LIPPMANN WE HAVE BEEN forced to ask ourselves re- cently how a free and open society can compete with a totalitarian state. This is a crucial question. Can our Western society sur- vive and flourish if it remains true to its own faith and principles? Or must it abandon them in order to fight fire with fire? There are those who believe that in Cuba the attempt to fight fire with fire would have succeeded if only the President had been more ruthless and had no scruples about using Ameri- can forces. I think they are wrong. I think that success for the Cuban adventure was impos- sible. In a free society like ours a policy is bound to fail' which deliberately violates our pledges and our principles, our treaties and our laws. It is not possible for a free and open so- ciety to organize successfully a spectacular conspiracy. The United. States, like every other govern- ment, must employ secret agents. But the United States cannot successfully conduct large secret conspiracles. It is impossible to keep them secret. It is impossible for everybody con- cerned, beginning with the President hitstlf, to be sufficiently ruthless and unscrupulous. The American conscience is a reality. It will make.hesitant and ineffectual, even if it does not prevent, an un-American policy. The ulti- mate reason why the Cuban affair was incom- petent is that it was out of character, like a cow that tried to fly or a fish that tried to walk. IT FOLLOWS that in the great struggle with Comunism, we must find our strength by de- TBUSY Day HE Michigan Union-sponsored Creative Arts Festival has a tour of The Daily scheduled on its agenda of activities for 3:00 p.m. Tues- day, Student Government Council has a, meeting with the senior and junior editorial staffs of The Daily scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Tuesday. The coinciding of the two events might seem to promise a busy day for the people who work In the Student Publications Building. But a similar tour arranged by CAF for yesterday afternoon drew no one interested in inspecting Daily operations. The Daily will welcome any visitors who rnm n' rna.rcv ..fs na hnr-- la -fhn veloping and applying our own principles, not in abandoning them. Before anyone tells me that this is sissy, I should like to say why I believe it, especially after listening carefully and at some length to Mr. Khrushchev. I am very cer- tain that we shall have the answer to Mr. Khrushchev if, and only if, we stop being fasci- nated by the cloak and dagger business and, being true to ourselves, take our own princi- ples seriously. MJR. K. is a true believer that Communism is destined to supplant capitalism as capital- ism supplanted feudalism. For him this is an absolute dogma, and he will tell you that while he intends to do what he can to assist the inevitable, knowing that we will do what we can to oppose the inevitable, what he does and what we do will not be decisive. Destiny will be real- ized no matter what men do. The dogma of inevitability not only gives him the self-assurance of a man who has no doubts but is a most powerful ingredient of the Com- munist propaganda. What do we say to him, we who believe in a certain freedom of the human will and in the capacity of men to affect the course of history by their discoveries, their wisdom, and their courage? WE CAN SAY that in Mr. K.'s dogma there is an unexamined premise. It is that the capitalist society is static, that it is and always be what it was when Marx described it a hun- dred years ago, that-to use Mr. K.'s own lingo -there is no difference between Gov. Rockefel- ler and his grandfather. Because a capitalist society cannot change, in its dealings with the under-developed countries it can only dominate and exploit. It cannot emancipate and help. If it could emancipate and help, the inevita- bility of Communism would evaporate. I venture to argue from this analysis that the reason we are on the defensive in so many places is that for some ten years we have been doing exactly what Mr. K. expects us to do. We have used money and arms in a long losing at- tempt to stabilize native governments which, in the name of anti-Communism, are opposed to all important social change. This has been exactly what Mr. K.'s dogma calls for-that Communism should be the only alternative to the status quo with its immemorial poverty and privilege. We cannot compete with Communism in Asia, Africa, or Latin America if we go on doing what Prose, Poetry.. THERE IS ONLY one essay for review in the new issue of Generation: Hugh Witemeyer's complex "Science and the poetry of William Empson." It is worth the care that the author has taken with it. The essay assumes the split between the "two cultures" (of the scientists and the' artists) whose demonstration has brought so much fame to C. P. Snow. It proceeds to show the importance of Empson as the one poet whose work, by its learned use of images drawn from contemporary science, provides some sort of answer to Snow's cry for a genuine inter- change between scientist and poet. Especially interesting are the quotations and the interpretations provided for them. Empson is a craftsman whose writing pleases initially by its adroit wizardry; but from then on he is surely one of the most brain-wracking poets ever to be published, and explan- ations are welcome. (I for one would have thought, at a first try, that "Too differential bend" had to do with the back axle of a car, whereas mathematics are in- volved). HOWEVER, I am dubious ebout the theoretic basis of the essay. Mr. Witemeyer uses Bronowski's definition of science: that it is an attempt to describe the natural universe in an orderly language uncontaminated by the emotions of the observer, a neutral and "objective" language. How far the sophisticated scientists would go with this definition, I don't know; but a poet must hoot and get on with his work. It is a definition by a scientist for scientists-'.e- sides, it is tendentious. Science, the uncontaminated word, means knowledge, and the kind of knowledge depends upon the particular technique of know- ing being practised. The poet, in everything he writes, instinctively rejects the premise of the natural scientists, that the human ooser- ver is to be isolated from the nature he observes. For him, the observer is always there, inextric- ably a part of the matter of his observations in a subtle subject- object relationship; and it is the knowledge consequent upon this relationship that he pursues. Poetry is also a science, and a difficult one-a humane science, perhaps, to use humane in its strictest sense, without any sug- gestion of sentimentality. * * * SURELY this is Empson's way with science. Realizing that modi- fications of theory in the natural sciences also modify humanity's image of its relationship with the rest of nature, he proceeds, a poet at his old magpie business, to rifle whatever he understands of the new theories to work out the new relationship in poet's lan- guage. Whether the new theory is per- manently "true" or not, doesn't concern him, as Mr. Wit~reyer admits. The truth of the poem is wat. rn- .,,nf. a, 1.n a nncrf.a',, 4--. (EDITOR'S NOTE: Tomorrow, Professor Oliver Edel of the music school will review the three pieces or original composition n the new issue of "Generation.") truly (and perhaps restrictingly) contemporary than most. Also, for this reason, he is a living refutation of C. P. Snow. But then are we to take Snow's thesis that seriously? In England, much of the scientist/artist wran- gling is a by-product of quarrel- ling for new university chairs and for an equal share of public funds. It belongs i the academic gar- dens. Far more frightening than the mutual distrust of scientist and artist is the general ignorance of the premises of either. * * * TURNING to the poetry, of which there is plenty in this is- sue, I am not so much upset by the lack of "science" as by the lack of poetic science. There is probably a thesis for someone in the effect of the typewriter on the decay of a sense of form in poetry. I can't percieve the formal principles of some of these poems -at least not as long as they are put on the page, diverting though some of the typographical patterns may be. However, many of the poets seem to have a strong sense of form, particularly Nancy Wil- lard, Jay Hamburg, Stanley Rad- huber, Nathan Lyons and Trim Bissell. Among the good things, Louis Simpson's "The Cradle Trap" though slight, is a well made poem whose last stanza is an apt com- ment on the first part of this re- view. Then there is Heath-Stubbs' poem; the lines carry the sound of that slow erudite voice. (The only trouble with such pro- fesional contributions to Genera- tion, is that for all their graceful- ness, they are not going to be the poets' best work). The Keith-Kennedy translation from Queneau is very cunning, al- though reading the original be- comes rather like trying to read in a bumping bus. Konstantinos Lar-. das' translation from Kavafis is outstanding. * * * THE NECESSITIES of a review limit these comments to impres- sions and taste, but the collection seems a very good one. Also, the poems are quite a comment on the essay preceding them. For when all the theorists and lecturers have gone to bed, the poets carry on writing, and remind one that in- structions and prognostications for the future of poetry are in bad taste. One reviewer hopes that these poets go on writing, "true to their own strange kind." He also hopes that the magazine will oe widely read on campus, because its editors assume a very flattering standard of liveliness and intelligence in its audience. -F. W. Brownlow Department of English Gallic Drama « « . CARL OGLESBY has written a curious play. At first, one feels that it is just another melodrama; its gradual exposure of sexual violence repeats the patterns which Tennessee Williams has ex- plored again and again. Then, too, this theme is set against political schemes, which appear merely to echo the other evils. But Mr. Oglesby's aims are not quite so simply theatrical. He is also expounding a philosophy. He calls his play "The Hero;" the title is used both ironically and satirically. But the play aims for even larger significance, for it touches upon the condition of man ("nor can a man do aught but go into his bed each and every night, no matter what . . . with optimism . . . obedience . . . and faith forevermore!") And' in the climactic scene of Act II, the father explains "the needs of pity." WHAT MR. OGLESBY has tried here is indeed worth our atten- tion. He has set out to do a kind of classical tragedy (with echoes of both the Bible and Greek drama) but in the modern, exis- tentialist manner and attitude; Beckett, in particular, whom he quotes, is looking over his shoul- der. This, I believe, is all to the good. A young writer must go to models; and one must choose what to imitate with discrimination. Mr. Oglesby has a sense of theatre; his play has vigor; it has been con- ceived both with imagination and compassion, two prime qualities of all art. My only reservation is about the language. It is not sufficiently distinctive. It serves rather than creates; it does not achieve the poetic dimensions its author wants, Yet it has a kind of suppleness. One hopes that Mr. Oglesby will experiment further, perhaps one should say practice more. "The Hero" is undoubtedly the work of a talented writer. -Prof. Marvin Felheim Department of English LETTERS to the EDITOR Monkeys ... To the Editor: Since either instruments or monkeys (Steven Shaw, May 7, and H. Molotch, May 6) would have done a better job than Com- mander Shepard, it might be a good idea to extend the use of computers and chimpanzees. As science students we have ab- solute faith in computers, and we respectfully submit that, in the interest of better newspapers, the Daily staff be replaced by a com- puter, which, incidentally, may be able to distinguish between "navy"' and marine.g If funds are lacking for the DAILY 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. FRIDAY, MAY 12 General Notices Undergraduate Honors Convocation: The annual Convocation recognizing undergraduate honor students will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 12, in Hill Auditorium. Dr. Arnold Toynbee, British historian, will speak on "The Outlook for the West Today." Honor students will be excused from attending their 10 o'clock classes. All classes, with the exception of clinics and graduate seminars, will be dis- missed at 10:45 for the Convocation. However, seniors may be excused from clinics and seminars. The honor students will not wear caps and gowns. Main floor seats will be reserved for them and for members of their families, and will be held until 10:451 Doors of the Auditorium will open at 10:30. The public is invited. Chemistry 222: There will be a lecture on Friday as usual. Phi, Gomberg House, S.Q., Kappa Al- pha Theta, Lloyd House, W.Q., Phi Al- pha Kappa, Phi Delta Phi, Phi Rho Sigma, Psi Upsilon, Sigma Alpha Mu, Sigma Kappa, Tau Epsilon Phi, Theta Chi, Trigon, Williams House, W.Q., Zeta Psi. SUN., MAY 14- Betsy Barbour, Geddes House, Helen Newberry, Mary Markley Hall Mosher Hall, Graduate School of Socil Work. Summary of Actin Taken by student Government Council at Its Meeting of May10, 1961 Approved: The minutes of the pre- vious meeting. Approved: That Student Government Council favorably review the appoint- ments from the Interviewing Board to Joint Judiciary Council. Student Gov- ernment Council, however, notes that certain irregularities in pre-interview- ing procedures occurred. For such pro- cedures to have been proper, they would have had to have been approved as constitutional amendments to the Joint Judiciary Council constitution. How- ever, not wishing to obstruct the process of Joint Judiciary, the Council accepts the nominations in good faith. The appoints (for one-year terms) are: Robert M. Berger, Jane S. Glick, Robert A. Greenes, Julie T. Pearce, Larry A. Stinson. Approved: The following appoint- mnents: Human Relations Board - Brereton Bisell Jrnd a- iu. mi 'nh