Seventy-'hird Year
EDrrTD AND M4NAGED BY STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
-_-TUNDEk AUTHORITY OF BOARD DN CONTROL OF STUDENT PUBLICATIONS
"Where Opinions Are Free STUDENT PUBLICATIONS BLDG., ANN ARBOR, MICH., PHONE NO 2-3241
Trutb Will Prevail"'
Editorials printed in The Michigan Daily express the individual opinions of staff writers
or the editors. Thi nust be noted in all reprints.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8,1962 NIGHT EDITOR: MALINDA BERRY
Non-Conformist's Dilemma-
Isolation or Acceptance?
SIDELINE ON STUDENT GOVERNMENT:
SGC Logrolling Disillusions Members
r
CONTRARY to proverbial wisdom, familiarity
does, not always breed contempt. In social
inits, from kindergarten to General Motors,
;here are millions of people who never move
beyond the familiar, and most of them are
ighy .satisfied. We call them conformists.
In kindergarten they are pictured as the
well-adjusted children who .do not pile the
blocks too high, "and who do not picture "two
ieads are better than one" as a two-headed
nonster. In high school. they are attractive,
oopular, and outgoing. In college, many belong
o the affiliate system and make "acceptable"
grades. In the business world, they wear
gray flannel, andline the aisles of the execu-
ive flight with identical attach6 cases. Their
wives "serve the community" ,in various wifely
ways. They have two or three children who,
fey hope, will start the pattern all over
gain
Before unleashing contempt upon these
reatures, It is fundamentally necessary to con-
ede, (even with-enthusiasm, if one can muster
t) 'that they do. make 99 and 44/100 per cent
f the world go 'round, and that the .non-
;onformist might find it very difficult indeed
o get along without them Somebody has to
to the busy work.
HE TRAGEDY is not necessarily the nature
of conformity itself, but rather the fact
hat the conformists too often try to stifle
hose who are not of their Ilk, and, too often,
hey succeed. From the beginning, the non-
onformists are isolated from their fellows. No
ne can really say whether the agent of this
solaton is th.e conformist or the non-conform-
st-most likely it is a mutual exclusion. The
xcluson is necessary for the development of
, truly creative intelligence, but the great
anger is that as often as not, and perhaps
pore often, it has just the opposite effect.
From the time that exclusion begins, the
on-conformists has two choices-he can ca-
itulate and join the masses, who always are,
,fter all, attractive in their lives of ease, or he
an burrow more and more deeply into, him-
elf and his own imagination, and go it alone.
£ fhe takes the first alternative, he will win
he unconditional approval of all (excepting
3erhaps another non-conformist) and will
njoy the unc4eniably desirable fruits of the
real" world. All that will trouble him will be
n occasional stirring, of, "what might have
een," but such stirrings diminish markedly in
requency as time goes on.
If he'choose to remain "inner-directed," his
roblems are just beginning. If he has any
espect at all for his fellows, he will constantly
e wondering if there really is something
rong with him. He will find his desire to
ommunicate with others constantly in con-
radiction to his inevitable sense of boredom
rhenever they accept him. And this very
oredom with others is likely to cause strong
selings of guilt and traces of self-punishing
masochism, as he begins to realize that he
eally doesn't, give a damn-while still feeling
dorally that he should.
&T THIS POINT, a necessary kind of closed-
mindedness begins to develop. Carried to
be right degree, it will enable him to channel
Two Views of
E ILL-CONSIDERED and irresponsible
remarks of Dixie demagogue Allen J. Ellen-
er in Southern Rhodesia last week have un-
uestionably set -United States-African rela-
ons back at least a decade.
Speaking as an elected official of the United
tates government, the Louisiana senator de-.
nded raial segregation in South Africa and
sserted that the average African is incapable
f leadership without white help. The slurred
Cho of his loathsome rebel drawl has caused
amage to state department diplomacy too
reat for even the competent hand of Asst.
cretary G. Mennen Williams to right.
Ellender's thoughtlessly chosen attacks on
egro leaders have irreparably damaged much
f the trust and respect for American in-
Sntions among the sensitive people of Africa.
his trust has been built only after long and
ireful cultivation by such admired spokesmen
>r human rights as 'Williams and United
rtions Ambassador Adlai Stevenson,
OR CAN the senator's remarks be justified
by the rationalization that he was speaking
mly for his Southern constituency. Africans
ill never accept' this explanation of inconsis-
ncy in U.S. policy. Ellender's barely intel-
gible babblings did not simply parrot those
mi-literate, web-footed denizens of the swamp
ho elected him. As an American speaking on
nother continent, Ellender was misrepresent-
tg the people of the United States.
The real tragedy lies in the fact that the
'chaic machinery of Congress gives such
en, by virtue of seniority rather than of
.erit, powers to -control the destiny of the
:atin '
his various blocked energies into a single-,
minded devotion to whatever work he has
chosen. But the danger is that it will go
too far, shutting him off from-the dialogue and
the drama which must be the material of his.
creation.
If the closing of the mind does not go so
far that it destroys him, the creative non-
conformist can make use of his masochism--he
will discover how to punish himself in his:
work. A recent article in "'The Saturday Even-
ing Post" ;considered .this topic in part, and
described a psychological theory whereby the:
publication of, a book is, for its author, a form
of suicide. James Joyce and Franz Kafka both
refused psychoanalysis for fear it would destroy
the precious dark demons that drove them. It
is a process older than Prometheus.
Contrary to the well-meaning opinions of
the conformists, this is not at all tragic. It
is, in many ways, the highest and best achieve-
ment to which man can aspire-the, achieve-,
ment of choosing torment and making it work.
THE TRAGIC FIGURE is rather the non-
conformist who succumbs tin his youth to'
the siren song of fellowship. He has abrogated,
the best in his nature.
The problem, of the non-conformist is em-
phatically not .to be solved by asking that his
society accept him on an individual basis.
Acceptance too often destroys him. Content-
ment .too often destroys him. The need to
shape his life to mass values destroys him.
The solution is rather to recognize his creative
potential as early in his life as possible (tests
are now being designed to do just that) and
then offer him the opportunity for the kind
of work he needs, before he decides to capitu-
late to the norm.
The decision, of course, is his. If he prefers
personal acceptance,*that is his business. But
it may well be that many of our very young
creative . geniuses go over to the masses not
because the masses are really so attractive,
but because they are never given the opportun-
ity to channel their minds into some kind of
work that challenges them-and are too young
to know how to .make that opportunity for
themselves.
I AM ACQUAINTED with, a family of seven, of
varying degrees of brilliance, who live in an
affectionate state of chaos. I remember one
night when most of the family was gathered
in the kitchen (completely disorganized) as
the mother was ignoring everything and pre-
paring dinner. The youngest child, then about
six, was leafing absently through some esoteric
scientific publication, when lie came across a
mathematical puzzle in diagrams. In the midst
of all the noise and confusion, his mother's'
occupationally deafened ear picked out the
only significant sound in the room-his ques-
tion. She stopped cooking, sat down beside
him, and proceeded to explain the puzzle until
he understood.
How many teachers could do the same,
break the routine of the average day in im-
mediate response to that individual question
that reaches beyond the daily program?
However many there may be,; the non-
conformist needs them desperately.
-MARTHA'MacNEAL
By DENISE WACKER
WHEN Michael Olinick nominat-
ed Ken Miller for the Student.
Government Council presidency
Wednesday, about 50 constituents
were present. Half of these left
after Steve Stockmeyer won the
presidential post. By the time How-
ard Abrams was defeated in the
race for treasurer, 10 or a dozen
students remained. And, at 12:20
a.m., when Council held its mem-
bers' time, only six people-half
df these Daily reporters-were left
to listen.
Those who didn't stay to the end
missed an epic presentation of
everything which is wrong with
SGC, including a certain amount
of double-dealing, lying, hypocrisy,
partisanship, and a rather half-
hearted and only partially serious
attitude about the obligations of
SGC to the people whose half-dol-
lars support whatever action the
Council takes.
THE CONSERVATIVE Council
members hold strategy meetings
on Sunday and the liberals meet
on Monday. This, in effect, is the
way certain activities carried out
by SGC (including, officer elec-
tions) take place.
A week ago Monday, the liberal
faction-Bob Ross, Miller, Olinick,
Mary Beth Norton, Abrams, Marg
Skiles, Gary Gilbar and Michael
Kass-met to plan their strategy
for the coming election of the
executive committee.
They had three major aims to
plan for:
First, to prevent Stockmeyer'
from being re-elected student gov-
ernment president; second, to keep
Russ Epker off the executive com-
mittee, thus making it somewhat
difficult for him to be elected
Council president in the spring
elections; and third of course, to
augment liberal representation on
the executive committee.
TO ACCOMPLISH this, they had
several alternative moves. The lib-
eral faction holds a total of eight
votes. This is of course less than
a majority and not enough to elect
anyone if the remaining 10 Coun-
cil members voted together against
the liberals' candidate.
However, Charles Barnell, who
ran for Council on a moderate-
conservative ticket (although he
reportedly is a liberal at heart;,
had, prior to the Monday meeting,
approached two liberal SGC mem-
bers and volunteered his vote for
Miller-the member the liberals
had decided to run for the office--
if in 'turn the liberals would sup-
port him for administrative vice-
president.
Naturally the liberals accepted
this proposition which upped their
total vote to nine-now equalling
the conservative ranks. In a pres-
idential vote, this nine-nine dead-
lock could have continued for quite
a while,and. since certain conserv-
atives might be more" likely to
change their votes than the liber-
als, it looked as if Miller could
win.
* * *
THE PRINCIPAL target for lib-
eral pressure was Dick G'sell, then
executive vice-president. Although
G'sell had supported Stockmeyer's
suggestipns for Council right down
the line, he had succeeded in an-
tagonizing the conservatives so
thoroughly that they refused to
back him for any office. To have
any chance at election, G'sell
would need liberal support.
However, there were some lib-
erals who, despite their desire. to
have one of their crew hold the
presidency, would not prostitute
their positions to this extent..
Abrams balked at having any deal-
ings whatsoever with G'sell. Miller,
who had qualms about entering
into the agreement with G'sell,
was at the time hesitant over run-
ning for the presidency.
- During the next few days,
though, Miller reconsidered his ini-
tial feelings and decided he would
offer G'sell liberal votes in ex-
change for G'sell's support in this
election. When approached, G'sell
said he wasn't sure, and needed.
time to consider the whole prob-
lem.,
Miller later indicated that at
that time, he felt "it would be bet-
ter to have a vice-president whose
ability was questionable than a
president who could not do as good
a job as I felt I could."
* * *
IN THE MEANTIME, Barnell,
who was unable to attend the ac-
tual Council session because of a
prior academic commitment, turn-
ed in his absentee ballot- to Stock-
meyer who, as president was to
hold the vote without looking at it.
But, in a particularly brilliant
move, Stockmeyer held the enve-
lope containing Barnell's votes
(Miller for president and Barnell
for everything else) up to, a light
bulb and knew, the truth.
Stockmeyer peeked on Monday.
Tuesday night, he. had a long chat
with Miller about the presidency.
Stockmeyer said Miller's chief
problem was lack of experience:
he added that the five sororities
who- have not yet turned in their
membership statements were just
about ready to explode, and that
it was apparent that Miller was
less qualified to handle this situ-
ation than Stockmeyer.
He also noted that if Miller,
won, it would represent a break
in "continuity," especially since
Miller didn't plan to seek presi-
dential reelection next spring.
Miller also considered the detri-
mental effects of a lengthy dead-
lock in a presidential election on
Council's future influence on cam-
pus.- * , , -
ALL THIS considered, Miller de-
cided he would withdraw, in effect,
,"Shut Mali Mouth"
-1/ -
S4s
Y l
t~ r
? --
r
+ v
FIT FOR A BARD:
Henry V Production Excellent
from the presidential race. How-
ever, he decided this after he had
left Stockmeyer so that when they
next spoke, later that same eve-
ning, Stockmeyer was concerned
over the fact that he just might
lose the election. This put Miller
in a delightfully strong bargaining
position.'
And what he asked for, in return
for transferring his vote to Stock-
meyer, was Stockmeyer's support
for Abrams for treasurer. Miller
made the deal on faith, believing
in Stockmeyer's good will. Stock-
meyer made the deal knowing that
the presidential election preceded
the treasurer's race.
Stockmeyer made Miller prom-
ise that the terms of the deal
would be kept secret and that he
(Stockmeyer) would be kept out
of any future descriptions of what
occurred, or what was to occur, the
following day.
CAME THE COUNCIL meeting
and things looked pretty promis-
ing. An executive committee com-
posed of Stockmeyer Brown, Bar-
nell, and Abrams would hardly
be idyllic, but was probably the
best possible at this time. It would
also,' perhaps, open the door to
increased liberal representation on
the executive committee in the
spring.
Olinick nominated Miller, and
during his speech said that:
"Student Government Council's
quality depends on its president's
quality: and yet there is no more
weak spot historically than the
presidency .. . The president serves
as a symbol and gauge across the
campus. The way in which he acts
goes a long way in influencing re-
forms .:'
Bob Finke matched Olinick's
eloquence with an impassioned
plea of his own in fayor of Stock-
meyer. He advised the Council that
what was needed was experience,
and added that:-.
"It is necessary that the person
who'll be interpreting. (the. SGC
president's) role must be well vers-
ed and have a fine b eklog: the
faculty, the administration, and
the student body all respect Steve
for his ability . . ,
s .*; ,
THE VOTE came, and on the
first ballot, as had been pre-ar-
ranged, it was a tie. On the sec-
ond ballot, Stockmeyer won. It was
planned; no one was surprised.
Brown easily won the executive
vice-presidency on the first ballot.
After that, as expected, Barnell
won the administrative vice-presi-
dency on the third ballot.
AH, BUT then came the con-
test for treasurer.
Abrams and Epker were nomi-
nated. This surprised no one. How-
ever, when the results from the
first balloting were in, president
Stockmeyer, with a sort of foxy
smile, announced that Epker was
the new treasurer.
Abrams looked very dejected.
Miller looked disillusioned. Epker
looked disgustingly giddy. Stock-
meyer looked like a very gentle,
omnipotent and occidental Bud-
dha.
Olinick called for recess.
s* ~
DURING THIS TIME, Miller
went to each of the liberals to
make sure - they had voted for
Abrams: they all had.
Miller went to see, Stockmeyer.
Stockmeyer said he knew he
had done something morally
wrong, and added "I realize I can
go to hell for this." 'There was
nothing more to be said between
them; both returned to the meet-
ing and student government pro-
ceeded to the businessof the day.
This part of the meeting passed
quickly. Abrams continued to look
dejected; Ross looked very very
peeved; Miller looked not so much
disillusioned now as ready oslit
someone's chubby neck; Epker
was continually smiling, and
Stockmeyer looked ever so foxy
indeed.
. .' *
CAME THE TIME to adjourn
and Miller interrupted. He noted
that a member's time had been
scheduled on the agenda, and
asked that it be held. Bob Ross
sent the Daily reporter a little
look which advised her to start
listening.
During member's time, the
Council representatives each have
the privilege of saying whatever
they wish. The first to speak Wed-
nesday was the member on the
president's left, and the second,
the man on his left. Last to speak
was Stockmeyer.
Miller was the seventh Council
member to speak-most of those
who had gone before him had,
either passed orssaid nothing of
particular interest.
Looking at Stockmeyer, Miller
said "It has been an educational
week for me, too; It exposed some-
thing about presidential politics.,
As of last night, I had nine votes.
I knew this because Barnell had
told me, and Stockmeyer knew
,because he held the envelope up
to a light . ." and Miller -spilled
the whole story to the Council,
and to the six constituents who
were left.
**E * n
HE CONCLUDED by saying he
sense-I've grown resigned to this
sort of thing. Maybe it's human
nature. It stinks," he said, disil-
lusioned like the best of 'em.
Finally, Stockmeyer spoke. H"ad
he been a really clever SC presi-
dent, he would have mentioned
nothingabout thehelection. But he
isn't and he didn't.
* t
"ON THE TOPIC of ethics and
morality-I perhaps have engaged
in elections and conventions more
than the rest of you, and have
learned a lot about it...
"I have no true justification for
my action--part of the agreement
was not to expose this, but I have.
no desire to hide this now. .
"There is not justification but
partisanship, and this was the su-
preme justification for my re-
election to this position. A lot of
Council members have failed to
take into account the work I have
put in-I feel insulted (by every-
thing 'which has happened this
evening) and I still do...
"I feel unethical and' immoral,
but I' feel I have established some
sort of equilibrium in my own mind
over what transgressed tonight.
*'It is impossible for someone to
label , . . one action worse than
another when one person is play-
ing on the interests of another.. To
try and assign any labels as to
which is worse can't be done,"
Stockmeyer said.
The meeting ended.
* * A
AS STOCKMEYER said, no one
is more at fault over the Wednes-
day night interlude than anyone,
else. This is in no way justifica-
tion: the members of SGC were
.playing politics in an organization
which ought to, be basically non-
partisan, and Which should repre-
sent the students of this Univer-
sity rather than student pressure
groups or student . political ex-
'tremes.4
The liberals knew what they
were getting into when they first
thought of making a deal with
someone like Richard G'sell. Mi ler
knew what the consequences could
haye been in his pact with Stock-
meyer. Miller 'had faith in a man
who in recent weeks has lost the
respect of many members of the
academic community.
The liberals in fact were not in
the least concerned about the mor-,
als of the various contemplated or
executed deals they took part in,
until they were crossed by Stock-
meyer.
Certainly, until his members'
time speech, Stockmeyer played a
much shrewder game than Miller
had. But that, of course, is the ad-
vantage of being a Stockmeyer.
* *' *
THEREUhAS BEEN some talk of
a campus-wide petition to recall
Stockmeyer, Miller, and the whole
Inane g r o u p. This probably
wouldn't come off, and even if it
did, students would only get the
same caliber representatives on
SGC, or whatever group you'd care
to call student government, next
year.
The fault is only partially with
the individuals, The structure
and organization of SGC is per-
feet for weak leadership and par-
tisan action.
The fault is with constituents
who voted without thinking, and
who, even if they had really put in
some consideration, had a ridicu-
lously narrow field of competent
candidates .for whom to vote.
THE FAULT is with ex-officios
who, in some cases were the only
ones to run for their organizations '
highest office, and who do not give
one ounce of energy or moment of
thought to the Council; who do
not think but are told how to vote
by the leaders of their respective
factions.
The same repulsive and unprin-
cipled actions perhaps occurred
during last year's officer elections.
They vwil probably happen again
next year. It would be good-if it
were not the case. But if it is, and
if it must be, let it at least be
handled with some discretion and
just a little honesty, if only to
keep disillusionment on Counci
at a minimum.
it, isfrightful to see Council
members looking so terribly ab-
ject.
I
;
Ellender Junket
ONE OF the major threats to United States
foreign policy is the loud-mouthed Senator
or Congressman, junketing abroad at govern-
ment expense, niaking remarks offensive to
the local populace. Sen. Allen J. Ellender of
Louisiana is an excellent example.
Late last week he told a Southern Rhodesian
audience that he has yet to see any part of
Africa ready for self-government; that the'
average African is incapable of- leadership
without white assistance and that the Union
of South Africa's apartheid program was too
late, but a step in the right direction.
To the newly-independent Africans, regain-
ing dignity after 200 years of colonial rule,
this was a particularly galling remark. Uganda
and Tanyanika, proposed stops on Ellender's
tour, barred him. Ethiopia told him to stay
away.
MANY . AFRICANS, not understanding the
subtleties of the American-political system,.
will take his remarks as official policy. Even
the -=stinging rebuke by Rep. Barratt O'Hare
of Illinois, chairman of the House sub-
committee on Africa, will not go very far in
convincing Africans that this is not United
States policy.
One remark like Ellender's thus can undo the
work of all peace corpsmen in Africa. Its racial
slur creates bitterness and distrust of American
motives that months of careful foreign policy
planning and action has sought to eliminate.
However, the administration is powerless to
stop such disasters. Only Congress can do this
by policing its foreign travel policies. Al-
though not as loose as it once was, congress-
men and snntors still have and exercise their
ONE OF the most fascinating
movies to come along in a long
while, "Henry V," is playing at
the Cinema Guild tonight and
tomorrow night. Just the name
William Shakespeare guarantees
that a film will be above the usual
theatre fare. But this movie has
some strokes of genius in it, not
supplied by Shakespeare that
would make him envious.
Carried back to the Elizabethan
days, the viewer first sees the
Globe theatre, as through a time
machine, about to begin a per-
formance of "Henry V." The play
starts as the chorus comes out
and delivers his prologue.
The actors deliver their lines
and the audiences reacts much
unlike today's. Someone will
mimic an actor's line, an actor
will seem to go right into the
audience surrounding three sides
HERE THE FUSION of the arts
by Olivier is fascinating beyond
expression. William Walton's mu-
sic, not bombastic, but fresh and
invigorating, is perfect. The sets
are works of art in themselves.
The technicolor camera catches.
scenes that smell of the theatre
but are of all the arts. The color-
ful background or rather back-
drops are sligtly out of perspective.
The sets; are very airy, especially
the French palace. They look as
if they had just been constructed
by carpenters on the stage-an
extension of the idea that imagi-
nation was all that was needed to
watch a play on the barren Shake-
spearean stage. But they are more
than imagination come to life,
they are works of art. Even the
great battle scene at Agincourt
isn't ferocious and brutal like some
battle scenes in recent spectacu-
ing scene is one-of exquisite beauty
-a fusion of Shakespeare's mag-
nifiscent poetry, the airy delicate
architecture of the palace, the
dazzling costumes, the flowing
music and the touching acting.
Never has a play been transferred
from the stage to the screen so
beautifully.
HOWEVER, with all these su-
perlatives there are some drastic
faults early in the film that may
send some viewers scurrying to
the exists through sheer boredom.
The Globe theatre scene is car-
ried out too long before the switch
is made from the stage. The dia-
logue is very hard to pick up at
this point. The audio isQunclear
and it is hard to concentrate on
Shakespeare, since every word is
important and shouldn't be al-
lowed to pass without notice. If
I nsurane
IF. INSTEAD of paying the Ad-
ministration-proposed maximum
health insurance tax of $27.50 a
year, "a worker from age, 20 to
age 65 deposited $27.50 each year
for 45 years at 4 per cent interest
compounded quarterly, he would
wind up with a nice nest egg of
$4,093.78,
If he continued to invest the
$4,093.78 at 4 per cent, he could
pay for an excellent medical care
insurance policy not only for him-
self, but his family too, with the
$194 in interest on his savings
each year. He could buy far better
rn,.,r ..p than ,. +1a A rmn i y.I,t irn