Seventy-Third Yeor EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS Op THE UNIVErSITY OF MICHiGAN UNDER AUTHORrTY OF BOARD IN CONTROL OF STUDENT PUDLCATIONS anions AteFrei STUDENT PU3LICATmONS BuG+, ANN AiBo, MICH., PHONE No 2-3241 NIII Preail' is printed in The Michigan Daily express the individual opinions of staff writers or the editors. This must be noted in all reprints. VALUES AND COMITMENT: Thne Two Sides of College AUGUST 27, 1963 NIGHT EDITOR: PHILIP SUTIN The Daily's Open, Openi Forum IE DAILY'S editorial policy is calculated anarchy. here are no official views. No publisher ates an editorial line to be towed by the re staff. Each editorial is an expression of vidual opinion and no editorial goes un- lished because of the views it expresses. The orial page is an open forum offering free- . of expression with only a. minimum of trary restriction. IIS RESTRICTION comes in two forms. 'he first is the libel laws which all news- ers are supposed to observe. The second is Daily's Code ,of Ethics. This code overtly ts writers in two areas. No editorial can >rse a candidate for the office of Regent. , no editorial cai advocate racial prejudice. iird provision requires that editorials con- ling the University's annual appropriation ead to the chairman of The Board in Con- of Student Publications before publication. owever the code does not give the chairman authority to forbid publication of such an orial if he disapproves and Daily staff ibers have freely exercised their right of ment in this area recently. JTSIDE OF these restrictions, the editorial, >age's only dogma is The Daily's motto h appears every day over the editorial imns: Where opinions are free, truth; will alL mtroversy and dissent are positive values he Daily. Editorial writers-and every staff zber is encouraged to write editorials-. .y contradict one another. Nobody's opin-. are sacred because of position or seniority. or editors are not unlikely to find their ions picked apart by freshmen trainees.+ Daily often runs pro-con editorials with sing views appearing side' by side. On emely controversial issues such as student onsibility or civil rights, many editorials appear representing many shades of ion. )metimes The Daily will invite guest writers 'resent their opinions when they have a icular expertise not found among staff bers or a viewpoint which no staff member s. Readers are invited to express their ions through the Letters to the Editor mns. Local editorial writing is supplement- y the columns of Walter Lippmann and the rial cartoons of Herblock and Mauldin. every week, The Daily runs one of Jules ferfs cartoon commentaries. E CLOSEST The Daily ever comes to an fficial position on any issue is The Senior )rial. These editorials, which sometimes ar on the front page, are written only on mely important occasions and only when is common ground for agreement among ight senior editors. The editorial covers that common ground. It is signed simply Senior Editors. rough this atmosphere of freedom, The y makes a meaningful contribution to the emic community. Its methods of free ex- Mori to all staff members and complete nt control are consistent with the highest s of the University. Et THE reader, The Daily's editorial page id policy provide stimulation and contro-, '. In the course of reading The Daily, most le will find at least some opinions with which they violently disagree. Some readers take refuge by merely labeling these opinions "irresponsible" or pass them off as The Daily's "line" or the writer's insanity. But controversy in a University community is a healthy thing. If critics of The Daily are at least forced to reconsider their own positions then The Daily and the individual writers have performed a vital service. In certain areas, The Daily is the only possi- ble source of public critical evaluations of the University. Editorial freedom makes it possible for Daily staff members to stand"outside the system" and be critical of the institution. The editorial page is not geared to a smiling glad- handing approach to the University. Writers are frank often to the embarrassment of Uni- versity administrators. The Daily itself is a target of criticism from many quarters and for diverse reasons. Us- ually, the critic is irritated about some par- ticular editorial or article that irritated him. It is surprising how often one incident will blot out all other considerations in such a critic's mind. A SECOND type of criticism deserves more serious consideration. There seems to be an almost habitual antipathy between certain segments of the campus and The Daily. Fra- ternity members, for example, often claim that The Daily has an institutionalized bias against fraternities despite' the fact that The Daily has run editorials both pro and con on fratern- Ities The. Union and The Daily have often been at odds with one another. Members of these organizations have often charged that The Daily follows an editorial line and that opinion is not really free. Partially, these criticisms are a result of a communications problem among organizations. Partially, it is because such critics have been unwilling at times to eveluate themselves and accept the outside criticism. But the major defect'of such criticism is that few of the con- stant critics really understand anything be- yond the formal outlie of The Daily's editorial policy. NO EDITORIAL is assured of publication un- less it meets certain standards of writing and unless the author is able to defend his argument reasonably. This means that the editorial director-who manages the operation of the page-is entrust- ed with the task of naking sure that within the framework ofthe writer's basic assump- tions, he has constructed a logical argument. Whether the editorial director .agrees with writer's viewpoint is irrelevant and, in prac- tice, editorial directors have been most critical of those editorials where the writer would seem to be following a standard "line." Of course this approach to editing editorials has its drawbacks. It is sometimes not an ob- jective question whether or not an argument is well constructed. Editing editorials under The Daily's open forum policies is not a com- pletely black and white matter. Its success always depends on the good will and flexioility of the individuals involved. A GOOD editorial page is the fruit of long and criti al thought on the part of the writers. An editorial, more so than any other aspect of The Daily, is a part of the individual who created it. For him, it is an opportunity to allow his thought both wide scope and the discipline necessary to express himself well. For the reader, a good editorial is a source of stimulation although not necessarily of agreement For the University community, a good editorial questions, probes and logically makes a point of some significance. Freedom is necessary to the production of a first-rate editorial page; so is responsibility. Shunting aside the obvious question of legal responsibility, the only answer to the question of responsibility comes in response to the question of where does the writers have an obligation? Under the system established at The Daily, a writer's main obligation is a selfish one; he must be honest with himself. If the writer says what he really thinks, if he says it clearly and without malice, if he observes the law of the press, then his editorial is responsible. By RONALD WILTON Editor WHEN THE DAILY editor writes for the freshman edition, he usually concerns himself with the relationship between The Daily and the University. Misconceptions about The Daily are fairly com- mon. Past editors have acted on the theory "that freshmen should at least be fortified with some knowledge of The Daily before his arrival. Yet from personal experience and discussions, it seems that most incoming freshmen are more con- cerned with information about the university experience they will soon enter. The educational theory of high- er education has undergone some changes in the past few years. Theorists once believed that edu- cation was the classroom the stu- dent learned only at the foot of the professor. In recent years, ed- ucation sociologists have discover- ed that the non-academic aspects of college life-environment, per- sonal contacts, organizations - have an equal if not greater effect on education than the classroom. The total experience of a college career is determined by the adap- tation a freshman makes when he enters a university and by the amount of sensitivity he shows to his envornment. DURING THEIR high school career, students are told that the transition to college is a hard one. The same rumors circulate through junior high school about high school. In many cases they are found to be exaggerated. You may have some apprehen- sion about college and in some cases you will be right. The rum- ors should not be completely dis- missed, for'the nature of the tran- sition is different from your past experience. You may find yourself making two transitions. The first is a strong commitment to the rigors and impartiality of scholarly work. The second involves your development into an adult and cit- izen of the community, the nation and the world. It ells for develop- ing a set of values and commit- ments which will enable you to contribute to the political and social as well as the economic life of society. * * * FOR MOST, the academic tran- sition is the easier of the two. In many cases, particularly where the freshman courses are concern- ed, the work is merely an exten- sion of high school. Papers will be outlined and will be due on cer- tain definite dates. You will be told what to study for examina- tions. Some may discover the rou- tine of slacking off for various periods and then spending an in- tense two weeks of paper writing and studying for exams. A small minority will flunk out and a few will be able to get high marks without attending too many class- es. The great majority however, as members of the smartest freshman class in the University's history, will find that by studying for a given period of time every day will enable you to do well in your classes. But just as important as adjust- ing to the routine of classwork is the- value you place in it. If you view your college experience as an insurance policy on your economic future you will only be getting only a small portion of its value. The value of college lies in the realization that education for the sake of learning is both important and rewarding. Learning is not -Robert B. E11ery COMMITMENT: A student working for the integration of churches in Albany, Ga., accompanies a Negro minister as he attempts to enter a white church. Many students have worked for integration in the South as members of Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and other groups. Students throughout the nation have expressed their concern and personal involvement with issues such as segregation, disarmament and civil liberties through demonstrations and direct action. just memorization; it is learning to think, to put facts together, to criticize ideas and institutions and to sort out the true from the false.. One who does not learn to do this is betraying one's potential, both as a member of an elite (college students) and as a' human being. * * * THIS INTELLECTUAL commit- ment is not developed easily. Memorizing is easy; thinking is hard. Most high schools are de- voted to the inculcation of facts. The next four years will probably be your first and last opportunity to develop the creative and crit- ical faculties that will enrich your whole future life. The freshman's adjustment to the non-academic sphere is prob-' ably harder than the academic adjustment because the former is easier to duck, It involves a com- mitment to a type of life for which many high schools and parents do not prepare you. At the University, many of you will be exposed for the first time' to new ideas about the commun- ity, the nation and the world, and their relevancy to yourself and others. In our society today teen- agers are not encouraged to form independent opinions about the world and their place in it. Many adopt the ideological and spiritual stands of their parents. Rebels are often thwarted in their at- tempts to investigate alternative systems by parental and commun- ity censure and a lack of facili- ties. It is much easier to go along with your parents and friends in this area than to strike out on your own. BY DISCOURAGING independ- ent thought, parents not only fail to make their children into re- sponsible citizens, but even pre- vent them from developing a sense of responsibility for their own per- sonal lives. The evidence for this is contained in a paradox. Parents like to boast about how mature and responsible their children are, and how they are able to take care of themselves. Yet when they send these mature children off to col- lege they want the University to act as a substitute parent, setting rules that limit their children's experiences. The University forces all freshmen to live in University dormitories, insists that all women below the senior level live in dormitories or sororities and makes these same women sign out when they go out at night and then return by a certain hour. The University, not the students, sets the rules governing student life. This may seem so ordinary that you wonder what is wrong with it. If college is the place where the individual makes the transition to responsible membership in adult society, then it is clear that Uni- versity paternalism is a hinder- ance to him. It puts obstacles in the path of value and commitment formation. THESE VALUES and commit- ments involve an attachment to the democratic way of life and the relationship of the individual to it and to his fellows. If the aca- demic transition prepares one for a slot in life then the non-aca- demic transition should develop a desire and commitment to inter- act with other individuals in other slots. The opportunity to develop this commitment to interaction will be present at the University, al- though it will be hampered some- what by University rules. You will be bombarded on all sides by groups anxious to have you spport their activities. Liberals will ask you to work on such issues as abolishing the House Committee on Un-Aemircan Activities, inte- gration and electing candidates for Student Government Council who believe in taking stands on off- campus issues. Conservatives will solicit your help in supporting Goldwater, lessening American re- liance on the United Nations and electing candidates to SGC who are not so anxious to take stands on off-campus issues. Similar ap- peals will come from the moderates who are somewhere inbetween. * * * IF THE NEW student approach- es these issues with an open mind he may find the first few months bewildering. Yet'he will soon find himself standing up to them, sort- ing them out and assimilating them in his own individual way. Eventually he will evolve values and commitments to them which will enable him to take his place; as a responsible citizen in our so- ciety. It is only through interest a n d participation in society, whether that society be the Uni- versity, the nation or the world, that we fulfill the conditions of citizenship and social living as well as democracy. The difficult aspect of this non- academic transition is that the student may find the whole pro- cess too bewildering and too much trouble. He will be sorely tempted to retreat into an ivory tower existence of just being concerned with his area of academic in- terest, or he may choose. the happy-go-lucky existence of par-, ties and dates. Yet this alterna- tive, as easy as it is, also involves throwing away potential, the po- tential of everyone to become a productive, responsible citizen. * * * THE DAILY will be one of the vehicles bombarding you with the plethora of new ideas you will en- counter here. We do it out of the ' belief of many staff members in the "total experience" theory of education. In addition to being ex- posed to new ideas, those of you who join our staff will almost in- evitably find yourselves develop- ing traits of responsibility and self-reliance. The Daily is found- ed on the principle that students can run a great newspaper, and in fact The Daily is generally re- garded as the best college news- paper in the country. Coming to the University will open a whole new world for you, and each of you will react to it in your own individual way. The University seems a huge, imper- sonal place to many freshmen and the first few months raise a lot of questions. Your answers will not only aid your own development, but will add to the quality of t h e University. TODAY AND TOMORROW: Sluggish Congress Ineffective''- , "Faster! ... Here It Takes All The Running You Can Do To Keep In The Same Place" Earthy ERSITY administrators are often be- d for their lack of attention toward the will-student or faculty-but last sum- e administration demonstrated that it eye to the ground. Plant Department installed 58,000 sq. ft. sidewalk around the Central Campus, ig new paths in front of Angell and Memorial Halls and on the Diag. The ing thing about these new paths is that enerally follow worn patches of dirt by student and faculty feet out of Uni- lawn. ADMINISTRATION ought to tulated for this concrete demor ntiveness to public opinion.' Editorial Staff RONALD WILTON, Editor d MARCUS GERALD S al Director City Ed ZA LAZARUS ............Personne SUTIN .........National Concex VANS ...............Associate C KIE BRAHMS ...... Associate Editoria 1 BOWLES ................Magaz A BERRY ...............Contributi 10.1.D....... .'. . .Spo LOER ..............Associate Spo VINCK ........... Contributing Spo '-.-C, ft be con- THE CODE of Ethics is a denial of this nstration responsibility. The Daily has been run by students who have determined policy through -P.S. the years in almost every area. They have made The Daily into a first rate newspaper. Surely these students are qualified to decide what is L* fit to print. y Hopefully, the Code of Ethics will be abolish- ed someday. Its restrictions are especially pain- ful in the area of Regental elections. Daily staff members are among the very few who 5TORCH carefully inform themselves about these candi- itor dates. The restriction removes their ability to q Director comment in an area where they are particular- rns Editor ly competent. ity Editor % Director ine Editor HOSE WHO do not like what they read in .ng Editor The Daily often claim that it does not serve rts Editor the interests of the University community. rts Editor The critics, of course, consider themselves as rts Editor arbiters of what the University's interests are. T nersonallv think that the TTniversity has a -r_ -#1~4 By WALTER LIPPMANN THIS CONGRESS was already in a jam before the Negro demon- strations caused the administra- tion to propose the new civil rights bill. Without any filibuster on the floor of the Senate, there has been so much delay and obstruction in the committees that after six months no important measure has been acted upon, and many of the critical measures, such as tax re- duction, are bogged down - it would seem deliberately -in the committees. What kind of legislative body is it that will not or cannot legis- late? This would be a serious question at any time. But it is a critical question at this time. A new gen- eration of Negroes has emerged, one which has lost the fear of being arrested and jailed, and has. steeled itself to use the weapon of the weak, which is to be prepared to suffer more pain than the op- pressor will dare to inflict. When an aggrieved people reach this point, they have acquired a force which governments must reckon with and people must respect. * * * IT IS TRUE, quite evidently, that in their swelling discontent the Negro people might be incited, even exploited, to permit acts of violence which would recoil upon the Negro minority itself. But how is wisdom to be made to prevail as against reckless folly? There is only one way. By an unmistakable showing that the Negroes live un- der a strong government, one which is not only strong enough to suppress mobs, but is also strong enough to redress grievances and raise the standard of public right- eousness. If, after the President has pro- posed legal remedies for a -unde- niable evil, ,the Congress of the United States then smothers and obstructs the enactment of laws, on what ground can a rational appeal be made to the Negro peo- ple and their leaders? As one who has always opposed cloture except tinues, if we linger on a dead- lock in which the President pro- poses and Congress will not even dispose, there are very difficult days ahead for the republic. AS SESSION drags on into the autumn with little accomplished amidst many angry words, some- thing will have 'to be done about it. Next to, defense and the enlighten- ed conduct of the cold war, the question of highest priority will be how to overcome the paralysis of Congress. Myown view is that the most important and most needed re- form would be a rule that meas- ures proposed by the President, if he labels them urgent, must be reported out of committees .within a certain time and brought to a vote within a certain time. The administration should have the 'right to have its proposals voted up or down within a reasonably short time. It cannot be the gen uine right of a legislature to smother and strangle the pro- posals of the executive. For that would leave us with just about the worst of all forms of popular gov- ernment - government by large assemblies or, as we call it in this country, congressional government. I find myself thinking how rarelyhfree governments have been overthrown -qby foreign tyrants, except temporarily in time of war, but how often free governments have fallen because of their own weakness and incapacity. To one thinking such thoughts, there is nothing reassuring about the pres- ent Congress. (c) 1963, The washington Post Co. AN UNDERSTANDING between the United States and the Soviets makes sense and it is com- ing. There was never any reason for a military showdown except ideology and the reluctance of a great status quo power to yield some of its dominance to a great emem..na nmlv. I i C