Sulky with the Fringe on Top
Seventieth Year
EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
UNDER AUTHORITY OF BOARD IN CONTROL OF STUDENT PUBLICATIONS
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS BLDG. " ANN ARBOR, MICH. * Phone NO 2-3241
SPEECH PLAYBILL.
Zany Farce Features
Horse-Eating Hat
"WhenOpinIons Are Free
Truth Will Prevail"
Editorials printed in The Michigan Daily express the individual opinions of staff writers
or the editors. This mnust be noted in all reprints.
MRSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1959 NIGHT EDITOR: THOMAS KABAKER
Classroom Attendance
Need Not be Required
AS SHOWN by students' displeasure with
class performance, as well as high scholas-
tic attainment in independent study, classroom
attendance at the University need not be man-
datory.
The ruling on the number of classes a stu-
dent may cut in any one course now depends
largely on the decision of the teacher. Some
clearly indicate that class attendance is not
mandatory as long as the student assimilates
the knowledge on his own; others take roll
regularly.
And those who take roll may limit the num-
ber of cuts permissible per semester to the
number of class hours the course involves per'
week. A greater number of cuts means a drop
in the student's grade.
SOMETHING else reportedly occurred in a.
University language department. A student
who cut classes consistently but managed to
maintain his A was given an A. But he was
granted only two hours' credit for the four-
hour course.
But just like the recent Student Government
Council proposal which would permit all stu-
dents to work on activities whether or not
their academic standings were satisfactory, a
plan of non-compulsoy classroom attendance
would serve to weed out poor students.
Those who cut classes merely out of laziness,
or because they realize they are too far behind
in the course to catch up, should be allowed to
go to as few classes as they want. And even-
tually, If they are poor students, this fact will
reflect in their test grades and general knowl-'
edge about the course. If they follow a similar
pattern in all their courses, they may be elim-
inated entirely from the 'University scene.
ON THE OTHER HAND, some students cut
classes because they are too far ahead in
the course. Often, they are so well prepared
that they not only can anticipate a class dis-
cussion, but derive no sense of academic ac-
complishment from it.
For the well-equipped and eager student,
there is a wealth of information beyond what
is uncovered in class discussions or yielded
through reading and underlining the text.
There are campus libraries with volumes that
delve more deeply into a subject than group
discussions or required readings. There are
individual conferences or chats with the course
instructor. There are student seminars.
If the eager student can prove through test
grades and knowledge of the course that he is
capable of assimilating the information with-
out attending class, he should not be penalized
when he may be devoting his time to outside
efforts. Aside from the factor of teacher stimu-
lus, a student is good or bad largely depending
on his own attitude toward and self-applica-
tion to the work required.
To avoid confusion, there is a need for cam-
pus-wide consistency on the cut system. The
decision to eliminate compulsory class attend-
ance could well be academically the wiser
choice.
-NORMA SUE WOLFE
PRICELESSLY absurd is possib-
ly the best description of
"Horse Eats Hat" produced by the
speech department. Once the
audience accepts the premise that
farce is meant to be incredible, it
remains convulsed with laughter
for the remainder of the play.
Not only is the plot unbeliev-
able, but the action is exaggerat-
ed, characters suddenly burst into
song or dance, and. sets appear
and disappear before the audi-
ence's eyes. It is a totally delight-
ful two hours away from any sem-
blance of reality.
Farce requires a very special
treatment in all phases of its pro-
duction. Characters must be hu-
morous, improbable; they must do
unbelievable things, but they can-
not be ridiculous or boorishly
overdone.
* * *
THE ENTIRE cast performs
with an enthusiasm and a buoy-
ancy that captures the audience
and makes it a part of the insane
world of the play. Scenery, cos-
tumes, music, highly simple, but
effective choreography embellish
the charmingly zany plot. Direc-
tion by William P. Halstead kept
the farce moving at the required
high speed.
As the bridegroom plunged on
his wedding day into hot pursuit
of an Italian straw hat, Don Lov-
ell is adaptable to the myriad of
expressions his role demands. His
asides to the audience are well
managed as he juggles outraged
fathers, shy brides, old girl-
friends, and an entire wedding
party which wanders through the
scene periodically singing joyous-
ly.
(----"
VI
-- eK"
- I - 'mw, i. ;i," r
Herblockes away due to siless
G U. Lewi1torMPeM nbmG.st-Dltstc
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
Column on Crisler Draws Praise
I
TODAY AND TOMORROW
-The TV Problem,
By WALTER LIPPMANN
TELEVISION has been caught perpetrating a
fraud which is so gigantic that it calls into
question the foundations of the industry.
The fraud was not the work of a few cheats
who had wormed their way into the company
of honest men. The fraud was too big, too ex-
tensive, too well organized to be cured or atoned
for by throwing a few conspicuous individuals
to the wolves, and by putting on a pious show
of scrupulosity about the details of the produc-
tions.
There has been, in fact, an enormous con-
spiracy to deceive the public in order .to sell
profitable advertising to the sponsors. It in-
volves not merely this individual or that, but
the industry as a whole. This is the judgment
of the leading professional critics of television
on both the "New York Herald Tribune" and
the "New York Times." Mr. John Crosby has
said that the "moral squalor of the quiz mess
reaches clear through the whole industry." Mr.
Jack Gould has said that the fraud could not
have been carried out without "the constant in-
volvement of representatives of networks, ad-
vertising agencies, and sponsors."
The size of the fraud is a bitter reflection
on the moral condition of our society. But it is
also sure proof that there is something radically
wrong with the fundamental national policy
under which television operates. The principle
of that policy is that for all practical purposes
television shall be operated wholly for private
profit. There is no competition in television
except among competitors trying to sell the
attention of their audiences for profit. As a
result, while television is supposed to be "free,"
it has in fact become the creature, the servant,
and indeed the prostitute, of merchandizing.
Television is expensive and the available
channels are few. These channels are possessed
by a few companies who are in fierce competi-
tion among themselves. But what are they com-
peting about? About how to capture the largest
mass audience which can be made to look at
and listen to the most profitable advertising.
IN THIS ,COMPETITION, as in Gresham's
famous law of money, the bad money drives
out the good. In order to capture the largest
mass audience the companies have resorted to
fraud as in the case of the quiz shows. But,
reprehensible as it is to play the gullible public
for suckers, that is not the worst of their of-
fending. The worst things they do are first to
poison the innocent by the exhibition of vio-
lence, degeneracy, and crime, and second, to
debase the public taste.
According to "Newsweek," the television net-
Editorial Staff
THOMAS TURNER, Editor
PIILIP POWER ROBERT JUNKER
Editorial Director City Editor
CHARLES KOZOLL .............. Personnel Director
JOAN KAATZ ....... .........Magazine Editor
BARTON HUTHWAITE .............. Features Editor
JIM BENAGH ........ ...........Sports Editor
SELMASAWAYA...... Associate Personnel Director
JAMES BOW .........Associate City Editor
SUSAN HOLTZEr.........Associate Editorial Director
PETER DAWSON........... Contributing Editor
DAVE LYON............Associate Sports Editor
PRED KATZ ................ Associate bports Editor
CA . - *
works decided about a year ago that in the com-
ing season, during the prime evening hours
which draw the biggest audiences, they would
devote to violence a total of twenty-four hours
a week. "Heroes and villains crumple under the
impact of blackjacks, whisky bottles, wrenches,
and even gold-headed canes. A goggle-eyed
public sits by while its fellow humans are
pistol-whipped, stabbed, garrotted, mugged, and
mussed up."
What to do about it? The great offense of
the television industry is that it is misusing a
superb scientific achievement, that it is mono-
polizing the air at the expense of effective news
reporting, good art, and civilized entertain-
ment. The crux of the evil is that in seeking
great mass audiences, the industry has decided
from its experience that the taste of great
masses is a low one, and that to succeed in the
competition it must pander to this low taste.
Quite evidently, thisis an evil which cannot
be remedied by a regulating commission or by
some form of government or self-constituted
censorship. The alternative, which is practiced
in one form or another in almost every other
civilized country, is competition-competition
not for private profit but for public service. The
best line for us to take is, I am convinced,; to
devise a way by which one network can be run
as a public service with its criterion not what
will be most popular but what is good.
No doubt, this network would not attract the
largest mass audience. But if it enlisted the
great talents which are available in the in-
dustry, but are now throttled and frustrated,
it might well attract an audience which made
up in influence what it lacked in numbers. The
force of a good example is a great force, and
should not be underrated.
WE SHOULD NOT, I believe, shrink from the
idea that such a network would have to be
subsidized and endowed. Why not? Is there any
doubt that television is a mighty instrument of
education-education for good or education for
evil? Why should it not be subsidized and en-
dowed as are the universities and the public
schools and the exploration of space andi
modern medical research, and indeed the
churches -- and so many other institutions
which are essential to a good society, yet can-'
not be operated for profit?
They are unwise friends of our system of
private capitalism who do not recognize the
fact that the higher life of our society depends
on respect for and support of non-commercial
institutions. It is true that the best way for
this country to produce wealth is by private
enterprise for private profit. But there are a
lot of other things that need to be done besides
producing wealth and selling ' goods. One of
them is to inform, instruct, and entertain the
people through the media of mass communica-
tions. And among these media there must be
some which aim not at popularity and profit
but at excellence and the good life.
That it is possible to operate non-commercial
institutions is attested by the fact that we do
operate successfully schools, universities, hos-
pitals, laboratories of research. Harvard and
Yale and Princeton and Columbia and Dart-
mouth and so on are not operated for profit.
Their trustees do not play politics. They are
concerned with excellence and not with making
money. Why should not people of this sort be
To the Editor:
JIM BENAGH'S article in the
Tuesday, October 20th issue of
The Michigan Dailystruck such a
responsive chord that I could not
resist the temptation to write and
congratulate him on the finest,
most pungent and discerning ar-
ticle that has appeared on The
Daily sport page in many a year.
As a former Daly Sports Staff
writer many yeai ago, I feel I am
somewhat qualified to make the
above statement.
Harold Wilson, of the Michigan
Alumnus, will verify the fact that
periodically I have sounded off to
him about what I believed to be a
deplorable situation, responsibili-
ty for which can be attributed to
only one individual; namely, His
Honor, Herbert Orrin "The Lord"
Crisler. People who have followed
the destinies of Michigan athletics
since Crisler assumed the athletic
directorship certainly must be
cognizant of what has been trans-
piring.
Admittedly, during this period,
we have amassed our share of Big
Ten titles in most sports, with the
exception of basketball which is a
pet peeve of mine. However, these
achievenients have been attained
in spite of Mr. Crisler and, as you
have indicated, he certainly can-
not take any particular bows in
this respect. Football, by the very
fact that it subsidizes the other
sports, is naturally of prime con-
cern when any evaluation of the
current situation is made, and
here Mr. Crisler should bow his
head in shame.
AS YOU DOUBTLESSLY know,
he literally ran Biggie Munn out
of our Athletic Department after
faithfully promising him that he
would inherit the Head Football
Coaching job when he, Mr. Cris-
ler, retired to the sidelines. Pre-
sumably this was to have taken
place in 1946. However, "The
Lord," being the vain man that he
is, sensed that he had the making
of a potential championship team
in the nucleus of the 1946 squad.
Consequently, he reneged on his
promise to Munn and the after-
math is now history.
A man admittedly as smart as
Crisler must have sensed Bennie
Oosterbaan, with all due respect to
him as an individual and as Mich-
igan's greatest all around athlete,
was definitely not qualified to act
as a Head Coach in a sport where
a big percentage of the job calls
for selling and merchandising
ability, which Bennie never pro-
fessed to have.
Certainly, Bennie's first year in
1948 was a glorious one, but you
and I could have taken that mate-
rial and done equally as well, I am
sure. The true test started in 1951
when all of the great postwar ath-
letes had long since graduated. A_
glance at Oosterbaan's record does
not necessarily reveal what was
fore-shadowed and has now come
to pass; namely, the gradual debii-
itation that has definitely priaced
Michigan in the ranks of a second-
rate football power, and it is ques-
tionable in my mind whether a
chap even as personable as Bump
Elliott will be able to surmount
the obstacles that he is now con-
fronted with. During this period,
from 1951 to 1958, anyone at all
familiar with the football picture
in the Big Ten could see that
Michigan was gradually being sub-
jected to a cancerous growth that
has finally completely undermined
our gridiron efforts.
During this time Crisler, in
characteristic fashion, assumed an
indifferent and autocratic attitude
FROM 'TIMES OF HAVANA':
Cuba's New Inferiority Complex
and made no effort whatsoever to
intervene and rectify his initial
error; namely, that of appoint-
ing Oosterbaan, together with
his lackadaisical associates, Blott,
Webber and company. Conse-
quently, young Elliott is faced
with a monumental task of mend-
ing fences all over the country, not
only with high school coaches but
also Michigan's alumni group.
* * *
IT GALLS ME to think of the
potential, as you have pointed out,
that has been dissipated as far as
the alumni is concerned. No other
school in the United States has
the tremendous alumni group that
Michigan possesses, and if they
had been handled properly who
knows but what a dynasty that no
one could have offset could have
been established. However, it is so
apparent now that irreparable
damagenin so many respects has
been committed that the future to
the most optimistic is dismal to
say the least. So my most fervent
hope is that "The Lord" takes
himself away from Ann Arbor and
seeks greener pastures, from his
standpoint.
I also hope that any talk of his
successor being named in the per-
son of Bennie Oosterbaan is strict-
ly. hearsay. We have currently in
athletic directorships around the
country three good alumni; name-
ly, Ernie McCoy, at Penn-State,
Bill Orwig at Nebraska, and Ivan
Williamson /at Wisconsin, plus
Forest Evashevski, any one of
which is well qualified to help pick
up the pieces, as it were, and carry
on.
I appreciate the fact that this
has been a very rambling disserta-
tion, but Jim's article is respon-
sible for my expression and my
feelings because it coincides so
thoroughly with what I have
thought for many years. My one
regret is the fact that, unfortu-
nately, not enough really respon-
sible Michigan men will have the
opportunity to read it.
In closing, just let me say again,
congratulations on having the.
"guts" to write the truth. Best
wishes to Jim and his Side Lines,
Column the balance of the year.
Robert J. St. Clair
Solution . . .
To the Editor:
I T HAS BEEN reported that the
real purpose of Governor Wil-
liams' recent trip to Europe was
to study the effects of American
foreign aid. Without the use-tax
Soapy believes that ;Michigan's
(and his) only hope is to secede
from the Union and apply for for-
eign aid.
A hopeful and thankful
Illinois Republican
"It's all off" is the most repeat-
ed line of the farce. Repeating it
is the bride's father (Don Ewing)
who cannot decide if a property-
owning son-in-law is quite worth
all the trouble it takes to get him.
Mr. Ewing has played similar roles
in "The Rivals" and in "The
Matchmaker," and handles it with
practiced competence.
* * C
FREYDA Schultz as the "blush-
ing bride" is hilarious even when
merely standing and twitching -
a pin in her wedding dress pricks
her. Greatest scene-stealer of all
is Richard Levy, the bookkeeper
and member of the militia (he's
only sixty-two).
"Horse Eats Hat," in which the
horse unfortunately never ap-
pears, has no message, it is not
even social comment or satire. It
is gay and sparkling jolly-good-
fun. One suspects it is as much
fun for the cast as for the audi-
ence, at least it would appear so.
In farce, this is half the battle.
--Jo Hard.
DAILY
OFFICIAL
BULLETIN
(Continued from Page 2)
Louise Heeney Pawl, Psychology; thesis:
"Some Ego Skills and Their Relation
to the Diffreences in Intelligence Be-
tween the Middle and Lower Classes,"
Fri., Oct. 30, 6625 Haven Hall, at 2:00
p.m. Chairman, E. S. Bordin.
Placement Notices
Contact the Bureau of Appointments,
General Division, 4001 Admin. Bldg. for
additional information. Phone Univer-
sity extension '3371.
McKesson & Robbins, Lansing, Mich-
igan. Pharmaceutical Sales, will call
on drug stores, hospitals; and pharma-
cists. Some travel, but will never be
away from home more than one night
per week. BA, no specific school or
major required. No experience neces-
sary, but will consider man with some
experience.
Michigan Bell Telephone Co., Detroit,
Mich. Several openings for management
trainees. Location: Mich. area. Trainee
is placed in the department where his
talents and education will be best util-
ized, usually in plant, traffic, engineer-
ing dent. or the co~tptroller's group.
BA or MA in Economics, Mathematics,
or Bus. Admin. Man not over 27 year
of age.
Ernst & Ernst, Detroit, Mich. Client
firm opening. Location: Detroit area.
BBA or BA in Liberal Arts with an a-
counting major or minor. Must be per-
sonable. Prefer a new or Zecent grad.
with 0-3 yrs. of experience.
City of New York. Contact the Bu-
reau of Appts. for a copy of Career Op-
portunities. This is a listing of Exam-
inations to be held, the salary rate and
the last date for filing.
Sarkes Tarzian, Inc., Bloomington,
Ind. Supervisor of 'Internal Audit and
Office Procedures. Must have experience
both in public and industrial aceount-
ing and should be a CPA. Responsibi-
ities include supervising the internal
audit program; working closely with
outside auditors in the development of
procedures designed to improve Intern-
al control and reduce cost of audit;
making a cojtinuing survey analysis
and improvement of officeprocedures
throughout the company; supervising
Multilith and Stationery Stores Dept.
with particular emphasis on standard-
ization and improvement of forms de-
sign; also special assignments which
involve budgeting, cost control, etc.
1) TV Time Sales Manager. Should have
experience as a time salesman and
either have experience or potential for
managerial responsibilites. 2) TV Time
Salesman, Should have experience in
TV, radio, or newspaper advertisement
sales. 3) Transmitter and Studio Engi-
neers. Responsible for adjustments to
insure correct transmitter output and
signal within specifications required by
FCC, etc. Openings in Fort Wayne and
Indianapolis. 4) Continuity Director.
Writes original description advertising
copy, extolling the merits of products
for presentation to the buying public;
must have creative ability and unique-
ness of expression, etc. 5) Film Editor
(male or female). Duties Include build-
ing and tearing down syndicated and
feature film products; should have abil-
ity to evaluate story content; typing
ability preferred. 6) Art Director. Pre
pares commercial art work as required;
creates posters and special signs, scen-
ic designs; should be able to use air
brush and do hand lettering. 7) Direc-
tor-Producer. Responsible for produc-
tion of individual programs and com-,
mercials as assigned; must be capable
of lighting, staging and directing, in-
cluding actual switching of video; must
be capable of creating and producing
basic copy; must procure and assemble
sets, properties and talent for execu-
tion of program and. commercial con-
tinuity. 8) Studio Assistant. Respon-
sible for obtaining and constructing
props for studio use; must organize
and maintain order in prop room; re-
sponsible for handling of property be-
longing to clients; must set up and
take down stage props; must be able
to perform as cameraman; sets up,
maintains, and checks on microphones,
transmits cues from director to per-
former.
Summer Placement Service:
Though the Summer Placement serv-
ice is not opening until Dec. 1, two ex-
cellent camps will be interviewing in
Rm.' D528 of the SAB.
Nov. 2: Camp Indianola, 'Wisconsin,
will interview for men counselors in all
fields of camping.
Nov. 6: Camp Mataponi, Maine, will
interview women counselors for all
camping fields. Married couples may
apply as there is a brother camp.
Call Bureau of Appts., Ext. 3371, and
ask for Ward D. Peterson, for inter-
view appointment.
Student Part-Time
Employment
The following part-time jobs are
available to students. Applications for
these jobs can be made in the Non-
-Academic Personnel Office, Rm. 1020
Admin. Bldg., during the following
hours: Monday through Friday, 1:30
A
{
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Carlos Todd, a
Cuban, is a columnist for the Amer-
ican-owned "Times of Havana."
This article is reprinted from the
"Times" of October 15.)
By CARLOS TODD
SOMEONE said recently that we
Cubans have operated under a
national inferiority complex that
was finally "liberated" in this
"Year of the Liberation."
It is the illusion of many today
in this country that since they
think in a certain way, it follows
that everybody thinks or must
think in a certain way; though it
be in direct contrast to a national
character that has been with us
a long, long time. And that state-
ment about an inferiority complex
is a direct attack on the friendly,
gregarious and uninhibited people
of my country.
That there are people here-as
well as any place in the world--
that operate under an inferiority
complex, no one can attempt to
deny. To state that the whole na-
tion is suffering from that ailment
is a willful distortion of its people
and its history. To deliberately
endeavor to inject that complex-
a breeding ground of hate-into
us is nothing less than a crime,
, * ,
ACCORDING to recent, if im-
provised, "historians," our past is
something to be thoroughly
ashamed of. Columbus, who was
responsible for our being here was
carefully ignored on October 12th.
Spanish colonizers, our forefath-
ers, are accused of shamefully
stealing the land from the Indian.
They did, of course; but we still
would not be here had it not been
for those colonizers. The U.S.
Wild West would still be exactly
anniversary conveniently ignored
this year in official circles), Ces-
pedes started a ten-year rebellion
that eventually marked the doom
of Spanish colonialism. Years la-
ter a group of patriots at Baire,
on February 24, 1895,~renewed the
struggle under the leadership of
such patriots as Jose Marti and
that peerless warrior Antonio Ma-
ceo.
The enormity of their courage
and audacity can only be under-
stood when you realize that a
small group of men were fighting
for their lives and their country
against thousands upon thousands
of well organized, well armed
Spanish troops.
* * * -
THE PROCESS of thrusting
that complex upon us continues.
Now we are told that imperialistic
United States troops invaded
Cuba in 1898 with the sole purpose
of enslaving the population. Ac-
cording to these "historians," the
tyranny of Spain was exchanged
for the tyranny of the U.S. The
fact that American intervention
saved thousands of Cuban lives
has nothing to do with it.
On May 20, 1902 (another date
purposely ignored this year by the
official), Cuba was dignified as a
nation. Then, we still had the
Platt Amendment (which granted
the U.S. the right of intervention
in Cuban affairs) hanging about
our necks. Today, we are well rid
of it, have been for many years.
Ignored or belittled by these
"historians," are the great men
who crowded Cuban history in the
fields of the military and the in-
tellectual. Their deeds and words,
are being subjugated or distorted
to a hideous caricature of our na-
things did not exist in our ances-
tors, who are presented to us as
muddled, dishonest, dishonorable,
politically cynical, and falsely pa-
triotic.
Fortunately, it is very difficult
to wipe out the high sentiments,
the love of country, the applica-
tion, the work, the struggles and
the aspirations of an entire people
since their very beginnings. Never-
theless, there is a subtle, deliber-
ate, cynical and cunning cam-
paign to inject us with ideas and
complexes that we have never
had.
Look to other "sister nations"
for complexes. Anyone of us who
has traveled in other Latin Amer-
ican nations is struck by their
very real, ingrained inferiority
complexes. Mexicans are begin-
ning to emerge from a heavy com-
plex where everything was "de-
nigrante al pais," were noted for
violent objections to tourists tak-
ing pictures of something "deni-
grante." The Puerto Ricans, 'with-
out a history, hate just about ev-
erybody. Colombians look down
upon their neighbors because their
Spanish is more precise in its ac-
cents. And so it goes.
We never had complexes here.
The people of Cuba, in their to-
tality, were the only Latin Ameri-
cans who could and did stand up
to their, neighbors, North and
South, without fear, without
shame, without inferiority, with-
out intolerance, without hate.
* * *
INDIFFERENCE, say our new
"historians." If it is indifference
to be kind, friendly, tolerant, un-
derstanding and, above all, hu-
morous, then I am all for that
kind of indifference.
: ,