FORD'S FUMBLES See Editorial P-age \: 'I L Ltr illalig LIGHT ON! See Today for details Vol. LIX, NO. 8 Ann Arbor, Michigan-Friday, September 15, 1978 Ten Cents Fourteen Page Fleming leaving 'U, in an.; ti ex Y D Smith interim chief 'U pres. oversaw turbulent, times By KEN PARSIGIAN with RENE BECKER A Daily news analysis First in a two part series I first met Robben Fleming three years ago. I was a neophyte journalist who had just been given the Regents beat, and I was on my way to my.first meeting when I realized I had no idea what the president of the University looked like. "Don't worry," an editor told me, Cyou'll know him when you see him." So armed with that bit of wisdom, I trundled off to the Adminsitration Building. Everyone was milling about, but one man stood out. He was tall, over six feet, and his full head of silver-gray hair made him look distinguished, not old. Wire-rimmed glases complemen- ted his academic countenance, but most unique was his personal demeanor. While the others appeared harried and uncertain, he projected the self-assurance of a man who knew he was in charge. My editor had been right; if ever a man looked like a university president, this was he. FLEMING CANV1E to the University in the fall of 1967 during a lull between crises. 1966 marked the beginning of the "student power" movement on this campus, and then-President Harlan Hatcher proved incapable and un- willing to cope with growling student unest. One 1966 Regent recently said that Hatcher went so far as to prevent the Regents from meeting with studen- ts. Hatcher was also opposed to allowing communists or any radical lef- tists to speak on campus-a position that only widened the gap between him and the students. He considered demonstrators to be law breakers and refused to negotiate or even talk with them. Although the campus was relatively calm when Fleming arrived in 1967, both the Regents and the ad- ministration realized that increased student activism was imminent. Their choice of Fleming reflected a concern about Hatcher's handling of the student movement, and a desire to have a president who was sufficiently progressive to appeal and relate to the students, but disciplined enough not to let the situation get out of control. Fleming's background as a top labor negotiator and his easy, affable nature and level-headedness made him a per- feet candidate. In addition, Fleming, who had been chancellor of the Madison campus of the University of Wisconsin for a mere three years, was desirous of See FLEMING, Page -Friday Assuming D.C. .r public By THOMAS O'CONNELL Following a week of speculation regarding his expected departure from Ann Arbor, University President Robben Fleming announced yesterday he will retire in January. Fleming told the Board of Regents at its monthly meeting he intends to take a position as president of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) in Washington, D.C. Allan Smith, a former law school dean and vice-president for academic affairs and currently a University professor of law, will serve as acting president until the Regents choose a successor to Fleming. ACCOMPANIED by his wife Sally, Fleming made his announcement in front of television cameras in a packed meeting room in the Administration Building. He was relaxed but seemed rather sad as he thanked the Regents for their support and help during his time as president. FLEMING SAID he knew he was making the right decision, but it was nonetheless a hard one. The Board, in turn, lauded Fleming's achievements. [V post "We will be ever in your debt for t service you have given us," sa Regent Thomas Roach.I Fleming cited his eligibility for ea retirement in December, as well as 1 conviction that new leaders are need periodically, as reasons for t decision. "I think it's good f universities to turn over the t leadership," he noted. ASSERTING HIS intention to rema active until his departure, Flemi declared, "I do not intend to become lame duck." He added that he and his wife owr home in Ann Arbor, and hope to vi, here periodically and eventually retu to live in the city. Fleming took over as president the University in January of 1968, a served throughout one of the mc troubled decades of its existenc Student unrest marked the early part his tenure, with inflation and risi education costs becoming the maj problems in recent years. IN FACT, financial problems a problems with enrollment are wh Fleming foresees as the greate challenges for the University's ne president. Fleming believes he will encount See FLEMING, Page 2 Acting 'U' head academic veteran- Daily Photo by ANDY FREEBERG UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT Robben Fleming listens somberly as University Regents comment on his decision to retire in January. After his retirement, Fleming will become the president of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The Flem By RICK BERKE and DAN OBERDORFER In the eleven years that Robben Fleming guided the University the institution underwent sweeping social and physical transformation. His first year as University president was 1968, the year history books recall as dominated by the Vietnam War and the ensuing social unrest. In Ann Arbor, local issues frequently surfaced at the fore, surpassing the war in importance. FLEMING'S ARRIVAL to town in 1967, for example, coincided with a clash between students and administrators over the University's strict paternal attitudes. Students won several battles: forcing the University to abandon its archaic curfew for freshwomen and then striking a campus-wide rule ing years which permitted only a select group of students to maintain cars on campus. The movie The Graduate, billed as one of 1968's ten best movies, was shown to students who also were questioning their way of life. The physical appearance of the University in 1968 was markedly different: nearly two dozen buildings have been built since. The Graduate Library, for example - known simply as the General Library" - lacked the complete south stack area. The LSA Building housed the offices of the top University brass and the "new" Administration Building across the street was just months from completion. And the MLB, Power Center and Dental buildings were still just a planner's See THE, Page 9 By MICHAEL ARKUSH and ELISA ISAACSON Law Professor Allan Smith, selected yesterday by the Board of Regents to become acting University president in January, said his role would be "somewhat limited" but indicated he would still make crucial decisions regarding University policies. "I don't think the University can stay on hold for very long so I intend to make policy decisions," said Smith. THE FORMER LAW school dean and vice-president for academic affairs will replace outgoing President Robben Fleming in January, but will relinquish that post when the Regents choose a permanent successor, probably sometime next year. Smith dismissed any notion that he would become the University's next permanent chief administrator, in- sisting his position would only be tem- porary. "Considering my age (Smith is 66) I am sure my stay will only be temporary especially since the University seeks to have a person who could serve about ten years," said the former law dean. SMITH SAID he forsees no difficul' in adapting to the role of a Universi' official after four years on the La School faculty. He said he doesn't e vision any serious initial problems wi other school administrators because I knows most of them very well. "Although some things have chang at the University, I still feel the bas funcitoning hasn't changed and believe I know that functioning syste very well," he said. Smith, who was vice-president academic affairs from 1965-197 referred to that experience as impo tant preparation for his new job. "THERE IS A great deal of overk between the president and the vic president. I worked very closely wi President Fleming then and I think th will help me respond to my ne duties,"he said. Smith, who had intended to lecture Hastings Law School in San Francis this spring, said the decision to acce the presidency was not an easy one.. indicated that he and his wife weigh many factors, including the semester See SMITH, Page 14 * Read about the the guard at Ford story, Page 11. changing of Motors. See Somoza calls guard reserves - * In testimony before the House Assassinations Committee, Oswald's widow admitted she thinks her husband acted alone in killing Kennedy. See story, Page 5., * Also on Page 5, find out why Italian investigators think they've come up with a big lead in the Aldo Moro slaying. * In-their monthly meeting, the Regeents gave 'U' Hospital MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - President Anastasio Somoza, in a bloody struggle to save his government,. mobilized national guard reserves yesterday for the fight against rebels in' at least seven Nicaraguan cities and towns. Three key cities in Nicaragua's populous northwest-Leon, Esteli and Chinandega-remained in rebel hands, their national guard garrisons hemmed in by insurgents. Somoza's comman- ders were trying to get reinforcements in to relieve the besieged troops, and street fighting was reported continuing in all three cities. NEW REBEL attacks were reported against two towns-Diriamba, 20 miles south of this capital city, and Penas Blancas, on the Costa Rica border. A national guard spokesman said the See RESERVES, Page 2 Kissinger: iKey issue West Bank conflict By BRIAN BLANCHARD Former Secretary of State Henr Kissinger said yesterday during a pres conference in Detroit that the Israel occupied West Bank is the most cruci issue facing negotiations at Cam David. He also said that he opposes sendin U.S. peace troops into that area. lp . - l-- - s Cl -Ilk we1A -me ~