Page 4-Wednesday, September 12, 1979-The Michigan Daily ~be .icbigan m aiIt Ninety Years of Editorial Freedom Vol. LXXXX, No. 6 News Phone: 764-0552 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan Breaking the deadlock in Zimbabwe Rhodesia A great university? OUR MONTHS before assuming .F the presidency, Harold Shapiro in a rectrt speech gave a list of requirements a school must follow before it can be classified as a "great University." The president-designate said a great university has to be a stronghold of scholarship in theoretical sciences; it must have strong undergraduate and graduate programs; and it must main- tain a sense of community. Shapiro was certainly correct in assessing part of what this school needs in order to become a great University. His analysis demonstrates his genuine concern for the school's future and it's encouraging that he's thinking about these requirements as he maps out his strategy for the upcoming year. But the president-designate left out many possibilities that must be con- fidered if this university is to ever be called a great institution. Shapiro didn't mention that a great university is one which is courageous enough to adopt - moral and political stances that may counter the school's financial interests. For instance, a great institution would be willing to take its money out of a country in which an apartheid system dominates, South Africa. And that institution would be ready to suffer the financial consequences if such a moral decision backfired. A great university would also strive to assure its students of an education tombining all teaching methods *and ideologies, and allow those differences to' be scattered throughout the univer- sity. Such an, institution would not allow one of its best professors-Joel Samoff-to be denied tenure by his department simply because his in- structional methods differ from the mainstream. Such a body of higher education would also assure that the school's students are guaranteed a more prominent role in deciding which professors are given tenure. Another requirement' of a "great" university is one determined to give its students some power in the school's decision-making process. It must allow the student government on cam- pus to be its own autonomous body, removed from any strings to Univer- sity administrators. This past yeair has seen the school's administrators suc- cessfully certify a student election marked by numerous fradulent prac- tices and seize the student gover- nment's budget authority. By restricting the power of the student government, University of- ficials can only injure the interests of students for it is that decision-making body which is most devoted to the student body. A great university would recognize this potential problem and do all it can to give students a say in the policies of the university. A great institution would work en- dlessly to find solutions to the housing and tuition crisis. Most schools face these problems but it is only a select few which find effective solutions. On- ce again, sometimes these solutions may be at the expense of the univer- sity's best financial interests. And finally, a great institution should not'allow itself to use the sheild of civil liberties to protect themselves from adopting guidelines forbidding any contact with the CIA. Such contact seriously threatens freedom at this university. The university is a fine instituton, perhaps one of the best in the United States. But it can only become a great body of higher education if the above requirements are met. If not, it will remain just a fine place to attend school. Bishop Abel Muzorewa (left), Dr. Silas Mundawara, and former ference to determine the fate of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia and Muzorewa's prime minister Ian Smith gathered for the opening session of the con- embattled black majority government. 4*4 ,2" Thp emotionally-charged Middle East con- flict has monopolized both the international headlines and the minds of diplomatic obser- vers. But notwithstanding that region's ob- vious importance, another development is currently taking place thisweek, an event of monumental importance for another equally troubled region. The setting is London, and the issue at hand concerns the future of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The issue is as complex as the Middle East squabble and contains as many emotional roadblocks. And as Bishop Abel Muzorewa, and former prime minister Ian Smith sit down with guerrilla leaders Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo, a settlement now seems about as unlikely and elusive as a solution to the equally frustrating Middle East conflict. THEY ARE GATHERED in London to find a solution to the question of black majority rule, asolution acceptable to sides which now have staked out 'seemingly unalterable positions. At stake is the very future of Zim- babwe Rhodesia, which has been a source of almost consinuous conflict since the breakaway British colony declared indepen- dence in 1965. But the ramifications of that meeting's outcome extend beyond the high- ceiling splendor of London's Lancaster House, touching all of Black Africa, and this country's future foreign policy dealings on the entire continent. Very little is expected to emerge from this conference. Already in only two days of negotiations, the meeting has ben plagued by the hostility and unretractable positions of the parties involved. But whether the conference succeeds in molding an aceptable constitution-which is about as likely as South Africa elec- ting Jesse Jackson as president - the mere fact that, for the first time the leaders of the rival factions are meeting face to face far outweighs the results of the meeting. What's more, by finally relenting and meeting Mugabe and Nkomo in person, Prime Minister Muzorewa may finally have realized that the people of Zambabwe will never know peace until that country adopts a new constitution and holds new elections in which all parties participate. SO WHETHER THIS meeting itself ends in a deadlock - which is likely, the experts agree - by merely bringing the parties together any place other than a combat zone i:s a major coup for Britain's minister Lord Carrington, and a major step to finally resolving what just a few weeks ago seemed a situation that could be solved only by mortar fire and rocket attacks. After admirable efforts by Andrew Young and British Foreign secretary David Owen failed to persuade former Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith to make crucial con- cessions, the United States and Britain took a leave of absence from the conflict. During this lull 'in negotiations, Smith's government put into motion plans for a new election of a government to be shared by blacks and whites. Muzorewa, a black moderate, was elected prime minister of the new government leading to speculation that this new leader- ship might gain the international recognition that it sorely needed, Promising reforms 'in the country's legal system, Muzorewa seemed determined to make that happen. In May, the British elections added a new dimension to the conflict when Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher was elected prime minister. One of her kep campaign promises was to renew diplomatic ties with Zimbabwe Rhodesia and end the 14-year ten- By Michael Arkush Carter and his top aides were conferring about whether to remove economic sanctions against Zimbabwe Rhodesia. Powerful con- servatives in the Senate were lobbying inten- sely to force the administration to lift the san- ctions prematurely, arguing that the coun- try's recent elections were open and free to all voters. And it appeared that Carter might yield to that pessure. Some U.S. observers in Salisbury reported that the elections were in- deed fair and that the U.S. should life the san- ctions. But Carter-to his credit-and largely un- der pressure from Andrew Young,hrefused to 'remove the sanctions, denying the elections were free and referring to a long list of in- justices still rampant in Zimbabwe Rhodesia. Seen as a major diplomatic victory for the Patriotic Front and as a staggering blow to Bishop Muzorewa, Carter's decision made it certain that international recognition of Zim- babwe Rhodesia could not be won easily, and more concessions would be necessary. For Muzorewa, the final blow came when Prime Minister Thatcher, in a surprise tur- naround, proposed that Zimbabwe Rhodesia hold new elections and adopt a constitution before England would recognize it. Those cen- cessions were essential in order to end t,. guerille war and create a framework h' Salisbury to both the Patriotic Front guerilla coalition and the new racially-mixed govern nment. By refusing to deal with Zimbabwe Rhodesia, the United States and Britain were pinning the Muzorewa government into a cor- ner. Recognition from those two countries would have made it much easier for Muzor- wea to avoid any negotiations with the guerilla coalition. with backing from those two great nations, what else would Muzorewa have needed? But now he has to negotiate with Mugebe and Nkomo. He has to realize that turmoil is inevitable until the country adopts a new con- stitution and holds rew elections in which -1l parties can participate. Thus, there are reasons for the London con- ference. Most of the complicated problems may not even be addressed, but at least the parties are meeting with each other. . When Sadat first arrived in Jerusalem in November, 1977, many Mideast experts still believed it was impossible that those two countries would ever sign a peace treaty? it took 16 months. Michael Arkush is Co-Director of 1he Daily's Editorial Page. President-designate Harold Shapiro relaxes in his off ice, preparing to assume command. 'b EDITORIAL STAFF Sue Warner ................................. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Richard Berke, Julie Rovner........... MANAGING EDITORS Michael Arkush, Keith Richburg ..... EDITORIAL DIRECTORS Brian Blanchard................... UNIVERSITY EDITOR Judy Rakowsky .............................. CITY ED)ITOR Shelley Wolson ..................PERSONNEL DIRECTOR Amy Saltzman ......................... FEATURES EDITOR Leonard Bernstein ...... .........SPECIAL PROJECTS R.J. Smith, Eric Zorn .....................ARTS EDITORS nwn lebei~n.Eizabeth Slo~wik ...MAGAZINE EDITORS SPORTS STAFF GEOFF LARCOM ......................... ..... Sports Editor BILLY SAHN ......................... Executive Sports Editor BILLY NEFF ......................... Managing Sports Editor DAN PERRIN......................... Managing Sports Editor PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF MAUREEN O'MALLEY ................... Chief Photographer JIM KRUZ...............................Staff Photographer LISA KLAUSNER .......................... Staff Photographer RI TR IQCS !T AFF i