Page 4-Wednesday, September 26, 1979-The Michigan Daily
GvOODN6.SS, ;W IL8UR~,
iT SAYS 14ERE
Ninety Years of Editorial Freedom
Vol. LXXXX, No. 18 News Phone: 764-0552
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan
'U' suppOrts'
INCE THE beginning of this cen-
S tury, an exclusive society within
the University community operated
within a world of its own. Convening
several times each month, its secret
was safe, its image legendary. It was
almost as much a part of Michigan
tradition as football on Saturday after-
noons.
Yet, that secret society -
Michigamua - has had one major
fault which makes it an intolerable
part of this University. It is all-male.
In its long history, not one woman has
ever been solicited to join the group, an
omission that has probably cost the
society many potential members.
And while it's deplorable that its ac-
tivities continue each year despite
stern condemnations from civil rights
groups, even more disturbing has been
the role of the University inpromoting
that society. Instead of doing
everything possible to put that society
out of business, the University has con-
tributed funds and space for that
secret group to prosper.
But finally, and rightfully so, that
conspiracy which aides a discriminative
society has caught up with the ad-
ministration. The Department of
Health, Education and Welfare found
the school in violation of Title IX of the
Civil Rights Code for providing sub-.
stantial assistance to student groups
which discriminate on the basis of sex.
Since 1932, the University has leased
without cost a room on the top floor of
the Michigan Union for the group to
hold its monthly meetings. Thus, right
in the center of the student union - in
which students from across the coun-
try should be conversing with each
other, learning about diversity -
resides a campus society
discriminating against women.
In addition, Michigamua' has also
used Radrick Farms, a University-
owned golf course, for "pow-wows"
where food was brought out in Univer-
sity trucks, using University gas, and
was cooked by University cooks.
That the University has assumed
such an accommodating role in the
secret society is not particularly sur-
prising. Former President Gerald
Ford and late U.S. Supreme Court
Justice Frank Murphy were members
of Michigamua, as were other well-
known alumni, showing that the
group's tradition sits well with current
discrimination
University administrators. And as
powerful as this school's alumni are,
they likely can wield much influence in
securing Michigamua a spot in the
University's elitist system.
As an accessory in the crime of
discrimination, the University must
receive a big share of the blame. The
University has been convicted of sup-
porting a discriminative group, and
must now begin its redemption.
It will not be easy, for Michigamua's
tradition is deep-rooted and its mem-
bers are resistant to even the slightest
modifications. But with the powerful
mandate of the bureaucrats in
Washington, the University will be
watched carefully, and failure to com-
ply with the necessary changes could
plunge the school into deeper trouble.
First, the University must withdraw
its lease of the room. in the Union, in ef-
fect, kicking the group out. If at all
possible, the school should attempt to
persuade the society to solicit female
members for that is the only way
Michigamua will ever have an image it
and the University could be proud of.
By giving significant aid to
Michigamua, the University has once
again been a model of hypocrisy. As
with tenure, the school's investments
in South Africa, and its intervention in-
to student government, the University
has said one thing and done another.
At the same time as promoting equal
opportunity and open-mindedness in
the classroom, the school turned
around and ignored those virtues in the
community. Any University following
that kind of example cannot expect to
turn out graduates respectful of that
institution. It is only half an education,
leading one to wonder on which side
the University really stands.
The University contends that=
Michigamua is a social group, allowing
it to conduct its own business without
being subjected to Title IX.
However, by the standards set by the
society, it is clear that Michigamua is
more of an honorary society whose'
purposes are to encourage and
recognize superior scholarship and
leadership achievement in education
of other extracurricular activities. And
while it does hold many social fun-
ctions, that is not its main purpose.
Therefore, Michigamua is not exempt
from discrimination, and the Univer-
sity is guilty of conspiracy.
THAT EL E C7ROAGfT I C RADIiATION
.CAN AFCEC YOU RIMENTAL FUA"RtONS...
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0009
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A
t
The screwing of the A2 tenant
After the regular summer lull,
the merchants, landlords, and
retailers of Ann Arbor, who
depend on the massive Septem-
ber influx, are anxious to grab all
that they can from the rich
college kids of this town. Whether
it is theconsistent nickleand
dime increases at the corner
grocery store, the out-of-control
rent scales of Ann Arbor, or the
downright arrogant attitudes of
the retailers and merchants here,
consumers of Ann Arbor, (the
great majority of whom are
students), are continually remin-
ded of their dependence on these
merchants, forever being presen-
ted with take it or leave it
propositions.
I have come to resent deeply
those who are willing to peddle
me their wares for a pretty pen-
ny. Since 1970, the- rents in this
town have risen at a rate that is
three times that of inflation.
Prior, to that date, the situation
had been much like it is now. Ex-
cept for a rent strike in 1969
which temporarily brought the
rents back to a more reasonable
scale, Ann Arbor landlords have
freely raised rents at will, to ac-
commodate their long-term in-
vestment goals with an excessive
profit margin.
IT IS MOST unfortunate that
the disposition of most students
has done nothing to combat the
situation, and for the most part,
has contributed to the problem.
Retailers and landlords here
have come to take for granted the
essentially apathetic nature of
college students these days. And
we can believe that 'after the
traumatic activism of the 60's,
this attitude of ours is not only
welcome, but fully exploited as
well.
One year ago, I was new to Ann
Arbor. Being the naive and -un-
worldly first year grad student
that I was; (I have since
matured), I was gullible enough
By H. Scott Prosterman
to believethat I could get a first
class, two bedjoom apartment
for the handsome price of $420
per month. For this amount of
money, I received a very tacky
"modern" apartment, plus the
added attractions of delapidated
furniture, a hole in my bathroom
ceiling for three months, and
walls so thin that I could hear my
neighbors' brass bed creak every
time they made love, not to men-
tion all kinds of music, all of the
time. whether I wanted it or not.
I was astounded with their at-
titude that I must have been out
of my mind to expect the things I
did, and to register the complain-
ts that I did. I soon realized that
they were merely used to dealing
mainly with students, who
'neither knew or cared if they
were getting ripped off, and
weren't inclined to do anyhing
even if they realized it. Thus, my
askng for hot water in the winter,
and asking them to enforce their
clauses about excessive noise
'It is unfortunate
that the
disposition of most students has
done nothing to combat the
situation, and for the most part,
has contributed to the problem.
I DARE SAY that my ex
perience with McKinley is
typicalof the state of con-
sumerism in Ann Arbor. Students
have little choice but to patronize
the merchants here, unless they
wish to embark ona long fast, or
begin an educational mission in
asceticism.
Though we all know how much
easier it is to save our breath and
energy than to argue about a
price increase, or about not get-
ting whatwe pay for, we can no
longer escape the fact that this
attitude has aggravated the
situation. Because Ann Arbor
merchants receive so little feed-
back of resistance (e.g., con-
structive bitching) from the
people they gouge, there is nothing
to deter them from continuing
this practice.
When expressing displeasure
with the people we depend on to
support our extravagant, upper-
midle class, and leisurely
lifestyle, it is important to talk to
the right person. It is usually a
waste of time and energy to voice
an 'elaborate and well-founded
complaint to a waitperson,
cashier, or salesperson. These ef-
forts are better saved for the
manager, owner, or any decision-
making person you can see. It is
important to remember this
distinction between sales and
management. There is no point is
making anyone's job harder by
complaining about something
which they have nothing to say. It
Y is just as important to patronize
t and compliment those who do a
Y good job and provide their ser-
g vices for reasonable costs and
r profits. This is the other side of
f constructive criticism.
Retailers
and landlords
here
have
come
to take for granted
lly apathetic nature
the essentia
of college students these days.'
Bokassa deposed: The end
- 'a
For my money, I also received
all the cold water that I could
stand, for most of the winter; the
use of a washing machine which
nicely re-arranged the colors
on a load of clothes, and a totally,
unaccommodating landlord in
McKinley Properties. What a
deal! Needless to day I am now in
the process of suing McKinley
Properties on the grounds of con-
structive eviction, (i.e., I paid for
goods and services in my apar-
tment, which I did not receive).
In my dealings- with McKinley,
were unexpected and totall:
inappropriate in their eyes. Bu
were it not for McKinley's highly
offensive arrogance in dealing
with me, I would not even bother
with a lawsuit. I am well aware o.
the slings and arrows o
outrageous misfortune that this
process entails. But I came tc
resent so deeply being constantly
reminded that they held all of the
aces and wild cards, and that if]I
was a lowly duece with no choice
but to fold.
of another
THE BLOODLESS coup that over-
threw Emperor Bokassa in his
self-proclaimed Central African Em-
pire marks a turning point in the
evolution of black Africa after
colonialism. Coming on so soon after
the ousting of Idi Amin in Uganda and
Francisco Macias Nguema in
Equatorial Guinea,, the downfall of yet
another African despot wipes away at
last the spector the brutal, blood-
thirsty African tyrant terrorizing his
own people.
For years now, Bokassa - like
Amin and Macias - had derided all of
black Africa's attempts to gain long-
denied world wide respectability. The
Emperor and his gang represented
only the worst of Africa's manifold ex-
cesses, corruption, and brutailty. His
deadly antics included squandering up
to $20 million for his own coronation,
while the country ranked as one of the
poorest in the world. His proclamation
of a Central African Empire, and the
establishment of his own "dynasty,"
invoked only laughter from the outside
world, and pity at the buffoonery of yet
another African leader.
So for too long, post colonial African
landarhin has hen identifiedi with the
rican tyranny.
blooded massacre of at least 100
schoolchildren who refused to obey one,
of his orders that they wear uniforms.
The fact that the bloodless coup was
orchestrated by France, with the use of
French troops, has raised questions of
Western meddling in the internal af-
fairs of African states. And under or-
dinary circumstances, such inter-
ference would be something to be con-
demned, not applauded, much the
same way that, under ordinary cir-
cumstances, African nations should
never militarily engage fellow African
nations.
But much the same way that Idi
Amin's bloodthirsty dictatorship was
enough of an exception to warrant the
Tanzanian invasion and overthrow
earlier this year, so was Bakassa's
reign so marked by brutality and
terror that the French action was not
only warranted, but long overdue.
There is a fine line between respect for
territorial integrity and the tolerance
of blatant and systematic violations of
international human rights. Bokassa,
like comrade Amin, made that line so
fine that, eventually, it ceased to exist.
Not every corrupt African leader is
nut nf nnwer Tn Zair fnr vPmnla
If
s
I
H. Scott Prosterman, a con-
tributor to the editorial page,
is a battle-scarred veteran of
the ongoing war with Ann Ar-
bor landlords.
Letters
S. Quad has much to offer
To the Daily:
I am a fifth-year resident of
South Quad, and probablythe
most senior non-staff resident
living in the building. I was ex-
tremely upset by your charac-
terization of South Quad in par-
ticular,= and dormitory living in
general, in your freshman
edition. Nothing Ann Arbor has to
offer can match the diversity of
interesting people available in a
large dormitory setting.
First, you owe the several
thousand returning residents an
apology for characterizing them
as somehow "weird" for enjoying
dormitory life. Since most of us
considered the source, this is
probably a minor matter.
Second, you owe the kitchen'
staff of South Quad an apology
and a retraction for your conten-
tion that South Quad serves the
worst food on campus. In my
Third, your article caused
needless anxiety among the
thousands of incoming freshmen,
who, unaware of the Daily's
reputation for in-depth reporting
and accuracy, believed all that
nonsense you printed about dorm
life. These people have enough
hopes, fears, and anxieties about
going to college, without you
making life more difficult with
your irresponsible journalism.
The greatest harm you did, you
did here.
There is so much going on
around this University, and a
campus newspaper has so many
opportunities to render service to
its readers. Over the last four
years, almost without exception,
the Daily has passed up these op-
portunities. With a little effort, a
consideration for the feelings of
others, and a reasonable regard
for journalistic standards of ac-
r.nrnev the artice nij n -iihlich
to inform the student body of the
death of Reddix Allen, who ser-
ved as president of U of M's
Student Government Council
(SGC) from February 6 to April
17, 1975. Reddix was murdered on
July 9, 1979 in Detroit in a rob-
bery.
Reddix's activities and con-
siderable achievements in high
school and in college are too
numerous to mention but for
several examples. At Mackenzie
High School in Detroit Reddix
was valedictorian of his class. At
U of M Reddix was appointed by
SGC to its vacant Executive Vice
President position in March, 1974
and was re-elected by the studen-
ts in October, 1974. Reddix
became the first freshman as
well as the first black student
ever to serve as Executive Vice
President of SGC. Upon
resignation Reddix became
PPipcLnIf q r('nn Fahrnarv A
proud to have served as Coor-
dinating Vice President durihg
Reddix's service on SGC and to
have been his nominee for
Executive Vice President.
After graduating in May, 1977,'
with a degree in engineering
Reddix began to work for one of
the country's largest accounting
firms. Reddix planned to begin U
of M's Law School two weeks
ago.
Reddix had absolutely no per- -
sonal vices, was an extremely
hard worker and a devoted
student, was purely honest, and :
obviously was headed towards
being a community leader. He
was a good friend of State :
Senator Jackie Vaughn and alsoa
friend of former U of M President:.
Robbem Fleming. He was the
nephew of Councilman Ernest :
Browne who ran against Detroit .
Mayor Coleman Young in the last :
election Reddnrwill mnot nnlvh