Page 4-Thursday, February 22, 1979-The Michigan Daily ~bt4i bi a n atI 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Ml 48109 Eighty-Nine Years of Editorial Freedom Carter gushes oil diplomacy Vol. LXXIX No. 120 News Phone: 764-0552 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan Regents should reconsider 'consiiciting L AST THURSDAY fifteen senior citizens confronted the Regents during the public comments section of the monthly meeting to plead for the board's reconsideration of a resolution which would severely injure the University's geriatric program. Presently, the University's op- thalmological services are spread out over several locations on the campus. Part of the program is located at the Parkview-Turner hospital-clinic complex, where the Geriatric Program is also located. A resolution passed by the Regents last month called for consolidation of the whole Opthalmological Program in the Parkview-Turner complex. Because many of the rooms on the second floor of the Turner clinic had never been allocted, the geriatric program, which has serviced hundreds of Ann Arbor's elderly citizens in the last 17 months, made use of some of them for seminars and other activities. If the Regents don't amend their previous resolution, the Geriatric Program will lose this much-needed space. University officials and hospital ad- ministrators have been given an alter- nate plan by coordinators of the geriatric program. This compromise would allow for all the provisions in the original consolidation resolution, ex- cept that the geriatric program would be given access to three of the more than forty rooms on the second floor. Hospital officials, however, argue programs the plan is unworkable because the op- thalmology program needs the space. Someone must give in, and the Geriatric Program should not be asked to make the sacrifice. The program provides vital services to over 600 senior citizens who have expressed a need for it. Since the building is specially_ equipped with devices such as ramps and liandrails, it would be nearly impossible for the program to relocate easily. While the geriatric program will be able to maintain its services, some other area may have to cut back or relocate. While consolidation of the opthalmological department would be desirable, it doesn't seem too imprac- tical to keep enough of the program out of Turner Clinic to allow geriatrics the extra space. Another possibility would be to tran- sfer some space on the first floor from one of the other programs presently in the building to the geriatric program. The services previously offered in the space could then be moved elsewhere. While space is definitely tight throughout the University for any type of program, the geriatric program in, the Turner Clinic satisfies an impor- tant need for which the clinic was con- structed: to aid the elderly. Ann Arbor senior citizen Margaret Young, speaking to the Regents last Thursday, said, "the requests (of the donors) have been twisted ... and the donors are no longer4 here to protest. I protest." So do we. The game of foreign policy, where most p- layers fail andonly a select few come up even, has taken a new twist in which the American side seeks one important objective - to get oil from whomever they can. This modern-style "oil diplomacy" has become the centerpiece. of U.S. foreign policy and made global affairs more unpredictable than ever before. The first sign of the growing importance of oil as a factor in U.S. foreign policy emerged during the Arab oil embargo in 1973- 74. The Arab oil producing countries, "in view of the increase in American support for Israel" abruptly ceased exporting oil to the United States. Two members of the Arab bloc, Syria and Egypt, were engaged in a two-front war against Israel; the embargo was per- ceived as a direct retaliation for President Nixon's report to Congress for authority to spend $2.2-billion on military support for the Jewish state. AS A RESULT of the embargo and the sub- sequent oil shortage, the federal government suggested several measures to reduce domestic oil consumption. The nation's speed limit was cut to 55 miles per hour and people were forced to suffer throhegh long lines at most gasoline stations. Even the possibility of By Michael Arkush couldn't be quickly developed, the U.S. could have its oil imports coming from a more diverse group of nations. Result - the origin of "oil diplomacy." "Oil diplomacy" is the policy of he U.S. government to become friendly with the world's biggest oil suppliers, even at the ex- pense of insulting traditional allies. Sometimes, just a little cordial diplomat double-talk will do the trick. Other times it costs more - an American pledge to sell military hardware to an oil producing (about to be exporting) country. But whatever the price the U.S. seems willing to pay to make sure its citizens stay warm and get out of the gas station in five minutes. THUS, SINCE THE 1973 crisis, "oil diplomacy" has slowly crept to the top of the diplomatic calendar., Item: In the first few months of the Carter government, secretary of state Cyrus Vance, during his Mid-East shuttle diplomacy bet- ween Egypt and Israel, began making regular stops in Saudi Arabia.Vance coun- seled the Saudis about the prospects for peace in the region but also talked about oil. The U.S. diplomats sought from the Saudis an assurance that they would fight to keep the Organization ofi Petroleum Exporting Coun- tri s (OPEC), from raising oil prices again. In eturn, the U.S. would provide the Saudis with sophisticated weaponry. The Saudis gave that pledge, Carter aides now contend, moving the administration to finally supply them with F-15s and F-16s (two very advan- ced fighter planes). ITEM: WHILE IT'S true that the U.S. had been a longtime loyal backer of the Shah of Iran, it was the Carter Administration's sup- port which became the most noteworthy because it was precisely during this period that th, Shah started losing ground to his country's revolutionaries. And it was this administration's support which symbolized the hypocrisy of its loud human rights cam- paign. Since he took office, Carter promised that U.S. foreign policy would be greatly restric-. ted in countries, that violate basic human rights. He should have added a little sub- clause ... except for those countries which have a lot of oil. Even when it appeared cer- tain that the Shah's repressive regime would be overturned by Ayatollah Khoemini and his followers, the Carter Administration still backed the Shah until the very end. The Ayatollah had threatened that when he took power, he would cut off all oil exports to the United States. The Shah told the U.S. he would continue pumping oil into the U.S. To Carter it seenied a simple choice - oil or no oil. And just as easily when Khoemini took over the government last week, the Carter Ad- ministration moved quickly to recognize the new leadership. It was 30 years after the Communist Revolution in China before the U.S. finally normalized relations. But now when Iran's oil is so vital, diplomatic recognition can be tossed around so loosely to any country. Final item: Mexico. Carter's recent voyage to our southern neighbor typifies the height of "oil diplomacy." The U.S. for years has ignored the social needs of the Mexican people. The Carter Administration had also outraged the Mexicans by vetoing a deal to sell Mexican natural gas to U.S. companies and by proposing another border crackdown on illegal Mexican immigrants. But all that's forgotten now. In 1972, Mexico discovered the vast sea of oil buried 15,000 feet beneath its southern jungles and currently its oil reserves are listed at 26 billion barrels, equal to the amount of U.S. reserves. Despite some harsh criticism delivered by Mexican President Jose-Lopez Portillo to Carter last week when the two leaders met in 'Mexico city, (see editorial) diplomatic sources expect Mexico will be exporting oil to the U.S. by the end of the year. In return, the Carter Administration will reconsider the national gas deal and help Mexico solve their deep economic and social problems - including the status of illegal immigrants. This new emphasis, on "oil diplomacy" is -very disturbing because it essentially established a new criterion for international relations. It has replaced the old theories of "balance of power" and "theory of contain- ment" and put oil as the king of international power. No longer does it matter what ideologies dominate a regime or what type of society it is. It all depends on who has oil and how much. Michael Arkush is co-director of the Daily's editorial page. Mexico ready to bargain gas rationing was considered, though was eventually shelved. By the time the embargo was finally lifted in the spring of 1974, American bureaucrats had come to the realization that alternative sources of energy would have to be found to prevent future oil shortages from crippling the country. Thus, the embargo drove home the fact that although the U.S. produces a large share of its domestic oil consumption, it is still too dependent on the Arab bloc. At the 'MEXICO, LONG the poor nephew of the U.S., finally has a bar- gaining chip. Although the nation has been producing oil for decades, the recent world oil crisis coupled with new finds there have forced this coun- try to court its neighbor to the south with sincerity. Mexico is a nation beset by staggering social problems, including soaring unemployment and devastating poverty. Although the U.S. has not totally ignored the Mexican need for assistance, aid to that beleaguered country has not exactly been overwhelming. But Mexico now has something to trade for the needed help, and the Mexicans are apparently-and right- fully-going to take full advantage of the opportunity, according to last week's directions by Mexico's President Jose Lopez Portillo. The Mexicans are understandably wary of American commitments. The U.S. governmeent reneged on an. agreement last year to buy Mexican natural gas-released during oil drilling-because the price was higher than that of Canadian natural gas. President Carter's quiet tolerance of Portillo's harsh criticism of the United States during the summit in Mexico last week seems to point to the begin- ning of a new relationship between the WE DON'T NEED A /A.A AGE ICETIFICATE ! I LOVE YOU AND WANT TO LIVE WITH YOU! two nations, one where Mexico may prove to have the upper hand. The meeting did not produce any sweeping solutions, but groups from both countries have been established to try to work out agreeable policies regarding such controversial issues as immigration and trade arrangements. The immigration situation would not be such a serious problem if conditions were better in Mexico, though. While the oil fields are by no means a panacea, Mexico now has the oppor- tunity to strengthen its economy and improve its social conditions while providing much-needed oil to the U.S. and other nations. We hope the Mexican leaders can take advantage of the situation in such a way so as to not just increase the bit- ter social schisms in the country. The Mexican oil finds ,have great potential for improving the country, but if the benefits do not filter down to the majority of Mexicans, it could lead to strife and unrest, as it did in Iran. The United States and Mexico should be able to work out an agreement to the mutual satisfaction of both countries. The United Staes needs Mexican petroleum and Mexico needs a new foundation for social improvement and reform. If both sides can put aside their differences, there is no reason 'both may not benefit. I LOVE LIOU'OO ,BA8Y! SUr I JUST COULDN'T AO THAT' IT'S A MATTER~ OF PP)NCIPLE- very least, if alternative energy sources The next time you pick up a well-sharpened No. 2 pencil and begin to hurriedly answer a stan- dardized, multiple-choice test, chances are that your test is one of more than eight million given annually by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). You may know ETS manufacturers SATs, LSATs, GREs and GMATs. With these tests alone, ETS influences the educational and career op- portunities of millions of people. But the power of ETS does not begin or end with those tests. ETS markets 299 different tests, which are used to determine entrance to over 60 occupations including firefighters, actuaries, policemen, real estate brokers, sailors, teachers, gynecologists, engineers, and auto mechanics. ETS test results are the standar- ds of access to some of the most powerful professions: Foreign Service officers. New York stockbrokers, lawyers in over 40 states, CIA agents. Two million elementary school students take ETS tests, and it is even developing ways to test infants. ETS HELPS determine who will be eligible for financial aid, and how much s/he will receive. The financial information ETS obtains on nearly two million families is more detailed than a mortgage application or an IRS return. ETS consultants and trainees help shape education and labor allocation policy in scores of countries, including . Singapore, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. And ETS has test centers in 120 countries.- In thirty years, probably 90 million people have had their schooling, jobs, prospects for ad- vancement, and beliefs in their own potential direct4y shaped by the quiet but pervasive power of ETS. What is the Educational Testing Service? How has it centralized so much power? Is it accountable to anyone, or anything? Should your opportunities be so influen- ced by ETS' standards of ap- titude or intelligence? DESPITE ITS massive in- fluences, few people question ETS. Students may want to tear Testing the power of the people wh con trolfultures'r By Ralph Nader 'ETS is exempt from federal and state income taxes, is effectively beyond the reach of many anti-trust laws, and has no stockholders. It escapes the restraints governing other corporations because it is an "educational'' institution. ' this corporation. Indeed, ETS is, in non-dollar ways, a large corporation. It has more customers per year than GM and Ford combined. Despite, its non-profit status, it declares roughly a million dollars in "non- profits" each year. This money is plowed back into corporate ex- pansion and maintaining the ETS estate, which includes a 400 acre headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, a $250,000 home for the president, William Turnbull, and a three million dollar hotel/con- ference center - all built with student test fees. Its revenue from test fees enabled ETS to double in size every five years from 1948 to 1972, a rate of growth faster than IBM. ETS's sales and near monopoly power, combined with its privileged legal status as a non- profi't corporation, make it un- precedented in corporate history. ETS is exempt from federal and state income taxes, is effectively beyond the reach of many anti- trust laws, and has no stockholders. It escapes the restraints governing other cor- porations because it is an "educational" institution. enters college, graduate and. professional schools, as well as many occupations and professions. Is that power legitimate? ETS defends its role as the gatekeeper by claiming it has developed the "science on mental measurement,"but as pur report will "argue, the tests measure. nothing more than how you an- swered a few multiple-choice questions. The correlation - bet- ween SAT scores and first-year, grades in college, for example, is often lower than the correlation between the test scores and the. income of the test taker's paren- ts. At best, standardized tests do not'measure key determinants of success such as writing and research skill, ability to make coherent arguments, creativity, motivation, stamina, judgment, experience, or ethics. ETS not only influences how in- stitutions judge individuals, however; it also influences how individuals judge themselves. As Nairn says, "A false self- estimate or image is instilled in the mind of the individual who receives a standardized test score. For although the scores plicant information to. secret evaluation of grades and test scores - and they have no recourse. We must begin to examine the examiners. There is a growing movement to reform and restructure the testing industry. In New York, Ohio, Texas, and ,other states, student-run Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) have introduced "Truth in Testing" legislation in their state legislatu;es. This legislation would force ETS and other testing companies to disclose test questions and answers, and all studies and data on the tests; it would also require companies to keep information on applicants confidentialD isclosing test an- swers would enable students to contest disputed answers, 'and thus eliminate' much of the mystery surrounding the tests. ETS has said it is willing to release 99 per cent of its test data. But, Nairn says, the bulk of this 99 per cent is the material provided by the test-takers them- selves - name, social security number, etc. Nairn says it is crucial to disclose that last one per cent, as it includes ETS's ex- trapolations from the infor- mation provided by test-takers - such as predictions of future academic success. The testing reform movement has other facets. Jesse Jackson is organizing around the issue of the ETS National Teacher Examinations which have systematically eliminated qualified black applicants from teaching jobs. The FTC has ap- parently found, contrary to ETS claims, that certain kinds of prep or cram courses can raise test scores - but the report has been withheld at this time. And several members of Congress have called for an investigation of the testing industry. Students now have oppor- tunities to challenge the test makers. Individuals interested in this issue, or in sponsoring Truth in Testing legislation, can contact Ed Hanley at our office at P.O. WHAT PRINCIPLE? HONE4, THIS IS 1979! THE LEE MARVIN PRINCIPLE 9 0 p.. A4 E~/W/- I .