Page 10-Thursday,March 1, 1979-The Michigan Daily Domestic, foreign political involvement discussed Noble urges political d By JULIE BROWN Telling students that "you are a part of a privileged class of people, and it would be a misuse of your political and personal power if you didn't get in- -volved in the political process," Viewpoint lecturer Elaine Noble last night urged students to become politically active. Noble, addressing a crowd of about 250 at Rackham Auditorium talked about the political process and its effect on women and gays. The gay activist focused on the role of "new people get- ting involved, caring and pushing for reform." NOBLE, WHO serves as a special assistant to Boston Mayor Kevin White, described some of her experiences lob- bying at the state and federal levels. Mentioning the "lunatic fringe of the right wing which looks for victims," Noble cited current economic trends, such as California's Proposition 13, which have resulted in fewer social programs for disadvantaged groups and minorities. "We have seen a sweep of the right CONT6CT LENSES soft and hard* contact lenses $210.00 includes exam, fitting, dispensing, follow-up visits, starter kits, and 6 month checkup. * includes a second pair of hard lenses Dr. Paul C. Uslan, Optometrist 545 Church Streef 769-1222 by appointment Register ToVte New voters * Change of address Do it before Spring Break In the fishbowl if registered by March 5, eligible to vote in Ann Arbor City elections April 2. activism wing dismantling government programs, because people like you haven't gotten involved in the political process," Noble said. "You have to think seriously about what direction this country is going in." NOBLE SAID she decided to work as a lobbyist on behalf of the city because she felt she could have more influence there than as an elected official. She ran in 1978 for a U.S. Senate seat, but was defeated in the Democratic primary. Addressing the issue of homosexual rights, Noble stated that "we must speak for ourselves, we must begin to build political power based on support groups." In reply to an audience question concerning her "coming out," Noble said that that action made some of her colleagues nervous. "If the public knew how many gays are in politics, all of Washington would shake," Noble said. She mentioned several "risk factors" which could result from public knowledge of an of- ficial's homosexuality, such as family harassment or social censure. She noted that "there was no negative feed- back from the Congressional and Senatorial delegations that I work with, or else I wouldn't have gotten my job." NOBLE SAID an official "can't be elected or retained on one issue," such as gay rights. She mentioned her efforts to pass. legislation dealing with such diverse issues as tenants rights, com- munity organization, and city renovation. "Political paybacks and supports only come from putting yourself on the line," Noble said. "Power is not a bad thing if you use it appropriately, but you must learn to compromise down to an acceptable level." Once, Noble said, she asked for a large amount of ERA support funding, and "ended up withten thousand dollars more than I wanted." By ALISON HIRSCHEL A new. wave of repression has swept over the Jewish population in Syria, a 37-year-old man who recently escaped to Israel asserted yesterday. The refugee, identified only as "Mr. Albert," spoke yesterday in the multi- purpose room of the Undergraduate Library. In contradiction to a recent State Department report, "Albert" claims that the condition of the 4,000 Syrian Jews has seriously deteriorated in the last two years. He attributes this change to flagging international pressure on the Syrian government as well as decreasing world interest in the plight of the Jews. THROUGH AN interpreter, Albert pleaded, "I am standing in front of you, begging for help that will improve my brothers' condition in Syria." Albert, who escaped with 41 other Jews on Dec. 10, refused to reveal his real name and donned a mask for the few minutes photographers were at work in order, he said, to protect his relatives still in Damascus. Albert severely criticized the U.S. for giving aid to Syria. Explained the in- terpreter, Aviva Mutchnick, herself a 1951 refugee from Iraq and U.S. chair- person of WORJAC (World Organization for Jews From Arab Countries), "It's not only a matter of politics; it's a matter of basic human rights." Mutchnick said Jews in other parts of the Middle East have been subject to similar persecution. In Iraq, Egypt, and to some extent North Africa, she said, repression is a way of life. JEWISH GROUPS in the U.S. and the Middle East are reported fearful that, following the recent revolt in Iran, that country's 80,000 to 100,000 Jews will be persecuted. If conditions are to improve, Albert said, he feels renewed public concern is essential. Albert claimed the public is unaware of the real situation in Syria because the Jews are afraid to talk. He said he would have told reporters, if they'd asked him in his village, that he was comfortable in Damascus because he would have been afraid to tell the truth. IN THE 20 years since he first decided to flee from Syria, Albert had made two other attempts to escape. His first effort was thwarted by Syrian police before it ever started. As a result, Albert said, he was jailed for 19 months without a trial and beaten con- stantly with sticks and ropes. "He per- sonally has scars all over his body," the interpreter said. Al bert stated the treatment of the Jewish community had reached "an in- tolerable level" and that public sen- timent in Syria had "turned 180f degrees" against them. Jews are not allowed to emigrate and are under con- stant surveillance. He Oointed out that the Syrian government has taken away their homes and forced them to live in the ghettos. In addition, Jews are not permitted to take jobs in any public or private in- stitution and must work with their han- ds to survive. Hebrew schools have been banned and Jewish students are no longer admitted to the University. THE SYRIAN government, he stated, has launched public propaganda programs against the Jews. All school books, including the ones used in Jewish schools, report that Jews are enemies of, the'Syrian people, he said. "Our own children have to repeat this," he commented through the interpreter. Each time a Jew flees or attempts to leave, Albert claimed, the whole family, including children and old people, are beaten and often im- prisoned without a trial. Albert conceded that the Syrian Jewish community has suffered in- creased abuses as retribution for his escape. In the past few months, 20 Jewish men have been beaten by Syrian police because they were suspected of helping Jews leave the country, he said. Albert emphasized, "At no point have we ever been'against Syria." He said his actions are intended only to secure freedom for myself and for other Syrian Jews. According to Albert, the gover- nment's attempts to suppress the Jews have made them more determined to flee from Syria. In 1974, four girls and six boys were caught trying to escape. The girls were raped and all of the young people were mutilated and killed. Their bodies were put in plastic bags and dumped in the gardens of their families, he said. "If we don't escape, we end up like the corpses in the plastic bags," Albert said through the interpreter. He added, "By the same action where they tried to stop me, they only, increased my desire to leave." Albert is traveling alone across the U.S. and Canada. His trips are being sponsored by different Jewish organizations all over North America. The Ann Arbor speech was sponsored by the Youth Institute for Peace in the Middle East and the Labor Zionist Alliance. 'Albert': Syrian Jews are persecuted REDUCTIONS HELP EASE THE PAIN: Budget cuts hurt 'U' nursing Men's Sport Shoes by SE BAGO There's a lot of good leisure living in this sporty fashion by Sebago. And you'll live it all in joyous comfort. It's soft and sup- pie leather up- per literally cra- - dies your foot. Made in the U.S.A . b,y skilled Maine craftsmen. M s CAMPUS Ss619 E. Liberty Open Fri. Nites TWO STORES 'til 7:00 LSA-SG for Cellar union By ADRIENNE LYONS The Literary College's Student Government (LSA-SG) last night passed a resolution opposing University Cellar bookstore management's plans for a hierarchical management, and urged the management to negotiate with its employees and with the In- dustrial Workers of the World (IWW) union. IWW memberDeb Filler explained to council members that Cellar Management recently created a levelled structure at the store by ap- pointing managers to all departments. Filler said the majority of the store's workers want more worker par- ticipation. Filler said that at a meeting the managers agreed to allow written worker influence on the issue and that they would later decide on the best system of management. Atlso at the meeting, plans were discussed for a luncheon to be held today with members of the College's Executive Committee to discuss tenure. DISTINCTIVE HAIRSTYLING FOR MEN AND WOMEN Try a 1979 NEW LONG or SHORT STYLE THE DASCOLA STYLISTS Arborland...........971-9975 Maple Village.......761-2733 Liberty off State .....668-9329 East U. at So. U....... 662-0354 (Continued from Page 1) program, designed to provide career information to elementary and high school students, was cut by $10 million instead of an original recommendation for $22.4 million. Bill Kerans, a Pursell aide, said, "This is an interesting kind of overall struggle with Carter over what to cut and what to leave in." Carter has no power to rescind money that has already been appropriated. Nursing School professors said they think Congress lacks sufficient infor- mation about nursing programs to have made a wise decision in their budget cuts. Some instructors and students plan to attend public hearings on the cuts next Tuesday in Washington. PATTON SAID that representatives from other nursing schools will also go to Washington, not representing their schools, but as professionals, to in- crease the awareness of Congress on their need for the money. The University projects in jeopardy because of the cuts have received about a $1.5 million investment from the federal government over several years. "To aburptly terminate them would nullify the tremendous potential of this investment. It is a result of poor gover- nment planning and inefficiency," said Dr. Phil Kalisch. He also stated that if Congress were really interested in saving money, it should continue to support these en- dangered projects, as they are concer- ned with containing health care costs. LYNN RINKE is one graduate nur- sing student who stands to lose next year's half of her two-year stipend for tuition. ''It's like somebody telling you you can't come back to graduate," she said. Rinke and over half the students in graduate nursing see the stipend as the only way they can afford their education. Kerans from Pursell's office said Car- ter feels this country has enough nurses already. Nursing school spokespersons said that though there are 1.1 million nurses now active in the U.S., there is a shortage. The spokesperson said most of the restorations have been for un- dergraduate scholarships. National Research Service Awards for doctoral fellowships are to be cut, as well as a doctoral gerentology program, the second of its kind in the country, which had its approved funding rescinded. Also cut from the national budget was $20 million for doctors' training and $3 million for emergency medical training. Group trl (Continued from Page 1) Blixt and Juliar, both graduates of the University Law School, take advan- tage of a reduced case load to make sure that their cases are properly prepared. They handle the cases from start to finish. "WE BELIEVE that the unit has been extremely useful," said Blixt. "We are able to push the cases through court in an average of 58 days. This way witnesses don't lose interest or move away, and the defendant can't manipulate the system by causing un- necessary delays. In the past some cases have dragged out two, three, four years." Blixt and Juliar refuse to plea bargain and regularly advocate high bonds for those arrested and long sen- tences for those found guilty. "In the cases that we handle, the defendant can plead guilty or expect to go to trial. There just won't be any deal," said Blixt. "The people we deal with aren't just ordinary criminals. They've had the post graduate course." One of the primary advantages of the Career Criminal Program is the ability es full-ime of the team to target certain offenses. In Ann Arbor, the unit focused on the problems of armed robbery, burglary, and the sale of narcotics. Total offenses in all three categories decreased in 1978, including a drop in burglaries to 1,681 from 1,788 in 1977. The Ann Arbor Police also reported 115 robberies in 1978, down from 148 in 1977. Washtenaw County received the criminals. grant, approximately $100,900, as seed money for the establishment of a per- manent Career Criminal detail. Under the terms of the grant, the federal government paid for 95 per cent of the costs of the project in its first year of operation. In the following two years, the costs of running the project are split between federal and county gover- nments. Artist makes machine masterpieces DOWNTOWN 217 S. Main St. Open Mon. t'Fri. Niter 'til 8:30 (Continued from Page 5) hardly concrete: For too many minutes, the "dancers" simply walked around the Armory's large floor looking at the shells in their hands, listening to them, passing them out to the audience. Marianne Moses, not a collective member, did a lengthy solo in which, it seems, all she did was utter words - "Ocean, waves, water, sand, sky, mist, rolling . . ." - while turning in a circle Looking, for a Graduate Program in Economics that's different? / and moving her torso up and down. During the third and final part of "Oceans," the group covered Sara Shelley, a collective member, with shells. The works which preceded Ms. Schell's piece had been respectable - the audience could enjoy their movement and the dancers' pleasure in performing. But overall, their efforts are questionable - especially if one has to pay to see such a performance, and knows that Mirage is funded by The Michigan Council For the Arts as well as The Comprehensive Employment. Training Act. How much time is necessary to produce a "dance" like "Oceans?" A few hours, maybe? The women of Mirage are certainly. unpretentious, and sincere and en thused about sharing their philosophies. They have received many thanks from their students for making them feel better through autobiographical dance and contact improvisation. But about the perfor- mance I'm still wondering: Was it for real? WIN LAS VIFAS g Our Program-Offers both an M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics. Both are unique because of the central role played by research workshops and because our courses include nontraditional approaches to economics. Schools of thought represented are: neoclassical, Keynesian, Cambridge, institutionalist, and Marxian. Our Research Workshops- Exciting forums for the exchange program. Workshops are presently active in the areas of Political Economy, Labor, Applied Econometrics, Finance, and Resource Economics. Our Students-A mixture ofages, nationalities, and academic back- grounds, recent graduates, transfers from other graduate programs, and college teachers. Our Faculty-Economists with Ph.D.'s and widely varying approaches to research and teaching. The workshop faculty Our Location-A small New England town near the coast. The excellent research facilities of Boston and Cambridge are less than 90 minutes away. In addition to economics majors, we are interested in superior students in related disciplines. -w