NEW F*OR 1980: 'U,' calendar changes proposed The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, January 10, 1979-Page 7 Court rejects law to save aborted fetus r By JOHN SINKEVICS For several years many students and faculty members at the University have sought changes in the academic calendar prompting two professors to devise' alternatives to the present system. Now officials say they hope to make a final decision on the proposed revisions within the next two months. "We've received a great number of student and faculty opinions on the calendar and now we're in the process of seeing what costs might be involved in making the changes," said Vice- President for Academic Affairs Harold Shapiro. "But it won't affect next year's calendar (1979-1980) because that has already been approved." THE PUSH FOR a change in the present calendar is the result of a num- ber of complaints from both students and the faculty. Major gripes have been that final exam days for Fall term end too close to Christmas; that the semesters in general have too few class days, especially for courses which meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and that the Fall and Winter terms have an unequal number of class days. To alleviate these problems, the Senate Advisory Committee on Univer- sity Affairs (SACUA) appointed Physics Professor Lawrence Jones to find a solution in the summer of 1978. Professor Ernest Zimmerman, chair- man of the academic calendar commit- tee also came up with his own proposal, and the two model calendars were presented to numerous departments, faculty groups and student organizations for consideration during the fall of 1978. The two alternative calendars have distinctly different goals-the Jones plan aims for a consistent number of days in each Fall and Winter term, whereas the Zimmerman proposal calls for maximizing the total number of class days in each term depending on the characteristics of each calendar year. UNDER BOTH plans, classes would start on the Tuesday following Labor Day during the Fall term and on the Monday following Christmas vacation during the Winter term. Jones' plan, however, would call for utilizing weekends as study days, thus eliminating the traditional number of days now allotted before the examination period. The Zimmerman proposal would preserve the three study days now in effect, but depending on the peculiarities of each calendar year, would also utilize weekends during study days. Jones said that one advantage of his proposal is that it is consistent-there would be 67 days of class in the Fall term and 69 days of classes in the Win- ter term each year. By contrast, the Zimmerman proposal would range from 66 to 72 class days each term, simply because of differences in the calendar each year. There have been various reactions to the two calendars and Shapiro said that each plan received substantial support from different groups. Several groups have added their own input and have suggested 'changes in certain areas of each proposal. THE GOVERNING faculty of the Literary College (LSA) found that star- ting classes on the Tuesday following Labor Day was unacceptable because orientation of students and teaching fellows would have to occur before Labor Day weekend. However, a suggestion for starting classes on the Wednesday or Thursday after Labor Day met with general approval. The Senate assembly, however, ex- pressed no reservations about starting on the Tuesday after Labor Day, and Jones said the general consensus of many groups has favored such a move. "My role was to generate discussion on the subject and get some additional input on the proposed changes," said Jones. "I really have no strong feelings on it either way-I'm not going to go campaigning for my proposal." Shapiro said that after economic con- siderations have beep completed, (budgeting additional funds for the ad- ditional class days), a formal calendar proposal will be submitted to the University's schools, faculty members and student government bodies for ap- proval. After that, it is up to the Board of Regents to make the final decision on the revisions. "It will be another month or two before that happens," said Shapiro. "We expect that when it does go into ef- fect (for the school year beginning in the Fall of 1980) it will be in the nature of an experiment. We'll assess the new calendar at the end of that school year and see if it fits well into the rhythm of academic life." By AP and Reuters WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court' yesterday struck down a state law that required a doctor performing an abortion to try to deliver the fetus alive if there was a chance it could sur- vive. The law had required every physician to try to preserve the life of a fetus "if there is sufficient reason to believe that the fetus may be viable." But by a 6-3 vote, the justices ruled that the law was too vague because it exposed doctors to possible criminal charges for not trying to save the life of a fetus that "may be viable." "The present statute does not afford broad discretion to the physician. In- stead, it conditions potential criminal liability on confusing and ambiguous criteria," Justice Harry Blackmun wrote for the court. "It therefore presents serious problems of notice, discriminatory ap- plication and chilling effect on the exercise of constitutional rights," he said. The decision upheld the ruling of a three-judge federal court which had in- validated the law. The practical effect of the ruling will be to keep the states from setting a cut- off point for abortions at an earlier stage of pregnancy than some physicians would consider necessary. Blackmun, writing for the majority, contrasted the state's "may be viable" formula with guidelines the Supreme Court laid down six years ago in specifying at what point the state may intervene to require live-birth methods. A viable fetus was defined in the lan- SWP can keep donors secret WASHINGTON (AP) - The Socialist Workers Party has won the right to keep its contributor list secret because of government harrassment of its members and supporters, under an agreement reached in federal court and made public yesterday. The order - signed by a three-judge panel that heard the lengthy case - was filed Jan. 3. It followed an agreement reached between the Socialist Workers and the Federal Election Commission last month. THE PARTY filed the suit in 1974, with the support of th6 American Civil Liberties Union, contending that publishing the names of contributors to its political campaigns would subject the donors to abuse. Federal law requires parties or committees raising money for use in federal elections to report the names and addresses of contributors, but the Socialist Workers Party asked for exemption to protect the rights of donors. The court agreed to a stipulation of settlement that acknowledged Socialist Workers Party claims of government efforts to disrupt, infiltrate and other- wise harrass the party in the past and the potential for future difficulty for the small and controversial political party. "THE RECORD discloses that the So- cialist Workers Party and persons con- nected with it have been subjected to systematic harrassment and contains specific evidence of past and present harassment of members, contributors and recipients of expenditures due to their associational ties," the court set- tlement says. The'agreement allows the party to at- tach to its campaign the statement that "A federal court ruling allows us not to disclose the names of contributors in order to protect their first amendment rights." A woodpecker knows where to peck for insects by stethoscopic hearing. dmark 1973 Supreme Court decision as one "potentially able to live outside the mother's womb, albeit with artificial aid." That decision gave American women a virtually unfettered right to terminate pregnancy during the firs six months. Blackmun noted that the Pen- nsylvania statute provided criminak penalties for a physician found to hav violated the law by failing to convert an abortion into a live-birth delivery. The Pennsylvania law, he said, "con ditions potential criminal liability on confusing and ambiguous criteria." Under the Pennsylvania law, a doctor could in certain cases be prosecuted for murder. Justice Byron White, joined in dissent by Chief Justice Warren Burger and Justice William Rehnquist, said thd wording of the Pe nsylvania statut< was no looser than th t of the Supreme Court's 1973 decision. He charged the majority ruling took back from the states, "A substantial measure of the power to protect fetal life." YOUCAN -Yo- This Winter At Special of M Rae EyTedAfNTObgn fling aar164ThruhFbur 0 LICourses for Everyone - Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced Skiers. L Buses leave Ann Arbor 12:00 noon - returning 5:00 p.m. LiOne (1) hour lesson, tows, rental equipment and trans- portation - $85.00 i One (1). hour lesson, tows, and transportation (you supply your own ,quipment) - $60.00 Register NOW at North Campus Recreation Building, 2375 Hubbard (across from Bursley Hall) - Phone 763-4560 Open 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday from Dec. 11 to Dec. 22 and Jan. 2 to Jan. 12. First ski is Tuesday afternoon - January 16. * Don't Delay Register Today Offered by U of M Department of Recreational Sports in cooperation with Mt. Brighton Ski Area, Brighton, Michigan Club poses renovation problem 4 ~COURSE PACKS 3.75 Lowest in Ann Arbor-Why Psy Morel Featuring the Super Quality Xerox 9400 i Specialists for Dissertations and Resumes DOLLAR BILL COPYING Next to Sec. of State above Don Cisco's# 611 Church St. --665-9200 (Continued from Page 1) ding to John Kowalczyk, the OSHED sanitarian who performed the inspec- tions, most of the structural problems, which in part led to the health code vio- lations, have yet to be alleviated. "I've been holding off until a decision is made on the future of the Club. But if the Club is going to stay open, I'm not going to take any more excuses," said Kowalc- zyk: In the meantime, poor service has led to patron dissatisfaction, and the University football team's experience is an obvious example. It had been a long-standing tradition for the football team to eat in the Union and last semester, the team began dining in the 'U' Club. But after only a few weeks, the team terminated its association with the Club. "The football team was paying nine dollars a head for one meal," said assistant manager Vicks, "and they were being served ab- solute shit." STAN WELLS, the director of the Union and manager of the 'U' Club from 1976 through 1977, said that he didn't know what caused the problems in service. "You'll have to ask other authorities," he said. "I have no com- ment."& The poor service has been attributed to constant confusion over leadership of the 'U' Club and everpresent financial woes. According to Larry Pulkownik, the president of the Union, there has been continuous confusion over who exactly runs the 'U' Club. "Until 1976 the 'U' Club operated as a separate entity from the Union, but when the Club began losing money an agreement was reached that Stan Wells would take over the operating management of the 'U' Club." Under this agreement the Union would be responsible for paying for various utilities and would allow the Club to occupy Union space free of charge. "THIS AGREEMENT was fought over for two years," added Pulkownik. At the end of last term, a new agreement was drawn up whereby the 'U' Club would exist as a separate en- tity from the Union. The 'U' Club will now have to pay rent and utilities, although it will continue to receive an annual $31,600 subsidy from the Union. Pulkownik doubts that the Club will be able to continue operating under such an agreement. "I don't think the 'U' Club will be able to pull it off, primarily because it isn't a student- oriented organization. What is needed is a student-oriented, possibly student- run, food service." IN AN EFFORT to attract more students, a reduced membership fee of $3 a year was instituted in September Billiards for students. Currently, however, there are only 159 student members. The total membership of the Club in 1977-78 was 1,636. Potential members include faculty, staff, students, and University alumni, numbering 45,000 to 50,000. According to the Sturgis Report, 'U' Club membership was under four per cent of that potential. N orman Herbert, treasurer of the 'U' Club, contends that the Club did make money this past fiscal year. Its income is up approximately $6,600 from the previous year, althougn as of last Oc- tober 30, the Club owed the University $193,000. "The Club did break even recently, but this was with reduced services and without paying rent to the Union or any utilities," said a member of the Union board of directors, who asked not to be identified. "It is unlikely that the 'U' Club will be around after this year," he added. CURA: THE NEW DIALOGUE Fidel and Cuba opened a new dialogue with the Cuban-American community by inviting a delegation to return for a series of dis- cussions, Dec. 1978 relating in part to political prisoners. Many of these people had not seen Cuba or members of their families since the revolution. Maurice Font, a member of the delegation will show some slides of his visit and participate in a discussion of this new dialogue. International Center, Michigan Union Thursday, January 11, 7:30 pm Music and Refreshments earn $1 00 amonth for 2 or 3 hours a week of your spare time. donate plasma You may save a life! It's easy and relaxing. Be a twice-a-week regular. $10 cash each donation, plus bonuses. this ad worth $5 extra New donors only. Phone for appointment. ANN ARBOR PLASMA CORPORATION 662-7744