* Wednesday, September Z, 1970 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Student Life--Page Seven ~ Wednesday, September 2, 1970 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Student life-Page Seven 'U' a By ANITA WETTERSTROEM A -word of warning to male undergraduates: Don't forget about the draft because it will not forget about you. The draft is a temporary real- ity for the men of the nation- -entering their lives on the dawn of their 18th birthday-when all males are temporarily at least, 1-A-and divinely disappearing on their 26th. The momentous draft lottery of December, 1969, the first draft lottery in 27 years, had a dramatic effect on individuals, but little on the Selective Serv- ice system as a whole. The process of fulfilling draft quotas is a little more tidy now, and lives are a bit more strictly ordered. But the gist of the game is the same.. Young men con-. tinue to be called up to serve in their country's armed forces. The only real change is that if you happen to be a male whose lottery number was mira- culously high, your Stay at the University will probably not be overshadowed by the selective finger of Uncle Sam--and you need read this article no fur- ther. If you ranked dangerously low in the lottery, however, and nd the draft: The choice (?) is yours are unable to get a physical or mental deferment, you, as a member of the educational elite of the nation, have been given a four year stay of execution- time to study the draft alter- natives. Basically they are: -Joining the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) which will earn you the rank of sec- ond lieutenant at graduation; -Submitting to the draft; -Resisting; or -Canada forever. Technically there are 13 Se- lective Service deferments in- cluding those for physical or mental disability, minister or ministerial student, alien and over-age. The most important to college. students is the II-S. A student enjoys a II-S de- ferment as an undergraduate only if he has requested such deferment in writing and is sat- isfactorily pursuing a full-time course of instruction. The defer- ment continues until he "com- pletes the requirements for his baccalaureate degree, fails to pursue satisfactorily a full-time course of instruction, or attains the twenty-fourth anniversary of the date of his birth, which- ever first occurs." A II-S deferment is also giv- en to students pursuing a course of graduate study in medicine, dentistry, vetinary medicine, os- teopathy, or optometry. The 1967 draft regulations provide for mandatory II-S deferments for graduate students "in such order subjects necessary to the maintenance of the national health, safety, or interest . ." If you are not one of the elect studying to serve the nation's "health, safety or interest," upon graduation you may choose to face the draft. Even then, a few options are open. If a draftee believes in the Armed Forces and feels that a strong army is necessary to maintain peace, he may choose the combatant position. War may be wrong, hereasons, but war is the lesser evil. Some individuals accept mili- tary force as a necessity yet have scruples against taking an- other man's life. If they are willing to relieve the suffering of the wounded, they may be classified 1-A-O-a noncombant C.O., and trained for medical service duty, office work, or a military band-none of which involve weapons. Another possibility for those opposed to both combatant and non-combatant classification is "socially useful" service under civilian direction. Many who come under such classification serve as hospital attendants. Others are employed by governmental or social wel- fare agencies in the U.S. or over- seas. The best chances for being granted such non-combatant deferments come with request- ing such classification #imme- diately upon registering for the draft. Those who realize only upon receipt of an Order to Re- port for Induction that they are C.O.'s and refuse induction, may face prosecution and a prison sentence, 'although not inevit- ably so. There is always the possibili- ty of getting an induction order cancelled and a classification reopened, or failing that, there is still a slim chance of success- fully defending oneself in court. Then there are those who stand up to the draft and say simply, "I cannot comply." A "non-cooperator" objects either to the military system, this war, or war in general and refuses to comply with any draft law. He refuses to accept either civilian or military assignment. The draft holds no exemption for the non-cooperator. He faces a maximum penalty of $10,000 fine and/or five years in prison. A man failing his desired C.O. classification, and refusing the assignment given him, faces the same penalties. But, as one little yellow draft- law pamphlet generously says, "The non-cooperator can find numerous opportunities with fellow-prisoners - in recre- ational work, education, letter writing and fellowship." - And one can always go North, young man, go North. This de- cision to leave the United States and live in Canada (or another country) is similar-to the deci- sion made by many of our an- cestors who left other countries where they faced a system of conscription they found objec- tionable and came to the United States. There is usually no difficulty in entering Canada as a visitor and then becoming a permanent resident, even if one has com- mitted a draft offense. No pass- port is needed to enter as a visitor, although it may be help- ful later on. An American charged with a violation of Selective Service law cannot be extradited by the United States government from Canada. due to two provisions in the Canada-USA treaty, of extradition. First, extradition is limited to the crimes listed in the treaty and draft offenses are not included. Second, the treaty provides that extradition may not be granted unless the crime is an offense in both coun- tries and, as Canada has no draft, draft refusal is not an of- fense in Canada. However, a man who enters or remains in Canada in viola- tion of Canadian immigration law, if he is caught, could be re- turned to the United States and suffer the consequences of hav- ing violated the draft law, after facing prosecution in Canada for violating immigration law. If a draft violator returns to the U.S., he can expect to be indicted during the five years following his violation, whether he leaves the country before or after he breaks the law. Once indicted by a grand jury for a draft offense, a man can always be arrested, tried and, if con- victed, imprisoned. There are stil indictments outstanding against men who fled this country to avoid the draft during World War II and these men could be prosecuted for draft refusal even now if they returned to the U.S. If a man is not indicted for a draft offense within five years of the time he committed it, the statute of limitation ordinarily forbids his indictment and makes him safe from prosecu- tion. A draft refuser who leaves the country and later returns, however, might not be safe from prosecution even if the govern- ment had neglected to indict him within the five-year period set in the statute. A "draft dodger" who has re- nounced citizenship or become a naturailzed Canadian can re- turn to the U.S. only as a visitor -and maybe not even then. Even as a visitor he can be de- ported by the U.S. as an "un- desirable" for having evaded the draft. If he enters or remains in the U.S. illegally he might be prosecuted for violation of the immigration law and then de- ported. A man who has violated the draft law before he gives up his citizenship can always be prose- cuted for draft refusal, even if he is permitted legal entrance to the U.S. There are various centers across campus able and willing to study individual draft pre- dicaments and give legal advice. The ultimate choice of course is yours, and it may be the choice of a life-time. THE SMALLEST STORE IN TOWN THEBIGS STOCK OF USED TEXTBOOKS (also new books, paper, notebooks, supplies) FOR ALL YOUR COURSES .STUDgNT BOOK SRVIC9 i - i Religious groups remain active Unlike so many religious or- ganizations in the "outside world," student religious groups are among the most activist on campus-in every way. The Episcopalian affiliate - Canterbury House - provides space and support for activities ranging from draft counseling to guerrilla theatre. And Canterbury House, along with the Ark-which is con- nected with several denomina- Mons, chiefly the Methodist Church-features some of the best entertainment on campus. There are also more tradition- al student religious organiza- tions on campus. The B'nai B'rith Hillel Foun- datiops offers Jewish students religious services, mixers,,classes in Jewish studies, kosher meals, and lectures, panels, and other programs. The Newman Center, the Catholic organization, provides masses, lecturers, and other ed- ucational programs during the year. The University provides its own non-sectarian religious of- fice, which also sponsors de- bates, lectures, and a yearly re- treat. But the Office of Religious Af- fairs has become primarily known for counseling students through all kinds of personal problems, from the draft to parenthood. Many of the stu- dents who turn to the ORA are agnostics and atheists who have nowhere else to go. The office also offers an ex- tensive program of book discus- sions, films and conferences aimed at raising and discussing religious and "value' issues rele- vant to contemporary social and political affairs. And the ORA also functions as an information center for religious affairs, publishes a monthly newsletter and other materials, and maintains liaison on behalf of the University with religious professional agencies. There are 35 religious centers on campus encompassing: The Assembly of God, Baha'i, Baptist (American, Gen. Conf. and Southern), Campus Crusade for Christ, Catholic, Christian (Disciples), Christian Reformed, Christian Science, Congregation- al, Eastern Orthodox, Episcopal, Evangelical a n d Reformed, Friends, Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, Jewish, Latter Day Saints, Liahona Fellowship, Lutheran (ALC-LCA, Missouri Synod, and Wisconsin Synod), Mennonite, Muslim, U n I t e d Methodist, Presbyterian, Re- formed Church in America, Seventh-Day Adventist, Unitar- ian Universalist, Universal Life, and United Church of Christ. Courses in religion are avail- able in several departments of the University, giving elective credit or leading to a major in religion. Some of the courses offered in the literary college include Historical Background to the Bible (Near Eastern 403- 404), Religion and Society (So- ciology 455), Social and Religi- ous Thought of Hebrew Prop- hets (Near Eastern 503), Europe in the Sixteenth Century (His- tory 411) and Philosophy of Re- ligion (Philosophy 480). Some de-orientation for the new student By STEVE ANZALONE Editorial Page Editor, 1969-70 What does an incoming freshman at the University need most to help get him get started? The answer, quite unescapably, is a good deal of de-orienta- tion. What with nitwit .high school guidance counselors, well- meaning but comically misinformed parents, the often hyper- bolic acquaintances already at college, rah-rah orientation leaders, and jaundiced alumni like myself, there is only one way to characterize ,all the "good advice" foisted upon the new stu- dent: Bulishit. Parents and teachers who attended college at least twenty years ago are not qualified 'to give advice about college. Things have changed so drastically since then that tjmeir own experi- ences are as relevant aslast year's calendar. The climate of the University has changed so much during the four years 'that I spent here that I offer my own observations only with the con- dition that they be read as an historical monograph of one man's experiences and then disregarded. When Sartre says, "Man has no essence," is -not -this non- essence a kind of essence in itself? Yes. When someone else says, "Take nobody's advice," isn't that a form of advice? Sure; But this only points up the magnitude of the problem. Just what-does one say about going to college for four years? We must keep in mind that things are not true or false, but rather as poet Robert Bly says, "just very interesting." College is not going to be some- thing that is true or false, important or. irrelevant, fun or dif- ficult. It's just very Interesting. But let's start getting de-oriented. Admit it-"nihilism" is not a naughty word. "Nihilists" are not bad people. Mayor Daley says nihilists don't plant trees-they just cut them down. So what? After a fire burns down a building or a country, do you start constructing the new structure right away? Of course not. You clear the ground first. When you build a new consciousness do you start right away? No, you clear the ground. So let's clear the ground of a lot of nonsense that people traditionally bring to college with them. The "College is Hard" myth Teachers and parents tell junior that at college a "C" is a good grade.- Even students who did "A" work in high school should expect a good many "C's" at college, they say. Someone gave the folks a good snow job. It is usually the case that "B" is the average, and "A's" certainly are within. reach of almost every student here. This myth at least shows signs of disappearing among the residents of the University community. During the first of a long series of unproductive academic counseling sessions, my cou'- selor looked at my record.and told me I could expect to do "C" work at the University. I just laughed at him. I had been a high school valedictorian-which really was irrelevant, but my naivete proved more sound than his years of experience with the Uni- versity. I idled away my first semester and still managed a 3.75. Other students who did poorer than I in high school did far beter than I in college. This myth, I repeat, is finally being exposed, but it is by no means dead. The "two for one" myth This one has a long and, I suspect, still unended existence both in the minds of high school and University instructors, It goes something like this: "For every hour you spend in class, you will need to devote two hours of study to assimilate all the material." This would.result in a forty-five hour work week. Now some students do spend this much time on academic mat- ters. But the majority do very well with considerably less. In fact, many people study almost zilch and do exceptionally well. Forget all plans you have made to chain yourself to.your desk. Your "real" education can be much more interesting. The "student as stenographer" myth Another biggie. How many times have you heard that taking good lecture notes is a matter of life or death? I even took a quasi-shorthand course in high school to prepare myself for the verbatim transcription of profound ideas. Clearly a waste of time. This transcendence assigned to the role of notetaking is ludicrous. Students very often learn two things: first, lecture notes are unimportant, and second, lectures are unimportant. Usually the modicum of the assigned reading is all that's neces- sary to get through. Besides, you can always make friends with someone in class on the first day and get his notes xeroxed very cheaply at the student store in the Union before exams. The college radical as "evil" myth This one's true. Your folks, whether they voted for Hubs or Dick and Spiro, have probably admonished you about con- srting with these hippie-freak-radicals. Father knows best. Cam- pus militants are not nice people. They are not idealistic. They are arrogant, if not downright rude. I find that Nicholas von Hoffman's characterization is most apt: "We are the people our parents warned us about." Criminals. Dope addicts. Com- munists. It's true. They're right here. And you can't be one, I hope you'll know some. It's all very interesting. The "sex and the single quaddie" myth The University is a bastion of permissive sex. Right? Many of you new students panting in anticipation are going to be disappointed. Sure, the sexual climate is better here than back home in Muskogee, Oklahoma, but it has been grossly over- rated. In pure quantitative terms that there is little per capital difference between what passes for "liberation" in Ann Arbor and what is caled "promiscuity" in Muskogee. Radical sex critics such as Norman 0. Brown and Herbert Marcuse would be very disapponted in the permissiveness of the University community. President Fleming would not permit con- ventios facilities to Gay Liberation because, as he reminds us, homosexuality is against the law. This attitude is the real story. To the best of my knowledge, examples of "polymorphus perver- sity" are few and far between. To repeat: the permissiveness of this place is seriously exaggerated. If you seek sexually unsatis- fied people, look about you. The list of myths is, of course, inexhaustible. But these few should be enough to show you that your conceptions about this place had better start from scratch. But don't be too hard on the people who have passed these myths down to you. Their existence as myths has served a very important purpose, at least to my generation. By seeing the ridiculous gulf between what college is supposed to be and what it actually is, we came naturally and easily to the scepticism to prepare ourselves for the more profound and not so amusing lies. Decovering and debunking the college myths made it much more explainable how the "greatest country on earth" can wage imperialism overseas and racism and repression at home. All in the name of freedom and justice. It's not so surprising. We should have expected it. 1215 SOUTH UNIVERSITY 761-0700 Right next to Greene's Cleaners -r41 I F UNIVERSITY TOWERS IS MORE A THAN BED Fleurette Antoinette Catch a sparkle from the morning sun. Hold the mogic of a sudden breeze. Keep those moments alive. They're yours for a lifetime with a diamond engagement ring from Orange Blossom. JEWELRY AND FINE WATCHES FUTH UNIVERSITY, ANN ARBOR Photo-Richard Lee COME IN AND CHECK OUT OUR UNIQUE ADVANTAGES * PRIME CAMPUS LOCATION * 8 MONTH LEASE * RESIDENT STAFF ON CALL 'ROUND THE CLOCK * INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR RENT " OPTIONAL MAID SERVICE i'