editors:
howie brick
laura Berman
contributing editor:
wary long
Sunday
inside:
matgazine
page four-books
page five-features
page six-halloween
Number 9
Page Three
November 3, 1974
FEATUP
ES
Free
Ann
of r
People's
Arbor's
center
adical
medicine
By CHERYL PILATE
THERE ARE no well-thumbed
copies of Readers' Digest scat-
tered about the waiting room. Post-
ers inscribed with the thoughts of
Malcolm X and Che Guevera adorn
the multi-colored walls, and at first
glance, some of the doctors are in-
distinguishable from the patients.
On the receptionist's desk, there
is a paper-covered coffee can con-
taining about a dollar's worth of
change. Donations are encouraged
but not required.
The atmosphere is relaxed and
informal. Two young w o m e n
sprawled on over sized pillows on
the floor of the waiting room
munch on apples while flipping
through a series of health care
pamphlets. Across the hall, a young
blue jeaned doctor is glancing
through the file of his next patient
and a dental student is demon-
strating the proper way to brush
teeth.
T HIS IS Ann Arbor's Free People's
Clinc. Begun in January 1971
by a small group of ygpng volun-
teers, the clinic has not only per-
servered, but flourished in the en-
suing years, despite changing lo-
cations and a skeleton budget. Cur-
rently, the determination and en-
thusiasm of about 30 counselors
and doctors keep the facility's
doors open three nights per week.
What sets the clinic apart from
most other medical facilities goes
a lot deeper than the fact that
health care here is free. Everyone
-doctors, patients, and counselors
-is on a first-name basis. There
are no doctors rushing around try-
ing to keep pace with a rigid ap-
pointment schedule and examina-
tions are often long, leisurely af-
fairs where the patient is encour-
aged to ask any questions he or she
may have regarding diagnosis or
treatment.
BEFORE BEING examined by a
physician, each patient spends
about 30 minutes with a staff mem-
ber called an "advocate" to talk
over symptoms, medical history
and the clinic's philosophy. The ad-
vocate also tries to allay any fears
the patient may have.
"Sometimes I get patients who
are pretty uneasy - they just don't
trust doctors. We try and make
them feel comfortable and stay
with them throughout the exami-
nation," comments Kurt Sobel, a
young, bearded advocate who has
been working at the clinic since
January.
Dr. Landis Crockett, who sheds
traditional hospital attire for a
print shirt and cowboy boots while
at the clinic, believes that treat-
ment in large medical facilities is
sometimes a "bit inhumane."
"We try and keep thngs a bit
more pleasant around here and
hold the patient in higher esteem,"
he explains. Long-haired and lan-
ky, Landis exudes an abundance of
energy and confidence. Frequently
shifting position in one of the
clinic's faded, overstuffed easy
chairs, he explains what brought
him to the clinic.
"T FOUND med school kind of op-
pressive and I guess I've al-
ways been a maverick politically,"
he asserts with a wide grin. "I've
encouraged other doctorsrto work
here, but I haven't had much suc-
cess. A lot of them have no idea of
what we're about. They just see us
as a bizarre, fringe sort of ele-
ment."
Splitting the rest of his time be-
tween the University Hospital, the
county chapter of Planned Parent-
hood, the Public Health School and
the County Venereal Disease Clinic,
Landis shrugs off his work load. "I
guess I have a high metabolism,"
he says.
The clinic's nine physicians, each
of whom donates their time one
night per week, all subscribe to the
clinic philosophy for the most part.
Dr. Johan Eliot, known as "Joe"
around the clinic, believes that al-
though hospitals often provide
"real razzle dazzle treatment" they
often "fall down in a lot of other
aspects," particularly because of
service belief. Physicians should
get just a straight salary, and more
walk-in facilities should be avail-
able. Although places like the free
clinic have some obvious limita-
tions, we try to maintain an air of
congeniality and informality while
also dispensing free, high quality
health service." Mulling over his
words for a second or two, he adds,
"You're talking to an old socialist
here."
"I found med school kind of oppressive and 1
guess I've always been a maverick polilcally,"
Landis said with a wide grin. "I've encouraged
other doctors to work here, but I haven't had
much success ... They just see us as a bizarre,
fringe sort of element."
. ..x:::*:.:.a:.:.:::Km m :an*:
Daily Photo by PAULINE LUBENS
responsive to the needs of people,
particularly the poor.
CLINIC COORDINATOR Carla
Rapoport, a University gradu-
ate who hopes to go to medical
school "someday, maybe," believes
the clinic can only be a "band-aid"
when "what is actually needed is
major surgery."
Her fellow coordinator, Kathy
Biersak agrees. "At one time we
went overboard in our hopes for
the clinic, but one has to be fairly
pessimistic about our long range
goals. The major changes in the
health care system have to come
from outside, not within the clinic
walls."
The clinic's members agree that
the permanent solution to the cur-
rent "inequities" in the health care
system lie in socializing medicine.
Meanwhile, in the free clinic, an air
of socialist collectivism exists with
everyone sharing tasks as best they
can.
DR. JENNIFER FRANK, the clin-
ic's only woman physician, re-
marks with quiet enthusiasm, "I
may be the doctor around her, but
that doesn't mean you won't see
me sweeping the floor sometimes."
Soft-spoken and freckled with
long, dark hair pulled off into
braids, Jennifer has only been
working at the clinic for a few
weeks. Yet, she is already as fer-
See FREE, page 5
Cheryl Pilate is a Daily staff_ reporter
and spent three years working asa
nurse's aide in the Detroit area.
their "impersonal nature."
Low-keyed and meticulous in his
methods, he is a kindly - looking
middle-aged man who makes light
of his paternal image. Working on
and off at the clinic for the last
four years, he firmly believes in
developing alternative health care
systems.
"WHAT WE NEED to get rid of
first is the good old fee-for-
Like Landis, Joe divides the rest
of his time between the School of
Public Health and Planned Parent-
hood, where he is a medical direc-
tor.
The clinic, its members agree,
can never be the answer to Ann
Arbor's health care needs. But
they hope by using the clinic as a
model, they can eventually help
stimulate change in a medical es-
tablishment which they feel is un-
Daily Photo by PAULINE LUBENS
Clinic pharmacist Judy Zalman and
physician Landis Crockett
Parapsychology: A new science seeking acceptance
I
I, 1:),rrf T:rnnc Panclar a
By CINDY HILL
THERE WAS A small, inconspicu-
ous notice on East Quad's bul-
letin board several weeks ago which
read "Parapsychology lecture: Sun-
day, 7 p.m."
It was almost buried beneath
myriad other notices for lost gloves,
books to be sold, and movies to be
advertised. But somehow the para-
psychology lecture drew a capacity
crowd in East Quad's Greene
Lounge.
Elsewhere on campus, a Course
Mart course titled simply "Parapsy-
chology," was successfully continu-
ing its fourth. consecutive term.
One of the most popular student-
originated courses on campus, its
classes are always full, with a wait-
ing list of a dozen or so students.
And the switch from a grad to un-
dergrad student as instructor last
year did not seem to diminish its
popularity.
PARAPSYCHOLOGY has often
mistakenly been associated
with occult mysticism and the su-
nnafnrb TnrMdern sientists. hnw-
possibilities during a dream state
and a better understanding of the
human psychic powers behind "pol-
tergeists" or ghosts.
Locally, some of this research has
been duplicated by students. Julie
Goldberg, a psychology graduate
working toward a doctoral degree,
has conducted experiments with
other students in the area of Kir-
lean photography.
K I R L E A N PHOTOGRAPHY,
whose results have been dis-
puted by some scientists, captures
an "aura effect" around people,
leaves and even inanimate objects
like coins.
Interestingly, the "auras" around
inanimate objects remain the same
from photo to photo. But those
around people tend to fluctuate
with the emotional and physical
condition of the subject.
Goldberg pursued her research
virtually independently. Although
the University, through a friendly
professor, donated the lab space
for the experiments - the only
contribution they have so far made
ly not yet shaken the foundations
of academia. Parapsychology has
received a somewhat dubious audi-
ence among psychology faculty
members, who accept recent ex-
perimentation in the field hesitant-
ly, when they accept it at all.
THE REACTION OF Prof. Daniel
Weintraub was typical: "I'm
sort of an agnostic when it comes
to parapsychology," said Wein-
traub. "But the best guess would
be that I don't believe it. I think
I could be persuaded by evidence,
but the stuff I've seen so far hasn't
really convinced me."
Similarly, Prof. Erasmus Hoch,
associate chairman of the depart-
ment, commented: "As far as I can
tell, I would think there's generally
a feeling of open-mindedness in
the department, although I can't
speak for the whole department."
"I don't believe parapsychology
is being dismissed out of hand, but
not much has reached our journals
on it," said Hoch.
Nevertheless, at least some stu-
dents on campus are sufficiently
campus. The energetic, vivacious chology. extenueu by eri. ras eaur, a
brunette has been involved with FEW STUDENTS ANYWHERE are poltergeist authority, to do post-
parapsychology ever since she ac- more qualified: Winette was graduate work at Germany's Frei-
cidentally found a library book on one of the few high school students burg University.
poltergeists when she was 12 years allowed to work in Brooklyn's Mai- See SEEKING, page 5
old. monides Medical Center, where
She now conducts the Course ESP-related studies and experi- ------
Mart course, the University's only ments on dreams were conducted. Cindy Hill is Executive Editor of the
offering in the field of parapsy- She is now considering an offer Daily.
33