Eighty-three years of editorial freedom Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan M'JQ: Illusica I romantics I 420 Maynard St., AnnArbor, Mi. 48104 News Phone: 764-0552 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1973 By ROY CHERNUS The University Musical Society's presentation of the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) at Power Center Thursday evening - the f i r s t jazz concert among its usual class- ical fare - indicates a heartening trend: More and more people are taking interest in music indigen- ous to America. And many great American com- posers unknown or formerly pass- ed off by most as mere popular personalities are finally receiving their due recognition. Witness the revivals of Scott Joplin (even or- chestrated), Stephen Foster, Eubie Blake, new forays into little-known Gershwin, and Columbia Records' five year black American music recording project. The MJQ is one of jazz's few premiere2ensembles and will be together 22 years next January. Its prafessioml demeanor - in tux- edo attire and utter artistic con- victio i and finesse - has won over a much wider uJince then most j .zzmen can claim. Pianist John Lewis is the en- szmble's chief compositional voice, and the program demonstrated his versatile talents comprehensively. MJQ makes a big point of versa- tility, for a perennial, objection to jazz has been that the strings of solos and ensemble choruses "sound all the same." In addition to Lewis' original works (many of which created for film scores) there were arrange- ments of such classical works as Bach's Prelude No. 8 from T h e Well Tempered Clavier and Fugue in D Minor, Gershwin's "Summer- time" from Porgy and Bess, and the Adagio from Rodrigo'sCon- certo de Aranjuez for guitar. The MJQ are clearly musical r mantics in their lush, melodious a rangements and expressive sens ivity; work's apnrt from the di -:nant, fragmeited lines and ope ended improvisation of the ava garde. Lewis and Milt Jacksonc ibrsharp (somewhat like the x lophone) as the group's melod orators were perfect foils to or another. To Jackson's opulent, melismat cascades and bassist Percy Heath and drummer Connie Kay's air swinging pulse, L, e w i s counte pointed with lean,' deft chops the bare harmonic essentials. Tr lustrous result reflected every b of the 22 years of refinement. The group goes to great length in eliciting an astonishing rang of colors and moods in inspiration from the native music of Brazi Spain, West Indies, North Afric, o- ir- si- s- ,n- nt on i- ic ne tic 's y, he it the Middle East, classical works, and jazz st.andards. Especially notable in the second categiry were gorgeous ballad- type .rrangements of Rodrigo's haunting Iberian guitar melodies dialogued between vibe and piano and the Bach prelude. A not so affirmative action While many of the MJQ's a t- tempts at native musical deriva- tions were frustratingly unidi)- matic and often merely disguised blues forms, its standard reper- toire like "Bags' Groove" and "Willow Weep for Me" sounded as vital and exquisite as ever. Hamlet through the eyes of fools' ..0 THE UNIVERSITY'S Affirmative Action program has been attacked in the past and deservedly so. As recently as last summer the Department of Health, Edu- cation and Welfare determined that the University's three year-old program to halt discrimination was still inadequate. Thus when students criticize the Uni- versity's Affirmative Action policy pre- sumably the criticism would be that not enough is being done. But Thursday =night Student Govern- ment Council provided further proof that. such attitudes should not be taken for granted when it came close to censuring the program for somehow being "racist." Defining a racist to be one who "re- sponds differently to a person on the basis of his race," SGC member Matthew Hoffman said in his resolution that the University has commited itself to minor- ity enrollment "whether or not these 'minority' candidates meet the normal. admission standards and thus, is dis- criminating against all other groups." Therefore, concluded Hoffman, "this practice fits the definition of racism, and so he proposed that SGC "censure all the Affirmative Action programs." THIS ATTITUDE is disgustingly similar to that expressed by Vice Presidential felon Spiro Agnew after the University agreed to the BAM demands in 1970, in describing the agreement as a "surrender" and a "callow retreat from reality." We doubt that Hoffman is any more capable of determining whether or not the Uni- versity is hiring "unqualified" personnel than Agnew. Furthermore, it is difficult to under- stand how attempting to ease racism within the University itself constitutes racism. The logic, incredibly enough, seems to be that when whites are forced to compete with minorities for positions, the whites are being discriminated against. Luckily, Dan Fishman and Marcia Fish- man left the meeting so that a vote could not be taken, but it is very disturbing that if they had not, the measure might have passed. .. We hope that the proponents and sup- porters of such action will reevaluate- their thoughts on this matter. The pur- pose of the Affirmative Action program is to end discrimination, and to suggest that is is discriminating against whites while - slowly - being implemented is absurd. By NANCY HOLSON hs William Shakespeare would have e probably been quite amused to sae ge the action in his most celebrated ns tragedy told through the eyes of two unimportant characters - two a, fools. Yet Tom Stoppard's play Rosen- crantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, performed this weekend by the Re- sidential College Players, shows us that indeed the story of Hamlet is effective when told via Rosen- crantz and Guildenstern. But Stoppard's conceptions go far beyond the story of Hamlet i*- self. We are forced to examine 'he idea that destiny is pre-ordained and that there is no such for--e as chance. Early in the play it is established that no matter. which path Rosencrantz and Guildenstern choose, they will eventilally arrive at the palace. The audience must define reality and contemplate the meaning of death. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are certainly not, as in Shakespearc'a play, mere clowning fools. They are embodiments of Stoppard'a phil- osophies. Under the direction if Kevin Cooper, this production comes off as generally enjoyable, but boasts no distinctive high points. Tim Prentiss as Rosencrantz and Sam Sills (performing only Thursday night), who understudies Guilder- stern, both delivered their parts a bit self-consciously, thougti Sills especially warmed up as the play progressed. If one can accept a female prince of Denmark, Jenifer Levin er a s fairly dramaticinher into"-preta- tion of Hamlet. Notable also was Annie Gladstone as Alfred, one of the players, adding some humor and some interesting displays of nose-picking. Simplicity marked the produc- tion's sets, costumes and lighting. The stage was bare throughout ex | cept for a bench in the first two acts and a setting vagueb' sug- gesting a boat in the third. At most times the stage remained fully lit, although Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were in spots at the play's end. s. 3 a- H1 T S ... a not so credible campaign THE PRESIDENT, we are told, has mounted a campaign to reestablish his credibility. In the past few days, he has met with many members of Con- gress, pledged in a speech that he is "not going to walk away" from his job, and planned a trip to the South where he will undoubtedly try to restore some mea- sure of confidence. This is not the first time that Nixon ha's tried to regain a measure of credi-r bility. In April, accepting responsibility but not blame for Watergate and firing counsel John Dean, he said-he hoped the 1,361 days left in his Presidency would be "the best days in America's history." Two hundred days have passed since that address. In the interim, Nixon has tried to we- asel out of his predicament in several ways. First, he invoked national secur- ity: the people could net be told, for their owin safety., THEN, AFTER Dean's testimony before ,the Senate Watergate committee, the President declared that the affairs of state were being held up. He could not afford to be burdened with the matter further. After his subordinates Ehrlichman and Haldeman had failed to clear up their boss's affair before the committee, and TODAY'S STAFF: News: Gordon Atcheson, Dan Biddle, Jeff Day, Charles Stein, Eugene Robinson Editorial Page: Zach Schiller, E r i c Schoch, David Yalowitz Arts Page: Diane Levick, Mara Shapiro Photo Technician: Karen Kasmauski the question of Nixon's secret tape cordings loomed large, Nixon fell back an old tactic: it seemed he was be harassed by the news media. It was fitting that Nixon chose a ,r tors' convention as the place to publ kick off his credibility campaign. W his own home improvements he has ga ed a certain personal notoriety in field, but more important is his conn tion to the interests of property2 management generally. THE FUROR over Watergate and po ical scandal has diverted attent from the fact, for instance, that itN under Nixon's Cost of Living Council t profits rose 32 per cent in the third qu ter. In a time when wages are be strictly limited, such a profit rise is excuseable. And the fact that White House lawy twisted some arms to obtain several c porate contributions to the Nixon ca paign hardly obscures the statement Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. chairn Russell De Young that his company g $45,000 "solely because we thought1 reelection of the President was in1 best interests of the country." Big business support for the Presid if it does waver, will be the last pillar fall. Such a move by corporate lead ship would probably sound the de knell of the Nixon Presidency. Nixon's current drive to restore co dence is directed both at the busin community and the public in gene However, total lack of credibility amc the general public, in addition to hisr merous crimes against the count should be enough to remove the Pre dent in spite of business opinion. re- on ing eal- icly Vith ain- the ec- and lit- Daily Photo by KAREN KASMAUSKI "Altar Choir of Segd od aptist" sings away .. . The Black Arts and Cultural Festival at East Quad, beginning last night and running through Sunday, includes arts ranging from photography to a jazz symposium. Today's special activities include craft demonstrations and a poetry reading. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is a biting, sarcastic, funny play. It can 'be interpreted on f' ferent psychological, philosophical and dramatic planes,ibut even to see it purely for entertainment would be a worthwhile experience. Letters to T he Daily _ _. _ _ ... I Join The Daily : Mideast forum Lion To The Daily: was ON NOV. 2nd the Michigan Daily hat published an article entitled "vio- ar- lence disrupts forum on Mideast." ing Rather than report the facts, the article was full of distortions vid in- served to slander the Jewish peo- ple as well as the just struggle of yers the Arab people. Again and again or- the article equated the criminal m and fascist doctrine of Zionmsm am- with the Jewish people. of The facts of what occurred at the nan meeting are very easy to under- ave stand. Several Zionist disrupters the tried unsuccessfully to prevent a the democratic discussion of the Mid- Sdle East situation. First they rrred to take over the meeting by pre- ent, venting the speakers from giving to their presentations. When that fail- ier- ed they tried to prevent the p~eople ath at the meeting from carrying on a a democratic discussion, arrogant- ly insisting on giving lectures in nfi- support of the fascist and racist less theory of Zionism. One Zionist in oral. particular showed open contempt for the people at the meentg aid Ong the democratic form of the meen- nu- ing. try, People were outraged at t Il e s e . bullying tactics and demanded that the Zionists keep quiet. But thevi refused and so the chairman af the meeting led the people by ask- ing the Znonists to leave. But the Zionists continued to disrupt the meeting and finally had to be shown to the door. After this an excellent discussion took place involving all the people including many Arabs and Jews where many different opinions were aired. Thrhoghnut this discus- sion the vicious nature of Zionism was exposed. Zionist racism and genocide against the Pa'estiniau people were denounced and many people spoke of the need for fur- ther armed struggle in order to liberate Palestine once and for all from both U.S. imperialism and Zionism. The treacherous role of Soviet social-imperialism was exposed along with its policy of "no neace, no war." The great unity of the Arab and Jewish people was af- firmed. It was pointed out that only a small number of Jews were Zionist and further that Zionism is a class question ad only those with close ties to U.S. imperialism whether in Israel or the U.S. have anything to gain by Zionis~n. Looking at the meeting as a whole it was a great success. American and foreign stud je's and now going to state something which I should have long ago. Many of your features and edi- torials reek of self-styled folk heroes who are laying down snide and superficial descriptions of the nip life here in Ann Arbor. Too often, a slanted view is giv- en of anyone who is not part of the neat little cosmos of a Uni- versity of Michigan student. Mr. Parks' editorial, "Worm's eye world view from outstate" i; the latest such piece of radical chic ramblings. The whole tone of the article sneers at the morality of people who live outside of Ann Arb)r, by using the example of .one legisla- tor from Hudsonville. In f a ct, Parks tends to capriciously throw around the names of other towns by using parenthetical inclusions which are never explained. The whole article is filled wih generalities such as "For m a n y out-staters it is an abiding be- lief, heavily laced with racism, that the people who live in the state's urban areas are avenal and inferior breed." Parks' only verification of this statement is a quote from the aforementioned legislator. The whole article rings false be- cause it is seemingly laced with Parks' own feelings of superiority over "OUTSTATE" people. All in all, another example of student folk hero journalism from the paper that brought us the ridiculous ro- manticising about Blacks on Ann Street and a feature about the right way to make dope brownies and electric kool-aid. -Jeff Gerber '74 Nov. 14 (Editor's note: in yesterday's Let- ters to The Daily, the two headlines wereinadvertently reversed. The Daily regrets the error.) CIRCULATION DEPT. 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