>er 4, 1977-The Michigan Daily
FORMER PRESIDENT PROPELS THEORY
Eighty-Eight Years of Editorial Freedom
420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
XXVIII, No. 50 News Phone: 7(
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan
Non-answers
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64-0552
H TO has run its course
By'BOB ROSENBAUM
Michael Levy is now one of a
handful of students who can boast
that he had a question not an-
swered by visiting Professor
Gerald Ford.
Once a privilege only shared by
frustrated reporters, Ford has
been generous enough to give the
nation's institutionalized genera-
tion the opportunity to shake
their young heads at Presidential
evasiveness. We are told that the
former chiefexecutive's travels
over the nation's college cam-
pusest has an educational pur-
pose. Now, finally, we know what
he's come here to teach us first-
hand:
NO ONE can become the Presi-
dent of the United States unless
they don't answer questions bet-
ter than they answer them.
Ford, admittedly, is a bit rusty
on the '01 side step - he hasn't
had a chance to use it profes-
sionally for almost a year now.
Nevertheless, he delivered a fine
demonstration of the maneuver
in response to a political science
student's question Wednesday
morning.
"Why," Michael Levy asked
are repi
eloquently, "can't the President
of the United States and the
Premier of the Soviet Union sit
down, put aside their ideological
and personal differences and
problems over arms limitations
... and solve the outrage of world
hunger, which claims 15 to 20
million people each year?"
The formner President's retort
was admirable: he replied for a
solid three minutes and fifty sec-
onds without mentioning the
phrase "world hunger." The lu-
cidness of the original question
had betrayed the questioner, and
Ford had handily picked up his
cue on the subject of arms limita-
ies
tions.
too
BELL is tolling
using Tenants'
for the Public
Organization
er numerous justified' complain-
rn public housing tenants about
ganization's failure to represent
:oncerns, an audit has disclosed
emely inadequate" financial
gement of the PHTO.
public housing is to provide a
living situation for its tenants,
nants must have a mechanism
fective input into the decision
ig process, for that process affec-
ir lives substantially every day.
y, the city should sever any rela-
ip with an organization that is
ily incapable of performing its
on, but mismanages its affairs to
dnt of falsifying financial reports..
uncilpersons Leslie Morris, Earl
e, Ken Latta, and Mayor Albert
ler - all Democrats - have
i serious reservations about ap-
iating any additional federal
ues, through the city's Com-
y Development program, to the
reeler deserves praise for his.
t veto of a $35,000 appropriation
e tenant's organization.
wever, any attempts made thus
y City Council to rectify the
ion have been inhibited by the
:il's Republican majority.
spite mounting complaints and
accusations from tenants and the
Democratic members of Council this
summer, the Republican majority con-
tinued to approve ever-escalating ap-
propriations for the ineffective organi-
zation.
This action is symptomatic of the
local GOP's generally nearsighted at-
titude toward the concerns of the city's
poor community.
The federal funds used by the
Community Development staff are
already far below the amount the city
needs. This federal revenue will de-
crease markedly over the next three
years, and the Council will be called
upon to make some very difficult deci-
sions in appropriating money. Some
deserving programs will unfortunate-
ly have to go unfunded.
But the decision Council is faced
with on the PHTO problem is not a dif-
ficult one. In fact, the solution has been
painfully obvious since the beginning
of the summer.
Wheeler's veto has left $35,000 set
aside for a tenants' agency. The money
is there and the human resources are
in the community.
The city must move quickly to fuse
these two tools, and form a new organi-
zation that will be more representa-
tive of the city's public housing tenan-
ts, while remaining within the tight
a budget constraints inherent in any
Community Development program.
QUESTION: My name is Michael Levy. I'm from
Flint. This might be a bit naive in lieu of what we've
read this semester on the Presidency ... but what would
you tell someone on the street who asks: Why can't the
President of the United States and the Premier of the
Soviet Union sit down, put aside their ideological and
personal differences and problems over arms limita-
tions - how many of what sort of weapon we're going to
have -- and solve the outrage of world hunger, which
claims 15 to 20 million people each year?'
ANSWER: That's a very good question. It's not as
naive as you said at the outset. Quite frankly, that's
what Mr. Brezhnev and I did in Vladivostok, when we
met there in the fall of 1974 to lay the foundation for the
SALT II agreement. SALT I, which was signed in 1972,
froze the numbers of strategic weapons that the United
States had and the Soviet Union had, because they had
more land-based missiles than we; although we had
more manned aircraft - there was that uneven bal-
ance. So when Mr. Brezhnev and I met, in effect we de-
cided that equivalency was a fair approach. They would
have as many as we and visa-versa, and we agreed on
the 2,400 launchers and the 1,320 MIRV missiles from
warheads. Now, negotiations subsequently weren't suc-
cessful in deciding some of the peripheral matters. The
problem is he has advisors - military advisors and
others, and the President has military advisors and oth-
ers, plus the fact that you have to get an agreement
through the United States Senate for a ratification. So,
what the two heads of government might decide, experi-
ence tells us that others in the government will disagree
and start a campaign to preclude its ratification or
otherwise. And under our system, the President does
have constraints. He has to deal with a Department of
Defense. He then has to get a treaty ratified. I might add
parenthetically, the President right now is going
through a serious difficulty with his decision to sign a
Panama treaty. He thinks it's a very good treaty - I
happen to agree with him - but he's going to have one
tough time getting the Senate toratify those two trea-
ties. So, what the head of government might decide with
another head of government you would think would be
easy to work out. When you look at the peripheral im-
pact on other people or other parts of the government,
it's not quite as easy. I can recall a couple of times when
we were in Vladivostok that Mr. Brezhnev had to consult
with his military advisors. He wouldn't make that deci-
sion without that consultation. Quite frankly, we had
similar experiences but in the end we agreed. Subse-
quently factors on their side and on our side precluded
me or President Carter from reaching an agreement.
"SO WHEN Mr. Brezhnev and I
met," the former chief executive
was heard replying, "in effect we
decided that equivalency was a
fair approach ... we agreed on the
2,400 launchers and the 1,320
MIRV missiles ...
Ford continued, as student eyes
and mouths began to take on ex-
pressions resembling awe. The
President-turned-professor carv-
ed more and more ornate detail
into his non-answer.
... Under our system, the
President does have restraints.
He has to deal with a Department
of Defense. He then has to get a
treaty ratified."
Many in the audience were
straightening up in their seats,
perking their ears - searching.
for some relevant detail. It was in
vain.
"I CAN recall a couple of times
when we were in Vladivostok that
Mr. Brezhnev had to consult with
his military advisors ... Subse-
quently, factors on their side and
on our side precluded me or
President Carter, from reaching
an agreement," he concluded.
Ford had wandered so far away
from the student's question that I
was tempted to applaud. The
ease with which he did not an-
swer the question adds validity to
the speculation that' Ford was
perhaps a greater President than
w gave him credit for.
Thank you, Mr. President, for
coming here to give us an educa-
tion.
If the visiting professor's subtle
lessons do anything, they at least
throw new light on the quadren-
niel Presidential campaign. For
the first time, we can see how
Ford lost his 1976 White House bid
to Jimmy Carter:
The Georgian was- at least at
the time of the election - in-
finitely more adept at not an-,
swering questions than was Ford.
Unfortunately forCarter, his
talents for evasion have deteri-
orated considerably since assum-
ing his current post, and as a re-
sult his popular support has
waned.
If Ford's nop-answer to
Michael Levy's world hunger
question is any indication of re-
habilitated evasive talents, the
former chief executive must defi-
nitely be considered a top con-
tender for the office in 19*1.
"
Bob Rosenb aum is co-direc-
tor of the Dail 's editorial
page.
)ve the deainfor ERA
F HE EQUAL RIGHTS Amendment
got a much needed shot in the arm
irlier this week when the Justice De-
tment said that Congress has the
Athority to extend the ERA's ratifica-
:n deadline.
I As it now stands,15 stateshave rati-
6dthe amendm94, and three ::more
. needed to make it 1kw. However, it
as been stalled at 35 for over a year,.
id the March, 1979 deadline looms
ireateningly on the horizon. Informed
)urces have speculated that the ERA
ould fail to win the necessary three
dditional states by that deadline, and
ius the only real hope for ratification
es in a deadline extension.
We have explained our position on
ie ERA several times - we whole-
eartedly endorse it. Inequity has
xisted between the rights of men and
omen in this country since its birth,
nd the time is ripe for change. But it
lay well be that the ERA will fail de-
pite its obvious merits unless states
re given more time to approve it.
hile there is no guarantee that an ex-
nsion of the deadline will ensure the
mendment's passage, it will certainly
nhance the ERA's chances. With so
itally important a matter at stake,
verything possible must be done,
within the confines of the law, to aid its
passage. For this reason, Congress
should extend the ratification another
seven years.
In addition, the Justice Department
ruled that no state that has already
,atified the ERA m yeesciud its vote.
'lgs ruling, t;pooas: crucial, since.
"three such stat'es-4ave already asked-
to have ratifications abrogated. As in
all voting situations, a vote is a vote,
and once it is made it can't be changed.
Bravo to the Justice Department for its
just, and timely rulings. And good luck
to the badly needed ERA.
BUSINESS STAFF
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STAFF MEMBERS: Steve Barany, Bob Bernstein, Richard
Campbell, Joan Chartier, Fred Coale, Caren Collins, Pam Counen,
Lisa Culberson, Kim Ford, Bob Friedman, Kathy Friedman,
Denise Gilardone, Nancy Granadier, Cindy Greer, Amy Hart-
man, Susan Heiser, Larry Juran, Carol Keller, Randy Kelley,
Dough Kendall, Katie Klinkner, Jon Kottler, Lisa Krieger,
Debbie Litwak, Deb Meadows, Art Meyers, John Niemisto,
John O'Connor, Seth Petok, Dennis Ritter, Arlene Saryan,
Carole Schults, Claudia Sills, Jim Tucker, Karen Urbani, Beth
Warren
Tenants have a
0
By STEPHEN HERSH
If you're a tenant in Ann Arbor, you don't
need to be told that rents are too high, rental
housing is too scarce, and landlords are often
too slow in making repairs.
What you may need to know is what you can
do to protect your rights as a tenant.
THERE'S A LONG list of state and local
laws which grant rights to tenants-fewer
rights than you need, but probably more than
you know about. You should become aware of
your rights as a tenant, because tenants' lives
and finances are directly affected by housing
law. If you want to know how to protect your-
self against a landlord who may be treating
you unfairly, you've got to have information
on the law.
If that seems like a lot to keep track of,
don't be discouraged-there's a quick, easy
and convenient way to find out all you need to
know about the law for your particular
housing situation. That shortcut method is to
join the Ann Arbor Tenants Union (TU).
The TU maintains a staff of people trained
in the nitty-gritty of landlord-tenant law, and
the staff offers counseling on how to cope with
tenant problems. Do you want to know what
you can do to get your landlord to fix that
leaky roof, those leaky pipes, and that hole in
the wall? Is your room too cold, or does the
hot water give out when you're only halfway
through taking your showers? Do you want
your landlord to furnish a desk for your.
bedroom? The people at the TU can tell you
what your lease entitles you to, and what
steps you can take to, make sure you get
what's coming to you.
The TU staff can let you in on whatever you
need to know about the laws concerning
security deposits, unenforceable lease
clauses, minimum standards of quality and
condition of rental housing, and the right of
tenants to withhold rent. If your house or
anartment dnen't meet the housing code, you
student housing in Ann Arbor viol
some of the code regulations, a
survey data compiled by attorne
for the Michigan Student Assem
Law Reform Project.
AND/THE TU people can telly
what your rights are, but also ho
them. The counseling staff can g
vice an what procedures you ca
your own and how to follow the
staff can help you find a law
student to represent you if that's n
If you're like the average tena
into a dispute with a landlord, yo
probably involves a relatively sir
law. Says Tenants Union Coordina
Hattum, "A lot of people we couns
about what's happening to them
landlords, and all we have to do in
is tell them, 'This is what the la
this is what's going to happen.' A
their problem is solved, becau
needed was to be informed about t
But, Van Hattum explains, forc
ts, knowing the law isn't enough.
people how to get legal help, if th
0 "
voice inT
ates at least she says. "And I've taught people how to go to
ccording to court without a lawyer. Also, we can help
eys working people who want to go on rent strike, or who
bly Housing want to organize other tenants to go on strike
together-we can show them how to do that."
So to get your landlord-tenant questions an-
you not only swered, call the TU-the number is 761-
ow to assert 1225-or stop by the office, located at 4109
give you ad- Michigan Union. It only costs $6 to get a
in follow on year's membership in the union. If you join
em, and the the TU you'll be helping the organization-to
vyer or law continue offering its counseling services, by
necessary. helping it to stay afloat financially. Also,
nt who gets joining the TU will give you a vote in policy
our problem decisions, which means an opportunity to get
nple issue of more involved in the tenants' movement.
ator Sue Van By joining the TU, you'll be adding your
sel are upset support to the growing tenants' movement. In
n with their order to exercise their strength most effec-
n most cases tively, tenants must organize. Although Ann
w says, and Arbor tenants have many rights they don't
nd suddenly know about, the cards are still stacked again-
ise all they st them-they need more rights.
the law." e Stephen Hersh is community education
other tenan- director for the Michigan Student Assem-
"We can tell bly Housing Law Reform Project.
iey need it.
Letters toThe Daily
0
-a'
housing
To The Daily:
As chair of the Ann Arbor
Democratic Party, I would like to
briefly comment on Stephen Her-
sh's discussion of Ann Arbor
politics that appeared in the
Friday, October 28 Daily.
While I disagree with the in-
ference that Democrats today
are less willing to fight for reform
than hinhe ni rpr n act I tin orp
in the Ann Arbor Democratic
Party since the reduction of the
voting age. They have held
positions as both elected City and
County officials and as
Democratic Party officers.
Student input is not only
welcomed, is it required for a
strong Democratic Party in this
City.
The November meeting of the
Ann Arbor Democratic Party will
~tI Lm