nIe £id§an Dail
Eighty-Seven Years of Editorial Freedom
420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Ml 48109
Letters
to
the
Daily
Tuesday, March 15, 1977
News Phone: 764-0552
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan
0 "
Wolverine cagers icers
d eserve our support
FOR MOST Michigan sports fans, kind of campus wide excitement that
the season ended some two gridiron victories over OSU elicit. Cer-
months ago. After all, once we lost tainly our number one ranking and
the Rose Bowl there was nothing but Sunday's first round tournament vic-
"wait 'til next year" - the same cry tory over Holy Cross should be just
we've heard for the last six or seven as much cause for cheer as a win
years. But although they don't get over OSU.
much attention around Ann Arbor,
two of Michigan's winter sports - THE PLIGHT of the icers is even
basketball and hockey - are caus- worse. Averaging a measley 3,500,
ing quite a stir around the country. fans per home game, they have won
their last 12 games, and will compete
Everybody knew it when the grid- aintumeoeWscsnltr
denswer rakednumbr oe erly against number one Wisconsin later
ders were ranked number one early this week for the Western Collegiate
in the season, but how many people Hockey Association championship.
know that both the basketball and The Daily wishes the basketball
hockey teams occupied that same lof- Tem ly is e astgal
ty position at times during their sea- team luck in its Mid-East Regional
sons, and that the cagers were num- semi-final battle against the Univer-
ber one in the pre-season polls, and sity of Detroit this Thursday, and we
finished the regularseason ato sthe plan to be cheering Rickey Green,
heap? It's been a long time since Phil Hubbard and the rest all the
the football team has managed to way to the championship. We also
do that! wish the best of luck to the remark-
able hockey team, which must play
It is true, that all the home bas- the role of David to top-rated Wis-
ketball games were sold out this year, consin's Goliath this week.
but that is only 13,609 seats - about But most of all, we want the Blue
the size of the visitors' section of a cagers and icers to know that win or
home football game. Last year, when lose, they are still our team, and we
we very nearly won the national will be out there to cheer them on
championship - we lost to Indiana to victory in the years to come with
in the finals - we could only get the same zeal we have displayed for
about 7,000 fans at home games. And the. gridders.
even though we've filled up the sta- We're all rootin' for you, so LET'S
dium this year, there hasn't been the GO BLUE !
Bani o iisaccharm-: Lobbyist
'pressure, or overreaction.
ab
To the Daily:
In response to Mr. Hi
letter of Feb. 23 struc
raw nerve:
Yes, it is mortally h
that society should pe
men who have VOLUN
conceived babies to k
But what of the women
VOLUNTARILY, conce
the men who get the
ant?).
Everr in this moder
technology, believe it
our methods of birth co
not perfect. There are
no drug store remedies
even any safe surgery,
guarantee carefree sex.
Not only that, Mr.
you h a v e demonstra
classic example of ch
by putting total resp
for contraception on th
(women?) in your life.
All too often, the bur
placed totally on the so
too-small shoulders of
kind. When present-
perfect methods fail, y
women for conception.
you sign up for Birds
101.
When you discoverc
nancies, you have a te
walk out, leaving the
and the solutions, in o
bodies, heads.
IT JUST AIN'T FAIR
Women are not ask
free from the responsi
having sex. We are as
manding, if you will,t
not be free of similar
bilities.
Having freely chose
the chance a baby wo
ceiyed, mene owe won
than just their penises.
your minds and hearts
Rather than urge y
legislators to give mo
to women who inv'olunt
ceive, why not rise f
brothel, and accept you
sibilities as you a c c
bodies?
Abortion is not as
you think. Nor is beat
dren. These are ourT
a result of our concep
though women beart
mas, the stigmas, the
bilities, and, yes, the bl
Live up to your h
could say we're in thi
gether.
-Linda'
ortion
ill, whose
k a very
horrifying
rmit wo-
ITARILY
ill them.
who IN-
ive? (or
em preg-
n age of
or not,
ontrol are
no pills,
s, no, not
that can
None.
Hill, but
ated t h e
auvinism
onsibility
e woman
rdens are
)metimes-
Woman-
day non-
deal of energy into his teaching
and who demands that his stu-
dents also put in an honest se-
mester's work. This he usually
receives, for most students be-
come genuinely involved and in-
terested in his courses. This is
not by chance; it's easy to work
in a class where the faculty is
responsive to students' ideas,
and where students are encour-
aged to be responsive to each
other. Undercutting the humili-
ation and competitiveness which
is intrinsic to academic educa-
tion is .a skill or process which
few academics know the first
thing about, and care even less.
The productive atmosphere of
intellectual stimulation found in
Professor Alexander's classes is
becoming more and more a
novelty at Michigan, and now
seems to be threatened with
extinction.
I urge you to reverse this
decision.
-Robert Walker
f
t
t
t
F
t
r
1
'r
i
plied by me relating to the pro-.
gram's success with Huron Val-
ley National Bank employes.
First and foremost, you inec-
curately reported t h awt only
seven out of 78 eligible employes
use the system. The true fact
and figure is that 17 out of 78
eligible people use it. At the
time of the interview I also
mentioned that the remaialing
61 eligible employes choose not
to use the AATA bus passes be-
cause they have parking praivi-
leges in the bank's parking lot,
or because they carpool or walk
to work.
Second, and really no less iim-
portant, you neglected to inclade
mny additional comments relat-
ing our complete satisfaction
with the AATA Bus Pass Pro-
gram. We periodically survey
the employes utilizing the sys-
tem, and have been gartified by
all of the favorable replies we
have received. In addition, we
were more than pleased that
the AATA has used our em-
ployes in their recent advertis-
ing program.
We at Huron Valley National
Bank are always more than will-
ing to endorse and support an
effort made to improve the liv-
ing and working conditions of
the people of Ann Arbor.
-Maria Spooner
Personnel Assistant
To The Daily:
The Ann Arbor Tra
thority (AATA) is gIad
The Michigan Daily
Public Transit issues
ary 22, 23 and March1
there are some factual
the February 22 article
sens has 36 employees
Pool, the Huron Valley
Bank has 17) we agree
editorial writer thatpo
pie in this communit
recognize and support
system. We cannot ag
a program which isi
A AT fancy has failed - we haven't
-ven started yet!
nsit Au- Perhaps the place to start is
d to see with the City's largest employer,
covering the University of Michigan. Tax-
(Febru- payer subsidized University
1.) While parking is the largest single re-
errors in tardant to higher transit use.
(Jacob- The University could clearly
in Bus participate in our Bus Pool pro-
National gram. How about it, Daily? Are
with your you ready to give up your cars
licy peo- and ride the bus? It's only $10/
iv must month.
the bus
gree that
n its in-
Karl W. Guenther
Executive Director,
AATA
on blame To The Daily:
I suggest Your issue of March 2 reach-
and Bees ed, to quote reviewer Susan
Barry, "the maximum level of
our preg- irony" with the full-page Daily
ndency to ad and the RC Players review.
problem, Despite the ad's claim that "it's
ur hands, a bright, new Daily," the Arts
Page seems to be its same old
R! tarnished self.
ing to be In its news coverage, The
bilities of Daily is more responsive to cov-
sking, de- ering local events, yet the Arts
that men editor has fallen short of her
responsi- responsibility. It is inexcusable
that a review of a theatrical
:n to take production is published four
1d be con- days after the show's closing,
nen more but this is precisely what hap-
You owe pened with "The Changeling,"
s as well. and has happened with other
our male groups in the recent past.
re trouble Your re-organization empha-
arily con- sizes more news that influences
rom your the lives of students, but that re-
ur respon- organization has not affected
e p t our Arts Page practice. Lately,
precedence has been given to
simple as nationally - released films over
ering chil- local theatrical endeavors. Stu-
problems, dent newspapers have a respon-
ptions, al- sibility to support student pro-
the trau- ductions, if only as news.
responsi- While this practice is inap-
lame. propriate for all University
half. You theatre groups, it is particular-
s bed to- ly injurious to smaller groups
such as ours which rely on-
Willcox newspaper coverage to gain ex-
posure to the public.
eIt is only fair to attend the
P12ten "P opening performance (Susan
Barry reviewed the last show)
University and to print the review in the
tenure to next day's paper (not siv days
d the fail- after opening night), or at least
apartment during a show's run. If there is
tenure be an abundance of shows opening
aach. It is on a Thursday, perhaps a Sat-
o the ad- urday Arts Page is needed to
'e fantasy make up for any deficiencies.
lid "repu- And there are more than a few.
:ch values Perhaps The Daily re-organi-
its way zation should have gone further.
blications, If it does, it deserves another
nts) more full-page ad.
, jammed Teri Mageau,
possibility RC Players
partment. Publicity Director
ap in the Tim Prentiss,
igan resi- Vice-President,
ty alumni RC Players
WITH THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN
By PAT MATERKA
NOBODY CAN say there aren't films about working women.
Why on television alone we have Mary Richards the producer,
Rhoda the independent businesswoman, Phyllis the administrative
assistant, and Sgt. Pepper the cop.
They are an energetic and competent group - and no wonder!
What stands in their way? They have no husbands to balance sched-
ules with, no pre-?schoolers to find a sitter for. and consequently,
no three-bedroom homes to keep vacuumed after six o'clock and
on weekends.
A more realistic view of women and work will be aired from
7 to 10 p.m. tomorrow at the U-M Television Center, 400 S. Fourth
St. The 10 half-hour broadcast tapes will be showing continuously
in three separate locations so that people can see the segments
which interest themmost, and the public is welcome!
LAST WEEK the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) moved to
ban saccharin - the most widely
used artificial sweetener - and we
are still trying to discern their mo-
tives,
True, a new Canadian study show-
ed that rats fed extremely high doses
of saccharin developed bladder can-
cer more frequently than those who
are no saccharin. But this is certain-
ly not conclusive, and even more cer-
tainly not new. Similar results were
found in 1972 at the University of
Wisconsin in an identical experiment,
and all the FDA did then was to take
the chemical off its "Generally Re-
garded as Safe" list - a mere slap
on the wrist to saccharin producers.
Even that action might be called
questionable when one considers that
both the Wisconsin and Canadian
studies found only a one per cent
increase in bladder cancer, even
though the saccharin was five per
cent of the rats' diets. To equal that
amount, humans would have to con-
sume 800 12-ounce bottles of diet
soft drinks a day for an entire life-
time!
In fact, the FDA's action seems
curiously contradictory.
Cigarettes have been proven, be-
yond a doubt, to cause cancer and
various lung diseases in humans (not
rats) and yet they remain on the
market as long as each pack sports
a warning that "Cigarette smoking
is hazardous to your health."
Editorial positions represent a
consensus of The Daily Editorial staff.
Alcohol has been proven to cause
several types of liver disease, and the
FDA stands idly by.
YET, AN inconclusive study showing
that absurd, doses of sacharin
slightly increase the likelihood of
cancer in rats prompts the FDA to
ban the chemical which millions of
Americans have used effectively to
control their weight.
Both the alcohol and tobacco in-
dustries have well-financed lobbyists,
and the sugar industry is not lack-
ing in that department. Is it possi-
ble that the sugar industry has put
the pressure on to ban saccharin?
We can't say for sure, but it is the
only answer that we see that explains
the FDA's seemingly incongruous po-
sitions on cigarettes, alcohol, and
saccharin.
No one wants to see anyone die
of cancer, but it seems. that for some
misguided reason the FDA has over-
reacted this time. Until a more con-
clusive study corraborates the Cana-
dians' discovery, saccharin should re-
main on the market with a warn-
ing. Not a warning that promises ill-
ness, like the one on cigarette packs,
but a warning that tells exactly what
we know -- excessive use of saccharin
may be harmful. That is all we can
legitimately infer from the present
data, and that is not sufficient for
the imminent FDA ban.
TODAY'S STAFF
News: Jay Levin, Amenie Pinski, Pau-
line Toole, Barb Zahs
Editorial: Ken Parsigian
Arts: Lois Josimovich, Mike Taylor
Photo: Brad Benjamin
To The Daily:
I was both amused
turbed to read Repub
oral candidate Lou
statement in The Dail3
certainly beef up th
inspection and 'code
ment . . . I votedf
time.'
This has been a ho
tegy of city Demo
years! In his zealous
come Mayor, theI
Belcher seems to be
it for his own. But n
ago, Belcher was voth
increasing the numb
:ng inspectors. Only
with an election comic
Belcher agree to add
spectors.
So Mr. Belcher ha,
his tune for the ele
Perhaps he will chang
again, after the electi
Mi
To the Daily:
-Given the numerous
news stories arising
campus at this time,
shows a lack of edit
ment in choosing tor
non-story as Elizabef
piece on the Pilot P
the February 23 issue
does it not reflect a
portrayal of the situ
program which many
people have contribu
15 years, but it see
based on a casual co
with one current st
former student, and
edited defense by M
row-the Pilot Progr
tar. I and other mem
Standing Committee
glad to discuss with y
the so - called "com
and any other issues
you would care to h
information based o
perience and perspec
-Donald R. Br
Professor of]
and Chairman
Pilot Program
Standing Con
Belcher
d and dis-
lican May-
Belcher's
[y that "I'd
ie houtsing
e enforce-
for it last
rusing tstra-
crats for
ness to be-
To the Daily:
The failure of the U
of Michigan to grantt
William Alexander and
ure of the English de
to insure that such i
granted turns my stom
yet another tribute t
ministration's collectiv
concerning our splend
tation," a fantasy whi
anything which finds
into print (i.e. book put
athletic accomplishme
than teaching awards,
classrooms, and thef
of having a film de
This decision is a sl
face of students, Michi
dents, and all Universi
who are concerned wi
education.
Having taken a n'
w r i t i n g, literature,
classes from Professo
der, including s e r vi
group facilitator in his.
Film class, I know hi!
good scholar who put
th quality
umber of
and film
)r Alexan-
in g as a
Art of tfe
m to be a
s a great
AATA
To the Daily:
In a recent article dealing
with the Ann Arbor Transporta-
tion Authority's (AATA) Bus
Pass Program, you did serious
injustice to the information sup-
R'epudi~can
Reclaiiin THE SERIES "Worlds of Women," was conceived and produc-
ot so long ed by Victoria Meyer, a producer at the TV Center, and Barbra
ing against Morris. a lecturer in video and television production at the Residen-
er of bous- tial College. Marcia Jablonski of the TV Center directed the series,
this year, and Carolyne Davis, associate vice president for academic affairs,
ing trN did was host.
d more in- Each of the- 10 programs has a focus, such as The Two
Career Family, "Career and Childrearing." and "First Career
ctin ge After 40." A segment on "Unmarried Couples" looks at the
ge 'his tune way the commitment without contract arrangement can affect
on is over! career paths. At Home/At Work presents the viewpoint of the
ke Yamcy woman who chooses a part-time job but stil considers her first
priority the home.
Pilot Some other program highlights are conversations with Mary
Ritchie Key, a University of California linguist and author of Male/
important Female Language, during a segment on sex-based language; U-M
fromr the education dean and former Health Education and Welfare (HEW)
the :Daily secretary Wilbur Cohen on Social Security inequities for women,
orial judg- and U-M psychologist Stanford Ericksen commenting on the male's
run sach a readjustment when the wife decides to re-enter the work world.
dh Slowik's PSYCHOLOGISTS, sociologists and other professionais tuci
rogram in terviewed in each program, along with the women and men-
e. Not only who are experiencing the situations. Each program incorporates
n accurate
ation. in a the ma'e as well as the female point of view.
y dedicated The result is a very down-to-earth. versatile series which
acted to for can be used in the classroom or broadcast over commercial TV.
ems ito be Morris and Meyer are not. of course, the filmmakes to under-
onversation take a series about women. But they believe Worlds of Women
udent, one takes a broader perspective than many other recent nrodnctions.
a highly "The film media rarely treats a woman as an individual, with
[argo Mor- creative ideas and goals," they say. "She is more often a foil
ram fDirec for the male character, one-dimensional and stereotype.
fbers 'of the
woulnd be "THIS SERIES deals with the career woman wi. is neither
'our editors a radical feminist nor a traditional housewife, sensitively present-
mpromises" ing her experiences and point of view.
s on which "It does not emohasize her problems. but her solutions."
ave factual Dron in during the nreview evening March 16 and see for your-
n long ex- self. Refreshments will be served.
tive. WABC in 'New York will be the first station to air the series
own beginning April 12, with Detroit's WJBK (Channel 2) to follow on
Psychology April 17. In addition. the Residential College, Women's Studies
nProgram, the social science departments and other U-M upits are
nmittee expected to use these segments for years to come.
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