Page 4-Wednesday, June 13, 1979-The Michigan Daily ~Michigan Daily' Eighty-nine Years of Editorial Freedom 420 Moynard St. Ann Arbor, Ml 48109 Vol. LXXXIX, No. 30-S News Phone: 764 0552 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan Regents should be appointed TW STATE senators have proposed legis- lation to have university decision-making board members appointed by the governor in- stead of through a statewide election-the current method of selecting the bodies. We believe this proposed constitutional amendment is worthy of careful consideration, and a measure along these lines should eventually be adopted by the people of Michigan. The policy-making board members at the University of Michigan, Michigan state Univer- sity, and Wayne State University are nominated by their parties through a convention, and then elected by state citizens. Boards at the ten other state universities are currently appointed by the governor. Although the rights of state voters should be be subverted, it is unlikely that citizens would lose representation because they are not electing the governing boards of the state's three largest universities. It has been estimated by the legislators proposing the bill that less than one per cent of voters know who the candidates for the boards are, much less care about voting for them. Twenty per cent of those voting in a statewide election do not even bother to vote for the univer- sity posts. Citizens of the state will be represented through election of the governor. Truly interested citizens would have more input through appoin- tment than election. However, there is still a danger of the governor appointing someone because of a past political debt. A prime example is Gov. Milliken's appoin- tment of University Regent David Laro (R-Flint) in 1975 to fill a regental spot. Mr. Laro was Milliken's Genesee County campaign manager. In order to avoid political appointments, a commission, with representatives from all the schools of higher education in the state should be established to advise and recommend candidates to the governor to fill the positions. Politics then would play a diminished role, and appointments would still be subject to approval of the state Senate. The position of board members, which is currently given only ticket-balancing priority in state nominating conventions, would be open to more citizens, who may be more qualified, and the selection would not necessarily force the ap- pointment to be partisan. Not more than four of the eight-member boards could be selected from one political party. Democrats currently hold a 6- 2 majority on the University's Board of Regents. Furthermore student representation on boards through appointment may be more realistic than Letters to the Daily SYL Responds the hearing April 20, the SOB Johnson's Introduction to Short To the Daily: hypocritically alleges that the Story and Novel, for example, I The attempt to prevent Fatima SYL does not "come before the found myself challenged to dig halil, a Near Eastern cam- board with clean hands." The deeper into the fiction works un- munist woman militant from allegations by Moslem students der consideration-something I speaking at the University in that the SYL's marshals rarely felt in other classes, in April was thwarted when the "brutally attacked with knives which I just "got by." This was in Spartacus Youth League (SYL) some unarmed Iranians" in a let- part due to the inherent interest I successfully mobilized a wide ter to the Daily May 5 are paten- had in the subject, but also reflec- range of campus organizations tly false. No one present at the ts the hours Professor Johnson and community activists around April 19 hearing raised these spent making sure his students the demands: Fatima Khalil charges. Where were these put something concrete into must be allowed to speak at this anonymous "Iranian students" class. University! Hands off the SYL' then? Several non-SYL witnesses He emphasized what few Immediate restoration of SYL,' expressly denied that SYLers had University professors do: he "attacked" anyone at the earlier cared, and he showed it. full rights!fou Fr At the Student Organization forum. Further, two members of When, for example, criticial Board (S.O.B.) hearing on April the SOB, as well as the then- essays were returned in his class, 19, the Michigan Student Assem- president of MSA Irving they were not returned with a few bly's (MSA) and the ad- Freeman, attended the April 20 perfunctory comments and ministration's attempt to pin the forum where they saw a group of spelling corrections-and of blame for an attack by Moslem Moslem students quietly walk out course a grade-but were retur- students at a Spartacus Youth when it became clear that they ned by him in his office, and the League forum entitled "No to the would be unable to disrupt the student was encouraged to sit Veil!" on the SYL was defeated. forum, or prevent its going for- down to discuss her/his essay Representatives from such ward. They also saw the SYL point by point. organizations as the Farm Labor grant extra speaking time to Professor Johnson's comments Organizing Committee (FLOC) those few Moslem students who showed something that many support group, Science for the remained in order to allow them other professors here lack: he pe, Industial workers of the fullest opportunity to present encouraged original thought even World, and Young Socialist their point of view. when it contradicted his own lec- Alliance, as well as individuals Finally, the SOB criticizes the tures in class. Many professors, from the Graduate Employees measures taken by the SYL to unfortunately, grade down for Union, the American Civil Liber- protect those attending the forum this. Their attitude is so defen- ties Union, Black Student from physical danger and the sive, perhaps fearing criticism Organization of the School of forum itself from disruption, as a from colleagues, that a paper not Public Health, Public Interest "threat" to free speech. in total agreement with their Research Group In Michigan However, our experiences over views has to be twice as good as (PRsearchaGrouphInMAihigf the past six months concerning one that is in agreement to spoke in defense of theSYL's the question of Iran have once receive the same grade. right to remain on campus free again proven that free speech is a The other professor who em- from harassment by both right that must be vigorously phasized learning, Pamela Erbe, religious fanatics and the Student defended. Had we not protected is here only ona temporary basis Organization Board. The SOB ourselves as we did at the April 20 She was asked to teach for too waorcedztobad.wTheisBg (and earlier) forums-and made years to fill in wherever the a statement accusing itself of clear to all that we were willing to department felt she was needed violtion of due process in attempt defend them-they would not Unfortunately, she has spent so to suspend the SYL, restoring have been held. It is as simple as much time with her students that recognition of the SYL as a that. We apologize tono one for the department would never ask rtueontigoup n d v satn declaring that those who sought to stay on. thatditgwould "act as an advocate not to participate in the forum but Many professors who have for the SYL" in any dispute with simply to shut it down would get a tenure, and who will be here for University administration over "fist in the face." Par- years to come, care little about the damage done by those who at- ticipation-even when it consists teaching undergraduates. Their tacked the SYL forum. of nothing but slanders of our- emphasis, rather, is on resear- Now, after the factand behind selves and our movement-we ch-and the eventual ideal that a the scenes, the SOB is trying to encourage, as we did on April 20. professor who is well researched revrs te vctrywononApilDisruptions we will not coun- in her/his subject is better reverse the victory won on April tnne ulfe otah 19. Once again presuming our tenance. qualified to teach. guilt, the SOB issued an "ex- The April 19 hearing and the This argument has its merits, planatory statement" May 18 adjudication resulting from it but does not excuse the professor which is nothing less than were victories for the whole from performing the many duties another attempt to line up with campus community. We intend to of being a professor. the band of Moslem fanatics who let no one-the Moslems or the * In a class I took with tried to disrupt our forums on SOB/MSA-take this victory Professor Sidney Fire of history Iran last April. Despite the fact away. -Bruce Richard two years ago, for example, the that all penalties had supposedly The Spartacus Youth professor took no interest in been lifted, the SOB now has League sreviewing the large stack of ,, . .papers he received-leaving that "found it necessary to enforce" Teaching Priorities job to graduate student graders. (i.e. to revive spcially for the gjbt rdaesuetgaes SYL) a dead-letter regulation To the Daily: By the looks of it, however, the (No. 5.4 of the Student As one who recently graduated graders were not so qualified to Organization guidelines) from the University, I would like juge the merits of astudent's requiring the SYL to register all to express my bitterness over the work, and Professor Fine was too its public events in advance with propensity of many top-notch busy to help them out. the SOB. In light of the professors here to ignore un- a In a film class taken last harassment and difficulties the dergraduate education. semester with Professor John sYL encountered in exercising its It is unfortunate that I did not Peacock, the graders were so rights prior to the April 19 find more than a handful of unqualified that one admitted to hearing (commented on by all classes in which the teacher was having seen Citizen Kane, one of participants in the hearing) this an expert in her/his field and also the movies studied, only once. guideline is nothing but an at- emphasized teaching students to Even so, he felt confident grading tempt to lay the basis for more think hard about the complexities essays by students who had seen harassment and political censor- of the subject until last semester. the movie far more times, and ship. (Despite a disclaimer in the During the winter semester, I had far more profound insights SOB "statement," the regulation took courses from the English into it. Needless to say, his com- makes clear that its whole pur- professors who emphasized lear- ments hardly served as adequate pose is to ensure SOB "approval" ning, sometimes at theexpense of feedback. of events.) their own research and hence It is too bad that the University Furthermore, after their own reputation in the depar- has fostered a system which acknowledging that the SYL held tment. It made a world of dif- enourages the Sidney Fine a "successful and peaceful" ference. method of teaching over the forul AnpiYs m dj ediately after Taking P r~oe. .-nme L L 1uel Johnson method. ....,e ---. .. _e_," __..... -Dan Oberdorfer