Page 4-Friday, June 29, 1979-The Michigan Doily SMichigan Daily Eighty-nine Years of Editorial Freedom 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, MI. 48109 Vol. LXXXIX, No. 36-S News Phone: 764-0552 Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan Affirmative action wins S YSTEMATIC discrimination against blacks and other minorities throughout history prompted Congress to enact the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and it underlies current public and private affirmative action programs. This article led the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday to approve "voluntary, private, race-conscious efforts to ab- olish traditional patterns of racial segregation and hierarchy." The ruling rejected the argument of Brian Weber, a white worker for Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation. Weber claimed his employer's training program con- stituted illegal reverse discrimination against whites by reserving half the positions for black workers. The laudable majority opinion struck down lower court decisions that "reverse discrimination" was illegal under the Title VII clause of the 14th Constitutional amendment. That clause prohibits employers and labor organizations from discriminating against any individual on the basis of race, sex, religion, or national origin. The case is among private parties, so the Con- stitutional question has little bearing as Associate Justice William Brennan pointed out. The decision involved interpreting the spirit of the Civil Rights Act. The arguments against quotas of dissenting Justices William Rehnquist and Warren Burger might be acceptable if the racial scales were not already so unbalanced. The labor force of Kaiser's plant in Gramercy, La., where Mr. Weber works, was 39 per cent black. But only two per cent of the plant's work force is black-five out of 273 skilled workers. These proportions strongly suggest the need for quotas, despite the race-consciousness and other negative aspects they create. Brennan demon- strated the need for quotas by citing nonwhite unemployment rates in 1947 and 1962: 64 and 124 per cent respectively. Temporary discrimination is necessary to restore racial balance, until the percentage of black skilled workers nears their proportion of the local labor force, Brennan wrote. The decision wisely defines the extent of such efforts in order to, prevent unfair reverse discrimination from oc- curring. The high court is essentially condoning quotas when the private sector uses them to rectify racial inequalities. But this decision does not contradict last June's ruling against the rigid quota ad- missions policy of a California medical school, which rejected the application of Allan Baake, a white student. This ruling is not meant to define proper affirmative action programs, and does not set down such standards. Other court rulings, and legislative action are needed to elucidate yet shadowy aspects of the issue. Consequently, some white workers with greater seniority may be denied jobs and apprenticeships until affirmative action is no longer necessary. While awaiting parity, private employers no longer must walk the tightrope between discrimination and its reverse, fearing legal reprisals. Ford has a better chance to lead the 'tJ' than U.S. Fantasy and the news continue to be in competition. Here is a story which is now only a bad dream: The smart money is on Gerald Ford as the next president of the University. Speculation about Ford's can- didacy was fueled this week by the discovery of the existence of "secret guidelines" which the University Board of Regents are reported to be using in the presidential selection process. NO ONE BUT the Regents is known to have seen the secret list, but several Regents recently were noticed scrambling for a piece of paper that had fallen from a Regent's briefcase. One Regents was heard to say, "If they see this list, they'll know we are not picking a Lincoln." Ford supporters, on campus last week for the dedication of his presidential library, were listing the virtures of the famous. Michigan alumnus. It is possible to reconstruct what must be among the Regents' secret guidelinestbased on whatare described as Gerald Ford's qualifications for the presidency. GIVEN INCREASING budget constraints, it will be important to have a University president who will not do anything. As a congressman, Ford's record of not sponsoring legislation was exceptional, and in the White House, he vetoed bills at a faster rate than any U.S. president. Should the South Africa demonstrations here last spring foreshadow a new round of cam- pus protests, Ford has a proven record of tough responses to provocation. As Commander-in- Chief in 1975, Ford did not hesitate to send the Marines tore- capture the Mayaguez, a U.S. ship which had been Ifized by the Cambodians. FORD IS ALSO good in front of the cameras. He was able to keep a straight face before the press, even after it was learned that the Mayaguez had been released just before the assault, in which several dozen Marines were killed, began. On the other hand, Ford is not lacking in compassion, especially toward his predecessors. A for- mer University official was reported saying, "I am not a crook. But if I was, I am sure Jerry would be forgiving." Nor is Ford above making use of able people in his ad- ministration. A source close to the ex-president revealed that Ford's first act at the University probably would be the appoin tment of Henry Kissinger as University provost. "He cer- tainly would not want to take of- fice without Henry." ASKED IF FORD would then only be a figurehead as Univer- sity president, the source claimed that Ford had talents of his own. "Remember WIN-Whip Inflation Now; that slogan was all Ford's idea." "He could even use the same slogan at Michigan. WIN-Woody Is Nothing." When reminded that Ohio State Football Coach Woody Hayes had been fired for pun- ching an athlete last season, the By JOHN ELLIS Ford aide remembered that Ford's inflation slogan was also quickly outdated. Ford can be counted on to sup- port the University's affirmative action programs in the same manner as other recent Univer- sity administrators. Ford's previous opposition to the Civil Rights Act was later transformed into the kind of support which University recently has given to campus minorities. 'WE HAD SOME women and minorities in the Ford ad- ministration," the former Ford aide said. "I saw some." Many in the Michigan Law School would be happy with Ford in the University presidency. As a supporter of the move to im- peach progressive Supreme Court Justice William Douglas in tials in general raise some questions, but a source close to the Faculty Advisory Committee on the Presidency made an in- teresting observation. "We all know that teaching is the most valued activityat Michigan. If we let him teach students in political science cour- ses here last year, surely we would let him be president," the source said. sAsked alout Ford's research competence, the professor cited the work Ford had done while a member of the Warren Com- mission investigating the assassination of John F. Ken- nedy. "They would like him at the Medical School. Everyone in the University would have to get flu shots. The campus religious community could not forget his support for a constitutional amendment to permit prayer in the schools. And Ford is as close to the business community as most Michigan Regents are," said the source. Only one major drawback to Gerald Ford's candidacy for University president has been cited. He would be a Republican facing appropriation committees in Lansing frequently controlled by Democrats. But as one University official stated, "After we refused to give them a list of faculty salaries by name, we do not expect much from the legislature anyway." The chief question among campus political observers this week was how long Ford might remain as University president. With the Republican convention in Detroit next summer, even a mild draft could carry Ford away. When Richard Nixon flew into exile, Ford told the American people that a long national nightmare was over. How long will we have Nixon's revenge in our dreams? John Ellis is an occasional con- tributor to the Daily's editorial page. Next 'U'president? Congress, Ford would be sym- pathetic to a legal education aimed at preparing students for Wall Street and the multinationals. There are some complications in the Ford candidacy, however. Where Ford would get tenure is one critical issue. Some sen- timent was reported among members of the Zoology Depar- tment's faculty to grant him tenure there, in part motivated by their remorse for denying tenure to Jewell Cobb, who was briefly offered the LS & A dean- ship a few years ago. FORD'S ACADEMIC creden- HE KEEPS ON, A-RM GONNA WHUP y ,4 1IS ASS ! r CHARLES ATLAS - - A CsA, rs 1 y y~- Tt " . . . . ! '' SZ { " . a , Vw--