THE
Summer Daily
Summer I dition of
7 III MjICHIGAN DAILY
Edited and managed by students at the
University of Michigan
Tuesday, May 22, 1973 News Phone: 764-0552
Brezhnev, Brandt:
Workn for peace
AT A TIME when one world leader resorts to bombs to
bring about "peace", credit must go to West Ger-
man Chancellor Willy Brandt and Russian Communist
party leader Leonid Brezhnev for helping to bring peace
to Europe through diplomatic channels,
An historic visit, the first of a Russian leader to West
Germany, Brezhnev's meeting with Brandt promises to
lead to greater cooperation and security between com-
munist and non-communist countries in Europe. At a
conference scheduled for later this year in Helsinki, re-
duction of troops and armaments in central Europe is
just one of the vital issues scheduled for discussion.
The two men are also moving closer to a formaliza-
tion of Soviet recognition of West Germany's close eco-
nomic and political ties with West Berlin, despite its lo-
cation inside Communist East Germany.
OF COURSE the Berlin Wall remains up, and travel
between East and West Berlin is still restricted. But
the fact that two Cold War "enemies" can sit down and
rationally talk matters over without any overhanging
threats of- force is reassuring indeed.
Su mmer Sta ff
Ed i(Moriai Page Editor
1AN BORUS
Sports Editor
An explanation of Public Act 348:
Settling landlord-tenant disputes
By FRANK KELLEY
THERE IS nothing new about
landlord-tenant disputes over the
return of a damage or security
deposit. But the saga of events we
have seen repeated time after
time should be in for a new twist,
all because of Public Act 348
which affects all leases entered
into or renegotiated April 1, 1973,
or thereafter. Read on carefully!
The new law can only protect you
if you will fulfill your responsibil-
ities under it.
A security denosit, also called
a dmaee denosit, is any amount
naid over and above the first
month's rent. It is held by the
landlord for the length of the rental
period, and under the new law can-
nat exceed one and one-half times
the monthly rent. At the end of the
rental period, this fee is to be re-
twnued in full to the tenant, pro-
'ided that the room, apartment, or
house is left in much the same
condition it was when the tenant
moved in. Any actual damage done,
or any utility bills not paid, may
be legally subtracted from t h is
deposit.
While the deposit is in the land-
lord's keeping, it must be placed
in a regulated financial institution.
The landlord has the right to use
the money in any way he pleases -
as long as he has a cash or surety
bond (written by a state licensed
surety company and acceptable to
the Attorney General) on file with
the Secretary of State.
UNDER this new act, there are
several important written docu-
ments required. There is the ori-
ginal rental agreement, perhaps a
formal contract, which states the
conditions, terms and rules of the
premises. Then, within 14 days of
possession, the landlord must give
this tenant written notification as
to where the security deposit is
being held or who the surety com-
pany is. Upon assuming occupancy,
it is also vital that the tenant ~re-
ceive and carefully fill out an in-
ventory detailing the condition and
furnishings of his apartment. This
must be filled out in duplicate so
that he, as well as his landlord, has-
a copy. When you leave the land-
lord will complete his own check-
list which would itemize and price
any damages discovered and t h e
charges for their repair.
The tenant must leave a forward-
ing address within 4 days after he
moves so that he may be sent this
list of damages. If the landlord does
not receive a forwarding address,
he is not required to send the list,
but may go ahead and deduct
money from the security deposit ac-
cordingly. When the landlord does
receive a forwarding address, he
must send the tenant all informa-
tion regarding damages within 30
days of the end of occupancy. If
the landlord fails to notify the ten-
ant in the allotted time, no dam-
ages are due and the full deposit
must be returned.
does not have to go unchallenged.
Within a week of receiving the list,
a tenant may contest the land-
lord's findings. If there, is a dis-
agreement concerning the amount
of damages , and if both parties
have completed all the formalities,
then the landlord must present his
case in court within 45 days of the
termination of occupancy to collect
his money.
If the landlord's estimate is not
questioned, it will be used when
(1) both parties agreeon the sum,
(2) the tenant does not leave a for-
warding address, (3) the tenant
does not respond to notification of
damages, or (4) the amount claim-
ed by the landlord covers unpaid
rent or utility bills. Under this act,
legal action -may be brought
against the landlord by the tenant,
or by the Attorney General. How-
ever, the landlord may also bring
action against a tenant.
Since this act can protect the
tenant from arbitrary decisions by
his landlord it is vital that the
tenant fulfill all of his obligations
as a party to a contract, namely:
leaving forwarding address and fill-
ing out an inventory on the condi-
tion of his apartment. If these two
responsibilities are ignored, the act
is rendered powerless.
WITH A little cooperation from
both sides, hopefully much of the
tension between landlords and ten-
ants can be alleviated. For any fur-
ther information, contact the Con-
sumer Protection Division of the
Attorney General Kelley's Office at
(517) 373-1140.
Frank Kelley is the state Attor- IT IS IMPORTANT to note that
wry General. the landlord's estimate of damages
Letters to The Daily
DAN BIDDLE ..........
DAVE BURHENN ,,
HRISTOPHER PARKS
MVARILYN RILEY . .. . . ..
JUDY RUSKIN
GORDON A TCHESON
LAURA BERMAN
KATHY RICKE
SUE SOMMER ..
DAVE MARGOLICK
PERRY McCARTHY
CHUCK BLOOM
MARC FELDMAN ......
SHERRY CASTLE
PAT TI WILKINSON..
PAULA CHWACN
L'TANYA HAITH ..
ELLIOTT LEGOw
Night Editor
S Night Editor
Night Editor
..... Night Editor
A... Night Editor
Ass't. Night Editor
Asst. Night Editor
. Ass't. Night Editor
. Asst. Night Editor
Staff Photographer
Staff Photographer
Managing Sports Editor
Associate Sports Editor
Display Manager
Cla-sifted Manager
*Circuaion Mnsger
.. Circulation Assistant
Assistant
Congratulations
To The Daily:
THE FOLLOWING is a copy of
a letter that I have mailed to Lee
Gill:
Dear Lee, I just wanted to con-
gratulate you again on your vic-
tory for SGC President. If I can
be of any help to you or SGC dur-
ing your term, please call on me.
At a time when student apathy is
so high and student power is so
low, and now that this controver-
slal SGC election is finally over, it
is extremely important that mem-
bers of all the parties join togeth-
er and work together to attempt
BILL BLACKFORD
Biusinesy Mail ger
"EVER H/Ipf4/P .OON11~k
REPOR1-ERS" fffE,M" k1E7 7OU
-K~~tl~s - 7~h67L R'srcr
01 "ltes,
to change the current tide.
As I talked with hundreds and
hundreds of students during my
campaign, it became obvious to me
that student government could not
have a lower stature in the eyes of
the student body and for the
most part, it is deservedly so. Nev-
er again must we have a council
that is so divided by personality
conflicts, meaningless bickering,
and partisan bitterness that it
cannot function either effectively
or efficiently, as was true of the
last council under Bill Jacobs' poor
leadership. Never again must we
have an SGC election that is so
unfair and so dishonest that we
are forced to blow another $9,000
on a revote.
We must prove to the students
and make them aware that SGC
can be a worthy body beneficial to
them, such as through more fine
programs like the SGC Health and
Life Insurance, the SGC Meat Co-
op, the SGC Bail Fund, the SGC
Legal Advocate, the creation of
the University Cellar, and the fund-
ing of vital student organizations
like Advocates for Medical Inform-
ation. If SGC will only act respon-
sibly, SGC will receive the stu-
dents' support.
UNFORTUNATELY, your election
is polarizing by the mere fact that
the students had a clear-cut opin-
ion about you, (much more so than
about any other candidate f or
president), either being complete-
ly in favor of you or complete-
ly against you. The best way to
solve this serious problem, as I
have emphasized to you before, is
to make conciliatory appointments
to the open SGC non-voting vice-
presidential positions and to choose
concerned, dedicated, and h a r d-
working students for these posi-
tions rather than the usual politi-
cal pay-offs. It is only through this
type of non-partisan, united ap-
proach that you and council will
gain the proper type of student sup-
port necessary to deal with the Re-
gents in fighting for student con-
cerns on student issues. Best of
luck.
-David Faye
CLAMP presidential
candidate
May 17
'NRZ rock fan
To The Daily:
WE OF THE People's Education
Committee of the Tribal Council
feel a deep loss at the change in
WNRZ radio format. We would like
to state why we supported t h e
Community Radio, and why we
would like to see that kind of pro-
gramming re-instated.
It gave voice to many different
community-interest groups (in-
cluding our own) and to a wide
variety of musical programming.
The newscasting was creative and
imaginative while still reporting the
facts, a rarity indeed. The on-the-
spot broadcasting of local events
educated larger portions of t h e
cmmunity to cultural happenings.
The station was always willing to
play public service announcements
for community non-profit organiza-
tions. These needs are not covered
on radio at all now.
WNRZ spoke for a whole lot of
interest groups, plus playing the
highest-energy music in the coun-
try. We miss it and want to ',Neg
for Community Radio back on the
air. The Airwaves belong to the
People!
-Barbara Rice, Secretary
People's Education
Committee
May 12
League defended
To The Daily:
IN RESPONSE to your article
on the Little League (Daily, May
18), why is it people say a child-
ren's orchestra is grand (organiz-
ed) but a baseball team is too or-
ganized? Aren't they both having
fun being good at something?
You're right; we do play by the
rules, we use real bases at real
diamonds, and the umpires enforce
the rules and our pitchers throw as
hard as they can, but I can't buy
the "twisted and pervert" or the
"jock mentality" bit. Granted some
of us played baseball is our youth
and may still "bat cleanup" in
church league but can you believe
everyone's goal in life is not pro-
fessional baseball.
As for the way to reach sports-
manship and courtesy, I invite you
to attend some of our games in
Ypsilanti. I can't guarantee you
any cardboard bases or electricians
tape balls but you may find some
happy, enthusiastic youngster
playing a good brand of base
ball.
-Bill Tie
Coach, Ypsi. Angrls
May 21
"I gather this makes those statements
ThopL'ati ve gentlem en."