The Michigan Daily Edited and managed by Students at the University of Michigan Wednesday, June 1, 1977 News Phone: 764-0552 Justice for Watergaters: More than a pipe dream? IN LOS ANGELES, Patty Hearst got five years' proba- tion for firing two machine guns into a store, an ac- eiomplice to armed robbery. In San Clemente, in talkative semi-retirement after Innr vear of impeachable, unpardonable crimes, Rich- ard Nixon ay hise would have preferred "the agony of a r hial,"r~t~lc InWa singlon, lavwyt'rs for Watergate co-con pira- tors John Mitchell and H. .. Haldeman still try to get their ltients off the hook. Contemporary critics believe the justice has gone frnnm our judicial system. And the courts have a long way to go to dispel that cynicism. In recent days, the Supreme Court may well have taken the first steps. Last week, the high court refused to hear appeals by Mitchell and Haldeman of their 1975 convictions of obstruction of justice, perjury and conspiracy. Yesterday, the court refused to temporarily block the iicarceration of the two while their lawyers attempt to persuade the court to reconsider the first decision. It is difficult to comprehend how Mitchell and Halde- man, some of the last bastions of Watergate, could still try to avoid the penalties for their actions, but, they did have a good teacher for those sort of things. Just because Nixon wouldn't admit to it, lie could not negate that all citizens are recognized as equals in the letter of the law. But it is not only important for the citizenry to hear such ideas, but also for such ideas to be evident in the administration of justice in our courts. Although Watergate is (hopefully) dead and gone, the string of cases and appeals spanning the years should not, by their endless dronings, obliterate the administra- tion of justice. The people need to know we will all be treated equally by the courts. Selective prosecution is not our cup of tea. EGCAT N HAl PNED Helt S ervice Handbook By SYLVIA HACKER and NANCY PALCHIK QUESTION: What are the sta- tistics on sun and skin cancer?' Do any products help eliminate, the harmful rays, but still give a tan? I am a tennis player and like the look of a tan, but don't want to put myself in danger. A pe.isarape... By LINDA NWILLCOX. If talifornia could forcefully retire a State Stipreme Cogrt Justice for senility, could Wis- cousin forcefully retire a county judge for bla- tant sexism? Prior to deciding a juvenile rape case, Dane County Judge Archie Simonson, 52, commented, "Whether you like it or not, a woman is a sex object, and they're the ones who turn the man on, generally." He said it is "normal for impressionable juveniles to react violently" to provocative cloth- ing, presumably only on women, because the youths are "groping (literally) to decide what is proper conduct in this world." Rape is not proper conduct in this Wyorld. Rape is the vicious step a man (or men) takes when he feels it is necessary to impose brute force, which he interprets as male strength or supremacy, upon the body of a woman - any woman. Girls as young as five months, and women- as old as 74 have been raped. Such are hardly TODAY'S STAFF: News: Lori Carruthers, Stu McConnell, Ken Parsigion Editorial: Linda Willcox Photo: Christina Schneider Arts: David Keeps Sports: Steve Lewis cases which fit Simonson's "provocative cloth- ing" mold. Is this the right man to be adjudicating sex- ual assault cases? He believes women induce rape. As such, he would be incapable of fairness, or convict- ing and properly sentencing known rapists. The case which prompted his comments was that of a 15-year-old boy who eventually plead- ed no contest to charges of second degree rape of a 16-year-old high school girl in Madison. There were two other boys involved. Their cases were adjudicated separately. Simonson called juvenile rape attempts nat- ural reactions. At what age do rape attempts cease to be a natural action? When is rape, in his eyes, inexcusable? Simonson is but one of countless judges which have helped make our judicial system patently unfair to women. If he is able to toss all women off as "sex objects," he is incapable of seeing all people as equals in the eyes of the law. Fair treatment under the law and in the courts is precisely what women in this "permissive society" seek.,We.do not seek rape. And a man not able to perform the duties of his job should not hold that job. A judge who cannot judge, but merely mete out his biases to whomever enters his courtroom, should be retired from the bench. Whether he likes it or not, he probably hasn't heard the last of his own words in the wind. Simonson comes up for re-election next April. ANSWER: It may be hard for us palefaces to accept, but the much sought-after "healthy" looking tan may not be so heal- thy after all. Except for some- times helping to relieve such conditions as asthma, aching joints, acne and psoriases, the sun's benefits are primarily psychological. The real truth is too much sun is harmful. Overexposure to ultraviolet rays may result in severe sunburn with blisters and fever. Another result can be prematurely aged skin. With enough time, the sun weakens the skin's elasticity and can give us wrinkles and a leathery look. It can also cause dark patches and scaly growths call- ed keratoses which are often pre-cancerous. The worst result of constant overexposure to the sun is skin cancer. Almost all 300,000 cases of this disease developed by Americans annually are con- sidered sun-related. Fortunate- ly, such cancer has 'visible ear- ly warnings, such as: . a sore which doesn't heal . a change in size and color of a wart or mole . development of any unusu- ally pigmented area. These signs may not neces- sarily mean cancer is present, but only a doctor's examination can determine that. Luckily, if treated in time, most skin can- cers are very curable. Persons with fair skin (hav- ing only a minimalgamount of pigment for protetion), and those whose jobs demand long exposure to the sun should take special precautions. Certain temporary situations can also cause trouble. Antibiotics, anti- bacterial agents in medicated soaps and creams, even barbitu-. ates and birth control pills can make the skin more susceptible to burning. Even some per- fumes, dabbed where the sun strikes, can cause a sensitive reaction. So, after all that, what do we sunlovers do? Some of the Am- erican Cancer Society ssggea- tions are as follows: t sun before 10 a.m. and aft- er 3 p.m. when ultraviolet rays are weakest. If that is too re- strictive, lie out a maximum of 15 minutes during the danger hours. f the best cover-up ailable is a chemical one - any of the popular brand name sun screens containing PABA (para-amino benzoic acid). Such preparations absorb ultraviolet rays and al- low gradual tanning. Even with a PABA sunscreen, a good gen- eral sun tanning program is 15 minutes the first day dur- ing high radiation hours, and five minutes more each day thereafter until a good base tan develops. * another type of chemical protection, the sunblock, allows no tanning, and is most useful to shield lips, nose and other extra-sensitive or already burn- ed areas. Zinc oxide ointment is a well-known sunblock. . cool, loose-fitting beach robes, caftans, long-sleeved shirts and wide-brimmed hats offer effective protection * you are not fully protected in the shade of a beach n' brella because ultraviolet rays may be deflected off the sand, water, deck, etc. * seventy to 80 per cent of the ultraviolet rays also pene- trate clouds and water *at high altitudes there i less atmosphere to filter ultra- violet rays, so extra care is needed 0 you're better off in a mo- ing activity than lying ima bile. * sun reflectors expose the most delicate facial areas (eye- lids, earlobes, lips, under the chin) - so avoid using them. Send all health related ques tions to: Health Educators University Health Servce Division of Office of Student Services 207 Fletcher Ann Arbor, MI 48109