The Michigan Daily-Saturday, Febraury 23, 1980-Page 3
THIS CRAZINESS BETTER STOP
Gregory lampoons USA
By STEVE HOOK
It is a comedy, and it is a tragedy. It
is something so laughable that it can
make your stomach hurt, and it is
something so pitiful and painful that
tears aren't enough.
This is the play that Dick Gregory
writes of our American society. The
scenes have been changing since the
adoption of our Constitution, and each
day the plot intensifies.
Gregory's audience, just as exposed
to the antics around us - only
somewhat less enlightened, perhaps -
listens intently to his words, shifting
from moods of hilarity to dark contem-
plation as he speaks.
Gregory spoke before approximately
400 people in the Michigan Union
Ballroom last night, and his words were
virtually identical to those he spoke to
students at Washtenaw Community
College last month. In fact, the song has
remained the same throughout
Gregory's two decades as a comedian-
author-social commentator. Nothing
has changed in the play, he tells his
audience, except the characters.
He says of our forefathers: "They
were gangsters. . . nothing in our
history books is about reality, it's all
myth."
To Gregory, this play has been filled
with villains since day one, and it still
is. To him, the obligation of sharing this
fact with other Americans rests on his
shoulders. Of his feeling for America,
he says, "I'll not love America 'til it
becomes lovable and I won't leave unti
I've personally straightened it out."
His targets are numerous. Last night
they included President Carter, the
Pope, the '70s, oil companies, Hamilton
Jordon, George Washington, George
Bush, whites, blacks, John Wayne, and
birth control; he even makes an effort
to discuss local Ann Arbor props in his
play. Of Michigan Stadiugn, he says:
"That's just something to keep you
pacified. While you're watching
Michigan versus Michigan State them
pimps are mapping war for you." Of
dormitories in general: "They've got
you in little rooms that Hitler wouldn't
have used for the Jews." And of most
colleges and universities: "They're
cesspools of hatred ... most of you'll
leave in more of a mess than you came
in."
Repeatedly, he warns his audience,.
the observers and participants in a
system he deplores: "Pretty soon, you
better stop this craziness."
But the play goes on, and so does the
unceasing mission of Dick Gregory. He
has tried twice to run this country, but
instead has been virtually banished by
it and relegated to the lecture circuit.
Daily Photo by JOHN HAGEN
STATE SENATOR EDWAtD PIERCE (D-Ann Arbor) discusses the possibility of keeping the University's planned
tuition increase under ten er cent next year with members of the Michigan Student Assembly (MSA) as state repre-
sentative Perry Bullard (FAnn Arbor) looks on.
MSA:Iimit increase in tuition
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(Continued from Page'
Bullard added, "iless the at-
mosphere of tax revolts shifted, there
really isn't going to t an increase in
the amount of mory for (higher)
education in reltion to other
brograms. Even 'keping up with in-
flation is going to bedifficult."
MSA LegislativeRelations Commit
tee Chairman Jaciall asked about
lobbying for an increase in the
University's state allocation by cut-
ting some social services expenses,
especially in the area of funding for
correctional facilities.
Bullard responded, however, that
".all of those other (social) services
have higher demand in times of
economic crisis (than higher
education has)."
Hall said, "I don't see us in-
creasing the allocation to U of M, but
at least we'll be holding onto
something."
"If we hold (the tuition increase)
to eight per cent, we're doing good.
But we could conceivably come up
with a ten per cent increase," Hall
added.
Developer filed for bankruptcy
(Continu1 from Page 1)
per end of th rent spectrum and out
of the normal sident range.
City CounciYoman Leslie Morris (D-
Second Ward, who is opposed to the
project, note that Stegeman's plans
for the builhg are always changing.
?"Details alvays seem to be missing,'.'
she said a this month's Regents'
meeting.
- ROACH, kHO introduced the motion
to grant Sgeman the option, said
Cushman and Wakefield, a real
estate company in Southfield,
Michigan, is currently leasing office
space for Stegeman's building. Randy
Bergan, from Cushman and Wakefield,
said they are looking for a large
company to rent a portion of the
available space-about 60,000 sq. ft.
"It's flexible," he said. "We need to
identify an anchor tenant."
Bergan said the building would be one
"Ann Arbor could be very proud of."
He said Stegeman was a "positive
thinker" and that the site was an
excellent location in need of someone to
utilize it to its full potential.
"WHENEVER IT is done, it'll be,
done right," he said.
Many of the merchants along South
University Avenue-the shopping area
adjacent to the proposed high-
rise-also were pleased at the prospect
of a mixed-use building. Although some
said they dreaded seeing another high-
rise building in the area (Stegeman's
project would be next door to the 20-
story 'University Towers apartment
complex), most anticipated increases
in business that the building's promise
of year-round residents would bring.
Other members of the community,
including some members of City
Council and the City Planning
Commission, are strongly opposed to
Stegeman's proposal.
Before he can start construction of
his project, Stegeman must submit a
proposal to City Council, which
immediately refers the project to the
planning commission. Because of the
high density of a building such as
Stegeman has propsoed, the developer
Stege man
...filed for bankruptcy
although the apatments might be too
vpensive for most students, the
lditional hoising would lead to
' upstreaming" which meanshresidents
in less expensie units might move to
the more e~pensive apartments,
leaving vacanies that students could
fill.
would have to apply for approval under
the Planned Unit Development (PUD)
zoning.
ALTOUGH THERE are no specific
density and size restrictions under PUD
zoning, the PUD plan gives the city
much more control in the project
planning stages.
Council member Morris and several
members of the planning commission
are opposed to high-density buildings
and say it is "highly unlikely"
Stegeman's proposal would be
approved..
Ann Arbor resident Marjorie Bradley
said she became concerned when she
read Stegeman was buying land from
the University. The developer bought a
house from her and her husband ten
years ago, she said, and hasn't made
the monthly payments for over a year
now.
"We're both retired," she said,
adding that she, her husband, and her
husband's sister depend on the income
from the house sale.
"I don't think it's right fokr him not to
pay," she said. "I don't see how he can
keep doing this."
Tinkle, prof.
of Zooogy-,
dead at 49
Donald Tinkle, University zoology
professor and specialist in population
biology of lizards and other reptiles,
died at his home Thursday after an
illness of several weeks. He was 49.
A University faculty member since
1965, Tinkle also served as curator of
the Museum of Zoology until 1975 when
he was appointed museum director.
ACCORDING TO Prof. William
Dawson, chairman of Biological Scien-
ces, Tinkle was known nationally for his
research on the breeding patterns of
reptiles.
Tinkle won the Eminent Ecologist
Award for 1979 from the Ecological
Society of America, and received a
1979-80 Guggenheim Fellowship for his
work on the life history and.
demography of turtles.
"Dr. Tinkle contributed a tremen-
dous amount to our program," Dawson
said. "He was a wonderful person, both
as a friend and colleague. He will be
very greatly missed," Dawson said.
TINKLE WAS born Dec. 3, 1930 in
Dallas, Texas. He received his B.S.
degree from Southern Methodist
University in 1952, and his M.S. and
Ph.D. degrees from Tulane University
in 1955 and 1956, respectively.
Before coming to Michigan he served
on the faculties of West Texas State
University and Texas Technological
University.
Tinkle authored more than 76 scien-
tific publications, and served as
associate editor of several journals in-
cluding "Evolution" and "The
American Midland Naturalist." He was
a member of numerous professional
societies and served on scientific
review panels for the National Science
Foundation, Atomic Energy Com-
Consumer
price rise
worst in
six years
when the Nixon administration re-
moved controls on food prices, came
despite a 0.2 per cent decline in grocery
store prices. Prices in January were
13.9 per cent higher than a year earlier,
and the annual rate of increase for the
last three months was 15.6 per cent.
The sure in consumer prices and the
prime rate hike sent the New York
stock market plunging in early trading
with declines leading advances 897 to
178.
THE PRIME LENDING rate, which
is charged by banks to their most
credit-worthy corporate borrowers,
was raised from 15%/4 per cent to the
largest one-day jump since last.
October, the last time the Federal
Reserve moved to tighten credit.
"This move reflects our judgment as
to the proper rate in view of the
strength of loan demand and the cost of
funds," said a spokesman for Morgan
Guaranty Trust Co. of New York, the
first to move to 161/2 per cent.
Although the prime rate directly
affects only business borrowers, it is
one example of rising interest rates
being felt by home buyers and savers as
well.
MORTGAGE INTEREST rates have
again begun to rise in many areas, with
some California savings institutions
announcing a minimum mortgage rate
of 14 per cent.
A number of private economists have
said in recent weeks that mandatory
controls may now be needed as part of a
broader anti-inflation strategy. Sen.
Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), who is a
presidential contender, also has called
for wage and price controls.
Associated Press-NBC News polls
have repeatedly shown that most
Americans favor mandatory controls
even though a majority doesn't think
they would work.
SHORTLY AFTER the dismal
government inflation report was
released, Charles Schultze, chairman
of Carter's Council of Economic
Advisers, told a Miami, Fla., audience
"mandatory wage and price controls
are neither a quick nor a sure way to
reduce inflation."
"First," he said, "they cannot be
maintained long enough to do the job;
and second, they are likely to cause
major harm to the economy."
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FILMS
Am Arbor Film Co-op-Sweet Movie, 7, 10:20 p.m., WR: Mysteries of
Orgamism, 8:40 p.m, MLB Aud. 3.
Cinema Guild-Madame Rosa, 7,9005 p.m., Old Arch. Aud.
Cimma Two-Woyzeck, 7,8:40, 10:30 p.m., Aud. A, Angell Hall.
Medatrics-Dirty Harry, 7, 10:45 p.m., The Enforcer, 9 p.m., Nat. Sci.
Aud.
MEETINGS
Vashtenaw Community College-Sexual Harrassment Workshop, 9
a.m.-3.m., Room 304 of the college's Ypsilanti Center, 210 West Cross.
PIRGIM-Assertiveness Training Workshop by Natalie Levin, 11 a.m.,
Welket Room, Michigan Union.
Ann Arbor War Tax Dissidents-"No longer pay for war" workshop, 1
p.m., Pine Room of the Wesley Foundation, 602 E. Huron.
Washtenaw Community College-"Know your Auto" workshop. 8:30 - noon
and 1:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Automotive Services Building, at 5115 Carpenter Road.
Hillel-Orthodox Minyan, 9:30 a.m.
SPEAKERS
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom-Howard Simon,
Exec. Dir. Michigan American Civil Liberties Union, "Why Does Uncle Sam
Want You?" An update on national service and the draft, 10 a.m., Ann Arbor
Public Library, 343 South Fifth Avenue.
PERFORMANCES
00 PROFESSIONAL THEATRE
PROGRAM presents
FACETS PERFORMANCE
ENSEMBLE'S
DAR
SOL~tSTICE
THURSDAY, FEB. 28,
8 PM - POWER CENTER
Tickets at PTP in League
CALL 764-0450
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