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Ninety- Two Years
of
Editorial Freedom
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Partly cloudy with a slight
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Vol. XCII, No. 9 Copyright 1981, The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor, Michigan-Saturday, September 19, 1981 Ten Cents Ten Pages
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By GREG DeGULIS
.. They're here, walking in clusters
forting blue, gold, and green, proud
,With the confidence that God is on
their side.
.: Evangelical College visitors?
NO, THEY are Notre Dame fans,
following their Number One
righsting Irish football team.
That's right, the wait is over as the
.11th-ranked Michigan Wolverines
,try to avenge the bitter, last-second
29-27 loss of one year ago when they
meet theIrish at 1:50 p.m. before a
jammed Michigan Stadium and a
national television audience.
Mgtre Damoes first-year coach,.
the ultra-enthusiastic Gerry Faust,
leves the Irish hurdled their first
aobstacle with a 27-9 win over g LSU
but remains cautious concerning the
Wolverines, who dropped their own
Number One ranking in a 21-14 loss
at Wisconsin last weekend.
" rFIRST OF ALL, we know
Michigan has a tremendous football
team," Faust said. "They've got an
amazing amount of talent, regar-
dless of what happened in Madison.
Plus, we'll be playing away from
home for the first time."
Faust did not ignore the revenge
motive in sizing up the Wolverines,
fly aware that ND has edged
Michigan in each of the teams' last
two outings.
"I've already come to appreciate
what a tremendous rivalry there is
between the two schools and teams.
FORGwET
LAST A
WEEK-" .REMEMBER
-, LAST NYEARS
_VA
area maybe center
for robotics research
Ives in
bor wil
its slide
r,
By MARK GINDIN
Ann Arbor may be the location of a
multimillion dollar robotics research
center which would attract top-flight
faculty and students to the University,
state and University officials said
yesterday.
Gov. William Milliken will urge the
state legislature to invest an initial $25
million over a six- to seven-year period
in an effort to spur industry and other
sources to invest in the proposed cen-
ter, said Robert Law, executive,
assistant to the governor.
THE ROBOTICS center is part of
Milliken's plan to diversify the state's
economy, and was suggested to the
governor by a high technology task for-
ce Milliken appointed last spring, Law
said.
A task force has determined that to
establish a world-class robotics center
$200 million over the state's initial
commitment would have to be raised
from private sources over the next 10
years.T
Officials at the University have said
formation of a research center in Ann
Arbor would aid the University in
recruiting faculty, students and boost
the prestige of the University, said
George Gamota, director of the Univer-
sity's Institute of Science and
Technology.'
ANN ARBOR IS "clearly" the top
area in the state for a robotics center
because it has the best location,
capability, and especially reputation
for a major research center, Law said.
The location is ideal because Ann Ar-
bor is near Detroit, where most of the
state's industry is located. The Univer-
sity already is conducting robotics
research and has established a solid
reputation in this area.
"The idea behind a robotics center is
to attract world-leading people to do
robotics research and the top
reputation of the University would
place it as the leading candidate," Law
said.
Both the University and the state
have been attempting to attract federal
contracts, and a premier research cen-
ter would be another reason to award
them to the University, Gamota said.
"WE'RE AFTER a world class cen-
ter here-the premier in the world,"
said College of Engineering Dean
James Duderstadt. "We're already
recruiting the best people from around
the world," he said, including Japan
and Europe.
The University is already recruiting
high technology firms and skilled
faculty to become the world's center of
robotics, Duderstadt said.
"Right now the robotics institute
exists in (the) East Engineering
(building)," said Duderstadt. The
robotics research center is still a
proposal, he noted.
DECISIONS TO be made regarding
the structure of the research center
focus on two alternatives, Duderstadt
said. Either the robotics center will be,
within the University, with the em-
phasis on basic research and training of
graduate students, or it may be struc-
tured as a non-profit robotics institute
outside the University's auspices but
maintaining close ties with the Univer-
sity.
"The idea that's important to
recognize is that to attract high
technology, you have to have a center of
strength," Duderstadt said. The
proposed robotics center will act as a
nucleus from which a cluster of high
technology firms will sprout," he said.
THE PROPOSED robotics institute
"would be a shot in the' arm for the
economy of the state, and good for the
faculty and students as well," Duder-
stadt said.
Duderstadt also said the task force
has been looking at sites for the center
on North Campus and also in an area
west of Route 23.
The governor's high technology
task force met and worked secretly on
the robotics center project for mon-
ths. Members of the task force and
University officials refused to discuss
the findings of the committee until af-
See ROBOTICS, Page 5
I know the games have been decided
in the last few seconds each of the
last two years, and the fact that
Notre Dame won both those games
will be on the mind of the Michigan
players this week," Faust said.
Last year's Notre Dame victory
over Michigan has been on the min-
ds of Wolverine supporters for more
than just one week. The 29-27 defeat
via the foot of Notre Dame kicker
Harry Oliver ranks as one of the
most stunning and disappointing of
Bo Schembechler's 12-year reign at
Michigan.
THIS YEAR, Oliver is back to do
the kicking, but the Irish offensive
strategy is completely revamped.
Faust used a total of 65 players in
last week's victory over LSU, in-
cluding five quarterbacks and 11 dif-
ferent ballcarriers.
"I'm a firm believer in playing as
many young men as we can if they
prove they deserve the oppor-
tunity," Faust explained, "Even
though Blair Kiel started the game
for us at quarterback, we told both
him and Tim Koegel that we would
alternate them every two series."
Faust even went so far as to use
junior walk-on Jim O'Hara and
freshman Chris Smith, neither of
whom was even listed on the media
information rosters, at quarterback
and tailback, respectively.4
AGAINST Michigan, however, it is
not very likely that Faust will be af-
See MICHIGAN, Page 7
Uoily Po~toby LJFDIJTRj
IF STATE AND UNIVERSITY officials' predictions come true, robots
as this one will be a common sight in a new multimillion dollar robotic
ter to be located in Ann Arbor.
Robotics: Fiction becomes, real
By JOHN ADAM
and MARK GINDIN
Loosely defined, robot is a machine
that can be programmed to do a task. It
need not look like R2D2 or C3PO of Star
Wars fame, but in the near future it
very well may. Many experts are
talking about self-propelled robots
doing household chores, such as
vacuuming, as early as the next decade.
Currently, most robots are doing the
dirty jobs in factories, such as welding
and spray painting, but they are
becoming increasingly able to do delic-
te tasks, and have almost the same dex-
terit& as a human arm.
GIANT MANUFACTURERS such as
General Motors, Ford, General Elec-
tric and Westinghouse have realized
advantages in converting to robots and
the state and Unviersity are
capitalizing on this wave of the future.
"The reason for the current change to
robotics," said visiting Mechanical
Engineering Prof. Yoram Koren last
April, "is simply economics. The price
of computers went down and the price
of labor went up."
Robots also have the added advan-
tages of doing consistently high-quality
work and having no need to take coffee
breaks.
THERE ARE curently plans to
create in Ann Arbor, in College of
Engineering Dean James Duderstadt's
words, "a world class (robotics) cen-
ter-the premier in the world." He said
Michigan needs to diversify its in-
dustrial base by promoting high
technology industry such as micro-
electronics and robotics.
Robotics is really, just a catch-all
word for automated manufacturing,
said Duderstadt. He added that the
automated factory of the future will
have social implications as well,
because of the many displace workers.
Again, the University, with its strong'
program of social research, will be at
the forefront in this new technology.
"The University is almost tailor-
made for an activity like this," Duder-
stadt said.
THE UNIVERSITY'S Institute for
Social Research and the Institute of
Labor and Industrial Relations,
together with the proposed robotics in-
stitute, should give the University an
important role in the new technology.
And, as Duderstadt said, it would
greatly enhance the University's
prestige.
Electrical and Computer
See ROBOTICS, Page 5
Relax -
not everyone
can write rig ht
By JULIE HINDS
Everyone comes' to the University ready to start.
writing.
"The students come here knowing an incredible
amount about language," says Kate Clark, ad-
ministrative coordinator of English 125 Introductory
Composition courses.
ENGLISH 125 teaching assistant Michael Marx
feels "most students have a fairly sound
background" in the mechanics of writing.
Not all students, however, are adequately prepared
to use their skills successfully on writing assignments
at the University level.
"I'm amazed by the number of students who say
they don't know how to write an essay, that they've
never had that experience before," says Psychology
171 TA Lynn Bossert.
DESPITE disagreements among faculty members
on the state of student writing, there is a consensus
among students that written assignments are a
major student hassle.
"I really don't like to write. Sometimes I just sit
there and try to think of what to write," bemoans LSA
freshwoman Eileen Ramos.
Hope is not lost for students with writing -worries.
Brilliant use of grammar and syntax is not necessary
for good grades, many professors say.
"IF YOU EXPRESS yourself brilliantly with
idiotic ideas, you're not going to get a good grade,"
says English Prof. Jim Shepard. "If I had to pick
between style and content, I would choose someone
who has very good ideas thrown clumsily together."
Teaching assistant Marx agrees that content is
most important, \especially writing that is ap-
propriate to the situation.
"When I am grading a paper I'm considering how
appropriate it is. What can be good writing on one
paper won't work for another," says Marx.
MARX USED AN example of a letter-writing
assignment in which the students posed as fathers
advising sons. He received "an incredible literary
letter that was beautiful" from one student.
Marx, however, didn't consider the work a success
because the student missed the context of the
assignment.
"It just didn't sound like what a father would write
to a son," he explained, adding that its tone and style
were too formal.
KNOWING THE context of the writing is a key to
success in the various kinds of assignments a student
faces, including essays, research papers, lab reports
and examinations, says Clark.
"The writing you get away with on a quick final is
different from that of a formal typed paper," says
Clark. "The instructor will consider that when
grading."
Students should also write more than one draft, ad-
vises English Prof. June Howard.
"I CAN SUMMARIZE my advice in one word:
See STUDENTS, Page 5
TODAY
Solar-powered potty.
$348,000 SOLAR-POWERED restroom at a Bat-
tle Creek area highway rest stop Friday earned
the state Department of Transportation a legis-
lator's first "Silver Sow" award. Rep. Richard
Fitzpatrick; (D-Battle Creek), called the restroom a
"small, but symbolic" example of improper government
spending at a time when state social programs are being
WANNOWN
quite pleasant," said Fitzpatrick. "I think it would be nice
to have a building like this at every rest stop." C7
Make war, not love
A U.S. Army guidebook discouraging game poaching,
marijuana smuggling, "getting grabby with frauleins" and
damaging cornfields has been issed to 7,000 U.S. soldiers in
West German war games. "You ain't part of no conquering
army," it warns. The book, written in a breezy, tongue-in-
r . hpl t 4tul 4isfnr n upra i *u'n4 4 . r- b. mrfthipc pwhn the
burn, pillage, and jaywalk all over Germany." "Wrong,"
the book adds. "You ain't on your own block." The 40-page
book outlines such no-no's as, "free-lance hunting or target
practicing with live furry targets," putting nails into trees,
and "violent'stuff, rape, homicide and things that have a
bad effect on the German community, drug smuggling for
one."
Poker Ph.D.s
They squealed with delight when they won at blackjack,
n_ r -mtt Tou dr-nn.dand oimaene when the
dreamed up the idea, calls his place "a learning environ-
ment." Time will tell how many novices are going to pay
from $50 to $75 a class for instruction in the various games,
even though the study program is being run by a Ph.D. in
high energy physics, Richard Plumer, formerly on the
faculty of Eastern Illinois University. But for opening night
the gambling was free, and so were the champagne and
food. Jim Eisdorfer of Manhattan was there, he said, "just
for the enjoyment." But he admitted that with no risk and
no chance of big winnings, "The thrill is taken out of it. But,
it's good practice if I go to Atlantic City," he added. "Lucky
thing I'm not playing for money-I'd have lost my shirt." Q
I
,