0 Page 8-A-Thursday, September 4, 1980-The Michigan Daily Drive to lower drinking age gains momentum I By ELAINE RIDEOUT Eighteen-year-old individuals from Michigan are allowed to vote, get married without parental consent, take, out a loan, and even fight in a war. Yet Michigan state law says they can't drink. V In November of 1978, the legal drinking age was raised from 18 to 21, thanks to the public's support of a statewide referendum calling for the change. One organization, however, did not take the matter lying down. The, Citizens for a Fair Drinking Age has, worked diligently over the last several months to collect 290,000 signatures to allow an amendment-to lower the age to '19-to appear on the November ballot. On July 2, the state Senate, following the actions by the House the day before, voted overwhelmingly to place the proposed constitutional amendment before the voters. "It was a huge victory," said State Representative Richard Fitzpatrick. "The vote passed with a 80 per cent House majority and a 70 per cent Senate approval." He added, "The ac- tion of the legislature recognized the widespread popular support for CONTACT LENSES soft and hard* contact lenses $210.00 inciludes exam, fitting, dispensing, follow-up visits, starter kits, and 6 month checkup. * includes a scond pair of hard /ense.s Dr. Paul C. Uslan, Optometrist 545 Church Street 769-1222 by appointment Real gold jewelry. You're worth it. lowering the drinking age to 19 which is obvious from our statewide campaign." Fitzpatrick led the six-month drive to collect the required 286,000 registered voters' signatures by a July 7 deadline. "We had the signatures anyway," he said, "even without the added 40,000 signatures we expected to get over the July 4 holiday." THE BATTLE Creek Democrat said his organization had hoped to collect 350,000 signatures to allow for inevitable disqualifications. Persons who signed "A2" or "Ypsi," for exam- ple, were disqualified because they violated a state law requiring signers to write out the full name of the city. Fitzpatrick said the petitions will not be filed but insted will be used to help organize a grass roots campaign. "We had 6,000 volunteers working to collect signatures alone," he said. Representative Casmer Ogonowski (D-Detroit) said,;"People are realizing that 19 is a more practical legal drinking age than 21. Raising the drinking age to 21 developed tremen- dous problems for law enforcement agencies trying to enforce an almost unworkable state law." Citing a research project conducted by Dr. James Rooney of a Washington, D.C. university, Fitzpatrick said, "We've received documentation that people under 21 are consuming more alcoholic beverages in states with a 21- year ninimum drinking age like Michigan than in those states with legal drinking at 19. "The 19- and 20-year-olds have con- tinued to drink despite the change in law two years ago. They've simply shif- ted their drinking from licensed businesses to the back seats of cars, to keg parties, ,and crowded public parks," he said. Placing the drinking age issue on the November ballot has the support of Governor Milliken, the Michigan Sheriffs' Association, Thomas Sch- weigert, chairman of the State Liquor Control Commission and the state Board of Education. 14 Serenade aily Poto STEVE OSBURN, AN Ann Arborite who studied music at Interlochen, strums a melody to an unidentified pooch on 4 summer afternoon. Students roach annual Hash Bash Real gold jewelry is the best there is. You can wear it anywhere, on any occasion. And it doesn't have to cost a lot, either. So, come in and select a 14- Karat gold pair of earrings, chain, bracelet, or ring. Nothing else feels like real gold. And, if there's anyone who deserves the special feeling that Karat Gold Jewelry gives, it's you. -. . - - - - EM - - By STEVE HOOK During the past decade, Ann Ar- bor has gained statewide notoriety each spring by being the home of the annual "Hash Bash," an event which attracts dope-smokers en- masse to the Diag to celebrate the activity amid the sheltered security of Ann Arbor's lenient pot law. The Hash Bash began a decade ago, when political activism was near its peak,hbut the political tone of the event has declined steadily ever since. Once a proudly cherished chance for University students to gather to make a symbolic "statement" to the multitude of media attracted to the event, the Hash Bash has lost its original ap- A HASH BASH reveler brings along his feline friend to share in the April 1 festivities. peal to University students in recent, years, and has instead hosted youths primarily from outside Ann Arbor. In fact, the hash Bash has become the object of scorn among many students, and in Daily editorials. Without its assets as a meaningful, political event, to most students the Hash Bash has become simply an unwelcome reason to reroute walks to classes, and a source of garbage and vandalism that mars the cam- pus for weeks to come. Overall, students have, on the whole, done their best to ignore the event, which still drew over 1,000 last April. "I WAS surprised when I woke up this morning and there were.a whole lot of people on the Diag," said one LSA junior, illustrating the indif- ferent student attitude that has taken hold concerning the Hash Bash. "Not too many people know what's going on," he added. Another student expressed his fondness of the activity which the Hash Bash bemoans, but planned to celebrate it in his own way. "If it's nice, I may celebrate the Hash Bash on the Diag," he said on the Bash's eve, but if its crummy out, I'll celebrate it at home with a few friends." Indeed, as has been the case in the past several years, the weather for the Hash Bash has been miserable-which has further in- spired students to spend the day with books, and to reserve the Hash Bashing for sunnier days. Do a Tree a Favor: Recyle Your Daily A k ro - I 10 4 Hey, e Uof Save Yourself a Second Trip Students. When you apply for new telephone service, you will be asked for an advance payment-$20 if your residence is equipped for modular telephone service and no installer visit is required; $30 for non-modular service or if an installer visit is required. This is not a deposit, and it will be applied toward your first telephone bill. This advance payment is a new procedure and is required on all applications for new residence telephone service. So bring your money order, checkbook or cash when ordering service and save yourself a second trip. You can piace your order for telephone service, and make your advance payment, at the Bell Phone Center Store, 413 E. Huron, Ann Arbor, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Is The Home Of These It " AKTSIA (Action for Sovi * BELTMIDRASH (15 No Judaica Courses-Registr Sept. 15-19) " GRAD STUDENTS ORGANIZATION " ISRAELI DANCING 9 CHORUS " DORM OUTREACH PA B'nai B'rith HILLEL Fou ndat ion ndependent Groups & Activities: et Jewry) * KOSHER MEAL PROGRAM n-Credit (Available in Dorms) ation " JEWISH ELDERLYPROJECT (Psych. 201, Outreach) * SHARRATSER VICES (Many varieties) . MEALS HEBREW " UJA HAIKVA CAMPAIGN * UNION OF STUDENTS FOR ?OGRAMS ISRAEL I 14 Please come to our OPEN HOUSE Thursday, Sept. 4, 8:30-11:00 pm To be on the regular mailing list, or for more information, I 4n IE