46 OPINION _ _ * . I Page 4 t an Edited and monoged by students of The University of Michigon Saturday, September 6, 1980 The Michigan Daily Exposing the Go Blue! farce Gridders are not real students Vol. XCI, No. 3 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, M1 48109 'Editorials represent a majority opinion of The Daily's Editorial Board r . . 1 - _.__- __. A bus cutba HEY SAY fairy tales are just fiction, but the University is writ- ing its own true-life version of "Cin- ;derella" this week. Don't be surprised if you see hun- dreds of pumpkins strewn across Cen- tral Campus late one night-they will merely be the unfortunate residents of NNorth Campus housing who missed the Glast bus back to their far-off abodes. You see, the Evil Stepmother-er, (University-has decided that the cost tof running late buses from Central to UNorth Campus outweighs any benefits. After all, the administration reasons, any North Campus socialites who stay on Central Campus into the wee hours are only going to the bars, anyway. So, to save money, the University has cancelled the two-year-old 2:15 a.m. late bus, leaving a 12:15 a.m. final bus Sundays through Thursdays, a 1 a.m. late bus Fridays, and a 1:20 a.m. late ride Saturdays. The bus service cutback amounts to nothing less than an unjust, Univer- sity-imposed curfew upon North Cam- pus residents. It's a curfew because North Campus is several miles from most points on Central Campus-a distance that is at least intimidating to the student tired from a long night of studying at the Graduate Library and at most dangerous to unescorted women. IAw, c' mon!. j HE U.S. SELECTIVE Service has gleefully reported that Americans have responded to registration like mmings this time around, quoting a igure of 93 per cent eligible men egistered. It would be very surprising if the high figure turned out to be correct; we can hardly imagine that -sueh a high percentage of college youth would have marched off silently to reparations for possible slaughter, nd we hope and expect that those who have joined the labor force were not quite so compliant either. Facts and figures have long been subject to warping by our government, notably during our last "great" military adventure in Vietnam. At that time, the military-with the assistance Hof the underscrupulous media-had the nation convinced for a long time that :the war effort was going well. In this tcase, spreading around the 90-plus 4 figure might well have the desired ef- feet of scaring those who have not yet registered into obeying the oppressive law. The unseemly stupidity of the ad- ck. fairytale And it's unjust because students living in University housing on North Campus-at least some of whom, in- cidentally, don't live there by choice-pay the same rates as Central Campus residents and should be en- titled to equivalent privileges. And, although the University may not like it, these privileges include the choice of spending a social evening in a bar as well an academic evening in a library., University Vice President and Chief Financial Officer James Brinkerhoff is the sadly miscast Fairy Godmother in this Cinderella story. It is he, by vir- tue of his control of funds for the bus service, who decided that pumpkin time would be moved drastically back from 2:15a.m. Fortunately, however, there seems to be a Prince in the story. Vice President for Student Services Henry Johnson-whd says he doesn't have funds to extend the bus service-has at least indicated he will bring the matter up for disussion at next week's meeting of the University's executive officers. We hope the glass slipper of extra bus funding fits onto some ad- ministrator's foot. The cost of the late buses-$11,000-is easily worth the benefits to North Campus residents. It's their right not to be pumpkins. 93 per cent? ministration's registration order has an especially ironic twist in light of the furious election campaign. The president in one breath aggressively attacks Ronald Reagan's backward plans to overtake the Soviets in military strength, and in the next pushes through a piece of legislation that could cast serious doubt on our professed intention to deal with other ,countries through peaceful means Curiously, the Republican candidate has indicated that he thinks the registration plan is out of order, despite the fact that virtually all his statements on international affairs seem-designed to antagonize the Soviets. There seems to be only one path of hope for those who have yet to register and for those who have submitted and regret it. The Supreme Court will decide sometime in the next few mon- ths whether a registration blueprint that excludes women can be con- stitutionally enacted. Unlikely as the Court is to find for women's rights, continuing resisters are to be com- mended. I have reached a painful conclusion: Big- time intercollegiate athletic competition as we know it is a farce-a waste of time and ef- fort for the athletes involved and an object of false loyalty for students, alumni, and their friends. Five years ago, as a fledgling undergraduate student at the University, I joined the noble ranks of the faithful at football and basketball games. I felt a part of a great American ritual and the experience added to the overall power of institutional pride. WHAT HAPPENED? As an un- dergradaute, I attended a small private college where intercollegiate athletics was a healthy but not major part of campus life. Athletes trained, but had plenty of time for a relatively normal study and social life. Spec- tators cheered and watached with respect and loyalty, observing their fellow students in controlled, but symbolic combat with respec- ted foes. Now that I have learned more about "big- time" methods and motivations, I am disillusioned. Are major universitiies in the business of "hiring" (through "scholar- ships") sacrificial lambs to be slaughtered-both in terms of social uselessness and physical injury'? Is there no opportunity for true academics to engage in intercollegiate rivalry because academically substandard jocks are sought after in their places? Yes, there are a few exceptions, but how many actually play? IS FIVE TO seven hours of drill per day a necessary part of a well-rounded education, in which one learnsaalso to ponder the deeper mysteries of the arts and sciences as well as learning to overcome the limitations of the body? Where is the sense of academic balan- ce for the athletes? Is a college education a requirement for being drafted into a pro league? Is the university the right place for those who want nothing but sports? I, for one, would be much more proud of my school's athletic program if those involved were primarily students at the University and then selected as the atheltic cream of the student body, men and women who train well, but in proportion to the attainment of academic goals. A very good case could be made to show that physical education for all is neglected in favor of physical training (ala gladiators and circus and circus animals) for the few, most of whom wouldn't be herewere it not for looser academic standards and overexuberant recruitment practices. Let's have intercollegiate athletics-it's great fun and a fine morale booster, but not at the expense of an athlete's education, which should never be any less intense than anyone By Herbert Geisler else's. This would mean a major shift in NCAA policy, athletic directors' and coaches' goals and methods, and a changed mentality on the part of the athletes. We might even slip from first or second place for a while, but wouldn't it mean so much more to know that our heroes are real students, honored and qualifed members of the academic com-. munity of the University of Michigan who can still play football (or whatever) heartily and skillfully? SORRY, BO, BUT do you really need seven hours a day to play well, develop a profound understanding of the game and one's physical abilities and limitations, and have fun? Who knows? The alumni mightstill be loyal (maybe more so, if the athletes are real students who later become wealthyG professionals-doctors, lawyers, etc.--and support the University). The students might still spend their time and cash to attend games (maybe more so, since the athletes would be friends and respected fellow studeh- ts). And the fans might have even higher regard for the teams. We might even win some games (maybe more so, since brains make a difference in overcoming a challenge). I know our coaches could suc- ceed. I don't think the situation is as bad here as it is elsewhere, but that puts us in a better position to take the lead in making some changes, showing the nation that good studen- ts can make good athletes and make the game interesting for everyone. Herbert Geisler is a resident of Ann Arbor. 40 A Daily Photo by MAUREEN O'MALLEY SOME WOLVERINES RELAX during a practice session recently. LETTERS TO THE DAILY: Wordprocessors owner defends positio : To The Daily: On August 12, The Michigan Daily published an opinion article by an ex-employee of the Wor- dprocessors regarding alleged "union busting" engaged in by the owners. What follows is in- tended to inform The Daily's readers of some of the facts. Judy Allen's article tells us the sad tale of 28 employees who "spontaneously" walked out to protest "sweatshop" conditions and what they believe are unfair labor practices on the part of management. IN FACT, THE walkout was not "spontaneous." On April 16, 1980, two employees quit over what one of them has referred to as a "minor dispute.'' An evening of phone calls per- suaded many other employees not to report to work the next morning. They set up a picket like and urged our customers to boycott our store. These em- ployees had made no effort to contact management to find out what had actually occurred. This failure led to, among other things, their making the untrue claim that the two persons who quit on April 16 had been fired. It wasn't until the third day that their literature began to reflect that these two persons had in fact resigned. As to the claim that the April walk-out was over unfair labor practices, let me point out that no charges of unfair labor practices on the part of the company were made prior to April 17, 1980. There were no alleged unfair labor practices during the union election held here last year, an election that the union lost. It was nnlv after the union lost and the people from their rolls since she has remained loyal to the com- pany during the latest picketing incident. OF THE 29 people three had already quit their jobs before the picketing in April began, in- cluding one of those who "resigned" the day before. Only three persons were fired, all for good and sufficient cause. Four other persons had their jobs eliminated in a restructuring of the company resulting from a slowdown in volume, caused in part by the current recession. People who did not support the "union" were also laid off for lack of work. The picketer's claims can not even be labeled a distortion of the truth. They are an out and out lie. Seventeen of the 28 they talk about quit voluntarily between April 17 and July 25, three were fired for cause during that period and five were still employed by the company. Judy Allen was initially hired by the company in August of 1978. In the late spring of 1979 she gave notice that she was quitting to go back to grad school. Several months later when we were picketed (August of 1979) by those who supported unionization she turned up on the picket line even though- she was no longer employed here. ABOUT THREE months later a job in the printing department opened up and we sought her out and offered her that position even though we knew she was pro- union. She was cut back to part time during the summer because of lack of volume. In July she was called back to work full time and wrote us a leter declining ito against the Wordprocessors by the ex-employees. The company, however, has not engaged in any unfair labor practices. We have documented to investigators that we are innocent, and we are prepared to defend ourselves in court. In addition, we have filed a damage suit in Federal Court' a d are considering other legal remedies. THERE HAS never been a consumer complaint filed against this company. We believe that the current picketing is an attempt, on the part of various parties to force us to recognize a union even though our employees have already expressed their desire not to be unionized. The company is not opposed to unions, but we are opposed to any unionization of our employees that is not selec- ted in a free and democratic elec- tion. The company does have the legal right to "voluntarily" recognize a union to represent our employees if we so choose. However, we do not feel it is ap- propriate for us to foist a union,on our employees without their eon- sent. Nor are we prepared to bow to pressure tactics, such as those being used against us now, to coerce us into that position. We apologize for the ineon- venience the picketers have caused our customers and thank all those who have listened to both sides and decided to con- tinue to bring their work to°us. For those who have legitimate questions about the validity of the picketers' claims we i re prepared to document our statements and believe we can do so to your satisfaction. -James Smith, Owner, Wordprocessors September 4 44 Investigate corrupt prisons 'P This letter has been sent to Gov: William Milliken and all Michigan Senators and Repre- sentatives. To The Daily: On the November ballot, there will be a proposal to increase the state income tax from 4.6% to 4.7%. This additional tax is for the Michigan prison system to supposedly alleviate over- crowding. We are against this issue and are asking you to join our campaign to win voter disap- proval in November. " STEALING: Desks, chairs, bedding, all kinds of furniture from the prison and warehouses. * STEALING: Prisoners' money-padding expensestravel for prisoners. *STEALING: Gas and tires from the garage; boat trailers, etc. are taken out in parts from the welding shop in the Trusty Division. The present system should be cleaned up and administrators of that system made to answer: for monies already allocated before we plug more taxes into a corrupt I - - - - - -Il 2V Qfft Ii . ', ,- - r i f ut i A * f a I U ME L46"