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OPINION
Page 4
Thursday, January 19, 1984
The Michigan Daily
Dunn touts good old American values
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Former congressman Jim Dunn is
seeking the Republican party's
nomination for the U. S. Senate seat
held by Democrat Carl Levin. To
get a chance at beating Levin, Dunn'
must first defeat former astronaut
Jack Lousma in the August
primary. Dunn was elected to
Congress in 1980, but was unseated
two years later by Bob Carr, the
man he had, beaten. Dunn was in
Ann Arbor to pick up support from
students, businessmen, and local
Republicans last week. He spoke to
Daily staff reporter Neil Chase
about military research, education,
and draft registration.
Dialogu
aily: You have stressed your suc-
cs while in the House in bringing
fderal research dollars into the state
afMSU and other institutions. Some
s rdents here have protested the
afgount of military research performed
oiiscampus, especially that which in-
v6Npes nuclear warfare and military
W%pons systems. How much military
r6eearch do you think is appropriate on
a'gllege campus, and how do you react
t6 the proposal that the University not
perform any research which has as its
ut4mate goal the destruction of human
life?
Dunn: Let me make an overall
statement, and then we'll get down to
the particulars. I have studied the
history of war. I have studies the
history of Russia: I have two years ex-
prience as a United States
cingressman. I have seen the words
tlat Russia says to us versus their ac-
tinihs. Through those,,and my experien-
ces, I've come to the conclusion that the
Udited States can never afford to put it-
self in the position in which we are in-
ferior to Russia. I cannot ever see us in
a:position where Russia perceives that
they have the advantage. That's a
rather broad, sweeping statement, and
entails a lot of things. Jim Dunn does
support a strong, viable national defen-
se program.
That's a national issue. Now let's put
it in terms of Michigan. If the majority
of United States leaders - Republicans
and Democrats alike - have decided
that we were, lagging in several of our
defense postures and that we did need
to spend some dollars to play catch-up
ball, then I see no reason why Michigan
and the state thereof should not be a part
of those research dollars. And so, yes, I
think the University of Michigan should
have involvement. Yes, Wayne State
University should have involvement.
Yes, Michigan State University should -
have involvement. The dollars are
going to be spent somewhere. As a
representative I'd much rather have
them spent here than in New Mexico or
California or whatever state. I would be
on the other side of the issue, I guess,
from those protestors on campus. If the
dollars are going to be spent, then why
not spend them in Michigan?
Daily: Michigan's State Board of
Education recently discussed a
proposal to extend the school year 10
days and lengthen the school day, and
many school districts in other states
have taken similar action. Has public
education fallen to the point where such
actions are necessary?
Dunn: Under the Blanchard ad-.
ministration, education funding in
Michigan-and I'm a Michigan tax-
payer-has lessened its percentage of
the budget. Jim Blanchard has an-
swered to the special interest "group of
the UAW and funded the extra dollars
into social programs. I think that was a
mistake. I think we in Michigan have
every reason to be proud of our
education system here. To answer your
question on extending the school calen-
dar year, I'm not sure that's the answer
as much as the quality of time the
students spend there. I've got three
young children that I'm raising who are
going to public schools here in
Michigan, and I see an incredible
waste. The answer seems not to be
another 10 days but to make the time we
spend now with our young people
productive. I don't see that happening
in a large percentage of the cases.
Daily: Do you think the same
problem exists nationwide?
that the family has to play a bigger role
and we can't continue to sluff off on the
public school system what should be
family responsibilities.
Daily: As a senator, what will you be
able to do to improve education?
Dunn: I think it should be the job of
the United States government to
establish guidelines. I do not want to
see bigger funding for school systems
coming from the federal system. I sim-
ply just don't approve of that. You end
up with a kind of situation in Russia
where we all have state-authorized text-
books. I like local control of the school
system. I approve of that. Nevertheless
I think the federal government has a
role to play in which they say "We
will continue to make contributions but
we want to see certain standards met
from your students as they graduate,"
i.e. equivalency testing of graduating
seniors or whatever it is.
Daily: What is your position on the
Solomon Amendment, which ties finan-
cial aid to draft registration?
Dunn: Jerry Solomon is a friend of
mine. I supported that amendment. It's
probably an unpopular statement to
make here on campus, but I'll say it
right up front. I supported that amen-
dment. A loan from the federal gover-
nment to a student is an extra benefit
beyond all the benefits' that we receive
from our government simply by being a
United States citizen. If a percentage of
young people are willing to do
something as easy as complying with
the law of the United States and signing
up on their 18th birthday for the draft,
it's merely signing your name that I
am now registered as being 18 years
old. If you're unwilling to do something
as simple as that, then yes, I do not
think you should qualify for a taxpayer-
subsidized low-interest loan. That was
the issue. Yes, I supported that
Solomon amendment. Too many-95,
96, 97 percent of the young Americans
were willing to stand' up and say yes,
I'm a young American, and here's my"
name in case' anational emergency
should arise. It's not the same thing as
being drafted. I'm looking out for those
95 or 96 percent of Americans who
believe in our country, believe in the
future, and believe in its president. I
was a strong supporter of the Solomon
amendment.
Daily: Do you have any sympathy for
the Minnesota student who said it was
against his religious beliefs to register
for the draft?
Dunn: It was not a registration for 4
the draft. There is no draft in this coun-
try, alright? So my answer to that
student in Minnesota-and I haven't the
foggiest idea what you're talking
about-my answer to the student is it's
a cop out. Plain and simple it's a cop
out. I realize I'm being a little tough
here and if you want. to print- that I
might not be real popular on campus. I
took a tough stance on Michigan State's
campus and I won by a bigger margin
there in my second election than I did in
my first election. I think you can be
tough with the people of Michigan. I
think you can be tough with the people of
the United States and we simply have
to do some of these things. 96 percent of
the people are willing to do it. No, I will
not coddle the 4 or 5 percent who are
unwilling to stand up and say I'm an
American and I have some respon-
sibilities.
Daily: What is it about Jim Dunn that
is appealing to stidents?
Dunn: I think the same thing that
drew them in 1980 and 1982. Your
biggest concerns. You have to deal with
the economy of this country for the neix
20, 30, 40 years. You're the ones that are
about to go off and get involved in thi
job market. Do you want to get involve ?
in the kind of economic ,roller coaster
we had in the 1970s or can you-and I
believe that the answer is that you
can-look forward to long-term
sustainable economic growth given a
' series of changes that the Reagan ad-
minstration made that I support. That's
going to be the choice for students, I
think. And I think that the answer is
they're going to say I'd rather get in-
volved in the kind of economic job
market that I see forming for the late
1980s and 1990s. That's the most impor-
tant question. That's the reason you're
here: your future.
Dialogue is an occasional feature
of the Opinion page.
Daily Photo by TOD WOOLF
Dunn: I'm looking out for those 95 or 96 percent of Americans who believe in
our country, believe in our future, and believe in its president. I was a strong
supporter of the Solomon amendment.
Dunn: Yes. Ronald Reagan has
called it a return to some of the intrinsic
values. I think that to a certain extent
it's a concentration on the basic skills of
reading, writing, and arithmetic, but
it's also - and the President doesn't
prioritizing of responsibilities. Elemen-
tary teachers tell methat today we're
faced with a situation with five-year-
olds where teachers are toilet training.
Now they shouldn't have to do that. It's
never been within the scope of their
jobs. We as families have to recognize
talk about this
but I do - a re-
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Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan
Vol. XCIV-No. 90
420 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily's Editorial Board
Late for lecture
FACULTY GROUP which has be applauded and its implementation
A protested last summer's budget expedited.
cuts to the Schools of Art, Education, The faculty's timid tardiness is not
aid Natural Resources, deserves an so much a result of cowardice on the
'A' for effort, but an 'F' for timing. part of professors fearful for their jobs,
as it is a reflection of their .poor
Early this week the University's organization. Amidst the University's
ciapter of the American Association of burgeoning bureaucracy, organization
University Professors issued a is imperative if any message is to be
statement loudly denouncing the way constructively stated.
idu which the budget reviews were con- The faculty statement should be seen
dilted. The timing of their statement largely as a message for the future:
is almost ridiculous-coming five mon- that the academicians at this Univer-
tljs after the final cuts were made. Last sity want to be heard and want to play
sommer when the blidget review an active role in the decision-making
paocess was in full sw ig, the faculty, process. The recent attempts of ad-
as a group, remaied fairly silent. ministration officials to gain a larger
But as absurd as the tardiness of the say in the workings of the NCAA should
message was, the faculty's call for a make them more sensitive to the,
larger role in University policy making wishes of professors (and students) on
is worthy of response. The elevation of this campus.
the faculty from their largely advisory It took a while for the faculty, to
role to a more active governing role speak, but then it's better late than
would help stress the too-often neglec- never. When the administration gives
ted academic concerns of this- com- faculty their, role in the decision-
nriunity. The call for strengthening of maling process, the faculty might
tle faculty's governing rights should begin stating their opinions on time.
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LET'TERS TO THE DAILY:
Big Brother's code of
conduct
MRWIWCK Y~ou No
CALLS 'WtT r
y L-Lt1:4 'We v
oT NEQ PA~TY 4.
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To JAMES
9 Ca N
To the Daily:
In the January 16 issue of the
University Record' there ap-
peared a proposal from the
University Council for a student
code of non-academic conduct, a
propsal which will be considered
by the regents before the end of
this academic term.
The administration and faculty
apparently favor the proposal
while the president of The
Michigan Student Assembly feels
that the code is oppressive. Our
organization, Students for a
Responsible University Com-
munity (STRUC), also feels that
rights.
The rationale behind the code is
reasonable - to promote the
safety of students, faculty, staff
and guests; to provide an en-
vironment supportive of the
educational process; to provide a
prompt, open, fair, and uniform
system for enforcing University
policies.
However, STRUC feels that the
approach now being considered is
wrong. Part of the reason most
BLOOM COUNTY
students decide to attend the
University is to grow and learn to
take responsibility for one's ac-
tions. People must learn to make
their own decisions concerning
their lives. There is no reason to
punish and note on the record of a
student what are civil infractions
of moral choices. STRUC must
agree with the president of MSA
that there is irony in this
proposal's introduction in the fir-
st month of 1984.
Corr is the
Students forc
University Com,
by Berke I
- Brian Corr
Jim Horan J
Kurt Muenchow
Jon Lambregtse
Jane Sobierag.
Catherine Titta.
January 1?
president of
a Responsible ;
rmunity.
Breathed
NOW, NOW fW.A5...
a _:"
...YOU JNU RU5fN feUkA
ThIs 15 MRS. UIK(UP, AND
MR: OPUKE2.. WHY 17ON'T WE AL.L JUS5T
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