4 OPINION Page 4 Thursday, January 19, 1984 The Michigan Daily Dunn touts good old American values t .4 i 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- -. 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. -r - - _ NE -EX'PE.-T." -~TN4E QIEAT LAKES - AU IA loF _ __ 3 -__ .._ _e::_ :.. _...__-.. . _ _ _y - S - Ot\I - i1SHEIR I - i i 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. 4r 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 04 I i!& F-7 i II