4 age 2 - The Michigan Daily - Sunday, January 22, 1984 Sen or: 4fter the storm By SUE BARTO He is witty, articulate and eminently refined-hardly a candidate to stir con- troversy. But Thomas Senior, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, was in the eye of the storm last term, when student groups took over his radiation laboratory twice in one week to protest his Pentagon-spon- sored research. Senior says he is not bitter about last November's sit-ins, although at the time he reacted angrily to some of the group's charges, particularly their PROFILE assertions that he lied about the real purpose of his research. During the sit-ins, Senior was receiving calls from across the country about his research projects. His office, decorated with little more than a plant, a British flag and models of a B-1 Bom- ber and a 747 jet, is much quieter now. IT IS DOMINATED by the presence of' Senior himself, a tall, self-assured man with his white hair combed straight back. In the presence of the protesters, Senior displayed a remarkable com- posure, even accepting a pink Hostess Sno-ball from the second group, who called themselves the Nuclear Saints of America. The group stayed for 13 hours, but left when police officers came to arrest them. Senior was singled out for the protests because of his outspoken op- position to restrictions on non-classified research on campus, and for his many projects sponsored by the defense department. But almost as much as the research itself, Senior's masterly command of data concerning his work and smooth arguments frustrate his opponents. In a debate at the Cafipus Chapel a year ago, Senior easily defended his work when unprepared critics confused a number of his projects. IN NOVEMBER'S 48-hour blockade of Senior's radiation laboratory by the Progressive Student network, the group was more prepared. They brought copies of his contracts for such projects as the effects of an electromagnetic pulse on aircraft. Senior said the research was meant to protect delicate aircraft equipment from lightning bolts, while PSN charged that the Pen- tagon's real-purpose is to allow planes tqigqntnue functioning ter.a nuclear blast. PSN member Chris Hill calls the work "a blatant expression of weapons research," But Senior, true to form, cooly responds, "To be quite honest, one can never be absolutely sure how (a research project) is going to be used." "I'm not sure why they picked on me. perhaps half of ft is that this laboratory is called the radiation laboratory," he said. "DURING the demon- strations, reporters were calling from all over the country asking 'how much radiation are the students being exposed to?' "Senior recalls. In comparison with the more violent protests of the '60s, however, which for- ced the University to abandon the bulk of its Pentagon-sponsored research, Senior said last year's sit-ins were more an irritation than a serious problem. "While I think the demonstrations were irresponsible, the students were extremely responsible," he said. "There was no meeting of minds, but one did not fear for your personal safety. In the '60s. . . (the demon- strations) were aimed to insult you per- sonally. You know, obscenities, rudeness and everything else." SENIOR HAS been working to develop sensors to measure the impact of an electromagnetic pulse, and this summer the Air Force will fly planes equipped with the sensors into thunder- storms to measure the force of lightning bolts and begin to find ways to protect the planes. "I hope when those aircraft go up next summer, what they experience is lightning," Senior said, but he added, "I don't deny it, by the way, that the same techniques can be used for other things too." Some faculty members feel Senior has been -unfairly persecuted for his work. REFERRING TO the sit-ins, Business Administration Prof. Herbert Hildebrandt credited Senior with "patience that goes beyond what most of us would bear." 'He is the preeminent gentleman," said Hildebrandt, chairman of the Senate Advisory Committee on Univer- sity Affairs, and Senior's frequent ten- nis and bridge partner. "Without question he typifies the stereotype of respectability in a British-born person. Senior came to the University in 1957 on what was to have been a one-year leave of absence from the Royal Radar Establishment at Malvern, England. That leave has stretched to 26 years now, and having "made a little rut" in Ann Arbor, Senior plans to stay. THIS TERM Senior is only teaching one class - Mathematical Methods in Systems Analysis. He begins the class promptly at 8:10, looking energetic, and Daily Photo by DOUG MCMAHON Electrical and Computer Engineering Prof. Thomas Senior enjoys this term's tranquility after his radiation lab was invaded by student activists twice last term. Senior shows the class a shortcut to solving an equation using "the finger method," where he covers part of the problem with his finger. "To those of you with stubby fingers, just use 'There was no meeting of minds, but one did not fear for your personal safety. In the '60s ... (the demonstrations) were aimed to in- sult you personally.' Engineering Prof. Thomas Senior Students in his classes describe him as a clear, concise lecturer who holds their interest. "Most teachers aren't quite so dramatic," says engineering sophomore Julie Ligtenberg. "It keeps you awake." SENIOR spent his undergraduate days at Victoria University in Man- chester, England. He began teaching mathematics during World War II to high school-age students. He went on to receive a masters degree in applied mathematics from- Victoria University in 1950 and a doc- torate in research from Cambridge University in 1954. One of the biggest differences he sees between school then and now is the size of classes. "When I went to school, a class of 30 was a large class," he says. "I'm still horrified - I suppose that's not too strong to say - that we have to teach such large sections of classes, but we don't have any alternative." Senior has four children, all of them engineers. IN BRIEF Compiled from Associated Press and United Press International reports U.S. tests anti-satellite missile WASHINGTON - The Air Force announced yesterday that it has carried out this country's first flight test of a sophisticated anti-satellite missile fired from an F-15 fighter. An Air Force spokesman, Maj. Ron Rand, said the service "conducted an unarmed test of the booster and booster guidance system of the U.S. Air- Launched Miniature Vehicle Anti-Satellite." "The ASAT missile was launched from an F-15 flying out of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif." he said. Rand said: "There was no target involved in the test, which was conducted in air space over the western test range of Air Force Space Division's Western Space and Missile Center at Vandenburg Air Force Base, Calif. Specific details of the test, and the test results are classified." The missile was launched from the plane at 10:50 a.m. PST, he said. Rand noted that while the Air Force had been conducting "Captive-carry" tests over the past year - taking the missile aloft strapped to an F-15 -- yesterday's test involved the first actual firing of the ASAT missile. Norwegian-official arrested on suspicion of spying for Soviets OSLO, Norway-A top Norwegian official responsible for press coverage of last week's visit by Secretary of State George Shultz has been arrested on suspicion of spying for the Soviet Union, the chief prosecutor said yesterday. Arne Treholt, 41, head of information in the Norwegian Foreign Office and a former counsellor with the Norwegian delegation to the United Nations, was carrying secret documents when arrested Friday, Prosecutor-General Magnus Flornes said. "He was arrested and charged with espionage at Fornebu airport as he was on the point of leaving the country. He has admitted to having had several meetings with representatives of the KGB and to having handed over secret documents," Flornes said. "When he was arrested he had secret documents on his person," he said. Treholt was one of the Norwegian Foreign Office's most trusted officials and had access to a wide range of Norwegian and NATO classified documen- ts. Salvadoran rebds hit power plant SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador-Leftist guerrillas attacked a power station with bazookas and bombed an electrical pylon, blacking out the eastern half of El Salvador yesterday. Army sources reported heavy fighting in San Agustin, 55 miles east of San Salvador, as the military attempted to clear Usulutan province of guerrillas. Four national guardsmen were killed and two wounded when rebels blasted a power station with bazookas and automatic weapons. fire at San. Rafael Cedros, 24 miles east of San Salvador, a Defense Ministry spokesman said. There were no reports of rebel casualties. The raid and another on the town of Santo Domingo, three miles farther east, appeared aimed at diverting public attention and military resources from the major army counterinsurgncy drive that began Friday in Usulutan. The guerrillas also bombed an electrical pylon near Mercedes Umana, 65 miles east of the capital in Usulutan, said a power company engineer in San Miguel who asked not 4o be identified. Residents said it blacked out La Union, Usulutan, San Miguel and Morazon provinces. Insurgents shell Gemayel palace BEIRUT, Lebanon-Syrian-backed insurgents shelled President Amin Gemayel's government palace yesterday during a four-hour artillery battle with the Lebanese army that killed two soldiers. No casualties were reported at the palace, where the 41-year-old president was meeting with university alumni, but state radio said two army corporals were kiled'afld another soldieF wYuffded elsew'heie driing the barrages. Radio stations blared warnings to residents t'-remin indoors and to motorists to stay off highways when the shelling of population centers began at midmorning yesterday for a second consecutive day. Hundreds of families huddled in basements and bomb shelters, and streets were deserted in east Beirut and suburban Baabda, Hadath, Fayadieh and Jamhour. The shelling subsided in the afternoon, then was renewed in the evening in Lebanon's central mountains, where army positions came under artillery fire. No.civilian casualties were reported. On Friday, 11 civilians were killed in Christian neighborhoods of Beirut and in Druse areas of the mountains. Libyan diplomat shot in Rome ROME - Two gunmen shot and critically wounded Libya's top-ranking diplomat in Italy yesterday outside his home, police said. The two young, well-dressed men walked up to.Ammar el Taggazy in broad daylight and fired several pistol shots at him before escaping on foot, according to Italian news reports. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. El Taggazy is the head of the Popula Committee, which represents the regime of Libyan leader Col. Moammar Khadafy in the Italian capital. The committee was formed in September 1979 and functions as a substitute for the post of ambassador. Italy's Socialist president, Sandro Pertini, expressed "profound in- dignation" over the attack, his office said. The Italian news agency ANSA quoted police as saying the gunmen were "elegantly dressed" and used a silencer-equipped pistol. It was not known if a second gun was used. Sunday, January 22, 1984 Vol. XCIV-No. 93 (ISSN 0745-967X) The Michigan Daily is edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan. Published daily Tuesday through Sunday mornings during the University year at 420 Maynard Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109. Sub- scription rates:- $15.50 September through April (2 semesters) ; $19.50 by mail outside Ann Arbor. Summer session published Tuesday through Satur- day mornings. Subscription rates: $8 in Ann Arbor; $10 by mail outside Ann Arbor. Second class postage paid at Ann Arbor, Michigan. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE MICHIGAN DAILY, 420 Maynard Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. The Michigan Daily is a member of the Associated Press and subscribes to United Press International, Pacific News Service, Los Angeles Times Syn- dicate and Field Enterprises Newspaper Syndicate. News room (313) 764-0552, 76-DAILY; Sports desk, 763-0376; Circulation, 764-0558; Classified Advertising, 764-0557; Display Advertising, 764-0554; Billing, 764-0550. Tom Ehr. Joe Ewing. Chris Gerbosi, Jeff Harrison, Pouk Editor-in-chief ........................ BARRY WITT 'Helgren, Steve Hunter: Tom Keoney, Ted Lerner. Doug Managing Editor.....................JANET RAE Levy.nTim Mokinen ,AdamnMartin. Mike McGraw, News Editor .................... GEORGE ADAMS Scott McKinley, Barb McQuade, Lisa Nof en. Phil Student Affairs Editor...................BETH ALLEN Nussell, Rob Pollard, Mike Redstone, Scott Solowich, Opinion Page Editors .......... DAVID SPAK Paula Schipper, RAndy Schwartz, Rich Weidis. Steve BILL SPINDLE WsAde at Arts/Mogazine Editors..............MARE HODGES . Business Manager .SAM G SLAUGHTER IV SUSAN MAKUCH Sales Manager......... MEG GIBSON Associate Arts Editor ..................JAMES BOYD Operations Manager LAURIE ICZKOVITZ Sports Editor ...........................JOHN KERR Classified Manager PAM GILLERY Associate Sports Editors ............ JIM DWORMAN Display Manager JEFF VOIGT LARRY FREED Finance Manager JOE TRULIK CHUCK JAFFE Natioials Manager RON WEINER LARRY MISHKIN Coop Manager .. DENA SHEVZOFF IRON POLLACK Assistant Display Niotnager NANCY GUSSIN Chief Photographer ................DEBORAH LEWIS Assistant Classified Manager LINDA KAFTAN NEWS STAFF: Marian Abernathy, Cheryl Boacke, Assistant Sales Manager . JULIE SCHNEIDER cSu B.- il u o ri.Lu iDel.. .. ate.ndr, Assistant Ooerations Manacer ..STACEY FALLEK 4 .4 4 '4 f¢ 4 seemingly oblivious to the sound of stragglers shuffling in late. Conservatively dressed in charcoal trousers, herringbone jacket, and tie, he demonstrates a "delightfully simple problem with a 99 percent chance of making no error whatsoever." He keeps students alert with. animated gestures and deep bends of his knees to reach down and cover the chalkboard from top to bottom with formulas. the point," he says. THE ANTICS are all a necessary part of teaching an early class, he explains. "You're putting on a little bit of an act at eight in the morning." "You really have to be fighting against a student who's sitting in the back row who's just come in from zero- degree weather to an over-heated classroom. It's so natural just to keel over and fall asleep," he says. 4 Presidential candidates debate arms at Iowa forum DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Under- dog candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination differed over military spending yesterday, with for- mer Sen. George McGovern advocating a 20-25 percent cut in the defense budget and Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-S. Carolina) saying cuts would cost more in the long run. Sen. Alan Cranston (D-California) joining McGovern and Hollings in a forum on nuclear arms reduction, said the next president should first seek to "totally end the arms race and then we can talk about a 50 percent cut." The forum was sponsored by the Local Elected Officials of America, whose president Mayor Larry Agran of Irvine, Calif., said that all potential presidential candidates including President Reagan had been invited. Iowa holds its precinct caucuses Feb. 20. ATTENDING in addition to the three Democrats was former Republican Rep. John Anderson of Illinois, poten- tial presidential candidate of the newly formed National Unity Party Anderson, who sought the presidency in 1980 as an independent, and Hollings differed during the debate on the issue of deploying Pershing 2 missiles in. Europe. Hollings defended the deployment as a response to the corresponding Soviet intermediate range missile, the SS-20. ANDERSON said, however, "I just don't believe putting the whole world on this hair spring is a contribution. to peace." McGoverns said he believed a spen- ding reduction of 20 to 25 percent could be achieved without sacrificing any vital military defenses. "Until I came into this race," the former South Dakota senator said "nobody advocated an absolute reduc- tion in military spending." HOLLINGS, who advocates an across-the-board freeze of government spending, replied, "You will find out that if you try to cut, you will end up spending'more." Hollings contended such cuts would merely delay the purchase of. military hardware to a time when they would be more costly. "You can freeze; you can hold the line at a sensible figure where you don't lose money," Hollings said. CRANSTON, said that whether the military budget grows at what he said is its current rate of 17 percent a year or is cut 25 percent, "we are not really get- ting to the heart of it. "We have to totally end the arms race and then we can talk about a 50 percent cut," Cranston said. He said he would seek negotiations with the Soviet Union to control nuclear spending, but would propose significant reductions in military spending programs without waiting for a Soviet response. Cranston mentioned the MX missile and a new nuclear aircraft carrier and a proposed personnel vehicle as areas to cut. Anderson said that "I just want to add another place where I think we could cut and that is the B-1 bomber." Anderson's remark was greeted with applause from the crowd. Cranston supports the B-1 bomber, which is made in California, because he says it is needed for the nation's defen- se. 4 Abortion opponents protest Supreme -Court ruling PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS (oadothers) (Continued from Page 1) on television will help persuade the state House of Representatives to sup- port anti-abortion legislation. ALTHOUGH temperatures dipped to record lows yesterday, few marchers complained and many said.their cause was worth the discomfort. "We feel a need for (the protest)," said Cathy Pierson, a registered nurse. "If the government starts paying (for abortions), it will become a birth con- trol method," she said. Abortion is "simply murder," she said. Gov. James Blanchard last year vetoed legislation that would have cut state- funded abortions. More anti-abortion protests will be held nationwide this month, Hoppe said, including a march in Washington D.C. which many of yesterday's demonstrators said they would attend. .4 III U11 Eu'