Ninety-four Years of Editorial Freedom cl Lit 43UU 43 a t I4kr Transitory Possible snow blurries in the morning with sunshine breaking through in the afternoon. High near 30 degrees. oI. XCIV-No. 99 Copyright 1984, The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor, Michigan - Sunday, January 29, 1984 Fifteen Cents Eight Pages Altman'sfilm rolls on Martha Cook By SUSAN MAKUCH The bright lights of Hollywood invaded the Victorian, serene atmosphere of Martha Cook this week when filmmaker Robert Altman tur- ned the dormitory into a movie set. For some residents the transformation from dorm to Hollywood soundstage was a welcome break from daily routine. But for others, the movie cameras were more of an inconvenience than a novelty. WITH STRICT rules to be "quiet on the set," Altman's filming of Secret Honor: The Last Testament of Richard M. Nixon, had Martha Cook residents tip-toeing around their own home. The male members of the film crew also took a little getting used to for the 153 female residents in Martha cook - and was a cause of embarrassment for a few students. "I was the one that got caught in my bathrobe doing my laundry," says Cook resident Janice Hall, a senior in engineering. BUT "IT'S worth the hassle," she says. "It's real neat to have been chosen for the movie." The subject of Altman's movie was a big mystery to some residents. "I thought they were making a movie about us," says Erica Danos, an LSA junior. BUT THE ONLY reason Altman and com- pany set up camp at Martha Cook is to use its presidential-looking Red Room. Altman, who has directed such well-known films as M*A*S*H, Nashville, and Popeye, had to get special permission to use the University building. Building director Rosalie Moore was enthusiastic about the project despite warnings from Altman that residents would have to comply with certain restrictions. "It hasn't been any worse than I expected," Moore says. "Lots of equipment and people, but that's about it." ALTMAN WON the hearts of Cook residents when he attended a dinner held in his honor the week before filming began. "He spoke to the residents and explained exactly what he would be doing and what would be involved," Moore says. "We had the biggest crowd yet in the dining room that night." Yet for some students the excitement doesn't compensate for the disruption. "They're in the Red Room and now we can't use the lounge freely - it makes me mad because I used to go in there to study," says one resident who asked not to be identified. THE CREW, however, has been accom- modating for the most part, Moore says. Filming stopped early one evening to allow a scheduled piano recital to take place. The movie, which is scheduled to be com- pleted tomorrow, also marks the first time Altman has used college students on a film project. Ann Arbor "offers a really good laboratory, a place to do things," Altman says. He worked out a deal with the communication department that allows him to film on campus in exchange for coaching 23 students on movie making. He originally requested ten students work on the production crew, but Altman 'finds it very hard to say no. He wants to be accessible to students," says Lelahni Wessinger, a graduate See TAKE, Page 2 Reagan's credibility sinks in M ideast, ro says By ERIC MATTSON Renewing negotiations in the Middle East will be extremely difficult because the United {State's credibility in the region has dropped to such a low point, said a former ambassador to Egypt yesterday. "I worry very much that perhaps the optimal time for (negotiations) is already over," he said. "The shelf life of a peace process is very short," said Prof. Hermann Eilts, from Boston University, one of two speakers yesterday during the second day of a University conference on the Middle East. EILTS TOLD the sometimes tense audience of more than 40 in Rackham Ampitheatre that the continued presen- ce of both Syrian troops and U.S. Marines in Beiruit makes it unlikely that an accord can be reached in the near future. Although the 1980 Camp David agreement between Egypt and Israel was a significant step towards peace, more progress can't be made without }President Reagan's direct involvement in negotiations, Eilts said. And achieving peace "is a low priority," for Reagan, Eilts said. Former P resident Jimmy Carter relied on briefing books a foot tall, during the Camp David talks, but "Reagan depends (only) on memos," he said. DEFENDING REAGAN'S policies yesterday at the conference, sponsored by the Center for Near Eastern and North African Studies, U.S. State Department Official Philip Wilcox warned that pulling the Marines out of Beirut would allow terrorists to "feel vindicated." Wilcox stressed, however, that the Reagan administration does not want to keep Marines in Lebanon for any longer than is necessary. "Our objective is to bring (Marines) home just as quickly as we can," Wilcox said. But he added that it is un- clear when that would be possible. IN THE PAST 18 months, Reagan's "peace through strength policy," has brought some promising results, ac- cording to Wilcox. Wilcox cited Israel's agreement to withdraw its troops from Lebanon and the reduction of the PLO'S power in the Mideast. One of the strongest threats to peace in the Mideast, said Wilcox, is Syria's refusal to pull its forces out of Lebanon. Syria is "acquiesing in terrorism," Wilcox said. After the speeches, two members of. the audience stood up to denounce then presence of U.S. Marines in Beirut an& called for immediate negotiations bet- ween the U.S. and the PLO. Illini shatter By PAUL HELGREN Special to the Daily CHAMPAIGN - All season long Michigan has had trouble putting together 40 good minutes of basketball. The Wolverines didn't have that problem at Illinois yesterday. Unfortunately for them, the contest staggered through 60 minutes and four overtimes, with the Illini finally putting Michigan to rest, 75-66. THE EXHAUSTING struggle, the first quadfuple overtime in history for Michigan, left players, coaches, and 15,952 onlookers feeling as if they had participated in two games instead of the customary one. "We played for two games out there, giving it our all," said center Tim Mc- Cormick, who pounded the Assembly Hall hardwood for 55 minutes. "If we had played the first 40 (minutes) like we played the last 40, we'd have probably won," said Michigan coach Bill Frieder, who saw his team fall to 12-6, 4-4 in the Big Ten. ILLINOIS forward Efrem Winters, who scored 23 points in 55 minutes probably spoke for all the players when he said, "I prefer the 40 minute game." The contest came to its long-overdue conclusion in the fourth overtime as Illinois outscored Michigan, 11-2. Quinn Richardson's 18-foot jumper followed by a pair of free throws by Winters were all the points the Illini needed.. Roy Tarpley nailed a jumper to pull Michigan to. within two, but Illinois, sank seven free throws to put the two-' hour and 43-minute battle in the histgry: books. ".WE HAD our chances," said; Frieder. "We always seem to be struggling from behind. We never had the ball with the lead." Michigan led only once the entire, game, in fact, 48-46 in the first overtime period. Time after time, the Wolverines battled from behind, answering the bell six times before the final knockout period. "You get tired. after the game," said Michigan guard Dan Pelekoudas. "But every time the buzzer sounds you're ready to go." THE WOLVERINES were not ready for the first half, though, as Illinois raced out to a 27-16 halftime lead. But Eric Turner keyed a second-half comeback by connecting on two long bombs with four minutes to play. The score stayed knotted at 46, as both teams missed opportunites to score. Turner, who finished with 19 points, See CAGERS, page 8 Daily Photo by DAN HABIB Pompon pizzazz Sixty-two women shook, shimmied, and smiled on the Crisler Arena floor last night, as they vied for 10 spots and one alternate on the Michigan pompon squad. The winners will cheer for the football team this fall. Two and screw': free 0 ride for ROTC cadets By ELLEN GIBSON "Two and screw" is what they call it: ROTC cadets come to the University for two years of free tuition, and then drop out just before they have to commit themselves to six more years with the military. As long as the student decides before their junior year, there is no penalty for leaving, beyond two years of very short hair cuts and many hours of shoe shining. ACCORDING TO Robert Schellen- berger, who heads the ROTC Air Force branch on campus, only 25 percent of the freshperson Air force cadets stay in the program through their senior year. Schellenberger said he does not think many of the cadets join with the inten- tion of leaving after two free years, but added, "There's been a small number of people who I feel in my heart are in it just for the money." Lowell Stouder, an LSA freshman on a Navy scholarship, is one of those who originally came to school with "two and screw" in mind. "AT FIRST that's what I planned to do, just take the money and run," he said. "Now I'm really looking at the program and I'm seeing what they have. 'There's been a small number of people who I feel in my heart are in it just for the money. - Colonel Robert Schellenberger. But enough cadets have chosen to leave ROTC after the two years to prompt Congress to take action against the practice. Under a law that takes ef- fect next fall, the 315 University cadets on scholarship will have to commit themselves after their freshman year instead of their sophomore year. "I think Congress decided that it would be more efficient and more economic to force our young people to commit one year earlier," said Colonel Robert Coulter, commander of the Navy ROTC on campus. THE ARMY has worked under the new program since last fall, and so far no freshpersons have dropped out of the program, according to Lt. Colonel John Court, who heads the Army ROTC program. But some are concerned that the reduced grace period may not give students enough time to decide if they want to commit themselves to four post-college years. "I really wish they had kept the two- year program, I think it is really young in life to know if you want a military career," said Eric Nelson, an LSA freshman in the Air Force branch. But Nelson added that he knew few people who were upset solely because a cadet's chance for two free years of tuition had been reduced to "one and run," as he put it. "I'm sure that some came into the program with the idea of 'two and screw,' (but) I'm sure that most of them have changed their minds," he said. "I just haven't met anybody yet that has a negative attitude about what's going on." Keep guessingtAP Photo President Reagan teases reporters yesterday by holding up a copy of the speech he will give tonight on television. The speech will reveal whether or not Reagan plans on seeking re-election. I ODAY- Busted T HE WEDDING GUESTS included drug suspects, the social coordinator was a narcotics agent, the justice of the peace was a police chief, and 52 officers crashed the party. The unsuspecting bride and groom, the ceremony last Friday night in Narragansett, R.I. was truly unforgetable-a sting operation set up by state and local police which led to 30 arrests. Narragansett Police qapt. wedding day approaching, officers came up with the idea of arresting everyone at the ceremony. Sylvia told the couple he had a friend who could get bargain rates at the Dutch Inn for the wedding and honeymoon. They gladly accepted. The undercover officer also drew up the guest list and of- fered to find a justice of the peace-Middletown Police Chief Robert Gibson. The night of the wedding, some of- ficers hid in motel rooms while others waited in a nearby school bus until Gibson finished the six-minute ceremony, then barged into the room. Although 30 suspects were in- vited to the wedding, only nine people were taken into riictnris nia the seon. In the end. the newlv weds weren't sistently calls each hooky-player's home three times a day, and a taped message alerts whoever answers that there's a truancy in the family. Teachers have nicknamed the high- tech tattle-tale "Big Mac" and say it's working. Since the computer went on duty at the start of classes this year, at- tendance has climbed from about 87 percent a year ago to about 96 percent, assistant principal Roseanne Belsito said Monday. "The kids call it Big Mouth," she said. "We hear them in the halls saying 'Big Mouth is going to get you.'. They know it works." But no method is fool-proof, said Belsito. "We don't know that it's a parent who has an- swered." And lest it be branded as only a hearer of had accepted without a bachelor's degree from an accredited University. Also on this date in history: S1968-A top faculty committee recommended that the regents abolish all regulations governing student owner- ship and use of motorized vehicles. " 1970-A Student Government Council member disclosed a plan for an escalated drive for increased minority group admissions and financial aid. * 1976-A University student filed a suit against the Michigan Student Assembly demanding immediate im- plementation of voluntary funding. El I I I