Students shc
By SUE MISENCIK
Halloween is the only time some people become goblins,
wizards, and aliens from outer space, but a special group of
science fiction fans assume the mysterious roles every
Saturday.
The group is the Science Fiction/Fantasy Weregamers, an
organization of University students and community mem-
bers, aged 13 to 30, who share an interest in board and role-
playing games.
MANY OF the same people, who are also avid science fic-
tion and fantasy readers, meet weekly as part of the Stilyagi
Air Corps.
They join for the sheer fun of adventure, for friendship and,
at least for one member, for a curious way to enhance a
career.
Though the weregamers take on the roles of the characters
in "Dungeons and Dragons," "Champions," and
"Espionage," the club's president stressed that the acting is
only a game.
"WE KEEP in touch with reality. We don't think we are the
characters," said Weregamers President Laurie Ochsner, a
junior in the School of Music and the Residential College.,
LSA freshman Jon Jarrard explained how the games of in-
trigue are played. The gamemaster maps out an adventure
and describes each player's character. The rest is up to the
player's imagination.
"The players are characters, ,as in a book, except in
gaming the players get to determine how the book will end,"
Jarrard said. "A good player can make a character three-
dimensional. They can really make the character come
alive."
"BECAUSE everything comes to you through the
gamemaster's description, it is a challenge to see how real
you can make the world for the players," he added.
People join the club because it is educational as well as fun,
Ochsner said.
"You play the games because they're fun, but at the same
time you're learning things like history, diplomacy, and
The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, October 2, 1984 - Page 3
~w sci-f savvy
geography," she said.
ROLE-PLAYING can even "knock down" one's perception
of an idol, Ochsner said. "For example, when you play
'diplomacy' you may be an important leader of a country, but
it isn't any easier to make decisions. Through role-playing
you realize that we are all human beings," she added.
One member, Chris Cloutier, said "gaming is mainly for
fun. It isn't all that intellectually demanding."
But for Cloutier, gaming is more than fun and games. A
senior at Eastern Michigan University and a part-time
commercial artist, Cloutier designed his own role-playing
game - a game of comic book superheroes called "The Gold
Age of Champions." The game, to be published next month,
is based on the superheroes of the 1940s.
"I PICKED this era because Superman came out in '38,
and he was the first superhero," Cloutier said.
The Stilyagi Air Corps and the Weregamers have mutual
members, but are distinctly unique. Stilyagi draws avid
readers of science fiction and fantasy who get together to
discuss their favorite books over pizza.
"We're the oldest local area group, and I think the the
friendliest on campus," said University graduate Candice
Massey. "Through the years, we have become more of a
social group," she said.
"The best part about (Stilyagi) is the familiar ties and
friendships you make. Many people choose to stay in the club
after graduation," Massey said.
Ochsner, also a member of Stilyagi, said the club attracts
all types of people from computer fans to "neo-fans who
don't know much about anything but like to dress up like
Luke Skywalker."
The two clubs joined forces last Saturday to present CON-
densed, a one-day gaming and science convention at the
Michigan League. Among the featured attractions were
readings, panel discussions, a CONdensed skit, and
Filksinging - folk songs with science fiction lyrics. Science
fiction writers Ted Reynolds, Lynn Abbey, and Robert
Asprin were among those who attended.
Daily Photo by MATT PETRIE.
A science fiction fan plays computer wargames at CONdensed, a science fiction/fantasy conference at the Michigan
League last Saturday.
Court excludes PSN defenses
F (Continued from Page l) or serious bodily harm.
"I wanted to see just how repressive " The conduct must have in fact
(the courts) were gangto be," Koster caused fear of death or serious bodily
said. harm in the mind of the defendant.
After reading briefs prepared by " The fear or duress must have been
both the prosecution and defense and operating upon the mind of the defen-
listening to oral arguments as to the dant at the time of the alleged act.
applicability of the defenses, Elden " The defendant must have commit-
granted the prosecution's motion to ted the act to avoid the threatening
exclude the use of the duress, necessity harm.
and excuse under international law In his written opinion Elden said,
defenses. "The fear of nuclear holocaust created
" The threatening conduct must have by the alleged military research in
been sufficient to create in the mi.nd of Professor Haddad's laboratory is
a reasonable person the fear of death merely a general apprehension of some
future harm felt by all members of
-HAPPENINGS7
' Highlight
Gustav Meier and the University Symphony open their season tonight at 8
p.m. in Hill Auditorium. Selections include "The Moon Mirrored in Twin
Brooks" by WU Zuchian and Dvorak's "Symphony No. 8."
Films
MTF-And the Ship Sails On, 7 p.m.; Amarcord, 9:25 p.m., Michigan
Theatre.
AAFC/C2/CG-Summer Paradise, 8 p.m., MLB 3.
Scandinavian Studies-"Selected Shorts," Swedish animated and ex-
perimental shorts, 8 p.m., Performance Network, 408 W. Washington.
Alt. Act.-Nadine Gordimer film series, 7 p.m., Aud. D, Angell Hall.
Hispanic Law Student Services-The Salt of the Earth, 7 p.m., Room 116,
Hutchins Hall.
AAFC-Breaker Morant, 7 & 9 p.m., MLB 4.
Mediatrics-Breakin', 7 & 9 p.m., Union Ballroom.
Performances
Ark-Preston Reed, 8p.m., 637S. Main.
Union Cultural Program-Mary Bates, Deborah Berman, "Works for
Piano Solo & Piano Four Hand," 4 p.m., Pendleton Roon, Union.
M Speakers
Biomedical Research - John McNeill, "Diabetes Induced Changes in
Cardiac Function," noon, Room 7412, Med. Sci. I.
Student Organization Development Center-"Getting Your Act Together:
Goal Setting & Action Planning," 4 & 7 p.m., Union.
Ecumenical Center-Michael Traugott, "U.S. Elections: Perspective &
Possibilities, noon, 603 E. Madison.
Science Research Club-John Melvin, "Toward More Realistic Crash Test
Dummies," A.D. Moore, "Science Vignette," John van der Velde, "The
Proton Decay Experiment," 7:30 p.m., Chrysler Center.
Center for Afroamerican & African Studies-Fols Soremekun, "Por-
tuguese Speaking Africa and Its Implications," 7 p.m., 2225 School of
SEducation Bldg.
Computing Center - Introduction to the MTS File Editor, Part I: Basic
Commands." 3:30 p.m., 516 Business Administration Bldg.
Chemistry - Kenneth Raymond, "Specific Sequestering Agents for Iron &
Actinides," 4 p.m., Room 1300, Chemistry Bldg.
Clements Library-Draper Hill, "The Elastic Mirror: James Gillray,
Charicaturist," 8 p.m., Clements Library.
Bioengineering - Donita Bylski, "Mechnanical Behavior of Fetal Dura
Mater," 4 p.m., 1042 E. Engineering Bldg.
Chinese Studies-William Baxter, "Etymologies of 'Mother,' 'Acre' and
others," noon, Lane Hall Commons.
Rudolph Steiner Institute-E. Katz, "What is Anthroposophy?" 8 p.m.,
1923 Geddes.
Turner-Conoco-Philip Gingerich, "Rates of Evolution: Why 'Pun-
ctuations' Look Fast and Molecular Clocks Can't Keep Time," 4 p.m., Room
4001 C.C. Little.
Meetings
Center for Continuing Educaion of Women-Job Hunt Club, noon. 350 S.
Thayer-
His House Christian Fellowship-Bible study, 7:30 p.m., 925 E. Ann.
Ann Arbor Go Club-7 p.m., 1433 Mason Hall.
Turner Geriatric Clinic-Newcomers group meeting, 1 p.m., 1010 Wall St.
Center for Eating Disorders-Support group, 7:30 p.m., Human Growth
Center, 2002 Hogback, Suite 13.
Michigan Student Assembly-Mass meeting, 9 p.m., 3909 Union.
Miscellaneous
Human Resource Development-Course, "Effective Business Writing," 9
a.m., "Introduction to Programs & Services on the Michigan Terminal
System," 8:30 a.m., Room 4051 LSA.
Medical School-Blood donor clinic, noon-6 p.m., League Ballroom.
Graduate Library-Tours, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m., North Lobby, Hatcher
Graduate Library.
Microcomputer Education Center-Introduction to Macintosh Personal
('mio 4 n m- Wnri PrnD ecn..,,,4l Ma~rf 2 n m q nld A~nn of,-,-
society. Such general apprehension of
future harm is not the type of fear
duress was meant to encompass."
"The defendant could not reasonable
assume that blockading the laboratory
would have any impact on future
nuclear war," he added.
IN EXCLUDING the excuse under in-
ternational law, Elden wrote that if the
students felt that Haddad's research
broke the law they should have "sought
relief through the courts before
trespassing."
In a court motion Koster asked for
copies of police reports, copies of
statements made by the defendants,
names and addresses of all witnesses
for the prosecution, a copy of the
University's policy on trespassing, and
information concerning the nature of
the research being done in Haddad's
laboratory. The court granted all
Koster's requests except the one for in-
formation about the research.
Elden said he hadhreserved
judgement on that part of the motion,
until after he rendered his decision on
the applicability of the defenses. He
said that if he had found the defenses
applicable he probably would have
granted the request for information
about Haddad's research. He said that
since he ruled the defenses inapplicable
he chose to deny the request for infor-
mation concerning the research.
Koster said Elden's argument was
circular. "(Elden) makes an assum-
ption as to what we are going to prove.
Then he decides even if proved this will
not be enough. So he prohibits us from
gaining access to the evidence we need
to prove anything by denying part of the
motion of discovery. He decided the
case before it ever got started," said
Koster.
Since the defenses of duress,
necessity and excuse under inter-
national law have been excluded, no
evidence to substantiate these defenses
is permissible in court.
"I'm still optimistic, not because of
faith in the courts but because of faith
in people," Koster said. "The good
people of Ann Arbor are not going to
send my clients to jail."
POLICE
NOTES
A West Quad dorm resident was rob-
bed at knife point late Saturday when
three college-aged men entered his
room, according to Walt Stevens, public
safety director.
The men entered the room at about
11:30 p.m. and told the resident "not to
do anything," Stevens said.
The men escaped with stereo com-
ponents, Stevens said.
i
WAT &T
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED
TO A CAREER FAIR
HOSTED BY EXECUTIVES AND RECRUITERS OF
AT&T
Date: Wednesday, October 3,1984
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Place: Michigan Union - Pond Rooms
Engineering, Computer Science, Marketing
and Finance majors should attend
Refreshments provided
Come to hear about a company uniquely equipped
to reach out and take hold of the future
Company Representatives:
AT&T Bell Laboratories
AT&T Communications
AT&T Technologies
AT&T Teletype Corporation
Sandia National Laboratories
q
rehTeam
Join The Hpds-On~digh
FMC CorPoration Invmionesesion
nnnorumt4 *
CC'
ote October 15,1984 d ....oom 10
Datt Engineering g 9
e . : Eas-t--_ , ,sered
Mj « "Ik'o
.. ( Refreshm eot s Wil o ,
Son lines checked (
a o aboudthe diferent
, in g 9in any u aOt h
on the left, we'd like to talk toy
careers available at Mlable at you
0~ Ch e mit ryC-.C mp t Science
i
and information On hl-
I