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OPINION
Page 4
Friday, October 11, 1985
The Michigan Daily
Code, national issues spark debate
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After eight months at work on an alter-
native to the administration's code of non-
academic conduct last year, members of
the University Council suddenly found
themselves under University President
Harold Shapiro's gunpoint this week.
Monday, it was disclosed that in private
meetings between student leaders involved
in the code and Shapiro last week, he
threatened to by-pass the eight-member
code council and submit last year's code
proposal to the regents in January.
Shapiro, however, told MSA President
The Week
in Review
Paul Josephson, and University coun-
cilmembers Ben Long and Susanne Cohen,
that he would not go to the regents if the
council finished its version of the code
within the next two or three months or else
reconsidered last year's code proposal.
The University Council set aside the ad-
ministration's proposal last year and opted
to begin work on their own code, after
students and faculty rallied and protested
the proposal as unfair.
The "code" sought by the administration
would give the University the authority to
punish students, faculty members and
University staff for offenses outside the
classroom. Those against the code however
said parts of it was unconstitutional, citing
for example, that students subject to ex-
pulsion or suspension for over one term
would have the right to a jury of their peers,
but for all other accused, their fate would be
decided by one faculty or administrator
serving as the hearing officer.
Others opposing the code maintain that the
University should not have the right to con-
trol the lives of students outside the
classroom.
Reconsidering the administration's code
may give it credibility and make it easier
for the administration to gain regental ap-
proval, students say. Archie Andrews, one
of the three administrators on the council
says such a move may be politically unwise.
But on the other side of the gun is an ad-
ministration impatient with the council's
progress, threatening to shut the council
out of the code drafting process.
Exorcising rights
Chairman of the U.S. Civil Rights Com-
mission Clarence Pendleton sparked off his
own small protests at a speech in the Law
School Tuesday night.
Addressing the topic, "Does Racism
Exist in America?" Pendleton answered,
"There is racism in America. There always
will be. It cannot be prevented by laws or
regulations."
He contends that a "new racism" has
developed from the preferential nature of
many Affirmative Action programs in
place.
Because many programs now, "sub-
stitute(ing) race for standards in em-
ployment and admission to college," Pen-
dleton says some qualified white candidates
are overlooked and those minority can-
didates who are qualified are often
mistakenly looked down upon as the
beneficiaries of preferential treatment.
Pendleton advocates expanding the pool
of minority applicants for positions, but
sharply criticizes quotas and timetables as
measures of programming success.
During the question and answer period
following Pendleton's speech, several
protesters identifying themselves as "con-
cerned members of the Ann Arbor African-
American community," staged an "exor-
cism" to remove what they called a
"European mind hiding behind a black
face."
The protesters donned minstrel style
black face in allusion to the racism inherent
to the turp-of-the-century stage event.
Sweet nothings
While the crowd at Rackham was solem-
nly consuming a balanced menu of opposing
views on the Star Wars controversy from
national experts, one Daily editor may have
learned the true origins of the President's
Strategic Defense Initiative.
According to Alvin Streeter, an infor-
mation officer for the United States Arms
Control Agency, who was in town to par-
ticipate in the conference, Star Wars is
"based on the vision of Ronald Reagan as a
political leader. He sensed we'd come to the
end of the road with arms control, deterren-
ce was unstable.
"I don't know exactly where the idea
came from", Streeter later said when
pressed to describe preliminary research
of the proposed stratospheric missile shield.
"Maybe it was something Nancy whispered
in his ear," Streeter told the Daily.
VP visits
Twenty-five years ago, Ann Arbor was
just a quick rest stop for a young presiden-
tial hopeful. But one early morning when
John F. Kennedy addressed a crowd of
students on the steps of the Michigan Union
in 1965, the ideals of the Peace Corps were
born.
This week, Vice President George Bush
stood beneath the gleaming bronze plaque
that graces the steps of the Union com-
memorating the Kennedy speech - as an
envoy of the Reagan Administration in
celebrating the anniversary of the Peace
Corps and the international development ef-
forts that have evolved.
Bush seemed unshaken as he faced a
large and partially hostile crowd, but tried
to charm the protesters with his love of
those Amazen' Blue Wolverines. when the
sea of protesters and placards seemed to
swell, however, Bush chuckled and told the
crowd, "That's one of the great things about
freedom. I'd like to see them go down to old
Lenin Square and see what happens there."
Ironically enough, Bush was probably
unaware that his controversial visit had in
fact endangered last week's Michigan
Student Assembly and Rackham Student
Government's resolutions expressing their
firm opposition to the appearance of any
member of the Reagan Administration - a
move that stirred campus controversy as to
the legitimacy of such potential "censor-
ship."
Where was Hal?
The Michigan Student Assembly, Cam-
puses Against Weapons in Space and the of-
fice of Student Activities presented the
University community with a comprehen-
sive conference on the Strategic Defense
Initiative last Friday and Saturday.
A variety of campus and national experts
on arms control, economics and foreign
policy from both ends of the political spec-
trum participated in a charged panel
discussion Friday night, while more
specific workshops were held on Saturday.
Student organizer Ingrid Kock, MSA's
military research researcher said she was
encouraged by the turnout, which nearly
filled Rackham auditorium Friday night.
Kock noted, however, that the primary
student audience was indicative of the fact
that many of the Regents, faculty, and
University administrators aren't much in-
terested in debate or discussion of the
issues. "I'm disappointed they couldn't
attend," Kock said, "but what's most im-
portant is that the Regents not cut off
discussion.
The Week in Review was compiled by
opinion page editors Jody Becker and
Joseph Kraus and staff writer Kery
Murakami.
4
... contemplates SDI's origins
01 b e fiCtt4gan Batilyl
Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan
Vol. XCVI, No. 27 4 20 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily's Editorial Board
LETTERS
MSA should stick to student issues
Day of protest
THE UNITED NATIONS has
designated today as an inter-
national day of protest against
Apartheid. Over 100 universities
will hold demonstrations today in
the movement to cut U.S. ties to
South Africa and free South
African political prisoners.
The U.N. General Assembly has
long called for complete divest-
ment by foreign investors and for
economic sanctions by national
governments. In speeches last
week the ambassador to the U.N.
for the Organization for African
Unity Onmarou Garba
Youssoufou articulated inter-
national opinion by calling for a
total embargo of South Africa.
While the University has ap-
propriately divested 99 percent of
its holdings, members of the
University community can still
make an important statement at
local actions by underscoring the
U.S. government's ties to the Apar-
theid regime and its growing
isolation in the international com-
munity.
Several University organizations
have scheduled workshops, mar-
ches, diag rallies, and a panel
discussion this afternoon as well as
a teach-in the following Thursday
through Saturday.
To the Daily:
The Michigan Student Assem-
bly was created as an
organization to "regulate, coor-
dinate, recognize, and calendar
STUDENT activities and
STUDENT organizations."
They were not created to "pass
resolutions opposing appearan-
ces of national figures and en-
dorsing demonstrations," not to
be involved in international or
national politics. They should
only be concerned with the
students' problems within the
university system. Recently,
however, it seems that MSA
would rather concern itself with
the appearance of an important
elected official than campus
issues.
When the students of the
University pay their tuition bill
they are each giving $5.07 to
MSA. By accepting this money,
MSA agrees to represent the
students and their interests in the
university and the students agree
to endorse their policies.
Currently, there is no shortage
of campus problems. There is in-
sufficient student seating for
football games, resistance to the
Code of Nonacademic Conduct,
and many problems with CRISP.
These are the issues which the
MSA should deal with in fulfilling
its responsibility to the students.
Vice President Bush's ap-
pearance on campus is an honor
for the university. Not only will it
bring national coverage and ac-
claim, but it will also be a source
of publicity for the school. His
appearance may even spark
campus discussions on ad-
ministration policies, as the
Daily points out.
By attempting to censor the
appearance of certain "un-
desirables" on campus, MSA is
acting against the interests of the
Daily misread RSG resolution
students and the basic values of a
democracy. I wonder what the
MSA would do if the regents
voted to oppose the appearance of
all liberal speakers on campus.
Instead of MSA's members
trying to impose their views on
the students of the university by
passing resolutions and endor-
sing demonstrations that will
hurt this school, they should be
more concerned with the studen-
ts' interests. The resolution
which they passed was un-
necessary and wrong.
-Jeff Ellman
Eddie Mehrfar
Nate Nichols
Dan Golovan
Greg Brehm
Jim O'Donnell
Steve Horwitz
To the Daily:
Your editorial ("Deaf Ears,"
Daily, Oct. 2) condemning the
resolution passed by the
Rackham Student Government
concerning the appearance on
campus of representatives of the
Reagan administration seems to
be based on a misunderstanding
of the actual wording of the
resolution we passed.
Our resolution did not call for a
ban on appearances by represen-
tatives of the Reagan ad-
ministration. Rather it expressed
our "firmest opposition" to their
appearance in a context where
opposing viewpoints will not be
allowed to be presented.
Our intention in passing this
resolution was in no sense to cut
off debate or to keep people from
hearing the Reagan ad-
ministration's arguments. The
tremendous power of the Reagan
administration to manipulate the
media would make such an effort
seem ridiculous. Our concern
was rather to express our op-
position to the University's
allowing itself to be used to
enhance the legitimacy of their
policies.
The Reagan Administration is
currently committed to a policy
of mass terrorism in Central
America - supplying planes and
bombs for the indiscriminate
bombing of rural civilians in El
Salvador, while financing and
directing the Contras' atrocities
in Nicaragua. In South Africa it
continues to support a regime
that intensifies the repression of
its people daily.
These policies stand in op-
position to the most basic notions
of human rights and self-
determination. As long as the
administration is pursuing these
policies it is unconscionable
its representatives be allowed to
speak on campus in an honorific
context.
- Dean Baker
October 2
Protesters leave sour taste
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To the readers
L ETTERS TO THE EDITOR
from readers are an important
part of any newspaper, par-
ticularly at the University, where
they can serve as written extension
of the debate that grows out of the
educational atmoshpere.
The Daily's recent increase in
circulation has brought on the
mixed blessing of a dramatic in-
crease in the number of letters we
receive. Since we anticipated a
more modest increase, our current
policies for selecting and printing
letters seem insufficient.
We encourage that all future
submissions be kept under 300
words. In cases where such a limit
is impossible, contact the opinion
page editors to make other
arrangements.
In the meantime, as we pursue
alternative means of handling let-
ters to the editor, we apologize to
those people whose letters have not
received sufficient con-
sideration, and encourage
everybody to continue correspon-
ding.
A Royal Cardinal sin
To the Daily:
Now that the Royals and Car-
dinals are battling in their
respective League Championship
Series, it seems a fitting time to
comment on "The Missouri
World Series" article of Oct. 3. As
a Missourian, Mr. Keaney has
failed to "show me" anything
remotely resembling a "Kean
Eye."
Although the entire article of-
fends, three points in particular
stand out. First, astroturf is not a
detraction from The World
Series. On the contrary, it
provides up tempo games with
base runners and high scores.
Not everyone likes slow infields
and unfair bounces provided by
natural turf.
Mr. Keaney also takes a poke
at Royal's Stadium and its
year's NL batting champ; Dan
Quisenberry, the greatest relief
pitcher in history; Ozzie Smith,
third highest paid player in the
game, All-Star, and Gold Glover;
George Brett, the best hitter of
the last decade; Vince Coleman,
third highest stolen base total in
only his rookie year; Frank
White, only second baseman to
win 6 Gold Gloves; Tommy Herr,
All-Star and perennial MVP can-
didate; and the list goes on.
So, next time you take a pen in
hand Mr. Keaney, remember
that good journalism is based on
accuracy and truth. And by the
way, George Brett had
hemorrhoids in the 1980 World
Series, not 1981.
-Steve Highlander
October 6
To the Daily:
Having waited 2 hours on
Monday, Oct. 7, for Vice
President Bush's speech, I am
chagrinned at not having been
able to hear him utter one com-
plete sentence, because of the
protestors chants, of course. But
what is the practical significance
of this event?
The protestors might ask what
the real tragedy of one afternoon
lost is in a life that has thousands
of afternoons; when so much
time is wasted by our own stan-
dards? They have a point.
The demonstraters may also
question the peculiar importance
of a Peace Corps com-
memoration speech, com-
memoration speeches come a
dime a dozen. And there is the
justness of the causes, and the
right to protest U.S. government
policies. All these options and
rights stand.
Now, what was the practical
nature of this protest and what ef-
fects follow? Once more, I could
not hear a word he said. An
organized group of protestors
willfully violated a fundamental
American law, to wit, Mr. Bush's
right to speak and my right to
listen to him.
Who can deny that by such ac-
tion they attempted to establish
themselves as arbiters of
opinion? If I alter my opinions in
any way favorable to them, is it
not based on the one sided, forced
information I heard shouted for
20 minutes? It is undeniably so.
when protestors try to change ou
beliefs in this manner they break
our constitutional right of free
speech and attempt to dictate
changes in our opinions.
Even more important than this
event though, is how I, and
others, will view the protestors
and their causes in the future.
Monday's speech and protest is
over, logged by the Daily, to be
judged as it will. But tomorrow
will again consider the makeup
these various group's members,
the volume or strength of the
arguments, and how they are
presented as well. This is what is
really at stake - and, in my
view, they have fared poorly
enough for one day.
David F. Battaglia
October 8
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