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COVER
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Star Wars
on campus
By Jody Becker
A STROLL ACROSS Regents Plaza
these days might leave more than
an image of a huge black metal cube
swirling in many people's minds. In
fact, such whimsy seems an eerie con-
tract to the cryptic message scrawled
across the ground:
"No Star Wars here, Harold."
But the graffiti artist didn't have
movie censorship in mind. The in-
tergalactic fantasy created on the big
screen is no longer just fancy celluloid
fiction.
Star Wars is reality, 1985 style; a
buzz word for the Reagan Ad-
ministration's Strategic Defense
Initiative - SDI - the largest single
peace-time military venture in the
history of the United States.
The United States government has
embarked on a quest to develop a
military framework which will, in the
words of President Reagan, "render
nuclear weapons obsolete and im-
potent" by intercepting enemy
missiles; research which will cost
over $23 billion in the next five years.
Star Wars on campus is a high-tech
Pandora's box full of moral and social
questions-a solemn invitation for the
University community to explore the
spirit and limitations of academic
freedom and social responsibility.
In an effort to stimulate discussion
of Star Wars research in the academic
arena, last weekend the Michigan
Student Assembly joined an
organization called Campuses Again-
st Weapons in Space (CAWS), and the
Office of Student Services to present a
national forum on "SDI and Univer-
sities." The conference featured a
panel of scientific, political, and
economic experts balanced between
supporters and opponents of the Star
Wars program.
"My main hope is that students and
faculty have input on whatever SDI
research goes on here," said Ingrid
Kock, who does military research for
MSA, is a member of CAWS, and who
was largely responsible for
organizing the conference.
Contrary to Kock's notion of faculty
and student input, a resolution issued
by the Board of Regents September 20
"encouraging" SDI research has ef-
fectively preempted any impact the
position Kock represents might have
had in enforcing the "No Star Wars
here..." edict:
S tar Wars is already here.
While some University professors
have pledged to boycott Star Wars
research, Professors John Meyer and
R.M. Gilgenbach have already been
awarded $225,000 in SDI reseach
money. Five other professors have
filed $6 million worth of proposals
which are .under consideration in
Washington.
Among them is Robert Howe, a
University professor of aerospace
engineering who has a $2,395,636 con-
tract pending with the SDI office for
research .on the flight of intercon-
tinental ballistic missiles. "This
research is stuff we've been doing all
along," said Howe. "this is just
another source of support."
SDI is a system that will be largely
See page 3
INSIDE
Cover story
With last weekend's conference on "The
Strategic Defense Initiative and Universities,"
and the resolution passed by the regents last
month "encouraging" faculty to apply for SDI
research money, the issue of Star Wars on
campus has reached cosmic proportions. See
above.
Rock appella
Sporting a repertoire of everything from
swing-era numbers to contemporary tunes,
The Nylons, an a capella quartet, perform at
the Power Center Saturday night. Read about
voices from on high. See page 4.
Catch of the day
Weekend magazine columnist Mike Fisch
reveals his pet peeves, as all columnists are
bound to do some time or another. See Page 4.
Father knows best?
In his new film Commando, Arnold Sch-
warezenegger plays a loving father who also
happens to be a death machine. Sound in-
congrous? See page 5.
Too stupid to care
Creator, starring Peter O'Toole as an eccen-
tric scientist trying to re-create his long-dead
wife, raises some interesting questions amidst
all its screwball fun, but ignores them anyway.
See page 5.
Entertainments
This regular feature of Weekend magazine
proves there's more to Ann Arbor nightlife
than walking around smashing bottles. And
let's not forget afternoon and morninglife. En-
tertainments is your guide to what's playing in
campus and first-run films, concerts of all kin-
ds, theatre, and dance. And for the day when
nothing quite looks good, check out the "Fur-
thermore" listings. See page 6.
Oysters and spaghetti
Weekend restaurant reviewer Jere Williams
rates the real wicker, checkered table cloths,
and opera music that make up the open yet in-
timate atmosphere of The Oyster bar and
Spaghetti Machine. See page 8.
Food for thought
Hunger abatement, like many primal con-
cerns, is a priority occupation of collegiate life.
While food as sophisticated entertainment is
often subverted by budgetary considerations,
it is essential to keep abreast of the diversity of
eats - to be prepared for any sudden or
calcualted mood shift - and fill the tank ac-
cordingly. See page 11.
Cover by Dan Habib abd Dean Randazzo
U
T HIS IS the first time this term that News and Arts ap-
pear in the same magazine, but that's O.K. - they're
kno of blood brothers. Next week the magazine becomes
- shazam! - a career supplement. Watch for the up-
coming sports-related story.
What's ironic about this issue is that a story about Star
Wars defense research on campus and a review of Arnold
Schwarzenegger's glorification of a death machine in his
new movie, Commando, grace the same issue.
This brings up an interesting idea. Schwarzenegger is
undeniably a bulky man, but he's not that big. He would
certainly fit in the space shuttle's payload bay. Instead of
wasting a lot of money on fancy contraptions, why not put
Schwarzenegger in orbit and let him beat back the tide of
United States-bound intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Particle beam weapons? Hell, give Schwarzenegger a
pair of gloves.
This kind of thing is the stuff cute columns are made of.
Send Bob Talbert along with Schwarzenegger to get the
whole story. And if atmospheric radiation makes it too
dangerous for people to go out and buy a newspaper, an
advance copy could be sent to Ronald Reagan in his un-
derground bunker. Ron would like that.
By the way, keep those letter piling in. Mail a piece of
your mind to:
Weekend magazine
c/o The Michigan Daily
420 Maynard
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
t-
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THEG
-T e GEMe&Oft 61AI4C DOW% U tI
Magazine Editor ........................Chris Lauer
List Editor .............................Joyce Welsh
Contributing Editor .................. Randall Stone
Business Manager
Sales Manager ...
................ .Dawn W illacker
..............Mary Anne Hogan
Assistant Sales Manager ..................Yuna Lee
The magazine is edited and managed by students on the staff of The
Michigan Daily at 420 Maynard, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109. Copyright 1985,
The Michigan Daily. Weekend, (313) 763-0370; News, 764-0552; Circulation,
754-0558; Display Advertising, 764-0554.
2 Weekend/Friday, October 11, 1985
Weekend