P A it 4F 1 til Ninety-six years of editorialfreedom Vol. XCVI - No. 117, Copyright 1986, The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor, Michigan - Monday, March 24, 1986 Ten Pages I Palestinian scholar attacks U.S. media By ROB EARLE The American press perpetuates the plight of the Palestinian people, according to a Columbia University professor. Edward Said, an English and Com- parative Literature prof. spoke to a full house at the Rackham Am- pitheater Friday night on "The Question of Palestine Again. Said, a member of the Palestine National Council, said the American press ''misses the fact that (the Palestinians are) a people." He criticized the press and the government for portraying the Palestinians as terrorists, and neglecting the fact that more Palestinians have been killed in Middle Eastern violence than Israelis. He said that continued Israeli and American aggression against the Palestinians is "not to destroy the PLO but politically to destroy the charac- ter of Palestinian nationalism." The spectre of terrorism has been hung unfairly over the Palestinian, according to Said. He said the United 'States supports terrorism also, poin- ting to its previous support of Fer- dinand Marcos, former Philippines 'president. "I'm totally against terrorism," on the part of Palestinians, the United States or any other organization, Said added. He also criticized the large U.S. foreign aid investment in Israel. Nearly 40 percent of the foreign aid budget goes to Israel, and this , ac- cording to Said, amounts to about $1,000 for every man, woman, and child in Israel. He said the Israeli press is more 'honest about the government's goals and means by which they are achieved than the American media, and added that American Jews are more vehement in their anti- Palestinian stances than Israelis. The audience sat in rapt attention for the 90-minute duration of Said's speech and the question and answer period before saluting him with thun- derous applause. z. w ,.:..: :.: bawaeon .. . M,;, Soviets blast U.S. nuclear test explosion MOSCOW (UPI) - The Soviet Union reacted with outrage yesterday to the first U.S. nuclear test explosion of 1986, saying it was meant to "tor- pedo" the Kremlin's moratorium on nulcear tests and showed "contempt for the world." In West Germany, spokesmen for the opposition Social Democratic Par- ty also denounced the U.S. test as a provocation and called it a setback for East-West relations. ALTHOUGH Soviet media com- mentators called the underground nuclear detonation beneath the Nevada desert Saturday "impudent" and "a disgrace," they stopped short' of saying the Soviet Union would' resume testing. The explosion that "shook buildings in Las Vegas and started a political earthquake in Washington" also "un- dermined the very idea of a nuclear- free world," a government news commentator said. "In giving the order to press the button someone in Washington meant to torpedo the Soviet moratorium and is trying to force the Soviet Union to resume testing," he said. PRAVDA, the daily Communist Party newspaper, said the U.S. ad- ministration was "showing its con- tempt for the world and disregarding demands by its own people." The U.S. test Saturday - the first of 1986 - was also a blow to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's hopes of curbing arms expenditures at home to conentrate on revamping the sluggish Soviet economy, a Western diplomat in Moscow said. "One more test and the Soviet moratorium is over," the diplomat said. "Then there is the likelihood the Soviets will have to increase defense spending and decrease domestic spending." THE STATE-controlled Soviet news media said the blast had originally been planned for mid-April, but was set off Saturday "to neutralize public opinion for the moratorium that would have gained momentum in the coming month." The Soviet Union announced a series of unilateral moratoriums on nuclear tests beginning last August. The self-imposed test ban was due to expire March 31, but Gorbachev ex- tended it indefinitely provided the United States did not conduct tests. President Reagan has refused to discontinue U.S. testing, saying the Soviet moratorium was "un- verifiable." Citing a call by six non-aligned nations to halt testing, Soviet radio, television, and newspapers said the nuclear test in Nevada was a "brazen challenge to world public opinion." The leaders of Argentina, India, Mexico, Sweden, Greece and Tan- zania appealed to Reagan and Gor- .bachev to stop testing two weeks ago. The nuclear test was also a challenge to Washington politicians, Radio Moscow said, citing a Capitol Hill protest by more than 50 congressmen. The Soviet parliament, or Supreme Soviet, sent a message Wed- nesday to Congress asking the United States not to go ahead with planned nuclear tests. Daily Photo by SCOTT LITUCHv 'Hail Mary' protest Marchers protest the campus showing of 'Hail Mary.' This film is considered sacreligious by many because it portrays Mary as a gas station attendant. The French movie, previously banned, has raised controversy in Ann Arbor. Huron BySU Many downtown merch Huron Plaza conference Ann Arbor City Council business. The controversial proj Plaza may boost business SAN GRANT story hotel, a conference center for approximately 1,500 iants predict that if the proposed people and a retail area. The project would be 390,996 center and hotel is approved by square feet, at Huron and First Street, and cost about $50 [tonight, it will increase area million. ALTHOUGH the conference center would be located in ect would house a 400-room, 14- See CITY, Page 3 NatL anti-apartheid leader purges students to protest By KERY MURAKAMI Randall Robinson, generally recognized as one of the founders of the anti-apartheid movement in this country, urged students Friday night to continue protesting universities' in- vestments in companies that do P business in South Africa. Robinson, speaking to about 10 people in Hale Auditorium in the business school, conceded that divestment alone will not bring an end to the system of apartheid in South Africa. He said student protests would bring attention to the issue and pressure lawmakers to impose economic sanctions on South Africa. SANCTIONS, he said, would bring results in South Africa because of the *United States' influence in other coun- tries. "It's like in the Philippines when (former president Ferdinand) Marcos called a guy from Nevada (former Senator Paul Laxalt) and asked him what to do. Laxalt said 'It's time to go,' and Marcos said 'OK, it's time to go.' " Wearing a tweed jacket, Robinson, who is called the "revolutionary in a Brooks Brothers suit" by the South African press, also said he supports efforts to get the University to grant 'We must remember tonight that one of the great leaders of any era, at the age of 67, spends another night in prison, the same prison he's sat in since 1961. His name is Nelson Mandela.' - Randall Robinson, executive director of TransAfrica Neo-Nazis rally at federal building By ROB EARLE Fifteen members of three Detroit area neo-Nazi groups demonstrated on the steps of the federal building on Liberty Street for about 45 minutes Saturday- Dressed in black clothing or military fatigues, helmets and shields emblazoned with swastikas, the demonstrators shouted condem- nations of Jews, blacks, Communists, and homosexuals. "What do we want?" they shouted, "White power. When do we want it? Now." Thirteen Ann Arbor police officers stood between the demonstrators and a crowd of about 100 onlookers who sometimes shouted insults back at the Neo-Nazis. "I think it's disgusting," said Ann Arbor resident Barry Schaffer. Other onlookers seemed more curious than angry. After about 45 minutes, the demon- strators left the Federal Building and walked to the parking structure on Thompson Street, where they pulled away in a van. South African activist Nelson Man- dela an honorary degree. "We must remember tonight that one of the great leaders of any era, at the age of 67, spends another night in prison, the same prison he's sat in since 1961. His name is Nelson Man- dela," Robinson said. Responding to criticism of the violent tactics used by Mandela's group, the African National Congress, Robinson said, "Who, but a fool, would reject violence when faced with violence?" He also pointed out that the ANC preached non-violence for over 40 years. Drawing a parallel to U.S. policy, Robinson urged the Reagan ad- ministration to supply the ANC with weapons. "We set up a self-fulfilling prophecy when we talk about the ANC being communist." The group has ac- cepted arms from the Soviet Union. "They asked France for help, they asked England for help, they asked Germany for help, and then they asked the land of the free and home of the brave for help, and were rejected. Then they went to the Soviets," he said. This refusal by the United States, Robinson said, indicates "that we're not at all concerned about democracy." Instead, he said, U.S. See ROBINSON, Page 2 Jum p'n Jello Daily Photo by SCOTT LITUCHY Pi Beta Phi sponsored the jello jump which was featured Friday in this year's Greek Week. The money raised during Greek Week is donated to charity. TODAY- Energy, a group of 15 teens involved in community service and peer counseling, said adviser Rose Miller. Proceeds from ticket sales will be used to help fund a youth conference next month on issues facing teen- agers, said Miller, a mental health worker. Asked what kind of talent a Cabbage Patch Kid could display, Miller ,.n.rl "