4 OPINION Page 4 Tuesday, April 8, 1986 The Michigan Daily 4 01g Atidpigan baiQy Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan Chassy Vol. XCVI, No. 128 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Unsigned editorials represent a majority of the Daily's Editorial Board All other cartoons, signed articles, and letters do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Daily. National security? L AST WEEK Vice President George Bush went to the Middle East on a peace mission of sorts. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has had an internal war that has left American oil companies devastated. When OPEC oil prices go down, oil well drillers in the United States can no longer sell their oil at high prices either. Traders too, make less on oil at lower prices. American oil com- panies find it hard to make a large profit on low oil prices. Low oil prices open the gateway to many potential problems. Gas guzzling cars may reappear. Solar energy and other non-fossil fuel energy sources may be set back despite the necessity of their even- tual application. Low oil prices may deceive the public into thinking that energy conservation is no longer essential. Unfortunately, Bush's trip to the Middle East has no noble motivations. Bush is plainly and simply trying to bail out the oil cor- porations by asking the OPEC countries to stop cutting their prices, or in more diplomatic ter- ms, to "stabilize" their prices. Bush is reac ting to a real problem for the oil induistry and oil-rich states. In once booming Texas, which is Bush's home state, revenues are going down from oil sales. Now, Texas unemployment, for the first time in recent years, is above the national average. Phillips Petroleum just announ- ced that it would cut its workforce by 2,500. Meanwhile, Standard Oil is cutting its exploration budget. Southwestern banks are suffering because the companies they loan to are slowing down their operations since it no longer pays to pump oil out of the ground at a fast pace. George Bush, who is an oil millionaire himself, has represen- ted the interests of the oil industry before. When Reagan's tax plan came out, Bush worked to put tax breaks for the oil indistry back into the tax plan. If the Reagan tax plan goes into effect, Bush's efforts will save oil companies over $32 billion in five years. It is unlikely that Bush can save the oil companies from making less than windfall profits, now that OPEC has knocked down the price of oil. So desperate is Bush's bid to save, oil profits that he hides his politicking for Big Oil by citing so- called national security. Instead of saying publicly that he wants OPEC to pull itself together, Bush is saying that a strong American oil industry is in U.S. interests. (New York Times, 4/3/86). Bush's comments on national security are especially revealing. He implies that what is good for the Big Oil is good for the United States. The next time the gover- nment cries national security to justify its foreign policy, the oil consumer will rightly see the government as crying wolf. NEWDTNAND ERCOSA mN -- /A NN NO' P R[S1DN T S N 9PIR wWM A L AANDELA SNCE NON, V4AT'S YOUR ANSWERP )IR:of EA ADS DE5POT I ~~1 00K1,, I'VE GOT 6tTTE THINGS To Do'RANTO MAND OUTrHNORAMRY IRois TO EVERY SZVGE ROCANRAI ROUSER VWMOMAS STHE NEWSNOW', DON'T Y5UWS MY! NYEp LETTERS: Photographer only presents one view Field goals A PPLICATIONS for season tickets to this fall's football games were mailed out last week, sparking a scramble among University students to find acep- table seatmates. Genuine frien- dship counts for little in this scramble. Credit parity takes priority. Since seating is deter- mined on the number of credits a student has accumulated, students seek out those who have equal 'credit ratings.,, This is just one symptom of a distribution system which does not serve the needs of the University students. It's time the Athletic department recognized that reser- ved seating for students causes more problems than benefits. Last year upperclass sections were the scene of Who-concert like crowding. Seating was closely monitored, which resulted in long waits; individuals were checked first for being in the proper section, and second for heading in the proper direction. Every student knows that seat numbers don't count for much in- side one's assigned section. Students routinely ignore these numbers to sit with friends with whom they, (for a number of potentially valid reasons), did not apt asnn Qtickets- once one person sits in another's seat, the displacement sets off a domino-like re-shuffling which stadium personnel could never hope to unravel. The solution seems obvious. Sin- ce students are accustomed to general admission seating at events such as rock concerts, this method could be applied to football games. The main casualty of this system would be priority seating for juniors and seniors, but those who cared about getting better seats could arrive early for the game. Crowding problems' would not end, but individuals would no longer be trapped by crowds. As it stands, when a given section becomes overcrowded, a rule- abiding ticket holder gets squashed. With general admission, the same ticket-holder, if bothered by crowding, would be free to move to a less-congested area. If the gates were opened early enough, crowd control might be less of a problem. The rabid fans would be at the gates as they opened, and would settle into the best seats, trading off a certain measure of comfort for a good view. The less rabid fans would head fnr the end-znne. and watch To the Daily: It seems to me the Daily's "Inquiring Photographer" (3/13/86) didn't inquire too deeply in his (and yes without looking I'm quite sure it's a "he") efforts to gather a fair cross-section of student's opinions regarding a "Women of Michigan" calendar. All the printed responses were generally in favor of the idea provided it Guidelines To the Daily: Mr. Vogel's editorial, "Military Research Rights," (Daily, 3/31/86) cannot pass unan- swered. I am amazed by the ef- frontery of his claim that the san- ctity of democratic principles provides him with a moral right to perform secret research whose only goal is to kill people. In the first place, democratic tolerance for a plurality of opinion does not mean that all opinions can or should not be acted upon. It is illegal and it is wrong: to slan- der, to discriminate, to shout "fire" in a crowded theater, to bomb abortion clinics, to murder. All are inappropriate ex- pressions of opinion. The University's research guidelines do not infringe on the rights of individual researchers. On the contrary, government grants are not awarded to in- dividuals; they are awarded in th name of the University. Accep- tance of a grant is a public com- mitment by the University as a whole in support of the goals of the funded research. Individuals do not have the right to make that commitment. Nor are the research guidelines intended to create a better research environment at the University, as Mr. Vogel claims. They are a public statement of the moral position of the Univer- sity community. Because of the nature of research funding and the University's role in society, it is necessary that the University take a public stand on moral issues. We have a responsibility. We cannot avoid the issue by hiding behind legal technicalities. We cannot avoid the issue by ob- fuscation and claims that democracy and a plurality of opinion mean that anything can happen. We must not be bought Pacifism isn't anti-American was "tastefully done". Many were glad University women were finally provided a chance to dispel the stereotype that smart women were inevitably ugly. One woman, an actual con- testant, expressed pleasure that she was being judged im- pressionally and solely on the basis of her looks. In my opinion, that "impersonal eye" is nothing to be pleased about. In fact it is a great insult and a source of great danger for women here on campus. It is precisely the abstraction of women's bodies as objects in cen- terfold, existing only for the pleasure of men and not as entire people, that helps create our To the Daily: I was totally appalled by Mark Powell's letter "U.S. cannot allow Libya to draw line," (Daily, 3/28/86). I feel that his accusation that the Daily was "knee-jerk fascist-baiting," "defeatist pacifist," and, "anti- American" is an attack on all who agree with the Daily's position regarding the Libyan conflict. Many, including myself, feel that the United States provoked the Libyan attack. The Daily did a very good job in presenting that side of the case, that there is no reason any ship should be in the Gulf of Sidra unless headed toward Libya. Powell finds some similarity between the Gulf of Sidra and the Gulf of Mexico. Un- fortunately, he has made a. geographical error. The Gulf of Sidra is bordered on three sides by Libya; and the Gulf of Mexico An invitation To the Daily: We, the College Democrats, would like to take this oppor- tunity to invite Republican Carl Pursell to speak at the Univer- sity. If Pursell decides to accept our offer, we envision an open forum. While Michigan's Democratic State Representative Perry Bullard and Michigan's Demo- cratic State Senator Lana Pol- llack have openly addressed students numerous times on campus, we feel that Pursell has ignored his University sonstituency. Not only has Pursell failed to make is only bordered on two sides by the United States and one side by Mexico. That's all right, we'll let it go for now. He's still an American. That's another point. I feel proud to be an American. Its the best country in the world because anyone can express their point of view without fear of punishment. But maybe I'm wrong. It seems Powell would like everyone who doesn't agree with his point of view to be branded as "ANTI- AMERICAN." Perhaps all of us should wear little "anti" patches on our clothes. SAM mem n Tothe Daily: I am a member of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and would ap- preciate the opportunity to pass along several facts, opinions, and suggestions to your readers. First the facts. Bill "The Fox" Foster is not simply The World's Fastest Beer Drinker. He is, first and foremost, an entertainer. He plays piano both at his Santa Monica, California nightclub and at engagements in Las Vegas. Secondly, the money "raised" for his performance came through an admission fee of $7.50 charged to those who chose to attend. I paid my $7.50 and feel neither remorse nor guilt. I earn my money and live in a country which affords its citizens the right to spend their money as they please. Next, the opinions. Questioning my tinniginnc +to nand manne in Powell also sees a problem with being a pacifist. He doesn't mind that 80 people were killed, just as long as they weren't Americans. I'm sorry, but those of us who are less aggressive than that don't see the need to kill people just to defend a principle. Powell should open his eyes to other points of view some time. It's good to hear different arguments. This way you prevent yourself from doing something stupid because you thought it was all right. - E. Scott Adler March 28 ber replies - given to charity. Will you take my challenge?; Maybe the author(s) of the original editorial, so safely hidden behind the mask of "The Michigan Daily Editorial Staff," would care to reveal their names and defend all of their personal expenditures. Drive expensive cars? Go to concerts? Have ex- pensive meals or vacations or clothes? I challenge you to live up to the standards that you set for others. Finally, the suggestions. First, don't be so hasty to speak about things that you don't understand. Second, if you choose to set high standards for others, be prepared to practice what you preach. Third, take some time to consider the rights granted to citizens of the United States, and make an effort to prevent your authoritarian tendencies from denving nennle nf their rights present "rape culture." How can the student body talk about 'rape awareness programs' and improved Nite Owl service while at the same time allowing the pornography that necessitates these programs to go unchecked? A "Women of Michigan" calen- dar is a step backward on the path toward campus safety and women's freedom. As such it can not possibly be "tastefully done." No position of strong oposition was presented in the "inquirer's" blurbs. Could it be he's also hoping to get picked? As the photographer for this calendar? By not representing the opposing viewpoint you give the im- pression that perhaps it is too radical of one even to be men- tioned - or only the opinion of a small minority. On the contrary many women here are very ac- tive in demonstrating against the sexual exploitation of women, as evidenced in the large annual "Take Back the Night"' rally, feminist graffitti on the "Velvet Touch" billboard, and rallies last year outside the "Movie Star Look Alike" contest. One needn't look far on the University cam- pus to find concerned, activist women struggling to assert our fair place in academia and society at large. You obviously chose not to look. Helen :Michaelson March 14 I a