4 OPINION Mpoay, February 16,)1987 Page 4 The Michigan Daily . . .... . ... ............. - - ---- et 1 Ctigan oil" Edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan Vol. XCVII, No. 97 420 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. Stop Greeks of ti R acial barriers divide the University on many levels, both social and academic. One of the most unfortunate and obvious divisions exists between the black and the mainstream Greek systems. The University boasts seven black fraternities and sororities and about fifty mainstream Greek organizations. However, no black Greek organizations presently hold full membership in either the Interfraternity Council or the Panhellenic Association which govern the mainstream Greeks. One organization, the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, accommodates the status of social affiliate in the IFC, allowing the fraternity no voting privileges, though it can participate in such philanthropic events as Greek Week. The difference in rush procedure is one of the main reasons that the black houses do not join the mainstream system, where full voting membership requires conformity to the mainstream rush process. Even as a social affiliate Alpha Phi Alpha does not get to vote, participating primarily during Greek Week. The black organizations hold only one rush a year. The process is conducted through a series of ~parties, termed smokers, and R which are followed by a series of personal interviews. This is starkly different than the mass informal ' rush of the mainstream system, : where prospective members visit the houses on consecutive nights during rush week. The pledge period for most black houses, referred to as going on - line, lasts only six to nine weeks, -: whereas the pledge periods in the mainstream system normally last a semester. The IFC and Panhellenic ' Association need to make an important first step to try to remove the barriers separating the systems. They should invite the black Greek chapters of the University to join their respective groups. The black organizations should be granted an 'I' unite exception on rush procedure and should be able to vote without relinquishing the traditions and-. habits that are so vital to their system. The decisions of the IFC and Panhellenic are perceived as representing all Greeks, whether they are independent or not. By voting, the blacks Greeks would have a voice in those decisions. Interaction between the two systems is important, not homogenization of one into the mold of the other. Throwing houses from the two systems together in a forced and unsure setting, such as integrated rush or parties could prove more harmful than helpful. Immediate interaction across the board is not recommended. Rather, more subtle means are necessary, the two systems should be exposed to each other on the most basic of terms. The efforts put forth by the individual houses that try to initiate interaction between the two systems deserves applause. The Daily also lauds the students who are presently working on initiatives to foster interaction between the systems. The two systems need to be educated on any' differences that might exist between the groups and on the importance of tradition to each, especially to the black organizations. They also need to realize the many similarities enjoyed universally by Greeks and students at University. Both groups should retain their traditions and avoid conformity. The first steps to foster interaction must be basic, unforced, and well-intended. Unity in an area such as Greek life could prove vital to bridging the gap between blacks and whites at the University. Students, in general, and the two systems specifically, need to realize the similarities that exist between them and refrain from dwelling on any superficial differences that might be impediments to progress. By Hilary Shadroui The Reagan administration has now taken Arab hostages. On January 26th, 1987, eight Palestinian residents of the Los Angeles area and one's Kenyan wife were arrested by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), the FBI, and the LAPD, in a 7:00 a.m. raid on their homes. The nine were held at the INS building in L.A. until after 4:00 p.m. before they were allowed food or water. They were tightly shackled and verbally abused by the INS detention guards. The following day, six of them were moved to a San Diego INS detention facility and held in isolation. Attorneys for the de- tainees were denied information from the INS concerning their clients' whereabouts throughout the day of Tuesday, January 27th. Six of these individuals have been charged with violating Section 241(a) (6) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, a section of the U.S. immigration law enacted as the McCarran-Walter Act in 1952. Section 241(a) (6) makes it a deportable offense to be affiliated with any "organization that causes to be written or printed matter advocating or teaching economic, international and governmental doctrines of world com- munism." The INS charges that these six individuals are affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a member organization of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Such affiliation is, according to the INS "Order to Show Cause," a violation of Section 241(a) (6). Of the six charged with violating the McCarran-Walter Act, two are lawful Hilary Shadroui speaks for the November 29th Committee for Palestine and is a graduate student in history. [eporting permanent residents of the U.S. The other four are not permanent residents and are also being charged with technical violations of their student or visitor visas. The remaining three are all being charged with technical violations of their student or visitor visas. Two of the nine arrested individuals were finally released on bond, originally set at $25,000 apiece but, lowered to $3,000 and $5,000. The remaining seven are still in detention. Shackled hand and foot, they were brought before Judge Ingrid Hrycenko who refused to set bail, describing the prisoners as "national security risks." Their bond hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17 at 1:00 pm. After conducting a lengthy invest- igation, the FBI could find no evidence that the detainees were going to commit any acts of violence. They turned the case over to INS because it's easier to deport people than to win a criminal case against them. The FBI and INS believe they can violate these individuals' civil and democratic rights since the arrests come during an atmosphere of hysteria -concerning Middle East terrorism generated by the Reagan administration. The people were arrested because they are activists and Palestinian nationalists. They are respected members of their community and have not engaged in any violent or illegal activites. Khader Hamide, singled out as a "leader" of the PFLP, participated in the work of the Arab American Institute, was a founding member of the Arab American Demo- cratic Club of Los Angeles, and served as a delegate to the national convention of the Rainbow coalition. With the Reagan administration's Middle East policies in shambles after the revelations of Iran-Contragate, it appears that these arrests are a desperate act of a Arabs discredited administration. The alle- gations and smear campaign involved in these arrests must be seen within the context of the recent revelations ofg disinformation campaigns, illegal arms sales, and other covert and illegal activities committed by the Reagan administration. In addition to abridging the rights of these individuals, the arrests and the sensational media coverage of anonymous government officials at the time of the initial announcement appear ,to be calculated to have a chilling effect on national debate over urgent foreign policy issues. Further, these arrests serve as one more ploy in the Reagan administration's concerted effort to inflame anti-Arab racism. Palestinians and Arabs, branded as "terrorists," have become suitable targets for racist attacks. Last year Alex Odeh, regional coordinator of the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Com- mittee, was murdered and the FBI has yet to make any arrests. We insist that the. FBI pursue the murderers of Alex Odeh instead of denying the democratic rights of a peaceful community. These arrests are an attempt to revive McCarthyism during the Reagan admin- istration, making all residents and immigrants easy targets for deportation and exclusion because of their views and activities. These attacks subject an entire community to fear and intimidation, and represent, a graye threat to all people's4 democratic and constitutional rights. A vigil to show solidarity with the detainees will be held on Tuesday, February 17, at 12:00 noon on the diag. We invite all concerned persons to come and give support. This case is not the first assault on our liberty, nor will it be the last. We must protest this attack on democratic freedoms now. LETTERS: Ca n'tjustify U.S.-Iran armssale None of the above To the Daily: This letter concerns the column which appeared in the 26 January edition of the Daily "Support Moderates in Iran," by Reed Rubinstein. This in- terpretation of what U. S. policy should be concerning Iran and how this policy should be conducted is as flawed and full of contradictions as the original justification offered for the arms deal with Iran. Why do I believe this? First, I will quote the last paragraph of Mr. Rubinstein's column, "To the extent that the Iran affair was triggered by the desire to help entrench and support a pro- western faction within the Iranian government, then the policy goals were proper and should serve as the basis for the future dealings with other nations. That, and really little else, is what is important about Iran." Oh Yeah?! I've heard of sweeping things under the rug, but declaring that the only important issue concerning Iran is whether mythological Iran- ian moderates now suddenly love the U. S. because some cowboy colonels and dim bulbs in the National Security Council believe in TOW missile diplomacy is beyond comprehension. In the first place, who are these Iranian moderates that we hear so much about these days? Many foreign policy experts and analysts ranging in ideology from Cyrus Vance to Henry Kissinger declare that no "moderates" as we define them remain in Iran. They have either been exterminated or driven into exile. Even if these moderates do exist in Iran, is sending them thousands of tons of sophis- ticated U. S. weapons and mili - tary supplies the proper way to get in the way of "dynamic action," as he puts it. However, the fact remains that it was the policy of the U. S. since the beginning of the Iran- Iraq war not to provide arms or aid of any kind to either side. Nations that did provide aid were severely criticized while American citizens were and still are being prosecuted for selling arms to the Iranian at the same time a renegade faction within the U. S. government was coordinating the shipment of arms to Iran. If this policy of sending arms to Iran has so much merit, why did the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense object so strongly to it when they learned of it? Mr. Rubinstein claims that sending arms to Iran helps counteract Soviet infuence in the region. If anything, Soveit influence in the Middle east and Persian Gulf will certainly grow in the months ahead because of the vastly weakened credibility of U. S. allies in the region such as Jordan and Egypt. These moderate Arab states are scared to death of what the conse- quences would be if Iran de- feated Iraq. They naturally felt betrayed when they learned that the U. S. had sent large quantities of military supplies to the bloodthirsty regime of Khomeni that has been linked to numerous acts of terrorism including the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut that killed 241 U. S. marines. In conclusion, there is Vote for Bob Ferri in fifth absolutely no proof that th illegal transfers of arms to Iran without the knowledge 'or approval of the State Department or Congress helped or aided the U. S. in establishing any links with moderate factions in Iran that may not exist. Furthermdre, contrary to Mr. Rubinstein's assertion, U. S. credibility and prestige has been badl damaged at home and abroad as the result of the Iranian fiasco. If I may once again quote Mr. Rubinstein's closing sentence "That, and really little else, is what is important about Iran." Stuart Cl rk January 30 ward primary of their apartments and onto the street. The third candidate is Bob Fern. He hasstaken some cour- ageous positions for a Republ-4 ican. He has opposed the condo conversion of Tower Plaza even though Tower Plaza is not in his ward. He may not win many votes for this posi- tion, but he is a man of princi- ple. Ferri realize that Ann Arbor has a crisis in the area of affordable housing and we must take steps to resolve the crisis, not steps to make it worse. 4 Ferri believes in the concept of comparable worth and he favors development with plan- ning and reason. He won't be a rubber stamp for the big developers. If you live in the fifth ward and you don't wish to give the arch-conservatives a chance to win in April, vote for Bo4 TODAY'S ANN ARBOR City Council primary for the Republican nomination in the fifth ward features three' candidates whose distinguishing features are ig- norance of city issues and a lack of new ideas. Bob Ferri, a self-employed landscaper, has lived in Ann Arbor for 57 years. His positions on many of the issues are surprisingly progressive for a Republican: he supports affordable housing and would allow more citizen involvement in Ann Arbor's development. This does not outweigh the fact that Ferri is neither ready nor capable to be a city councilman. He has only a cursory understanding of the issues. He was unaware, for example, of the proposal to expand Ann Arbor's city hall. The issue for which Ferri expresses the most from Detroit will invade Ann Arbor. Spear's ignorance of the screening process which will keep low income people with criminal records out of the project is surprising in light of the fact that this is his second council cam- paign. Spear suggests that more citizen involvement is needed to prevent crime but he suggests no alternatives to the already imple- mented neighborhood watch programs. Yet another realtor, Jeff Gallatin, is also running for the fifth ward nomination. Gallatin focuses on helping senior citizens while at the same time opposing stricter stan- dards for rental housing where many seniors live. Gallatin expressed no knowledge of the pay equity issue, an issue which has dominated recent council pro- ceedinas. To The Daily: Voters in Ann Arbor's fifth ward will have a clear choice to make today. While there is no contested Democratic primary there is a three way Republican primary. Two of the candidates are wealthy realtor-landlords whose conservative agendas are completely out of touch with the average citizen. They wouldn't even blink at the thought of shoving handi- capped and elderly people out Money talks:Canham listens To the Daily: This business with the Michigan Cheerleaders not being allowed to conduct certain "dangerous" routines irks me. As a basketball fan I enjoy the added dimension the cheerleaders provide as part of the "sixth man." They were sorely missed during the Minnesota game. I do not feel that pyramids and the like are an integral part of their role and therefore do not think the cheerleaders were justified in every pyramid was teetering, unstable and suicidal. it is a blessing that no one was hurt seriously. Mr. Canham acted irresponsibly in not stopping the pyramids last year. If Mr. Canham really cared about his cheerleaders he would have stopped them last year when they were foolishly inept, not this year when they are improved and competent in their routines. When money talks, i.e. insurance premiums, Mr. Canham listens.