0R0 opinion Page 6 Friday, June 11, 1982 The Michigan Daily The Michigan Daily Grinning andbaring it Vol. XCII, No. 27-S A I Ninety-two Years of Editorial Freedom Edited and managed by student; at the University of Michigan for Playgirl magazine I Dim light ~By Barry Witt THITES IN SOUTH Africa have made Should I wear blue jeans? No, a substantial hints recently that maybe striped button-down and white apartheid is not such a fair way to treat fellow corduroys would be better - I'll human beings. But after over 40 years under flash them the conservative, the thumb of racist rule, blacks have reason to preppy look. be skeptical. But I'll have to keep a little of that macho look. A day's growth A group of white ministers in South Africa of beard ought to do it, so I won't declared Wednesday that their government's shave. policy of racial segregation could not be recon- THOSE WERE my thoughts on ciled with the teachings of the Bible. Although the morning of the big day - the the rebel ministers represent less than ten per- day Playgirl was coming to cam- pus. As I told the woman in the in- cent of the churches' ministry, the declaration terview, "I'm interested because is still significant because it breaks the long posing isn't one of your run-of- aquiescence of the church toward the gover- the-mill everyday events. It's not nment's racist apartheid policies, something I've hopd to do alI my Thed 'rsdnadiw withine g vrr n t- i f y i i r outraleoul acs ulin pltia- prt. Sadly, ii spite of recent si soi op ,the winds of change in South A rica reai ap-h allingly weak . ARRIED OJT- SALT T I A. deST tRt poutl ocr SAFE SUTOTUTE ! cour gig te ni -ey Bth auld vs . F i ;Yy. [ .,r. ., ,., $' . . ri i .roy '- '.,' y Fti L _ _ £ Shy y h. " , 't:; >L t ,^I' ,f ti F ,- - 1 T a R Salong Sotherelw ataw dnina Campuma on hot room wi a m -r-rowoma.2 tkn a PoLa'roid shot of my bare (but not hairless) chest and about a half dozen other guys now in the full confidence that they needn't be threatened by the bony newcomer. I knew before I went in that most of the guys who would be interviewing would be the brawny, body building types, and a wimpy-looking 20-year-old who spends most of his time at a typewriter didn't stand much of a chance. But what the hell - you only live once so why not grin - and bare it? Much to my surprise, I found that many of the applicants looked no more healthy (as the Playgirl women described us) than myself. Sure, there were a few jocks, a few mini-Arnold Schwartzeneggers, and I ever noticed no less a figure than the first runner-up in last year's Mr. Greek Week contest. BUT THERE were several meek-looking, four-eyed nerdy intellectual types giving it the old college try too. I originally had gone to the interview hoping to squeeze by as a fluke candidate, %-M but my hopes dimmed when I .realized there were plenty of other people who had as little self-respect as I did. After putting my shirt back on, I sat down with the rest of the beefcake waiting for the all- important personal interview. We made small talk with the Playgirl assistant, all the while trying to look cool and casual about the whole thing. When it came time for my private meeting with the magazine's photo editor, I strode confidently across the hall and assumed the seat across from her. WE TALKED for a few moments about my interests, my academic major, and my reasons for wanting to appear in the magazine. I told her that my life's goal hadn't been to appear in Playgirl, but when I heard about the chance, I figured I was crazy enough to try it. The photo editor told me that was the same response that about 90 percent of the other applicants gave. So much Daly Photo by DEBORAH LEWIS for individualism. And then came the big question. I knew it was coming, so I was prepared for it. "Would you mind posing nude for the camera?" she asked. "DO YOU touch up photos?" I quipped. She thought about my remark for a second and then laughed, more out of courtesy than anything else. I explained to her that I had heard Playboy magazine touches up the bunnies' breasts to make the models look more attractive. Unfortunately, she said her publication would never do that. She then asked me if I had any questions, soI dragged it out for a few minutes, sure that I had already blown it. They were to call the eight winners the next morning. I'm still waiting for the call. Witt is a Daily stqff writer.