OPINION Page 6 The Michigan Daily Thursday, May 12, 1983 I The Michigan Daily Vol. XCIII, No. 4-S 93 Years of Editorial Freedom Managed and Edited by students of The University of Michigan Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily Editorial Board UGLi situation UNIVERSITY STUDENTS have little to cheer about in the new plans to renovate the Undergraduate Library. Though the renovations may improve the library environ- ment slightly they lack significant student in- put. The library is in desperate need of renovations. The building is a true eyesore on campus and the interior seems to be designed to maximize noise while minimizing study space. David Norden, head of the UGLI, plans to add three hundred new seats to the building by removing part of the library's book collection. He also plans to carpet three floors of the building in an attempt to muffle the persistent chatter. Norden said he may also restrict smoking to the fourth floor lounge. The problem with the renovations is Norden's failure to incorporate student input into the project. Norden claims that he is taking student concerns into account through the suggestion box in the UGLi and a student survey conducted three years ago. This is a poor excuse for "student input". It isn't even the first time in the past six mon- ths that the University library system has been chastised for failing to involve students. In December of last year, Norden and Director of University Libraries Richard Dougherty were virtually driven out of the MSA chambers by the shouts of enraged assembly members, when they announced plans to remove vending machines from the Graduate library. At that time Dougherty said he was not willing to reconsider his plans to remove the machines because the lounge renovation had to take place during the Winter recess when they would be least disruptive. Norden said that while he might be interested in additional student input the renovations must take place during the summer in order to minimize the in- convenience. While this is a valid concern neither he nor Dougherty have solicited studen- ts to find out what type of study facilities they want. What is needed is a student-faculty advisory board to make suggestions to Norden and other library administrators about what they want in the Undergraduate Library. The Michigan Student Assembly should demand a student voice in these decisions that directly ef- fect a student's ability to study and concen- trate. As of now the renovations will go on as plan- ned. When the tens of thousands of students return in the fall one can only hope that their ideas for a better Undergraduate Library con- cur with those of David Norden. Changing perspectives 4 By Franz Schurmann the people and thus have control little more than a v over policy. What is "up there" "trickle down." Now, One of the paradoxes of the has the power, the wealth, the case of Iran, an ostens contemporary world is that the privilege. weaker country can t governments of countries which We Americans can read our figurative nose at the once seemed immensely power- own adulation of what is above in power - and it app ful now find it hard to make even the profligate use of the word there is little the power their most trivial policies work. "super," as in Superbowl, super- about it. The Mitterand government im- power, supermarket and so forth. Meanwhile, Japan posed some minor austerity We see it in the way the world Germany have discove measures in France and ignited economy is analyzed, as in a Nor- horizontal "ripple the fiercest street demon- th which is always assumed to be technology and c strations there since May 1968. at the top of the scale, and the products abroad eari Three and a half years ago, the South which is naturally "down profits and creates Soviets tried to help out their there." We also have recently en- trouble than the strong revolutionary comradestin countered it in the Reaganites' down approach which b Afghanistan and now have their supply-side theories, with their disastrously, during1 own Vietnam on their hands. promise of "trickle down" to the perial heydays. Ronald Reagan packed the En- less fortunate folks below. Not just in the world vironmental Protection Agency The notion of hierarchical ver- but in everyday life with his henchpeople and suf- ticality, with its corrolary people increasingly re, fered his worst domestic political assumption that government is told what to do - or if ti embarrassment as a result. And the primary organizational force telling, increasing] if he perseveres in his efforts to in society, worked beautifully for frustration because few impose his will on Central the United States during World All the laments about America, chances are the tide of War II. As a result, it intoxicated losing respect for Marxism will run stronger than many Americans with the teachers and elders ever, thought that what we did in war- point: It is harder and1 How could the U.S. government time we could do in perpetuity . exercise power and - which carried out history's Even Ronald Reagan, who and more and more greatest economic buildup during preaches getting government off must be wielded thro World War II, beating into un- people's backs, believed he could suasion. conditional surrender such somehow use government to do Japan and German mighty countries as Nazi Ger- just that. After all, he lived his headstsrt on the rest of many and Imperial Japan - entire adult life, save for his own 1950s, when their s have come to such weakness so presidency and a few years defeated nations forced soon? before it, in an era when the U.S. take the low-profile, h one place to begin addressing government was resplendent in path. Ronald Reagan m this complicated question lies in its power and moral assertion. sider that path himself the distinction between two ap- What happened? As some in- his dealings with the proaches to government - the ternational economists have Ironically, he could eni "vertical" and the "horizontal." noted, it appears that the world is more of what he wants In most modern countries, coming more to operate on will by threatening th people have long been con- horizontal rather than vertical Pershing II missiles. ditioned to think of the world as principles. In earlier days, for operating along a vertical axis: example, the developed countries Parents are above their children could simply manipulate poorer and thus have command over countries through dependency Schurmann wrote thi them;governments are above relationships, leaving them with for the Pacific News Se s, 1 /'+' (..AGLI _iJr" mil('%t ;t f n ariety of as in the ibly much thumb its world of ears that ful can do and West red that a out" of consumer ns bigger far less -arm, top- both tried, their im- economy, as well, sist being hey do the Ly face ,er listen. children parents, miss the harder to authority, influence ugh per- y got a fus in the >tatus as d them to horizontal iight con- , even in Soviets. ,up with s than he em with s article ervice. 4 4 I 4 No ti ,IF ii ncq Rc .' 'Ai-1 6jE1oVkic iT REM'OtU st. IT.. .