OPINION
The Michigan Daily
Vol. XCV, No. 44-S
95 Years of Editorial Freedom
Managed and Edited by Students at
The University of Michigan
Editorials represent a majority opinion of the
Daily Editorial Board
On with the show
ONE COMES TO EXPECT X-rated moves to be shown
on college campuses. Some consider seeing an X-
rated movie as one of the rites of passage into college life.
On the other hand, many do not like them and think they
represent a form of violence against men and women.
Either way, society has continued to allow X-rated films to
be shown.
In February, Moses Turner, vice president for student
affairs at Michigan State University decided to deny use of
university facilities to two film groups that showed X-
rated films. The two film groups, Revolver Cinema and
Box Office Spectaculars, decided to take the issue to court
with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union.
It appears the District Court Judge Douglas Hillman will
issue an injunction in favor of the two film groups.
Michigan State might have had other reasons for denying
the use of university facilities to the film groups, but on the
surface it appears to be a blatant attempt at censorship.
We are not condoning the value of X-rated films, but
Michigan State University should not try to censor student
groups for material that they find offensive. A dangerous
precedent would have been set if the university had suc-
ceeded.
The primary purpose of a university is education, not
guardianship. The university should not place itself in a
position to shield students from "dangerous" or "offensive"
subject matters.
The fight was not over the material being shown, but
rather the right to show it.
Judge Hillman chose the right course of action by ruling
in favor of the two film groups. The administrators at
Michigan State should take more care and not censor any
groups in the future.
S
Letters to the Daily should be typed,
triple-spaced, and signed by the in-
dividual authors. Names will be withheld
only in unusual circumstances. Letters
may be edited for clarity, grammar, and
spelling.
Friday, August 2, 1985 Page 5
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Orientation: An insider's view
By Dov Cohen
"Sensual, erotic and informative;" "a masterfully skeptical of this fool proof plan, though. The bars must get
planned excursion into the seamy side of academia," and pretty suspicious during summer bigentation wher 5
"the greatest rite of passage since the bar mitzvah." .student IDs and plead, "Honest, sir, this is the only ID I
These were the ways my friends had described orien- have." I turn 18 soon enough anyway.
tation WOur second day was a little more deflating. I found out
YOU'D WALK in as an innocent stupid little freshman exactly how much high school senioritis had reared its
and walk out as a college student. I had seen the change ugly head on the placement tests. "What do those funny
three days had made. Before they had been high school little signs mean," I caught myself saying at one point on
seniors, now they were authentic students able to rattle off my math test.
sentences inU of M speak. "My class is in the MLB." "I'll IT WASN'T until the next day, however, that I found out
go CRISP after I watch The Beave." Needless to say I was how badly I bombed the foreign language tests. Four
geeked (do they use that word here?) about going to orien- years of high school German had placed me in a second
tation., semester class.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed. Being a local Ann Later in the day, I was introduced to the myriad of
Arborite, I already knew where Angell Hall was. The services this bureaucracy would afford me. I was told what
building was pointed out no less than four times during my to do in
stay and seemed to be the focal point of the orientation. I t oi case I felt suicidal, where to go if I was mugged,
knew the location of most of the dorms on campus and and what to do if my stereo was stolen from my dorm
pretty much the ins and outs of the Michigan Union. room. Won't college life be great, I thought to myself.
The first day was get acquainted day. Our orientation Day three was where the action was. I had heard horror
leaders treated us to a round of lap-sit. Everyone got into stories about crisping - waiting for hours on end, and sit-
a big circle and sat on the person in back of them. The ting mrcifully at the hands of the omnipotent CRISP
game introduced me to one of Michigan's prominent computer system. Surprisingly, my crisping went
features - cellulite. I have been warned I'll see plenty of smoothly. This is more than I can say for many of my
this commodity on Michigan women in the next four brothers in arms, however, who spent most of their time
in front of the closed class list saying collegiate things
years. like "Sb is ed." I spent almost 15 minutes
A SECOND game involved heart-felt conversations with' 'ie,"Sit, my class s close.Ispnalot1mius
a person of the same horoscope. With everyone in- waiting. I almost felt guilty about going through so
troducing themselves asking "What's your sign?" I felt quickly. It was like I went through the 12 items of less line
like I was being prepared more for some singles bar ac- at the grocery with 13 items in my basket.
tion that for higher education. "Are you a Scorpio, too? I came, I saw, I crisped said one of the shirts of my
Like I just knew it from your vibes." orientation leader. It was a maturing experience and a fun
As a gesture of faith,, we were given our student IDs. time. I had gone through orientation - standing tall and
"They look just like a credit card," noted one preppy walking proud. I am a man now. I just wish I had learned
orientee. The IDs were of invaluable worth, I was told by something about the University.
my friends. They'll get you into a bar. Just flash one of----------------------------
those babies at the door and walk right in. I was a little Cohen was a summer intern at the Daily last year.
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