A

THE MICHIGAN DAILY

SATURDAY, MARCH 0, 1954


.waa.RDAY./.i M RC T i . 1N)1J1/7

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By HARRY LUNN
Daily Managing Editor
DAY'S meeting between sub-com-
mittees of the Board of Regents and the
Michigan Press Association struck one of the
most hopeful notes to date in the campaign
to open Board sessions to the press and
thereby to the public.
There seems to be little question that
some matters such as classified govern-
ment projects, personnel and proposed
land acquisition must of necessity be re-
solved in executive or committee meetings.
However, a responsible press still must
maintain that decisions arrived at in these
meetings be subject to questioning on how
they were reached.
With Board proceedings now entirely se-
cret and reported through press releases, any
action which brings the press more informa-
tion on the sessions is a step forward. The
plan of accrediting press representatives to
cover the monthly meetings would be a ma-
jor improvement. In addition, advance agen-
das and background material on more com-
plicated issues would be welcomed by the
press.
MPA is doing an excellent job in its free-
dom of information campaign and will have
won a major victory if liberalization of the
closed meeting policy is effected. The Re-
gents are to be congratulated as well for their.
willingness to attempt a solution of the ad-
mittedly complicated question.
* * * *
nE STUDENT housing controversy re-
solved, at least for the moment, at Thurs-
day's Residence Hall Board of Governors
was significant for far more than the deci-
sion finally reached. At stake originally was
the status of Chicago House and Fletcher
Hall in the face of growing women enroll-
ment, but by the time the question was set-
tied important issues involving the value of
student opinion and the Board's jurisdiction
over the problem were raised.
And now that the tricky question has
been settled for the time being it appears
that both student opinion and the Board's
Jurisdiction were vindicated in the pro-
cess of reaching a decision. An important
victory lay in this vindication, for the
Board in effect reaffirmed its qualifica-
tions to act in the area of assigning
housing units and emphasized the value of
qualified student opinion.
One of the unfortunate aspects of the
controversy was the tendency to talk in terms
of supremacy of men or women in consid-
erations of University policy. Whether the
men like it or not, the University ended its
days as a "man's school" when the first coed
entered the cloistered halls decades ago. On
the other hand, it seems quite inconsistent
to proclaim, the equality of the sexes and
then maintain that women come before men
in all housing decisions. Although a stronger
University responsibility might exist to pro-
vide adequate housing for coeds before men,
this does not mean that men's housing
should be turned over hurriedly to women
whenever the female enrollment predictions
take another turn upward.
In taking extra time to decide the fate
of Chicago House and Fletcher Hall the
Board acted with wisdom. Undoubtedly a
more searching survey of the entire housing
problem will follow and the Board will be
able to take a long view of the situation with
minimum emotional complications.
* * * *
IN NOVEMBER, 1951, the Interfraternity
Council adopted an anti-bias clause poli-
cy known then as the Acacia Plan and more
recently as the Michigan Plan. At the time
the idea of a largely voluntary program ap-
pealed to fraternity leaders who were breath-
ing easier after President Ruthven's vote of
the first Student Legislature time-limit bill.
Unfortunately their relief was so great that
little was accomplished with the program
and when President Hatcher vetoed a much

watered-down SL motion in May, 1952, the,
IFC did not pursue the ambitious course
that framers of the Acacia Plan had antici-
pated. Instead the voluntary aspects of the
plan were stressed all too much and a "do
nothing" attitude developed.
However, in the last year IFC officers have
been working with campus fraternities to
fully acquaint them with the aid available
through the Big Ten Counseling and Infor-
mation Service set up under the Acacia Plan.
Thursday a significant meeting brought 11
house presidents together to go over the
problems of clause removal. Since every
house has a unique set of circumstances
connected with its clause, the Counseling
Service is particularly equipped to take care
of individual cases, and the joint discussion
of the service seemed indicative of a sincere
fraternity effort to attack the problem.
TODAY, however, the propagandists of
capitalism assume great virtue. Capital-
ism, they piously proclaim, guarantees a
freedom which socialism, even democratic.
socialism, denies. And freedom is, for their
debating purposes, the beginning and the
end of the moral law. God Himself, I gath-
ered a while ago at a national convention,
is a Republican, the palladin of free enter-
prise, whose chief function is to lead His
hosts against the tyranny of godless com-
munism, socialism, and the welfare state.
(Then, following oratory in his ve n, the Re-
publican candidate for President promised
to increase the welfare provisions for the
aged and the farmers.)
..-NoranThim,.

The Ever-Widening
Margin of Error

FAITH is a funny thing. It arises in the
strangest places at the most unexpected
moments. Once present, the commitment is
seldom withdrawn.
Most of us have to a greater or lesser
degree a faith in Science. Although its
contributions may not go as far as we
would have it, we are forced to agree in the
end that it has been the measure of our
material progress.
But while we have committed ourselves to
a faith in Science we have given it a com-
plete Laissez-faire. Without question any
scientific or for that matter metaphysical
inquiry needs a strong dose of freedom. But
does science today, or more specifically
atomic science, need complete freedom, and
if so should we continue to grant it this to-
tal freedom?
The situation which brings these questions
to mind is the recent hydrogen explosion in-
the Pacific. A few off-the-cuff remarks have
led us to believe that the experiment was
highly successful-too successful.
The blast exceeded all scientific expec-
tation in the havoc it brought. Radioactive
materials were pushed out beyond the safety,
zone. This may be a very fine accomplish-
ment as far as the international arms race
is concerned and it may well be that with

the bomb we are capable of winning any
war.
So what? It has been said that man is
now capable of destroying himself-a com-
forting thought.
No one seems to realize with any continu-
ing conviction that one of these little deto-
nations may one day easily shatter our puny
world. Quite by accident, mind you.
One may legitimately ask then are we to
continue to allow the atomic scientists a
margin of error. The answer must be a flat
no. Any error might prove universally fatal.
It then seems as if science, specifically
atomic science in this case, must be limited
in the free exercise of experimentation
which it has previously enjoyed.
This certainly does not mean that pa-
per research, speculation, and further in-
vestigation into the atom are to be for-
bidden, or in the least curtailed. But it
does mean that we cannot continue to al-
low any group of men-regardless of na-
tionality-to use the world as its test-tube.
What price unbridled Science? Possibly,
Humanity.
"This is the way the world ends not with
a bang but with a whimper."
Oh, yeah?
--Mark Reader

Scissors At Sunrise
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Xt' TO THE EDITOR
The Daly welcomes commninations from.Its readers on matter.of
general interest, and will publish all letters which are signed by the writer
and in good taste. Letters exceeding 300 words in length, defamatory or
libelous letters, and letters which for any reason are not In good taste will
be condensed, .dited o withheld from publication at the discretion of the
editors.

f


Who's To Doo the Work ?

WITH the entrance of quite a bit of stu-
dent interest on the scene, the Student
Affairs Study Committee Thursday recon-
sidered its original thoughts on a seven-
eleven Student Executive Committee.
In the lengthy meeting some student
non-committee protested the group's stand
on a small "executive" committee to gov-
ern the campus.
They explained the seven-eleven set-up
would put too much pressure on eleven elect-
ed members who would carry on the opera-
tions of student government in the interim
between weekly SEC meetings since the
seven ex-officio members would be busy in
their own campus activity spheres.-
The committee suggested four solutions
to this problem: 1) An administrative wing
similar to the present Student Legislature
group.
2) An elected assembly of more than 40
representatives which would include the
Student Executive Committee and choose the
eleven elected representatives of that group.
3) Curtailment of student government
functions.
4) An SEC of 18 elected representatives
and seven ex-officio members.
Some study group members held that
the "administrative wing" plan would take
some of the strain off the shoulders of the
elected group.
But the all-important question of practi-
cality remains: why should anyone volunteer
to do the time-consuming committee dutiesj

when they themselves can run for this stt-
dent government or move into another cam-
pus activity where they can acquire more
recognition.
To correct this lack of interest, the elected
assembly plan was presented.
However, for the past several years, stu-
dent interest 'in activities has found itself
on the downgrade not only in SL but in
other campus organizations as well.
So, just because these assembly members
be elected to their positions, it does not nec-
essarily follow that they will materialize out
of thin air by virtue of "election" prestige.
The suggestion to curtail SEC activities
leads to the obvious conclusion that SEC
would have less power than SL and the Stu-
dent Affairs Committee together possess at
the present time.
Bucket drives, Cinema Guild and the
Student Book Exchange could very easily
be delegated. Curtailment of some other
SL projects is possible, but all-important
policy-setting functions cannot be restrict-
ed or delegated. They must be initiated
and followed through by SEC itself.
The only conclusion left appears as the
seven-eighteen SEC. Addition of seven more
elected representatives would mean that
much of the burdensome spadework behind
the making of policy could be done adequate-
ly without creating workhorses of represen-
tatives.
-Becky Conrad

'WASHINGTON-Interviewing President Batista in Havana the
other day I noticed him scribble a desk memorandum to himself.
It was in shorthand. "Shorthand," I told the President enviously, "is
something that as a newspaperman I always wished I knew. How
did you happen to learn it as a soldier?"
Then developed some of the amazing story of the President
of Cuba, a mild-mannered and most likable gentleman who belies
the fact that twice he has taken control of Cuba by revolution.
Batista was the son of poverty-stricken parents in the interior of
the island, and went to work in the cane fields when he could barely
wield a cane knife. Later he got a job on the Cuban railroads as a
conductor-brakeman, and at the age of 20 enlisted in the army.
But during these years, he spent almost every evening study-
ing. Though he never finished any formal schooling, he borrowed
books, went to night school, once even obtained permission to use
the library on the farm of President Zayas near which he was sta-
tioned. It was during these years that Batista learned short-
hand, an accomplishment which won him the job of reporter at
courts martial and the rank of sergeant.
I told Batista that I had been in Cuba when he staged his revolt
against the bloody Machado regime. Incidentally, though his revolt
was successful, Batista, still a sergeant, did not then become presi-
dent. Though he remained a power behind the scenes, he did not be-
come president until seven years later.
DANGER OF COMMUNISM
DISCUSSING THE danger of Communism in Latin America, Presi-
dent Batista's mind seemed to go back to the days when he work-
ed for starvation wages in the cane fields.
"The best antidote for Communism," he said, "is to provide
better social and economic conditions for the people. In other
words, try to eliminate low standards of living and other condi-
tions on which Communism thrives."
When I asked whether U.S. companies, such as United Fruit,
face a problem of land distribution in such countries as Guatemala,
Batista said that this problem did not exist in Cuba.
"Cuban relations with foreign investors have been good," he said,
"and they will continue that way.
"Cuban relations with the other nations of the Americas are ex-
cellent," he continued, "and relations between Cuba and the United
States have never been better."
Batista pointed out that he had severed Cuban relations with
Russia when he became president the second time in 1952. "At that
time the Russians," he explained, "were using Cuba as an exchange
point for their international spy system."
Other things discussed by the dynamic and delightful gentle-
man who rules the destinies of the wealthiest island in the Cari-
bbean were: crop diversification-Cuba is trying to get away from
being a one-crop country ... the elections-Batista will hold them
this fall . . . will he run again?
Ii Presidente sidestepped this one, but I have a hunch he will run.
(Copyright 1954, by the Bell Syndicate)
 DAILY OFFICIAL B ULLETIN]

Clarification...
To the Editor:
IFEEL obligated to clarify a mis-
conception that was carried in
yesterday's Daily article on the SL
motion urging revision of the pol-
icy of loans to women. In that ar-
ticle the statement occurred "Cur-
rently Assistant Dean of Women
Gertrude E. Mulhollan screens all
coed requests for loans and either
shows them other solutions to
their problems, refuses loans, or
passes requests on to the commit-
tee."
In the meeting of the Commit-
tee on Student Loans Thursday
afternoon, Miss Mulhollan made
i clear that she does not refuse
loans to women, and that all wo-
men do have the privilege of com-
ing to the committee for inter-
view. Miss Mulhollan stated that
she shows the women other alter-
natives to their financial prob-
lems "which they might not have
seen" However, she continued,
"the choice rests with the student
whether or not to bring her re-
quest before the committee." That
is to say, regardless of what Miss
Mulhollan recommends, the wo-
man still may choose to appear
for an interview. Further, in cases
where the women do decide to re-
quest a loan, and where Miss Mul-
hollan anticipates any negative
reaction on the part of the Com-
mittee, she herself insists that the
woman appear.
This misconception is, I believe,
incidental to the major arguments
for a re-examination and revision
f that loan policy which differ-
entiates in procedure between men
and women. However, for the sake
of clarity and accuracy, the Com-
mittee on Student Loans has re-
quested a clarification.
-Steve Jelin
Student Member
Committee on Student
Loans
s se e
The C o-oprs .
To the Editor:
DAVE KAPLAN'S editorial in
Friday's Daily criticized the
ICC for "lack of uniform and con-
stant supervision" in maintaining
material standards, specifically
those of food preparation and fur-
niture maintenance. Apart from
occasional fiascoes due to inex-
perienced cooks, it's Just plain
wrong that the food is inferior. The
material conditions in co-ops have
rapidly improved over the past
few years due to the energy and
initiative of their members and
will continue to do so.
I want to answer, however, his
specific implication that the In-
ter-Cooperative Council should set
and maintain the standards %f
such things as food preparation
and of furniture in individual
rooms. It must be realized that
student co-ops, like all co-ops, are
groups of individuals who have set
up organizations to serve them, not
ones which will regiment them and
remove their freedoms. No co-oper
has a house-mother, staff assist-
ant, landlady, or resident house di-
rector to tell him what shall be
the standards of his behavior or of
his bedroom furniture. In co-ops,
as nowhere else on campus, each
member is treated as a responsible
adult. His personal habits of be-
havior or dress are primarily his
own business. Funds are set aside
for redecorating individual rooms
and for the purchase of new furni-
ture when needed, but seeing that
these things are done is the re-
sponsibility of the individuals in-
volved. In the same way, the house
policies concerning common areas,
food purchasing and preparation
are the responsibilities of the house
members as a group. The ICC con-
stitutionally cannot and conscien-

tiously will not dictate policies of
house maintenance, food prepara-
tion or personal behavior. It will
encourage all improvements but
will never dictate them. A demo-
cratic system of individual free-
dom and responsibility may not be
the most efficient one, but it is a
system which we appreciate, are
proud of and will not forfeit to
avoid the danger of somewhat low-
er material standards here and
there in our organization.
The editorial claims that co-ops
lack initiative concerning their
own improvement. This is quite
flase. If co-ops have anything,
they have initiative. No other
group of individuals on campus
has the initiative to even under-
take the job of caring for them-
selves-buying their own houses,
sweeping under their own beds,
cooking their own food, or install-
ing their own kitchens. Initiative
has created co-ops, has brought
them where they are now, and will
carry them on to further improve-
ments in the future.
--Jack Hilberry,
Presdent.f TCf

their . "substandard" material set
up (food, housing, furniture). He
thinks that with a little compul-
sion and some outside aid the ma-
terial level could be raised.
I am afraid that outside compul-
sion and even aid is likely to de-
stroy what Kaplan calls our spiri-
tual achievement even though it
improved our material standards.
The secret of our success is pre-
cisely the lack of compulsion and
aid. We receive no hand-outs and
no one makes our decisions for us.
The co-ops have managed to buy
seven houses totally unsubsidized.
We have received no gifts from the
University, we have no rich bene-
factors, we charge no initiation
fee, we have no compulsory build-
ing fund. And I think the mem-
bers want it that way. Most join
to save money, but they stay to en-
joy this freedom. Speaking unof-
ficially, I think our members would
turn down any aid, however gener-
ous, if it threatened to rob our
right to make all our own deci-
sions.
It is easy to show that our food
compares favorably with, say,
dorm food and to point out how
silly it is to compare our prepent
material standards (built up'from
zero and steadily improving) with
housing that is well-endowed from
the start. But these misunder-
standings are trivial. What dis-
tressesome most is that David Kap-
lan (and some University officials)
fail to grasp our philosophy of
growth and improvement by dem-
ocratic choice.
-Stefan Vail
More Skol's...
To the Editor:
Att. Sally Lennington and Joan
Bryan
I AGREE wholeheartedly with
your brief, but well thought
out, mature comment on Eve Kom-
mel's letter which dared to suggest
regulation on TV advertisement of
our national beverage.
Obviously there can be no harm
in the benign, delicious looking
beverage which is consumed with
such gusto by equally delicious
looking young blonds on TV.
I would further suggest that we
substitute an "E&B" Guzzle in-
stead of a milk break in our pub-
lic schools. Any fool can see the
logic behind this . , , I'm sure,
Sally and' Joan, that you can see
it.
So Skol, kiddies (after Mom and
Dad leave the house, of course).
-Richard M. Kommel
* * *
Turnover ..
To the Editor:
IN HIS article on co-ops Mr. Da.
vid Kaplan infers dissatisfac-
tion amongst the members because
of the turnover, May I point out
that the campus co-ops are com-
posed of student members who na-
turally stay on the campus only
for the duration of their studies.
This is the reason for the large
turnover in co-ops as well as in
dorms, fraternity houses, and pri-
vate apartments. On the same ar-
gument as Mr. Kaplan uses, the
U. of M. would be accounted a poor
school because of its large turnov-
er.
-H. C. Patel

Congregation vs. Dispersal

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article was
written by an exchange student from Queen's
College, Belfast, Ireland.)
"DO WE NEED an International Center?"
This question was not included in the
recent survey of the I.S.A. It should have
been, however, for until opinion has been
polled on that issue it is superfluous to ask
whether we need a new director or what vir-
tues he should possess.
Concern over the present workings of
the Center has hidden a more basic prob-
lem-its proper function. Does it exist to
integrate foreign students into the life of
- the campus? If so, it is an expensive tran-
sit camp. Or is theCenter intended to
draw foreigners together? If that is its
role, it is practising-however good its
intentions-a form of segregation.
The present administrators would no doubt
reply: Neither of these is our sole intention.
Our first aim is to settle the student's ad-
ministrative problems. Next we let him meet
other foreigners and help him get to know
the Americans. We hope he'll come to see
the Center as a home, but not as a per-
manent residence.
But this cannot be the prime function of
a whole Center. That side of its work could be
as well conducted from the Administration
Building.
Perhaps the Center's value lies in its abil-
ity to act as a kind of international mixer.
If so, opinion seems to suggest that it has
not been conspicuously successful.
The reason for its failure lies in its in-
ability to make up its mind. What does
the Center seek to do-mix the foreigner

with his fellows or with the Americans?
At present it seeks to do both and achieves
neither. It should have decided by now
which policy it wants to promote, for it
cannot continue to function both as a
ghetto and a dispersal center.
There are two good reasons why foreign-
ers should be encouraged to circulate.
One lies in the Center's failure to show the
truth of its assumption that in the crowding
together of cultures some cross-pollination
will produce a favourable hybrid. But liv-
ing together does not inevitably promote tol-
erance and understanding-much less broth-
erly love. At the present time it is less easy
for some national groups to tolerate others
than for either "to get to know the Ameri-
cans." Some see the Center not merely as
a home, but as a shrine where their 'na-
tionaliachievements and aspirations can be
exhibited and guarded.
The second reason is the Center's re-
peated failure to attract American stu-
dents. Some people, like their currency,
are not easily convertible. But Americans
are nevertheless the most community
minded of people. While they will never be
drawn into a distinctly "foreign" milieu,
they are ready to meet a foreigner on their
own ground. And on their own terms?
Perhaps so, but what better way to un-
derstand America than to learn what those
terms may be?
If we have a true international policy, we
need no International Center like the pres-
ent one.
-Alex A. Walker

r

The- Daily Official Bulletin is an
official publication of the University
of Michigan for which the Michigan
Daily assumes no editorial responsi-
bility. Publication in it is construc-
tive notice to all members of the
University. Notices should be sent in
TYPEWRITTEN form to Room 2552
Administration Building before 3 p.m.
the day preceding publication (before
11 a.m. on Saturday).
SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1954
VOL. LXIV, No. 118
Notices
Late permission for women students
who attended the Myra Hess concert
on March 17 will be no later than 11:25
p.m.
Lectures
University Lecture, auspices of the
Department of Near Eastern Studies,
"The Crisis* in the Middle East," by T.
Cuyler Young, Professor of Persian
Language and History, Princeton Uni-
versity, Auditorium A, Angell Hall, Mon.,
Mar. 22, 4:15 p.m.
Academic Notices
Department of Biological Chemistry
Seminar. Dr. walter D. Block, of the
Institute of Industrial Health, will be
the guest speaker at the seminar of
the Department of Biological Chemis-
try in 319 west Medical Building at
10:15 a.m., Sat., Mar. 20. His topic will
be "Some Aspects of the Biochemistry
of Integument."
History 50 Midsemester, Tues., Mar.
23, 9 a.m. Mr. White's sections will meet
in 25 Angell Hall. All other sections will

business will be discussed. Everyone
should be present.
Episcopal Student Foundation. Quiet
Day for all men beginning with 8:30
Communion in Chapel of St. Michael
and All Angels anducontinuing until
5:15. Reservations must be made for
breakfast and luncheon. Dom Maurus
Benson, Missioner.
ULLR Ski Club members who are cir-
culating petitions for a recognized var-
sity ski team are asked to mail the
completed petitions to Dave Carpenter,
426 N. Ingalls, by Mon., Mar. 22.
The Inter-Arts Union will hold a
meeting of officers and committee chair-
men today at 2 p.m. in the League.
At this time activities of the various
committees will be discussed.
Coming Events
Undergraduate Math Club Meeting
will be held this Monday evening, Mar.
22, at 8 p.m., in Room 3-B of the
Union. Prof. Moise will speak on "How
to Avoid Calculations in Calculus." All
interested are invited to attend.
Newman Club. The second in a se-
ries of Marriage Lectures by Father
Emmett O'Connell, Professor in the So-
ciology Department of University of
Detroit, will be held Sun., Mar. 21, at
7:30 p.m. in the Father Richard Cen-
ter, The topic of this week's lecture
will be "The Successful Christian Mar-
riage." Everyone interested is urged to
attend.
Graduate study Group on "Christian
Liberty and Academic Freedom," Lane
Hall Library, Sun., 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Inter-Arts Union. Tryouts for a one-

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At the State .
ROSE MARIE with Ann Blyth and How-
ard Keel
ROSE MARIE introduces to Ann Arbor the
largest collection of misfits ever to grace
a musical.
This screen version of one of the peren-
ial summer favorites in light opera pits
the vocal talents of Howard Keel, Ann

Blyth and Lamas exchange various versions
of Indian Love Call during their amorous
excursions. This unpalatable form of enter-
tainment continues on and on until the pic-
ture just dies at the end of two very tortuous
hours.
Thankfully, the antics of Bert Lahr as
an easy-going mountie enliven portions of
the film, but his appearances are all too
short and infrequent. It is perhaps most

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