University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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SGC student apathy or action? As the revelation and accusations sur- rounding the Watergate affair surfaced throughout 1973 and 1974, Americans be- came aware of an unending parade of nation- al political corruption and scandal. Myster- ious campaign contributions found their way into political coffers; seemingly sincere state- ments have become inoperative . Eventually the vice-president resigned and pleaded guilty to income tax charges. The President fired special prosecutors whose investigations got a little too close to the Oval Office. The White House staff told the courts that two of the infamous Watergate tapes had never existed. The average length of the term of a U.S. Attorney General decreased astronomically. Voices crying for Nixon ' s impeachment or resignation swept over the land. Reactions to this bewildering string of occurrences were very dependant on the ind- ividual ' s outlook. Hardened skeptics about the American political system grew even more hardened in their pessimism. Optimists had their hopes shattered, perhaps beyond repair. Many people wondered if an uncor- rupted representative democracy was merely a pleasant fantasy of Utopian dreamers. Still others may have thought that clean government could be found outside the field of conventional civic politics. In fact, at first glance, the college would appear to be one place to find such a government. Students, as yet untouched by the ambition and avarice that often accompany power politics, ought to be able to create models of demo- cratic government. Unfortunately, UM student government is hardly an example of uncorrupted democracy in action. SGC elections have been contin- ually plagued by scandals, computer foul-ups, and low student turn-outs. For instance, fewer students voted in the October 1973 SGC elections than ever before. Less than one thousand votes were finally tallied and charges of fraud and illegal tactics were rampant. The results were none the less certified and students who won their council seats by literally one or two votes became SGC members. And it is not easy to forget the election of the Spring of ' 73 when charges of ballot-box stuffing caused the whole election to be thrown out. Once pre-election shenanigans have ended, subsequent council proceedings have been marked by name calling and accusations. Last fall, charges of embezzlement and thievery were hurled at the SGC president. SGC is composed of so many factions that its effectiveness as the student body has been virtually destroyed. In response, last November, the Regents authorized the form- ation of a committee of students, faculty, and staff to study SGC ' s problems. Modern day demonstrations both in Ann Arbor and Washington sometimes act as if a committee will cure all ills. Whether this particular committee will improve SGC is open to question. Defenders of current SGC activities, how- ever, claim that student apathy is the real problem with student politics at the U. If students really cared, they say, SGC would be an effective organization. In reality, the exact relationship between SGC ' s activities and lack of student interest is very tangled and unclear. Did SGC ' s ineptness give rise to student apathy or did lack of student involvement create an atmosphere of irres- ponsibility in SGC? Whatever the casual relationship, U of M students realize that to find examples of in- effective democratic government they need not look to Washington, Lansing, or City Hall. They can find it right here on campus. 84

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are :hoi :rot ;or I or idi FO! Top: Tom Hayden, Jane Fonda, Bob Cheno- with, and Jean-Pierre Degris being intro- duced to students at Hill Auditorium. Left: Jane Fonda the work of the peace move- ment is not over. Above: Former Michigan Daily editor, now activist, Tom Hayden. Right: Former political prisoner of South Viet Nam, Jean-Pierre Degris. Far right: Bob Chenowith former POW, now activist.