1980-10-29; Central Michigan Life

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Libertarian favors
by CATHERINE ST. ONGE
LIFE Staff Writer
With ajnti-Tisch tax plan sentiments and horror
stories of its projected effects circulating lately,
one organization, the local Libertarian Party,
strongly favors Proposal D.
Charles Corigdon, a local Libertarian currently
running for 89th district state representative,
dismisses the idea CMU might be forced to close
if Tisch passes as propaganda from those in
power in Michigan's government.
"I think students are being used, through scare
tactics, to campaign against Tisch," says
Congdon. "There's enough fat in other areas of
government that if cuts did come to CMU, they
would only be about 5 percent.
"The main idea of Tisch is to produce a more
vibrant economy. History has proven that tax
cuts stimulate a more productive economy. We
(the Libertarians) feels it's a progressive tax cut,
not a regressive one," he said.    ,
Congdon   likens    the   Tisch   proposal    to
_•
tax cut plan
California's Proposition _3 of 1978. Proposition 13
cut taxes $14.8 billion during a two-year period.
The states' surplus decreased only $2 billion
during that time, thus creating $12.8 billion extra.
"Michigan doesn't have a surplus like
California," says Congdon, "but the fact we don't
is more reason why we need a tax cut."
According to figures from the Michigan
Legislature, the state's total budget for 1967 was
$2.2 .billion. Since that time, inflation and
population increases would have raised it to $5.1
billion. In actuality, the 1979 budget was $9.4
billion, $4.3 billion above the inflation and
populatioh increases. Tisch would cut $2 billion,
less that half of the $4.3 billion.
In addition, the 1963 Consitution of the State of
Michigan states the legislature shall provide
monies to maintain, among others, CMU. Some
argue of maintenance at what level, but the
Libertarians believe that enough fat exists in
other areas of government that higher education
would hardly be touched.
The Libertarian Party believes all individuals
(See "Tisch"—page 23)
Vol.62 No.28"
© 1980 CM LIFE
Mount Pleasant, Mich. 48859
24 pages
Wednesday, Oct. 29,1980
CM UFBWHkun Lmoattr
Mount Pleasant firemen vent the roof of house gutted by fire early Tuesday morning.
Fire damages student apartments
Fire and water caused extensive damage to a two-story
apartment house at 212 W. Locust St. early Tuesday.
The attic of the building was gutted, and the upstairs
apartment's ceilings were burned through due to the fire,
which broke out behind a wall in the apartment. The downstairs apartment was drowned as a result of water being
sprayed on the top level.
A resident of the upstairs apartment, Ron Scott, Flushing
senior, said the residents of the lower floor smelled smoke.
"We checked out the basement,"  where the smoke was
strongest, he said. The check showed no signs of a fire, but
"three hours later the fire started," Scott said.
The Mount Pleasant Fire Department wa^ called to the
scene at 4:56 a.m. Department reports of the fire indicated a
short in the wiring touched off the flames. Both trucks used to
battled the fire returned to the station at 7:26 a.m.
Although all four residents of the upstairs apartment were
in the building when the fire started, none were injured. Scott
explained they all were sitting up with a woman downstairs
who was still worried about the smoke smell.
Students hesitant to miss class
Profs may condone absences
by SCOTT FOSGARD
LIFE Staff Writer
Ten faculty members from
different departments all said
Tuesday they would not penalize
students who miss class to go
home to vote nexl week.
Also, five students contacted
in the informal survey all said
they were going to vote but
some were hesitant to miss class
unless the ' instructor would
permit them to do so.
Professor of journalism James
Bradshaw was concerned that 90
percent of the students were
going to enjoy their stay at
home and not concern themselves with Proposal D, commonly known as the Tisch tax
cut proposal.
He said only 10 percent of the
mini i ■■■!■ i.i-ii
students would do what Student
Association is encouraging them
to do—campaign against
Proposal D.
"It's not a holiday," Bradshaw
said.
Don Boileau, associate
professor of speech and
dramatic arts, echoed Brad-
shaw's sentiments. '
"People can get ballots
without missing class (absentee
ballots are still available in all
communities until Saturday) but
the first priority is to vote,"
Boileau complained.
Students have already missed
the first part of their responsibility by not registering in
Mount Pleasant or by voting
absentee, Boileau added.
Boileau won't be penalizing
students    who    miss    classes
{See "Vote"—page 23)
Dorfn paneling
_ **~
to be removed
by TERRI FINCH
LIFE Staff Writer
Now that the finishing homey
touches have finally been added
to most CMU dorm roonis, some
Robinson Hall residents have
been stripping hundreds of
dollars worth of paneling from
their rooms and dumping it into
the trash.
But it's not by choice.
The Housing Office has
declared paneling in the
residence halls is a fire hazard
and must be torn down.
For the residents of approximately half the rooms in
Robinson, that isn't welcome
news.
"It's a bad deal," said Ray
Jackson, Tipton senior and a
resident assistant on first floor
Robinson. "The guys were told
it's okay to have paneling, so a
lot of them went out and bought
it. And now eight weeks into the
year they're told they have to
tear it down."
But according to George
Jennings, director of housing,
the news should come as no big
surprise.
"It's been in the handbook for
two years," Jennings said. "AU
multiple story buildings must
have a class A finish. When
paneling is put in, that lowers it
to a class B or C, and puts us in
an unsafe position."
The finish classes, Jennings
said, refer to fire retardation
ability. Class A finish is the only
type that is fire retardant.
Although the rule pertains to
all residence halls on campus,
Robinson seems to be hit harder
than most others.
"Robinson   is   in   a   unique
situation,"    Jennings    said.
(See "Paneling"—page 16)
Abel uncertain
about lawsuit
by TOM HENRY
LIFE Staff Writer
CMU President Harold Abel has not yet been informed if he is
named in Robert Tisch's suit involving some university presidents
in Michigan, but hasn't ruled out the possibility.
Tisch, author of Proposal D, is suing presidents and state officials
including Gov. William G. Milliken for allegedly campaigning
against his referendum with taxpayers' money.
The Tisch II referendum would cut property taxes to half their
1978 levels, which would result in a $2 billion loss in state revenues.
It also would require 60 percent of the voters to approve any new or
increased taxes.
Abel recently sent thousands of letters funded by private
donations to CMU students and parents to inform them about the
proposal.
He said he has done nothing unethical, but would not be surprised
to see Tisch include him in a suit.
"No, I haven't been contacted yet, but I might be," Abel told LIFE
Monday evening after hearing Tisch in a live phone interview with
WMHW-FM91.
"If I am included, I expect to be informed in a couple days—which
would be convenient for Tisch if it is closer to the election."
Abel blamed Tisch for instigating the suit as a campaign tactic.
"The implication is that if you're sued, you're wrong," he said.
Abel said he and CMU's Board of Trustees anticipated Tisch's
move at their September meeting.
Trustees told Abel to start informing the public about possible
adverse consequences of the proposal on higher education.
He said he used $4,000 of a special $5,000 account to send the
letters. The account, which consists of private donations, was
established in 1970 for CMU's president to use for emergency
purposes.
(See"Suit"-page23)
In Brief
Early registration for the Winter 1981
Semester can be completed through Monday in
the Cashier's Office, Warriner 110.
..Campus
Members of the
Student Of ginizational
Council. will help to
distribute anti-Tisch
propaganda,
page 7
A report concerning
CMU's       window
programs recently has
been completed,
page 17
Sports
Test    your    CMU
football    knowledge
with  a  quiz  on  the
current Chippewas.
page 18
ndex
Arts and Leisure 9
Classifieds 23
Comment 4
DooneSbury  4
Horoscope 23
Off the Wire.. ..2
Sports 18
Spotlife 23
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