1977-01-31; Central Michigan Life

              ■I'.'l  ' III...     ' M
)lume 58 No. 50
Mt. Pleasant, Mich. 48J95?
Monday, January 31,1977
^^pm^vm^
Energy crisis continues
CMU dials heating down
by STEVE BENNETT
CM LIFE Reporter
a   letter   addressed   to
ients,   faculty   and    staff,
Isident Harold Abel Friday
ed the University community
^elp keep temperatures at 68
rees in an effort to comply
i Michigan Consolidated
request     that     CMU
nomize in gas usage in every
sible way.
Llso Friday, Ohio, New York,
Cnsylvania and New Jersey
fe declared under energy
ergencies as officials sought
(conserve dwindling energy
[plies.
The phone call from Michigan
hsolidated Gas advised CMU
Ire "is a definite possibility
that gas will be diverted from
Michigan to other states by
federal order. If this happens,
there will be a reduced quantity
of natural gas available for
distribution in. Michigan," according to Abel's letter.
At pfesent, however,
Michigan natural gas supplies
are in "good shape," according
to John Stewart, public affairs
supervisor for the Alma district
of the gas company.
"As of how, we see no shortages in our service areas,"
Stewart said Sunday. "But
tomorrow, depending on
President Jimmy Carter's
decision, I just don't know what
will happen."
Carter     has     requested
arming trend'
redicted for area
^on't break out your Bermuda shorts, but the central Michigan
i is expecting a slight warming trend through Wednesday, a
Icesperson for the U.S. Weather Service in Houghton Lake said
jiday.
francis Amy, meteorological technician, said temperatures in the
[teens   and   possibly   into  the  20s  are   expected   through
Idnesday.
[oday is expected to be mostly cloudy with light snow flurries
I a high in the mid-teens. However, winds will be out of the
Ithwest, increasing to 15 to 25 m.p.h.
(Any significant snowfall is indicated for- Wednesday," Arhy said.
^oweverricebox*cdtiditi6n8 ate' expected" to retttrn by" TRuredgy,"
pysaid. ■ .
The new year already is running 8.5 degrees below normal for
fuary, Amy said, and since September, temperatures have been
! degrees below normal.
January's normal temperature is about 17.4 degrees, while
Wuary's normal temperature is about 18.2 degrees.
U CMU, administrators are taking steps to cut the University's
frgy consumption (See story this pageK
\ spokesperson for the Physical Plant said Central is considering
ping fuel oil if natural gas supplies become scarce or are diverted
lore critically affected states.
Congress to grant federal
authority to reallocate existing
fuel supplies and to temporarily
deregulate interstate gas prices.
The objective, .of this action is
quickly .to shift more\ gas to
those areas which now are
suffering.
The decision . on'- fuel
reallocation is expected to be
announced sometime today.
However, even if Michigan is
forced to divert a percentage of
its gas supply' to other states,
Consolidated Gas is confident it
will be able to continue supplying fuel to local residents.
"I expect it wouldn't have a
great impact on us, but we will
definitely feel the squeeze,"
Stewart said.
Abel's letter said "We will try
to maintain occupies spaces at
approximately 68 degrees for
the present, but we may be
called on to go even lower if
Michigan is diverted. By accepting these hardships now, it
may aviod being directed to
close the University at a further
time this winter." ■*
The fuel crisis in the Northeast threatened to add more
than 250,000 new layoffs to the
ranks of the estimated 400,000
already unemployed by the
energy, crisis.
The unusually cold weather
this winter already has closed
some 4,000 plants and caused
more than 400,000 layoffs, according to federal energy officials. Several states said they
sxpeci ,appiieatiojos:, Jpx^ujjem::
ployment benefits and food
stamps to soar because of layoffs
caused by natural gas shortages.
The local manager of
Michigan Consolidated Gas
called CMU to request a
reduction in temperatures to
help conserve gas.
Ed Naretto, CMU superintendent of utilities for the
Physical Plant said the
University has set up an oil
replacement burner if CMU's
gas supplies are cut.
j "Water temperatures for the
University have been cut from
130 to 140 degrees to 120
degrees to save gas," Naretto
said, "However the food com-
mons Water temperature will
Sj^ay at around 180 degrees to
wash dishes."
$ In Michigan, heating oil
supplies have dipped to the
point that government officials
are considering putting state
employees on a 10-hour, four-day
Work week to get over the
crunch.
Michigan has been hit l>y
extremely tight supplies of
Number 1 Heating Oil, which is
used to heat 22 per cent of the
state's homes, and shortages of
kerosene used by mobile home
occupants.
Other energy sources appear
to be stable at this time, according to Michael Dively,
Michigan Energy Administration director.
This bicycle in front of LarzelerrHall typifies a scene in front
of many dormitories on campus. While students found two-
wheeled transportation convenient during the fall, the arrival of
winter forced them to take to foot and many abandoned their
bikes in the racks until spring. (LIFE photo by Pam Eckman.)
Black History Month
features varied events
by TONY BEARING
CM LIFE Reporter
A busy inw^ie^ol^cjjltural
' and    social    activities    are
scheduled through February in
celebration   of   Black   History
. Month. But it is not just for the
benefit of blacks, according to
Greg Williams, organization for
Black Unity (OBU) president.
OBU will kick off Black
History Month with an opening
ceremony Tuesday at 7 p.m. in
Warriner Auditorium honoring
black women in CMU's faculty
Meeting set today
ecertification move begins
by PAM KLEIN
LIFE News Editor
tfter nearly a three-year wait, Free Faculty members will meet
iay to begin a second decertification campaign against Central's
Jculty Association (FA).
The meeting is set for 4 p.m. in the Community Room of St.
ary's University Parish, 1409 S. Washington St.
7ree Faculty members first attempted to oust the FA in Sep-
iber 1974, when more than half of CMU's faculty signed petitions
filing for a decertification election.
(However, the petitions were worded inaccurately and were
Smissed by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission
JERC) in October 1974.
■The Free Faculty appealed the dismissal to MERC and the state
|urt of Appeals, but were turned down both times. Then the
pchigan Supreme Court refused to hear the case and the Free
jiculty ceased its anti-FA activities - until now.
[And this time Free Faculty leaders believe their decertification
Jmpaign will be successful. (Thirty per cent of the faculty must
jn cards requesting the decertification vote for MERC to
Ithorize an election.)
["Of course we'll get 30 per cent," Robert Anthony, Free Faculty
ider, said. "We had well over that many signatures last time
eptember 1974)." Robert Cf oil, another Free Faculty leader, said
lout 180 signatures are needed, but Anthony added the group
buld try to accumulate at least 300 signatures.
[The Free Faculty have Said the decertification vote is necessary
decide the issue of FA representation. However, FA officials
|ve maintained faculty will cast their vote by not signing the cards
N expressing a vote of confidence for the FA.
["Why are they fighting an election so badly?" Anthony asked.
Wouldn't they want a mandate from the faculty? I want people to
[ve a chance to decide. If I lose, I lose, but I've expressed my point
Iview."
|"I wish it (decertification campaign) wasn't underway, but I've
fcepted it," FA President Ronald Johnstone said. He cautioned
culty members to be aware that when they sign decertification
[rds they are saying they do not want the FA as their collective
Irgaining agent, not that they want an election to determine the
lue.
[But, if an election is Conducted, it should be done by June 30,
[cording to J. Norbert Musto, FA executive director.
'If they do petition MERC with 30 p^er cent, we'll be barred from
Igotiations until MERC reviews the cards and schedules an
action," Musto Said. "If there is some delay in setting an election
could lose all summer and start the academic year without
[gotiations. That is something people should be cognizant of when
Bning the cards," Negotiations for a new three-year agreement
[ween the FA and the University are set to begin this summer.
[Another issue of the decertification campaign is the FA's agency
shop fee, or the equivalent of union dues. Free Faculty members
have refused to pay the fee because they said some of the money
was used for political purposes.
But Musto said the fee still is due even if the FA is decertified and
vowed the FA would try to collect the money.
Anthony, however, said he has no intention of paying the fee.
"We're confident we'll win in the courts and not have to pay."
Both circuit and district courts .have upheld the FA's contention
that the fee must be paid, but the Free Faculty have appealed the
decisions to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
and staff. All OBU activities
during the month will be free of
charge.
"We'd like to stressthat Black
History Month is not just for
black people," Williams, Flint
junior, said. "Every activity is
for the whole campus and all the
community. Everyone is
welcome."
OBU's third annual fashion
show will be Sunday at 5 p.m. in
the University Center Ballroom,
followed by a soul food "taster".
The deadline for entries in
OBU's essay contest, "Black
Women in America," is Feb. 15.
The winner will receive a $100
scholarship. Information and
applications are available at the
OBU desk in the Volunteer
Organization Council room.
Niki Giovanni, black author
and poet highlights ' another
Black History Month event. She
will speak at Warriner
Auditorium Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.
Black Theatre will present
"Peer Pressure on Niggah
Island", a two-act play by Moses
Dennis, Georgia junior, Feb. 23,
24 and 25 in the Kiva.
High school choir groups will
join CMU's Black Voices when
"Gospel Returns to CMU" Feb.
19 at 2 p.m. The concert will be
conducted at Warriner
(Auditorium' under, th&direction
of. Craig Matthews, Mt. Pleasant
junior.
A talent show is scheduled in
Warriner Auditorium Feb. 9 at 7
p.m., and the following night,
Feb. 10, a skateathon is planned
at the Spinning Wheels Roller
Skating Arena from 8 p.m. to 11
p.m. Proceeds will go to the
United Negro College Fund.
Inside:
—Dean reimburses SA
fund—page 3
— Gothard's       show
opens today—page 6
—Basketball team gets
snowbound—page 8
—Baseball.     practice
begins—page 9
Negotiation:**'"™0". T^f8;8
^ talk bargaining facts
byPAULRAU
CM LIFE Reporter
When the bargaining committees for the
city and Local 1606 sit down Tuesday to
attempt to fashion a new contract.for the
striking union members, this popular
misconception of contract bargaining may
enter people's minds:
Steely-eyed antagonists stare at each
other across a narrow table. Ultimatums and
accusations are exchanged. Fists band the
table and angry voices claim what the other
side is demanding is impossible.
But the realities of bargaining sessions
between the city and the union are actually
quite different, according to union
spokespersons.
''There hasn't been much of that macho
confrontation stuff. The worst part of it is
the boredom that comes from waiting long-
periods. It's .very trying on the nerves," one
union member said.
During a great deal of the lengthy
bargaining sessions, the "two sides aren't
meeting with each other at all. One side is
waiting for the other to study their proposal
and offer a counter proposal. When this
occurs, the two sides might meet
briefly - then the situation reverses and the
opposing side becins to wait. Both teams
have had separate rooms at recent
meetings.
The city and union negotiating committees have met three times in meetings
called by state mediator John VanderArk
since the strike began and two of the
meetings were quite lengthy. The first
meetings called by VanderArk on Dec. 8
lasted only two hours because VanderArk
said the two sides were too far apart to
mediate. The second session on Jan. 13 was a
marathon meeting of 14 hours, but at the
conclusion the, parties declared they were
"back to zero'." The third meeting, conducted last Thursday at the Holiday Inn,
5665 E. Pickard Ave. was the most fruitful.
Both sides said substantial progress had
been made after 11 hours and expressed
optimism that a new contract could be
approved at Tuesday's meeting.
The two sides~; reportedly have placed a
moratorium on aggression - they've agreed
not to disagree openly before the next
meeting. But things haven't always been
that cozy. Shortly after the strike began on
Nov. 30, the union accused the city of inflexibility. The city then accused the union
of initiating an illegal strike. According to
union representatives, the early bargaining
sessions were somewhat similar.
"The purpose of the early sessions is to
expose incidents and bad situations, to get
the differences in interpretation out in the
open," the spokesperson said.
When the air is cleared,the,bargaining
teams can settle down to' do the difficult
job-settling the dispute by face--to-face
communication with other human beings.
,An interesting tool used at the last
meeting is the "two-on-two" discussion. In
this format only two members from each
team meet at the, same time. At Thursday's
meeting, City Manager William Barrons and
attorney Phillip Nantz met with union
representative James Rughruff and Walter
Oliver, president of Council 11 of the
American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
"It's much easier to relate to two or three
people instead of five or six. It allows plain
speaking," the union representative said.
'The two-on-two format was "helpful in
making progress," Barrons said.
The relations between the groups .never
really become friendly, the union
representative said.
When the last meeting broke up at about
9:30 Thursday night, choruses of "goodnight" and "see you Tuesday" Were exchanged by the city and union bargaining
members. But was the warmth real?
"The friendliness is riot forced, but the
extent of our relationships is usually 'hello,
how are yoU doing?' and that's it," the union
member said.