University of South Carolina Libraries
....and Talks Attorney General gives us a ruling. I would think that it is not legal. Matters of personnel and eminent domain are closed. I did -make the statement that I am chairman of one of four standing committees and I did make the statement that my meetings would be open at all times to- the press. And the reorganization committee will be open at all times to the press. I am of the opinion that people in public life who do not wish to have the press present are afraid of their own competence. They do not trust their own competence to the point that they are willing to have it monitored by the public. GAMECOCK: Who is pushing this action? Mungo: I don't know. You'll find on any boards that people are just afraid of the public, the press. The whole world is afraid of the press. And the reason they are afraid of the press is' that they do not trust themselves. It takes a hell of alot of con fidence to level with a reporter. You have to trust the reporter that he is going to quote you correctly, not going to take it out of context. But more than anything else, I think it is the lack of self confidence that makes board meetings closed. A guy can state his - innermost feelings, his prejudices, his dislike for in dividuals, everything at meetings and not be recorded. And I am not just talking about the USC Board of Trustees. I think the law was meant to open it up so the public could understand the public busniess. I think we are in the public business and the public has a right to know. We aren't a private country club. Now I have a private country club, but I don't think the press has any business there. But the University is public business and I think all In issues except eminent domain, en personnel, and the things covered under the law certainly should be th open to the press. 12 As a matter of fact, I think the Ju best way to get rules, good ad- pe ministrative procedure, and $2( everything else is to have all those rules debated in front of the press, and have it recorded. People who are afraid to debate T' in front of the press should resign. They should get out of these T' meetings. I have no fear of fat recrimination even if I am wrong. pa I have the right to bask in my own we ignorance if I think that is the Bu proper course to take. . . La CORDUROY * LIGHT WEIGHT .10 COL SAILOR DUNHGA REE * Ligjht weight * Blue Denim '6.95 MOE L eHIADOUARTERS F0I Al BRIT CHI A Movie Review:.." by Terry Dugas Six years ago, Francis Ford Coppola started writing a story about "a professional eavesdropper, the best bugger in in the business." With theemergenceof Watergate, he has proved almost prophetic. The story of "The Conversation" is simple, Harry Caul is hired by Mr. "C" to tape the conversation of his wife and an employee. What evolves from this symbolizes the dilemma of today as the bugger becomes the bugged and fragmentary comments take on ambiguous meanings. Now a film has been hailed as a masterpiece by most of the critics and "The Conversation" just won the Golden Palm Award as Best Picture of the Cannes Film Festival. I fear, however, that the critics are overreacting because of the specter of Watergate. The film is good, no question about that , but it has fatal flaws. The suspense element is expertly handled and the psychological aspects of an eavesdropper who is violently opposed to any invasion to his own privacy is well developed. It is here, however, that the flaws emerge, Coppola cannot unite the two dissimilar elements of his film and still maintain a thematic unity. The Opening of- the film establishes the character of Harry Caul. Harry spend.s his life invading the privacy of other people, yet is himself a totally secretive man. The opening shots, complete with electronic distortion of the dialogue and static interference, dehumanizes the apparently warm relationship that Harry is taping. A haunting piano solo becomes identified with Harry throughout the film.and is con tinuously used to contrast Harry with his surroundings and fellow workers. The secretive nature of Harry is further developed when the audience sees his complex door and alarm locking system. It soon becomes obvious that Caul is intensely paranoid as well as in trospective. This trait is repeatedly emphasized by filming Harry dwarfed against massive buildings or in vast empty rooms. CLASSIFIED A MISCELLANEOUS TYPING: ALL :rease your reading rate by professional serv rolling in Effective (Speed) included. .Reasoi ading. The class meets Monday 254-5921. 'ough Thursday from 11 a.m. to FOI noon for three weeks beginning FOR SALE: Beil ne 24. Sign up in Room 203 liners. One 14 x 1 ndleton Building. Cost is only $35. One 10 x 12 and includes all materials. condition! Call SERVICES Fri. LOST A PING - 776-7456 LOST: 1974 USC in B.A. building PING SERVICE - Accurate, room. Sizable ;t, economical themes, term Contact: Ron L. pers, reports, general typing - LOST: One mo use IBM Selectric typewriters. McKissick. '7 siness Service Unlimited, 1226 REWARD, 3145 urel St., 256-1612. Steve Davis *Pin - Wale ORS LOW-RISEe JEANS * Blue DenimI or * Brushea Denim EVY'S t MOST ANYTHING ES BREW LBAS1EMBLY IT The Conversation" It is in this segment of the -film that Coppola comes nearest to making a valuable statement on the conditions of private life in our society. Unfortunately, he was determined to make, instead, a "psychological horror film." Up to this point Coppola has concentrated on developing Harry , the man. Now Coppola tries1 to set the plot in action by introducing a poorly conceived "Buggers Convention." This loosely structured device acts only in an expository role. It shows that once, in New York, Harry's tapes caused the death of three people, and he is afraid that it will happen again. This information sets the plot into motion, and then the convention and all its fine people disappear. The technique is sloppy at best. The second part of the film deals with the mental breakdown of Caul as he sees his fears nearing reality. The action is well paced through the tempo of the editing. Following in the foot steps of the "Godfather," Coppola initiates a rising tide of suspense and action that has the audience "jumping with the film." Taken in its parts the film has two examples of modern film craft at its best. Unfortunately, this does not hold when the film is taken as a whole. In this, Coppola is an excellent example of the modern film maker. Having graduated from the UCLA film school, Coppola is master of the audience "knee-jerk" technique. He can make the audience do what he wants it to do, but this does not, however, lead to a sense of involvement on the part of the audience. Apparently, neither school nor experience has taught him how to make a personal statement without flashing his diploma and making the audience react blindly. "The Conversation" is a fine movie as you walk out of the theatre, one of the best I have ever seen. However, it does not stand up to long introspection, that characteristic which designates a great film. But, the critics are for a large part right. It is a "modern horror film," with a "dynamic social document.'' It is well worth seeing, but not worth thinking about. LDVERTISING rYPES. Prompt, ice. Proofreading FOUND: Set of keys in leatl able, convenient. case - found outside of Pedigr( 787-3233. SALE e Wool Rugs with , $45. One 10 x 14, $25. All in good 256-8470 Mon. to LatIn ND FOUND men's class ring first floor rest *Hand Embroidered -eward offered. *Unique Jewelry Welles - 254-4582. *Alpaca and Macrame In talsring N *Many other items r 254-4230 ask for 2704 Devine Street 77 Lum - Fish ______________Open Mor In Campus Calendar WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 Film, "The Great White Hope," Russell House Theatre, 7 and 9 p.m.. $1 admission. Ruby Red's "Warehouse Band" from Underground Atlanta, Russell House Golden Spur, 8 p.m. THURSDAY, JUNE 20 Film, "The Great White Hope," Russell House Theatre, 7 and 9 p.m., $1 admission Ruby Red's "Warehouse Band" from Underground Atlanta, Russell House Golden Spur, 8 p.m. FRIDAY, JUNE 21 Camping Trip to Hunting Island, S. C., June 21-23, sponsored by the University Union,. leaves Russell House June 21 at 9 a.m., $6 price includes food, transportation and campsite. Sign up by June 19 at the Russell House Travel Center. SUNDAY, JUNE 23 Film, "All The King's Men", Russell House Theatre, 7 and 9 p.m. MONDAY, JUNE 24 Film, "Dames," Russell House Theatre, 7, 9 p.m. TUESDAY, JUNE 25 er Film, "The Entertainer," Ruc sell w, House Theatre, 7 and 9 p.r.a. Wearing Apparel -- Handicrafts --Imports from South A merica shirts and Blouses from Ecuador Handbags SwAMmcim '9-7995 Mon-Sat 10-6 's'Specialty v2 Beer ~t Beef & Chips 1t a.m. until 12 p.m. day--Saturday Green Street Five Points