October 17, 1973 - Speaker reads a statement about 3M admitting to wrongdoing and paying the price, which goes beyond the penalty imposed by the court. The company is re-examining its procedures for company contributions to ensure no improper use of company funds.
October 17, 1973 - Social theorist Bookchin explains his views on environmentalism versus and ecology. Environmentalists attempt to control nature to benefit man, while ecologists view nature as a living organism of which humans are a part. He disagrees with Marshall McLuhan on the nature of communication, saying the world is not a global village. While the means of communications may put people in contact with each other that doesn?t mean they are communicating, and he comments on the function of television. Finally Bookchin compares the nuclear family and its isolation to communal settings, a preferable model.
October 17, 1973 - In several sound clips an unknown speaker talks about Social Security, the food stamp program, and eligibility changes. An amendment to the program is needed for seniors to remain eligible. The program allows purchase of more nutritious food, thus helping seniors to stay healthy in their homes. People are eligible for food stamps but don?t know about available services.
October 17, 1973 - Anderson details steps to deal with the energy crisis and fuel shortage in Minnesota and the nation. He says conservation measures and sacrifices are needed, as well as national leadership for state cooperation. He talks about labor unions vs. environmentalists, citing Reserve Mining as an example of resolved conflict. Finally he discusses women?s role in politics, discrimination, and says a larger pool of women with law training is needed.
October 18, 1973 - Clyde Bellecourt talks about the federal government conspiracy to assassinate the leadership of the AIM. He says the government is blatantly trying to silence voices of oppressed, such as the Black Panther leaders, the May Day 1971 crowds, and the Indians indicted for Wounded Knee. Bellecourt states that Oglala Nation and AIM accept the challenge of BIA.
October 18, 1973 - MPR’s Dulcie Lawrence interviews violinist Charles Treger, who talks about competition, Polish audiences, playing with Stanisław Skrowaczewski, and the difficulty of Joachim’s Violin Concerto in D minor.
October 18, 1973 - NSP has requested a twenty percent rate hike in electric rates. St. Paul has a provision in its charter to allow public hearings before rates go into effect, Minneapolis does not. St. Paul residents pay less than Minneapolis. Bill Mailand, vice-president of the Greater Metropolitan Federation says the Minneapolis charter should be amended to allow a hearing. Ruth Murphy, president of the Greater Metropolitan Federation says even if a hearing is held it would have no legal effect on rate hikes. A petition drive would be needed to make this a city council priority. She says the people in this city have no say; witness the domed stadium issue. Mailand says it?s difficult to lobby against the big utilities.
October 18, 1973 - A plaza may surround the Minnesota Orchestra Concert Hall building now being built. The Peavey company is giving money towards this project, which will be eventually be called the Peavey Park Plaza. The concert hall will finish being constructed first, and is scheduled to open in October 1974. Donald P. Engle, President of the Minnesota Orchestral Association, says he can see possibilities for presenting summer concerts in this space.
October 18, 1973 - Both teacher unions, the MEA and MFT, are holding conventions. Speaker Richard Foster at the MEA asked whether accountability will create change or not. At the MFT meeting Senate Majority Leader Nick Coleman said a recent error discovered in state birth projections means some 300,000 fewer students will be in elementary and secondary schools in the 1980's and 1990's. He remarked the teacher/pupil ratio would have to be cut to just over eleven to one to employ the current number of teachers, and that won?t happen. In ten years we won?t need the state college system as it presently exists as there won?t be that many students. Plans should be made now to deal with that reality.
October 21, 1973 - Writer and philosopher Ayn Rand speaking at Ford Hall Forum. Rand’s address was titled “Censorship: Local and Express.”