Newspapers / Fayetteville State University Student … / May 12, 1971, edition 1 / Page 8
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PAGE 8...THE VOICF...MAY 12, 1971 !LYdNS’~l ! DEN! Lyons had some startling statements in his NEWS AND OBSERVER press release in March. Lyons is under fire from many groups. This is true and had not been the case in all of FSU’s history, but not be cause these groups oppose integration as Lyons stated in the article. The issue of race is not even a problem at FSU. Lyons, seeking to undermine opposing forces (pure ly in the realm of ideas), has reached into his bag of propoganda techniques in mass media to direct attention from the real problem — himself— and seems intent on pitting influencial and other Whites against the Fayetteville State image. To save him self, he has scraped the political barrel most lowly for a supposed, reliable admin istrator. Earlier references in the VOICE was to the influx of foreign instructors, but not because of incompetence or racism. Stu dents simply complained that they could not understand the speech of foreign instruc tors, but let us pretend that Lyons’ fabri cations were true. With the closeby Wil mington friction and some other sore spots in the state, would a responsible state em ployee use racism to advance his own cause? Lyons brought up a non-existent race is sue to get opposing groups off his back. Is that what a $24,500 a year man cares about the state that pays hiim such a lofty sum? Is that loyalty for a men who DEMANDS loyalty and respect, but who does not even try to earn it? Is it further fair to implant his distortion of fact into the minds of the very same instructors whom the students couldn’t understand when lack of understanding them was the students’ only complaint? When students call Lyons a reaction ary, it is because of this kind of thing. They refer to his negative attitude toward their welfare, the lack of respect for other’s opinion and views, the removing of persons who don’t hold the same out look, the hiring of relatives and friends without regard to competence, tolerating inefficiency among some of his administra tors, flirting with the freedom of the student newspaper by attempting to discredit its fact-based opinions in editorials, obtaining a CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION Dear Editor: The ACLU is sponsoring a two year study of political surveillance in the United States. This surveillance project is developing facts and documentation about surveillance practices, including physical surveillance, wiretapping, informers, photography and related techniques for obtaining information about the political activities of dissenters. One important phase of this study is a survey of the college campuses to deter mine the extent of these practices in Amer ican colleges and universities. Since many of these practices are clandestine, it is fre quently difficult to obtain accurate data. Could you supply the project with answers to the following questions and wherever pos sible with relevant documents and stories from college newspapers. If any other indi viduals or groups are in a better position than you to answer this questionnaire please turn it over to them. If you could suggest other sources which might be contacted for their responses, we would appreciate it. 1. Is political surveillance practiced on your campus? 2. If so, what forms does such surveil lance take? (see above for illustrative sur veillance practices). 3. What institutions engage in such surveillance practices; campus security police, urban intelligence units, state police, FBI, other. 4. Has the faculty become a target of surveillance? If so, in v^at respects? 5. If there is evidence of student in formers on campus how prevalent is this practice? a. Are there cases in which employees or agents of surveillance units, federal or local, have infiltrated the campus under student, faculty or administration cover. b. Is there any evidence that students, former students or dropouts have been recruited as informers to infiltrate well known criminal lawyer to attend a con ference with protesting, sick students. The list is longer, but more than enough is given to show that Lyons is unfit to run the fortunes of Fayetteville State University. Any criticism of Lyons, negative or posi tive, is viewed by Lyons as treason. First, it was the Faculty Assembly and its elected representative; now it is against S.G.A. leaders and THE VOICE for its relating of facts about him that were unpleasant to him. Observe carefully what actions the dic tator will take against them. In his second radio tape, prerecorded with W.I.D.U.’s Bill Henessey asking re hearsed questions, Lyons attempted to show that he, in the realm of probability, was not the problem, by pointing out some lesser sore spots — the cafeteria and the can teen concessions — that were always lesser sore spots. Still, he is the sorest spot of all and even if he does remainatF.S.U.,he has lost the respect of all the community and will never be effective as the leader of this institution. Last week Charlie Lyons presented a 33 page paper to the Board of Trustees which climaxed a two-week onslaught on FSU stu dents, faculty, and rehashed the Bishop affair. What is it that an intelligent man in 1971, needs 33 pages to say? Can the length of such a statement belie the fact that Lyons, himself, inwardly knows that something is wrong with him and that everyone digs him as a menace to FSU’s health? Could he be attempting camouflage of himself with all that school paper? Can he, in the face of universal opposition, have the audacity to still try to convince the Board of Trustees that Charlie is the man, that Charlie still comes up roses? In the history of the school, this is the only time that so many agencies have ever asked a president to resign. Can those 33 pages deny that Lyons was given a royal welcome when he arrived and was asked to unite our forces. See welcoming pix on page 10), which tried to work with him, only to be ignored? Can those 33 pages deny that Lyons has sought injunctions to repress academic freedom at FSU? Can those 33 pages deny that Bishop was dis missed through improper procedures? Can they eliminate the faces and figures of those relatives and friends employed here at high salaries under nepotism and cronyism ? Do those 33 pages explain what happened to “catch-up” and equalization funds? Do they LETTERS TO THE EDITOR; campus groups? c. Are there cases in which such in formers or infiltrators have engaged in or been charged with provocation? d. What is the position of the university administration with respect to such practices? Has the administration fur nished cover to infiltrators? Is there any evidence that administrative per sonnel engage in political surveillance? 6. We have received many complaints about the political surveillance activities of campus security police. Does the security police on your campus engage in such ac tivities? 7. Is narcotics enforcement used as a co ver for political surveillance or harass ment? All responses will be kept confidential if you so request. Cordially yours, Frank J. Donner From Fayetteville*Observer Concern for FSU To the Editor: After listening to the voice and words of Dr. Lyons on the radio this morning, it dawned on me that it is time the citi zens of this city take an interest in what’s happening at FSU. We were here before he came and we will be here when he is gone. Almighty God does not like ugly ways of man and what He doesn’t like, at His own appointed time. He takes care of...Almightly God said, “The meek shall inherit the earth.” And what I heard in that voice sounded like a dic tator. I dearly love FSU and have grown up with some of its staff whom I admire and appreciate. My impression of the new pres ident isn’t favorable. To Dr. Lyons and the Board of Trustees explain how an inept, poorly written hand book was railroaded over faculty and staff by foul parliamentary procedure? Do they explain how Lyons has systematically played all by paper participation in the run ning of the University and set himself upas one supreme dictator ? Do the 33 pages say how he is trying to marry himself to the East Carolina University situation which is drastically different because neither the alumni, faculty, or community leaders are at Dr. Jenkins’ throat — only the students. Do they say how Lyons is presently trying to kill student body efforts at justice from a madman, by attacking the leaders in the same fashion as he did the Faculty Assem bly’s David W. Bishop? Do the 33 pages tell how Lyons has openly admitted in the NEWS AND OBSERVER his stall for time to pursue law and order with out justice. Do they explain that he told stu dents in one dormitory that he had these same problems at Elizabeth City State and Howard, thereby on open admission that it is he and not all three places at bottom of the confusion? Do the 33 pages tell how Lyons tried to create a race situation which does not exist at FSU, in order to throw blame at students and faculty? Does this not merely prove that Lyons will do anything to save himself— even destroy FSU and those who really care about it? Crux of the matter To the Editor: Your editorial, “FSU’s Strife Requires Soul-Searching,” March 28,1971, prompted me to reply. The editorial was apparently based in part on the feature article which the FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER carried on May 18, 1971. The latter cited the ac complishments of the president at FSU. These kinds of items are for public con sumption- Since they are, I feel that it is a moral imperative that the public be in formed accurately. Also, when discrepan cies are noted, the public should be in formed. There were several discrepan cies in the feature article of March 18 and necessarily then, there were Some infer ential discrepancies in your editorial on March 28. My reaction, then, concerns both of the articles. I agree that some soul-searching is need ed, but also needed are some desirable changes. My reaction comes from direct contact with the situation at FSU, not from secondary sources. I have no axe to grind, either, but I do feel that the record needs to be cleared. The crux of the situation is not one of “change and growing pains,” as the March 18 feature article implied and to which your editorial alluded. Sure, change calls for ad justment in many instances. But under cir cumstances, people adjust to change. They often welcome change, as did many of the persons at FSU last year. The real “gut” issue at FSU is the per sonality of its leader, not the changes that have occurred. Finally, the so called “dissident” faculty members at FSU are merely concerned that they be respected as adults and that the autocratic leadership desist in its ef forts to make them wards of the totali tarian institution. In any institution, there will be dis agreements. This is expected. But the method used in handling the disagreements is very important. The president at FSU has made some accomplishments. These are denied, but, in spite of these, the “gut” issue at this point involves the ineffective leadership which has emerged during the past two years. Change and transition can not be used as a scapegoat. Mary A. McBryde 2462 Murchinson Rd. this is a warning from Almighty God through insignificant me: Beware vrao you walk on. the real fate of FSU is in. His almighty hands. I don’t have to worry about the heat in the kitchen. Name Withheld Upon Request Teachers Wanted SOUTHWEST, ENTIRE V/EST & ALASKA FOR 24 YEARS SOUTHWEST TEACHERS AGENCY 1303 Central Ave., N.E. Albuquerque, N.M. 87108 Free Registration — Good Salaries
Fayetteville State University Student Newspaper
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May 12, 1971, edition 1
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