Two Choices: Little And None
Elections for student body positions as well
as for various other offices are upon us and
quite a few students have inquired as to whet
her we plan to endorse any of the candidates
for these positions. Our answer is a simple
no.
No is our answer because, first of all,
we don’t have much of a choice. Okay, so
John Gaither and Larry Garner are fighting
it out for president of the student body and
Carol Haywood and Perry Moser are getting
a little hot over the sophomore judge posi
tion. But what about the other offices. Just
one person is running for each of them.
We hoped we’d finally see an election this
spring in which all positions would be con
tested by at least two candidates. But we
didn’t, so, in a move somewhat similar to
those associated with the Student Party re
cently, if we can’t have the game go our way we
won’t play-at all..
What’s this about the Student Party? Well,
it’s that the Student Party is largely respon
sible for the fact that students will Oe forced
to vote "Russian ballot” except for two ex
ceptional cases.
You see, the SP thought John Gaither would
run for president on its ticket. Gaither, how
ever decided to go with the University Party.
So the SP said it still supports Gaither be
cause it thinks he is the best man for the
office.
Alright, but what about its slate for vice
president, secretary, treasurer of the student
body or for student court or etc,? Does
the SP agree with the selections of the UP
for all these. We doubt it.
We have a strong hunch the SP feared it
couldn’t come up with many winning candi
dates and decided to abstain from the run
ning rather than be defeated. In other words,
the SP would rather die than get beat, liter
ally.
But this is not the right attitude for any
political party to adopt. The two-party sy
stem hinges on a vital out-of-power party,
not a dead one.
The SP is not dead, although its leaders
have convinced themselves otherwise. It has
merely lapsed into a coma from which it will
revive the moment it puts up a candidate.
It may not win every election but it cer
tainly won’t lose every one. A "not-so-
good” candidate is better than none at all
and a choice between a dynamic candidate
and a "good-for-nothing” candidate is better
than no choice at all.
If the SP begins in- the very next election
to put up possibilities for every office, it
will remain very much alive and will sooner
or later win an election due to voter dis
satisfaction with the party in power if for
no other reason. And to top it off, we’ll
feel much more like endorsing candidates.
Officers Didn’t Understand
Little Love Goes Long Way
BY DARLE.YE HELMS
Youth of UNC-C! “Gather ye
Rose-buds while ye may” and rally
to the newest “in” of all—the
Love-In!
On Easter Sunday, March 26,
thousands of Californian Hippies
gathered together in the sight of
God and policeman to partake of
love, love, love in Los Angeles’
Elysion Park. The purpose of this
“Freakout”, as defined by Hippies,
was to “spread love” via the par
ticipants’ mutual presentation of
such gifts as peanuts, lilies, ba
llons and pebbles. In this manner.
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
the Hippies shared love and dn
newspaper reporters.
The dress was way-out for thi
informal love fest and a variety (
buttons adorned the Hippies’ garl
One stated “This is not my beU
button” and another asked, “Ar
we God’s joke?”
But this nest of togetherness wai
not a “Down with God” affair. Ai
Easter service was rendered ii
the form of a prayer recitatioi
called “Seeking the Return of thi
Great Spirit” and one Love-lne
remarked, “Christ iswithushere
baby.”
Policemen patrolled this bizarri
love and met with few diffi.
of
culties as the day’s festivities cob
tinned into the night. They watch,
ed, but, as in the words of one o|
the officers at hand, “I justdonl
understand this.”
No, they didn’t undcrstaa
“this”, tor it is sometimes dji
ticult for the older generation I
understand many of the methods J
which the younger generatij
strive for expression and a cod
bond with something — anjl
'T KMEiv you'd go erupyiM fdk that yup-reRM n/ancY'
IT JUST OCCUiZKCP roME ThAt YOU
OUT TOR. A COFFee B’FFAK."
Ahlp ,Tkt' THOUGHT
■ ‘ 'HT LIKE To "
M16HT
thing, in the world called todaj
But then, is their understandiiJ
really expected on our part? I
The Hippies had a good thiJ
going with the creation of that whid
is called a Love-In. A little loJ
can go a long way and then
seems to be no surplus of it J
present day society. Perhaps
is what these young people wei
protesting, if one must surmis
that they were protesting anythir
at all.
Campus A.ttitudes Toward
Draft Lottery Are Aired
BY FRANK COLEY
Question: What comments do you have con
cerning the Draft Lottery Proposition as pre
sented by President Johnson?
Coble Fonville, student: “I have my discharge
and this doesn’t seem exactiy fair. Deferments
are fine (college and high school) as long as
classifications change upon graduation. 1 don’t
think that anyone should be penalized for his in
ability to attend college for, say, financial rea
sons, or others. I say this because I feel that
everyone has an obligation to serve his coun
try. Freedom is the responsibiiity of all, not
just a few.”
Daniel Shaver, student: “This same system
has been used and abandoned for the present
system. It seems that the present system was
judged more satisfactory than the lottery. It
seems that it (the present draft system) would
still function better and the present system of
college deferment is much better than the lot
tery. The face that one’s draft status automa
tically changes upon graduation is good. The
present system is the better system.”
Mack Robertson, student: “If Congress passes
the two main provisions that Johnson asks: to
begin a iottery system and start drafting 19
year olds first and end all determents tor pa
renthood (3-A), this will mean that I could pos
sibly be drafted before any college student who
is not married and who does not have children.
Because Johnson wants to consider further- the
deferments for college students, I think he should
wait until all the considerations are proposed,
and then start a new system.”
Joe McCorkie, student: “Doesn’t make a (iuiii
to me as long as they continue the college defer "
ment system/’
Lowell Cook: “I just want to keep my defer ^
ment and get a little rest. I’ll be drafted afteU
graduation anyway. ”
Fernando Orti, student: “It doesn’t matte),''
with me, I’m not an American citizen and there
fore will not be affected by the draft.”
Loren Haus: “I think it’s just as fair as any
There’s a place in the army for everybody
Taking the 19 year old is much better, he make:
a better soldier. He’s not as set in his wayYf
he’s easier to train. More physically fit. Tm'
records (especialiy those of World War II) sho>
that the young soldiers did their jobs very well )
If I had to train a soidier, I’d prefer a 19 yeai
old soldier. If I had a military obligation to,
fuifill. I’d rather do it between 19 and 21 rather"
than 21-23.
Gordon Kay: ‘Tt has its advantages and its
drawbacks. For instance, after graduation from J
high school, many people haven’t decided uponj^
what they plan or want to do. After service,'
they will be more able to concentrate upon whal|°*
they want to do. There are numerous dlsadvan-, '
tages and I don’t care fo comment on those."r'
Vicki Stilwell: “They’ve waited too long. Ii
guess more rich kids are going to school any-l
way and this cuts some of the discriminationlbe
against the poor. I think the system is pretty'
fair.” L,
ihc
l>l ■ A I William Browner, student: “I don’t go along
I Alylll In A ||J|||J|hA| with the draft system at all. I think that one
JWIVIlHL should not be eligible tor the draft until he is
Published weekly on Wednesday except during holidays. eligible to vote. No vote, then no service.”
ELLISON CLARY, JR Jlditor Rodney Person, student: “I go along with
Frank Crooks Business Manager universal draft rather than any form of lot-
Libby Holshouser Feature Editor disregards mental impairments as
Donna Hughes Sports Editor physical impairments. Quite naturally,
Geraldine Ledford Cartoonist anyone who is so physically retarded or men-
Fred Jordan Photo Editor retarded that the defect is noticeable, would
Nancy Kohler, Frank Coley Photographers automatically be deferred. There is something
Staff: Sally Hagood, Paul Boswell, Earleen Mabry, Corny Stilwell, everyone can do. I really don’t see the
Frank Caton, Jan Ballard, Patrick McNeely, Bobbe Berry, Carol advantap of the draft by lottery system. Upon
Haywood, John Lafferty, Gayle Watts, Kay Watson, Carol Durham, graduation from high school, the individual should
Louise Napolitano, Larry Keith, and Darlene Helms. hot be left hanging, he should not have to wonder
about “When am I golng to be drafted. ” This
within Itself is a type of psychological battle.”
Lane Hurley: “'This (an Army ring), thatth
(a wedding band), and this (a picture of his|an
daughter) keeps me from the Army.” |i;
Cheryle Leatherbury, student: “There islij,
too great a chance of worthwhile students gettingjhe
drafted, while some grubs will be exempted forlsii
no worthwhile reasons.” |
Sandra Smith, student: “Nineteen is too youngj *■
and I feel that these persons are being exempted"
because they have friends at draft boards. NinH
teen is just too young.” T
Nancy Mahaffey: “I think they should draft alf*!
if they (the draft board) have to draft anyone/*
Too many fellows are being deferred for
good reason and that ’s the reason many are here.
Ken Braswell, student: “I hadnt really thougM
about it, but I guess that would be as fair as i
is now. It’s O.K. as long as they don’t star!
drafting people who are in college. I hope ttiet
get Cassius Clay.”
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