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THE L51NCE
December 6, 1963
EDITORIALS
Socialism?
Out at almost every tragedy comes good for someone, or at
the very least provides means for some Individual to gain an
end. Now, less Uian three weeks after the assassination of
President John Kennedy, Senator TTiomas Dodd (D.-Conn.) is
using this tragic event to strengthen backing for a bill wtiich
he introduced into Congress. TTiis bill, among other things,
would outlaw the mail-order buying of firearms. Sen. Dodd be
lieves that if firearms could be bought only in person, there
would be less chance of mentally unbalanced or emotionally
disturbed individual* gaining possession of firearms. We agree
there would be some Infinitesimal less chance, but there would
always be other means by which questionable persons could
and would obtain firearms. Need we call upon an overworked
example — the prohibition law of the early 1900’s — to illu
strate the fact that human nature cannot be changed in a whole
sale majmer by governmental legislation for denial of certain
things.
Senator Dodd e^lains that his bill also would require a dealer
to register with proper authorities (?) that he has sold a fire
arm to a particular person. In most states a j>ermit issued by
the local law enforcement agency is required in order to buy
and possess a pistol or other small gun that can be carried or
concealed on the person. Also, in many states it is a felony to
saw off or shorten a rifle or shotgun to allow it to be carried
on the person.
Our question is, of what good is it that these “proper-autho
rities” know of everyone who owns a firearm? Is it so that in
the case of misuse of a particular firearm, all persons known
to possess that type of firearm can be hauled before a judge
or magistrate on suspicion, or so all the firearms in question
can be collected and checked through a system of ballistics?
We can see that such a law, U passed, would obviate the neces
sity of checking into an individual’s background, which in many
ways would constitute governmental invasion of an individual's
private life.
There are 25 million people in this country who possess and
use firearms for recreation and sport. Are these pec^le all to
be persecuted as a result of the maniacal act of one individual?
That is presupposing an affirmative answer to Cain's ques
tion of “Am I my brother’s keeper?" The automobile — an
inestimably dangerous machine, which can be owned by anywie
with the funds to purchase one and can be operated by anycHie
from age 16 up - in the year 1S60 alone caused the death of
38,200 persons. Obviously some of these deaths were
by persons unfit to drive an automobile. But should we ask for
legislation requiring certificates at complete sanity and perfect
emotional balance before one may own and operate a motor
vehicle? Could we, even then, account for such instances as
anger, frustration, grief, depression, elation, or drunkenness,
in which everyone loses partial mental balance and emotional
control?
In the form as it now stands and as this writer understands
it. Sen. Dodd’s bill is only one step more down that ever-short-
ening road to socialism.
EDITOR
SPOIrtB EDITOR
BUSINESS MANAGER
ADVISOR
— CHARLES QIACK
J03EI>H McKENNEY
. COURTNET SHIVES
ROY WILSON
JACK ABERNATHY
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The Roving /
UOmOE MANN
StiKient-Faculty Communication
I believe that It should be an
important part of the education,
al experience at St Andrews to
have a closer faculty.student re-
latlon ship. By this I do not
wish to imply that students should
file their tongues to a shiny
point kissing the fe«t of the
faculty members, but that there
should be a closer extra^lass.
room communication. A great
deal could be learned by both
faculty and students by the height,
ening of these contacts. The stu
dent and the professor could both
indirectly enhance the efficiency
of tbelr respective roles in the
educational system. Many stu
dents are reluctant to encounter
professors In a purely socijil
or non-classroom situation be
cause of the marked hierarchical
social configuration In the class
room.
Perhaps If more social events
were planned with the purpose of
opportunity to meet socially a
great many cumbersome bar.
Tiers could be eliminated.
St. Andrews, being a relatively
small college, could make this
persona] warm contact an im-
portant Intellectual tradition.
Since imitation constitutes a
great part of the learning pro
cess, a professor naturally be.
comes a better teacher by futher
exposing students to various facts
of his personality and to the va.
rious modes of thought. It Is*
also significant that Increased
communication will result In'
greater understanding and In
sight Into the problems that con
front both students and profes
sors.
I ttierefore challenge and urge
both consclenscious Students and
professors to "break the ice”
In order to make the college
community a more understanding
and efficient team.
Adds Study In
Middle East
A summer study In Jerusalem,
worth six semester hours, has
been added to the summer pro
gram at St. Andrews. With head
quarters in that city, there will
be five weeks of travel in the
Holy Land and Middle East. The
group will study “Archaeologi
cal and Historical Geography of
Palestine” for three weeks at
St. George’s College, an Epis
copal school in Jerusalem. Hie
courses will be taught by a St.
Andi*ews Professor and Dr. Zim
merman of St. George’s College.
The students will leave New
York on June 11, for Cairo, Beirut,
Damascus, Jericho, and Jeru
salem. On the return trip there
will be stops in Tel-Aviv, Athens,
Corinth, Rome, and London, ar
riving in New York again on July
16.
The full cost will be $1,108,
and enrollment must be made by
January 10 in order to assure a
reservation.
St. Andrews is also offering two
other credit courses - an around-
the-world flying tour and an ex
tended tour of the Middle East.
Information can be obtained
from Dr. Louis c. Lamotte, di
rector of the Summer School.
The program has been es
pecially designed for students,
but it will provide an interest
ing experience for anyone in
terested in deeper understanding
of the Bible.
Assassination Of
President Kennedy
Some Views
By Rebecca Carter
The day that President Kennedy
was shot was a time of deep
thinking and questioning on the
part of studeiks and faculty at
St. Andrews. Persons Inter
viewed were asked to tell their
immediate thoughts concerning
the assassination.
Melinda Webster — I was
stunned and In a state of un
belief. My thoughts flashed back
to the picture In TIME of the
President smiling down al his
son—a picture that can be no
more!
BUI Campbell—Heard the news
while on the way to a Clemson
game. Felt sick at first to think
that anyone would do such an
outragous act The President
meant so much to the people
with his Interest In youth and
physical fitness program be sides
the political side.
Mr. David McLean—Had a feel
ing of incredibility. Thought of
the children in relationship to
their family. Wondered how cap-
able Johnson is and how much
he had been taken into the Presi
dent's confidence. I felt a grief
deeper than if it had been one of
my own dead.
Carly Rehm—My first thoughts
after the shock was WHY?
Bob Shaffner—At 1:25, 1 had
looked at the clock and later
learned this was the time of
the murder. The whole situation
seemed Ironical—Llncoln-John-
son, Kennedy—Johnsoa
Dr. Carl Bennett—Whole thing
seemed unreal. Ithou^tofDallas
as a hotbed of extrentilsm of all
kinds. Felt we were all respon
sible for creating a climate of
suspicion and hostility which
makes it easy for a psychopath
to prove himself a hero by an
act of Insanity.
Ann Stradley—At first I had
a period of depression and sad
ness; later I thought of Mrs.
Kennedy.
Dwight Bayley — Thought the
whole thingwasajcdce—wondered
what will h£^)pen next
VENEZUELA
A FREE COUNTRY
By Dr. Jose M. Bohigas
Election day has been realized
successfully in Venezuela. In
spite of the terror, crime, de
struction and threat by Castro-
communists, the people of Vene
zuela went in big majority to
vote. Under bullets they voted for
a man who represents demoi-
cracy. In this way communism
has been defeated In this Hemis
phere.
It is possible that more days of
death and terrorism will come to
Venezuela. However, that country
has honored the memory of one
of its most devoted friends; John
F. Kenndy, who said one day to
Romulo Betancourt, President of
Venezuela; “We wish the United
States to be identified with lead
ers such as you - liberal, pro
gressive, leaders who believe-
that the problems of this Hemis
phere can be solved in coopera
tion under a system of freedom.”
The people of Venezuela also
answered “present” to Romulo
Betancourt, the valiant President
that could resist, to the last
minute, the ferocious attack of
Castro-communists.
The threat of another Cuba in
this Hemisphere has disappear
ed. A triumph has been procured
for democracy, for a country of
this Hemisphere, for Romulo Be
tancourt, and for John F
Kennedy.
Mr. Spencer Ludlow—I thought
of the growing trend in the past
months to solve social problems
with violence. The U.S. has a
growing Image of a hero, as one
who occasionally takes the law
into his own hands. I wondered
what is happening to our country
to let this ultimate of lawless,
ness break out.
From the
S. A. Office
Last year at the Student Asso-
elation Spring Convention several
proposals were drawn up in re
gard to changing the existing
structure of the Student Asso-
elation, and also in regard to
modifying certain areas of the
SA constitution, niis year the
Cabinet has aKJroved the Con
stitutional Executive Committee
to work these proposed changes
into the old constitution, and to
revise the constitution as a whole.
The Committee is made up of the
Executive Committee of the Cabi
net, pUis Mike Long andBobZeh,
with Dean Davenport and Dr.
Fulcher as advisors.
This Committee has undertaken^
a difficult task, but feels that It
is important that It establish a
strong and flexible constitution,
■with and through which we can
work in the years to come. We
will all be deprived of working
under the proposals made last
year until the last part of this
year, but this Is a sacrifice that
will profit the entire college In
the years ahead.
Regisfer At^ Rizk's
College Shop
for a Holiday
Cardigan fiwsfer
to be give away to a St. Andrews
Student on Dec. 17th.
Rizk s Dept,
fitore
ficotkil
Headqiiarters
For
Max Factor
210 Main St.