Newspapers / St. Andrews University Student … / March 28, 1968, edition 1 / Page 2
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THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 19S8 THEE THE LANCE Sf. Andrews Presbyterian College Laurinburg, N. C. 28352 Staff EDITOR Ed Butterworth ASSOCIATE EDITOR Linda Susong ASSOCIATE EDITOR Margaret Parrish SPORTS EDITOR Joseph V. Junod BUSINESS MANAGER Pat Cooney ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Jim Neal Supscription Rates $1.50 per semester Advertising Rates $ .80 per column inch T'WO Non-Political Elections Reflecting the campaign words of our newly elected Student Association President, David Betts, we do not want a student government which is a “play government.” We should want to create a government which reflects the problems of students in a realistic and responsible manner. To achieve this end, we mu3t first clear our structure of its faults, and the most recent fault, if not clear to the students who participated in student government elections, is the procedure we have used in our elections for the past several years. Campaigning is an essential part of any election. Without sufficient time for campaigns, students must rely not on the issues and how the candidates plan to organize the student body for the coming year, but primarily on the basis of past ex perience, popularity, and other personal factors. Nor could a campaign which has been regulated by a committee such as the elections board, be considered a political campaign. Students who are allowed an equal one minute of time apiece surely have no way of influencing fellow students. The students’ decisions will rest largely on popularity. When a limit is set on the financing of a campaign, there is restricted freedom which should belong to the candidate, and this could affect whether a person wins or loses an election. In short, an election structured in this fashion does not present an equal opportunity for all candidates as it is intended, but prohibits the underdog from exceeding the efforts of his more popular opponent in order to win the election. The most recent election was poorly scheduled. Candidates had only three days to campaign. A few had the opportunity to speak before the student body Monday evening, others were allowed one minute in each of the dorms the following two evenings, while discussions with the candidates were allowed after their introductions. Financing their short campaigns was no problem this year, for there was little time to prepare. Yet the candidates can be blamed for their failure to create a political campaign. None of the candidates scheduled public speeches other than those set up by the elections board. If only one candidate running for a major position had done this, the other candidates would have had to follow suit, thus creating a political campus campaign. Nor did a candidate buy space in “The Lance” either week to help his own cause. This is essential in a true political campaign. I see as constructive alternatives to reforming the present elections procedures reducing the powers and influences of the elections board to adesired minimum, namely to print the ballots .and to count the votes. Allow candidates to schedule their own campaigning to include public speaking at their own convenience and as often as they deem necessary; there should be no regula tions concerning the financing of a campaign; there should be at least two weeks and preferably three weeks for student campaign ing. Posters should be allowed to remain up throughout the elections. It is fine and rightous that we should want our elections to be non-partisanand that every candidate have an equal opportunity to vie for his proposed position. But to limit campaigning by imposing regulations Intended to produce an equal opportunity elections is typical of a “play'’government. If you want a true political student government, you cannot succeed by limiting campaign procedures with unnecessary rules and regulations. Opinion Poll M WERE the recent Student Association elections and campaigns |:;.a sufficient form of campus politics? NN KEFAUVER “Campaigning expenses should be limited to eliminate the mass confusion of profuse poster-plastering. KENNY PRITCHARD “Yes, the three day time i period was adequate for the ; candidates to present their plat- forms. There Is no need for a •: regulations committee at the t present time.” LINDA PEEL “No, the campaigning period was much too short. It pushed the dorm forums and did not give the candidates time enough to present his views. The elec tions board should be a more ‘open’ and suggestive body.” KEMP GREGORY “Yes, a longer period of time for campaigning would al low voters to become better acquainted with the candi dates.” f Editors Argue on End the Stalemated War, Evacuate All U. S. Troops by Ed Butterworth I recently heard a unique solution to the war In Vietnam. The United States government should quietly withdraw all troops from Southeast Asia, and then immediately proclaim a great and total American victory In Vietnam. By the time the Ameri can people learned the truth, they would have completely forgot ten the war and why we were there. Robert Kennedy in his current campaign for the Democratic nomination for President of The United States reversed his previous stand on the Vietnam situation, stating that he had made a mistake, and that it would serve the national interest if the Johnson Administration would do the same, now, before we get further involved in the crisis. Individual organizations across the country have noted the same mistakes In United States foreign policy. In particular the National Student As sociation, the Southern Student Organizing Committee, and the Individuals Against the Crime of Silence have directed their attacks against our Vietnam policy by means of the Nuremberg Trials, The American Constitution, and The United Nations Charter. We may ask ourselves, If the war in Vietnam Is a good one, why hasn't Congress declared war on Vietnam? Conrad Lynn, New York attorney, noted in his recent paperback, HOW TO STAY OUT OF THE ARMY - A GUIDE TO YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE DRAFT LAW, that there are four times as many draft “dodgers” , j present in our country as there were during the Korean War, until now the most unpopular of America military engagements. This is caused by a growing belief that our security is not endangered by the efforts of Communism around the globe. He observes that “the new morality of the young (of America) is concerned with the hypocrlses involved in our indiscriminate burning of villages and civilians with napalm, and the defoliation of the countryside and destruction of crops in a poor country.” By remaining in Vietnam we keep only our ill sense of pride. If we believe that we are fighting for freedom in Vietnam, we should consider that perhaps freedom by aggressive and compul sive means is not the best of all existing freedoms. From an economic standpoint, the Vietnam war is a good investment. Ending the war would create a substantial amount of stagnant money, which would have to be reinvested in other areas of national concern. This problem we can clearly solve. In a sense we are now having a civil war among the peoples of our own country, the Negros and the whites. Money is needed to Improve the existing situation on the home front. It is clear to this writer that an investment of national funds in the present crisis in our cities is of more Importance than the war in Southeast Asia. Nor can we afford a setback In our higher educational system. The recent draft laws concerning graduate students have pla ced graduate school administratrix into a frenzy, for they rely heavily upon graduate students to conduct undergraduate class es. The drafting of capable graduate assistants to meet the growing demands of the escalated war In Vietnam may cause some schools a substantial financial setback, and will cause a. minor relapse in our country’s technology when these valuable students are needed in the near future. Adam Clayton Powell this past weekend most realistically analyzed the Ironical situation that now exists when he asked “How can we impose upon the peoples of South Vietnam a forced democracy when we do not even have democratic equality in America?” We are In Vietnam, and we are deeply involved. We have nearly half a million troops already present there now, and only our government knows for sure how many Americans have died in this great ‘American’ cause. We are realizing that we have been wrong in our foreign policy thus far, and we must consider whether to back out and admit our errors, or continue to esca late in hopes of victory and lose more of our youths in a stale mated war. The decision should be clear. We must get out of Vietnam no matter how deeply the pride of our country seemingly Is hurt. The question that has often arisen is, "just how do we get out of Vietnam?”, and the answer is simple. Joan Baez last year commented that the only way to stop the killing in Vietnam was to stop killing. Equivalently the only way to get out of Vietnam is to get out. RICK mm r New Semester Plan Announced, Grade Point System Improved Official announcement of next year’s 4-1-4 semester plan was made this past week, and along with it the announcement of a new 4 point grading system which subdues our present uni que 6 point system. Students have voiced dismay about this decision, for there exists a feeling that credit which is now given for borderline cas es, recognized as either a B plus or a C plus, will disappear and be a definite disadvantage to students. This is not really the case, for grading systems, whether based on a 3, 4, or 6 point basis, are determined by individual teachers, and not the existing grading systems. The 4 point system in the long run will be a more effective system, for the 4 point grading basis is the most common one among American colleges and Univer sities. Upon transferring or ac ceptance in graduate schooi, a student’s grade ratio in the 6 point system must be converted to an equivalence in the 4 point system anyway. A 4 point sys tem will not be a disadvantage to students, but actually a great advantage. The change from a 6 point to a 4 point system should be regarded as an Important aca demic change, and should be realized as a constructive move in St. Andrews’ rapidly impro ving academic program. When someone talks about issuing dorm keys to women, you aren’t sure whether wo men’s dorms are locked up to keep prowlers out or to keep women In. Involvement in Vietnam Double Present Forces, Escalate the War Effort Women Deserve Equality by Linda Susong Women students at St. An drews are being robbed oftheir basic rights as persons. The women students now demand the same freedom as the men students. We are discriminated upon merely because we were born female. I am referring to the sup pression of freedom of St. An drews’ women by the restric tive curfew. Simply because we, who have the same Intel lect which Is generally higher than the average SA male any way and who pay the same tui tion fees, are of the femi nine sex, we are refused equal rights. The men have no curfew regulations. The present curfew on this campus is an Insult to our womans’ Integrity and intelli gence. I am not pushing for later hours for women merely because later hours means more dates and more fun, but I am stressing a more prac tical viewpoint. (Besides, I ser iously doubt the fact that later hours for St. Andrews women would aid the average St. An drews male in finding the cou rage to ask a girl out anyway.) Observe this following situation which occurs most frequently: A St. Andrews co-ed is asked to baby-sit for a FACULTY member. The professor and his wife have planned to attend a party. But alas! The profes sor’s enjoyment is disrupted when a most distressed young, lady calls him at the party. “It’s 10 minutes until 11:00 and I must be back at the dorm for fear I shall be persecuted by the housemother and dorm council.” But, of course, this situation could be remedied by simply filling out a little slip of paper stating the reason she will be out after the “magic” hour of eleven, and wait for her smiling housemother to en dorse the plea with the signa ture of liberation. Or perhaps the young lady has waited until after 8:00 and late permission is now taboo (who’d want such permission at this late hour anyway!?). But there is a re medy here, too. The faculty member may visit the smiling dorm mother and request late permission for the young lady. So, here is just one Instance of the problems confronted to a SA co-ed who is restricted with such a curfew. Not only has she had to endure the unnecessary details, but a faculty member has also been inconvenienced too. Surely a St, Andrews woman of 21 Is perfectly able to think for herself. It is an Insult, to say the least, to surrender to these rules. And sometimes the nuisance turns into disaster. Quite often, 11:00 p.m. does not connote the night’s end to a great number of people--name ly a girl’s date. Take for in stance the poor young man who drove all the way from Con- necuticut to see his lady fair behind the gates of St. An drews. After driving all day and half the night, he screech ed to a stop in front of the dorm, rushed up to the front door only to be greeted by a pair of sad eyes gazing back at him behind the locked doors of the dorm, time: 11:02 p.m. Equality, that’s all we ask— and we are even willing to succumb to a reasonable cur few, if only the deemer of the power to protect women’s rights at SA would grant us our free dom. Senators, take heed to these words and vote positively for later hours for SA women. Letter To The Editor Pike Informs Students of Important Election Dear Mr. Butterworth: I am assuming that most of the candidates for dorm pre sident have considered at length the importance of their possible jobs next year. I wonder If we, as voters, have also considered this mat ter. The Interclass Council is no longer in existence. The In terdormitory Council will as sume some of the ICC’s tasks. Mostly, this will consist of ad ditional social activities. The student association will pro bably grant the dorms adequate funds for these activities. So, further social activities will be a major task of each dorm pre sident. The dorm president must also concern himself with policy. This inevitably Involves deal ing with the administration in high-level decisions. This is perhaps the most demanding and frustrating job a dorm presi dent has. It requires persis tence and critical evaluation. In addition to these duties, the dorm president must deal with the Infinite number of de tails within the dorm. This includes involvement in per sonal problems and general dorm operation. Failure of the president in this area means that the dorm Is simply a place to live—but In a very real way the dorm as a whole Is quite dead. The point of all this is very simple: the role of the dorm president next year will be ex tremely vital to the campus. If a single candidate who is weak or narrow-minded is elected, the total impact and effective ness of the other dorms is weak ened. Next year is crucial to the vitality of the dorms. We, as voters, have the re sponsibility of seeing that a strong, articulate, and persis tent candidate is elected. If we do not, each member of a dorm, and the whole campus as well, will feel the unfortunate results. Thank you, Roger Pike Doesn’t it seem strange that the Physical Education building is the only campus building that still requires specified dress regulations in certain areas? Recently a faculty member prohibited a student from using the building’s facilities for his improper taste in dress. Per haps a student court system should be considered. t by Joe Junod While American troops are pinned down In the Khe Sanh en campment, I think back toDlenBlenPhuand what happened there in 1954. It was there that General Giap commanded his troops over the French government as they vainly attempted to main tain themselves as colonists In South East Asia. Marine officers at Khe Sanh have expressed confidence that their position Is relatively safe and any massed attack by Glap’s troops would result In heavy defeat for the enemy. And so the French (according to Giap) felt that any attack by the Vietnamese would give them a good chance to take them down to defeat. But the French lost — badly. So the Americans will lose. Why? What are thechancesfor any army when you are reportedly outnumbered 10-1, which is exactly the odds that some experts have named In favor of US and South Vietnamese troops for a Communist defeat to become a reality. And the reality of winning this war can only be attained by increasing, by large numbers, the troops in Viet Nam. Speaking before the National Farmer’s Union on March 18, 1968, President Johnson called for a “total national effort to win the war, to win the peace.” If we follow the path blazed by the antl-Vlet Nam war extremists, then, as Johnson phased it, we would be “tucking our tall and violating our commit ments.” Since this country gained its independence, intra- natlonal and international military conflict has been as much a part of the American experience as segregation and materialism. Although not publicly declared as such by the Senate of the United States or the President, we are presently engaged in a war in South East Asia. The fighting is taking place in Viet Nam pro per but the war is being fought in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Korea. The war is against Communism and only the armed conflict in Viet Nam draws our attention to that country away from the other countries of South East Asia. If we pull out of Viet Nam, that is, remove a large percentage of the fighting troops, we will be taking one step backwards in our battle against Communsim. Gordon Goodykoontz, in a recent issue of “Dialogue”, asked the question; are we really fighting for freedom and democracy? It is a legitimate question and Mr. Goodykoontz has given a negative reply to his question — that is if his statements have any basis in fact. For instance, if Ky’s hero is Hitler, I ask why. Is it because of Hitler’s quest In bring the world down to Its knees or the supremacy of the Arian race in Germany? I can understand Ky’s heroworshipping if Ky wants the non- Communist portion of Viet Nam to subdue to the Communist element. Gen.. Westmoreland has recently called for 200,000 more troops to be sent to Viet Nam. This is, in my consideration, not a decisive move on Johnson’s part. He should call for 500,000 more — doubling the present number. I don’t like war but while we are engaged in one I’m not going to buck It, Now don’t go calling me a flag waver or super patriot, I don’t believe anyone would want to see Marines digging trenches along the shores of California or Maine. Didn’t the rest of the world look passively at Germany during the 1930’s as Hitler gained power and directed the country’s energies toward the world war he knew and wanted to come? The claim has been made that the Communists will be happy with just South East Asia under its control, if they ever get that far. I disagree, I think of why Trotsky was assassin ated. He was content to live with the Russian brand of Com munism within the borders of Russia, But Lenin, guided by his concept of world Communism, had other ideas and let no one in his way as he sought to achieve them. Is it safe for the United States to operate and direct their foreign policy under the pre supposition that China will not attempt to expand her borders beyond South East Asia — if they do gain control? History tell us no, Japan, as a member of the Allies in World War I, annexed and fortified their positions in the Caroline, Marshall and Mariana Island groups, in direct defiance of the mandate. In the same respect, how long did the mandate stand up which limited Germany’s army to 100,000 men? Hitler had the answer for the whole world. If the United States believes that the advocates of Com munism will try to push beyond South East Asia — to Aus tralia, New Z eland — then the only action possible is to stop Communism where it is exerting the most influence at this time — in Viet Nam, Perhaps Communist theory is best for the people of Viet Nam but in answer to Mr. Goodykoontz’s question, the manner in which the Communists are pushing for their goal In wrong. Ideally, the United States would like to see a democracy in Viet Nam but suppression and oppression are not tlie means to their end. If we pull out of Viet Nam do not be surprised when the whole of South East Asia is swallowed by the Communist machine. The idea has been to keep the war in the northern sector but recent Communist led spearheads on Saigon have disrupted the plans for battle in North Viet Nam. With the war now on the southern side of the DMZ (if you are wondering what the DMZ is, look it up in a dictionary) the United States should escalate their forces tremendously and stifle the Communist Infiltration into South Viet Nam politics, economics, and society. No Charge For Children’s Tickets by Joe Junod One of the “higher ups” on the St. Andrews campus has been reported to have referred to the students at this Institu tion as “children”. If we are thought of as children, in terms of the way we conduct oursel ves, then we are therefore re quired by tradition to follow the ways of our elders. The elders on this campus, are those who carry neither books nor rakes under their arms but a head full of ideas about our conduct. If we, as children, are to walk down the bright, narrow path of our elders, then I see no reason for any “Child” to pay any traffic ticket he might find on his windshield, placed there by the Pygmle headhunt er who sits in front of the Student Center, day and night, rain or shine, waiting for a violator. I agree wholeheart edly with the idea that the tic kets are issued as a deterrent, but Is it wise to let it become an obsession? Two employees of the school adults mind you -- have In their possession 34 unpaid traffic tickets that they have received during the present school year. They simply have not paid their fines. All a “child” can do is follow his elders, who are re- sponsiDie, and likewise not pay his tickets. I should say here that the kitchen staff and most of the faculty are religious (like everything else) about paying their tickets. No argument on this point. But where there is one sheep there are probably several more behind the rocks. Booksellers and secretaries have the same parking privi leges as the “children” and if they, as responsible elders, do not pay their fines then we should not pay them. When our responsible, guiding lights into the cold, cruel world decide to create a clearer image of their responsibility towards us then we, in turn, should partake of this offing of genuine respon sibility, But until then. . .my only answer Is DO NOT PAY. Positions Open Anyone interested in work ing on the staff of The Lance is urged to step forward while there are staff positions still available. There are always positions for writers, typists,proofread ers, and layout mechanics. Write The Lance, Box 757 cam pus mail.
St. Andrews University Student Newspaper
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March 28, 1968, edition 1
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