Newspapers / North Carolina Central University … / Nov. 27, 1957, edition 1 / Page 2
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PAGE TWO THE CAMPUS ECHO WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1957 CamP“*@Echo Member ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS PRESS The CAMPUS ECHO, official student publication at North Carolina College at Durham, is published monthly during the regular school year. Subscription rates: $1.50 per school year. Second class mail privileges authorizei^ at Durham, N. C. YES, YES . . . SG Prexy At UNC Blasts Tarheel Newspapers (Statement by Sonny Evans, University of North Carolina) SIGREDDA RICHARDSON PERRY R. LEAZER WILLIAM ANDERSON THEODORE GILLIAM, ANN NEWKIRK RICHARD HARRIS, ELNORA JOYNER, LILLIAN MIDGETTE, WILLIAM NELSON JOSEPH BECTON, AUBREY LOWE BESSIE GIBBS, MATTIE GILES, VERA MOORE Editor __ Managing Editor Business Manager ___ Literary Editors Feature Editors Sports Editors Copy Editors EDITOR’S NOTE:—A resolution repealing existing state statutes prohibiting marriage between whites and Negroes was passed, with minimiun difficulty, in both the House and Senate of the State Student Legislature which met in Raleigh three nreeks ago. However, the measure passed by the students from some 21 colleges in North Carolina did not fare as well in the rough and tiunble of politics beyond the borders of the '“mock ses sion.” Governor Hodges termed the students’ action “im mature . . . irresponsible.” Representative Harold D. Cooley (D.-N. C.) said the bill “shocked the sensibilities of our people.” Editorials on both metropolitan and college newspapers in the state entered the controversy with opinions of their own. A sampling of some of these, together with the comments of interested individuals, is reprinted as a special feature on these two pages of the ECHO. A liniE CHILD SHALL LEAD All marriages between a white person and a person of Negro descent to the third generation inclusive, are for ever prohibited, and shall be void. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of an infamous crime, and shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail or state’s prison for not less than four months nor more than ten years, and may also be fined, in the discretion of the court. (Const. Art. 14, S.8; IS^gcgvCS^r ^ ^ 1084; Rev., (5. s., S.4340.) ’ \ __ It seen^s that all the protests Governor ■ ’-newspapers concerning theStudent^L^^ Uture’a-gndemnation of thp “f misinterpreta-. Sr it must ^ ' membered that the students of the SSLteimply passed a biU doing away with the statute quoted and did not in any manner say outright that they condoned marriages between the races. As student leaders (notably Cochranr^ have said, the legis lation is unnecessary and offensive in tl^t it infringes upon the individual right of free choice and assij)ciation. Amendment 14 to the U. S. Constitution says, in part: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal pro tection of the laws.” The North Carolina marriage statute was designed for the earlier days when Negroes were generally considered inferior to whites. It is evident that such legislation grew out of prej udices. The State Student Legislature had the forethought to see and the courage to say that the statute is unconstitutional because it clearly violates the 14th amendment quoted above. STUDENT APATHY (WAKE UP LIHLE EAGLE) The apathy of the North Carolina College student is grow ing worse every day. This seems strange, but strange as it seems so few students are aware of the role which they are supposed to play in college life and the things that they should attain while in the college community. Voting by students in campus elections has become pathetic. The last election held on campus verifies the fore going statement. Out of a student body of nearly 1400, only 176 exercised their rights at the polls. This, is a little over one tenth of the student body carrying out the wishes and rights of the rest of the student body. Legislation has been pushed through the Student Con gress on numerous occasions without a quorum. This, accord ing to “Robert’s Rules of Order,” is an incorrect procedure, yet Joseph and Josephine College sit idly by and allow this procedure to continue. In many cases, some of this legislation concerns more than the welfare of the student and shouldn’t be acted upon without a quorum. Aside from campus problems, NCC students are not aroused by local, state, national and international problems. So often buzz sessions among, students and iteachers reveal this pitiable situation. Remedies for this monster (apathy) are many; however, since “Rockabilly” music is the most popular at this time and the student ego is probably there, a word to the wise should be sufficient. “WAKE UP, LITTLE EAGLE.” The storm of controversy which has raged on the editorial pages of the state newspa pers over the actions of the State Student Legislature this past week-end is due in large measure to misreporting, misstate ments, and misinterpretation. Over the course of the last twelve years, the State Stu dent Legislature has done a great deal of good in both giving students the experience of meeting with students from other colleges to discuss the issues of the day and in teach ing these students the responsibilities that go along with government. It has become a body unique in the United States and one of which the State of North Carolina can well be proud. The University of North Carolina has a great tradition of respecting the rights of stu dents to vote various convictions regardless of whether or not they anger, criticize, or disagree. Though they were not elected specifically for this meeting, many of the stu dents here who went were responsible lead ers in other positions on the campus, and they split on many of the votes just as the stu dent body would split if a vote were taken. When a newspaper, such as the Raleigh News and Observer, does not report the truth from an assembly such as this, then we students are virtually powerless. Contrary to the newspaper account, the highly talked about legalized prostitution bill failed by an overwhelming majority in both the House and the Senate; in fact, it was not on the official agenda, but came up from an indi vidual on the floor of the assembly. The bill to delete all laws preventing intermarriage of races, introduced by Duke University and debated for several hours, was an effort by the students not to either condemn or con done but to protect the civil liberties of the individual. This obscenity bill denied the unwise censorship rights of sheriffs in the in dividual counties to arbitrarily determine what was obscene and did not abolish all ob scenity laws in the State, an impression which many people received. It is a shame that much of the good done by the students who conducted themselves re sponsibly has been lost in the shuffle of an unjustified controversy. SSL condemned Governor Faubus for his flaunting of the court order and his disregard for the law of the land and thus became one of the few official voices in the South to speak out for the people of Little Rock who elected their Board of Education and sided with the judge. It is our hope that the people of North Car olina understand that the sensationalism surrounding the State Student Legislature is unjustified and is a product of newspaper ir responsibility. There is nothing to be asham ed of when students conduct themselves sen sibly and with conviction, believing in the freedom of expression for which this Univer sity and the state have always stood. NO, NO . . . Editorial, THE LENOIR RHYNEAN, November 15 ‘ RACE, MARRIAGE . . . AND LAW ” North Carolina Governor Luther Hodges has called the State Student Legislature’s ap proval of interracial marriage “immature^ Tile Raleigh N«ws and wbserveir has ojjfheGT} “We are grateful that t^ey are not making thejaws for us at this timW.” The Lenoir Rhynean agrees. The importance and influence of the stu dent legislature was never more clearly as certain^ than during the past week-end when the intermarriage bill was passed. It is true that the assembly’s purpose is noble and highstanding and that many timely issues are approv^. However, it is unfortimate that an interracial marriage bill should not only be passed, but also named as the out standing bill of the session. The legislature’s decision to allow inter marriage goes against North Carolina stat utes and is in direct contradiction to South ern social patterns. Gov. Hodges has been aroused to the point that the student legisla ture may be forbidden to meet in the capitol building, next year. j Those who uphold the U. S. Constitution’s amendment concerning the “pursuit of hap piness” are using their own definition of the term. They claim that N. C.’s law against interracial marriages restricts the privilege to pursue happiness. We do not believe that our founding fa thers had such an issue in mind when they formulated the constitution. It may be said that this belief is pure conjecture—^but by the same logic, it must be admitted that in termarriage advocates use an identical but opposite theory. And integrated schools are not necessarily a prelude to intermatriage. Editorial, Nov. 15 THE DAVIDSONIAN Davidson College ^YOUTHFUL PRIVILEGE” Several of the resolutions passed by the North Carolina Student Legislature in Raleigh last week struck a blow at what many consider a reasonable sense of good judgement. The proposals that the student lawmakers passed at the “mock” legislature are somewhat dis turbing at a first glance. The initial shock, however, is tempered when we consider that first of all this was in truth a “mock” legislative assembly—i a fortunate fact! We should not overlook the fact that at least two Davidson students apparently kept their wits and were not lured off base by the left-of-center thinking of their fellow delegates. The second consideration that eases the original shock is the thought that what better time could there be than the college years to be radical? , One of the wonderful things about youth is the privilege of being foolish; Editorial, RALEIGH NEWS AND OBSERVER, November 11 ‘GASOLINE ON A FIRE”’ Youth is entitled to its percentage of mistakes. But is is sad to see any group of young people making such a contri bution to the difficulties which now beset the South as was made by the so-called North Carolina Student Legislature at its session in Raleigh last week. Obviously the only purpose which could be served by its resolution with regard to laws on inter-racial marriages was to throw gasoline on a fire al ready blazing. Actually, however, the assembled students’ action served to emphasize the fact that they do not represent the students of North Carolina. So long as the young men and women who gathered seemed only meeting to learn something about leg islative processes, it was all right not to question the preten tious suggestion that they constituted a legislature represent ing the college students of the state. Having undertaken to re solve for the students of the State, however, it is well to rec ognize that this legislature is not one democratically chosen by students in elections but largely a self-appointed body of young people representing only themselves or small groups on the campuses. One excuse—or explanation—deserves notice while it does not undo the damage done. Apparently a prize is offered which stirs the most debate. This one certainly was calculated to arouse the delegates or raise the roof. Unfortunately, how ever, the resolution won, as it deserved, condemnation as well as a prize. Also it won a booby prize for the student Legisla ture itself.
North Carolina Central University Student Newspaper
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Nov. 27, 1957, edition 1
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