Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Dec. 18, 1968, edition 1 / Page 2
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Page 2 VERITAS Publicus By EARLE WHITE The report published by the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence reveals two important questions; (1) May a supposedly well-trained police force use brutal and unreasonable force to quell violence? and (2) How far can demonstrators go to provoke uncontrolable violence? It is true that police strained by 12 to 15 hour shifts fought to con- trol up to 10,000 screaming demonstrators ultimately the officers responded to the persistant harassment by beating their tormentors with malicious, mindless ferocity. In one instance the police ‘‘put a man into a paddy wagon, parked behind the police lines. As they did, an 18-year.old, who said she was the man’s girl friend demanded to be let inside with him. As the police tried to restrain her, she twist ed and screamed, ripping at an officer’s clothing. Finally, three policemen picked up the girl and tossed her toward the open door of the wagon. But they missed their mark and the girl hit the back of the vehicle. The officers picked her up and threw her again. This time she landed Inside.” In some instances the demonstrators threw rocks, bricks, bottles, and excrement at the tense police. The demonstrators calculated that under sharp attacks the police discipline would eventually break down. The leaders of the demonstrators also knew that if the police used excessive force that they would accomplish their goal of dis rupting the convention. The demonstrators knew, too, that the vio- lence would receive nationwide attention and further reinforce the rightness of their cause. The Commission report concludes that the police were severely and purposely provoked. But the Commission further states that a significant number of police simply dissolved into violent gangs and attacked protesters, press, and innocent bystanders indiscriminately. It was, the report says, “what can only be called a police riot,” It is tragic to note that a police force supposedly trained to maintain discipline under pressure, resorts to excessive force to squelch the violence. The report does not fully establish why police discipline collapsed. Perhaps the lesser, educated police saw the protestors as a symbol of the repugnant lawbreaker intent on threatening the polices’ security. Undoubtedly, the demonstrators were aware of this and it was to their advantage to provoke the police. Under pressure it is unclear how people will respond. In the case of Chicago the pressure on the police was great but the response was not one of firm coolness but of un reasonable, brutal suppression. The lesson of Chicago is clear, the police and the protestors must use prudent judgment to control violence. Continued and severe police suppression will lead to wholesale slaughter in the streets in future demonstrations. On the other hand, demonstrators must refrain from deliberately provoking the police. Another Chicago could be disas trous for future law enforcement. Remember the only substantial results came after a “student” display in the cafeteria. There are a lot of students out here in the jungle of education who want to make Elon something we can be proud of. Sincerely, Thomas E. Harris Dear Beverly Axelrod By RALPH MOORE In previous articles, I have identified the Black man, the Black mind and their place, as they see it, in a universal socie^. Here, I will attempt to explain that part which the Black Man feels the White man’s role should be in a preparation of an assimilated or integrated society. There exists a controversy within the Black minds. This contro versy presents itself over which theory best represents the White man’s attempts to disenfranchise the Black man with himself. On the one hand, the social inferority of the Black man, while on the other the economic superiority of the middle and lower class whites. Devel opment of the first theory needs no real elaborate explanation here, for I have dealt with it in the past and will, of course, elaborate upon it in the future. It is then the second, which I am prone to embrace, which needs to be developed here. To the truly rich white man no race, nor any individual, repre- sents any oppositional force. “He has his,” so to speak, and there exists very little need of worry for him. Yet, to the “feeble minded” middle class white, and the disassociate lower class white, the “new" Black class is seen as an immediate rival to their economic security. For they realize when true assimilation does come, it will undoubtedly come within these two classes. It is then accepted that it has been these two classes which have allied themselves against the Black man. What has happened is that the middle class white has realized it needs the lower white class, for the political power which the lower white class can provide in numbers. To have the lower white class realize their true place with the black man, (1 would like to interject here, that this was a primary objective of the late Dr. Martin Luther King), would unbalance the economic and political “scales” against the middle class white, with the possibility of integration coming too quickly. Too quickly for the average middle class white to be able to adjust to a new economic class. To keep this alliance these two groups (the middle class and lower class white) have taken their color as their common bond. By the use of false security in his color, the middle class white has been able to keep the lower class white dis-affiliated with the Black man; sim ply by telling him, "No matter how bad off you are, you’re still white,” The white lower class has stupidly excepted this idea and forced himself to look down at blackness. Rationalizing that their is not only a group lower than himself, but one of a different color. By segregating himself from the Black man physically,"he, the white (See NUMBER 1 Page 4) Ldtm t(y tk& EdJJM' Wednesday. Dccembi'r 18, |%(j Dear Editors, ^ „ In the best interest of the student body and Elon College the following measures are deem- ed necessary and expedient to offer a greater degree of auto nomy on the part of the student body. ^ , 1. The present Inter-Frater nity Council be removed and be replaced by another organi zation which encompass and be represented by (a) S.G.A., (b) All fraternities and sororities, (c) all other interest organiza tions, (d) all honorary organiza- tions. 2. The name of this orgam- zation shall be the Inter-Organ ization Council. 3. Each organization compris ed of students shall be mem- ers with each organization hav ing two votes within the body. 4. The I.O.C. shall be the judge of the conduct and rules of itself. 5. The chairman of the LO.C. shall be the Vice President of the S.G.A. and shall be ren dered all powers and responsi bilities as presiding officer, 6. He shall be assisted by a vice chairman elected at large from the floor LO.C. 7. In advisory capacity a mem ber shall be selected from the faculty and by the President of Elon College to serve as Di rector of Student Activities. 8. The LO.C. shall meet prior to each semester for the purpose of submitting all activities sche duled for that semester. Each activity must be submitted se parately, and signed by -- the president of the organization. Chairman of the LO.C., and fa culty advisor to the organization submitting. This activity shall be voted upoin by the members of the LO.C. The LO.C. shall meet twice between the beginning and end of each semester to decide on activities other than those passed at the pre-semester ses sion. Additionally, the LO.C. shall hear and decide all infrac- tions of rules by meml>er organ izations and carry out all puni tive action. 9. At sessions of the LO.C. in the case of conflicting acti vities and dates the LO.C. mem bers vote to decide but in all cases the S.G.A. has priority. 10. When activities are pass ed they must be immediately calendared and posted. 11. If any organization breaks the rules and regulations set down by the LO.C., or performs activities without passing said activity in the LO.C. they shall be subject to expulsion from the LO.C. and shall not be allowed to perform any activities as a group until reinstatement a sim ple majority, 12. The LO.C. shall be the judge of allowing new members but may hear only those recom mended by the Director of Stu dent Activities. 13. Any infractions may be heard upon petition to the chair man of the I.O,C. by any person. 14. A formal constitution shall be written to include (a) All rules and regulations (b) number of ac- tivities, and type which may be held. Said constitution must be submitted and ratified bythStu- dent Senate. Author ' Robert L. Bridwell Gentlemen, I would like to e]q>ress myself on several issues concerning this campus. First I find It ridiculous at4he continual assurance that the Veritas is the students’ “news paper”. It isn’t even a newspa- perl Althou^ this past issue shows definite signs of progress. A newspaper is one that states news not just a group of biased opinions, called editorials, whe ther they be for one factor or the otherl As for representing the students, “how can asmallgroi^ of writers let us say, state the feelings of 2000 students. All I can say on this Is“telltheS.G.A. and the Veritas Staff keep rep resenting “student paper,” Ev entually someone Is going to be- lieve you,” Furthermore I would like to k!!bw why the S.G.A. doesn’t take more action on making Elon more appealing to both the students and the potential students. Just be cause Elon Is a small college we students shouldn’t be limited In our desire and results of things for Elon, whether It Is getting a Christmas tree of substantial size or other Elon “activities”? If the S.G.A, would lead the stu dents would surely follow, as shown by the “panty raid,” and that was just the boysl Doesn’t the S.G,A. feel that the female students have any desire and ambitions to partake in college life? Come on nowNoel and company let’s start thinking, Tom Harris Letters To Editor The Veritas welcomes all let ters; however, due to a lack of space, we reserve the right to be as selective as necessary in our choice of letters for publi cation, Moreover, we reserve the right to delete from any corres pondence for reasons of libel. We cannot accept unsigned let- ters. Those wishing to write to this newspaper should address their letters to EDITORS, P,0. 1635, Elon College. Brief com munications will receive prefer ence. Veritas editiorial staff CO-editors barton c, show rondo11 s. spencer sports editor Charles t. butler associate editors david Spicer eorle white contributing editor rolph moore advertising manager linda I. long reportorial staff richard beam tom harris cheryl hopkins kathy mangum denny mcquire edward mcginnis john mcconnell carol mckinney morrow miller ann patterson beo skipsey bruce washburn barbara waugh linsey wyatt photographer jay fisher publisher s,g,G. NEXT ISSUE OF VERIiaS: First Week of Winter Term Reflections I sit; I wonder; I ponder; I reflect updn those things that go on about me and at those things which do not go on around me, but should. I sense the urgent need for an attitude that is re ceptive to changes, not an at titude that accepts changes be- grudingly. Only when the atmos phere is receptable to change can meaningful progress t* made. For years students have been admonished for their s^thy. When a spark of student in volvement is noted, however, we are then reproached for our ac tions being too militant, too rad ical, and too extreme. There seems to be no happy median. It would seem to us students, then, that we are caught up in a vi cious circle in which “we are damened if we do, and we are damned if we don’t.” Today’s college students are the most educated generation ever. We read daily of problems, problems created before our time. We, as youth, are asked to give our lives in the struggles attributed to these problems yet we cannot even get a foot in the door in the open discus sion of these problems. Contrary to what some individuals think, youth is not a stigma but an asset. The youth of today want ^d deserve the ri^t to become involved in the evolvement that is taking place around them. We are more than the citizens of tlie world of tomorrow; we are citizens of the. world today. AS- such, should we not t)e permitted a voice in the world in wtiich we live now, as well as in the world of the Mure? We hear constantly of a gen eration gap; gaps can be brid ged, however. Prejudices, bias es, and misunderstandings of old er generations had “seed" in their early years and germinate in later life. Is it not better to quelch these bad seeds when tiie person is young and flexible in his attitudes, than to let them become permanently rooted? The students of today strive to un derstand the complexities of the world in which we must live, m what better way is there for ib to understand the problems that confront us than to take an ac- tive part in trying to find the solutions of these problems. Change is inevitable, but q™'* tative changes can only 1* in an atmosphere that is con ducive to them. , As students we are asuea to attend a college for four or more years. At best the m • jority of the students are giv® only menial jobs of respo®- bility. Education should P yond the realms of ’ ing, athletics, and social • ces; our education shouldinv^« all aspects of college hfe. words institution of higher learn ing” should not connote to w students a mental picture o finement to out-mod^ P» ' regulations, and curr>‘^“|“ ’ ther, the words should continual redefinement o procedures in view of tb® times. It is better for (See NUMBER 2 ing
Elon University Student Newspaper
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Dec. 18, 1968, edition 1
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