Page 2
VER'TAS
Faculty Column I [Letters To The Editor
I missed Miss Axlerod and Mr, Moore last week ^
tlie series of articles has not been discontinued or
completed- Lately Pve looked forward to my little weekly spate
hoping that
ortra^at^toetatesrgener^ity or oversimpliflcatlon, »ndenj^ed
the mental image of his true Wows hitting tteir
even when these may have included myself ^or Mr Moore
landed many true blows in the past few weeks,
fully some things we failed to realize, many more we have ignor^
or conveniently forgotten. His articles' ’
not in his insists, but in the persistent and dogmatic
ties into which he has turned them. He writes ‘Ij
of the White Woman, Negro, Negro Man, White Middle Cto ,
White Lower Class, White Southerner, and a
these abstract categories had some tangible reaUty; as if
Southerner** were a moral and political, even
scription, not merely one of geography and skin color. And this
“'!S Po^r.. .s no.
fact of black-skinned people gaining some measure
and political power-that is entirely justified and
but the spectre of so many people losing their own
human beings, submerged into one more mindless mob, one more
mass of anonymous ciphers, like Nazis or Beatle-fans.
A decade or more ago. The Vanishing Adolescent warned that true
Z oS ot rlBo,o» mi h«Bhy
definlUon, wae growing rare. The enemy then
society with its rich rewards for successful conformity and its
subtle-and other-punishments for indivi^ality.
shown us an equally dangerous enemy, the phony
•‘individuality*’ of stereotyped and all-too-conforming rebellion--
the “individuality*’ of the “movement.” At one end of the sc^e,
high school students report that they often must m^e up complaints
about their parents or imaginary adventures with drugs or sra,
because these are the “in” things today, and they dare aPPear
different by refusing to “rebel.” A little farther along the same
scale we find the would-be individualist whose first step is to
copy John Lennon's style of dress. Young people have always copied
the fashions of their heroes, but I’ve "p''®*'.
dividuality before. Still farther along we find the
(read Eric Hoffer’s book of the title--please read it!) Mr. Moore
reported his own scorn for these people a few weeks a^, noting
that the Movement had no use for those whose main qualifications
were guilt complexes. Yet we find him apparently appromg he
61nal stage, the decision by otherwise sane people that identity
can only be found on a group basis; that individual identity is im-
possible, at least for Negroes; and that those Negroes who have
insisted that skin color means no more than height or hair color,
who have defined themselves first as human beings--menlike James
Baldwin and Ralph Bunche-are somehow cowards or “Uncle Toms.
(See NUMBER 5 Page 4)
Publicus
By EARLE WHITE
In a fund-raising dinner in Greenville, S.C. Governor Bob Scott
states that North Carolina universities is a “testing ground” for
violence creeping across^ campuses in the region. The good Gov
ernor referred to the “psychology of discontent” spreading across
college campuses. His Excellency also states that “unless we are
willing to face up to the mood of violence creeping across our col
lege campuses, we will merely preside over the liquidation of ex
cellence in higher education.” Our imperturable governor said
that if discipline “does not come from within, then it must be exert,
ed from the outside. It must come from somewhere.” He said the
question now transcends academic freedom and amounts to a question
of academic survival. Governor Scott referred to the campus dis
ruptions as “the prelude to Germany’s Third Reich.”
It is interesting to note that the good Governor deplores the
violence of the activists but would not hesitate to employ violence
to repress the activists. One wonders when these heavy-handed,
police-state methods will end. It seems Governor Scott will sup.
press campus dissent by bayonets instead of reason. Ai;^arently,
His Excellecy does not know or care to know the difference be
tween reasoned restraint and the use of oppression in dealing with
campus disorders.
The lack of confidence in university administrators is also dis
played by the Governor. The Honorable Chief Executive of North
Carolina feels that he is more able to administer discipline than
the college administrators. This absurd idea will, of course, gain
Mr. Scott many votes with the rank-and-file voter of North Carolina.
Also, it will tend to alienate many college students who once had
respect for the Governor.
Governor Scott is also willing to sacrifice academic freedom in
the interests of academic survival. How can one have academic sur-
vival without academic freedom? Without freedom of inquiry and
without freedom of dissent how may college students survive.
Governor Scott will have academic survival at the expense of aca-
demic freedom and at the expense of the students’ rights. The pre-
servation of students’ rights within the realm of academic free-
dom is a must. But the use of force will preserve neither the
rights of students or academic freedom.
In his repressive policy toward college disruptions Governor
Scott is misleading the people of North Carolina. Citizens of North
Carolina are beginning to question the validity of student dissent.
If this ri^t of dissent is repressed by force, the citizens, as well
(See NUMBER 1, Page 4)
Dear Editors:
I am writing in reply to “The
Elon Primer” published in tiie
March 20th edition, I think it is
about time somebody made a
clear statement of what the so-
called "radicals” believe. Be
cause I am one of the “radi
cals” referred to In “The Elon
Primer,” I feel obliged to state
what I stand for, and what I
believe the majority of the “ra
dicals” on this campus stand
Ever since Homer wrote the
Iliad humans have been acutely
aware of their desire for and
the advantages of peace, W.hen-
ever a society is involved in in
ternal or external co.Tflict, the
creativity of that society is dras
tically impaired. It seems only
logical to prefer the settlement of
conflicts through peaceful nego
tiations than through violence
if at all possible. Is it so “ra
dical” to believe in the grd-
ness of psace?
Freedom was the guiding prin
ciple In the founding of this
country. Ideally, freedom should
exist in this country on all le-
vels from the personal freedom
of each individual throu^ the
freedom of the entire society.
Freedom was established in the
Constitution of this country as
the ri^t of every man; the right
of the white and the black man,
A large part of the violence in
this country concerning civil
rights has not stemmed from
“radicals” or the Negroe, but
from the refusal of some people
to recognize the rights and free
dom of all men, Ws were creat
ed as free people, and if any
man anywhere does not have this
freedom, he should do every,
thing in his power to obtain It,
Again, is it so radical to be
lieve in freedom?
The ri^t of dissent is in
cluded in the Constitution, The
three women who wrote “The
Elon Primer” should, when they
think alx)ut the little demonstra
tion in the cafeteria and the de
monstrations all around the coun
try, consider the demonstrations
for women’s rights in the early
part of this century. If women’s
rights had not been achieved
as a result of those demonstra
tions, “The Elon Primer” would
never have been published. When
the ears of authority will not
listen, peaceful demonstration is
an effective way to bring a grie-
vance to the ears of the public.
Love, not in a personal sense,
but as a love of mankind and
a belief in the brotherhood of
man are also beliefs of we
“radicals”. Love, in this con-
text, is the one teaching com
mon to all religions in the world
today. If the human race does
not soon recognize its common
background the results could be
fearful.
Although these are very hi^
sounding ideals, and they are not
always practiced as much as they
are preached by some, I, and
many other people, believe these
ideals in sincere practice will
result in a better world.
As for our personal appear,
ance, it is of little importance.
A man should be judged on his
murits and personal beliefs, ra
ther than his outward appear,
ance.
The “radical” has been criti.
cized long enough on this cam.
pus. The fact that these beliefs
are considered radical reveals a
society that desperately needs a
change. Before ws engage in any
criticism of other people, we
should be certain it is not blind
criticism.
Sincerely,
Russell Winstanley
Dear Editors,
After reading the Elon Prim,
er in this week’s Verias, I feel
somewhat affronted by the narrow
outlook taken by these girls.
Concerning the “radicals” u-
nlform, who Is to determine what
stipulations are to be adhered
to? They seem to think that we
should conform to their “im-
peccable taste,” Those idliowear
the “uniform” do so only be
cause it personifies an impres-^
sion of non-materialism, some
thing that we believe In strong
ly-
In the second stanza, they speak
derogatorily of the food demon
stration, They obviously do not
realize that j^roximately two
hundred non-rascals particlpat-
ed. Their research was inade.
quate, for the benefits procur
ed were substantiaL
‘Apathetic* was a poor choice
of words in the third stanza.
The so called “radicals’* only
wish to see much needed re-
forms implemented. We respect
and do stand for the faculty,
contrary to the belief of some,
but we will not be hypocritical
and support something we do
not believe in.
They insinuate that the “ra
dicals” take some form Df nar-
cotlcs. There has been no basis
upon which to make this pre-
sumptous statement. It Is a ser.
ious accusation which they make.
The last stanza is ironical.
The vast majority of students
saunter from class to class like
zombies. At least the“radlcals”
are aware of present circum
stances, which I feel is not true
of these girls.
This poem is not only super
ficial but Illogical as well. There
Is much more to the “radical**
than these girls can comprehend.
If they would take the time
to get to know ‘Him* maybe
their poem would read differ,
ently,
Chris Walsh
Editors of Veritas,
I am not in the habit of bitch
ing about professors, but I feel
that I have several legitimate
complaints about a particular
professor here at Elon. These
complaints are against Dr. Over
ton, an established member of the
Elon College faculty. I am cur
rently taking Religion 361 under
him, and day in and day out he
continues to amaze me with his
utter lack of regard for the
students. His lectures are on the
verge of being incoherent as he
jumps back and forth from one
point to another.
Last week Dr. Overton gave
tests to all of his classes. Our
class was given a multiple choice
test with one essay question. Be-
fore the test began, he stated
that no one would be allowed to
change their answers once they
had marked them.
It is my opinion that with an
objective test a rule such as this
is not acceptable and contrary
to recognized teaching methods,
I have always been taught that
once you finished a test, you
should review it and correct
any mistakes you may have made,
1 asked him what his basis was
for not being able to change
answers, and he replied that it
was to cut down on cheating in
class. Doesn’t he recognize the
honor code which he made us
pledge on our tests?
Dr. Overton also came out with
CO-editors
borton c. show
rondoll s, spencer
sports editor
Charles t. butler
lay-out editor
raymond sorrel I
associatj^ editors
david Spicer
eerie white
contributing editor
ralph moore ;
advertising manqger
\ inda I. long
reportorial staff
richard beam®
cheryt h^ins
kathy mdngum
denny; mcquire
•^ard mcgipnis
jo^n mccdniiell
carol mckinney
morrow miller
ann patterson
bea skipsey
bruce washbum
borbara waugh
linsey wyatt
' .photographer
jay fisher
publisher
s.g.c.
the statement that each student
must make use of deductive rea-
soning to figure out certain ans
wers, That’s sound advice, but a
little hard to follow wiien most
of the test questions had lit
tle relevance to the main points
emphasized in class. In class,
Dr, Overton said that we should
all do “scholarly research" lot
his course, I would like to too*
why; the class is composed main
ly of non. religion majors. When
the tests were returned. It to
no great surprise that more tbai
three quarters of the class (ail
ed, Now I ask you, when tliit
many juniors and seniors fail
one test, is it the fault ol tie
students or the professor?
asked if there was a curve, ft-
Overton stated very
that there was none, and aow
that he followed the old recoin-
mended grading scale- ifttois
the case, how does he exp ^
grades in the sixties belngraat '
ed D-minus, when under the ®
scale aU grades below sert
are F’s? Is it ”
one would have passed m
followed it? . .
In my opinion it 'S
vious that Dr, Overton J
no regard for the educati^
process as practiced m J
Ueges,Itreallyama«">2;
he expects his
fit from the course wheniero^
It almost impossible
pass. Dr. Overton j
a very intelligent man, “
is my belief that he .s
unsuited to teach
also detrimental to
process taking P'®® -ejdatw
College. Kismyrecom
that either the
discuss these irregu ,
with Dr. Overton Md*or ,
thing out, or he be dr je
the ElonCollegeJacJ^_
David 0. ’