The Carolina Jovrnal
— Student Publication Of The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte -
Vol. V
Wednesday, November 19,1969
No. 11
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Free press, fair
trial must co-exist
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Students support Blevins
H. McCORKLE
On Wednesday, November 12,
?poup of students protested the
J^ve Blevins hearing by picketing
eside the Administration
budding.
Blevins is before the
niversity Hearings Committee at
bapel Hill for canceling his class
^uring the Moratorium of October
Some students held signs, two
P which stated “Academic
^ reedom? Ask Dave Blevins” and
Dave Blevins” Speeches
also held.
ii^ore students were getting
of their classes, the
(Q®"dance of the assembly grew
^Peak of about seventy people.
Drnt y^yson, spokesman for the
. ^fing group, said that the
of was “being repressive
. political beliefs”. He went on
on^^.^bat the University policy
oisruption should be
“abolished”.
Dr. Robbins, Assistant
Professor of History, expressed
concern over civil liberties. He
referred to the disruption policy
as “the most flagrant violation of
my First Amendment rights”.
Dr. Hall, History Professor,
said “The danger is not in Viet
Nam but right here”. He ended his
speech by saying, “We need more
like Dave Blevins who say, “No! I
won’t shut up!”.
Mr. Biglow of the Political
Science Department felt that,
because of the disruption policy,
“people with certain behefs are
singled-out.” He felt it was his
“duty to educate and talk with
others about Viet Nam
After Mr. Biglow’s speech,
Y.A.F. Chairman David Thomas
was invited to the podium.
With an opening remark of
“I’m ^ad to see you people had a
chance to leave your sandbox”,
Mr. Thomas critized the students
who were supporting Blevins.
He stated that the people who
supported the war wanted to go
to class to show their support, and
if class was not held these
students could not show their
feelings.
Students in the crowd began
asking Mr. Thomas questions, and
some tried to argue with him.
After answering a few
questions, Thomas abruptly left
the podium.
After the speeches, a small
group of sign-bearing students
staged a picket which lasted until
Dave Blevins made an unexpected
appearance.
These students then spoke with
Blevins and wished him well, since
he was on his way to the hearing.
There were no
counter-demonstrations.
BY CLAY OWEN
F. Lee Bailey, noted defense
attorney, spoke before an
audience of 400 last Wednesday at
Wagoner Hall. He was brought
under the sponsorship of the
University Union.
Mr. Bailey’s topic was
“Freedom vs. the Press.” In his
speech, Mr. Bailey asserted that a
free press is equally as important
as a fair trial. In fact, he said, both
are “paramount.” ‘'The court and
the press should exist as two
co-equal forces.”
Mr. Bailey stated that in order
to have a fair trial, the news
media, specifically newspapers,
must present a fair, unbiased
picture of its proceedings.
However, very often, he said, this
is not the case.
In the case of Sam Sheppard,
for instance, a leading Chicago
newspaper gave the case banner
headlines 17 times between arrest
and trial.
This alone, said Mr. Bailey,
convicted Sam Sheppard. That is,
the publicity repeated the facts,
many of them inadmissable in
court, so many times that it was
impossible to find a “Fair” juror.
As Mr. Bailey put it, “A free
press before and during trial
endangers the ignorance of the
jury.” It was on this point that
Dr. Sheppard was eventually
freed.
But while Mr. Bailey admitted
that the free press in many cases
affects, in fact, determines the
decision of the jury, he stated that
the “right to speak out is just as
important as a fair trial.”
Mr. Bailey pointed out that
“much of the distortion of the
news comes about because tape
recorders are not allowed in the
courtroom.” He said that
reporters are forced to take notes
and must write their stories from
these notes.
Mr. Bailey revealed that he
thought it would be nice if they
allowed television cameras in the
courtroom because it would give
the public “a clear picture of the
courtroom machinery in action.”
He pointed out that “the press
is the only linjitation on a public
official. There are no grant juries
to review their actions.” He said
that in this manner the press is an
effective tool in insuring a fair
trial because it keeps the
prosecutors’s honest.
Mr. Bailey said that while the
press may very often biase a jury,
“all the remedies are on the side
of the law.” He asserted that the
courts have the power to move
the trial to a new location,
postpone the trial to a later date,
and grant new trials; all of which
are “effective tools” against a
biased press.
Mr. Bailey concluded by saying
that the courts and the press
“should serve as checks and
balances against one another.”
Car trouble?
Students who have car trouble
and who drive another car for a
day or two may leave a note on
their windshield with their name
and decal number. This may be
done for one day. For more than
one day, the student should either
get a visitor’s pass or an additional
parking sticker.
Visitor’s passes are available
from the dean of students, the
security office, the business
office, and all department heads.
JOURNAL interviews
Blevins See page 7
Scholarships
^Warded First Time
first I has awarded its
Tate r ^ Austin Tate-Lindsay
four , 'fi^rtson Sholarships to
.J, students.
estaKul scholarships were
New V ^ Alice Tate of
^harlot* formerly of
grant f ■ The income from a
trsed t approximately $70,000 is
provide scholarships for
black students.
Thorr^ recipients are Robert
of 208 South 16th St.,
Il2 Dorothy Conley of
Jaitipr^^'^oll St., Morganton;
Mornin flothbertson of 3027
Benian,® Drive, Charlotte; and
St ^yers of 318 West 26th
■’■fj-barlotte.
RadiQ?Il^ graduated from the
Ptogram^'^ Technology Training
florth r Ibo University of
is aavtiJ®^°firia at Chapel Hill. He
major a**^ business administration
becorire TlbJC-C and hopes to
® hospital administrator.
He graduated from WilUston
Senior High School.
Miss Conley is a sophomore
mathematics major. A graduate of
Morganton High School, she
ranked 10th in her class of 170
students. She works in the UNC-C
Duplicating Office.
Cuthbertson is a sophomore
chemistry major. A graduate of
Olympic High School h? r^®^
fourth in a class of 20^ At
UNC-C he is a member of Kappa
Alpha Psi Rotoract Club, and
writes the column From the
Black Viewpoint for the
^°ByeK^^a freshman graduate of
Olvmoic Higli School where he
ra4ed 19th among 219 students.
He works at an inner city church
Christ the King
The Tate-Culbertson
Scholarships award^ on the
basis of need, ability, ana
prospective service to mankmd.
JOURNAL staffer Howard Pearre attended the Moratorium rally in Washington, D.C. Nov
ember 15. Some of his photos appear as a special feature this week on pages 4 and 5. Here
he ca;;ght pensive Ben Franklin seemingly offering approval to the marchers.