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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 1963)
Senators Discuss Pros, Cons of NS A By CATHY NEVII.I.K Associate News Editor This Is the second of two articles on NSA. Yesterday’s article dealt with the structure of NSA. Today, stands taken at the last national congress and com ment by AS! O Senators will be considered. NSA's most recent decisions were made at tin- !5th National Student Congress, held la.-.t .1 *ily at Ohio State* University. The congress, attended by 425 dele gates, included both seminars and legislative sessions Schools belonging to NSA may send delegate . to the convention, the number of delegates being de termined by the population of the individual school. The Uni versity could send six delegates. ( MANUKS in the codification of laws for the organization were approved at the last con gress. Basic policies of NSA must be approved by a two thirds vote of two consecutive congresses. When the congress is not in session, N'SA stands are determined by an executive com mittee Bast summer’s congress voted that the executive com mittee may only issue state ments on matters which have been voted on by the previous congress. An amendment was adopted Free Speech Platform $500 Symbol' Approved Ify TIIORA WILLIAMS Emerald A‘six i'it( Editor Err»m squirted shaving cream to a $.'.00 brick and limestone slruc tine outward manifestations of freedom of speech at the Univer sity will reach a new level with construction of a pt imanent t n ion Square" free noech platform Plans were approved by the Student Union Board Wednesday aft' i noon If thin go according to schedule, everything except the limestone turn should he complet ed within tin e< ' Jim So-I drew, Senior Class president, e ti mated. THE IDEA of the free speech platform originated last school year. Self-styled King of the World" Homer A Tomlinson tried to crown himself on the SU steps Oct 'J'i, 1001 but i ' reived, as one student commented at the time, an animalistic" reception by a crowd of about 1,000 students He was pelted with tomatoes, sprayed with sha\ing cream, laughed and jeered at -and student leaders decided the University needed a symbol of the University's tradi tion of free speech. In a flood of "letters to the edi tor," students called the incident "horrifying.” "disgraceful.” and one writer stated. "For the first time I am ashamed to be a mem ber of this University.” I he establishment of a free speech platform, suggested to the Student Union Board by Bob For syth, was approved Nov. 15, I9fi! “Regardless of the sort of action that resulted from former appear ances of Tomlinson (he haft caused near riots at other “crown in"s”), we should have opened th>- University door and respected In- right to publicly proclaim hi beliefs," Forsyth said. COLLEEN Nelson east the only dissenting vote on the platform, protesting that All the radicals will get up there and the students will take it as a mockery.” Before the platform was dedi cated the University experienced another dramatic incident involv ing freedom of speech. The lead story in the Emerald Feb. IS be gan: "(Ins Hall spoke here Mon day . . . The entire operation was conducted without incident.” (ins Mall, terming himself “an authoritative Communist spokes man” (former general secretary of the United States Communist party), had been allowed to speak on campus despite criticism, con demnation and controversy—to an orderly crowd of about 11,000 in Hayward Field. SHORTLY before, President James H Jensen of Oregon State University had vetoed a studynt backod proposal which would have allowed Hall to speak at Corvallis. . . we are dealing with a man who is operating illegally in a subversive organization,” he had stated. Hall was not allowed to speak at Washington schools--the Uni versity of Washington, Western Washington College, C e n t r a 1 Washington Hut University Pres ident Arthur Flemming deter mined. “It has been the policy of the University to permit any fac ulty group or recognized student organization to arrange for the ap pearance of any speaker they would like to hear.” Flemming was backed by a una nimous vote of the faculty meet ing and approval of the ASUO Cabinet. He has since been praised nationally for his stand for freedom of speech, though the decision has also met with criti cism Oregon Governor Mark O Hatfield ha protested, “College time is too valuable to waste on a man of his (Gus Hall's) ilk.” KKEMiir.M Hemming oeoica led the free speech platform. Union Square,” Keb. Z't, 1962 The temporary structure, provid ed by the Speech Department, was set up by a joint ASt 'O Sen ate and SI Board committee' chaired by Noboti Kawasaki. “it is hoped that the creation of Union Square will serve as an affirmation by the students of the University as expressed by Presi dent Flemming during the Gus Hall incident,” Kawasaki said. “It must be emphasized that nothing new is being accomplished by the erection of Union Square, but that it is a recognition that the free communication of ideas is a right that should not be stifled.” The inscription on the platform was suggested by A. L. (Si) El lingson, SU director: “Every new opinion at its stating is precisely in a minority of one” (author un known). KOtiKK Fischler, graduate stu dent in mathematics, was the first to use the new Union Square, speaking immediately after the dedication against over emphasis i of football and neglect of other sports. Since that time Union Square ; has been the scene of a debate by ; Tom Mongar and John Bergsen on EAST SIDE CLEANERS 2005 FRANKLIN • FREE PICKUP AND DELIVERY • QUICK DRY CLEANING AND • LAUNDRY SERVICE • WE GIVE GOLD BOND STAMPS • CALL 1)1 4-4011 “Across hiway from Lew Williams’ Chevrolet” EAST SIDE CLEANERS the use of student funds to fin ance an attiiftic stadium, a speech by student body president Neil Goldschmidt on student govern ment a support of peaceful dis armament by a touring spokes man. And Wednesday Jim Teas daie spoke in favor of the Univer sity joining the United States Na tional Student Association. Editorial comment has ap peared in the Emerald-- first sup porting the idea, then criticizing the platform's infrequent use, shabbiness, and the inactivity of the Senior Class in providing plans for a permanent structure. The class requested the project early fall term and did repair work on the platform later in the term. “THE IMPORTANCE of Union Square is not that it is used all the time,” Bill Vertrees, SU Board chairman said, “but that such a facility is available for people who desire to use it.” Sheldrew called Union Square a perfect place for communicat ing with the students"—for cam paign talks between classes, stu dent debates, for anyone with an idea he wishes to communicate. He said that through Union Square direct contact between student government and the stu dent body can be increased. Many leaders are known only by name—and this is a road to apa thy'," he suggested. “WITH THE permanent struc ture Union Square won't look like a half-hearted attempt; it will rep resent the true spirit of the Uni versity; and it will become an in tegral part of the University ideal.” Correction Made In Housing Rates A story in Wednesday’s Emer ald stated incorrectly that the rental for three-bedroom apart ments in Agate and Columbia housing areas is $55 per month. This was in error, in that the ren tal for single-bedroom apartments in Columbia is $55 per month. The rental quoted for Agate is correct. to clarify the relationship be tween the member schools and resolutions of the congress. The amendment states that NSA membership “should not neces sarily imply agreement with policies of the National Student Congress, the National Execu tiveCommittee, or actions of its elected officers.” Another new constitutional amendment allows minority re port-; to be published after NSA conventions. The minority re port will be mailed to schools along with the report of the congress. IN POLING the opinions of ASUQ senators concerning NSA, one fact seemed to be almost universally agreed upon: that the average student at the Uni versity does not know much about NSA. Most senators felt that, students have not had an opportunity to look objectively at the subject. Most senators felt that students were interest ed in NSA, but that they were being unduly influenced by one side or the other, rather than being allowed to objectively make up their own minds. Dick Rapp, upperclass men’s dorm rep, said, “There were probably good reasons for turn ing it down in the past but these shouldn’t be the only considera tions influencing us. There’s a lot of prejudice involved.” Phil Sherburne, junior class president, said that “informa tion is only objective to those already in agreement with it. It has been stressed in the Senate as either a pro or con issue, and so the person is already decided when he hears information.” SEVERAL senators felt that the question of membership in NS A dealt with the general con cept of student government. A vote for NSA indicated 1o them a vote for an internationally-ori ented student government, while a vote against it woidd indicate a desire for government con cerned primarily with the cam pus. Dell Smith, senator-at-large, said A lot of our new officers are looking around the world, although I don't like to extend the time and so forth to deal with international things. We have other organizations dealing with these things.” ASUO Presi dent Neil Goldschmidt agreed that there are other ways of be coming involved in matters of international interest but felt that “the exchange of ideas we would get through NSA would be completely invaluable to Ore gon.” SU Board Chairman Bill Ver trees had economic objections to NSA. ‘it would cost $25,000 to join an organization which will give us nothing we can t do ourselves. The executive com mittee has sole budgetary powd ers,” he said. Dennis Lynch, senator-at large, felt that the organization had merits but is, at the present time, too weak. “The ideas and benefits are good but the structure is inade quate,” he said. Lynch felt that the organization was too weak on the West coast and that the University does not have the “interests or facilities to use NSA at this time. If we joined now there would be so much dissatisfaction in one year that we would quit and not join again.” VERTREES said, “From the eleven schools in our Oregon there would only be one regional representative ... It would be unfair to send one delegate to vote for us when many of our students would not agree poli tically. Joining NSA would force every student enrolled at Ore gon to belong to the organiza tion, whether he wants to or not.” Jack Joyce, junior class rep resentative, said, “There is something to be gained . . . just what it is I’m not sure. Why not join and find out? There might be some ideas which we cannot know about now that we could learn through association.” Rick Palmer, off-campus rep., felt that NSA will not interfere with existing student govern ment. ‘ The NSA rep. would have a seat on the Senate. NSA could be built into the structure of our student government. It would handle things like the present migrant workers’ com mittee or the civil rights com mittees.” SHERBURNE said, “NSA is the only student vocal group throughout the nation. It is rec ognized that it has nation-wide influence.” Several Senators feel that the final decision on NSA should come from the student body in a referendum ballot. “It would be the first student referendum in a long time and would probably stimulate much student interest,” said Jack Joyce. The arguments for and against NSA w ill continue. Any decision made will be subject to criti cism. The Senate will only de cide tonight how the present phase of the discussion will end. Remember The AEhambra! Or was it the Alamaguordo? Or the Alamo? Whatever it is, don’t forget to remember it. And something else to remem ber is the greatest ice cream in America. Buy some today. Re member, the best ice cream you can buy is Dairy King. 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