Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 11, 1966)
Academic Freedom an Issue German Students Demonstrate Editor’s Note: This is the first of a three-part series on student protests in Berlin. Miss Thompson is a senior at the University of Minnesota, and spent last year studying in West Germany. By LINN THOMPSON Collegiate Press Service Disputes about academic free dom. which caused demonstra tions and protests at many uni versities in the United States in recent years, were the crux of similar protests in Germany last year. Last May the Free University of Berlin experienced student pro tests and demonstrations for the first time in history. A philosopher and a journalist were refused permission to soeak at the university and students used the incident to express their opposition to the administration’s attempt to de-politicize the Free University. (The Free University was founded in 1948 as a cooperative effort of faculty and students— a unique experiment in German education which gave students more rights and responsibilities than ever before, or since.) Anniversary Program The split between students and faculty arose in connection with plans for programs commemorat ing May 8, 1965, the 20th anniver sary of the end of World War II. Professor Sontheimer, in the name of the university, but on his own initiative, invited Karl Jaspers, a well known philosopher, to give a lecture. The Allgemine Stud entenausschuss (ASTA), the stu dent governing body, invited the journalist Erich Kuby to take part in a panel discussion. Consequently, the president of the university and the faculty senate voted to reprimand Son theimer for his independent ac tion, decided against holding any program in connection with May 8. and withdrew the invitation to Jaspers. In the case of the journalist Kuby, the rector (German equiv alent for president) refused the Author to Read Epic, 'Briseis' “Eriseis,” an epic poem of the Trojan War, by Ernest Moll, pro fessor of English, will be read at the Browsing Room lecture at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Stu dent Union. The poem is written as though Briseis herself (she was the mis tress of Achilles) is the author, and tells her feelings and emo tional reactions to the various events. When the gods demand that he give up his mistress, Agamem mon, to humiliate his rival Achil les, demands that Achilles hand over Briseis. Achilles does so, but is so angered that he refuses to let his men help fight the Trojans. Without Achilles and his men, the Greeks haven’t a chance. When his friend Patroclus dies fighting in Achilles’ place, Achil les decides to fight again. Then the Trojans are defeated, so Aga memmon relents and returns Briseis to Achilles. Briseis doesn’t live happily ever after, though, as Achilles is fated to fall in battle within a few days. Australian-born Moll has pub lished thirteen books prior to “Briseis.” A Phi Beta Kappa, he received his M.A. from Harvard in 1923. He has been at the Uni versity since 1928. Discussion leader for “Briseis” will be A. K. Weatherhead, asso ciate dean of the College of Lib eral Arts and associate professor of English. Prof Presents Paper Walter Youngquist, professor of geology, travelled to Berkeley, Calif., for the December meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Youngquist presented a paper on “Fossil Systematics” at the an nual meeting. student association the use of a room in the university for its discussion. The reason for the refusal was the claim that Kuby, in a 1958 appearance had “insulted” the university. Criticized Name At that time, Kuby had criti cized the name "Free University.” He stated that the title had an internal, antithetical connection to the un-free university in East Berlin and thus was not worthy of an institution of learning. The immediate solutions to the problems were relatively simple— Jaspers declined the invitation due to illness, and the ASTA pro gram was held in the student house of the Technical University in West Berlin. But there were lasting repercussions. Feeling that the guarantee of freedom of speech was being vio lated. student groups undertook ; various forms of protest. Posters soon appeared all over the cam pus. flyers were distributed daily in the student cafeteria, coffee shops and lounges, and the ASTA collected over 3.000 signatures on a petition protesting the arbitrary action of the administration. The majority of students was first aroused, however, when the acting rector of the university threatened to withdraw permis sion to represent students, from the demonstration groups. At this point even American students at the university began to take an active part in the proceedings. Five-Hour Strike But most noteworthy was a five hour-long strike held in the Otto Suhr-Institut, the political sci ence institute. For German uni versifies, this was n hold step, which had been long debated be fore being actually carried out. Some 800 political science stu dents stayed away from classes for the morning, many of them gathering on the lawn in front of the Institute with hand-letter ed signs. Only one professor lec tured that morning, to a group of about forty students. Yet not only die! these events at the Free University of Berlin cause a split between the stu dents and professors, but a split within the faculty as well. 13th Ave. Laundromat 365 E. 13th WASH DRYER Coin A Bill Changers Vending Machines Hair Dryers Weekday Laundry A Ironing Complete 24 hour Laundry Service You make your beat lmpres sion when your glasses are ap propriate, becoming and up to dale. With our new frame*, in new shapes, style*, material* and colors we can lit you with the seeing you peed, the com fort you want and the look you'll like. Contact lenses Fitted Ur. Robert J. Williamson Optometrist Standard OriuJ 820 Willamette 344 5371 Sure we have desk jobs. Desk jobs at Cape Kennedy, helping check out the Apollo moon rocket Desk jobs at an airbase, testing the world’s most powerful jet engines. Desk jobs in Samoa, setting up aTV network to help teach schoolchildren. The most interesting desk jobs in the world are at General Electric. (Have a seat.) First, why not sit down with the man from G.E. when he visits campus. Talk with him about your goals. He’ll talk with you about the hun dred different avenues available at G.E. to help you reach those goals. You may be working anywhere in the world, doing anything in the world. From marketing appliances like a new oven that cleans itself electrically ... to designing a com puter that’s no bigger than a suitcase. Interesting problems. Important challenges. Real rewards, in money and opportunity. They’re all part of holding down a desk job at G.E. Come to General Electric, where the young men are important men. Progress Is Our Most- Important Product GENERAL ^ ELECTRIC
