Organization leaders say
Students upset by leftists
compose YAF membership
By STEVE SMITH
Of The Emerald
Among the great many political oriented or
ganizations which inhabit the University cam
pus, Young Americans for Freedom claims to
stand alone.
Described by its leaders as a conservative
group dedicated to classical liberalism, YAF
serves as a rallying point for students who are
upset with trends towards “left wing radical
ism.”
“Our role is to instill respect; not in an en
tire philosophy, but in individual rights as de
fined by reality,” said Gaines Smith, chairman of
the organization.
In an Emerald interview, Smith and YAF
Vice-chairman Jim Wickre made it clear the
job of YAF faces is as large as it is complicated.
“There is a small number of people, on both
ends of the political spectrum,” he said, “who
participate actively. Then there is the larger
group in the middle which really doesn’t give
a damn what is happening.”
It is to this larger group, according to Smith,
that YAF is attempting to direct its voice.
Smith, a graduate student in political science,
has been active in campus YAF for two years. He
was elected chairman of the 26-member group
fall term, and will serve through the spring.
According to Smith, the local Students for a
Democratic Society offers the greatest opposi
tion to YAF.
“SDS outnumbers us 10-1,” commented Wickre,
but that is because its ‘in’ to be a member of
SDS.”
‘SDS, A SOCIAL IN’
“SDS is not a political or intellectual organi
zation, but a social ‘in,’ ” asserted Smith. “It is
simply not cool to be a YAF.”
Both students blame the educational atmos
phere at the University for the trend towards
"left wing radicalism.”
“The whole campus atmosphere tends to make
people leftists or hippies,” said Wickre. “Class
instruction does this; it is an in-breeding type
affect.”
“People who stay in the system stay liberal,
they are politically motivated,” said Wickre.
“There is complete hypocrisy in the way con
servative points of view arc presented,” added
Smith. “Students are given the impression that
everyone who is intellectual is a liberal. It also
helps in getting better grades and in working
within the system.”
According to Wickre, the fact that most ol the
campus is leftist, makes YAF the only “real intel
lectual group of radicals on campus.”
Both YAF leaders have seen a change take
place in the direction the group has taken over
the past few years.
In the past, according to Smith, YAF served as
a central organization for the support of conser
vative ideas and candidates.
“Since the destruction of Columbia University,”
said Smith, “YAF has devoted itself to combat
the efforts of SDS to desroy the University. We
are trying to prevent another Columbia at Ore
gon.”
The whole national YAF movement is geared
towards the anti-SDS effort, said Wickre. Ac
cordingly, the group is attempting to educate
people in the YAF philosophy.
Part of YAF’s educational campaign is a peti
tion now being passed around campus which con
demns violence and coercion in pursuit of cam
pus change.
‘Public made aware’
“We have collected about 800 signatures in
two days of campaigning,” said Smith. “The pub
lic must be made aware that not everyone on
campus is determined to destroy the system.”
Neither Smith nor Wickre attempted to explain
the positions of the national organization.
“Our personal ideas do generally reflect the
positions of most people in the local group, how
ever,” Smith indicated.
On the most common issues of the day, Smith
and Wickre take the following positions.
• The Draft: “Both the right and the left are
opposed to the draft, but for different reasons,”
said Smith. “The left does not oppose a draft, but
this type of draft. They do not oppose the princi
ple that the government does not have the right
to determine the actions of individuals. By sup
porting Soviet Russia, Red China and North Viet
Nam, the left is saying that governments do
have the right to dictate to individuals what they
must do. The opposition of the left to the draft
is the height of hypocrisy.”
• The Paris Peace Talks: “We would like to
see a democratic government in South Vietnam,
the kind of government the people want. If
negotiations in Paris can accomplish this, fine
and well.”
Said Wickre, “When the North Vietnamese see
that Richard Nixon will not sell out to a coali
tion government, then the war will probably grad
ually de-escalate.”
• Black Power and Black Capitalism: Accord
ing to Smith, Black Capitalism is ultimately “the
only way the Blacks will become free. Blacks
dedicated to socialism are committing suicide.
Socialism would mean the ultimate destruction
of the Blacks.
“Blacks today,” said Wickre, are physically
free, but mentally, they are as much slaves as
they were in 1860. The individual Black man is
subjugating individualism to the group.”
• Richard Nixon: Wickre and Smith gener
ally agree that Richard Nixon is the best man
conservatives could have realistically supported
in 1968. Similarly, both see California Gov. Ron
ald Reagan as the best conservative now in pol
itics.
“Ronald Reagan is the only poltician I per
sonally admire,” said Smith.
“We do not believe we will ever become the
controlling influence,” said Smith, “but we are
sure rational men will eventually reject SDS,
even if they do not accept all we believe. We
hope to become the rallying point for what is
establishment on campus.”
Billlllllllllllllllllllllllll
Marry-Go-Roii nd
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ESVELT—SITES
Karen Esvelt a junior in education from Longview, announced
her engagement to Ed Sites, a senior in Political Science from
Portland with a candle passing ceremony at the Tri-Delta house
January 7. The wedding is planned for late this summer.
HUGDAHL—KLEBNOW
Sharon Hugdahl, a senior in Physical Education from Medford
announced her engagement to Robin Klebnow at a family dinner
on Christmas Eve. Klebnow is a senior in Finance from Grants
Pass. No date has been set for the wedding.
HOOPER—HACKETT
Cecily Hooper has announced her engagement to Waller Hackett,
Jr in a candle passing ceremony at the Zeta Tau Alpha house.
Miss Hooper is a junior in German from Los Altos, Calif. Hackett
is a 1968 graduate from the University’ law school. He is presently
in Officer’s School at Fort Benning, Ga. No date has been set for
the wedding. ..
SPENCER—MODEN
Laura Spencer, senior in English from Orangeville, Idaho, has
announced her engagement to Gary Moden, a graduate student in
political science from Albert Lea, Minn. The announcement was
made at a candle passing ceremony at the Delta Zeta house.
GREENE—OLSON
Caroline Greene of Salem announced her engagement to Jerry
Olson of Seaside at her house Dec. 27 in Salem. Miss Greene is
a senior in journalism-education. Olson is a senior in political
science-journalism. The wedding is planned for this summer.
MARRIOTT—MEACHAM
Nancy Marriott, a senior in elementary education, from Pacific
Palisades, Cal. announced her engagement to John Meacham of
Coos Bay Monday. Meacham is a graduate assistant at Temple
University. The announcement was made at a candle passing cere
mony at Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. The couple plan an August
wedding.
FOUTS—STALEY
Carol Anne Fonts, a senior in recreation management from Sea
side, announced her engagement to Pfc. Carl Staley at a candle
passing ceremony at the Zeta Tau Alpha house January 14. Staley
is presently stationed at the Defense Language Institute in Monte
rey, California. Prior to being in the service, he was language major
at the University. The wedding is planned for this summer.
LOCKIE—SLAUGHTER
Joyce Lockie, a junior in elementary education, announced her
pinning to Steve Slaughter, a pre-med major. Both are from Port
land. The pinning was announced at a Delta Zeta candle passing
on January 7. Slaughter is a member of Cambell Club.
FORT—BUSH
Sarah Fort of Portland announced her engagement to Steven
Bush of Menlo Park, California, at a candle passing ceremony at the
Alpha Phi house, of which Miss Fort is a member. Bush is a
member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Both are seniors and
the wedding is set for September.
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Group discusses University roles
The second in a series of ses
sions concerning “The Role o
the University” was held Mon
day night in the (Graduate Cen
ter.
Lead by Dean Leona Tayloi
and assisted by Don McLarrin
graduate student majoring in ed
ucatiou, twenty graduate stu
dents and faculty member
broke into smaller groups to dis
cuss new ideas of higher educa
f
tion. Topics included: how Ihc
University can help prepare stu
dents for their professions, how
the the University serves society
and brings knowledge to the
public, and how it assists stu
dents in determining or identi
fying their goal.
The group plans to evaluate
its ideas in a written document.
A meeting will be held Jan. 27
to continue discussion.
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