Editorial
Canvassing helps bridge
gap
Of all the activities of the past week, one
stands out as a definite contribution to end
ing the Indo-China war—the canvassing of
the city and state by students seeking sig
natures on petitions in favor of the Hatfield
amendment to the Military Authorization
Act. This activity has the double advantage
of increasing the chances of the amendment’s
passage, and of decreasing the animosity and
suspicion of students felt by Oregonians.
The amendment itself is simple, direct,
and worthy of passage. It calls for the fol
lowing: “(1) cut off money for any military
operation in South Vietnam by December
31, 1970, and require the withdrawal of all
American troops by June 30, 1971; and (2)
cut off money for any military operation in
Laos after December 1, 1970; and (3) cut off
money for any military operation in Cam
bodia thirty days after passage of the act.”
The passage of this amendment would be
a reassertion of the Congress’ role in the
making of war and peace, a role granted to
it by the Constitution, but one which it has
abdicated to the Executive in recent years.
By taking the petitions to the residents of
Eugene, Springfield, and their hometowns
throughout Oregon, the students of this Uni
versity have accepted a difficult and some
times discouraging task—too many of the
state’s citizens believe that all students who
seek peace are weirdos, and this opinion is
very often reinforced by a hostile press.
But, as difficult as the task may be—and
it is obviously harder than marching, demon
strating, or “rapping” among the faithful
on campus—it appears to be about the only
constructive option open to students at this
time. Marching and demonstrating may be
good for the ego and increase the feeling of
solidarity among students, but they offer
little hope of progress, and can be counter
productive.
If on the other hand talking to citizens
and requesting their help in ending the war
through petitions can open reasoned com
munication between the generations, this
University and state would be doubly
blessed—we would be one step closer to
ending the Indo-China war, and one large
step closer to closing the divisions between
parent and offspring.
We encourage every student on this cam
pus to consider taking part in this petition
drive—the investment of a little time can
bring dividends that are beyond calculation
—peace at home and abroad.
A great loss
Oregon sports fans mourn, this week, the
loss of veteran baseball coach Don Kirsch.
Kirsch died Thursday, of head injuries
suffered from a fall at the Stanford Medical
Center where he was undergoing treatment
for Parkinson’s disease.
As coach of Oregon’s hardballers for 22
years Kirsch never had a losing season . . .
and his teams compiled impressive victories
in championship play as well.
Yet it was the coach’s courage in the face
of a crippling and ultimately fatal disease,
that earned the admiration and respect of
all who knew him.
His loss is profound . . . not only for
sports fans who followed his exciting Duck
teams, but for the community in general . . .
a community that needs more men of Don
Kirsch’s stature.
Astounding hypocrisy
On Saturday, Vice President Agnew dedi
cated a memorial on Stone Mountain, Ga.,
that honors the memory of the great leaders
of the Confederacy, Lee, Jackson and Davis,
and in his remarks he urged Americans “to
overcome the new slavery—the willingness
of some people to become slaves to their
passions, devoid of reason. . .
The hypocrisy of a hate-monger such as
Agnew mouthing drivel such as this in a
place such as that is astounding. We agree
with the Atlanta Constitution which said
that the choice of Agnew to dedicate the
memorial was “A shame and disgrace.”
Letters
Non-violent action
Because of the events of the
past few days, “business as usual”
has come to a halt on the Uni
versity campus as well as on
numerous other campuses across
the nation—as well it should.
While the job of the University
is to educate, the present crisis
in our nation poses a direct
threat to the very nature of the
University community. The usual
class routine was properly order
ed suspended so that we as stu
dents may have time to reflect
and take action upon the grave
issues which confront us.
While the time for mere rhe
toric has certainly passed, the
time for concerned and rational
action is certainly at hand. Many
amongst us are all too eager to
listen to, and be persuaded by,
the dialectics and polemics of
the radical fringe in its call for
violence and destruction. That
appeal is strictly one of dema
goguery—one that appeals to the
base emotions and fears of our
human nature. That kind of talk
has no place in the minds of
those of us who consider our
selves to be educated individuals.
It is, after all, reason and logic
which set us apart from the
lower creatures for emotion is
common to both animals and
man alike. Where, therefore, is
the logic in a call for violence by
us against those who would em
ploy violence against others? Do
two wrongs make a right?
violence is not only irrational,
it is counterproductive as well.
Force on our part will be met
only by greater force on the
part of those already in power—
witness the Kent State shootings!
Force on our part will not con
vince the community-at-large that
our cause is just; rather, it will
furtner alienate others from us.
God only knows, that what we
least need now is further polari
zation within our society, fur -
ther irresponsible confrontation,
and further bloodshed. That
which we do need is an end to
divisive and demagogic polemics.
That which we do need is ration
al and non-emotional dialogue
combined with concerted and
non-violent action. Let us, as ra
tional men, put hate out of our
minds and replace it with rea
son; and if emotion must have
a place as well, let it be love.
Bob Kott
Editor, International News
at Noon
Provides the ideology
The efficiency of the attacks on
the University’s complicity in the
Military Industrial Complex
should be seriously questioned.
If 75 per cent of the ROTC
graduates are first and second
lieutenants in the Vietnam war
we should realize that a large
part of the male graduating class
becomes cannon fodder, too. The
University informs the draft
boards who is enrolled and who
is not.
The University provides more
support for the military industrial
complex when we look at the
support for its industrial branch.
This campus houses a large busi
ness school, providing training for
all the positions in the MIC.
ROTC cadets can choose their
majors allowing for a liberal edu
cation, although one could chal
lenge if this occurs in practice,
given their commitments. How
ever, within the choice of a busi
ness major is opting for a career
in the MIC. There are some 1,200
business majors on this campus,
and a lot more enter business
from other disciplines. Their com
plicity is much less visible than
running around in a uniform or
playing with a rifle.
In addition, has not the Uni
versity provided much of the
ideology which has brought the
Military Industrial Complex
about?
Honestly, folks, many of the
ROTC cadets are glorious draft _
dodgers taking the easy route in
fulfilling their military obliga -
tion. Some 56 per cent disagree
with President Nixon’s Vietnam
policy and 22 per cent favor im
mediate withdrawal from Viet -
nam. Put the swastikas on Com -
monwealth Hall instead.
Acco Hengst,
Grad., Sociology
Your school
I did not attend the University.
But those of you who love your
school and respect your teachers
—why don’t you join together
and tell this minority group that
is causing all of these distur
banches that if they don’t like
the way the school is run, go to ,
another school they do like. (I
doubt there is one).
Or better yet, let them organ
ize their own type of educational .
program. Our country and schools
do not need people calling them
selves "protesters” but acting like
“vandals,” in reality they don’t .
want to be educated, or even to be
a part of our society.
The rest of you students STAND
UP AND SUPPORT YOUR
SCHOOL: There should be pa
triotism in everything we partici
pate and believe in.
I won’t go into how fortunate
we in this country are to have
the schools and teachers; I am
sure you already realize this. So '
be proud of your school. Don’t
let a handful of troublemakers -
interfere with what you know is
your school.
Mrs. E. B. Gaffney
Beaverton, Ore.
Jules Feiffer
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