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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1972)
Alaskan demos take on new face; youth obtain political power By DEAN WHEELER Of the Emerald The 1972 political year has been called the year of change for the Democratic party. And in Alaska, at least, that change is noticeable on the surface. Over 50 per cent of the delegates to Alaska’s district conventions are members of a new political force in the fiftieth state, the Ad Hoc Organizing Committee of Young Democrat’s. A Sitka, Alaska precinct chairman, Kermit Whittemore, 25, said the new grouping of young Democrats was fostered by an August convention of youth in Kenai, in south central Alaska. “A convention of Young Democrats held there passed measures calling for the total and im mediate withdrawal from Vietnam and free abortion clinics and several other radical changes,” said Whittemore. “When the Democratic party, which is run by the Democratic Club, heard about these measures, they refused to ratify the con vention. So we took our organization and started the Ad Hoc committee.” Whittemore said the committee emphasized the precinct levels, and got over 55 per cent of the seats, thereby giving the new political force a similar number of seats in the district conventions. The Ad Hoc Organizing Committee of Young Democrats has involved more than just young people, however, said Whittemore. “Young people provided the energy to get older people involved. A lot of them came because they didn’t like the way we looked, dressed and spoke, but now we’re working together and trying to make some fun damental social changes.” One of the other complaints older persons had against the young people was their lack of stands on issues. Whittemore admitted that at the time of organization, during the first part of this year, they had no platform planks. But “we have been holding public hearings to get the feelings of the people who aren’t involved in politics before we did anything, however,” he said. The Ad Hoc group has divided itself into several committees including one entitled “The In vestigations Committee.” Whittemore explained that this committee will “take a look at all the potential candidates for office, and if they are in cumbents their records will be checked out. And if we're not satisfied with who ever is running, we’ll try to get someone older with more experience in politics to run.” Financing for the Ad Hoc Organizing Committee of Young Democrats seems to have been no real problem. Whittemore reports they have “raised and spent more money than the Democratic party.” ( Fund raising has been limited to donations with ceilings so as to “avoid being bought off,” he said. A giant fund raising effort will be made in July, said Whittemore, with a two day musical festival planned on the slopes of Mt. Alyeska, about 45 miles outside of Anchorage. They hope to raise $100,000 through that benefit. In a state where the median age is 22.6 years, Whittemore said “We’re not trying to rip off the whole government in Alaska for any special pur pose—we’re just trying to get more people involved in participatory democracy because that’s the only way we can get involved.” Peace to be forum topic Peace education, or a study of the processes for attaining world peace, will be the subject of a nine week series of forum discussions to be held in Fellowship Hall of Central Presbyterian Church, 1475 Ferry Street, on Sunday mornings beginning tomorrow. Each program will be an hour in length, 10:30-11:30, April 9 through June 4. The forums are open to the public without charge. After two orientation sessions, the forums will approach the study of peace from various angles: psychological, sociological, economic, political, cultural, and educational. Leaders and speakers will include members of the University faculty and resource persons from the community. The forums are modeled, in miniature, after a class set up at Colgate University with the help of the World Law Fund, a New York organization which has begun world-wide research and educational programs aimed at a peaceful approach to world problems. The first forum, on April 9, will be introduced by a series of scenes read from “The Trial of the CatonsviUe Nine,” by Philip Berrigan. The second session, April 16 will be sparked by a film depicting the alternatives to peaceful solutions of problems. Ronald Rousseve, University professor of education (Coun seling), will address the subject, “A View of Man for a Better World” on April 23, and Henry Dizney, professor of educational psychology, will respond and lead in the discussion of man as a creature psychologically disposed toward violence. On the following Sunday, April 30, William Robert of the Business Law Department will carry the subject into the psychological aspects of in ternational relations, and Stanley Pierson of the History Depart ment will respond. | Community ~\ Wilderness conference The ninth biennial Northwest Wilderness Conference will be held in Seattle this weekend. Advance reservations for some activities are necessary. The conference, sponsored by the Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs, charges a $1.50 registration fee for students, $3.50 for adults. Donations are also welcome. Interested persons should contact F.B. Forderhase, Treasurer, Northwest Wilderness Conference, 10702 14th Ave. N.E., Seattle, Washington 98125. Sleeping bag space in Seattle area homes may be available. Persons in need of these accommodations should get in touch with Karyl Winn 1230 16th Ave. East, Seattle, Washington 98102, or phone (206) EA 9-4233. ‘Joint’ pot confab slated \ A West Coast Joint Conference on Marihuana Decriminalization has been scheduled for Harris Hall which is located in front of the Lane County Court House for Saturday, April 8,1972 at 2:00 p.m. The Conference has been organized by the Marihuana Education for Legalization in Oregon (MELO), the sponsors of an initiative petition to decriminalize marihuana possession for adults in Oregon. Scheduled to appear at the conference will be representatives from BLOSSOM (Basic Liberation of Smokers and Sympathizers of Marihuana) of the state of Washington, AMORPHIA, a California based group for the legalization of marihuana, representatives of the California Marihuana Initiative Petition, and coordinators of MELO from both Portland and Eugene. The purpose of the Conference will be to discuss campaign strategy on the various initiative petitions, to analyze the results of the President’s Commission on Marihuana, to collect and disseminate suggestions and ideas for fund raising, and to discuss publicity and education regarding marihuana. The conference is open to the public. The initiative petitions for the decriminalization of marihuana are already in circulation in both Portland and Eugene. MELO needs to obtain 39,984 signatures of registered voters before July 7, 1972 for the initiative to appear on the Nov. 7, 1972 ballot. Information regarding MELO and petitions can be obtained by contacting either Tony Yosco at 345-6575 or Jo Kirk 343-0159. Relief fund member to speak David LaShana, President of George Fox College, in New berg. Ore., will be in Eugene today to speak for the Bangladesh Emergency Relief Fund. The ERF is trying to raise 160 million nationally for Bangladesh LaShana will speak to the Rotary Club in the Thunderbird Motel on Coburg Road at noon and at Churchill High School at 2:20 p.m. In the evening he will give a third speech at 8:30 p.m. at the Friend’s Church, 3495 W 18th Students interested in campaigning locally for funds to contribute to the ERF should contact the Foreign Student Organization, Ext. 4387 or the Bangledesh Organization at 342-8634 Need somewhere new to live? Look ii Emerald Classifieds Sleeping Bag Pads 24" x 78" 1" — 2.95 IV2" — 3.60 2" — 5.95 Sleep-A ire Mattress Co. Ph. 343-2748 39 E: 10th noxt to tho ovor park Water Bed Toppers King 72 x 84 1" thick 6.95 Queen 60 x 78 1" thick 5.95 Special 4" thick-uncovered Full 54 x 75 — 21.60 Twin 39 x 75 — 15.60 Special 3" thick Full 54 x 75 -r 16.20 Twin 39 x 75 — 11.20 ORDER EARLY! Fiemats For Mother’s Day May 14 The CO-OP is offering a flower service fo all students at the University of Oregon at new LOW, LOW prices. Flowers will be delivered anywhere in the Continental United States as low as $8 per dozen roses . . . NO EXTRA COSTS. You can also order mums, car nations, plus a marvelous selection of corsages. leatemrers^*^^ IT Kl COUNTER^* m 100% SATISFACTION ROARAHTEEO! EDUCATION FOR PEACE IN i VIOLENT WORLD — a unit of forums — CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (Fellowship Hall) Sundays: April?. Juno? 10 JO -11: JOa m April ? Protest Scenes from "The Trial of Catonsvllle Nine " April 10 Conflict vs. Cooperative Behavior War Film April 23 Psychological Aspects Dr Ronald Rousseve "A View of Man for a Better World " Dr Henry Duney Respondent. April 30 Psychology of International Relations. Dr William Robert, Law Dr Stanley Pierson, History May 7 Economic Aspects Dr Charles Cray. Sociology Dr John Wish, Marketing May 14 Political and Legal Aspects Mrs Wilkes Beal, member Eugene City Council "The Paris Conference " Dr Robert Leeper. Psychology May 71 Educational Aspects (Teaching for Peace) Mrs Dorothy Leland. teacher Mrs Lois Barton, world Without War Council May 2S Educational Aspects (Coni ) or Dorothy Candland Woodruff, educational consultant for panel June 4 Theological Aspects. Interdenommetionel Panel Dr Norman D Pott, moderating, Don Gall rep Protestant; Fattier Frank Wilks, Catholic. Kim Kimerling, Bahai. Douglas Straton. non denominational. Discussion follows each presentation
