ALL WE ASK--JUST DOW T PANIC
If a resolution blasting a
resolution can possibly carry any
weight with our elected represen-___
tatives in Harrisburg. theynder
gradliate Studebt Government's proposal!.
night smooth don the ruffled
feathers in the state Senate.
But, it doesn't seem_ likely,
For one thing legislative resentment
against certain "educational tactics"
has been growing for a long time,
Some Assembly members publidly
voiced their ire when an overwhelming
crowd of students turned out for the
Viet Cong propaganda film shown on
campus last spring,
Mat the legislators failed to
note then. was the student reaction
toward Russell Stetler, the narrator,
and the film. Not only was the
majority against the
_film. but they
vocally made it known before, after,
and during the showing,
Virtually the same sort of hasty
reaction has occurred in the Legislator
again, this time toward the recent
demonstrations against the govern
ment's Viet Nam policy.
The Senate obviously feels that the
Communist speakers who have at one
time or another appeared at the
University have by their speeches
managed to sway the majority of the
students.
They are dead wrong. They have
erroneously assumed students see
Communists as the great Pied Pipers
of political thought. They have
erroneously assumed students condone
draft-card burnings and Viet Nara
demonstrations.
Their hasty reaction haA - made them
accountable on two counts. First,
they did not bother to check whether
this was the view of one, 20, or
20,000. If they would simply read
the letters printed daily in the
Collegian they might become a little
embarrassed.
Second, and most important, their
legislative witch hulaing is an
example of hasty, irresponsible law
making at its worst.
Not only have the senators failed to
realize learning is most successful in
a free atmosphere, but they have
implied themselves to be a little
dOubtful about the democratic bases of
our goverment.
In th6ir own houses, legislators
debate laws and issues to test the
sttrength of their beliefs. The
principle is called freedom of speech.
What legislators failed to realize
in the fever pitch of the moment was
the reason behind that first constitu
tional amendment. The guarantee was,
and is, not so much to support the
majority, but rather to protect the
minority point of view.
While freedom is being defended
in Viet Pam are we to lose it within
our won territorial bordersT
Legislators would have it so in all
"state colleges and Universities"
(at present' there is only one).
Although merely a Senate recommendation,
the resolution has set a dangerous
precedent. The ghreat of a out-.off
of state aid was more than an •
innuendo.
Draft card burners and other law
breakers should be made responsible
for their actions. 'What we don't need
is the sort of panic that creates
hasty legislation all of us might ligs
sorry for later.
Reprinted from The Daily Collegian
October 28, 1965
Editer--Bill.3arney
Asst. Editcr--Dennis Conley
Ruth Brown
Gae Baker
Carol DeArment
Linda litozbarth
Jan Kudlak
Pan Plasha
NTTTANY CUB STAFF
REPORTERS
Jan Puzar
Ellen Reep
Jim Tr ozzo
Karen Sialltrtte
Tom Krahe
Bob Dean%