February 27, 1970
Climate of Change
San Francisco, Calif.—(l.P.)—University of California Presi
dent Charles J. Hitch recently called for a "climate of change" that
would dissipate "the threats of conformity hanging over the nation
as well as over the university.
, "Historically, the pressure to conform, to limit curricula and
restrict and . censor ideas and opinions have come fom outside the
university community. This sort of pressure is still with us and is
understandable.
"But there is today a significant movement within universities
toward conformity, and this is both new and particularly threaten
ing, for this pressure on behalf of a new and rigid status quo, iron
ically enough, is made in the name of change itself.
"Classrooms are disrupted in the name of education, speakers
are shouted down in the name of free speech, job recruiters are
driven from campus in the name of morality, and demands for total
conformity to , a particular line of thought are made in the name of
nonconformity and dissent."
The University of California president made his remarks in the
context of a definition of academic freedom, which he . prefaced
with the wish that "somehow we could discuss the concept without
using the term itself."
"I am afraid," he explained, "that many people outside the uni
versity—and a few within our community—believe that academic
freedom is an unlimited license given to the faculty member to do
anything he pleases. This is of course nonsense.
..._... "For example, a faculty member is not free to indoctrinate his
students or to impose his ideas on them, for the students, too, have
a kind of academic freedom, the freedom to learn. In addition, a
faculty member must be careful to make clear that his private opin
ions are just that, his private opinions and not those of the univer
sity.
"Academic freedom really is synonymous with integrity—the
integrity of the professor, protected from those who would dictate
his thoughts and actions, and the integrity or basic honesty of the
professor when dealing with his students and with his institution.
"Academic freedom can be abused from many sides—from poli
ticians, from regenis, from students and from the faculty itself.
Like anything else worth having, it takes a lot of hard work to keep
it."
Because "we must be free to explore the fringe of our knowl
edge," President Hitch said, "it is essential that all points of view
be represented in a university, not necessarily on the faculty, but
certainly by the faculty.
"You and I might agree that many of the views and ideas pro
duced in such a free forum are worthless or nonsensical, or perhaps
even heretical. But dare we define what is permissible and what is
not? Dare we take the chance of eliminating the creative and the
positive along with what we might subjectively consider to be neg
ative and destructive? I don't think the risk is worth it."
"I think", President Hitch declared, "the university must re-
main a marketplace of ideas, that our best chance for effecting posi
tive change is contained in the promise of that marketplace, and
that the risk of society's being seduced by a bad bargain there is
very low."
B. J. THOMAS will appear in concert in Erie Hall, March 8 at
8 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the Student 'Union Desk.
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THE NITTANY CUB
S.G. A. Passes ...
(Continued from Page 1)
law is sovereign and civil author
ties should be required to handle
all alleged violations in these
areas."
The second part of- this three
part recommendation suggests
that—" The University, following
precedents already firmly estab
lished, should release itself from
the realm of acting in parentis.
Examples of these precedents
would be:
1. No residence hall hours
2. Students residing in off
campus housing
3. No need for parental signa
tures on student loans
It also recommends that the
judiciary systems already in ex
istence refer such cases as war
rant it to the civil authorities.-
The third part of the bill states
"That a policy be adopted where
by Senate Rule W-20 (concerning
censorship on campus) be disre
garded and that the civil auth
orities be solely responsible for
censoring any publication—that
the civil authorities are sovereign
in this area." The. SGA rational
ized by the fact that the present
rules overlap the civil laws.
This action taken by the SGA
is the most important step that
has ever been taken at the Beh
rend Campus, and is reflective of
an active, pensive governing body
which has an eye to the future.
The SO-A deserves congratula
tions for their action.
Project People ...
(Continued from Page 2)
directly to Greg, who's address is:
Pfc. Gregory J. Holland
170-0-5755, A Troop, First Squa
dron, 10th Calvary, Fourth In
fantry Division, APO San Fran
cisco, California NM.
As a closing note on a Valen
tine card, Greg wrote this very
simple but pertinent thought,
"When the power of love over
comes the , love of power, then
we'll have peace and happiness."
. . . visit the
Varsity Shop
P. A. Meyer & Sons
CLOTHIERS
The clothier that made
Erie clothes conscious.
WANT ADS
FOR SALE: 1964 Chevy Sta. Wgn., 9
pass.. luggage rack, VS, automatic.
5325. Call 833-6387.
New York to London—Summer Va
cation Trips—Round trip $169. Now
filling—small deposit and payments—
send for free details—Student Globe
Roamers, Box 6575, Hollywood, Fla.
33021
Diamond Rings by
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diamond rings
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SGA IN ACTION, left to right are Secretary Janet Atkins, Stu
dent Body President Roy Kirkley, Treasurer Claudia Hulick,
Chairman Doug Brower, and L
DICK BULLING'S Forty's Cleaners 6'
Musk House-of Erie Tuxedo Rental
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