PAGE TWO EDITORAL: Revolutionaries - "Cool It" Submitted by Pasqua Pecora • We students at Highacres may boast that no major problems exist between our student body and our administration, but student riots and demonstrations on college campuses across the United States have made it obvious that the harmony we find between students and administration at Highacres does not exist at all in many colleges and universities of our nation. Demands for new privileges and free cbms have been voiced again and again by American, college students, and when the students have been ignored or turned down they have been quick to protest. The question we must ask ourselves is: Are the, protests and demon strations just and reasonable, and do they achieve their purpose? Of course, there is no "yes" or "no" answer to this question. Each incident must be judged separately as to the validity of the students' complaints and the worthiness of their demands: also, the student body's method of protesting and the effects of the protest must be judged. However, there are several generalizations we can make about any demands or changes and any protests or demonstrations designed to bring about these changes: If a student is not sincere in his demands, or if he has not serious ly thought about what he is asking for and what he hopes to achieve, then he has no place in a student demonstration. The attention seek ers, the Students craving for excitement and violence, and those who hate all of society, will only be harmful to the students who are sin cere in their cause. • One should not demand or expect administrators to perform the - possible. Also the administration cannot be blamed for the evils of society or for the student's own slothfulness in his life or his own in ability to be moderate in his pleasures. Requests such as those for better race relations, liquor and narcotics on campus, easier curricu lums, or more student participation in student government are usual ly unfounded and, moreover, they rarely can be answered by the ad ministration; for society's problems (such as racism) are not to be blamed on college administrators and the extension of student free doms is often impossible because it would result in chaos on campus, due to the inability of some students to use their freedoms wisely. Also, college, students should be careful not to become trival and childish in their demands. They must simply accept and try to live with some problems of college life. This does not mean they should quit trying to improve things; however, they should come, to realize that some changes must come about gradually and only through their own perseverance and patience can - they succeed in bringing about those changes. , Students must also remember that they only harm their own posi tion by adopting unconventional and offensive slogans and doctrines. Students must keep in mind that they are doing their bargaining with a generation of people which is not accustomed to the new ideas and attitudes of the younger generation, nor are they always aware of the good intentions many student demonstrators have in their requests for changes. Students should, by all means, respect and be grateful to the generation which came before them, for the colleges and educa tional opportunities open to students would not have been possible with out the work and finances of -American adults. In fewer words, stud ents should resne-t and be tactful with the people with whom they are bargaining. In the long run, of fending the administration, faculty, or adult society only does harm to the student cause. Finally, any violence whatsoever is unnecessary and detrimental to the cause of student protestors. If the teenagers and young adults of the sixties take pride, in being a part of the "love generation," they should certainly be ashamed of members of the generation who dis play hatred and viol-nre in demonstrations. Students should aceeot their adininistrators as people, who, like all humans, have their short comings and are not immune to error. If students can Show no love ''! THE HIGHACRES COT:LEMAN You say you want a revolution, well you know, we all want to change the world. You tell me that it's evolution, well you know, we all want to change the world. But when you talk about destruc tion, don't you know that you can count me out?- Don't you know it's gonna be al right? You say you got a real solution, well your know, we'd all love to see the plan. You ask me for a contribution, well you know, we're doing what we can. But when you want money for The word is an American colloquialism and as such has no pre cise meaning. But it is often used to suggest a certain refinement, not in appearance but in spirit. Whet is "no class"? No class is not vulgar and dirty language. It is someone using vulgar and dirty language because it makes himpart of the group. No class is not a SUB left in a state roughly resembling_ a pig sty. No class is a student who does not care about, is not even aware a, leaving it in that state. No class, is not cheap, vulgar, unfunny remarks scratched into desks and written on walls. No class is someone who does this and thinks he is being clever or brave or cute or funny. No class is not critic izing or making fun , of a teacher behind his , back. No class is doing this even when there is no reason for doing it, doing this because the student does not even care- enough not to do it. No class is not criticizing the ability 'of a teacher. No class is crit icizing a teacher because he is not "interesting", as if a teacher were, a night club entertainer who is committed to giving his audience a thrill. No class is not student apathy: No class - is an apathetic student blaming others because things are not better than they are, making fun of others who try, even if unsuccessfully, to make things better. No class is not criticism of a teacher who criticizes studeots!for hav ing no class. No class is failing to know and believe that someone may criticize out of respect or concern. . and understanding for others in society they have no right to voice their complaints about not being treated as mature American citizens. Certainly no young people have been more original and idealistic in their attitudes and ideas than the kings of popular music -- the Beat les. Nor have any young adults tried harder to discover what people in the world need to find happiness, even if that happidess would require drastic changes from the present situations. Yet in one of their more recent songs, "Revolution," written by John Lennon and Paul Mc- Cartney, the Beatles tell the revolutionaries of the younger generation to "cool it." It is - not usual practice to print lyrics to a pop tune in an editorial, but the Beatles were trying to say something in "Revolu tion" and we should all consider their words seriously. Perhaps, if all college students were to,.accept the advice put forth by the Beadm narrow- ,mindedness, hitred, violence, and e?cpectations of the irm. possible would be eliminated from their requests for changes. "Revolution," Lennon/MeCartney. No Class! What is class? ,peoole with minds that hate, All I can tell you is brother you have to wait. Don't you know it's gonna be al right? - You say you'll change the consti- tution, 3rou know, we all want to change your head. You tell me it's the institution, well you know, you better free your mind int. stead. But if you, go carrying pictures of Chahman Mao, you. ain't gohmg to nmake it with -anyone anyhow. Don't you know it's gonnabe right? Mel Topf MAY, 10
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers