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Editorials
Student Leaders
We Iihvo all been figures in a fast moving
pramc of chess these past few days. Moves on
the part of Federal. State, and University offi
cials. combined to create total confusion and
uncertainty here on the campus. We have lived
from hour to hour not knowing who would
riilo over rule, or declare what in any situation.
I uder these conditions a few students, encour
aged by outsiders and conflicting statements
from varing state officials, took things into
their own hands, resulting in occurences not
altogether favorable to the reputation of the
University.
The question is no longer that of segregation
or integration, as that has already been an
swered. The question now is will we have law
ami order or will violence prevail?
Noodless to say these events are regrettable
hut our problem now is to pick up the broken’
pieces and try to make the best of the situa
tion that confronts us; namely, the restoration
* and esteem for the University We
all know now what the stand of the Admin
istration is, even though it took a while to get
it Now we have something to work with.
At this point, may we make this suggestion^
so as not to have the san pleasant events
' atri'i'if The student leaders who remain
unwilling to accept the truth, or the law
as it is in this ease, can still register their dis
approval of the situation, but in so doing they
luive t« very definite responsibility to fulfill
I hat is, to see to it that the feelings and
emotions of the students whom they lead re
main channeled along the line of non-violence.
: 10 front lawn of Myor’a Hall is not flu* place
for any kind of protest action. Things can
get out ot hand there too easily without that
being intended at all. If a person feels he must
ra 'v ,<l ause, make arrangements for the
use of the Chapel, Fine Arts Auditorium, the
track field or the stadium if that large a gather
ing is expected. In these places one is less
ikely to feel the urge to throw something, say
like a brickbat. Very definite and positive
active can conic from such meetings as long
as they remain rational and sane. Petitions
••an be drawn up and circulated; plans can be
formulated for a concerted drive to solicit
telegrams etc. to be sent to state legislators.
I ben, turn the news of these rational forms of
protest over to the press and other news media
for publicity. .Inst as much good in the end
will be accomplished, and the University will
not have to bear (lie brand of another 'Little
Hock’ scandal.
It’s high time the student leaders who still
have strong feeling on the subject at hand
either face up to their responsibility and take
constructive steps to help out in this situation
or else resign. Will you pick up a few pieces
and put them together, or will you break them
even smaller?
Scrape Goat
la view of the wide-spread rumors that nro
koIiik around these days concerning the coverage
nnd activities here l»y the news media we feel that
some word tr due ns to just what did take place;
Nothing, of any significance, in fact, with few ex'
cepttons, they are to tic very highly commended
I heir coverage true. accurate,
taste.
We on The It.sl mid lUack staff were with most
of them all of the time, and noted little more than
a natural interest on the part of individual students
n the complexities of advanced, modern-day
JourHultHni.
VLi)e fteb anb JUacfe
Terry Hazelwood
Our Picture
l ux last week the offices of The Red and Black has been flooded
v h mail from all over the country. All this has rei,.crated one
>t to me a ? by ontents of the letters; we alone are
it concerned with the developments and outcome of our present
™ ti r,';,,ir *• rl'■»» • v-rv definite taring
on the entire nation, and the world if you care to take it that far
■\ , . h0 s '"", 0 nioan8 . <""• actions have a direct influence on public
r:i“:3“ d
For the most part, the letters were
not as had as I had thought at times
they might be, although we got some
real duties. The worst ones came
from up north, Just as one might
expect. I feared the westerners would
take a different attitude than the
one they expressed. Perhaps It was
the way the news was presented. A
number of north
ern wrttters seem
ed to take great
delight in clipping
Pictures, edi
torials, and news
stories and includ
ing them in their
few, well - chosen
words of con
demnation. I can’t
help but wonder
if they didn’t get any of the favor
able publicity, or If they chose to
Ignore It.
The westerners, on the other hand,
expressed encouragement at th6 fact
that only a small number of students
actually took part in the ’’riots" and
that as many as did actually en
dorsed tho open school policy. Even
though encouraged, there was a cer
tain note of surprise Involved. Some
letters, of course, were from both
extremes, but the largest part took
the middle ground.
A iloston doctor wrote, concerning
a photo which appeared in the New
York Herald Tribune, "If you know
the two white students in this pic
ture, I would appreciate your ask
ing them to drop me a line explain
ing just what they are jeering at, or
perhaps what seems so funny about
the situation.”
Three Smith College students in
Northampton, Mass., had this to say:
"As citizens of the state of Georgia
and as fellow students we are vitally
concerned with the problem with
which you are now confronted. We
would like to offer our support to
the student leaders who are working
to Implement what they know to be
right, despite the opposition of a
rabble-rousing minonity.”
From Troy, Ala., came this state
ment: "I am still stunned at the
courage of that mob. What strength
of character It must have taken for
1,000 people to route one Negro co
ed.”
From Paris, France, came these
words: "The International editions
Of the New York Time* nnd the
New A..rk Herald, both circulated
throughout Western Europe, head
lined in near triumph University of
Georgia opens door to first two
Negro students . . . we should know
that the world is looking to us in
search of an example, and admit
tedly we sometimes give an example
that could stand improvement.
These are but a few, but they indi
cate how feeling runs over the coun
try with regard to our situations.
W e ve got a lot of changing to do
for we aren't really the way some
think of us. With everyone’s com
bined efforts, we can pick up our
broken pieces and carry on.
Clje ftet) anb J3lack
The news as we saw It and printed It almost
always corilated with the way It appeared In the
mass media Thelr’s was the more nearly perfect
however Along these same lines, this was a period
of laming for us; a t.lg, fast moving lab class
Sometimes we didn’t use the best discretion In
presenting the news or commenting on It. but we
fell at the time that it was Justified.
If ever restraint and discretion were used by the
press and other news media. It was these last few
days There were ev. nts and Incidents which took
plnce and could have been reported In all truth,
hut they weren’t and we’re the hotter for it. In
many cases, the press in general co-operated with
University officials in expiditing things. The ex
perienced press members were able to draw from
pass experiences in similar situations and forewarn
of some events, so that precautionary steps could
token In time
Most of the rumors going around are just that
Then is certainly no reason to make the press
the scape-goat for our short comings, or anybody
el.es for that matter. If you were around last
week you know they didn’t have to look far to
get what they came for. We pretty well provided
them a selective choice.
Terry Hazelwood
Editor
Gut Ebkrhardt
Business Manager
Joe ZixuntK
Bixki Nash
M a act A I’OWKI.L
Tom Blalock
Kenneth Boswell
Don Davis
Bill Rii>i.ey
Ken Barnes
Rich aid Wcuanu )
Jons Forman j
News Stave
Sivkts Stave
Robert Sapp.
Women’s Stave:
Alan Wexler
Managing Editor
George Watts
N’ctc* Editor
Sports Ed I
Women's Edi
Society Edi
Assistant Xetcs Edi
Assistant Xeu-s Edi
Assistant Xetcs Edi
Cartoor
Circulation Mana
Photograph
John LaRosch. Robert Eubanks. Reggie Car
Eugenia Jolly. Tommy Johnson. Peter Wj
Jeannie Aiken. Jim W,„tom°mU SS^BiiltaS
*'“*kCL t i m “ r V J i! rb ^ ra McGarit J r - Jane Braces*
Erskine Wall. Sandra Alley. Martha Wr
Julia Fuller. Margaret Benefield. Rohy'n Wa
Entered at the Post Office in Athens. Georgia, as Mail Matter
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Opinions
Letters to the Editor
Dear sir:
Just a note to let you know how I deplore the
recent actions of some of your fellow students
towards two Negro Americans recently. Our nation
preaches liberty, freedom, the dignity of men all
over the world. How do you suppose this looks
abroad.
Thomas M. Flaming, Jr.
Verbank, N. Y.
Dear sir:
It is inspiring to know that a younger generation
has staked its claims on higher hopes. You are
the people who will one day make Georgia our
nation’s proudest State in its quest for domestic
unity and peace.
Howard M: Johnson
Carbondale, 111.
Dear sir:
As some students have proven themselves in
capable of accepting the responsibility of being free
thinking individuals, would it be possible for the
administration to help them clarify their thinking
by immediately expelling (or suspending for say,
three weeks) all who participate in any sort of
demonstrations? May I offer as an alternative sug
gestion a slight change in the pledge to the flag
of our country. Rather than hypocritically recit
ing it as it is, could we be more honest and quote
it thus:
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United
Rable-Rousers of America and to the Lack-of-
Free-Thinking for which it stands. One opinion,
indisputable, with liberty and justice for all
whites.
Norma Young
Athens, Ga.
Dear sir:
It is with sorrow and a sense of outrage that I
read of the recent events on the campus of the
University of Georgia. As a student myself, with
family roots in the deep south, I feel a personal
disappointment that your student body has not been
able to respond with better grace and a gentler
dignity to the challenge of Democracy. In our
egarness for the preservation of Southern traditions
we must insist first of all upon the oldest hospi
tality.
Mark S. Israel
Columbia Law School
Dear sir:
I was often disturbed by the allegation that stu
dents on my own campus were victims of apathy
with respect to issues of civic importance. It is
hearting, therefore, to read that at the University
of Georgia students are vigorous participants in
current affairs.
Frederick Simpich
Stanford, '54
Dear sir:
Where were the leaders of the students of my
Alma Mater on Wednesday night, January 11th?
As a native southerner, I had always been proud
to announce to anyone that I was a graduate of
University of Georgia, before Wednesday night. I
hope that the coming weeks will renew my pride
and faith in our beloved school.
Mary Rector Young
Class of ’55
Atlanta
Dear sir:
1 his morning an Associated Press Wirephoto
brought to our breakfast table here in the North
west corner of the United States the picture of a
young girl in tears. She was being led from your
campus by a member of your State Patrol. She
was being led away to safety from you.
I he darkness under which you marched last night
against her, and against the democracy under which
you grew up with her, will not cover you tonight.
W ill the rest of the world that watches, too, think
that all of us look like You?
Seattle, Washington
Congratulations
Georgia named a new head football coach last
week in the person of Johnny Griffith.
The easy-going Crawfordville native won the
position by virtue of the athletic boards' unanamous
decision although there was some speculation that
he was in for a real battle.
The l niversity will have a man at the reins who
knows how ,o coach winning football teams. His
South' Georgia Junior College teams during the
1950-54 seasous won a total of four state cham
pionships and were regarded among the top J. C.
units in the nation.
He became head recruiter when he came back
to Georgia and has contacted and signed some of
the state's most sought-after players.
It takes a man with a lot of know-how and Sawv
to do a good job in the recruiting field, and that
is one of the big reasons new head football coach
Johnny Griffith should have many “years of plenty”
on Ag Hill.