Newspaper Page Text
30, 1967
THE MERCER CLUSTER
tfthe ^Nercer Cluster
September 39, 1967
Volume XLIX, No. 2
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AAIXfc ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Ton Cautbom Wright Daria
BUSINESS MANAGER MANAGING EDITORS
Bob Lanier Becky Sima, Steve Wright
Buaineas Specialiat Christy Tyler
BHiaiga Editor — Ruaa Drummond
Encudre Editors Bill Dayton, Bobby Phillips
Sporta Editor Art Hapner
Feature Staff Ed Beckwith, Karen Rivera, Milton Moore,
Roger Bell, Reid Banka
Social Editors *— Leonard Bone, Carol Bruce
Cartoons Roger Poston
Photographer Bob Johnson
Staff Wardlyn Mills, Dori Ripley, Cris Greis
Special Correspondents BUI Wehunt, Ed Bacon
Codp Editor Open For Application
Faculty Advisors Prof. Anthony Stansfeld, J. O. Paine
SuW. Soob \Wln?ro«&/
"fcvA vKo ^ , '*
Dulcimer's Status
Not Clear In SGA
By Tom Cauthorn
The clearest issue at stake in the argument concerning
Mercer’s plea for Federal assistance is one of good economy.
The type of private loan that Mercer could obtain would
have a compounded interest of 6*^% over a relatively short
period of time. But, any federal loan would entail a compound
ed interest rate of up to 3% spread across a rather long period
of repayment.
Certainly a saving of 3^% does not sound like a large
amount but when it is thought of in light of hundreds of thou
sands of dollars the real saving becomes apparent. Also the
availability of long term federal loans over short-term private
loans brings to the university an opportunity to save money.
The savings in the long-term loan are made by paying out
relatively small amounts over a long period of time instead of
large amounts over a shorter period of time. If the university
can make these small payments then it can have the rest of the
money that would be paid out soon in a private loan to keep
invested as a principal. This principal is a steady amount of
money invested that is not spent but rather earns other money
by the very strength of its investment.
One of the most important advantages in the long-term
federal loan is inflation. Clearly if the purchasing power of
money becomes less over a period of time then if payments are
made over a long period of time they will be less; not less at a
numerical face-value but less because their purchasing power
is less.
THINK
BEFORE
YOU
GRIPE
No student is anything short of
an expert when it comes to dealing
with what he puts in his stomach
but often studenta tend to magnify
inaquitiea and distort facts in an
effort to find a cause to complaii-
Because students tike to complan
and probably because of other fac
tors it has oome to the attention of
this paper that some of us am al
ready dissatisfied with the food in
the cafeteria. This is indeed un
fortunate.
Unfortunate because of two facta:
» No adariaistrator, not even in
a come to grips
For better or for worse the edi
torial policy of the Cluster toward
the cafeteria will be one of coopera
tion and understanding. Mr. .Kra
kow has inherited a sinking ship
and bacauet of all the holes la it
them h a gnat probability that his
patching jab will tab* sot
Troy State Editor Removed;
For Controversial Editorial
Enters Auburn Instead;
Story From Auburn Pg. 4
If a college president takes issue with the
governor of his state over the question of
academic freedom it would seem natural that
college newspaper editors should take up the
cause to promote wider latitude in the edu
cational process.
Gary Dickey of Troy State College in Ala
bama is sitting out his senior year, presuma
bly because he saw fit to support editorially
the premise that the course of learning should
not be charted around the whims of the
state. Gary’s predicament arose out of his
support of the position of University of Ala
bama President Dr. Frank Rose, who has en
countered opposition to the academic free
dom issue from the Governor and certain
members of the. Alabama Legislature. The
President of Troy State College, Dr. Ralph
Adams, is a long-time friend of former gover
nor George Wallace, and he tried unsuccess
fully to censor the editorial.
A short time after publication, Editor Dic
key was removed from his post and later told
that he would not be permitted to return to
Troy in the Fall quarter to complete his sen
ior year. Dickey has filed suit in Federal
Court at Montgomery in an effort to regain
admission.
It must be admitted that just as a certain
relationship exists between state collefpt
presidents and state administrations, there
must also be a certain loyalty by college
newspapers to college administrators. But if
the traditional freedom and independence of
the press is to be preserved these loyalties
must be based on principles that do not cut
across the lines of conviction. Friendships
that cannot surmount the differences in the
individuals seldom survive, and then only
because of — or in the interest of — mutual
benefits or influences. A state school owes
its existence, to state money, but certain prin
ciples— such as freedom of speech — should
not be included as a part of the ante in the
contest for academic dollars. Hie public vote,
whether directed at the college student or to
the world at large, must remain non-negoti-
•ble. - i
Troy State College officials insist that
Dickey was denied lenrftynoe because he
disobeyed instructions from a faculty advisor
not to publish the editorial, but obedience
or disobedience is not thermal issue at stake.
Hie Plucked Dulcimer, Mercer’s literal
magazine, now has a status which is not cle
to many members of SGA. The present ed
tor, Bill Dayton, who has guided the Dull
mer through its infancy will be leaving Me
cer after fall quarter. Also, because of tl
ratification by the student body of the pi
sent Student Government Constitution la
spring it has become necessary for the Edit
of the Dulcimer to be an elective position
Tuesday night, September 26, the SG
discussed the status of the Dulcimer b
came to no permanent decision (a committ
was set up to study the problem). It is a wi
known fact that Bill Dayton has carried tl
magazine on his own bade for the past y
and without his leadership it is not qui
clear to the duster what the position of th
infant publication will be.
Some members of the SGA felt that
money in the Dulcimer Budget would be be
ter spent if applied to the Cauldron or da
ter budgets. Others voiced a strong suppo
for the continuance of the publication b
cause of the respectable place of a literal
magazine in an academic community.
What the answer is should be left up to tl
publications Committee headed by Hell
Glenn, Dean of Women, and the students
Mercer. The money that the duster or Cat
dron would gain by the Dulcimer’s demise
negligible.
President of SGA, David Hudson, pi
posed that the position for editor be open
for election during the Freshman election
Friday, October 6. This is a very real
and we feel should be implemented
commendations from the Publications’
mittee as to possible candidates for the
tion.
In the interest of continuity the Chis
proposes that the Editor of the Dulcimer
elected on October 6, and become a co-edi t
with Bill Dayton until the beginning of Wi
ter quarter. The co-editorship will prefer
the experience of Editor Dayton as a val
able fund for the new leadership to dn
upon.
The editorial efforts of a college newspej
should not be subjected to a policy of
quired approval” by faculty or administJi
tion. If an idea is born under conditions of
pre-deetined meeting with a censor, it ia I
most certain even from the beginning th
mutations will occur that could result in
fortuity or even death.
The answer to the current question
Troy will now be determined in the court
Perhaps this conflict could be avoided in f"
future if educators granted the earns freed
to newspapers that they themsahree now se
We are; proud that a stand can be taken
The duster without seeking approval
yond our own office. This trust, srtanrin
the administration, generates within
sense of responsibility because it makes
know that, without the crutch of “requir
approval” we must gain acceptance throu
integrity or be indicted by our own failu
It keeps us constantly aware that star
-must not be takan lightly, and that poaitia
. should be assumed with the idea of buikU
rather than tearing dorm.
We recommend pu* system to Troy, or
Static; bqt the iSTto^toke asLndfisnot
us