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V Letters To The Editor (Continued from Page 4) temational Committee of Red Cross of their prison com pounds. They publicly state that they treat our men hu manely, but those few men they have released contradict this and tell of their need for medical treatment and loss of weight while held captive. North Vietnam has refused to release a list of captives, so more than 1,000 families must wait and wonder whether their men are aihre. Only about 100 men have been allowed to write to their families, and only a small percentage of cap lives are let receive mail from their loved ones. Perhaps you think that by simply bringing this war to an end all of these families will be immediately reunited with their men. I only wish that were so. Also introduced into the Congressional Record on Sept. 17 was a letter from the Department of State in reply to inquiries about 389 Ameri cans our government had rea son to believe were held prisoner by North Korea dur ing the Korean War but were unaccounted for at the end of the war. In fact at the war’s conclusion more than 15 years ago, there were nearly 1,000 American men believed cap tives who were unaccounted for, but as a result of the U. S. Graves Registration units working in Korea the remain ing unaccounted-for has been reduced to 389. These men are still “missing" today I hope you will obtain copies of the Congressional Re cord for Sept. 11 and 17 to read these facts for yourself. They outline the background for my concern that the United States obtain from North Viet nam a list of captives now—be fore negotiating a settlement to the Vietnam War, because after a truce is signed we cannot hold the enemy accountable for the men they have not pre viously identified as prisoners of war. Now is the time when we must arouse enough public opinion against their unfair treatment of the men they hold captive to convince North Vietnam they must abide by the Geneva Conventions. The families of these men are becoming more and more outraged as North Vietnam places the label “war crimin als*' on our men. A resolution by the 21st International Con Terence of the Red Cross in Istanbul on Sept. 13 com pletely refutes Hanoi’s con tentions. The resolution calls upon all parties to an armed conflict, no matter how it may be characterized, to abide by the terms of the Geneva Con vention. Thus, our men are rightfully “prisoners of war," not war criminals. For they have committed no crime; they have simply served their nation and Its citizens in an armed conflict. We, the families, are urging concerned people everywhere to join with us in letting North Vietnam know that the Ameri can people will not stand for their attitude in mistreating American servicemen held prisoner in Southeast Asia. Letters to the President of North Vietnam (25« air mail), their representatives in Paris (20* air mail), to U.S. con gressmen and senators, and to newspapers across the country, expressing their indignation for the deplorable practices by North Vietnam and their con cern for the Americans impri soned by them. Our servicemen have a right—a human right—to communicate with their fami lies and let them know they are alive. I hope the students at Mer cer University will help us in our plight. Student power is a potent instrument when it is used correctly. Often when stu dents protest they do not offer useful solutions to the pro blems about which they pro test. By urging your student body, and students on other campuses, to write letters which might bring North Viet nam to release a list of its cap tives and agree to abide by the Geneva conventions you might actually help bring about an earlier end to the war! How? We have reason to believe that North Vietnam is very sensitive to public opinion in the United States. If their government would abide by these basic tenets of humane treatment of prisoners it might serve as the kind of “signal” our govern ment has been waiting for in Paris. It would seem reason able, also, to ask the North Vietnamese to agree to repatri ate several American prisoners (the sick and wounded first, according to the Conventions) for each 10,000 American troops withdrawn from South Vietnam. But the first step Is up to them. So far, our Presi dent's announcements of troop withdrawals have only brought derision and ridicule by the enemy. They are impatient. Our own impatience pleases them. But if we can get a list of captives from them now you can bet our government would interpret it as progress in Paris. Soon we could actually see the hands of the clock move as the war come6 to a close Georgians would be so proud if Mercer University turns out to be the first univer sity to stage a war protest that actually offers some construc tive help toward ending the FRE8HMEN RELAX - After a hectic week of Orientation Into Mercer’a way of life, severe) freshmen relax at the hayride. war. 1 am sure you know that the wrong kind of “war pro test" can only give aid and comfort to the enemy. I hope yours will not turn out to be that type. It does worry me, Mr. John son, that you are scheduling speakers for Oct. 15 from an anti war organization, accord ing to the Atlanta Constitu tion, that you do not even know the name of. Surely Mer cer University students are in telligent enough to thoroughly Investigate speakers they invite, and surely you are fair enough to present more than one opinion. It would greatly dis tress me and other Georgians to learn that you plan to con centrate on criticizing the U. S. government and its foreign policy and conduct of the war. By channeling your efforts along more constructive lines you can, indeed, actually help Did You Know? . . . that a box on the front page of the March 28, 1930 issue asked the Mercer Men: “How do you stand on prohibi tion?” The results announced in the next issue were that the Mercerians were almost three to one in favor of it. . .. that May 3, 1940, found the Cluster carrying a story about a plan by Blue Key that proposed to bring an Honor System amendment to the con stitution before the student body in the fall. . . . that in 1873 all the stu dents of the college were re quired to attend prayer in the University Chapel at nine o’clock every morning; also public worship every Sunday. . . . that in 1873 the admis sion requirements for Fresh men were an adequate know ledge of Arithmetic and Geo graphy: English, Latin, and Greek grammers; Ceasar’s Com mentaries, four books; Virgil’s Aeneid, four books, Cicero's Orations, four books: and the Greek Reader. Also no one could be admitted to the Freshman class who had not completed his fourteenth year, or to an advanced standing without a corresponding ad vance in age to end the war and bring home all American servicemen, both those who are still free and able to communicate with their families and those hidden in prison compounds in North Vietnam. I ask that you not let our nation forget about these men who have sacrificed so much for their country. You may obtain more in formation about helping American prisoners of war in Southeast Asia by writing our newly formed National League of Families of American Pri soners in Southeast Asia, P. 0. Box 9791, San Diego, Califor nia, 92409. It is made up of wives like me, who have not seen or heard from their hus bands for up to five years. 1 urge you to get all the facts you can, and I hope you will support our cause. I would like very much to sign my name to this tetter, but because of your association with an unnamed anti-war group in Washington I can only give you my address, hope you will understand my desire to protect my husband, and sign this: Most sincerely, A Wife of an American Prisoner of War Held in North Vietnam (Continued from Page 3) of Ohio’s Central State Univer sity demanded that the confer ence “get down to business" because “America is in trou ble.” About 100 blacks and whites then retreated to a hotel meeting room to launch their own discussion. Delegates heard U.S. Edu cation Commissioner James Allen compare the condition of U. S. schools to a man who has suffered a mild heart attack, and Gen. Lewis Hershey an nounce once again he has no intention of resigning. ASG officials said the pur pose of the gathering was to “show the nation the respon sible leadership of America’s campuses" and “to draw atten tion to the true image of the majority of today’s students.” WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL For a Home Delivery of Atlanta Constitution and Atlanta Journal 743-0083 Guess which insurance company has the most life insurance in force? Mine! Don’t you want to insure with a leader? Milton C. Madison 892 Mulberry Street P. O. Box 4907, Macon, Ga. 31208 Office: 74B2714 Residence 746-7331 ^ Metropolitan Life FALL PREVIEW ATTRACTION — Martin and Sallie, currently one of Canada's most popular singing folk duo’s will appear in the coffee house act this fall. They sing with a young touch and a feeling of communication with the audience. (Continued from Page 6) Sutton (Iowa), and Campus Affairs Vice President, Clinton Deveaux (Buffalo). Mercer Student Government Association joined NSA last Spring. President Bobby Potter says, “We will be on somewhat of a trial basis, constantly ex ploring and using their re sources, while evaluating their worth to us. There is much promise that NSA can help us with exposure and awareness to national issues, educational reform, and student services. We will certainly give them every chance.” naiiciscwcu classic UU UK It’ l eather Weight Hand Stained 1 eathvr with a buttery soft foam backed lining lo make sure you're noticed, we added an attention get title Antique Ornament From our brand new I roitei collection specially fashioned for the gal who wants to wear an original now. not a copy next v as.in the Soho 371 'CMrd Street dkocorv, aeorqiQ Fine Shoes Since 1900 \ s I < V s THE MERCER Cl USTER • Oetobci 7. 1<*>9 •