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Mixed Opinion In Moratorium Poll Mercer University students overwhelmingly oppose the Vietnam war but only half of them sympathize with a nationwide Oct. 15 mora torium called to protest the war. In a poll held Monday, in which 4W, of the student body participated, 62 percent' said they would not participate in any form of peaceful demon stration against the war. 1. Do you approve of the Vietnam waff Yes Only about one-third thought that President, Nixon’s plan for withdrawal of troops from Vietnam was effective. Six questions were voted on by students in the College of Liberal Arts, the faculty and by students in the Walter F. George School of Law. A total of 61 i votes of a student body totalling 1.HOI) were cast Here are the results: 6. If you do not voice your sympathy, is it because of parental pressure or other such influence? Yes L.A. Faculty Law 10—20'S 1- 1 % Partly 30-8% 4-6% No 378-90', 66 93'i Liberal Arts Faculty La** 137-26% 4 1.v; 39 -45% No_ 4 392-74% 22~85'I' 47—55% 2. Do you sympathize with the aim of the moratorium? Law students at Mercer Uni versity Wednesday, October H took action to disassociate themselves from a moratorium of activities scheduled for Oct. 16 which is part of a nation wide student protest of the Vietnam War. The Student Bar Associa Uon of the Walter F. George School of Law yesterday pass ed a resolution — by a 96 to 13 vote to not support and to "disavow any association with the Vietnam Moratorium call," according lo president Ralph Bowden. More than a quorum of the association participated in the vote. There were a number of abstentions. The scheduled moratorium falls on a Wednesday, when classes at Mercer are suspended each week to give students a day for study, research and unorganized activity. The action by the student bar association contrasts sharp ly with a vote to support the moratorium by Mercer’s .Stu dent Government Association That group earlier voted 12-9 to support the nationwide stu dent proiCst-and'scessation 0 f activities. The SCLV represents undergraduates In a poll held Monday at the University, ip which less than, half the student body partici pated, 62 per cent of those vot ing said they would not partici . pate in any form of peaceful demonstration against the war Mighty three per cent of the law school students paftici paling in the poll said- they would not participate in any such demonstrations. On the other hand 74. per cent of the liberal arts student's voting in the poll said they do ' not approve of the Vietnam War. Fifty five percent of the law students who voted indi cated disapproval of the war. Mercer President Rufus C Harris has expressed no opin ion on-the call for a mora torium. calling it a matter "for appropriate discussion" • by. college students on a public issue. L.A. Faculty Law Strongly Somewhat No Undecided 114-25% 94 -19% 238- 50% 26- 5% 19-65% 2. 7'! 4 14% 4 14% 24 -27% 20 22% 44 : 48% 3- 3% 3. If so, do you voice your sympathy? Yes No L.A. 206-62% 77-23% Faculty 22-91% 2 9% Law 35—48% 28 38% Indifferent 50—15% 10- 14% MERCER CLUSTER Volume L I 4. Would you participate in peaceful demonstrations against the war in Vietnam? Yes • No_ L.A. 21th 38% , 336—62% Faculty 16-64%. 9-36% Law 15-17%’ 75-83% 5. Do you think. Nixon’s present plan for withdrawal of our troops from Vietnam is effective and Sufficient? Yes _No Undecided L.A. 183-34% 210-39% 146-27% Faculty 30-12% 18-72% 4-16% Law 41-45% 24-26% 26- 29% MERCER UNIVERSITY. MACON, GEORGIA, OCT. 14. 1969 Number 3 * if ** 4r A / f’hoto By Bob Johnso Mercer Theatre Company opened the 1969-70 season with the London satirical- review Beyond the Fringe. Mercer students Randy Booth. Bill Lund, Thomas Michael, and Jerry Yeargin starred in the play. BSA Endorses Viet War Moratorium The Black Student Alliance unanimously endorsed the Viet Nam Moratorium' Call last Tuesday night Otis Ball pre-. Sented the purpose and format of the Moratorium. He explain ed the movement art "a means to help black people in the U.S." He said. , “Instead of putting $30 million a day into Viet Nam. the money could be expended on Headstart, Up ward Bound, the housing pro gram, and welfare.’’ He further correlated the black movement and power in the U.S. with the yellow people of the world — the Third World Movement. He pointed out that more than four-fifths of the world popula tion is colored, and that it is disadvantageous for American blacks to fight against a people with whom they could ally in . their struggle against the im perialistic stranglehold of the white race Joe Hobbs, chairman of BS.v activities, proposed a re solution requesting a fatuity study of the feasibility of a black studies program oa campus. He stated that a posi tion paper is prepared to ex press the feelings of the black people on campus. < The resolution presented by Hobbs was approved unani mously. Hobbs also discussed the possibility of enlisting the KGA In making demands on the administration. Will King staled that the BSA should strive to meet its goal - — to alleviate the in justices of blacks. King said, “Don't worry aboul the white man . . let’s live and think black!" Academic chairman. Don Hafrison. announced' that s tutorial program has been established through the Stu dent Union. Harrison- also staled that a Tiling service has been set up for black students. The files will include old tests class materials,' and teacher evaluations A political committee was .created and headed by Robert Brown The. purpose of the committee is lo inform the BSA on current events in order to formulate political e\ pressions. President of the local or ganization is Jimmie Samuel, Augusta. Tourney On Oct. 16-18 Debate Club Begins Year The Mercer Debate, Club is now in the process of selecting new members for the team. Debate meeting* are held each Monday at 3:15. in room -109- in the . Fine Arts (Hardemanl Building. Anyone interested in debating is invited to attend these meetings., Since the club is sponsoring Novice Class Debate, no previous experience is required. The debate topic this year is Resolved: That the Federal Government should grant annually a specific percentage of its income tax revenue to the state governments. October 16-18 marks the beginning of the new debate season for the Mercer Club as they travel to the Plainsman Invitational Debate Toum.i me'nt at Auburn ’’niversity 13- tjrOphies will be awarded during the tournament This will be a switch-side tournament, that is. each team will debate both live .affirmative-and negative sides.; Mercer plans to seqd two,Two mah teams to Auburn. . Other tournaments in which the Mercer Club plans to debate this quarter are Emory. ;\V a k e - F o r e s t. and the DSR-TKA' JReg'ional St Val dosta Slate New officers of the Club are Bill Cragg, Presi dent. Larry Finklestein. Vice- Pres, and Dan Thigpen, who is President of the local chapter of the honorary fraternity DSR-TKA. Plans Set For "M" Mercer students interested in informing other students about Viet Nam and related issues have been hard at work this week, getting up a program that will take full advantage of tomorrow, October 15, the day set aside for allconcemed U.S. citizens to work for peace. Plans for several of the day's activities have been finalized, with others still in preliminary stages At 10:00 A M on October 15. the first meeting of the day- will occur in the chapel I hrec faculty members. Ray Brew ster. Robert .Otto and Bill Lane, will begin the hour with their thoughts about the waf From 1 P.M. until 1 P M. a continuous lalk-sessioii will be going on the lawn between the administration building and the music building. It is lii-ped that students will take advantage of these hours to become more informed aboqt what is hap. pening in Viet -Nam Both faculty members and students Will bespeaking Discussions of Christianity. and-the war, in formative talks, and talks e\ . pressing personal viewpoint have been scheduled’ Three will also be ah.opportunity for the pro and anti groups to speak to -ach other-' in small discussions.-if n--i in organized- debate At j' .B-.PM-. a .series id short films - designed to bring the-major issues into loons u-iil be -presented jIV .IT t -Study'!. Center. The-s -movie.-,-w-ii -i,- be show n’tonighl troii.'B o'- |u 7':GO. Discussions wilt. l-- f dw those ' . .- As has- been staled bet ore, October 15 is not a day -to noisily create scenes, hut a day’ in which to intelligently and. honestly work for peact By seriously talking with indi viduaU m a search for a hotter understanding of the situation Because this is the nrajpr goal of the national program, indi viduals committed to ending the war will be explaining what the moratorium is about during the entire day. They will be trying lo build strength for the continuing monthly mora toriiims by winning peoplc over to the side of peace, - not by alienating folks by using shock tactics.