Russians sidestep political questions
By JACK CHAPPELL Associate Editor
ASSC Forum Committee Chairman Rick Flam called for an end to questions from the group of about 150 people who sparsely filled the cavernous Bovard Auditorium.
Polite applause came from the audience for the two Russian journalists who had for the last hour fielded' questions from the audience and from three campus panelists on contemporary Soviet affairs.
Alexander Makarov, managing editor of Soviet Life and member of the Soviet first secretariat, and Boris Sedov, television and press bureau chief for the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C., then left and attended a coffee reception in the Hall of Nations. Most of the students followed.
The general impression one has of the momentary interaction with the Soviets is favorable. They answered most of the questions in a straightforward manner. And they answered all the questions with an assurance that their answer explained the question fully and was entirely correct. The Russians joked with the audience a bit and generally did all they could to dispel their bogie-man image.
One also left with the feeling that perhaps as we were watching them and assessing their answers to,our questions, they were looking back just as hard and assessing our questions.
Questioner: “What is the Soviet perception of the goals of United States’ policy in South East Asia?”
Sedov: “I couldn't understand question.”
Questioner: “What do you think the United States is trying to accomplish in Vietnam?”
Sedov: “I don't know. What are you trying to accomplish?”
Actually, politics between the United States and the Soviet Union oame only infrequently in the discussion. But when it did, it sometimes came up in an unexpected answer. Dr. Ward Hanson, lecturer in Slavic languages, asked about the possibility that the student exchange program between the two countries might be expanded to allow undergraduate students to participate.
“We are always in favor of exchanging students,” Makarov said, "but as far as I know the exchange program now is based on reciprocal exchange. We don’t see any obstacle once the relationship between our two countries improves and the world situation improves and their aren’t any more hot spots.”
One questioner asked the Russians if they felt the United States was still following a policy of containment in Europe.
“No, they don’t think that we are going to attack France and they don't think that we are going to take over West Germany anymore,” Sedov said. “Yet, when it comes to a question of Vietnam, well that’s different.”
On a. question of Soviet news coverage, concerning the Sino-Soviet split and the Chinese cultural revolution, Sedov replied, “We of the Soviet Union don’t approve of the Chinese cultural revolution. We think in the long view, the truth in the scientific Marxism will prevail in China. This is what the people are told by our press.”
A foreign student asked if he, as a foreigner, could travel freely in Russia. Makarov said that there were still places in Russia where there weren't accommodations for tourists. Sedov said that even in the United States, they had to get special State Department approval to go to Cal State.
Alexander Makarov
Boris Sedov
SOVIETS, STUDENTS
University of Southern California
I>. MIL [' » » T> I'll’ DAILY i» TROJAN
By MIKE PARFIT City Editor
“About what percentage of the population in Russia is Negro?” asked one of the women from the Peace and Freedom Party.
Alexander Makarov paused a moment to assess the woman who asked the question. His bright, easily amused eyes were serious.
“We have very few.” he said in his carefully managed English.
“There are a few families, of course, but not any important amount.”
Makarov stood near the door of the Hall of Nations where he had been forced to stop by the crowd of students who wanted to ask him about his nation. Nearby, Boris Sedov, who had entered the room before Makarov, was sitting on the edge of a table talking to the group clustered armfflf'Tfoiv. * ^
In another part of the room, the three other members of the panel on Soviet affairs, which had just ended, stood sipping coffee and talking with Rick Flam, the panel’s moderator. There was no crowd around them.
Everyone wanted to sec. hear and cross-examine the two Russians. The several dozen students, faculty members and people from the Peace and Freedom Party were there to find out about the huge, relatively unknown USSR.
Just as travellers returning from the Soviet Union are treated with some awe by the stay-at-homes, so the Russians were treated with a certain amount of reverence by their American listeners.
There were few pointed questions, and the atmosphere was one of sincere communication rather than conflict.
(Continued on Page 3)
VOL. LIX
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1968
72
NO. 10
Campus pastors pledge aid counsel tor draft resisters
By STAN METZLER Editor
Ten campus chaplains have signed a statement commiting themselves to “counsel, aid and pastoral concern” for all students, including draft resisters. They promised to counsel the students to “follow the dictates of their conscience, helping them to be aware of the possible outcome of their
Neighborhood children cause ruckus on campus
Bv ELIZABETH SCOTT
The little boys in the neighborhood are invading the campus and sometimes raising quite a stir. They’ve been seen playing with the combination locks on the women's dormitory mail boxes, eating free lunches in the lunchroom at Birnkrant. picking locks to the rooms, trying to sell shoe-shines in the women's halls and disrupting classes.
One little boy. having made it past the main desk located at the entrance to Birnkrant, darted into the alcove where the women's mail boxes are located.
The woman on duty at the desk noticed him trying to open the combination locks on the boxes.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
A look of horror passed across his face. Seconds later he dashed in-
to the lunchroom. The woman returned to her duties at the desk.
Once inside the lunchroom, he joined some students eating. Soon he was munching a hamburger and sipping milk. For dessert he had a banana popsicle.
Then a hush fell over the normally noisy room. Someone had called the Campus Police and the little boy was led away. Some students showed their anger at the incident by hissing and booing. At least one “police brutality” was shouted.
Reactions to the handling of the incident were varied:
“Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise for the boy to be caught. Maybe this is the best thing for him. If the boy’s parents were unaware of their son's absence from school, they found out about it from the Campus Police.” “The method used in handling the
David Harris to speak today on draft laws
David Harris, a draft resister and former student body president of Stanford, will speak today at noon in 129 Founders Hall.
Harris will be speaking on his own beliefs and experiences regarding the resistance movement. Students for a Democratic Society is sponsoring the meeting.
Daniel Brandt, an SDS member and fellow draft resister said this will probably be one of Harris' last ap-perances since he is expected to receive a three-to-five year prison sentence.
On Jan. 17 of this year, Harris refused induction into the army at the Oakland Induction Center. Last
summer he had formed the Resistance with a number of other Bay Area residents.
During the National Anti-Draft Week, last Oct. 16-21, nearly 350 residents from that area turned in their draft cards and joined the Resistance.
One year ago Harris resigned as Stanford’s student body president after having been elected as a radical member of the new left. His platform included an antidraft, antiwar and pro-civil rights position. .
Harris has adopted antidraft lawyer Bill Smith’s theory that if one percent of the population resists the Selective Service, the draft law will fail.
situation was uncalled for. If the little boy was annoying students, they should have gone to a lunchroom supervisor, not have taken it upon themselves to get the Campus Police. Anyway, he wasn’t causing any commotion.
“I hope the little boy wasn’t shaken up by the experience. It was cruel to make him a public spectacle.”
Regarding the eating of food not belonging to him, students said:
“The monitors see that dorm residents don’t take more food than they have paid for. If a dormie wants to give away his property — be it banana popsicles or corn curls — he should be able to do so unmolested.
“If students who pay for their meals give away more food than they are allotted, naturally the cost for board will go up. Then, we’ll be able to hear the same students who hissed and booed, hissing and booing even louder with an increase in prices.
“It seems the basic problem is that the rules are not enforced universally. That’s my gripe. If you’re going to crack down on one, you better get them all.”
Little boys also have been found riding the elevator in the same dormitory, picking locks to rooms and, when confronted by one of the women residents, trying to sell her a shoeshine.
Last Wednesday one of the little boys walked into Dr. Allan Casson’s English 466 class and said, while walking to the front of the room, “Excuse me, sir.”
He turned around and stared with ?yes as big as saucers at a hippie sitting in the front row and asked. “What’s that?”
He ran from the room before an answer could be made.
decision.”
The statement, which was sent to President Topping. Dean of Students Paul Bloland and the Daily Trojan, admitted divergent views on the Vietnam war and the draft within the group.
But the signers all agreed that the demand of the individual conscience “is superior to that of the state or any other institution.”
The statement was signed by Dr. John Cantelon. university chaplain and director of the School of Religion; William May, associate university chaplain.
Rev. Travis Kendall, pastor of the University Methodist Church; Dr. K. Logan Barnes, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church (which has joined congregations with the Methodist church).
Ben Cohen, director of the B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation; Father Gregory O’Brien, head of the Newman Catholic Center;
Rev. Ralph Jeffs, Episcopal chaplain; Rev. David Lehmberg, Methodist campus minister: Rev. Charles Doak, Presbyterian university pastor; and Rev. Alvin Rudisill, Lutheran campus pastor.
It was not signed by chaplains of the American Baptists, Baptist Student Union, Christian Science Organization, Church of Latter-Day Saints, Lutheran Church at USC (Missouri Synod), Muslim Students Association or Trojan Christian Fellowship.
The full text of the statement reads:
“Recent events on the national scene have confronted all of us in campus ministry at the University of Southern California with the need to make clear our position in regard to the Military Selective Service Act of 1967 as it pertains to draft counseling, in which all of us are engaged more or less regularly.
“Within our company there are divergent views regarding the legitimacy of the Vietnam war, the legitimacy of conscription as a means of raising an army, and the equity of
SOCIAL SCHEDULE ITEMS DUE TODAY
All campus organizations must submit items for the SoCal “on Schedule” calendar section to the Daily Trojan office, 428 Student Union, by 2 p.m. today.
Any items turned in after that time will not be included in this Monday’s issue.
The calendar section will include organizational meetings, speeches, anti sports events for the week. All pertinent information will be included.
the present draft law. All of us, however, as religious counselors, are agreed on at least one principle: that the demand of conscience of the individual. informed by higher law and/or the moral teachings of religion, is superior to that of the state or any other institution.
“Our commitment in relation to the draft, therefore, is to counsel young men to follow the dictates of conscience, helping them to be aware
of the possible outcome of their decisions. For some, this may mean serving in the Armed Forces; for some, seeking exemption or deferment; for others, conscientious objection under the law. For some, however, it may mean refusal to serve in the Armed Forces or to cooperate in any way with the draft system. To this latter group, as well as to the others, we pledge our counsel, aid and pastoral concern.”
ENGINEERING WEEK
Science editor to talk on L.A. megalopolis
Speeches, a panel discussion, a tour of NBC studios, a faculty vs. students basketball game and a TGIF party will highlight the School of Engineering’s celebration of National Engineer's Week next week.
Dr. Irving Bengelsdorf. science editor of the Los Angeles Times, will speak Monday at noon in Olin Hall Auditorium. His topic will be “Engineering in the Los Angeles Megalopolis.”
A tour of NBC studios has been planned for Monday from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Bus transportation will be available at a cost of 50 cents. Arrangements can be made in 200 Olin Hall.
“Deep Sea Engineering” will be the topic of a speech by Lt. M. B. Sherman of the Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory at noon Tuesday in Olin Hall Auditorium.
Wednesday’s program will include a speech by Richard Bower of Pacific Telephone on “Lasers and their Use Today” at noon in Olin Hall Auditorium. Free bus transportation is available for a tour of the IBM Data Center at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Dean Alfred C. Ingersoll of the School of Engineering and several members of the California Society of Professional Engineers will announce the society’s “Seven Engineering Wonders of California for 1967” at a press conference in Olin Hall Lounge at 10 a.m. Thursday.
A panel discussion on the “Importance of the Graduate School of Engineering” will be held Thursday at noon in Olin Hall Auditorium.
Panel members are Dr. James M. Whelan, professor of electrical engineering and materials sciences; Anthony Cooper, a graduate student in electrical engineering; John McKinstry, assistant dean of men; and Richard Hudson of Hughes Aircraft Corp.
Dr. Milton B. Hammond of the space division of North American Rockwell Corp. will present a film and discussion on “Project Apollo — Bridge to the Moon” Friday at 11 a.m. in Olin Hall Auditorium.
The School of Engineering faculty will challenge members of the engineering student body to a basketball game Friday at noon in the men's gym.
The Sigma Phi Epsilon Jug Band will provide the entertainment for a TGTF party at McKeever’s Trojan Barrel at 3 p.m. Friday. Admission is 75 cents.
Frank Fong, secretary-treasurer of the engineering student body and assistant chairman of the program, said the purpose of this week is to present some recent developments in engineering technology.
Chairman of USC's contribution to Engineers’ Week is George de la Guardia, president of the engineering students. He is being assisted by Phil Lipoma, Dick Hill and Darryl Dwor-kin.
Helping the students are Dean Ingersoll and Dr. Robert Merz, professor of civil engineering.
STARFIRES TO PLAY AT DANCE IN GRILL
The first dance to be held in the Grill is slated for tonight from 9 to 12:30. The dance will feature the Starfires, a rhythm and blues band.
There is no admission charge. All food facilities will remain open.
The dance is sponsored by the ASSC Entertainment Committee.