University of Southern California
DAILY
TROJAN
VOL. LXII
NO. 47
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1970
Photo by Rivian Tavlor
PICKETS PROTEST KY’S APPEARANCE
USC student was arrested during demonstration
Bradbury novel adapted for Stop Gap premiere
By DORETTA ZEMP
Alan Hubbs, candidate for a masters of fine arts, had a favorite book which happened to be written by Ray Bradbury. Hubbs wanted to adapt the book into a play. What did he do?
He merely picked up a phone, dialed the author and said, “Hello, I'd like to direct Martian Chronicles.’” “Fine,” said Bradbury. And tonight at 8 marks the world premiere of the new play at USC's Stop Gap Theatre which will run Dec. 3-12.
The play deals with the American colonization of Mars in the 21st century. It captures Bradbury's unique blend of science fiction and social commentary.
The Martians are not the menace this time. The menace comes from Earthlings who manage to destroy Martian civilization. The story parallels the Europeans’ destruction of the American Indian civilization.
“Martian Chronicles” is the story of familiar people and familiar passions set against the incredible beauties and terrors of a new world.
To quote from the book, “Life on Earth never settled down to doing anything very good. Science ran too far ahead of us too quickly, and the people got lost in a mechanical wilderness, like children making over pretty things, gadgets, helicopters and rockets: emphasizing the wrong items, emphasizing machines instead of how to run the machine.”
“The story goes beyond science fiction,” Hubbs said.
Hubbs directed productions in the Edinburgh Festival of 1969 and 1970. He also directed and designed the West Coast premiere of “Dr. Kheal" by Maria Irene Fornes.
Hubbs adapted, directed and designed Ray Bradbury's “Martian Chronicles” as partial fulfillment for his MFA degree. For reservations and ticket information call 746-6063 or 746-2703.
Student accused of striking policeman
By RIVIAN TAYLOR Associate City Editor
A third-year law student was charged with a felony count of battery against a police officer yesterday following a confrontation between the two outside the Ambassador Hotel, the site of an anti-war rally protesting the speaking appearance of Vice-President Nguyen Cao Ky of Vietnam.
Police said the student, Robert Hoffman, 24, was arrested at 11:30 a.m. after he allegedly jabbed the police officer in the chest with his right elbow. Hoffman then doubled up his fist as if he were going to strike the officer again, police said.
Hoffman is free on $1,250 bail awaiting arraignment Wednesday in Division 40 of the Hall of Justice.
Hoffman, and a friend, Jeff Rosenberg, were walking toward the hotel entrance when two police officers stopped them to question why they were approaching the hotel. Hoffman and his friend told the police officers they wanted to get coffee in the hotel’s Coffee Shop.
Because of Ky’s appearance heavy security measures were being enforced.
The officers said they had to search them for weapons, the police report said. Sgt. Daniel Cook, press relations officer for the Los Angeles Police Department, told the Daily Trojan the contents of the report. He said that the accused made “some caustic remarks, refused to cooperate and started swearing at the police officer.”
Hoffman then pulled away from the officer, and the officer grabbed Hoffman’s arm, Cook said. “Hoffman's back was to the officer and then the accused wheeled around and knocked the officer in the chest.
“The officer did not receive any injury but he was knocked hard enough to break away his tie clasp.”
Hoffman denied the charges against him when the Daily Trojan contacted him last night as he was going to the hospital to have X-rays taken of his mouth. He said his teeth were severely damaged and his mouth was considerably swollen.
Hoffman said the police of-
ficer took excessive privilege in frisking him.
“I said some remark to him questioning the necessity for the manner in which he conducted the frisk and before I knew it he hit me in the face, threw me against something and then pushed me in the car and started beating me,” Hoffman said.
Hoffman said he never jabbed the officer, but rather he jerked his right arm away from him.
Eyewitness reports seem to give credence to Hoffman's account.
Hoffman and several students from USC had driven to the hotel together. When Hoffman and Rosenberg decided to stop take a break from the rally to get some coffee, they told three of their friends where they were
going. These three had also stopped marching and watched Hoffman and Rosenberg as they walked to the hotel toward the entrance of the hotel.
One eyewitness, Sam Hurst, ASSC president, gave the following account: “We were standing with Hoffman and Rosenberg when they decided to get some coffee and we watched them as they walked down the sidewalk running parallel to the mall in front of the hotel. Two uniformed policemen got out of a brown unmarked police car parked halfway up to the distance of the mall and started to frisk Hoffman and Rosenberg.
“A police officer threw Hoffman against a palm tree and slapped him in the face and
(Continued on page 2)
Harvard prof to speak on turmoil
Dr. Seymour Lipset, professor of government and social relations at Harvard University, will speak in the Student Activities Center at noon today.
Dr. Lipset, author of numerous books dealing with both national and student dissent, will discuss “Professors and the Divided Academy,” concerning the impact of student unrest on college faculties.
A graduate of City College in New York and Columbia University, Dr. Lipset has been known to actively speak out in favor of nonviolent student activism. He is concerned with the impact of both agitation and government on education.
He began his teaching career at the University of California at Berkeley as an assistant professor. After teaching at Columbia University for a number of years he returned to Berkeley during 1964-65.
Lipset witnessed the student unrest on that campus and has written on the situation in one of his books. He then became a professor of sociology at Harvard University.
He was a Fellow of the Social Science Research Council from 1945-46 as well as a member of the Center for Advanced Study of Behavioral Sciences from 1955-56.
Lipset is a member of the American Political Science Association, chairman of political sociology for the International Sociology Association and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Since 1962 he has been assistant director of the Institute for International Studies which concerns itself with U.S. government agencies and private civil rights groups.
Dr. Lipset has authored or coauthored numerous books dealing with sociological and political aspects of man such as “Agrarian Socialism,” “Union Democracy” (with R. Bendix), “Social Mobility in Industrial Society,” “Political Man” and “The First New Nation.”
Hoover’s Open Letter gets negative response
By DANIELLE DIETRICH and JILL JOHNSON
Yesterday, “An Open Letter to College Students.” by J. Edgar Hoover, appeared in the Daily Trojan. The letter, a full-page advertisement, was financed by a group of downtown business alumni who call themselves “Friends of USC. '
In a poll taken yesterday afternoon, reactions to the letter were varied, although most of the students interviewed seemed to hold the opinion that Hoover's statement was ridiculous, elementary and pompous.
“He says that the Left is destroying America. America's destroying itself. We're trying to save it.” Tommy Brown, minister of information for the Black Students Union, said.
“He should get at Nixon, instead of young radicals.” he added.
Henry Blackburn. BSU chairman, said. “I think Hoover and his gay staff
are destroying America.”
A male graduate student in cinema was amused at Hoover's attempt at communication with students, and felt that Hoover had no idea about what was actually going on. He said it seemed as if Hoover was addressing the Julie and David Eisenhowers, “the goody two shoes of America.” “Hoover seemed to be telling students, Hang in there and we'll get rid of these few revolutionaries,' ” he said.
A junior girl in Urban Studies summed up her dissatisfaction saying, “He has some valid points, but—he's an old man.” A male senior in political science thought that Hoover's main error was in considering students with any of the eight characteristics as radicals and extremists. He said that just because a student wants to help determine curriculum and set grading standards doesn't mean that he is a radical.
A similar reaction came from a female senior majoring in history. She said she had never before considered herself as extremist, but, she said, according to Hoover's standards, she would definitely be one. She added. “It was typical of Hoover's paranoia.”
The first reaction of a male junior in political science was to question who had submitted the letter. Before being interviewed, he said he had gone to find out who had financed the article. He also questioned whether the printing of the letter violated the university's stand on not publishing political advertisements. But he was told by Clarence Anderson, director of Student Publications, that it was considered nonpolitical.
A sophomore girl majoring in anthropology described the letter as the same old bull and a scare thing. She said that
it really didn’t bother her much, except for the section where Hoover seemed to imply that what is associated with the law is always good.
The logic of the letter was questioned by a junior girl in history. She disagreed with the analogy which implied that a student who ridiculed the flag sought to destroy society. She said she also disagreed with Hoover's implication that one cannot be a revolutionary and want a democracy at the same time.
A male senior in political science said he believed that Hoover was disregarding the purpose of the justice department and was using it as a political tool.
Among all the negative reactions lies one positive view from a freshman girl. She said that she liked J. Edgar Hoover and agreed with all he said. She said she felt that as an authority. Hoover should know.