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Show THE SIGNPOST September 27, 1968 Page 2 editorial; By Mike Parker The political Demogorgon of the 20th Century has finally appeared on the American political platform in the squat, menacing form of Ungovernor George Wallace, with a rise of radicalism lending him frightening support. Latest opinion polls give Wallace 21 per cent of the national vote. This is shocking in a very complicated sense. The Wallace "platform" is broadly one of DISINTEGRATION. The super-threat of Wallace is not realy 1968 ... it is stewing some place in the future, as an advancing civilization may suddenly regress to a militant society of intolerance, or even into a police state. These may be harsh words against a presidential candidate, but Wallace represents a growing tide of intolerance, not only of minorities, but for ideas, progress, and the U.S. political system. What he did as Governor of Alabama lies beside in history . . . what he says today poses the threat. He has avowed his opposition to a separation of powers by threats to the Supreme Court as an institution; he has threatened to deface the entire educational fabric of the country; he has inferred a breakdown of the progress of civil liberties and rights; he has plainly stated his desire for a police state. Most of Wallace is geared to a nervous America, torn by dissension land disturbed by war; plagued with inflation and dismayed with the progress of social programs, but by a chain of sorry events and decisions. As the nation stands, a President Wallace would be a weak president. His "platform" could not immediately be formulated into law. His influence could lead to the election of those who would ride with the desires of a misinformed electorate. Should Wallocism ever prevail, our country would don the atmosphere of Haiti . . . Duvulierism in reverse. Wallace in effect says liberty has been bad for all the people. His dislike of intellectuals has extended to most educators. His contempt for minorities has extended to their education, housing and employment. His threat to liberty has reached abolition of dissent by force. His yen to unbridje the police of constitutional responsibility smacks of a complete disregard for the individual's rights. But, again, the support he is receiving is the menace . . . not 'him. The support is represented by a population obviously inept in rational political judgment. It is a portion of America that is awed by a dark fear which has been produced by a lack of real education and social responsibilities. Wallace will probably lose this election, and his votes probably won't throw the election into the House. His real support will probably be offset by the traditional mode of voting. His supporters, however, may vote in school board and local government elections, and win the many necessary minor victories which may disrupt our federal institutions eventually. How has this phenomonon taken place? The answer may be the traditional Yankee habit of oversimplifying problems. The people have always been obsessed with obtaining easy answers to complex problems. Wallace is Instant Non-Riot, a "by-the-numbers" law and order kit, a do-it-yourself return to normalcy. One of the truly great men of American life has been the demeaned and defiled President, good and reliable LBJ. The President is beguiled and attacked from many sides, but he has deftly handled complexities which would have stumped other men. Filling his boots in November is a near impossible task. The U.S. action in Vietnam is an unavoidable conflict of giant ideologies. Winning the war? That remains to be seen. Poverty programs ... in experimental stages . . . how does one achieve improvement without some experimentation? Racial Unrest ... a large segment of a free nation held in a subclass for centuries . . . could it be avoided? A student revolution ... 10 years ago, students were admonished for being apathetic and disinterested in government and the traditional institutions of the country. And which students riot? What percentage of actual student unrest is there? The Kennedy brothers are killed by deranged mentalities ... a shock to the American people, and a tragic loss. So much has happened to America that a state of confusion is natural. Much bad politics has reared through the confusion; much good has occurred simultaneously. It has been said that our country is an experiment. As such, the experiment should continue., But the growing strength of an uninformed public, beset by fear, swayed by emotion, is fertile ground for the seed of despotism. Wallace in himself is an individual. He may be riding the public opinion of a growing minority. He in himself is no threat. The ideas are: Down with dissent, down with social justice, down with the Supreme Court, down with the educators, down with the intelligentsia, down with the two-party system ... to the tune of "Stand up for America." It is the moral obligation of every American to acquaint himself with the functions and purpose of government, without emotion or fear, to rationalize the political process and improve it . . . not disintegrate it. Wallace represents most certainly a vociferous dissen, but his dissent ... as in the dissent of those he attacks . . . should be considered far more responsible and knowlegable men oppose him . . . but more important, he is opposed by a miraculous and proven political system which is still unsurpassed in this world. YEARBOOK PIX All upper classmen should contact the Acorn (room 102, Union Building) for yearbook pictures by Oct. 4, in order to arrange an appointment. All organizations, clubs and committees wishing their pictures in the yearbook should meet the same deadline Follow the Leader Not Always "In Been standing in any lines lately? If you found yourself standing in a line extending from the bookstore across the parking lot into the Administration building, you were not alone. It seems that almost every student from freshman to senior wanted to change classes and buy books, and it really didn't matter whether you were in the half of the line headed toward the registrar's office or the one headed toward the Union Building. A student wanting to drop a class this year need not get the permission of the instructor. Only if he needs to add a class or withdraw after the fourth week, should a student see the instructor of the course. The reason for this change in procedure is that class cards are being kept in the registrar's office instead of being given to the instructor. A change card is required of each student who is either withdrawing from a class or picking up another one. This card MUST be brought back to the registrar's office before the student is considered to have completed h i s registration. When a student only wants to withdraw from a class, all he needs to do is fill out a change card and turn it back into the registrar immediately. Every student should make sure he is properly registered for each class he is attending. This can be done by checking with the instructor, the stu-dnet directory, or the registrar's office. All students who registered late should be sure to bring their cards to the registrar's office to complete theirregistration. Desert Featured The d e s er t came alive Wednesday evening in the FAC auditorium as the first Audubon film-lecture of the season was presented by Allan D. Cruickshank of New York. Mr. Cruickshank, author, lecturer, wildlife photographer, and member of the staff of the National Audubon Society narrated his filmed excursion of the Santa Catalina Mountains, and his trek up the highest peak in the range, Mt. Lemmon. Cactus wrens, curve-billed thrashers, black-tailed gnat-catchers, Bell's vieros, vermil-lion flycatchers, and gila woodpeckers dotted the desert terrain.Mountain scenery in the Santa Rita Mountains in Madera Canyon was highlighted by Mexican jays, Arizona woodpeckers, bridled titmice, and five species of hummingbirds The program was the first oi a series of Audubon Society sponsored film-lectures presented for students and the general public at WSC. A New Concept of Campus By Carol Nelson Since I have taken office, I have been amazed at the new Weber State I have seen and been exposed to. When I saw the "inside" of Weber and the plans and potential for the fulure, I was SO impressed. Oh, never, ever, again can Weber State College be associated with the "Harrison High" of old. The existing facts demand that we, as Weber State College, change our self. image. What are these existing facts? I decided to do a little research to support my opinion. Since 1889 Weber State has grown from 98 students and a handful of faculty and staff to approximately 9,300 night and day students and a faculty and staff of 550. Weber's enrollment has gone up 194 in the past five years. The growing studentbody at Weber has resulted in the highest classroom utilization in the state among senior institutions. Our evening school is one of the largest in the 13 western states. Weber State, with its impressive campus, has evolved from its first humble home in an old L.D.S. Ward meeting house on 26th and Grant. Weber's present campus has $8 million dollars of current construction underway with another $8 million scheduled. On-campus accomodations are available for 726 students since the completion of our twelve-story dormitory and cafeteria which towers over the campus. This will be joined in time by a second similar structure. Our five-story science building will be ready for use this year. A new administration building is now being planned. The college operating budget, payroll, construction programs and student expenses add $20 million dollars annually to the economy of the surrounding area and this tremendous impact is being recognized along with the many educational advantages of a college community cultural offerings and benef its otherwise unattainable. Employers find at Weber a well-trained work force so vital to their industry. To employ college students also we have three near government agencies that hire many of our students. Such available work is vital to the growth of a college. We have a strong and loyal and enthusiastic alumni backing and supporting us with approximately 100,000 alumni having attended Weber since 1889. Weber has 47 departments and four acadmeic schools with plans for another academic school to be established in January in the Allied Medical Sciences, including a four-year nursing program. In conjunction with this, the David O. McKay Hospital, which will be completed in January, has scheduled 22 labs and classrooms for our use, and the St. Benedict's Hospital also has plans to furnish us space for educational purposes. Weber offers more than 20 bachelor degrees in maior fields of study as well as 22 secondary teaching majors. In addition two or three-year pre-major courses in medicine, denistry, engineering, and agriculture are 'also available. At Weber we have more than 70 organizations on campus, all sponsoring activities. Our activity calendar is so full of events that it is seldom that there is ever a free day. Weber has virtually outgrown the region of associated student conferences that she has been attending. According to Dr. Hofmann, Weber has some exciting plans for this year. There are plans to establish an honors program, an outdoor education facility, a school in Allied Medical Sciences, and a 10-year planning committee, to increase music and theatre offerings, make technical improvements in the library and to prepare for a graduate program which is hoped will be possible by 1970 or 1971, making WSC, Weber State University. Weber has a reputation as being a very friendly school and a school that has an administration and studentbody that can cooperate well together. We have our problems, of course ; but we do not have the tremendous conflicts and unrest and rebellion that most colleges do today. (Tom Welch says that we will probably not take over the administration building this year for two reasons: (1) We do not have that much disagreement with the administration and (2) Our union building, with the new addition, is in much better shape than the old administration building, anyway.) I am honestly very proud to say that I go to WSC; and when I graduate from Weber, I'll let it be known that this is where I graduated from. In fact, I know I'll d a little braggin' about Weber. I'm proud of Weber and its history, accredation, reputation, accomplishments, athletics, and tradition. You newcomers can be very proud of your choice to attend WSC as I know you will be in the future as you find out more about your school. Weber is starting to astound and shock some people and they are coming to recognize us for all that we really are. People are watching Weber (at present, especially the politicians). They realize what power, influence, value and potential that it realy does have. Do we????? STAFF BOX Published weekly by the Associated Students of Weber State College Editor Mike Parker Business Manager Dennis Heiner Assistant Editor Marian Johnson Copy Editor Peggy Parker Sports Editor Kent Call Feature Editor Marilyn Larson Theatre Editor Kathleen Walk Reporters Carmen Rodriguez Photography W. S. Photo Lab and Alan Bell |