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Show Page 2 THE SIGNPOST November 1 8, 1966 Letters to the Editor ft . Upi nion Student Leaders Communicate? "Better student government through better communications", remember that catchy phrase and other like it? They were put up all over campus last Spring during the studentbody elections. Jack B. Suttlemyre, former editor of the Signpost, used the "communications" theme for his campaign. He was elected by an overwhelming majority. Last Spring, we said we would watch and see if the promises made during the campaigns were followed through this FalL It seems that there has been a minor lack of communications so far this year among the student leaders. There has been friction between the studentbody officers. The friction has not been excessive, but it is there. The major problem seems to be that the studentbody vice presidents all have a board to rule over and the president feels he does not have such a board. First vice president, Jerry Neb-eker, is president of the Senate. Clifford Vellinga, activities vice president, is chairman of the UB Activities Board. Clarence Velinga, business vice president, is in the process of forming a Business Board to aid him. Suttlemyre is chairman of Executive Council, Coordinating Council and a host of other organizations. But most important, he is president of the Associated Students of Weber State College. This means that he has as much power as he wants to exert over any areas. He can not go into the Senate, for instance, and order Nebeker from the president's stand and take over the Senate, but he can get his projects pushed through the Senate if he uses the right approach. If he has an activity he wants supported, the same principle applies. The problem of no communication was highlighted in last week's Executive Council meeting, when Suttlemyre asked for a briefing on what the other executive members felt his power was. It was then suggested that the studentbody officers set up a day each week to meet and discuss what had transpired in each of the officer's areas. We assumed that this was automatically done and that for-mel action in Executive Council was not needed to get the officers together. The officers agreed to sit down each Thursday at noon and talk over their problems. The conferences will be informal and should reduce the friction that has existed so far. It seems that the studentbody leaders are just coming out into the open and facing each other as allies instead of enemies. With better cooperation iminent, it truly seems that now we may have "better student government through better communications."Traffic Fires Still Smoldering Weber State has adopted a policy of "let's wait and see" regarding the parking problem that was fired up by the Utah Attorney General, Phil Hansen last week. Hansen said that state universities and colleges were wrongly imposing traffic tickets and fines upon students and other violators while parking on the school property. At the University of Utah, stronger methods have been imposed to collect from violators. A "Rhino Boot", a metal clamp that is placed around the tire of a vehicle in violation, insures . that the car is not driven away until the ticket is cleared up. A device similar to the "Rhino Boor is used sometimes at WSC also. At both schools the clamp is only placed on cars who are flagrant violators of state laws, or repeated ticket violators. Hansen said in Salt Lake City Monday that because the present traffic regulations have been in force at the University of Utah since 1948, that they are not necessarily right. This sort of antiquity "does not necessarily deserve reverence," Hansen stated. What we can't understand is why Hansen is so interested in the traffic ticket problem at the state schools. Before he said anything, no one was disagreeing with the system, except maybe the persons who are repeated violators and are given tickets. We feel that the administration should be able to give and collect traffic fines. They must have some way to control the traffic on campus. Hansen seems to be concerned about the money that is collected. All of the money gathered from the tickets at WSC is used by the Security Department to pay for officers' salaries, etc. The money is not being wrongly spent, we feel. One thing that was brought up however in the discussion is, do the schools have the right to hold up a student's transcripts of grades? According to the assistant attorney general, Cornelius Van Drunen, "if a student pays his tuition, he should be able to know what his grades are, regardless. " In this we agree. The administration should be able to collect the money without holding up the student's grades. He pays his tuition money to get into class, not to park on campus. Once he has paid for the class, he should be able to know what he has earned in the class. The fine should be collected by using some other leverage than grade transcripts. We hope that the administration is allowed to continue to give and collect from traffic fines. And we wish that Mr. Hansen had not put his nose into business that has little if any concern toward him. We do thank him for bringing up the point about the grade transcripts. Editor, Signpost: This letter is written in defense of Drew Pearson who has been slandered by James B. Smith in his "letter to the editor" of Nov. 11. It seems evident that Smith is determined to prove that Pearson has communist learnings because he said that the Mormon Church has an "uncreative, conservative philosophy". This is unquestionably true. This is reflected in Utah's political and intellectual atmosphere as compared to any other state in the USA. But, even if you do not wish to agee with this it is no reason to label someone a communist. Very noticeably, from Smith's letter in the SIGNPOST, he has strong John Birch tendencies, or he is a Bircher in actuality. I fear people of his stripe as much as I do a communist both would take away our precious freedom if they could. Both thrive on discount. Both would enforce their ideology and surpress anyone who disagreed or even questioned them. The Bircher would like to manipulate people and social forces to bring about a predetermined political objective -- this is the characteristic pattern of communism also. I agree with Pearson when he said that the American people are too "obsessed with fear of communism." Communism cannot take hold in the USA. Our form of democracy combats communism by allowing changing con-citions, it allows forself-criticism and the free exchange of ideas. People like Smith would take these things away from us in the name of patriotism. Smith said that several of Pearson's employees have been "identified" as members of the Communist Party, Come now, identified by whom? The John Birch Society? Anyone who disagrees with these misled patriots is a communist, of course. Even Eleanor Roosevelt was a "communist," Smith, in his letter, only quotes the Congressional Record once. Where did he get the rest of his "quotes" and from what context were they taken? Well, now maybe the John Birch Society can add my name to their growing list of "communists." I would consider it quite an honor. Their list contains an impressive number of distinguished statesmen and intellectuals who have combated emotionalism and have fought to keep our country free. To the patriotic Birch Society I would like to say, "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel." Dell Isham EDITOR'S NOTE: Because of the space limitations in the Signpost, many of the references that Mr. Smith used were omitted. The original letter is in my office and is available for further reading. Editor, Signpost: I like to encourage my students to do research work and particularly objective research, so the letter by James B. Smith on Drew Pearson In the Nov. 11 Signpost attracted my attention. Mr. Smith must have had to carry on extensive research to develop the facts which he presented. If he delved that deeply into Drew Parson's writing and background, how could he come out with any other answer to his question of "now tell me whose side is Drew Pearson on?" than that Drew Pearson was on Drew Pearson's side. Groups and individuals from the whole political spectrum have both praised and damned Pearson. Dr. Alten B. Davis Editor, Signpost: Today at 10:00 a.m. there were approximately 17 frustrated people at the main desk of the Union Building waiting for service. I was one of them. How ever, after waiting 15 minutes without receiving service, I left -- very DISGUSTED! The U.B. main desk is a very busy place because it is so convenient. One person cannot be expected to handle the buiness of answering phones, cashing checks, selling candy and making announcements over the public address system. It's ridiculous and it was rather evident today. I think that the desk can be operated much more efficiently and effectively than it is at the present time. In fact, I know it can. It was done last year! Judy Wilmore Editor, Signpost: Robert Benjamin Smith maliciously slaughtered five people, as reported in the Ogden Standard-Examiner last Sunday. The sacred day's news was not in any way enlightening to the reading masses, on the contrary, most people wanted to return citizen Smith with like punishment for his sacrosanct sin. The Viet news accompanying the unwelcomed incident reported "Infiltrator's Raid Hist Marine Unit" Whatever it may infer. On the inside page, "Catholics face major decisions" concerned the abolition of fish on Friday. If the reader still wasn't satisfied, he would have to venture onto the society page where John Do Good was awarded a gold medal for sacrificing his three daily ice cream cones to buy an erector set that his brother wants for Christmas.Along the sports section, "Wild cats have a field day; Portland State falls, 51-6" By that time, "Who's Benjamin Smith?" Turning on the radio to relax form the long hard day - - from religion to the 49er game, Simon and Garfunkle are singing Silent Night while some ancient newscast interrupts the "all is calm" to report that some idiot slaughtered eight nurses and Richard Nixon recommends 'escalation' through the next five years, to wipe out those bothersome "Red bullies." Next thing that happens, I'm changing the tire of a new '6T Cougar with a remarkable newly invented, "easy-change" jack.-.. When I accidently bruise my thumb unscrewing lug bolts, I think of that Smith fellow andwish him my besU Doug Leggett Editor, Signpost: On Nov. 3, 1966, the Weber State College placement office issued letters containing information on , the time and place of a meeting to be held for the benefit of 642 prospective graduates. The writer attended this meeting and was most distressed to find himself in the company of only 36 of his fellows. The writer suggests that this Is '; a further re-iteration of Weber State students aptahy in support-of campus activities provided for their benefit. Is this indicative of your future representation? The writer further suggests that on the eve of Nov. 14, 1966, ' 606 absent students out of a possible 642 did not have to work j hard. David W. Sovell 1 LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS Published weekly during fall, winter, and spring quarters except during test week by the Associated Students of Weber State College. The opinions expressed on the editorial pages of the "Weber State Signpost" are not necessarily those of the studentbody or the college administration.Letters to the editor must be signed and identified with a student number to be considered for publication. Editor-in-chief J. Ryan Rees Business Manager Ken Burton Associate Editor Carol Deegan News Editor Rick Hassett Layout Editor Albert Mtfh Sports Editor Roger Peterson Society Editor Bobbe Dabling Managing Editor Joe S. Wright Theatre Correspondent Ann Anderson Represented for national advertising by National Advertising Service Inc., 18 East 50th St., New York 22, N.Y., Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco. |