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Show Editorials Untable the Tabled After a long involved process, replete re-plete with suggestions, allegations, rebuttals re-buttals and ad hoc committees, Student Stu-dent Affairs Committee yesterday had a chance to finally put the University stamp of approval on a plan allowing students or student groups to distribute distri-bute or sell literature in the Union. As often happens, the motion was tabled. The motion is, by its nature, emotion emo-tion packed. At least the Committee made it so. Rather than treat the motion mo-tion in its context the members brought in issues such as "what if someone wanted to sell Great Books, Encyclopedias, Encyclo-pedias, cookies and doughnuts-" i The motion to sell and distribute literature stated all literature to be distributed dis-tributed or sold must have a student or ; group willing to assume responsibility i for the publication; a signed statement ; of responsibility must be attached to each copy of the publication, a student must be present to maintain order at the booth; and other stipulations. In all cases the wording of the motion mo-tion uses the word "publication" which obviously excludes bake, rummage and other sales. Regarding the justified fear of some Committee members that the booths would be turned into commercial com-mercial enterprizes for students selling magazine subscriptions and "Great Books" the solution seems simple. All sales in the manner of the publications mentioned above require a contractual contractu-al arrangement. To ban all contractual contrac-tual sales would effectively eliminate much of this activity. Also, we wonder if any student has the cash available to buy a set of encyclopedias "Great Books" or any other such expensive volumes. We feel by sheer economics the book peddlers would find scant customers to sell to. The average student stu-dent is a poor student. The Committee seemed to feel they should assume a en loco parentis to protect the student from any nefarious character who wants to con and smooth talk a student into an airtight contract in the nature of nothing-down nothing-down -and -everything -a -month. We feel the Committee has given the student stu-dent all too little credit for intelligence. intelli-gence. We feel the student can, and should, be able to use his own faculties in determining what he will or will not purchase. The Committee besides tabling the motion will give a rough draft of the proposal to the Union Board for study. Although this move will possibly muddle mud-dle the already hazy proposal, it seems a good move to get all objections ironed out as soon as possible to gain passage of the motion. The Committee also saw fit to appoint ap-point another ad hoc committee to study and revise the policy of fund raising. Sort of an ad hoc committee to revise the work of an ad hoc committee. com-mittee. The Student Affairs apparently apparent-ly wants specifics in the form of many regulations to limit the distribution plan. We caution the hesitant members mem-bers of the Committee to try to be len-, len-, ient with the motipri. We feel strongly that too many rules will defeat the purpose pur-pose of the proposal; to promote the maximization of free ideas. By harnessing harn-essing the means to communicate the Student Affairs will destroy the entire . idea. , . . We strongly recommend that Student Stu-dent Affairs Committee promptly "untable"' the motion and act upon it. Favorable action, that is. |