brings much comment
Wescoe's stand
Over the past several days I have been addressed by more than two thousand members of the University community, in person, by individual letter, and by petition, in reference to their concern that the orderly life of the University not be disrupted. I believe that those who addressed me, and all others, are entitled to a response.
As Chancellor of the University, I am charged with the responsibility for its operation, internal administration, and discipline, as well as for the safety of all who are a part of it. Like former Chancellors, I have relied upon our broad-based faculty-student governance to carry out those responsibilities. The University, through its orderly operation and its consequent educational accomplishments, has earned the confidence of its constituency and the state. That confidence was most recently reaffirmed by the Board of Regents when the Board approved a system of University governance composed of a Faculty Senate, a Student Senate and a University Senate.
Last week the Executive Committee of the University Senate established guidelines for the conduct of a regularly scheduled University event and asked my approval of them, which approval was promptly given. As a part of those guidelines, the Executive Committee stated that charges for presentation to the University Disciplinary Board would be preferred against those who violated the guidelines.
Those guidelines were violated by a number of persons and that University event was disrupted to the point that cancellation was necessary. It was my responsibility to order that cancellation, and I ordered it in the best interests of the University as I saw them.
Now the University is faced with a test as to whether or not it can govern itself through its established procedures and retain, thereby, the confidence of those who support and respect it.
The University disciplinary system is not a centralized authority imposed by edict of the Chancellor. Rather it is decentralized, organized under the Code of the University. Its concept of fairness is entirely consonant with the concept of due process as defined by the courts. It has worked well because it has been fair, not arbitrary or capricious, and because it has had the support of faculty, students and administrators alike. It must continue to work well.
It is essential that the University Disciplinary Board function peaceably and without disruption. The University, if it is to continue to be viable, cannot allow liberty to be replaced by license, orderly procedures to be replaced by chaos.
As Chancellor I am both responsible and accountable. I intend to assure that this campus be maintained as a place where students and faculty can go unmolested in the pursuit of their scholarly activities and in the fulfillment of their responsibilities under the Senate Code. I assure the University community that I will fulfill my obligations to the fullest extent, in accord with the regulations of the University and the laws which apply to all of us.
In carrying out my obligations to you and to the state in whatever manner necessary, I appeal to all of you for your continuing support of our system of University governance. I ask your support to assure that the University will not be a place where threats of force or counter-force, intimidation or terrorism will prevail.
W. Clarke Wescoe Chancellor
SenEx will act
The University Senate Executive Committee (SenEx) yesterday issued a statement which said it plans to take action against those who participated in Friday's demonstration action against the Chancellor's ROTC Review in Memorial Stadium.
Peter George, Tuckahoe, N.Y., senior, and member of SenEx, described the statement as the committee's guidelines for its position on dissent. He said the University intends to show that the guidelines presented prior to the review were meaningful and that the University is able to, and will handle this situation.
George said that everyone involved in the demonstration, no matter what his motives, is responsible, and must face the consequences of his civil disobedience.
The text of the statement follows:
The University Senate Executive Committee (SenEx) believes it important to make the following statement:
When grave issues confront the University and demand firm but prompt responses, when the future of this institution depends upon decisions made almost in the hour, it is right and necessary that the basis and method of those responses and decisions be made clear by those who
May 12
1969 KANSAN 9
The University has unique values, essential to society. These values derive from the fundamental rights of all its members responsibly to learn and to teach without fear of coercion or reprisals, and this collective right is that of the University. To impair, abridge or deny that collective right is to cripple if not destroy the University. And society has no replacement for the University.
The rights of peaceful dissent by individual memburs and of peaceable assembly by groups are absolutely essential cornerstones to the structure of freedom in the University. We come together to learn and to teach with the explicit understanding that we must respect and protect these rights of all our members.
formulate them. The University Senate Executive Committee accepts the responsibility.
An institution may be conceived where the exercise of a delimited set of privileges is insured for a prescribed group of persons by the presence of a mobilized force. This is order without liberty; this is negation of our basic principles and a guarantee of violence; and this is not a University. An institution—rather a condition—may be conceived where no community discipline exists at all, where each person interprets for himself the nature and limits of his own rights and those of his fellows. This is license without order; this manifold oppression; and this is not a University.
The University Senate Executive Committee believes neither of these alternatives is acceptable. The University itself must recognize and sustain, and its members mutually respect, the rights of all individuals and groups, whether of the majority
(Continued to page 20)
Photo by Joe Bullard
Wescoe walks on
Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe strides by demonstrators while three accompanying military officials take note of the protesters who were to later cause the cancellation of the Chancellor's Review last Friday.
The demonstrators, protesting the Vietnam war and ROTC on campus, had refused to leave the field after several announcements. As ROTC cadets entered the field the demonstrators joined hands and again refused to leave thus causing the cancellation.
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