THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
80th Year, No. 110
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas
Thursday, April 9, 1970
Hoffman says degree 'useless'
Abbie Hoffman at Allen Field House
Abbie Hoffman spoke to nearly 8,000 students in Allen Field House Wednesday night. He told them a college degree is "useless" and the function of the University is to provide a "training ground" for revolutionaries.
The role of the University is to serve as the training ground for revolutionaries, and the college degree is a meaningless document, Abbie Hoffman told nearly 8,000 students Wednesday night.
In his Allen Field House speech and earlier in a Kansan interview, Hoffman, a defendant in the Chicago seven trial, said "People have really got to make up their minds that they are going to destroy the University. If they accept the student's role, they accept the role as a slave. The student is a nigger," he said.
"Law is not for maintaining justice, it is for maintaining power," Hoffman said, so strikes really do not affect the power structure of the University.
Student apathy is a myth, Hoffman said, perpetrated by the ruling class. "Students aren't apathetic if the issues are communicated effectively. If one feels a part of the community, he has no problem relating to its needs or desire." KU students should adopt the Yippie slogan he said, and that would be "as soon as you find an injustice, stand up and say, Why?"
Rock concerts, strikes, or any group activities causes one to experience identity as a people, and as people they have power, Hoffman said. "The question is what to do with this power."
Hoffman said Lawrence Velvel, associate professor of law whose delayed promotion prompted Wednesday's strike, and anyone who "engages in free speech is in trouble in America." He likened the Board of Regent's alleged suppression of Velvel's free speech, concerning the statement Velvel made concerning Judge Julius Hoffman at the Feb. 17 Chicago Seven demonstration, with the suppression at his trial.
"The first thing a dying dinosaur empire does is to try to devour its young." Hoffman said, and "America is a dying empire and its institutions are crumbling."
The hippie, yippie movement feels many institutions are going to crumble on our heads, Hoffman said. "We are living for the revolution and dying for it."
The basic role of the student, Hoffman said, is to present the (Continued to page 20)
Strike peaceful and fun
Despite rumors of violence, KU students combined protest with pleasure Wednesday as strike day events continued peacefully throughout the day.
Events included a rally, a "pleasure fair" and an open class during the day which coincided with a talk given Wednesday night in Allen Field House by Abbie Hoffman, one of the Chicago Seven.
(See related pictures on page 12)
A rally scheduled at 1:30 p.m. in front of Strong Hall was scheduled to be the focal point of the student strike in protest of the Kansas Board of Regents delay in the promotions of Lawrence Velvel, associate professor of law, and Frederic Litto, acting professor of speech and drama.
A crowd of nearly 4,000 people gathered on the lawn of Strong while David Abbrey, Hutchinson senior and student body president, read a statement demanding the Regents promote Velvel and Littio.
"We demand that this threatened abrogation of our freedom to pursue truth and express that pursuit to others be immediately corrected," Awbrey said.
"The University of Kansas does not need statue painting or window breaking,"Awbrey said."What the university does need is the support of the Board of Regents."
The statement called the action of the Regents "imperative" in protecting educational freedom. It also asked that action be taken immediately "against outside political pressure."
Awbrey took part of his statement from a prepared statement of demands which the strike committee sent to each member of the Board of Regents, 35 Kansas and Missouri newspapers, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times "in an attempt to make the public aware of the issues as the members of the University community see them." In the statement of demands, the Regents were asked to sign as being in support or opposed to principles established in Article One of the Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, the 1940 Statement of Principles of the American Association of University Professors, the Supreme Court of the United States and the policy statement in the First Biennial Report of the Kansas Board of Regents.
Bill Ebert, Topeka, junior and newly-elected Student body president, then read a statement urging all students to refrain from campus activities that evening.
Following the rally at Strong, a "pleasure fair," scheduled at Potter Lake, was to feature a nudein and a rock band. The nude-in failed to come off, as did anyone's clothes, and consisted of one duck, two dogs and about ten students clad in jean shorts frolicking in the lake's murky waters.
The highlight of the afternoon, which had consisted of the band, conversation and frisbie games, occurred at 3:45 p.m. with the appearance of Abbie Hoffman. A group of nearly 200 students, many with cameras and tape recorders, gathered around Hoffman to ask questions or just look.
(Continued on page 20)
Carswell defeated
WASHINGTON (UPI)—A bitterly divided Senate rejected the Supreme Court nomination of G. Harrold Carswell by a 51-45 vote Wednesday in a second stunning repudiation of President Nixon's efforts to restore "the kind of balance" he says the court needs.
In resolving its anguish over party loyalties and doubts about Carswell's fitness for the high bench, five moderate Republican votes were decisive. But it was not until the roll call had neared the finish and Sen. Margaret Chase Smith, Maine, softly uttered her "no" that the outcome was no longer in doubt.
President Nixon said through a spokesman that he was "of course disappointed" and would name another "strict constructionist" to the court in due course, although he had no names in mind.
In Tallahassee, Fla., Carswell said: "It's a relief." He said he wasn't bitter about the outcome even though "it's always disappointing not to win."
Nixon spoke to Carswell by telephone shortly after the vote and gained his agreement to remain on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
(Continued on page 20)
UDK News Roundup
By United Press International
MOSCOW—The Soviet surgeon, Dr. Vladimir Demikhov, who won fame by grafting a second head on dogs now hopes to beat the problem of transplant rejection by using organs from monkeys which have been given human blood.
Transplant to use monkeys
His theory, Demikhov said, envisages transplanting organs from a monkey surviving on human blood to a human. The transplanted monkey organs would take over part of all of the work of damaged or ailing human organs.
Kite harasses planes
LINCOLN, Neb.-Police Wednesday received a call from the airport about something harassing airplanes at 2,200 feet.
They found 11 University of Nebraska students had managed to get a 6-by-4-foot kite more than a third of a mile into the air. The students pulled in their creation and moved to a place out of range of airplanes.
U.S. firm in Paris talks
PARIS—U.S. Ambassador Philip C. Habib warned the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese today their attacks pushing GI losses to a seven-month high are "not compatible" with peace talks.
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