The Stetson Reporter

Gregory: Money Goes To SNCC In an exclusive telephone interview Tuesday afternoon, civil right activist Dick Gregory said, upon hearing that his appearance at Stetson had been cancelled on the request of the Board of Trustees; "Well you tell them that I am donating, the money (that Stetson still has to pay because of a contractual agreement) to SNCC", (The Non-violent Coordinating Committee). President Geren confirmed Wednesday at an open Student Affairs Committee meeting that the Board of Trustees had offered Friday to make good the contract with Gregory so as not to jeopardize the SUB or SG finances. Gregory was contacted at Bowling Green State • University where he was to speak Tuesday night. He said of -his college tour, "I have talked everywhere from Smith College to some of the least known." He commented of the action at Stetson that his coming was really not that important but, "If they are that closed-minded, I really pity the kids for the other aspects of the school." Commenting of the fact that Stetson is Baptist affiliated, Gregory said, "Christ would not have been able to talk there if he was as radical as the Bible said he was." He added, "Dick Gregory can go to night clubs where they have whores and pimps and dope adicts and exercise my freedom of speech but I cannot go to a Baptist college and exercise my freedom ... so I.say maybe the cross is on the wrong building:" Gregory asked where he was scheduled to appear close to Stetson and said he hoped that the kids here could go to see him there. THE FLORIDA'S OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER STETSON REPORTER Volume 80 Friday, February 23, 1968 Number 15 Trustees' Request Bars Gregory Lack Of Academic Freedo m Hit Saturday Seminar Scheduled "Controversial Speakers and Academic Freedom on the University Campus" has been chosen as the topic of tomorrow's seminar by the committee of interested students who organized this week's program of student expression over the Gregory cancellation. The cancellation of Dick Gregory has brought to the committee the urgent need for a university policy to deal with future events of this type. The committee realizes that such a policy cannot be formed in one day but hopes the seminar will be a starting. point for discussion of the matter by other organizations. The morning session will be composed of three discussion groups wth a panel of students, faculty, and administration stimulating ideas. All attending will be encourage to take an active part in the dialogue. Sample policies on this matter formulated by national educational ..roups will serve as (Continued on Page _) The scheduled appearance of civil rights leader Dick Gregory on the Stetson campus was cancelled last week ai the request of the Board of Trustees. The action by the Trustees was taken in the wake of protests from supporters of the university, some of whom threatened to withdraw their support, if Gregory appeared. Another concern arose when threats of violence were rumored. Jeff Ledewitz, President of the Stetson Union Board, who had contracted Gregory in cooperation with the Student Government called Gregory's agent in Boston after the Board had made their request. PRESIDENT 6EREN EXPLAINS his role in the Dick Gregory matter to a rally attended by about 450 students in the Stetson Room Tuesday. Behind Geren are: Cindy McClain, Chairman of the SUB Cultural Committee; Dr. John Hague, who addressed the gathering on the subject of academic freedom; and John Welch, SG President. ardi Gras Reigns Next Weekend Hail all you saints and sinners! Merrymaking shall reign supreme for Stetson's MARDI GRAS celebration. The Stetson Union Board has chosen the weekend of March first and second to be filled with entertainment "for all. Following a tradition set by the Mystic Krewe of Comus, who in 1857 organized the carnival activities in New Orleans to celebrate "Fat Tuesday." ; MARDI GRAS will begin mightily with a dance, the Saints and Sinners Ball to be held in thc new facilities at DeLeon Springs from 7:00 to 12:00 P.M. . The admission of 50 cents per person or 99 cents per couple also covers the cost of a moonlight hayride at the Springs. New eating facilities have also been installed at the Springs, and all food will be sold at one half price. Transportation to the Springs will also be provided if needed, so look for further notes on time and place. On Saturday the scene returns to the Campus where lunch will be served in the Forest of Arden. In the afternoon.special dramatic entertainment will be supplied by Mr. Griffith and his Teen Theatre and the faculty is scheduled to meet the student challenge in a rousing vollyball game. Recreation facilities such as the bowling alley and the Cue Room housed in the Union Building will be open and operating free of charge during the afternoon. The Climax comes Saturday night with the traditional Cos tume Ball under the Stars. Tne MARDI GRAS Street Dance will be held in the SUB Circle from 8 P.M. till midnight and features the music of the Masquerade Party, a band from Orlando which played for the Snowball. Refreshments will be free and "Unusual," or so we have learned from reliable sources. To add to the carnival effect, please doll up in some sort of costume attire. Come one, come all to the festivities and entertainment provided for you by your Stetson Union Board. Further information, times and places will be posted near the clowns around campus. It's MARDI GRAS time. The most fun for every one. Students concerned with the caricellation met Sunday night to formulate plans for organizing and expressing student opinion at the request of Cindy McClain, chairman of the SUBS' Cultural Committee. A steering committee was appointed by the general meeting and mapprd plans for a seminar to be held Saturday. It was decided that a rally should be held Tuesday .night to inform the students about the ■ facts in the case and to publicize the Saturday seminar and ■ the open Student Affairs ■ Committee meeting held Wednesday afternoon. Bill Gaventa, Rodney Morgan', John Welch, ahd Jeff Ledewitz also took a major role in the work of the student committee. 400 AT RALLY The Information Rally was held-in the Stetson Room at 5:30 Tuesday with about 400 students, faculty, and administration in attendance. The meeting was chaired by Miss McClain and heard . opinions and reports by President Geren, SG President Welch, and American Studies Professor John Hague. GEREN'S STAND Dr. Geren said that, although the invitation had been extended to Gregory prior to the time he assumed the Stetson presidency, he had not planned to revoke the appearance. His action asking "that the appearance be canceled, he said, was taken at the request of the trustees following their Feb. 16 meeting. He assured students that the trustees acted only after a lengthy meeting during which both faculty and student representatives were invited to appear and present their cases. THREAT CITED He said that the trustees' ac- . tion "was designed for this particular case and was taken because they felt the threat to property and to life and limb would outweigh any value gained from Gregory's appearance." He said that the trustees "have no intention of interfering with academic freedom." He urged that a definite policy be established that would eliminate the problems that resulted ((.'iinliiiiiCiil nu VagB -) *, Friday, February 23 SUB Movie — "Shenandoah" — Stetson Room, 7:30 Saturday, February 24 Basketball Game with Rollins at Home. DeLand Armory, 7:45 p.m. Madeline Statz, Senior Recital in Voice, Elizabeth Hall, 8 p.m. Monday, February 2G Basketball Game with Tulane at the Orlando Junior College Gym. 8 p.m. Dr. Richard Langford's Lecture on the voyage of the Albatross. Stetson Room, 8 p.m. Tuesday, February 27 Amsterdam String Quartet, Elizabeth Hall, 8 p.m. Admission $1. Thursday, February 29 Basketball Game with Florida State at Home, DeLand Armory, 7:45 p.m. Orchestra Concert, Elizabeth Hall, 8 p.m.