The Stetson Reporter

Vol. 83 Friday, February 5, 1971 No. 17 s For Zero Population Growth . *■—■ **;. "*.- M. ». * _■ ._• »'_■ - • -- '-v:.-' - -._.- *** __ ■ -■ 5.* <s. Homecoming Set Febo 19, 1971 Homecoming this year is full of different and original ideas which set the mood for its theme: "Color Our World With Hope". There are more activities for the Student Body than ever before. The traditional Homecoming Ball will be on Friday, Feb. 19, at the Desert Inn, Daytona. Purple Underground will provide the "sound, entertainment by Sunshine Lights. Lawn decorations will be a welcome change from the worn- out parade of yester-year. Of course King and Queen of Homecoming will preside over the Ball. Marty Schick and Mark Johnston have both been doing their best to come up with a really good program. Working with them are the following Committees: Publicity: Scott Kirk and Helmi' Simons; Lawn Decorations: Nancy Daves and Shawn Saxon; Elections: Carolyn Moore and Bill Bruce; Bar-B-Que: Peggy Jordan and George Hanlon; Breakfast on President's Lawn: Lisa Statham; Student Production: Mark Godfrey and Richard Pistone; Homecoming Ball: Marlene Retter; Stetson Today Seminar: Emily Young and Carl Bradbury; Registration: Pat Stone and Bob Fennell; and last but not least the loyal Secretary: Judy Green. BY DAVID JORDAN "At the present rate, we're going to double the population in the next 30 years," commented Senator Tydings, as he started with the topic his speech was on— the Population Explosion in the world.. Speaking to barely 150 people at 8 P.Min the Elizabeth Hall Auditorium,,Tydings outlined the challenge of population growth, and when and how we should limit growth in the population to zero, after which he answered" questions, and met students at the reception. Tydings was the undisputed Senate leader on questions of Population Control, and did the most possible to obtain passage of legislation on the subject in his last four years in the Senate. A bill that recently gained- passage was one giving the poor opportunity to use contraceptives, along with establishing a research program to look into better contraceptives and more effective ways to encourage people to voluntarily limit their families. Tydings remarked that there were two problems concerning population growth. The first was of course the Population Explosion, and the second was the Population implosion, the trend of urbanization in the world. One of the main points of Tydings speech was that the United States needs to achieve a stable population so that the country can preserve its quality of living and exert moral leadership in bringing the rest of the world to a stable population. Near the end of the speech, Tydings emphasized the need for a Public Population Policy limiting population size, educating the population about the problems of population growth, and influencing people to limit their families. "We have GOT to have population control," Tydings reiterated. Zero Population Growth, was inevitable, Tydings pointed out, the questions as far as the United States is concerned is When and How. "The United States will eventually reach a saturation point, at which time we will be able to hold no more people, we will then have an enforced Zero Population Growth by nature." He commented that we should not forget about other problems, because a stable population would not end the problems, but merely limit them to their present dimensions. Tydings read from an author who described the misery of Calcutta, and predicted: "Calcutta today...may very well represent the city of the future." Although some want to postpone attempts at population control with further studies and deurbanization, Tydings made a * central point that the time to act was now.* He answered his How question by proposing the need for voluntary methods of family limitation. Financial disincentives to have children were needed, along with a greater distribution of contraceptives, and making abortions available to those who wanted them. Research is important, according to Tydings. One of his points on this was that information was needed in ways to effect families to limit their size. "How do we stabilize population in the United States?" asked Tydings rhetorically. The question has philosophical and religious implications, as well as political. He went on to say that society should infringe upon an individual's rights only when they create a "clear and present danger" to society. Discussing his Population Bill, Tydings explained that while Congress is much in favor of this program, the indications from the executive are that the program is not going to be funded, and that is what counts. On abortion, the individual woman should be allowed the right to decide if she wants one, without any constraint from the state. "If we initiated a national population stabilization program tomorrow, it would take 70 years to stabilize our population," stated Tydings. The program will have to be voluntary, because of the philosophical and political situation in the country. Tydings showed the wide divergence of view among demographers concerning population growth in the United States. The two polarized positions are: that unless we halt today our growth, we are in real trouble; or that we aren't in trouble. Later, he listed the three things most demographers agree on: 1) We will eventually have Zero (ContinuedOn Page2) ---y^l. >\&V