The Stetson Reporter

W (I J Vol. 83 Friday, Sept. 25, 1970 No. 4 Bryant Visits Stetson Former Governor Farris Bryantvisited Stetson on Monday in his bid for the U.S. Senate. Accompanied by Mrs. Bryant and several members" of his campaign staff, Bryant spoke briefly with students, faculty, and administration in the Faculty lounge, then walked across campus to the University Inn where he held a reception. Approximately sixty persons met and spoke with the candidate before.he left for Daytona Beach for a television interview. Bryant appeared confident of victory over State Senator Lawton Chiles, his opponent in Tuesday's Democratic runoff election. Bryant made little comment about his opposition, but one of his aides maintained, "All we have to do is show Chile's record to the people of Florida. He voted for the payraise, for the California (insurance) Plan, and fifty-percent of the time never voted at all." Asked about the ultimate battle with the Republican nominee U.S. Congressman Floyd Cramer, the aide commented, "Cramer is another story. He's going to be hard to beat, but I am confident that we can do it." Candidate Bryant himself spent most of his time talking to and listening to students. Asked about the Viet Nam war, Bryant. Commented, "Troops are being withdrawn, but it may be necessary in the near future to speed-up that withdrawal. Our main concern in Indo China, and, indeed, all of Asia is to protect our own vital national interest, and to promote peace and freedom there andin the rest of the world." On the draft, Bryant charged that he had no conflict with principle with the present system, but added, "A volunteer army seems the best answer. This way, we could maintain the draft system, but use" it onlv in case of emergency." . Bryant was also asked about the migratory farm worker problem and the welfare system in general. He stated that while it is necessary to upgrade housing and education immediately, in the long run the whole migrant system would have to be abandoned. On Welfare, he noted that certain groups (aged, children, disabled) must certainly be provided for. He had no sympathy for the man who "has no initiative." He added that those who had incentive, but no ability should be trained. Asked about his choice for the Florida Gubernatorial race, Bryant said, "I can only run one race at a time. It is a cardinal rule of politics to do that. You can bet on one thing. I will support the Democratic candidate." Commenting on the generation gap, Bryant noted," I rely on my daughters in that area. I do realize that we live in different times and that above all communication is of the utmost importance. I may not always agree with you (young citizens), but I will always try to respect and understand you and hope that some common ground can be reached in all cases." -. On drugs, Bryant stated that he agreed with the controversial methedone treatment and ad- ded,"In all areas of the so-called drug scene, our emphasis should be on treatment and stopping and punishing the dealers and pushers." Concerning marajuana, he stated that he thought it wrong to severely punish first offenders." Mrs. Bryant pleasantly and courteously greeted all of those in attendence. Asked about her husbands decision to attempt to re-enter public life, Mrs. Bryant said, "Farris is doing what he knows is best. I am happy that he decided the way he did." Will he win? To that Mrs. Bryant concluded, "Of course." Trustees Meet At Stetson Last Friday, Sept. 18, the Board of Trustees met with Dr. Johns on the Stetson campus. This meeting was the first formal gathering of the Trustees for the 1970-71 school year. Contrary to previous speculation on the part of various sections of the Stetson community, the Board meeting did not prove to be a controversial one. No objections were made regarding the new open house program in the men's dorms.. Most of the discussion was centered around the topics of the formal agenda. The most important point of the meeting, directly concerning the Stetson community, was the approval of advanced solicitations of funds for the new gymnasium complex. Dr. Johns is expected to take action on this matter in the near future. It was also disclosed at the meeting that a committee of Stetson's Trustees, headed by Douglas Stinstrum, will meet with a committee of Trustees from the Florida Episcopal College to discuss contracts and arrangements concerning the combined usage of various facilities on the Stetson campus. At present, plans call for the construction of seperate dormitory complexes for the Episcopal College on the block across from the Forest of Arden. It was finally noted that the enrollment of Stetson University, no including evening classes and the summer session, has increased since the figures of last year. The 1969 enrollment ot the Liberal Arts School, the Law School, the Business School, the Music School, and the Graduate program was 2,231. The 1970 enrollment is 2,355 students. County Commission Discusses Action Agency Last Friday at 9:00 a.m. the County Commission held a meeting to decide who will control the Community Action Agency, a board that handles the OEO money in Volusia County. About 170 concerned citizens from Volusia County were nresent to Drotest the move by the commission to abolish the present board, which was characterized as being extremely helpful to the poor in this area. The meeting ended with the county commission taking the situation under advisement. Stetson contributed • a few students ahd faculty members to the gathering, including Dr. Brian Gillespie, Stetson's representative on the CAA, and a couple students from the Political Action Coalition. There were criticisms of the time the board set for the meeting, but most of the meeting was concerned with the reasons for the County to proceed with abolishing the board, and whether this was iustified. Most people speaking before the Commission pointed out that the Community Action Agency, formerly Project Upgrade, had done much for the poor of Volusia County, in helping them help themselves. Those speaking admitted that the board had made a few human mistakes, but that it was doing a *m^m&£^yWw< criticized the commission's move -as basically political, trying to gain revenge upon supporters of the new County Charter. Deane Smith, the commissioner who lead the move to fire the board, charged the CAA with misuse of OEO money. Ones of the examples cited by the crusading commissioner was a school for firebombers, which he alleged the CAA was starting. The more sensible charge, although totally unproven, is that OEO money is going to militants to organize protests. One member on the CAA is also a member of the Peoples Committee for Better Buses, which organized a bus boycott. There is however a voucher system which precludes such misuse of the governments money. The first action which . the County Commission took on the CAA this summer was illegal — it summarily dismissed all of the CAA members. Law requires that there be a hearing, which was what the meeting last Friday was all about. The commission violated the laiw in another way. After it dismissed the CAA board, it appointed its own board. One- third of the members are supposed to be elected by those with low incomes, and the commission did not do this. Another incident which the board disapproved of ^ was a A"-YV.<X.Coritinfcfed.-\6ri^P«,aV'9> - ■