Intolerably pathetic
February 3, 1997
Bravo to Milton McGriff for an excellent letter printed in Thursday’s Daily. I was shocked (as I hope many other students were) by the university’s blatant disregard for its own policies. It does seem that ISU is keeping these proceedings under tight wraps for purposes of its own. In my opinion, things done behind closed doors are generally kept behind closed doors for a reason, and I can only think of one explanation to hide these proceedings — that something immoral or illegal is going on. I would like to challenge Wiegel and MacKay to explain their reasoning on why these hearings are closed. In Mr. McGriff’s letter he said he was told it was to protect his privacy, but if he wants to have an open hearing, this point is invalid. Could it be that the university fears an angry mob of students will cause bedlam? As I see it, that is the only plausible reason the university could close the hearings, and we all know how ridiculous that sounds.
Secondly, I want to know why a permit was not issued to the members of The Movement when they asked for one. The university would not allow students to “assemble freely” on school grounds. (Do those two words ring a bell with anyone out there? I believe they are part of everyone’s Constitutional rights, yet I don’t remember reading a clause stating that state universities had the right to refuse permits for free assembly.) Does this mean that if I should happen to plan to meet with a group of friends in a building on campus, I could face charges also? Probably not, because (and I hate to even suggest this) I am a white student who is not interested in changing the names of any buildings against the university’s decision.
Finally, I would like to mention how intolerably pathetic it is that many of our generation roused themselves to protest the loss of MTV, but few seem concerned with the under-handed doings of our university. I would like to encourage all students to lend support to “the Beardshear Eight,” no matter what your view on Catt Hall might be. We have been touted as the apathetic “Generation X.” Perhaps this is why the university thinks it can get away with unjust hearings, it doesn’t believe we care enough to fight back. I just hope it’s not true.
Amie Edwards
Freshman
Liberal Arts