University of Virginia Library

National 'Anti-Apathy' Group
Sets Up University Chapter

Informed Citizens Against
Apathy, a new national organization,
has founded a chapter at
the University and is presently
circulating an anti racism petition.

While rioting was the reaction
to Martin Luther King's death on
the part of the Negroes in the
ghettos, Princeton and Rutgers
students met the situation with a
different type of action.

Classes on the day following the
assassination were boycotted by
students. The next day the administration
suspended them altogether
to allow the students to watch
the memorial services. The following
days were punctuated with inter-racial
seminars, student professor
forums, and school wide discussions
of the implications of the
event in Memphis.

Out of this flurry of dialogue
was formulated a totally new organization
principally of college
students. Its charter included a
reaction to the growing apathy on
the part of the citizens of the
United States, and demanded positive
action from the students of
this country. To properly initiate
their program the Princetonians
have already circulated a petition
among the student body there.
The goal is to circulate the petition
nationally in hopes of developing
a wide amount of student response.

The petition reads,

"We the undersigned, wish to
honor the death of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. We wish to impress
upon the members of Congress
and our President that now
can be a time of tragedy, or hope.
If it to be a time of hope, we
must have legislation to end the
conditions of poverty now. If it is
to be a time of hope, we must
have strict administration of the
laws of our land, guaranteeing
equality for all, now. We demand
action now."

Virginia's chapter of the ICAA
will be directed by Michael Russell.
At present, due to the youth
of the organization at the University
students are still needed to aid
in the distribution and tabulation
of the petition. The Organization
hopes to maintain a non-partisan
position.