University of Virginia Library

'Cadre' Stages 10-Man Dow Protest

Photo By Tom Duncan

Dow Chemical Company was interviewing
yesterday in the Office of Placement in Minor
Hall, and this year there was a demonstration of
sorts, not by the SDS or the SSOC, but by a
small group of non-students who called themselves
the "Cadre for the Immediate Seizure of
the Means of Production."

According to the leader of the "Cadre," Alan
Ogden, his group, along with the State of
Connecticut State Highway Department, The
Equitable Trust Company, and the Department
of the Navy, was merely trying to recruit
graduates.

Mr. Ogden was incensed because Lawrence A.
Simpson, Director of the Office of Placement,
would not provide the "Cadre" with a room to
interview students.

Mr. Simpson, when approached by Mr. Ogden
earlier in the day with a request for a room, told
him that he should submit a request on letterhead
stationery from his organization if he
wanted a room.

According to Mr. Simpson, Mr. Ogden, a
University graduate, returned to his office fifteen
minutes later with a letter written in pencil with
"Letterhead" at the top and the name "Cadre for
the Immediate Seizure of the Means of Production"
just underneath. The letter was addressed
to the "Dear Fascist Authorities" and
read, in part: "We demand a warm room in order
to recruit for communist revolution." It warned
that if the room was not granted "You will turn
brown and shrivel up." It was signed "Love, Alan
Ogden."

Mr. Simpson then told Mr. Ogden that he no
longer wanted to "play your game," and he
proceeded to crumple up the letter and return it
to Mr. Ogden.

However, the "Cadre" was not denied space
in Minor Hall. Alvin Long, Chairman of the
SSOC, said that the Department of Drama, upon
hearing of the plight of the "Cadre" "Declared
the building liberated and turned it over to
them."

The drama department let them use the ticket
table in the lobby to sign up recruits. Mr. Ogden
said that they had talked to "many people" but
the sign-up sheet on the desk had the unlikely
names of "B.F.D. Runk" and "Edgar Shannon"
scrawled on it.

Mr. Simpson said that several students had
complained about the "obscene language" on
signs posted outside as well as that used by the
"Cadre" members.

He said that the Office of Placement would
provide interviewing space for about 400 organizations
this year, and was glad to do so for "any
legitimate employer of students."

He said he did not mind the protesting, since
it was a "legitimate right."

During the hour that Cavalier Daily reporters
spent in Minor Hall there were never more than
ten persons involved in the demonstration against
Dow Chemical Company and usually only six or
eight people. The recruiters released the same
statement they did last year concerning their role
in supplying military equipment. They agreed to
speak with one of the protesters and Scott
Marshall was selected to have an interview early
yesterday afternoon.

Mr. Ogden said yesterday that his "Cadre"
would be back today as Dow has interviews
scheduled. This year's protest was barely noticeable
except for the posters outside Minor Hall,
and the plainclothes policeman who watched
from afar.