University of Virginia Library

Anti-ABM Group Sponsors
Local Publicity Campaign

In accordance with the outcry
that is growing in the country
against the Anti-Ballistic Missile
system, a group of students and
faculty have formed an anti-ABM
organization at the University.

The group, which calls itself the
Charlottesville-Albermarle Citizens
Against the ABM, was formed,
because many people here feel
"that the ABM system is uneconomical,
untested, and not necessary
to maintain the viability of our
deterrent force," Stu Pape, the
undergraduate coordinator of the
group, said.

Hoping to attract members of
the Charlottesville community, the
group is organizing a letter writing
committee to send letters to Senators
Spong and Byrd, is directing
publicity to the local community
and is circulating petitions in the
University and Charlottesville.

Literature and articles from
Scientific American and the New
Republic are also being distributed
by the anti-ABM group, which is in
contact with the National Citizens
Committee Against Deployment of
the ABM, a group formed in New
York by supporters of Eugene
McCarthy.

The group's organizational meeting
took place in the South Meeting
Room of Newcomb Hall Wednesday
night at which time a tape
recording of a meeting of the
American Association of Physicists
was played for the audience of
approximately 100 persons.

The recording was of a symposium
on the ABM between
scientists and politicians, some of
whom were pro-ABM and some
con-ABM. Following the symposium
the physicists voted overwhelmingly
to oppose the ABM.

Mr. Pape, Bob Burke, Walter
Kelly, and Kenneth Ross, a professor
of Sociology at the University,
were chosen directors of the group.

Another faculty member participating
in the ABM opposition is
Edward A. Kolodziej, chairman of
the Department of Government
and Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Kolodziej is drafting, a
detailed statement of the group's
stand on the ABM, which will be
presented at its next meeting
Tuesday, May 6, at 8 p.m. in room
4C of Newcomb Hall.