I would like to make two points
concerning the Heretic's article on
SDS in Tuesday's Cavalier Daily.
First, the Heretic states that
"Dow is not even allowed to defend
itself-its spokesmen are prevented
from speaking, or at least being
heard." In the demonstration here
last semester against Dow, the demonstrators
repeatedly asked the
Dow officials to come out and
speak to them and explain their
company's point of view. The officials
refused to participate in an
open, reasonable, discussion and | inside the building.
Second, the Heretic, towards the
end of his diatribe, implies that
Dow should be allowed on the
Grounds in the interest of "free
speech." The business of Dow
Chemical Company is not "free
speech," it's making money, and it
continues to make money by recruiting
personnel on college campuses.
The University is under no
obligation to help Dow Chemical
Company make money. Furthermore,
even though Dow has a
point of view, and even though
students have a right to hear all
opinions concerning anything, the
University does not and should
not subscribe to all periodicals.
The only criterion for an organization is
its contribution to the educational
atmosphere of the University.
Since Dow's interests are
financial, not educational, it
should find someplace else to recruit
students. The use of University
facilities by other noneducational
corporations is a privilege,
not a right, and if these
corporations engage in morally
questionable enterprises the University
has a perfect right to ask
them to leave.
Stephen Detwiler
College 3
