Maintain Momentum
With attention focused on the
related issues of the war in
Indochina and the Kent State
killings, the momentum of the
strike can now be maintained until
Monday, when students will have
the opportunity to determine by
democratic means which issues they
wish to pursue.
The new developments shed
some light on the more general
question of the validity of "legitimate
channels" as effective means
in bringing needed change. In
following the proposal for a referendum,
the group assembled on the
Lawn chose the best means available
for making the strike amount to
something.
And the strike will amount to
something only when President
Shannon demonstrates some level
of cognizance of student concern
over local issues such as black
recruitment, ROTC and the University's
Defense-related activities. He
has not done so yet.
President Shannon's remarks
Wednesday afternoon at the library
were commendable only in so far as
they concerned the war. His awareness
of this critical issue was clear,
but his failure to address himself to
the other important questions can
only make things worse.
The fault is not all his own. The
leadership vacuum which, by Wednesday
night, had all but crippled
the strike, certainly encouraged Mr.
Shannon to believe that the whole
thing would blow over. It won't.
As we pass on from the context
of the original nine demands
toward a democratic referendum,
the pressure on Edgar Shannon to
make appropriate reply will increase.
The issues are yet to be
determined, but what is important
is that they be ascertained and
presented within the "legitimate
channels" in which Mr. Shannon
places so much faith.
At this writing, the rally on the
Lawn continues. Where the strike is
headed is uncertain. The emergence
on the scene of leaders willing to
deal with the very real questions
central to the dilemma of this
university and all others has already
given rise to new hope that
something productive will emerge.
