University of Virginia Library

First Of Its Kind

University To Host ACLU Conference

By Paul Larsen

Throughout the history of this
country a myriad of solutions have
been offered to cure the problems
of the American society. Voices
speak of reform, of dissent, of
revolution, of reconstruction.
Words like injustice, immoral,
unconstitutional, and unamerican
form into a cry for the disruption
of the status quo. Some voices are
heard, a few words are heeded.
Reform comes only in the wake of
heated battle, always frustratingly
slow, never as quickly as it takes
opposition to form.

For the last 48 years the
American Civil Liberties Union has
become a voice to be heard,
speaking words to be heeded. From
its inception in 1920, the ACLU
has come to stand for a passionate
dedication to the unremitting battle
for the establishment of equal
justice for every man within the
jurisdiction of the United States. Its
foundation, its principles, and its
philosophy have been perpetrated
toward one end—to correct an evil,
to avert an injustice, to assuage a
suffering.

Today, the ACLU numbers well
over 75,000 members. In its ranks
are people of almost every
occupation, intelligence, race, creed
and color in the country who have
molded together to form an
organization with the sole interest
of enforcing the rights guaranteed
by the state and federal
constitutions. They are busy daily
in the protection of the freedoms
which Americans possess.

In accepting cases the ACLU is
totally unconcerned with the merits
or fallacies of a political, social, or
religious philosophy; with the guilt
or innocence of a man accused of a
crime; with the "morality" of
private conduct between
competent, consenting adults.
Every intervention by the
organization stems from a
deliberately taken position which
ultimately is determined by the
national board of directors of the
ACLU.

Today, as dissent and violence
ripe through the inadequacies of
"rights" guaranteed by college
administrations and
communities, the ACLU has opened
an entire new era in law
representation. The need for
consul, for mediation, and
ultimately for representation on
college campuses throughout the
nation has become obvious in the
past few years. In areas such as the
draft, administration autonomy,
and clarification of constitutional
rights of students, the ACLU has
led the way.

This Saturday a conference
sponsored by the organization will
be held in Newcomb Hall. Entitled
"Civil Liberties and the University
Student," the all-day conference is
the first one of its kind anywhere in
the nation. It is fitting that such a
conference should have its origins
at the University which was
founded by one of the greatest civil
libertarians of this country.

The conference is open to the
public and it is stressed that it was
not originated only for law
students. A large turn—out is
expected as advertising has been
done at all colleges in the state and
many others in Washington and
North Carolina.

Speakers for the conference
feature Dean Monrad G. Paulsen of
the law school, William Vandlstyne,
professor of law at the University
of North Carolina, Mike Tigar, who
was editor of the Law Review at
Berkeley and presently with the
Edward Bennet Williams firm in
Washington, and Phil Hirschkop
who presented the Loving Case
before the Supreme Court and is
currently involved in investigating
the prison facilities and treatment
of prisoners in Virginia. In addition
to these speakers, there will be
others who will speak in the
numerous group sessions that are
planned.

It would be impossible to
envision a conference of this type
which did concern itself with the
problems at Columbia which
greatly helped precipitate the
revolts on campuses that have
occurred in recent months. Thus,
Mr. Paulsen's address "The
Columbia Aftermath" will cover
the situation and discuss the rights
and legal boundaries of the student.
Mr. Vandlstyne will discuss "The
University in the Community,"
examining the interrelation
between the college and the town
or city in which it is located. "The
Free Speech Movement" will be the
subject of Mr. Tigar's speech. Mike
Falvey, a member of the SDS at the
University, will also speak,
addressing himself to "The Cry in
the Street."

Preregistration for the
conference will begin tomorrow
and continue on Friday at the noon
hours. Registration for the
conference will take place from
9:30 to 10:00 am on Saturday and
will cost $1.00. It is not necessary
to be a member of the ACLU nor is
it obligatory to join in able to
attend the conference.

After the main speeches are
delivered, groups will be set up in
which members and quests will be
able to discuss both the civil
liberties of students and civil
liberties in general.