University of Virginia Library

andler Replies

I was amazed by Mr. Pitts'
grotesque misrepresentation of my
views as I expressed them at
Monday night's meeting of the
Students for a Democratic Society.
Fortunately, he was probably the
only person there who
misunderstood me (I know not
whether this stemmed from
inattentiveness or lack of wit on his
part). Unfortunately, he was the
only one (including the CD staff)
who reported on that rather
significant gathering.

There is great potential for
active leadership at the University
and Monday's meeting saw a large
number of articulate and concerned
students in attendance. I stated that
I wouldn't join immediately for
political reasons. Those reasons are
as follows:

As a representative of the "radical
Middle" at Virginia, I feel
disinclined to join any half-hearted
and futile organization which spouts
empty psuedo-communist slogans
which border on the ridiculous.
Such pronouncements can only
accrue to an organization the
disrespect and the disinterest of the
student body. I think it best to wait
and see what form the SDS will
take — that is, will it win or lose?

I attended the meeting in order
to interject my thoughts concerning
membership recruitment which, in
my mind, should be intensive rather
than extensive. I cautioned that
they keep from their ranks the
misfits, the "bearded weirdos," and
the psychologically crippled who will
use the society as yet another
crutch. They must keep only the
leaders, the thinkers, and the doers.

I did not call "those of us who
would not vote to become members
of a national chapter of the SDS
'psychologically crippled,' 'shirkers,'
and 'misfits,' " and I am sorry that
Mr. Pitts either didn't listen or
couldn't comprehend the English
language.