University of Virginia Library

Having considered the current
course of University politics, I once
again feel the necessity of speaking
against the New Left. To go to the
matter directly, the recent antics of
these people quite adequately
demonstrates the massive confusion
which pervades their mental processes,
Such a charge will no doubt
strike some as outrageous. Therefore,
let this claim be substantiated
by an application of reason to the
facts.

In regard to the recent and brief
(sic) occupation of Maury Hall,
many of the participants have
spoken with pride of the spontaneity
of that action. Herein lies much
of the problem. These people
behave in a crowd much like dogs
in a pack. Individual thought is
replaced with collective reaction
while the individual responsibility is
obscured by protestations of sincerity.
To so surrender one's mind
to a mob is degrading, and to claim
sincerity is to justify nothing.
Witness Hitler. He killed six million
Jews with sincerity.

To proceed further, the New
Left ideologies after entering the
building commenced to draw up a
list of demands. Among the things
they protested were the military
operations in Cambodia, the killing
of the Kent State students, and the
trial of Bobby Seale. Whether their
position on any of these issues is
correct is immaterial.

There are open channels for
expressing opinion in this country.
Incidents of massive destruction
and trespassing can only compound
the problems we face. Furthermore,
there is something very illogical in
striking out against the University
of Virginia because of acts of
President Nixon of Ohio National
Guardsman or a Connecticut
grand jury. These people are acting
as if President Shannon were
omnipotent. Although I am sure he
is quite flattered by this demonstration
of faith in his many talents, I
am equally sure that both he and
the University community would
be extremely relieved to see these
people behave in a manner that
betrayed some hint of intelligence.