Professor Claude's letter in Wednesday's
Cavalier Daily raised the
question of the role of
the university. He apparently sees
the politicization of the university
as the supreme bete noire to the
future of academic freedom. While
my own thinking on this point is
still in the "fuzzy" stages, I very
much support the Moratorium and
the cancellation of classes on
October 15. I do so even though I
am tempted to agree with Professor
Claude's point of view.
My quasi-syllogistic reasoning
has evolved because I think the
magnitude of the issue makes for an
exception. Since the war is the
cankerous sore threatening to destroy
the fabric of our very society,
it has become something more than
a political issue. The severity of the
war; impact on this country is so
great as to cause the issue to take
on dimensions of universality,
transcending, but not divorcing
itself from, the label of "political
issue." Consequently, I believe the
nature of the issue dictates a
turning away from the ostrich
approach in this particular case.
I make my point fully aware of
its major weakness, i.e., that by
making a subjective determination
of what is or is not an issue of
"such great magnitude," I open a
Pandora's Box. However, I think a
consensus exists that the war and
racism are the two issues which
today are at the heart of America's
emerging polarization. As such,
these issues deserve cathartic treatment,
even by the universities. In
weighing the dangers, I find the
danger pointed out by Professor
Claude, at least in this particular
instance, to be less dangerous than
making an "exception" for an issue
of "great magnitude."
Kurt Berggren
Grad. A & S 2
