"Private citizens and local bodies cannot meet this threat alone," he continued. "It is the function of Congress to deal with the national and international aspects of this conspiracy."

Jenner concludes by calling his committee a champion of academic freedom which merely spotlights elements of "the alien conspiracy" that academic leaders might see the plotters for what they are.

Other letter-writers saw Congressional investigations in a quite different light.

Perpretate Status Quo

One gentleman equated the investigations of schools with similar Soviet Russian tactics as a means of perpetuating the status quo. He wrote:

"Human groups grown powerful are primarily interested in education for their self-perpetuation, i.e., for the perpetuation of the forms which preserve and extend their power. Their goals are largely static in that they orient not toward expansion and development of human potentialities in the planetary community, but toward status quo preservation; regardless of what 'objective study and conscientious investigation' may suggest. Education for freedom and mature adulthood is obviously not compatible with an inflexible socio-cultural milieu hostile to all change which might affect its structural lineaments.

"It is in such a context, . . . that the Congressional investigation phenomena must be viewed, if we are to become sensitive to their deeper meaning as a local phase of opposition to human advancement. It should be noted that all of the above applies as well to the Soviet Union and the relationship between its educational system and its total organization; the points in this case being crudely obvious."

The Teachers Union congratulated the Council for "joining the fight" against investigations:

Ultimate Victim of Repressions

"The Teachers Union, which has been opposing loyalty oaths and inquiries into the beliefs, opinions and associations of teachers for several years, has consistently maintained that the student is the ultimate victim of repressions directed against teachers. Events have borne out our warnings that the target cannot be limited--even if that were desirable--to alleged Communists, but that once launched the witchhunt had a logic of its own and ends by engulfing the freedom of all. We are not happy merely at having been proved right, but we are glad that others are seeing the truth of our admonitions and joining the fight."

A New York doctor who describes himself as "a teacher of over 50 years in Colleges and Universities" wrote the Student Council three provocative letters in the space of two days.

Investigate the Investigators

The earnest doctor warned that "Western Civilization . . . is at a point where it may cease to exist," slammed students for their timidity, rapped Communists and Clergy alike, and made certain "suggestions." Perhaps the most interesting of these suggestions was one to have students investigate those Congressional investigators "who have unjustly injured teacher or student. Expose fully what they, too, have done," he exhorted. "There are thousands of American students. This campaign would be an easy one. If the PAST of Teachers can be investigated, investigate the PAST of the ones doing the injury."

Education in Korea

A New York housewife, after praising the patriotism of inquiring Congressmen, suggested, "I think the professors and students of colleges should get their ideological education in the Korean trenches, where communists are killing American boys. I do not believe inexperienced youth can judge any ideology objectively, from professors who taught Alger Hiss, Lee, Pressman and other disloyal Harvard graduates."