The Society has heard a Nieman fellow, a Southern radio broadcaster, the Graduate Secretary of PBH, and folksinger Pete Seeger in the past year. But, according to president Michael Lurie '60 "students are rather apathetic about civil rights, and it's almost impossible to get a drive going."
The Fellowship of Reconciliation, which has 15 members "at least in communication with each other," exists for pacifists "in the broad sense." Fellowship members "refuse to participate in any war or to sanction military preparation," "seek to avoid bitterness and contention, and to maintain the spirit of self-giving love."
The Lunatic Fringe
"We know we're on the lunatic fringe," president Jan Suter '59 observed, "and we like to have fellowship with those who agree with us." He claimed that the group offers "a pragmatic cure to the problem of war."
Recently formed, the Socialist Club lists 30 to 40 members--including a dozen grad students--of whom 20 are "hard core." Its purpose is to study socialism as a body of thought which can be applied to many problems," said Jerry Shapiro '61 president. So far, attractions have included speeches by an "independent socialist" economist, and the editor of a Socialist newspaper.
"Many political arguments are conducted at such a trivial level, merely about which law should be passed and which shouldn't," Shapiro observed. "It would be better to discuss topics such as 'Existentialism and Marxism as an Answer to Man's Alienation in the Modern World'." But, he added sadly, "since most people around here are of capitalistic backgrounds, we can never expect a very large following."
The World Federalists hope to strengthen the UN and prohibit "by law the use of force or threat of force by nations in international affairs," and provide "an agreed schedule for universal and complete disarmament." The Federalists "are not entirely singleminded," president Jay Kadane '62 commented, "and we try to find speakers with rational arguments against our position.
Though a Deans' ruling says that "recognized organizations must maintain their local autonomy," making "all policy decisions without obligation to any parent organization," the Federalists are a chapter of the United World Federalists. Each year the Club "solemnly votes on whether to accept the national policy statement knowing that if we reject it, we would cease to be a chapter."
These 13 groups represent more diversity than activity. In the large, partisan groups, the grasp for personal power and prestige often exceeds the grasp of real political issues. Concern for intra-organizational structure can be carried to extremes, and it is unfortunate that self-conscious phrases like "bureaucratic hierarchy" and "public image" are so indispensible to these clubs.
On the other hand, while it is always fun to dream, goals such as "influence within the body politic" seem extravagant for a college group. It might be better to present more information about the body politic.
Secondly, there is the Crisis Principle. When the disarmament question seemed ripe, a group sprang up, only to begin withering soon after. And of course, our Presidential elections provide a period crisis for campus politicos. When there is a red-white-and-blue button to wear, a sticker to put in the windows, a speech to hear, a leaflet to hand out, then students flock to the clubs. Often, new groups are formed. Dean Watson fully expects a Students for Nixon, for Kennedy, and for whoever else strikes the student fancy, to appear in the next year.