Abilene Christian College - Prickly Pear Yearbook (Abilene, TX)

Serving the right to know The public has the right to know what goes on in any government situation except in cases when the defendants right to privacy would be violated, such as in a rape trial, said Fred Graham, CBS law correspondent. Graham spoke to a crowd of approximately 75 students March 31 during a visit sponsored by the Students' Associa- tion Educational Affairs Committee. The public's right to know was included in one of Graham's three common sense principles that he listed dur- ing his speech. The principles were directed at mass com- municators to use as a guide in dealing with the American peoples' fear of crime on the government level. Graham's first principle was that people shouldn't let their faith in technology supersede their fatih in their principles. He said technological advances bring questions about ethics and methods of uncovering stories. The second principle was that people shouldn't be afraid to use technology out of fear of losing control in the pro- cess. He said the public has the right to know and the government shouldn't drag its feet in making advances in the areas of electronic journalism and investigation. Graham's final principle was that people shouldn't let the desires of the present keep them from learning from the lessons ofthe past. He ended his talk by saying that "this nation is currently so intent to satisfy immediate desires that we can't see to make long-run decisions. But Washington is in pretty good shape . . . The American people are well served." Graham covered the activities of the Supreme Court, the justice Department, the FBI and legal profession. He also anchored "The Law and You," a news feature broadcast each Wednesday with Charles Kuralt on the CBS new pro- gram "Morning" He had won several awards including three Emmy Awards for television coverage of the Watergate and Agnew resigna- tion stories. - Betsey Bolin 32 f Fred Graham E 8 CJ mi, rr Lett: Fred Graham diecueeee the public'e right to know at a news conference. Right: Graham laughs at a gift presented to him by SAB President Brad Chevea. 'I C D