Columbia University School of Public Health - Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 17 text:

SOME BRIEF THOUGHTS ON STUDENT REBELLION In their search for a new sense of continuity and santeness, adolescents lzave to regfight many ofthe battles of earlier years, even though to do so they must artificially appoint perjectly well-meaning people to play tlze roles ofadversaries. . . YE. H. Erilfsong Childhood and Society, 1965. There are two possible explanations for student unrest. One is that there is a need to rebel, as ERI KS ON suggests, which will express itself'irrespective of issues. The other is that there are aspects of society generally or specifi- cally Qfuniversity society, which provoke rebellion. 1 The rebellion ofthe students, which lzas exploded all over the world, may well be only a facet ofthe great, partly unrecognized revolution in which, according to Julian Hux1ey,3 we have been living since tlze beginning of this century. Clearly tlze reasons for the students' revolt are ntanifolde social, economic, technical, psychological, and political, as well as acadenzic. Will a new system emerge from all this wlzich will modernize university organization, improve teaching and research facilities .... 9 The answer to these questions will depend on the intellectual nzaturity and the democratic loyalty ofthe reformers. The persistence of the enraged spirit among some and the political innocence ofeven nzore may be major obstacles. There is no doubt that we are living through a revolution, and, as Huxley pointed out. it may be effected in a democratic or a totalitarian way. 3 1. Lancet, March 23rd, 1968, p. 625. 2. Huxley. J. On Living in a Revolution. London. 1944. 3. Lancet,July 27th, 1968, p. 213. I5

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CHANGE . . . I-Columbia University A university exists as a community dedicated to rational discourse, and the use of communi- cation and persuasion as the means of furthering that discourse . . . K from a resolution by Professor Daniel Bell adopted at cz special meeting of the Faculty ofColuinbia College, April 24th, 1968.2 We, the striking students of Columbia Univer- sity, believe in the right of all people to partic- ipate in the decisions that aifect their rights. An institution is legitimate only if it is a struc- ture for the exercise of this collective right. The people who are affected by an illegitimate insti- tution have the right to change it . . trelease of the Strike Steering Committee, April 28th, 1968.2 I4

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II-Medical Care Everywhere the old order changeth, and happy those who can change with it. M-Sir William Osler, M.D. 118951 Health is not just a medical matter, it is a social and economic one. Com- prehensive medicine often requires an interdisciplinary approach. -Kenneth E. Appel, M.D. 119571 Access to the means for attainment and preservation of health is a basic human right. -Presiderzfs C Omnzission 011 the Health Needs ofthe Nation 119521 I6