Duke University - Chanticleer Yearbook (Durham, NC)

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Duke also found itself playing a part on the state political scene. A Demo- cratic rally was addressed by North Carolina Governor Terry Sanford, tol- lowed closely by a Republican rally for Robert Gavin and Walter Green. These rallies were sponsored by the student campaign groups as election day drew near and advocates of one party or another made even louder noises in favor of their candidates. The hubbub of the national elections died down, but most students kept an the summer months. Students were able to apply for study under Duke sponsorship in France, Germany, and Spain. ear tuned to events of note. When the Russian coup was announced, the Chronicle carried two evaluations of its meaning, one by Dr. Warren Lerner, professor of Russian history, and another bv a student who had spent a summer in the USSR. Further steps were made in broaden- ing the student ' s participation in such programs when Duke this year es- tablished a study-abroad program for On East a French Corridor was set up in the expanding language program. Thirty students agreed to speak only F ' rench while on the hall and at dinner each evening during the week. ' hile bridge games sometimes lapsed into English, the program offered a much- needed opportunity for students to be- come fluent in another language here at Duke. In considering Duke ' s relationship to 15

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year of the national elections. Gold- water buttons interspersed among John- son-Humphrey ones seemed to replace the black and «hite Freedom Now buttons over the campus. Literature was distributed by the Duke Young Republicans Club and College Students for Johnson-Hum- phrey, and applications for voters registration found their wiv to desks and doors. As election date grew closer, the West Information Desk re- ceived varied requests for a notary public ' s signature on absentee ballots from wallet-size to map-size. Buses were filled to hear Johnson speak in Raleigh, and the Beanbirds arose at dawn to welcome Lady Bird to the area. In the ZBT mock election, out of 1745 votes cast, Johnson led 988-757, with 56.7% of the overall vote. Of these. West Campus went 52% for Gold- water, but the East Campus, graduate, and faculty votes swung the balance to Johnson. Besides the poll, the Chronicle and the Lorum presented both sides of the issue, and equal time and space was a University policy as well as a national one. On East Campus, WSGA sponsored a three-day seminar on the Presidency, with Dr. Robert S. Rankin, political science professor and member of the U. S. Civil Rights Commission, head- ing the speakers. Problems of the presi- dential succession, and party as well as national demands on the President were faced in the academic arena this time. As political interest extended into the national field ot concentration. 14

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outside factors, the student govern- ments took steps in the evaluation of their membership in the National Stu- dent Association. West Campus dropped out of NSA, and after a decisive referendum East Campus also with- drew. Though there were some politi- cal overtones, the main opposition was based on the opinion that Duke did not actually profit substantially from membership in NSA. On a more regional basis, the Stu- dent Union sponsored a February seminar on The South in Continuity and Change. Dr. John Franklin, of Chicago, spoke on the role of the Negro in the South while Dr. Allen Cartter, of the American Council on Education, spoke on Southern higher education. Professors Knight, Sindler, Spengler, and Thompson also took part in the symposium. Political rallies, study abroad, student government policies, and seminars — these are only a few of the University activities in which the student partici- pated in organizations and interests which extend over the campuses, across the nation, and even further. Though the activities mentioned above did not directly involve every student, in the mass of flyers across the campus, each student could find countless activi- ties which directed his attention to out- side interests. Days of the college ear seem to be so hlled with meetings, in fact, that one sometimes wonders it he is majoring in extra-curricular activities. Yet in all these activities opinions were chal- lenged, ideas exchanged, and the results were inherent in a new development and growth. But the change could not come about without challenge and counter- challenge, debate and competition. The Forum, various media, and dialogue between faculty and student all provided one area for countering opinions. In another area, the competition of University sports revealed something of the year ' s direction at Duke. Even the rare sunny days of the fall could not seem to muster the spirit of the students in the football stadium. Yet the try one more time gumption of the cheer- leaders was given a boost by a rousing freshman group who came bearing Duke sweatshirts, devil caps, and enthusiastic posters. Homecoming brought defeat 16