University of Southern California - El Rodeo Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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change, or at least a month which contributed to the growing speed of cultural evolution which threatens to make men obsolete before they reach the age of wisdom. In October, the United Nations celebrated its 25th an- niversary, and those reviewing its start peered back a tunnel to a time centuries removed by the standards of any other epoch. In October, Paul McCartney, who had helped to build a new culture less than ten years before, arrived in New York with his symbolic hair cut short above the ears. Heroes have risen, flared like supernovae, and faded. In Octo- ber, the football team lost to Stanford, Oregon and Cal, and in October, Janis Joplin followed Jimi Hendrix off the stage of an overdose after screaming her song to the wind. 1944

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h ' Neutrality is a myth At the risk of becoming too abstract, it would seem to me that in a philosophical sense someone should look seriously at the entire aura of neutrality that has been the history of USC. There is no one person on this campus, student, faculty, or administrator, left or right, who does not recognize that neutrality is a myth, and that USC ' s financial base has always been political conservatism. It is no fluke. It is more appropriately a conscious effort in defense of this city ' s financial elite. That elite which assumed exclusive control over the growth and development of this University. And so, all comment one makes regarding the University is honestly made only when prefaced by an understanding of our conservative nature. It is true, for example, that the Trustees condone what they call constructive dissent as long as it does not level broadside attacks at the foundations of America, since the Trustees are the foundation of America. But what of the issues that do draw into question American principles? What of speculation about a Third World of all oppressed peoples? What of the technological imperative and its demand for a planned economy? Are we to believe that thoughts such as these and others are not valid grounds for discourse and analysis in the University because they are inherently alien to the capitalist, nationalist, elitist orientation of America? Are we to believe that the perimeters of the American university do not encompass those theories not harbored by Americanism? Can the intellectual world afford to allow the intimidation of ideology— any ideology? — ASSC President Sam T. Hurst V

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I i j I ! ' I ■ ' 1964 1960