Western Washington University - Klipsun Yearbook (Bellingham, WA)

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Hello there, This subjective snot has been blown in the hope. Now I know you're all saying whose hope, what hope and where's hopew QThe three Wls of ninth grade journal- ism classj and that's ust real good. These random reflec- tions on the utilization of musketry are probable. Therefore take them with a grain of radium without squirm or squeal. It was Hermann Hesse who once commented that water is stronger than stone and love is stronger than hate and force. just the day after The journey to the East the crevice in the ancient cement staircase of Old Main made me laugh as I contemplated Mark Ruddls campus visita- tion privilege. It was rainy and windy that autumn eve- ning and no one seemed to know where Mark Rudd was but at long last he did. A sil- ver haired professor object- ing to Ruddls appearance had allegedly been given per- mission to defend all from the lying onslaught that the ringleader of the Columbia student riots would spread with his very tongue, teeth, and other tainted articula- tory organs. The Archliber- all' Ca Rudd-attached epi- thetl, our faculty chaper- one, was stoned with verbal spitwads as he punched the wrong jukebox buttons. Many considered his musical selections to be in very bad taste. The question was: how can we dance to that old crap? Perhaps it was for that very reason that he was termed an asshole by one of the bolder dissident vocal- ists as the speechwriter spoke of freedom of speech and as- sembly and all those other good things that certain smiling liberals do love to talk about. I thought I al- most felt hot tears as I saw the stunned terror in the gray pupils of the political writer that had probably fought in the war for free- dom and spent many min- utes penning letters to his congressman. One wanted to believe such a man who out of baffled be- wilderment resorted to call- ing Rudd a coward. But then Mark Rudd, all a-grin and robed in leather jacket and rough urine colored cords, spoke of how he had the taste of cop saliva upon his very knuckles. Cop saliva seemed to be extremely nar- coticg like a puppy that has just had his first taste of blood he now knew he could never stop slaughtering the neighbors' chickens. I envi- sioned Rudd in the back of the dogcatcher,s coach, his destination the gas chamber, still laughing and licking the warm blood from his paws. He waved his fists.

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The college is growing, and soon Western's tradi- tional stance of an open society without social or- ganization may find itself beleaguered by a more intense set of communication, decision-making and alienation problems. The college may need some smaller units of social organization in order for the individual to find more fulfillment and indentifi- cation. The splintering trend will probably persist as peo- ple eontinue to reject old principles of authority and seek new ones. Nevertheless, there is a great need for faculty and students to think not only of the individual and group point of view, but to con- sider the whole college and the long-range conse- quences of an act. Some necessary ingredients for a sense of community at Western are trust of oth- ers, awareness of what is going on, a willingness to participate in college affairs. Too often this field of endeavor is abandoned to others and the few appear to speak for the many. The best way to prevent an unheeding bureaucracy or faction dominating the scene is to take an active interest in college issues. Some students and faculty are unwilling to abide an executive type of administration, and urge gov- ernance by forum or by impulse. Such government is neither effective nor democratic. Government by clique and pressure is no more attractive than anarchy or dictatorship. Small factions will con- tinue to unbalance lVestern until the majority en- act their will after debate and deliberation. With a college Senate composed of students, faculty, ad- ministration, staff and an executive branch headed by the President, perhaps VVestern would enjoy an adequate internal government. Over this ar- rangement, the Board of Trustees would continue to be the necessary legal authority of Western's governance, subject to the State of VVashington. Thus the interests of all parties would be repre- sented in effective government. In comparison to other schools that are dominated by campus disruption or placidity, Western seems to be adaptable and viable. lVestern's liberal tradi- tion, the backgrounds of students and the pressures of a technological society are some reasons for this condition. Also, the size and diversity of the college assist a diffusion of interests and energies. How- ever, the main reason Western has survived any serious malady is the willingness of leaders among students, administration and faculty to discuss is- sues and reasonably reach agreements. It is hoped that in the future Western can achieve reforms where needed, maintain scholarly inquiry into subject matter, be valuable to students, and graduate men and women who will make the world a better place in which to live. wfutwwi

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Burr! Paul A. He had big fists. I sat quite amazed. Such an idiotic in- cident was enough to make one want to run home and commit self-psychosurgery by burying a blue nineteen cent BIC pen deep into oneis right nostril until smiles reigned. It would be an understate- ment to observe that in the minds of most students stu- dent government is a frivol- ous farce. Breaking with a cherished tradition Perky Noel and associates have not been content to suck the tra- ditional fetid lollipops pro- vided by the Administration. Perhaps this is one reason why certain college adminis- trators fume when student leaders burn their Double Bubble gum bonus cards in protest of placebo govern- ments. Imagine the nerve of the Student Legislature in refusing to dismiss Naughty Wally at the Dean of Stu- dentis request for commit- ting such a heinous crime as distributing anti-war litera- ture when the long arm of the military was busy kid- napping seventeen and eigh- teen year olds on the same public property. As James Farmer said of the blacks, Weave won the hot dog but . . . student leaders at West- ern may now say from first hand experience Qwith pride, pleasej. 'fGraffetti also ap- pears on the ex-faculty can walls. Was the Bourasaw power game played with muskets to the tune of Up Against the Wall Motherw? Perhaps. Or was it merely a mimic of the techniques traditionally used by the masters of education? Maybe turn aboutis fair play for once. In any case, itis an awfully big crack in Old Main's staircase. I wonder how it happened? Maybe tomorrow it will rain for a pleasant change. Goodbye now.