Page Two EDITORIAL Politics or People? The protest of Playboy, was not only a protest against the commercialism that ignores those aspects of women that stand for humanness, but an assertion by several individuals of their belief in communication, sensitivity and human dig- nity. A protest is an attempt at symbolic communication, one of the unique aspects of the human animal, Unfortunately, the society, the press, and even some of the most sensitive people will not think of the individual communication and sensitivity expressed by these people. Because of this, peo- ple are hurt, improper correlations are made, things like the nstitution’s losing money or fearing for its reputation occur. Someone in Des Moines gets scared and starts an investiga— tion. An investigation of what? Will an impersonal, “no comment,” secretly prying group of men increase (or even desire to increase) under« standing, communication, or sensitivity? The motivation, EX< pressions, and nature of their work, makes any honest in- vestigation impossible. The Attorney General’s office has brought fear to the campus through their approach and their goals. This seems to be a perfect example of what the demonstration was pro- testing against —- impersonality and dehumanization. The investigators have missed the point of the protest by being here at all. The state attorney has sent four men including the as- sistant state attorney to prosecute trivial crimes. The dam- age to individuals inyolved is not a consideratioato this 3131:; WE? (in radicals. When will human values replace poli‘ tics? Communication, sensi vity, human dignity; they are all positive aspects of the human situation. The happenings of the past week diminish one’s hope that these are in reality, the values of the society, the community or some individuals. 1—— .._1 To The Parents of M . Low and M . Thompson Dear Parents: Your children have been identified as those among a group of Grinnell admin- istrators who have apparently misused the responsibilities of their respective positions, First, they have circumvented the regular college procedure for viola» tiou OI social regulations as prescribed i.“ the “Student Handbook” and the "Grinnell College Bulletin." In their lei- Ier to the Playboy pmtestors and their parents they have acted as boih prose- cumr, judge, and jury. Their letter he— gins “You have been identified as one of a group or students who dlsrobed in Gales Lounge" yet who identified them and with what authority? Not only have these students been unofficially accused, but. they have also been unofficially round guiliy. one wonders why your Son/daughter did not use the established judicial process and chose to go outside all legal procedure. lt is also my unfortunate task to in- toun you that your son/daughter acted in a way which did not do honor to their proiession, Since when do the deans write students’ parents without inform— Eg the involved students first? Such a procedure appears at once irregular and unethical, beneiidng neither those [orients involved nor their parents. In fact, it would appear that your letter has benefited no one. What purpose did your son/daughter have in mind? One wonders when such practices will be put to an end. I quote the shove mentioned letter in mien-ice not to the protesters but rather to your children: “...Wedoml.ke|hepdntthltyour action in let! the hum-n issues less I|seflllly detlned, Ind in some gunners has generated I nuflon antagonistic. lo the college nod to lo education-l nah. “column/cl, vac loam-lib problems [oriented by a conflict It this sort (that is, problems created by doing impulsive damage to the institution that you presumably are benefiting from) are becoming steadily more complex.” I invite you to discuss the implications of this incident at your convenience. Sincerely yours. Lee Maril The Scarlet & Black soudeni Newspaper of Grinnell College. @rinnell. Iowa All indgl'lendgnl rickui'x- owo paper 171.: um wet y, 3‘“ . M? except during holldays > and examination Periods. g aby the Grimm“ com a minee on sruouu Publi- ‘Ei Canons. Subscription rm per ’01! mp rzle year. school sailor . . buslncss Mnnlxer Mun-gin. Edlxor Alsoclllz Editor . Cm mm , Spam mm ,, ,, YVOR sToAKLrY chm rbaromnber , mwm uNmzLoM lenflflel: , Lynn Adlms, lmny lull, David pry-u. clm rroulicu, no Hirsch, Cathy Jana, Molly McGuire. Marx-m Mueller. Muk sob-luau, Rich Schmlechel. .iomlhnn Stein , susAN KAESER BRUCE smom SCARLET AND BLACK LETTERS Concern for reputation To the editor: It has become Increasingly apparent that a minority or students on the cam- pus of Grinnell College are creating an image that 15 not representative of the entire student body. The image of Grin- nell as a radical institution has not merely appeared subsequent to the dem- onstration against Playboy Magazine. it has, rather, been evolving over a period at time that has been punctuated by a variety of controversial incidenis. In the light of the philosophy of a liberal arts college, we have too long silently toler— ated these occurrences, and we now feel compelled to express our opinions. 1. it has become increasingly more difficult to study in an atmosphere in which everything from our human dig— nity to our intelligence is being insulted. The events which have taken place have ranged, in our opinion, from the inane to the offensive and i“clude the Guer- rilla Theater's presentation on Satur- day, October is at the Symposium for Parent’s Weekend and at second semes— ter registration, the mosi recent issue of the Plel‘odactyl, and mo Playboy den-l- onslration. The last of these is the cul- minalion of the tone that has been prop- ogaled by the minority. 2. These events have had ramifica- tions outside the student community Siiiémehts released to the Des Molnes Register have been expressed as rep< resentative of the majority of the stun dent body; we doubt that this is so. Them has been a resultant loss of pres- tige as regards the college. This is evi- denced in rhe canceled enrollment of several prospective students and the dissatisfaction voiced among present students, parents, and alumni. 3. With reference to the Playboy dem- onstratlon in particular, we find it ironic that those who were protesting the com- mercializailon of the human body used the identical methods to iuriher the ac— tions of people loosely affiliated with the campus. 4. Misrepresentation of student opin- ion extends inio other sectors of college life. We understand that the Student Senate is to be sensitive to the views of the entire student body. From its actions this year and last, we feel that [his is highly questionable. For example, a 33m appropriation was made to the Piemd- lay! on October 2, 1968. This money was appropriated under the guise of a single ad. If this publication is not college‘ sponsored, we ask why college funds were utilized. $300 seems an exorbant amount to cover only one no. We realize that the mere statement of opinions is not sufficient. The solu- tions to these problems that will induce change he perhaps in greater partici- pation of the majority in szudem elec- tions, the Student Senate, and concerned reaction to activities at the campus. Barbara Schnurman Janet Williams Nora Sansone Stephanie Schen‘ck Joy Canard Patricia Later Gina Mills Hollow-Grind Ice Skate Sharpening DONE WITH PRECISION IV MACHINE AT Harry's Sport Shop . us Mob. Friday. February, l4. I969 Don’t waste your money To the Editor: As we all know, attorney general people are on campus to investigate, as they say, “some matters.” Apparently their main concern is the strip, the nasty and heinous protest that occurred a week ago and which, for the first time in our minds, brought extensive atten- [ion to the fact that “Playboy," exploits women's beauty, to be sure, “Play- boy’s" grotesque concept or beauty. Assuming these men earn at least $7,000 a year. which figures in wages to around $4 an hour, together they are paid $128.00 a day. We assume that they do not work in the evening since on Tuesday night one of the men accom« panied by a man not known for certain to be an agent, both apparently drunk, asked us where the john was. Unless they were employing some kind of tactic to extract information by feigning drunkenness we assume they work an eight hour day. Surely they would not carry on their mission in a drunken stupor. These men have been here since Tues- day and will leave Thursday or Friday we think. So, around $500 will be spent on their salaries alone. Add on to this figure another $500 for further adminiS‘ trative work and miscellaneous ex’m passes. it something like hearings 0')? " trials result, the expense would perhaps add up to $5,000. We suggest that the attorney general get the hell out of Grinnell College and the state spend this money in a ghetto or, it the state insists on spending the money on law and order, we suggest that it be spent against the mafia In- stead 0! against some people who took all their clothes, David Llndblom Wilhelm Defense To the Editor: Neil Fischer’s and Greg Schmidt's pro- gram on the college radio station KDIC on February 11 during which they claimed that 1 organized the recent nuda demonstration against Playboy maga- zine in order in make money by selling photographs to the press, is a complete distortion of the facts. It is an insult ro those who actually did organize the protest. The organizers of course can’t reveal themselves at this time due to the investigation by the state Attorney Generals office. This information will of course come out in time and Neil and Greg will prove themselves to be liars. Many oiher statements made during the radio program were also completely un- true. Neither Neil nor Greg not anyone else contacted me about their information helore or after the program. Since that time Mm Ruth. Prescott. representing the college puhue relations ellice, has sent copies of the program in the Associated Press, United Press International, Grinnell radio station KGRN, the Gn'nnell Register, and ill. Des Moines Register, She did not check are facts stated on the programwiih me. and admitted to me when 1' allied he: that she knew some or the information presented on the program was not car- reel. She said the Public Relations nffiCI sent the program out as a matter 3! "information." Anyone who is interested in discussing this matter or what Krystyht Nou- man and l are dainf in Grim" is welcome to come over to our house at 1408 East Street and mlk with B. You Ire also welcome in View the photographs presently hanging in our gallery. Th- ;allery, by the way, was never conceived or intended Io be a hiatus enterprise. Milling].