Pugs Six' SCARLET AND BLACK Friday, April 4, lm } Leggeil’ Letter (Continued from Page 5) to circulate petitions questione lng the method used by the demonstrators and to express concern over the way the news media had handled the delilOn‘ stratioii. In the meanflme, the Grinllell demonstration, along with some troubles at other campuses in Iowa, led several members at the Iowa legislature, then in assembly in Des Molnes, to speak out their thoughts on col- logo and university “disorders" on the flour of the General AS- sembly. The Attorney General or the state, Mr, Richard Tur- ner, was reported in the news as saying that he was “inquir- ing into the nude demonstra» tion at Grinnell and the use or obscene language at lowa City and Ames to see it any laws have been violated." Shortly after this report, I was called upon in my office by an Assist- ant Attorney General who ex- plained courteously that he and several of his associates were visiting the campus and the liddiiihh’d JEWELRY Corner 4th & Brood Grinnell, Iowa Being with each other, doing things together . . . know- ing that your affection is growing into precious and enduring lover Happily, all these cherished moments will be forever symbolized b y your diamond engagement ring. if the name, Keepsake. is in the ring and on the tag. you are assured of fine quality and lasting satisfaction. The engagement diamond is flawless, of superb color, and precise modern out. Your Keepsake Jeweler will assist you in making your selection . . . He's in the yellow pages undor'erelers.“ Rings from $100 to $10,000i Illustrations enlarged to show detaill'Ttade-mark reg. A. H. Fund (30.. inc., Est. 1892. Keepsake» DIAMOND muss __.__. ______ -_____..1 HOW TO PLAN YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND WEDDlNG Please and new zooms booklet. "How To Plan Your Engage- ment and Weddlng" and new 12-pagc lull color lolder, both lor only 250. Also, Send special filler cl baaulllul 44-17398 Bride's Book. Name R M Slate—K‘flpfi l I l l l Audra" i R l I KEEPSAKE DlflMOND RINGS, BOX 90, SYRACUSE, N. Y. 13201 community to inquire him the matter, They understood and approved of my desire to COW fer with the legal counsel of the College hetore talking at any length with them about the matter. Alter such a cDIlier~ ence, and after further discus— sion with the student deans, I decided to halt any turtlier col- lege procedures, to advise the students to seek legal counsel, and to consult with their par ents. (Both the College and the civil authorities have standards 01' behavior they expect from per- sons within their communities, and each authority has the right to its own function. But I do not believe that in this case these functions can be operable simultaneously.) Tile presence at the Assistant Attorneys General was imme diately widely known on cama pus through the wonders of those communication devices, more psychical than real, which all Small cummunities have. The Student Senate pass- ed a resolution calling tor stu- dents not to cooperate with in- vestigntors, and those students who had been circulating statements and petitions disap- proving ot the “demonstration" ceased their ellorts. Part DI the news account of this reac- tion went as follows: (A Grinnell student) said plans to circulate petitions denouncing the nudity inci- dent were dropped because state officials “intruded” on campus. He said he believes n ma- jorily of Grimlell students would have signed the potl- tions but “now the campus is really united against the at- tomey general's offioe." “They are not defending the demonstrators,” he add ed, “but rather themselves." Thomas (Tom Thomas, president oi the student body) said he tell the majority or the Student Senate agreed with the principles or the pro- test but not necessarily with the tactics. l-le paraphrased the sentiment this way: “I might not have done it that way, but I‘ll delend right to do It." The incident continued to be the subject of news reports. special features, and editorials, and letters to me and staff per- sons irom alumni, patents, and interested on-lookers. In a few days it became clear that the investigators had identified the demonstrators who would be summoned belore a local jus- tice oi the peace tor a prellm- inaiy hearing on the charge of “indecent exposure," a misde- meanor under Iowa law. The preliminary hearings were held in Gl‘lnnell; the justice or the peace then remanded the case to the district court, which at the point of this writing has not yet met to hear it. Attitudes toward this whole case have been characterized from the beginning by strongly expressed and diverse opinions. These opinions exist not only in the student body and among the [acuity but also in the com munity, and among alumni and parents. The following selec- tions from letters addressed to me by concerned alumni illus- [rate the point; Does Grinnell have extra- ordinary success in recruit- ing neui-otics, psychotics, and exhibitionists, or are the lac. ulty and administration ex- ceptionally skillful in trans- torming tairiy normal stu- dents into kooks and jerks?” Another questioned “May I ask WHY a repre- sentative oi Playboy was al- lowed on campus and WHY there was no one in authority there to break up the meeting when it got ‘out of bounds’?" .siime toured for the college “i hope the students can see that the embarrassment to the college tar outweighed the damage to Ylaybay. ln lhe meantime you can con- sole yoursell with the tact that at least the students were not joined by iaculty members, and classes were not interrupted — nor did p0- Iice have to he called, C01“- pared to many other college presidents you have much to be thankful tor." your Be the Belle of the Ball Choose the most bewiiching dress ever danced that Cl oi prom from Virginia’s Spring Collection -— Sixes 3 to IT still others sought to under- stand the motives “Grinnell students have typically avoided any means or protest which gives a lie to their ends. Thus, recruiters don‘t get locked in cars or barred frum buildings, but are confmnted with a mili- tary cemetery in the middle or the campus. Buildings don't get burned down at Grinnell when students dis- agree with rules. Instead, students energetically attack the problem with more con- structive means like discus< sion groups, meetings with administrators, symbolic rule- breaking, and persistent per- suasion Though students at most colleges are very sus- ceptible to the contagion oi adolescent-type rebellion, pro. Iesting the mast minor annay< ances, the few Grinnell stu« dents who saw lit to speak out against the graduation titual (last May) had the ma- turity to see the reasonable. ness in their president’s gentle chiding, so that instead or demonstrating over caps and gowns, Grinnell seniors made better use or graduae tion by taking the opportunity to protest against a fearful and disgracetul war. A white drive (pigeon) being need from a graduate‘s gown was a beautiful gesture, typical oi Grinnell Ihiliking and prior- ltles. “The Playboy philosophy is alien to everything that a progressive coeducational col- lege like Grimell stands for. But it is so seductively put forth in all the mass media, that many men and women, even at a college like Grill‘ nell, are subtly influenced by it and blind in its implica- tions. Therefore, 1 was great- iy impressed that Grinnel- Iians showed an awareness of the significance of the Play- boy representative’s partici- pation in a sex education dis cussion, and made a cour- ageous 17 u b I i c criticism against this hypocritical phil- nsophy." As I Write this letter, the stu- dents involved are going through the painlul, and expen. sive, process associated with legal action. I think it the better part at wisdom for the rest of us to remain concerned but not impatient. This kind of incident, like a few others that have occurred on the campus, is particularly susceptible to the kind of attention the new! media wishes to give it. We have a lively, colicemcd, artic< ulate student body (with an une common number of talented photographers aild ioumalists), and the inevitability of occa« sional sensational publicity is a misiortune the College must live with and must ask its alumni and friends to under stand. The revolution going on in American educational institu~ tions is real and pronounced, and the constructive part of it, which is the result of unglam- orous and sometimes palniul procedures, is not going to re- ceive the same public attention as does the exhibitionistic or the generally sensational. Col- leges can only hope that alum- ni, parents, and friends will continue to be supportive and understanding.