1969_10 The Daily Collegian October 1969

              Friday. Ochtkme 3. I960
editorial
Dbserv.ce to college
Dr. Frederic Nogs hag done s disservice to Fresno State College
end poostoiy tte entire California Stats College tystem.
By refuging yesterdsy to approve the recommendation by the
Social Science Department to hire Morvin X as an instructor in tbs
ethnic gtudies program, he has yielded to pressors from Chancel lor
Glenn Dumke and placed the unity of thig campus second on hig list
of prtorflieg.
Marvin X, a Block Muslim, wag recommended by social science to
teach Mack theater, creative writing and propaganda ag it gffects
the block community. In announcing hig refusal to hire Marvin X,
Dr. Naaa eald he eong ids red tbe candidate unfit to teach here beeauee ef lege', morel ond academic factors.
Thla ia net true. Dr. Negg acted upon pressurs from ths Chancellor's  office which  hod  been   steodily   mounting  over  the lost two
Dr. Ness' ootion goes beyond merely turning down s prospective
instructor. Indeed, it is s blow to the integrity of ethnic studies,
Richard Keyes, chairmen of the program, and Dr. Dale Burtner,
heed of the Social Science Department.
But the president's action may hove far greater remiftcations than
merely splitting this campus - if thst is not enough.
By submitting to the pressure of the chancellor's office. Dr. Ness
hss assisted the erosion of Sutonomy of the state colleges. His refusal to Support the judgment of departmental heads at Fresno
State College, and instead succumb to the wishes of Dumke, has
lessened the stature of this institution snd only invited s fsr grester
division on campus than now exists.
It is time someone had, the guts to stand up against Dumke and
tell him that sound education is predicated on loesi sutonomy.
The college sdministrstion maintains the president "preserved"
local autonomy by deciding Marvin X's fate himself. But privstely,
administrstion officisls admit the shots were called by the chancellor's office.
The decision by Dumke's office to pressure Fresno Stste College
into not hiring Msrvin X is nothing le«,s than political, religious,
snd racial persecution.
It is true Marvin X is s Blsck Muslim. It is true that Msrvin X
is under indictment for draft evasion. It is true thst he renounced
his United Ststes citizenship seversi yesrs ago. And it is true thst
Marvin X is blsck with only sn AA degree.
But what does thst hove to do with his gusiificstions to tesch black
thester snd creative writing ss it applies to his own people If
Marvin X has something to contribute to the students of Fresno Stste
— and he must have or Keyes end Dr. Burtner would not have recommended Mm — then he should be si lowed to teach.
Ethnic studies is a relatively new concept in education st Fresno
Stste College. And it calls for new modes of teaching. No longer
can one expect s 'white liberal" to explain racism to the black and
Chicano students. Indeed, it it the likes of Marvin X who can best
explain rscism and the culture of his race.
But no. Dr. Ness elected to act from pressure With no regard to
the merit of the man or One process in connection with the •legsl"
aspects of the case.
When addressing Tuesday's opening session of the college's convocation, Dr. Ness said that maybe history will record thet his
tenure as president of F.S.C. only furthered the division among
faculty ranks.
Unfortunately for Fresno Stste, this probably will not be the case
because history msy record that Dr. Ness' presidency finally led
to the destruction of this campus .
The president elected yesterday to divide the college instead of
uniting* it. Surely, the chancellor's office would hove turned down
any recommendation by thig college to hire Marvin X, but that would
have left Dumke figMing a united college. What we now have ig e
divided college figMing itself.
Dr. Ness could heve afforded to show some guts because his role
as president of the college ends in December. Dr. Ness could heve
struck a blow for higher education and for ethnic studies. Instead
he gave in to pressure from Los Angeles.
It ig too bad that he would rtot place his trust in Fresno Stats
College because now this campus cannot trust him. But the division
on this campus will remain long sfter Dr. Ness has left.
—GERALD P. MEHRELL
The Doily Collegian
Pr**ooSt*t*Coll*(«
AbbocI*tfisMt Mali subscript ions M a
mmmmmm. IIS a **ar editorial ee-
tlc*. Bssbss-bb 2JS. f l»»M— 4g7-
2ITS   Beat**** attic*. Callae* U«_**s
ama,
Laat day
Today ts  ths last dsy
to
drop s class without a grade.
It is also ths lsst day
to
change a claaa from or
to
paaa-withdrawal credit
md
to   ehaage   from   credit
to
audit.
Ombudsman Paul Murray slaps at 'distrust' over Marvin X issue
,
By Paul Murray
Ombudsman
I wate to say something about
my place ta the negotletlons
around tte    hiring    of Marvin
Neither the students nor the
Administration has mads use
of    my services.    Now    test ta
their choice sad they srs free
to make It. However, the Om-
budsman is of no use unless he
knows  what Is going on.
Of couree, I am new. Fresno
Stats College Is s complex institution and It will taks some time
until I can know enough about
F.S.C. snd iU environment to be
of     maximum   usefulness.    But
ran
.van Hiuainr
A tttig smssgggtegel to-tag cm
pt fee g bt sf shirt tog-da ia Vm
Hgesse Neap-tee Noam! TkM sf
Ea meet tanker, caters eat tbs aogt
rtsripmgliil stripes ia lag late
Tkiafc sf thg groovy, mmat sprssd
teg-ay cote. Tlum of to ss^rss-g
saw sf gg-aaagetly grass* Vgna
pees. TWok sf K, Heaptehv Hosm
gggfte tee t* tte gad gars! Hop
Open Friday 'til P PM
we have to start.
My Information about the ait-
uation of Marvin X haa come from
a meeting the students had with
President Negg on Tueeday, from
snatches of corridor conversation and vary limited briefing by people nearer ths action. Anything I know seems
to be already in the rumor mill.
- I dp not know all the facts
and heve not felt all the pressures thst are at work. However,
I do see some of the effects of
the mods of operation of Preeldent Ness and Ms advisers on
ths Ethnic Studies group. Tte
secrecy, evasion and cloaed dealing that are evident is causing distrust, fear and division on the
csmpus. Ths president opened
the academic year with an appeal
for unity-a few days later word
of his new post tion csme out. He
supported a convocation to discuss csmpus problsms snd refused to speak on the moot evident    crlatg.   The students have
held cloeed meetings sad their
leaders snd faculty hsvs made
little information available. They
did not uee the convocation.
I think opsn and trustful dealing with this issue of Marvin
X whatever may heve been the
ultimate decisions, would hsve
gone tor to allay distrust snd
division. All parties, tte President snd his advtasrs, ths Ethnic Studies group and anyone
else Involved srs responsible
for that.
WALTER SD1ITH
*\m>
.VAN   HEUSEN
You'*. Mhsfstsd yoer BMg ate you're gggfc-
igg to seem! Htm yea can stem to shirt
Hgapgairg Hoeggt Tkg start grith to teto.
skgges Tte gee with to sew wtdgr
■Mb psf-
IBM
^-tetokgggggeggrucfcgggr
to trams, maa'. *Tmea mor to