Issues

The Sally Hemings Vol. 1, No. 1

Since Monday, there has been much debate about whether the strike at the University of Virginia should be continued on the basis of Cambodia - Kent State and/or on the basis of the nine demands of the University Strike Committee. It is important to remember that the nine demands are based on local complicity -- the complicity that gives rise to situations such as the U.S. invasion of Cambodia and the killing and wounding of students at Kent State University in Ohio.

"IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE..."

We have in this country now an atmosphere, in many ways created by the President and Vice-president, which leads those who support "Law and order" to believe that ANY means of enforcement is permissible, who hide behind the platitude "Violence begets violence" and use it to justifiable [justify] acts. As students, we are part of a group of people that have been villified across the country by those who would "Protect the peace." We are, by the very fact we live inside academic walls, potential victims of the same type of violent law enforcement which occurred at Kent State. It is indeed reasonible, therefore, that we demand protection for ourselves and our fellow students--that we demand that University Security not carry sidearms and that armed men are not brought to the University grounds to "Maintain stability." You must remember that not only did the Ohio National Guard act without just cause, but also that bullets do not discriminate between strikers and non-strikers.

DEMAND #2. "That in connection with maintaining tha [the] safety of all members of the University community who will be assembling for a variety of meetings during the next several days, we demand that you, as President of the University, prohibit its security police force from carrying firearms, and the University not allow any outside law enforcement on its property--FBI, CIA, National Guard, Virginia State Police, Charlottesville-Albemarle County Police, etc.

SUPPORT DEMAN No. 2!

The Sally Hemings Vol. 1, No. 2

Telegrams have been sent to your parents asking that they call you and find out what you are thinking and doing about the issues.

Use this opportunity to phone or write your parents and talk to them about the issues of the strike:

--INDOCHINA WAR --KENT STATE MASSACRE --MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN ALL OF AMERICA'S LIFE

Convince them to contact their Senators, Congressman and other influential people in their community. Use your influence--call home-not for money, but for ACTION.

PEACEPEACEPEACEPEACEPEACEPEACEPEACEPEACEPEACEPEACEPEACEPEACE

"There have been immoral governments that have survived. There have been autocratic governments that have survived. But no government that is both incompetent and insane."

Arthur Waskow The Rotunda May 6, 1970

ENDTHEWARENDTHEWARENDTHEWARENDTHEWARENDTHEWARENDTHEWAR

"Edgar, now don't worry we're just going to close your school down. I've just got one question: Where are the high schools in this town?" Phone call from William Kunstler to President Shannon

SUPPORTTHESTRIKESUPPORTTHESTRIKESUPPORTTHESTRIKESUPPORTTHESTRIKE

JOHN WAYLES' EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTION AWARD - SAM MANLY FOR ACCURATELY RECORDING IN HIS REVOLUTIONARY NOTEBOOK THE ACTIONS AND STATEMENTS OF FELLOW STUDENTS.

The Sally Hemings Vol.1, No. 3

WAR:

A CONFLICT

WHICH DOES NOT DETERMINE WHO

IS RIGHT

BUT...

WHO IS LEFT.

The responsibility for the expansion of the Southeast Asia front does not rest solely with President Nixon. Behind his decision is the knowledge that in the United States there is a well-oiled machine capable of producing the men and products which the military needs to continue its operations. Today the University of Virginia has an active role in maintaining the war-support system:

------THE RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS provides officers for the armed forces.

------THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL'S SCHOOL provided men educated to maintain, among other things, the "Code of Military Justice" (at best, a code which denies some very basic civil rights. At worst...)

------THE DEFENSE RESEARCH done by the University provides further means of perfecting the art of waging war. (Remember: money for peaceful research is available only when war funds are cut off.)

It is indeed reasonable, therefore, to DEMAND that the University of Virginia cease to support these activities, that it no longer contribute to the military force which made Vietnam a nightmare and Cambodia a reality.

WHERE DO YOU STAND? FOR LIFE OR FOR DEATH?

SUPPORT DEMANDS Nos. 3,4, AND 5!

THE JOHN WAYLES' HALF-SISTER AWARD TO "The Daily Progress" for two Richmond Times-Dispatchisms in reporting on strike events: The "Prog" said only 80 students took Maury Hall the first time (250 did); and the "Prog" claimed no one was assaulted by a "townie" the night of the Emmet Street action (see the Municipal Court Records).

The Sally Hemings Vol 1, No. 4

Because of his approval of yesterday's town meeting on the Lawn, Mr. Shannon has been proclaimed the "protector" of our civil liberties. But let us realize that the Lawn is OURS... that the State Troopers who took the Lawn from us on Friday were in direct contact with President Shannon.

This PIG aggression occurred despite the fact that NO bottles, rocks, or other missiles were thrown at the State Police and traffic was not obstructed-- the assertions of our Director of Unversity Relations, Paul Saunier, notwithstanding.

The First Amendment guarantees us the rights of free speech and assembly. These Rights were partially denied by our President Shannon on repression night, Friday, May 8, and they are now under dire threat.

The seriousness of this situation has at last united students and faculty. Together, we ask our President the following questions:

------- WAS THERE AN OPEN LINE between the State Police and President Shannon Friday night?

------- IS IT TRUE that some Administrative Assistants said this University would be a better place without the students?

------- IS OUR PRESIDENT WILLING to give more than the Lawn to insure a "liberated" academic community?

THE JOHN WAYLES MEMORIAL QUOTE: "You can't arrest that man ! He's past President of the Student Council !" (Kevin Mannix from inside a Mayflower Van)

The Sally Hemings Vol 1, No.5

MR. SHANNON'S SPEECH:

THANK YOU . . . .

AND A FEW MORE QUESTIONS . . . .

President Shannon's speech Sunday struck us -- as the strike itself must have struck the President -- like wow, man! For the first time, Mr. Shannon spoke out on the two immediate issues confronting this University community -- the strike and the war. To the strike he gave tacit endorsement by recommending that students be allowed to complete course work at a late date. To the war he gave -- finally -- a clear and reasonably snappy "we've had enough, Mr. Nixon". That literally brought us to our feet, recalling as we did Mr. Shannon's recent adamant decision not to "politicize" the University. Thank you, Mr. Shannon, for recognizing that a war which kills us all is "political" and that it must be stopped if we are to survive as a university or as a nation at all.

Mr. Shannon also raised several other surprising and pleasant points. 1) He seemed now to have confidence in the strikers, not fear, as before. 2) He recognized at least the existence of the nine demands, and he responded favorably -- although rhetorically -- to two of them, the admission of blacks and the admission of women, and 3) he indicated what we believe to be his sincere regret at Friday night's activities.

In spite of this effort, far better than we ever expected, Mr. Shannon failed to deal with certain very basic and absolutely unavoidable questions. 1) Whether, as the City Attorney reported, the decision to send police on to the Lawn was made in conjunction with Mr. Shannon, or whether, as Mr. Shannon reported, the decision was made by the police with the authority given to them by Mr. Shannon, the final responsibility must rest with our President. We ask him to respond directly to that charge.

2) Eight or ten students are still facing charges in the city and county courts. We must not allow them to face court action alone, as if they were isolated individuals who had committed isolated and individual acts of crime. We ask Mr. Shannon, as representative of this institution, whose duty is to protect, not to prosecute students, to act upon his expressions of regret and to support these students, publicly and officially, in three ways:

a) assure them that the University will not take punitive action against them.

b) vouchsafe for the accuracy of the sworn affidavits on behalf of each defendant, on the basis of the reliability of each student under the Honor System.

c) provide lawyers and legal fees for each student, through as many court appeals as necessary.

We cannot allow these students to be scapegoated by city and county officials. They represent us in these courts. Let us support them.

3) The injunction is still in effect on these Grounds. And no one is clear as to its scope. We ask President Shannon to have the injunction withdrawn, or, failing that, to make clear its limitations.

4) Mr. Shannon obviously does not endorse Friday night's events. We ask him to make sure such events will not occur again. We ask him to guarantee that he will do all in his power to prevent troops from entering these Grounds again.

5) Mr. Shannon dealt with war on a national level, but he pointedly neglected our own University's involvement in that war. We ask him to support the effort to oust ROTC from these Grounds. Making parts for a well-oiled war machine is hardly compatible with creating a more humane University or a more humane world.

Mr. Shannon, please respond.

THE JOHN WAYLES MEMORIAL DEFINITION: "A mob is nothing but an effective committee."