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March 29, 1935, Page 1

INTERCOLLEGIATE CONFERENCE AGAINST WAR
      AND FASCISM SUPPORTS ANTI-WAR STRIKE;
            COUNCIL ENDORSES STRIKE FOR APRIL 12



This headline covered three articles, all of which follow (click to see page layout of the Spotlight).


Discussion of Strike and Walk-
      out Preparations Form Major
            Work of Conference

385 DELEGATES ATTEND

Elect Continuations Committee
Of Nine Representatives
From Three Colleges

            The delegates to the Brooklyn Inter-collegiate Conference against War and Fascism voted almost unanimously to support the April 12 strike against war. The discussion of the strike and preparations for the walkout formed it major part of the work of the conference and included the resolutions adopted at Saturday's session in the Lawrence gymnasium.

            The Continuations committee elected from the delegates at the conference, consisting of three representatives from Brooklyn College, three from Seth Low Junior College, and three from Long Island University, was given the task of preparing for the strike. The Brooklyn College representatives are: Nelson Seitel, editor of Pioneer, Sivia Friedman, Women's Student Council, and Beatrice Gomberg, chairman, Anti-war League.

            The Continuations committee was instructed by the 385 delegates to ask the Board of Higher Education to dismiss classes at the time when the demonstration is slated to take place. The Committee is also to ask the Association of Instructors, Tutors and Fellows, the Student Councils, the newspapers, and the clubs of the College to support the strike.

            The Conference opened Friday evening at the First Presbyterian Church with an introductory address by Beatrice Lemberg, chairman of the Arrangements committee, and a welcoming address by Rev. John Elliott; of the First Presbyterian Church.

            Miss Gomberg urged the delegates to "formulate a program that is agreeable to all delegates sincerely opposed to war, a program that can be accepted by the most radical and most conservative students."

            In his speech to the delegates, Rev. Elliot urged the slogan "Peace at any Price." He said, "In the past, the church failed miserably in war time. But churchmen are now girding themselves to work for fraternity during war as well as during peace time. Peace is not a means, but an end. Peace is ultimate and basic, not relative"

            The delegates elected a Resolutions committee after the two speeches. The Brooklyn College members were: Arthur Lerner, Nelson Seitel, Beatrice Gomberg, Sol Modell, Leo Rifkin, ,Harriet Ullman, and Donald Axelrod. The other four members were students at Long Island University and Seth Low Junior College.

            The general session was adjourned after the election of a Credentials committee and the four seminars began.

            The Seminar on War, Fascism and Education was attended by more than 230 delegates and visitors. Joseph Cohen, a Brooklyn student, was student leader of the seminar.

            Mr. Cohen analyzed the role of the college administration in the time of war. He cited the 120,000 students now taking military training in schools as proof of the existence of war machines in the schools. Mr, Cohen quoted Dean Paul Klapper of City College, who said, "The educational institutions now exist to rationalize and perpetuate the existing system."

            In concluding, Mr. Cohen said, "While the student struggle against war must be of a particular type, we must recognize the necessity for a fundamental alliance with the working class, the only group which can make war impossible."

            Mr. Solomon E. Asch of the Brooklyn College Philosophy department spoke on the necessity of changing the attitude of men towards war.

            Man is not a fighting animal," said Dr. Asch. ''Altitudes toward war are learned. They. may be unlearned."

            In the seminar on War, Fascism and International Relations, Dr Herbert H. Morais of the Brooklyn History, department discussed "the political alignments in Europe and the forces behind them."

            Dr. Morais spoke of the possible alignments in the next war. He suggested that because of the plan to establish an economic unit in Central Europe, Germany would declare war on Soviet Russia. France, opposed to Germany's encroachment on her territory, would side with Russia, said Dr. Morais, England, carrying out her policy of watchful waiting and .maintenance of the balance of power, seems to be siding with France.

            However, in order for war to actually take place, Dr. Morais concluded, there must be adequate preparation on the part of the aggressive power and Germany is not yet prepared.

            Abe Auerbach, student at Long Island University, at the same seminar, characterized fascism as a movement whose sole purpose is :the forceful suppression of all organized resentment against the existing form of government."

            Discussing the Prevention of War, Mr. Forrest, M..Keen of Long Island University said, "War prevention has two aspects. They are war resistance and building a peace structure: The building of a peace structure is based on the idea of a long time attack ons the fundamental causes of war. This involves educating people to oppose war, and changing their attitudes."

            I. J. Selikoff of Seth Low Junior College explained war as the result of economic conditions under capitalism. The imperialist rivalries make it necessary to resort to war, said Mr. Selikoff. "We students must united with the working class if our fight against war is to be successful," concluded Mr. Selikoff.

 


The headline at the top of this page covered two articles; this is the second article (click to see page layout of the Spotlight).

Motion Passed by Overwhelming
      Majority of 30 to 2 After
            Little Discussion

APPROVE STRIKE PLANKS

Elect Committee of 5 Delegates
      To Cooperate with Major
            Strike Committee

            The endorsement of the Anti-war Strike of April 12, as called by the Brooklyn Intercollegiate Conference Against War and Fascism, was voted by the Student Council at Wednesday's meeting, by a vote of 30 to 2. Council further approved resolutions pertaining to the Strike which were adopted at the Conference last week.

            Before the vote was taken, Sivia Friedman, Council delegate to the Intercollegiate Conference Against War and Fascism, reported on the discussions at the Conference and read the resolutions adopted at that meeting. Miss Friedman explained that the Continuations committee elected by the delegates at the conference will be in charge of the strike. A committee, however, is needed to cooperate in this work.

            This committee will consist of representatives from Council, all clubs, and other organizations. Harriet Kahn, treasurer of Council, Jean Cassel, upper senior representative, Harriet Ulman, chairman of the Student Loan committee, Paula Lance, secretary of Council, and Ruth Halpern, lower junior representative, were elected to act as Council's delegates to this committee.

            Those who voted against Council's endorsement of the Anti-War Strike are Caroline Murphy, president of Pan-Hellenic, and Teresa Trifari, president of the Athletic Association. Kay O'Hara, lower junior representative, did not vote. Miriam Brodie, Jean Cassel, Judith P. Cohen, Clara Coleman, Esther Diamond, Muriel Dichter, Ethel Drexler, Helen Friedland, Lucille Friedlander, Sivia Friedman, Beatrice Golden, Ruth Halpern, Florence Joffe, Harriet Kahn, Harriet Kaplan, Ruth Katz, Blanche Krosney, Paula Lance, Evelyn Levin. Shirley Levine, Helen Levitt, Florence Marans, Marc Schwartz, Pauline Sherman, Evelyn Tobias, Adele Towbin, Beatrice Turetsky, Harriet Ulman, Lucille Unger, Ruth Weintraub, and Sylvia Wener voted in the affirmative.



The headline at the top of this page covered three articles; this is the third article (click to see page layout of the Spotlight).

Conference Resolutions Are on the Third Page

            For the preamble and complete text of the resolutions adopted at the Brooklyn Intercollegiate Conference Against War and Fascism, see page three. The resolutions were adopted by an overwhelming majority of the delegates in the plenary session of the Conference held last Saturday. The resolutions were first discussed and voted upon in the seminars.


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May 20, 2004