March 2, 1934, Pages 1, 3
SUPPORT MOVEMENT
FOR ANTI-WAR WEEK
Faculty Encourages Protest
Of Social Science Students;
Call Strike For April
The Social Science Club held its
second consecutive Anti-War meeting on Wednesday in preparation for the
National Student Anti-War Week starting April 6.
Joseph Cohen, a student of
Brooklyn College, who attended the Connecticut Valley Anti-War
Conference at Northhampton last week, told of the success in arousing
students of Harvard, Yale, Smith, Wellesley and other colleges in New
England to an awareness of the danger of war. He pointed out that the
National Civic Federation under the leadership of Ralph Easley, a
member of the Friends of New Germany, a Nazi organization, had printed
stories about Communist propaganda in the colleges in the Hearst
newpapers in order to propagandize for national defense.
He reminded students that
unless they actively protest against war the government will
appropriate more funds for the R.O.T.C. Mr. Cohen concluded by saying,
"Students can not maintain a neutral position in this vital issue."
Three members of the
faculty addressed the students. Dr. Frederick Ewen of the English
department urged the students to fight against war and Fascism which,
he said, are virtually the same. He expressed his regret that members
of the faculty are forced to say one thing and mean another. The right
attitude in fighting war is assumed by the students, he said, and the
battle is well worth fighting.
Dr. Howard Selsam of the
Philosophy department discussed the part played by the munition
manufacturers in war. "War," he said, "does not just occur. It is
planted years in advance. The munition companies, reaping great profits
in war time foment war."
He expounded on the ideas
arising with the increase in armaments and made it clear that although
every war is fought for economic reasons, a set of ideals must fill the
minds of the people to enable them to fight. The idealists are
extremely important and must be reckoned with.
Mr. Bernard D. N.
Grebanier made an impromptu speech touching on the feminine
contributions to war. He cited instances of the women's part in the
last war on the influence of the Daughters of the American
Revolution. "Propaganda," he said, "is being prepared in a thousand
subtle ways without our realizing it." He told an anecdote about a
certain English gentleman who spoke at Teacher's College of Columbia
University, extolling the virtues of the Hitler regime and meeting no
opposition there, The answer to the query "Didn't anyone refute him?"
was, "They were a lot of school teachers, what do you expect?"
Theodore Draper put the
question "What about the faculty?" and suggested that they be asked to
take a clear stand on the Anti-War movement. "Private sympathy is not
enough."
The Student section of the
American League against War and Fascism, is calling a strike on Friday,
April 13 from 11 to 12 to protest against armament.
Return to Spotlight
Page || Home Page
May 20, 2004
|