The BG News February 26, 1969
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Bowling Green State University ScholarWorks@BGSU BG News (Student Newspaper) University Publications 2-26-1969 The BG News February 26, 1969 Bowling Green State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/bg-news Recommended Citation Bowling Green State University, "The BG News February 26, 1969" (1969). BG News (Student Newspaper). 2301. https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/bg-news/2301 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University Publications at ScholarWorks@BGSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in BG News (Student Newspaper) by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@BGSU. The B6 News Serving a growing university since 1920 Vednesday, February 26, 1969 Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio Vol. 53, No. 68 1 hfcBlacks wh»r»X adviser ^nate says legal age 19 By PAUL COLLINS By TOM HINE Staff Writer Editor A resolution which would give 19-year-olds all 21 to 19, would "oblige" the Ohio General As- An Increase In Negro "responsibility" coupled with traditional white prtvileges of adulthood was introduced in the Ohio sembly to consider all statutes In which age Is a "apathy" has been cited by Black Student Union adviser Carlos Jackson Senate yesterday, and a bill is being drafted to factor and change the legal age of maturity to 19. as the primary reason behind the group's formation. permit student voters to choose whether to vote Senator Oakley C. Collins (R-Ironton) sponsored "We (Negroes) want to assume a greater role In the University," said at home or at their campus locations. the resolution to lower the voting age, which, with Jackson yesterday. The resolution, timed to coincide with Senate the support of Governor James A. Rhodes and both "We'd like seats on Student Council, positions as resident hall direc- floor action on a bill to lower the voting age from political parties, passed the Senate 30 to 3 yester- tors, class offices—these kinds of day. things. For a long while, blacks have been taking a 'back seat' In Sponsors of the "all-privilege" many campus functions and are now bill, Senators Stanley J. Aronoff ready to take their place." and Michael J. Malone (both R- lie tied this to "basic white so- Cinclnnatl) think 19-year-olds ciety apathy" in producing the new- should be responsible for contracts, ly-formed all-Negro organization. debts, torts and marriage, and l>e "All through white society," able to drink liquor. says Jackson, "there has been a Double standard certain unwillingness on the part of many to reach out and help Maloney said he didn't under- their black brothers." stand the reasoning behind lower- "Since blacks have been Ignored ing the voting age and having the for so long, It is hard for them to "revised code full of distinctions" begin to participate, hard for them between those under 21 and those to begin to take initiative," added over, which he called a "double Jackson. "Whether this problem standard." today is more the fault of whites Charles F. Kurfess, Howling or blacks, I really don't know. I Green attorney and Speaker of the guess I'd call It a two-way street." Ohio House, speaking from Col- Regardless of what he terms umbus yesterday, said the Legis- "apathy" by some whites, Jack- lative Service Commission, the son figures help will be offered professional staff which serves the to the BSU out of sheer prudence, legislature, Is drafting a "choice- If nothing else. of-polls" bill. "This apathy is usually brought to a head by the radical groups a- The bill, according to Kurfess, round American campuses," was will be patterned after the voting Jackson's opinion, and he cited arrangement for new Ohio resi- recent disturbances at San Fran- dents. Under it, a qualified stu- cisco State, Duke, and Columbia dent voter could vote in local, state, Universities as evidence. "Now and national elections by absentee when blacks ask whites for help BACKING VOTER SUFFRAGE-Charles Kurfess, is getting together forces to permit 19-year olds ballot through his home of resi- they (whites) say 'Let's help them' speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, voting privileges. (Photo by Tim Culek) dence, or elect to vote In state because they don't want that type and national elections In his school of action here." voting district. As far as "that type of action" goes, however, demonstrations Sirhan wants to gamble Negative attitudes such as those at other universi- ties are remote possibilities at "I don't know what kind of re- Bowling Green, says Jackson. ception this will receive," Kur- "The Black Student Union Is not fess said. "There is to some ex- radical or militant," he said. "If on gas chamber verdict tent an unfortunate negative re- action from some of the people I had to classify these students, LOS ANGELES (AP) - Slrhan "We're not going to let him," by his 55-year-old mother, Mary on some kind of scale, I'd just Blshara Slrhan wants to plead Slrhan. Mother and son re-entered I've talked to, about the activi- defense attorney Grant Cooper ties of a few young people on call them Interested. guilty to the first-degree murder told newsmen, after a day In which the courtroom, wiping their eyes. "They are Interested In Black of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, his Slrhan's diary showed him as a Walker then adjourned the trial campus. These disturbances won't overnight at the request of the help the bill's chances," he con- Culture, In Informing the campus of attorney said yesterday, and take Communist supporter who drew up tinued. (Continued on Page 5) his chances on the gas chamber. a timetable for the June 5, 1968, defense. assassination of Kennedy. "He's blown his top, that'sail," He said he had talked to advo- However, it was learned that Cooper told newsmen. "We're try- cates of similar bills In other a state witness, police handwrit- ing to control him. He just feels states -- Maryland In particular— ing expert Laurence Sloan, had his constitutional rights were vio- where this type of legislation had been told he need not return to lated by taking those notebooks." been proposed as part of new state the stand—an Indication both sides Two weeks ago, Sirhan had constitutions. agreed to change his Innocent plea might be anticipating an abrupt "They voted It down," said Kur- end to the seven-week-old trial. to one of guilty to first degree mur- fess. Sloan had not finished his state der If he could be assured he would testimony, and had not been cross get life imprisonment and not the If the resolutions are adopted by examined. gas chamber. When such assurance both Houses, they will be submitted The announcement of Slrhan's was not forthcoming, he elected to to a vote of the people in Novem- wish to change his plea to guilty proceed with the trial. ber. came as the climax to a hectic day, in which the 24-year-old de- fendant twice interrupted his trial Council committee forms In an attempt to speak. Each time he was silenced. Eight pages of Slrhan's personal revisions to its constitution diary were made public during the day by Superior Court Judge By RICH BERGEMAN Edward V. Walker, most but not Alternative proposals to revise the present Student Council con- all of it eventually Intended for stitution were mapped out by the Council Committee of the Whole last scrutiny by the jury. night. The suggestions are slated to be presented before Council at Eighteen days before he shot next Thursday's meeting. Kennedy to death Tune 5, 1968, The most controversial issue presented was a direct participa- Slrhan had written: "Robert F. tion legislature, proposed by Student Body President Nick Licate, Kennedy must be assassinated be- which would permit any student with an ID card to vote on all legisla- fore June 5, 1968." tion. This direct voting procedure closely resembles the New England Sirhan also wrote: "I firmly Town Meeting model of democracy. support the Communist cause The proposal was very strongly supported by Licate, who said that and its people—whether Russian, It would be a much more effective student body than the present Student Chinese, Albanian, Hungarian or Council. whoever." "We have set up commissions and committees and nothing gets done," 'Legislative decision' The young Jordanian Arab lis- he maintained. "This Is one way of getting effective student government," tened to the argument over ad- He was strongly opposed by Frank Pittman," sophomore class pres- Tom Ruppanner, Chief Justice of Student Court mitting his Intimate notes with ident, who considered the Idea completely unworkable. Pittman felt that discusses the upcoming case charging Student Council with being rising perturbation. He squirmed, nothing would get done because a sizable majority at any one meeting inequitable in representation: "We've been asked for an interpre- his head jerked nervously, and he could block anything It wanted, whether In the best Interests of the tive judgement. This afternoon at a closed meeting we'll dis- rocked In his chair at the defense students or not. cuss procedures and set a time for a hearinq, and those involved table. As the afternoon session be- "It would be minority ruling over majority rights," he stressed gan, Slrhan tried to gain the judge's repeatedly. can ask questions and learn their rights in the case I'm glad ear from his courtroom seat, but "I know that some fraternities with nothing to do some Thursday to see this kind of responsible approach to resolving campus was silenced and hustled Into an night would say, 'Hey, let's go down and block some legislation,' " questions." anteroom.