Kalamazoo College Bulletin (Vol. LXIV, June 1969, No. 3)

KALAMAZOO COLLEGE In the Cause of Freedom Excerpts from the Kalamazoo College Commencement address BULLETIN by Dr. John H ope Franklin, chairman of the history department of the University of Chicago -June 15, 1969 Vol. LXIV J une 1969 No.3 Second-class postage paid at Kalamazoo, Michigan. .. Th e world today is frequently and accurately viewed the street brawl, not the language of the library. It is the Published bi-mon thly, by college and university students as a world torn by the language of boisterous passion, not the language of quiet beg. Feb . for alumni; barbarism of war, the injustice of racism, and the searing reason. But it is in the laboratory and the library that one in September as the reality of disadvantage and even poverty. Through it all can discover the real instruments of change - the power College catalogue. they seem to sense a pervasive and persistent erosion of of reason and logic and truth - that one can most effec the freedom to define and pursue their own destiny. In the tively use to make the most successful crusade in the cause Editor: Marilyn Hinkle '44 governance and curriculum of our colleges and universi of freedom. ties, students do not see a sufficient connection between At this point in the unfolding of the drama of human what they are learning and doing today and what they are history, I have no sure way of assessing the validity of the quite certain will be their roles in the reordering of society claims of either side. I know, both from history and from tomorrow. They seem quite certain, moreover, that the personal experience, that the ills of our society are legion larger community is just waiting to force them to conform and the deficiencies of our institutions of higher education to its ways and to accept it uncritically with all its defects almost defy delineation. If I should devote my remarks to and deficiencies. That they are unwilling to accept the col a canvass of our shortcomings in both spheres, I would de leges and universities as they are, or indeed, the world as tain you for an inordinate period of time. Any one of you it is, has been made amply clear during the present aca could do the same thing-and perhaps better than I could. demic year by the more activist elements among college It is enough, for the purposes of our discussion, to assert and university students. that our institutions are far from perfect and that they ... Like all crusades, the present movement to restructure require the constant and constructive attention of all of us the institutions of high er education and to reorder our so if they are to serve us in the way that they should. I am ciety has evoked considerable zeal on the part of its par more concerned with the creation of a climate and a set of ticipants. To this have been added the enthusiasm and circumstances that will make it possible for us to establish vigor that are among the great blessings of youth. Zeal, en the educational and social order that I believe most of us thusiasm, and vigor in so many instances during the past desire. few months h ave propelled their protagon ists in a direc ... A troubled world is in no position to reject out of hand tion that has inexorably led to violence. In the cause of any solutions to our problems that the present generation freedom, and with their newly found freedom, our stu may offer. For years and years we have tried to solve these dents have occupied buildings, defaced and damaged problems with something less than complete success. And them, burned libraries, and attacked professors and stu we continue to grope for solutions without actually finding dents who have disagreed with them. Some officials have them. As I observe events and developments in various responded by strengthening what little campus security parts of the country, I am persuaded that there is no dis they ha d, by calling the police, and by requesting the pro position to reject any and all suggestions. Society is too tection of the National Guard. The result has been a shock guilt-ridden and too fearful of violence to assume a posture ing amount of personal injury and a tragic loss of human of complete intransigence. Surely, there are those who life, to say nothing of the permanent damage that such have no intention of ever conceding to others the freedom violent confrontations have inflicted on institutions and on that they enjoy, including the freedom to deprive others of people, regardless of their own positions, who happen to their rights. But even with the power that they enjoy in be a part of th em. our time, they are fighting a losing battle; and they deserve The very language used in describing such developments to lose. The world is changing - and very rapidly indeed. is itself antithetical to everything for which an institution New nations refuse to yield to the pressures of the old. Men of higher education stands. It is virtually inconceivable and women of peace are challenging the assumptions un that one can seriously or sanely talk about the pursuit of derlying the new wars that are being waged in the cause th e higher learning in terms of the use of physical force, of a dubious freedom. The disadvantaged and the disin the deployment of police and troops, the enemy, or allies, herited are rejecting the old as well as the new forms of or victory, or defeat. T his is th e language of the battlefield, control and exploitation. The young are insisting on a larg not the language of the laboratory. It is the language of er role in shaping their own destiny. (Next page) But the crusade for freedom creates problems for itself, sought. We should not make that grievous mistake again. even as it moves ever closer to victory. With its certainty There is no good reason why we should repeat that error. about its goals and its means of achieving them, the cru We are assembled today to celebrate the triumph of man's sade tends to transfer all those who are lacking in zeal mind over his passions, to take note of the power of the into the camp of the enemy. That is understandable, but it intellect in solving the problems of mankind. If those de is also lamentable; for, to paraphrase the character in voted to the higher learning can push back the frontiers of "Peanuts," the cause of freedom needs all the friends it knowledge and discover new meanings of life, it is not too can get. If its goals are well-defined, its means must be much to expect that they should do the same in the cause Message to Note worthy of the ends. Therefore, it can scarcely permit its of human freedom. And the cause of freedom must be zeal to make traitors of the faint-hearted and enemies of served by all of us. It cannot be served by the use of brick We had a fine Commencement weekend, the doubters. If the crusade for freedom is certain about bats and deadly weapons, but by the use of reason to out and we were delighted that so many the world it seeks to create, it must be equally certain that maneuver and outflank the enemies of freedom. War is a Emeritus Club alumni were on campus. it does not destroy freedom in the pursuit of its goals. It ghastly form of human activity when it is waged in Viet cannot replace one form of intolerance with another. In Nam. It is no less ghastly when it is waged in the seat of The campus, since last June, boasts a new deed, it must not replace one form of slavery with another. learning. It is here that passions must be calmed and classroom building (Dewing Hall) and a There have been innumerable crusades for freedom in the where reason must prevail, not merely for the sake of the newly remodelled Mandelle Hall for past, but they have all foundered at the point where they survival of the seat of learning but for the sake of the sur administrative offices - and a most refused to share on an equal basis the freedom that they vival of the world. attractive garden area and fountain between the two buildings. And, of course, we all missed Bowen Hall - but inits stead is already rising a much-needed student center and dining facility. Kalamazoo and the BSO Many of you may be wondering about the new alumni constitution. The Alumni By President Weimer K. Hicks Council voted its endorsement at the June meeting, and once it is made certain that the alumni-trustee election is in line Many of you have no doubt heard of cide on the professors to be hired, and ly jeopardize the College's status un· with the Board's Charter, we shall print in the recent concentrated thought and that all must have proper credentials der the terms of the Civil Rights Act this Bulletin the complete new document, dialogue on the campus regarding the to maintain the academic standards of of 1964. All students enrolled at the demands of our Black Student Organ the College. College live under the same set of along with a ballot for voting. ization (BSO). Early in May, the BSO Their second demand, to facilitate rules, regardless of race, color, creed, or national origin.

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