emmanuel SPRING, 1968 Volume IV Numher I "A LIVING SYMBOL OF PEACE ... HAS BE'EN LOST" On the evening of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s tragic death, Sister Ann Bartholomew, President of the College, sent the following telegram to Mrs. King in Atlanta: The Emmanuel College Community extends to you and your children sincere and prayer­ ful sympathy in this great sorrow. A living symbol of peace and justice has been lost to the nation. God grant you strength and courage. Members of the Emmanuel Community gathered in front of Marian Hall for a memorial service for Dr. King on Friday, April 5. Classes were suspended on Tuesday, April 9, and at noon a concelebrated Mass ,was offered for the slain Civil Rights leader. In the afternoon students and faculty conducted workshops on "Racism." April 21 was designated as "Martin Luther King Day," and a sum of money was collected by the students to be sent to Mrs. Martin Luther King for the benefit of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. emmanuel Boston, Massachusetts 2 Concern for Vietnam 6 Vietnam - February 1968, Rita A. Lawler 8 Toward a Reassessment - March 1968, Mary L. Hogan 10 Mr. Ng Directs Research Translations, Shaileen Sullivan 13 Philosophy vs. "Common Sense," Elena Lugo 16 International Live-In Bernadette Dateo and Julia Perrone 19 Inside the Red Gate, Sister Francesca Dunfey, S.N.D. 22 On Campus 24 Days of Spirituality, Nancy Ryan 27 A Message to Alumnae and Friends Sister Ann Bar tholomew, S.N.D. THE PLAIN FACT IS - a special report 29 Report from the Faculty Senate, John E. O'Loughlin 30 A President's Point of View, Jean Bresnahan Boyle 31 Problems of a Changing City, Mary Sullivan Sweeney 33 Alumnae Council Report, Elizabeth Walsh O'Keefe 35 Happenings 42 Club News, Elaine Morrison Corbett 44 In Memory Of 45 Cla'ss Notes Editor: Dorothy Mullin McGowan '32 Assistant Editor: Shaileen Sullivan '68 Associate Editors: Sister Magdalen Julie Wallace, S.N.D., "35; Barbara Cammarano '57, Class Notes; Elaine Morrison Corbett '55, Club News. Ex officio: EAA President, Mary Lou Mahoney '57; EAA Executive Secretary, Ann Grady Fleming "31. Student Reporter: Nancy Ryan '68. Design by William F. McLane - The Design Collaborative Published by Emmanuel College, 400 The Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts 02115. Member of American Alumni Council and American College Public Relations Association. STUDENT PROGRAM Last October several concerned students initiated a program on campus which was directed at reducing the "information gap" on Vietnam. With the coopera­ tion of the National Student Association, the group sponsored a panel discussion, three lectures, and a film. The program began with a panel discussion of five participants in the March on Washington; this ·included students from Emmanuel, Boston College, and Tufts. Robert Smith of the Society of Friends pro­ vided a historical perspective on Vietnam and the United States' initial involvement. Claire Larracy Lang '63 of the Sociology Department presented "A Marx­ ian Interpretation of American Foreign Policy," and John Grady, an anthropology professor at the Col­ lege, lectured on "The Vietnam Peasant." A State Department film entitled "Why Vietnam" was also shown. FACULTY PETITION Thirty-seven members of the Emmanuel faculty signed a nationally-circulated petition which called on the United States government to stop bombing North Vietnam and to begin immediate peace negotiations. The petition was presented to the Boston area by an ad hoc committee of Catholic clergy, laity, and sisters. Sister Anne Cyril Delaney, Chairman of the English Department, introduced the "Negotiation Now!" cam­ paign on campus. Formally endorsed ,by five American bishops, the petition listed four points which echo the repeated pleas for peace negotiations by such world leaders as Pope Paul VI and United Nations Secretary General U Thant. REFERENDUM ON VIETNAM On November 29 and 30 a Referendum on Viet­ nam was held in 23 colleges in and around New England. The Referendum was open to students, grad­ uate students, faculty, and all university staff. Of a total reachable electorate of between 40,000 and 60,000, about 20,600 voted, the great majority of them undergraduates. Turnout ranged from 70 ro at Em­ manuel to 50 % of the undergraduates at Harvard and Radcliffe to only 850 people at Boston University. On its posters and in other advance publicity the sponsoring committee made it clear that the Refer­ endum was a non-partisan, more or less apolitical poll that did not cater to any particular opinion. The Ref­ erendum was "a plebiscite of the concerned who could be reached by its organization," according to the spon­ sors, the New England Universities Referendum on Vietnam, a non-partisan, non-profit, unaffiliated ad hoc organization at Harvard conceived and admini­ stered by a few undergraduates at Harvard College. The Referendum contained twenty-one questions, ranging from arguments on major issues of the war to Administration policy. Some of the results are as follows: Although the Chinese threat to South Vie~ nam endangers our security, a united Viet­ nam under Ho Chi Minh would be a more effective barrier against it than American military presence - 45% agreed (Emman­ uel: 41%). The war is a civil war since the Viet Cong represent a genuine internal movement and since North and South Vietnam are one country by the Geneva accords - 68% agreed (Emmanuel: 54%). If we do not stand firm, South Vietnam and most of the countries around it will fall to communism (the domino theory) - 29% agreed (Emmanuel: 45%). Would you express confidence in President Johnson's handling of the Vietnam conflict? Yes: 9% (Emmanuel: 15%) No: 73% (Emmanuel: 57%) Undecided: 16% (Emmanuel: 20%) In general, do you think the war is worth it? Yes: 15% (Emmanuel: 23 %) No: 73 0/0 (Emmanuel 57%) Undecided: 1270 (Emmanuel 2070 ) Of seven general policy alternatives listed, 70% of the Emmanuel students polled supported stronger attempts at a negotiated settlement (through uncondi· tional cessation of the bombing, contact with the Viet Cong, use of the United Nations) as compared to 580/0 of all those polled. Of the 831 polled at Emmanuel, 49 % will be eligible to vote in the next presidential election. FAST FOR PEACE Several hundred members of the Emmanuel stu­ dent body, and several members of the faculty, re­ cently participated in a three-day program focusing on the war in Vietnam. 'rhe following statement was sup. ported by all who took part in the program: We of the Faculty and Student Community of Emmanuel College have organized to express our dis· approval of the continuation of the war in Vietnam. On April 15, 16, and 17, a program of education and action will emphasize our commitment. The focal point of the protest is a three day fast. We have chosen this symbolic action as a gesture rec­ ognizing that the war causes deprivation and suffering for both Vietnamese and Americans. To enhance our sense of personal responsibility and to express our concern to others, we must take positive action as well. A petition drawn from mem­ bers of the Faculty and Student Body of Emmanuel College will be sent to our national representatives. A series of speakers, teach-ins, and panel discussions will prepare us to bring our position to members of the Boston community. We believe that any serious effort to resolve the Vietnam conflict must include all members of society, not merely the academic com­ munity. Some of the speakers included in the program were: Mai Van Le-Thi, a Vietnamese graduate stu· dent at Yale; Noam Chomsky of MIT. Michael Walzer and Everett Mendelsohn of Harvard University. VIETNAM - FEBRUARY 1968 by Rita A. Lawlor '48 During World War II Ed­ are stamped indelibly on the dination. Approaching this in­ ward R. Murrow became memory. The beaches and tersection are perhaps 500 bi­ world famous with his evening coves are every bit as nice as cycles; at least that many mo­ report that started: "This is any we have in the States; per­ torcycles; several pedicabs, London, and this is Edward haps, more attractive because some motor driven, some not; R. Murrow." With apologies to they are not cluttered with hundreds of little scooter buses the memory of Mr. Murrow stores, hot dog stands and. seating eight people each; and with no intent to equate even more importantly, peo­ hundreds and hundreds of my talents to that great cor­ ple. The sand is white and taxis, trucks, busses, autos, respondent: "This is Rita A. clean and one is reminded of etc.; and literally thousands of Lawlor and this is Saigon." the tropical isles of the South people and animals afoot try­ I imagine many of you Pacific. ing to get across. I have just would like to hear of my per­ If my description is valid, described, without exaggera­ sonal impressions of this coun­ you can well imagine that this tion, the vicinity of the main try which occupies so much of land has a tremendous agricul­ gate at Tan Son Nhut Air Base current American thought. tural and commercial poten­ during rush hour in the morn­ Let's start with the land it­ tial. However, the economy is ing. self. From Saigon southward not geared for this potential. About the only similarities marshy stretches of rice pad­ For years since World War between the USA and Vietnam dies are interspersed with ru b­ II, the only type of existence are Coca-Cola and children. ber tree plantations. The color the people have known is war. Coke is available and made from the air is the most vivid The young, under 30, kno~ from the same formula as green I believe I have ever only war.