Socialist speaker grilled by hostile students By Thomas Schwartz The first communist to ever speak here presented his views Monday to an audience comprised mainly - pf hostile people in the Liberal Arts auditorium. John Daniel, a recent Dallas mayoral candidate and a member of the Socialist Workers' Party, discussed American foreign and domestic policy with two groups of more than 150 students each. The speech was sponsored by Dr. John George, under the auspices of his Public Opinion and Contemporary Political Issues classes, "in the interest of free speech and the public airing of unpopular viewpoints." Daniel was born and raised in Arkansas. He was educated at various Arkansas universities before moving to Texas. He is currently employed as a steelworker and is active in his local union. "The main threat to you and to
me is the American war drive against Central America," Daniel announced to the crowd. He expressed his concern that the Reagan administration's support of military activities to fight a "non-existent" communist threat would lead to military intervention by the U.S. in the area. Stating Nicaraguans were some of "the most free people on Earth," Daniel asserted the Reagan administration could not justify an invasion of the country. "The Nicaraguans love their government," Daniel said. "They rose against a dictator and 50,000 of them lost their lives to earn their freedom." Daniel cited the fact that before the Nicaraguan revolution, 50 percent of school children suffered from malnutrition and unemployment was high. Literacy was also poor, Daniel said. "Now these terrible trends have
THE May 2, 1985 Vol. 83, No. 55
reversed, thanks to the Sandinista government," Daniel said. Confronted during the questioning period about opposition forces in Nicaragua, Daniel said that contra leaders such as Eden Pastora "do not have the popular support of the Nicaraguan people." "Look, if the Nicaraguan people were unhappy with the Sandinistas, why didn't the armed militia—which is comprised of Nicaraguan workers—rise up against Daniel Ortega when he spoke to them?" Daniel asked. Daniel also said he believes the Cuban revolution and the current government, under the leadership of Fidel Castro, are ideal. "Before the revolution, 90 percent of the wealth of the nation was owned by U.S. corporations. They controlled the sugar industry and the people received a subsistence wage. However, it is no longer like that today. Today, the
workers directly benefit from their production. Their labor is not stolen by American capitalists." On foreign policy issues, Daniel criticized the U.S. invasion of Grenada, Reagan policies in South Africa and pilloried the military aid given by the administration to El Salvador. "We're trying to be sold a war against farmers and workers," Daniel said. "In the next few years, you had better be ready, because you're going to be told you need to go to war against your brothers and sisters in Central America. And you need to learn the facts and decide if you can do it and live with yourself." Daniel railed against Reagan's handling of domestic issues, saying that the administration is unfair to the poor, unemployed, minorities and women. "The capitalists don't care. Unless you're of some use to
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them, they don't care," Daniel stated. During the question-andanswer session, several CSU students attacked Daniel for his stance on various issues. Peter Montgomery, a Jenks freshman, interrupted the question period to make a speech of his own. "You tell us how great Russia, Cuba and all these other places are, but don't you realize that what you just did here is illegal in those countries?" Montgomery asked, referring to Daniel's criticism of the U.S. government. Before Daniel could answer, Montgomery continued his speech, saying, "Do you want a wall, a wall around our country, like those countries? Don't you want to be free?" Montgomery's soliloquy was met with a large round of applause from the audience.
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Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Lillard answers proposals Vista photo by Alan Childers
Where's Noah •
Heavy rains Monday swamped students on their way to class, prompting one person to drag out his scuba gear. Campus security had their hands full, too. Traffic had to be rerouted during the evening hours due to the high water on the streets.
In this issue. . Exam schedule... page 4 CSU remodeling planned...page 6 Tennis title no surprise...page 7 Baseball team enters playoffs...page 8
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By Curtis Killman
resolution that was passed opposing the fee assessment. Central State University President Dr. Bill Lillard A faculty senate resolution calling for an increase has responded to all the Faculty Senate resolutions, in the library hours was turned down by Lillard who according to Dr. George Avellano, Senate President. cited budget woes as a problem. One senate resolution asking that the deadline for dropping a class be moved from the last day of class "We have given careful consideration to the hours to 5 p.m., Friday of the tenth week of class, has been of the library," Lillard said, "including the possible approved, the new policy taking affect the fall extension of service on Friday evening. semester 1985. A Student Senate resolution was passed during the "Historical information available indicates that an same time, voiceing disapproval over the issue. extension of library hours to include Friday evenings A Faculty Senate resolution asking that a fee be will not result in a significant increase in patronage assessed to students who receive a "X" grade was usage and would not be economically feasible given turned down by Lillard. the current finacial and budget resources of the In a letter to Avellano explaining the disapproval, university." Lillard said: "The action to drop a class is initiated Also, the administration will look into possibly directly by the student. That action causes a specific independent entry to be made in a student's redefining the method of awarding the "X" grade, said Avellano. academic records. "The mark of "X" however is assigned to a student by a faculty member and does not demand a This is a result of a Faculty Senate resolution specific and independent entry." which asked that ambiguities in the "X" grade Lillard's opinion agreed with a Student Senate policy be re-examined. Associate Editor