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While Rice left early Sunday morning, a fire rage through the cloisters of the R MC gutting internally the offices of the Dean of Students and damaging the adjacent campus security student center board and campus ministry offices. The blaze broke out at about 3 30 in the

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morning, Harold R. Rhodes Chief of campus security explained at the scene about 3 45 and the bill had been checked at about 3 30 or something like this. K newsman Greg Reinhardt John Dor and myself arrived on the scene shortly after the fire department do described

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the scene as debris was removed from the smoldering cloister and now clearing out the de Students office. Everything is charred record papers all over the floor, sofas, filing cabinets off and to out of the building. You could hear the sounds of being throw out of ba

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out windows in the various closure. It's amazing to believe that a building of this nature could have been set on fire. The entire interior is to a crisp to use the expression by 4 15, the flames had subsided but not so much due to the efforts

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of the fire department. The fire had burned itself out. The Dean's office was a total loss. There was extensive smoke and water damage to the other offices in the cloister. The central ventilation system distributed smoke throughout all areas of the RMC complex. In particular walls of

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the chapel and adjacent reading room were covered with a thick layer of ash. Arson investigators then began to reconstruct the event. Ted Scruggs, Todd Schoenberg and Josh Payette were the first to discover the fire. Todd Schoenberg explained the first. Yeah, I was the second one to

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the parking lot over there when I called into the parking lot, Ted had already gone to call the fire department. And so Josh was running across the field and Josh and I came over here and I said him long afterwards, did you see flames pouring out

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of, out of windows? And all when you first noticed this whole, this whole thing was in flames down there, Todd related the sequence of events following Ted Scruggs's notification of the fire department can came up and, uh, went around while we tried to break in that

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door down there. We couldn't get into it. You know, see if there's a hose in there. That's the door facing patio, going into the main part of the R MC. And so went, went around the back to get on the other side. And meanwhile, the canvas

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policeman came and he opened the front door for us and we all ran in and went upstairs and pulled the hose out upstairs and the canvas policeman, no, open up the thing inside there and, you know, we got a hose out and so he ran out

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and I came over, I locked the door and then the policeman pulled the hose out. Ted to the water on him. I got a fire extinguisher, went around the front and, you know, in, through the window, which didn't do a whole lot of good. And Ted

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and the policeman were back here using the hose. From the time you first noticed the fire. Can you guess just about how long it took for the fire department to run on the scene? Well, from the time we got here, it was probably about 15 minutes,

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15 minutes. The RMC Cloister is of a brick glass construction normally considered to be fireproof newsman, John Dor spoke with Lynn mcgregor of the arson squad of the Houston Fire Department. Dor inquired about their investigation and when they arrived on the scene, I don't remember what

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it was. They were shot after the fire department got here. Is there any way of speculating as to how the fire such as this could have begin? Is it, is it obviously arson or uh, well, at this time, buildings such as this with brick and a

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difficult donation that we catch on fire? Yeah, it is kind of difficult because we've only been here for a few minutes. We got some more tests and drink around the present climate of the campus makes arson a possibility, if not a probability. The Houston arson squad

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has already been conducting an investigation into a fire last Thursday at the Naval ROTC building. A Dean Wham's recent decision on campus speaking engagement by Abby Hoffman was one of the factors which led to an emergency student senate meeting Saturday afternoon. One observer echoed the sentiments

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of the handful of students on the scene. The students convenient, I guess with Greg Reinhart and John Dor, this is Paul Levi at K T R U news. The Rice Faculty Committee on University Welfare deliberated for over four hours Sunday night. The committee considered the request

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sent to them by the Student Center Board which asked permission for Abby Hoffman and Leonard Weinglass to give a public speech at Rice. Next Sunday evening. The Welfare Committee considered the matter in accordance with the following policy set forth by former President Kenneth Pitzer in 1965.

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If there is any disagreement between the Dean of Students and the Student for Committee regarding any speaker or the nature of the meeting at which he appears the matter is to be referred to the elected faculty committee on University Welfare and the decision of that committee

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will be final. The Student Center board was appealing a decision by Dean of Student Frederick Wham on Saturday which stipulated that an appearance by Hoffman and wine glass would be permitted only if the meeting were closed to the public. Professor Clayton, chairman of the Welfare Committee

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released to K T R UN U early this morning. The decision of the committee, the statement said that the guests would be allowed to speak to students, faculty and staff at Rice. And that except for the unique events of the past few days, Hoffman and Weinglass

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would have been permitted to address a public assembly. Professor Clayton now reads. The Welfare Committee statement strongly affirmed the right of the students and faculty of Rice University to enjoy the benefits of an open forum under the aegis of the university acting in the most ancient

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traditions of academic freedom. In the present case, the University Welfare Committee would have seen no reason why Mr Hoffman and Mr Weinglass should not have been allowed to speak in the same manner as other speakers before them. Nevertheless, the unfortunate circumstances which have surrounded the prospect

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of their talks have heightened the tension which might arise on their arrival. It would be irresponsible of the Welfare Committee not to recognize the possible danger to the welfare of the members of the university given these circumstances. Therefore, we suggest that while we would usually deny

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any obstruction to an open forum in these circumstances, a closed meeting for Rice students and faculty only would be more appropriate in no way. And we underline that in no way, should this decision be regarded as a committee or university president? It's only that the hopefully

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unique present circumstances determine this decision with the intention of guiding a difficult path between freedom of speech and listening. On the one hand and the necessity of avoiding inflamed passions on the other to avoid repetition of the unnecessary difficulties surrounding the negotiations between student leaders and

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administration. We urge that the student Center board budget be increased beginning next year so that students and seeking speakers of their choosing need not resort to funding methods which are in conflict with the best interests of the university. Sign the University Welfare Committee, the possible dangers

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to the welfare of the community as referred to in the statement are explained by Professor Clayton. The major problem really is that if you're going to have an open meeting that's open to the whole Houston community and it's going to be advertised, you don't know exactly

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who will show up and for what intentions and this is a serious problem. There have been in fact several radical and threatening phone calls today. The lines have been rather hot. Various members of the administration have received disturbing calls about trouble that might happen. We hear

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about trouble that might happen on the one side if they do speak and we hear trouble that might happen. On the other hand, if they're not allowed to speak, it appears that had the Welfare Committee been given the request on Saturday before the memorial center fired,

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the committee would have fully granted the request and would not have imposed restrictions. As did Dean, we I asked Professor Clayton if the decision received full committee support. Every one of us agreed that we would be happy to sign it in the present circumstances. Shortly after

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the Welfare Committee issued its statement, Student Association President Bob Parks commented to K I support the decision of the Welfare Committee to allow Hoffmans to speak to the. I agree with the Welfare Committee that the rejection of the Student Center Board Saturday by the Dean of

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Students um was unjustified. The Senate asked the Welfare Committee to review the Student Center Board proposal with complete faith in its ability to weigh the factors involved and to formulate a decision that will be in the best welfare of the university. I believe that the committee

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addressed the issue of free speech squarely in the most difficult and a very complex situation and that their decision dispelled for me, the overtones of Censorship Prize during the past week. I'm especially satisfied that the committee ascertained the fact that sufficient funds uh could be obtained

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from faculty, students and friends at the university to assure that no financial obstacle to the event would be created by the decision. I now feel that to um give substance to the issue of free speech that uh every effort should be made by the students, faculty

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and the administration of Rice University to see that these two men are indeed allowed to speak on campus and that no further obstacles are raised to the legitimate class by the student Center board to sponsor them here. And center board chairman has been the person who

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has been making the arrangements for the speakers to appear at Rice. She gave this statement the student center board accepts with regret. The University Welfare Committee's decision that the appearance of Abby Hoffman and Leonard Weinglass on the Rice University campus must be closed to the public.

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Although this decision has compromised the student center board in scheduling the event. We will continue for the appearance of these two men at Rice. We believe that the committee gave full and fair consideration to all the factors involved. We recognize that the decision was made under

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the most unfortunate of circumstances due to certain administrative decisions and acts and due to the irrational threats and acts of vandalism and terrorism. It is clear to us that administrative blunder in part are responsible for the set of circumstances that face the University Welfare Committee meeting

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and their decision. We strongly urge that immediate action be taken to ensure that affairs will never again be allowed to proceed to the point where such a decision must be made. We also request that definite guidelines be established for administrative rep personnel to follow in making

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decisions concerning speaker appearances planned by recognized student organizations. If the final arrangements can be completed, Hoffman and wine glass can be expected to appear at Rice either Sunday or Monday. April 12th or 13th. This is Pat Bomb K T R U News. The Student Center Board

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also extends their sincerest thanks to the many students, faculty and staff members who have been of such great assistance to us during this past week. If the final arrangements can be completed, Hoffman and wine glass can be expected to appear at rice, either Sunday or Monday,

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April 12th or 13th. This is fat bomb K T R U news at about 3 30 am Sunday morning. Yesterday morning, the four offices comprising the dean of students office, my office at Rice University were thoroughly and entirely decimated by severely intense fire of about 30

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minutes duration. This is the latest of a series of events that have occurred on this the Rice University campus during the past two weeks on the Thursday before Easter, there was a threat to blow up the R O T C buildings on this campus on Wednesday

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last the first of April, there was an unsuccessful attempt to burn down the Naval R O T C building on this campus early last week acting within my authority as the dean of students of this university. I refuse to grant my approval for the use of

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a facility of this university. The Autry gymnasium for a program of two highly controversial speakers, Abby Hoffman and Leonard Weinglass and a rock music concert proposed under the joint sponsorship of the student center board and the Space City news. I emphasized to the spokesman of the

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Student Center Board that it was the specific program proposed and not the appearance of these persons as speakers on this campus that I was denying my approval at the request of the spokesman of the Student Center board. I furnished a set of criteria which if met

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would guarantee my approval of these speakers in the facility requested. I emphasize that these were not the only conditions which would obtain my approval. Rather their satisfaction would guarantee my approval. Any other condition proposed would require my consideration before approval. Within a few hours. Following these

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actions, several acts of vandalism were perpetrated on this campus. The words free speech and Hoffman were painted in large orange letters on the walls of the stairwell leading to the President's office in Lovett Hall and the automobile parked in front of Love Hall of a member

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of the Board of trustees of this university was also painted up last Saturday morning. I refused my permission to a second proposal only modestly different from the original and not in any way complying with my criteria. The question at hand was whether I would grant my

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permission to use a facility of this university to furnish access to the general public as an audience for these highly controversial speakers. At that time, I reiterated that I was not refusing my permission for these speakers to appear on this campus to speak to the members

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of the immediate Rice University community. Rather I refuse to allow Rice University facilities to be used for the purpose of providing these speakers access to the general Houston community. I stated that for this specific event, this particular facility could be used to present these speakers only

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to Rice university students, faculty and staff. Approximately 15 hours later, my office was decimated by fire, irreplaceable records affecting the lives of many students were obliterated. University property valued at many thousands of dollars were utterly destroyed. The personal possessions of several members of the rice faculty,

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student body and staff were annihilated. I have been asked, what do you have to say? What does a person say in the wake of such stark and naked terrorism? Yes. What does one say in the face of an act that can only be interpreted as one

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of sabotage to this educational institution which until recently had been looked upon by its student body, its faculty, its alumni and indeed the entire nation is a community devoted to the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. I can only relate to you a few thoughts which have

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come to my mind in a few long hours that have passed since this catastrophe. Students and faculty alike at this university as at other universities across this nation have been searching for what is relevant in our educational process. I would suggest that we all now examine

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carefully our consciences on the question of relevance and education, I would further suggest that when the processes of rational discourse and inquiry give way to techniques of intimidation and coercion, the specter of terrorism and violence soon follows. During the past year and continuing from the previous

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several years, there has been on this university campus, a steady deterioration of the processes of rational discourse and inquiry. This has been manifest in an increasing disregard of the elementary concepts of respect for property and person we have witnessed in the past several years, a number

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of instances in which the intricately woven fabric of mutual trust, respect, and understanding, making up this academic and social community has been rent by acts of personal insult, individual and group intimidation and vandalism of personal and community property. I would suggest that we give close scrutiny

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to the relevance of such actions to our concepts of education at this university. At the beginning of the past decade. In 1960 an energetic and dynamic young president of this university of this country delivered a call of the highest purpose to the people of this nation.

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He said to ask not what this country can do for you but ask what you can do for this country translated to the academic environment. I would interpret this to urge that rather than pressing our demands upon the university, let us inquire what it is that

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we have to offer it yet, almost before he was so tragically assassinated by a single act of violent terrorism groups of students around this nation were beginning to present non negotiable demands. The only offerings were to not destroy if the demands were met. These presentations were

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to be to be accompanied increasingly by active coercion, terrorism and violence as the decade came to a close, I would suggest that today in our education at Rice University, there is a lesson in relevance to be learned from a comparison of the enthusiasm of the early

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sixties with the violence of the late sixties, I would contend that we must all and immediately cease expending our energies and continue continuously formulating and pressing for newer and greater demands. Instead, I would suggest we ask ourselves whether we would not be well advised to determine

00:19:35.560 - 00:19:58.069

what it is that we have to offer as faculty and administration, we certainly must offer our collective leadership knowledge and wisdom as students we must offer. In turn our intelligence, energy and desire to learn. Recognizing that. And I quote here, the Yale Daily News of January

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26th, 1970 a student editorial recognizing that as students, we are here to exchange ideas, to learn, to acquaint ourselves with academic method not to create or administer an ideal social organism. End quote, together we must urgently devote our abilities and energies to return to this campus,

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the atmosphere of mutual trust, respect and understanding and the processes of rational discourse and inquiry. We must exercise from us, these patterns of intimidation and coercion which lead to such senseless acts of terrorism and violence as occurred yesterday on this campus when I accepted the responsibilities

00:20:49.449 - 00:21:06.390

of the office of Dean of Students. Almost a year ago, I undertook a new and different aspect of my profession as an educator. For 13 years. Prior to that time, I had devoted my efforts to the classroom and research aspects of education. As dean of Students,

00:21:06.400 - 00:21:26.369

I was to begin a new career as an educator and educator and leadership judgment and the pursuit of wisdom with an entire student body as my pupils today, following an instant flash of searing flame, as I view the scene of stark destruction etched in my mind,

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I must ask myself several questions. One do I as Dean of students have anything to offer this student body as an educator in leadership judgment and the pursuit of wisdom. Two, do my students find such offerings relevant in today's society which seems increasingly to be rushing

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headlong into collective mental collapse? Three, the product of this educational endeavor in its turn, have more to offer than increasingly insane and continuous anarchy and violence. Four is not the price of such an educational undertaking in terms of such utterly frightening experiences as occurred yesterday, an

00:22:15.130 - 00:22:32.660

extremely exorbitant one for anyone to pay. You ask, what do you have to say? I can only suggest that you take a close look at the bleak remains of the Dean of Students office and while so doing, try to formulate what you would have to say

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about the relevance of such scenes to the educational mission of this or any other university. Thank you. Substantiated. The way I understood it and the way I presented it to this board was that if, if the issue were pushed, one, that Doctor Van would veto it,

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two, that he would resign. Three, that most likely the Welfare Committee would convene and four, that there was a possibility that several of these members would resign. I have a question, I mean, other things have been said, but this is our understanding at this, this could

00:23:15.099 - 00:23:31.920

be wrong according to them, but this is the way I understood it. Ok, Dr Clayton. Well, I had another question for you. Um, exactly where can we find out where Doctor Van has his power, whether he can be? So, the thing is we've been asking for

00:23:31.930 - 00:23:49.900

clarification at this point for two weeks and we've never gotten it. So you asked Doctor, well, go ahead. It is, it is true that that Dr Vader did not threaten the welfare committee with a veto. In fact, we didn't have a meeting that we had three

00:23:49.910 - 00:24:07.489

members of the welfare committee and he was very, very troubled man because he's torn between two conflicts. He said, in fact that personally and intellectually, he concurred with our opinion on Sunday night that we offered and that's what's bothering him because he has intended never to

00:24:07.500 - 00:24:25.209

countermand the judgment of a committee whether it has any jurisdiction in a matter of this kind. But what bothers him is that his main concern morally, he regards it is to the welfare of the university. And therefore he feels that one primarily wasn't a threat. He

00:24:25.219 - 00:24:41.550

just said one, he thinks that he will not be able to allow Hoffman to speak. And two, he can hardly live with that decision and therefore he would resign these friends. Uh I have a couple of questions for you. One of them is, doesn't it bother

00:24:41.560 - 00:24:55.469

you that you seem to be equivocating with Van Der, who seems to in some of the things he's done been the supreme equivocator. He says, I like this in principle, but we can't do it. In fact, you're saying you like it in principle, but we can't

00:24:55.479 - 00:25:10.319

do it. In fact, I mean, haven't, I'm sure this has bothered you at one time or another. And the other thing is, what kind of bargaining position do you hope to have to talk about restructuring the university power structure? I mean, this whole issue is the

00:25:10.329 - 00:25:30.530

epitome of the case where the students make a decision and then they are manipulated and uh everything goes over their head, the administration and the university committee system goes over the students and I'm sure that the committee, the Welfare Committee is kind of the same sort

00:25:30.540 - 00:25:46.609

of feeling. I mean, but what sort of bargaining position. Do you hope to have? You seem to be giving out every point? That's the point. The point is that we were led to believe that we would have fairly good faculty support and that would, would commit

00:25:46.619 - 00:26:02.410

himself on this. Ok. Now, that's why we think we've been screwed. You see, that's why we want, aside from the specific issue, that's why we want to look at the larger issue so that no other student organization can get screwed like we think we did. No,

00:26:02.420 - 00:26:23.209

the, the decision has been closed as far as we're concerned. And what we're saying is that it's up to you the field for, to issue that invitation. The invitation to Hoffman is out of the hands, both of President Van Der and of the S CD. It

00:26:23.219 - 00:26:41.719

is up to us as students. If we want Hoffman here to ask him, here is free speech and that free speech has been denied because our student government is not willing to accept its legitimate power. We're asking for a voice in the decisions that affect us

00:26:41.810 - 00:27:03.939

and if they're not going to give it to us as equals, then we'll have to take it. And so right now I'm asking for a vote, if you can't ask for a vote, trying to do is we can ask for a vote. Carolyn. It seems to

00:27:03.949 - 00:27:21.599

me what we said, we concur with Carolyn, what we said is, it's out of our hands and what Vicky said is wrong or what Nancy said is wrong. It's up to you. The point is, that's right. We're willing to accept our legitimate power and we thought

00:27:21.609 - 00:27:38.939

we could get it. Well, it seems to the Peter's point now that we can't get it. The point is that you have been speaking the same language that the administration is speaking, you have spent an hour and a half being vague up there. All you're trying

00:27:38.949 - 00:27:52.010

to do is trying to clear yourself from any, from any blame. But the guilt lies in your own mind there nobody's blaming you. You haven't been able to say anything to the administration because you use the same language. It has taken me an hour and a

00:27:52.020 - 00:28:14.420

half to find out what the hell you are trying to say statement to make and I want to clarify my position to you. Now listen, I and I am speaking to you and standing up here getting yelled at because I felt I had an obligation to

00:28:14.430 - 00:28:34.810

give you the facts on that. Leave us. Seems to me that the S C B abrogated its responsibility. When it deliberately misinformed the press this morning, we did not listen to the test. I beg your pardon. No mention of the fact that the FBI had caught

00:28:34.819 - 00:28:49.709

terrorists on this university. There was no mention of any hints that were given to anyone of Dr Van Der resignation. We've had the S E B stand up here and tell us that it's out of their hands. Now, I had two legitimate motions, ignored. I would

00:28:49.719 - 00:29:27.739

like to move that. We asked the S C B to sit down, make Bob parks the moderator of this discussion. I, I invite you, listen. Can we say one final thing? Everybody, please? I don't, I think the students in our board would be willing

00:29:27.750 - 00:29:43.140

to accede to your demand. We realize that we realize that it's gone beyond us. But look, listen to one thing, Abby Hoffman is uh you know, I don't think he can come here. I don't know if you would want to. But the the thing is Dean

00:29:43.150 - 00:30:03.540

Wham is responsible for this. Now, we can concentrate on Abby Hoffman, but we'll forget Dean, we Dean Wham. No man. Now, look, the university, the administration has obligated itself to the student center board by placing the student center board in this compromising situation. We are writing.

00:30:03.550 - 00:30:21.520

We have written a letter to Doctor Van Der demanding that immediate action be taken in regard to the administration's obligation to the student center board. I, if I Hoffman comes or not, the students can still decide whether they want him or not. He can go to.

00:30:23.530 - 00:30:35.449

You want, you have to show up. I think it's clear that the student center board is not representative of the whole school at large, but neither is this meeting. I don't think the entire university is here. It's been moved and seconded it's been moved and seconded

00:30:35.459 - 00:31:01.150

that the student Center board vote on whether to defer the issue to the students at large. And I think we ought to do that now. Ok. Uh madam chairman, I move, we adjourn I, there is a motion on the floor just vote now. Bye to ask

00:31:01.459 - 00:31:45.420

about these so called threats to the university that the FBI has talked about. Does anybody know how a committee votes you very much? Oh, that can I have your attention, please? At this time, I would like to call for a convocation this afternoon of the

00:31:45.430 - 00:32:07.599

Student Association of Rice University at the gym at 4 30 in order to consider the issues of free speech raised by the administrations, abrogation of rights of the rights of a recognized student organization to bring a speaker to campus. These issues are raised when the administration

00:32:07.609 - 00:32:29.760

fails to provide the conditions under which a speaker may come to campus and the they will not be resolved at this meeting. And therefore uh taking that action, I would suggest that that we adjourn to that time. We were forced to make a decision. The Welfare

00:32:29.770 - 00:32:47.780

Committee didn't want to make dean, we didn't want to make president, didn't want to for the convocation and carry it on, man. Can't this group of interested students as a group only of interested students present at this time? Vote to invite. Um excuse me, can't this

00:32:47.790 - 00:32:59.349

group of interested students take a vote on whether or not to invite Abby Hoffman and then bring it later to the gym. There is a meeting of the Student Association to consider this at 4 30 in the gym. And I suggest that we adjourn to that

00:32:59.359 - 00:33:34.290

point. I, I am going to invite Doctor Van Der and dr we to that meeting. That's got a now. Mhm. And if somebody can find Dean Williams office, his temporary office, I suggest we get him too because part of part of the reason thing is because

00:33:34.300 - 00:33:55.160

if we're going to have free speech at right has got to go today may be April fools but campus security didn't think it was very funny. Harold Rhodes. Dr Security Chief said one of his patrolmen discovered a small blaze at the Navy ROTC building about 2

00:33:55.170 - 00:34:10.879

25 AM for the record. That's three minutes after the flammable fluid was ignited. According to the Houston Fire department, the fire burned through a small wall causing only minor damage before two red fire engines. A chief's car and a mysterious unmarked vehicle pulled up to save

00:34:10.889 - 00:34:26.888

the day. You see arson is the charge and the arson squad is making an investigation. The FBI in Houston reported they had not yet been invited to join the investigation of the alleged arson to government property. Lieutenant Westfall Department of Naval Science at Rice said the

00:34:26.898 - 00:34:44.110

minor damage to the Naval ROTC classroom should be repaired by late today, Pat Baum news. Doctor Robert L K is dead, Dr Khan, Professor of German and former chairman of the German Department took his own life at his central Texas ranch shortly after school recessed for

00:34:44.120 - 00:35:00.270

spring break. Professor Khan's death makes the fifth suicide among rice students and faculty. In the past year. The severe internal conflict that has plagued the German Department in the past year has stemmed from the question of Dr Khan's leadership. As a result, four German professors up

00:35:00.280 - 00:35:22.520

for promotion were fired just two weeks ago before Professor Kahn left Houston for vacation. A political science professor Dr Fred Van Der Wen was named acting chairman of the troubled German department. Shortly thereafter came, word of Dr Khan's suicide, Pat Baum News, Wednesday night, Larry and

00:35:22.530 - 00:35:35.699

I were invited to a special preview showing of Mash the United States entry to the Cannes Film Festival. The hitch, it wasn't being shown until midnight after hearing that the film was an anti war flick. I wasn't too excited about going but as it was a

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free specially arranged affair and I finally acquiesced. I expected a hippy freaky radical picture and it was, but I really enjoyed it. Director Robert Oman has filmed a satire to end all satires, the acting of Darryl Sutherland and Elliott Gould was superb no matter what your

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political views don't miss Mash when it comes to Houston. This has been Julie Glo with News. Well over a month ago the commencement study committee sent a memorandum to Acting President Van Der which recommended specific changes in the format of the graduation ceremonies. The main thrust

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of the recommendations was that the commencement address by an outside speaker, be eliminated and be replaced by a short and hopefully more relevant address by the president of the university. At the urging of KT News, Professor Leland, chairman of the committee contacted Dr Van Der and

00:36:27.840 - 00:36:43.679

asked if any decision had been made regarding the commencement recommendations of the committee. Dr Van Der said that he had not reached any decision and gave no indication when he might decide. Dr Leland told KT news that some months ago, Dr Van Der had seemed agreeable

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to the proposed changes, but now Dr Leland felt less optimistic that the recommendations might be implemented this year. Keeping in mind the statement of Dr Franz Brazen, chairman of the presidential selection advisory committee that rice would have a permanent president by September 1st. It appears that

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Dr Van Der is continuing to follow his observed policy of not making a decision on matters which he felt might bind his successor. Thus, no action by Dr Van Der on the many recommendations is the same as rejecting the proposals at least for this year. Pat

00:37:16.300 - 00:37:34.090

Baum K news predictions in the Southwest Conference are rather strange affairs. First of all, Texas A and M was a favorite for placing high in the football standings and they didn't then in the hectic baseball race, the Rice Owls predicted for the fifth or sixth slot

00:37:34.100 - 00:37:48.340

ended the season in first place and now it's baseball time and the Rice Owls are again, supposedly destined for no better than six by the sous Sayers of the conference. But lo and behold, at the present time, the fighting Owls baseman are holding their own in

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the second place right behind Texas University in Texas A and M. It looks like another long season. The question is, will the baseman do as the basketball team did and take all the honors? When the dust clears Gary Mayst news. If you want to laugh, to

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feel happy or to just be entertained, go see. Hello, Dolly, but don't go see, they shoot horses, don't they? It is not entertaining but it is an excellent viewing due to superb acting from all of the stars. It will not make you laugh, it might make

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you cry. It will make you wonder. The marathon dance is a thing of the past. People came to watch couples dance for days and months watching the dancers misery to forget their own. If you see they shoot horses, don't they? You too will watch that misery.

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The marathon dance was a part of the depression part of the thirties go see, they shoot horses, don't they? Lest all should forget. Gary Mayes K T R U News around noon, Friday, April 3rd space city news offices received a bomb threat by phone. Within hours,

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two more threats were made each setting a closer deadline for the paper to back down on its plans to bring Abby Hoffman to Houston space that he did call the Houston police who searched the outside of the building but found nothing. When asked if the paper

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was going to respond in any way. A staff member said they were just deligently waiting and that we are not going to call off the conspiracy. We're not going to cancel Abby Hoffman and Leonard Weinglass engagement. I mean, we haven't been intimidated bombings, bomb threats and

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other forms of harassment and intimidation are nothing new to Space City. Last summer. A concussion bomb was thrown through the front door of the offices but did little damage. Another incident involved sniping at a car carrying GS from Fort Hood who were en route to a

00:39:35.080 - 00:39:49.899

rally here in Houston. The staff members this reporter talked to said that after most of the incidents, Space City received phone calls from persons, supposedly Ku Klux Klan members who took credit for the actions. A later phone call to Space City this evening revealed that they

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had heard nothing more but at around one AM this morning, they were planning to leave the building just in case the bombers were serious. This is Bill Kabart News. They're not able to interpret any of these things. Some people I think are inclined to get the

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Hoffman thing and the and the fires uh mixed up in interpretations. I support the uh the Welfare Committee to allow uh Hoffman Weinglass to speak to the students faculty in Stanford Rice University. I agree with the Welfare Committee that the rejection of the Student Center board

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Saturday by the Dean of Students um was unjustified. The Senate asked the Welfare Committee to review the student Center proposal with complete faith in its ability to weigh the factors involved and to formulate a decision that will be in the best welfare of the university. I

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believe that the committee addressed the issue of free speech squarely in the most difficult and a very complex situation and that their decision dispelled for me the overtones of Censorship Prize during the past week. I'm especially satisfied that the committee ascertained the fact that sufficient funds

00:41:04.570 - 00:41:21.580

uh could be obtained from faculty, students and friends at the university to assure that no financial obstacle to the event would be created by the decision. I now feel that too um speech that uh every effort should be made by the students, faculty and the administration

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of Rice University to see that these two men are indeed allowed to speak on campus and that no further obstacles are raised to the legitimate request by the Student Center Board to sponsor them. Here. A serious fire in the Dean of students office at Rice University

00:41:40.340 - 00:41:58.409

has done heavy damage. Irreplaceable. Student records have been lost. It is important to say that any cases of arson and violence which threaten the rice community will be treated as criminal acts and under the laws, procedures will be handled by the civil police episodes of terrorism

00:41:58.419 - 00:42:16.080

on campuses around the nation have produced shock and resentment, arson and other forms of violence have no place in an academic society. They threaten directly the atmosphere of inquiry and learning in this period of turmoil. Friends of the university must rally to support its integrity and

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its purposes. Repression is easily the order of the day and that is perhaps the gravest threat to the university and must be constantly guarded against strongly affirmed the right of the students and faculty of Rice University to enjoy the benefits of an open forum under the

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aegis of the university acting in the most ancient traditions of academic freedom. In the present case, the University Welfare Committee would have seen no reason why Mr Hoffman and Mr Weinglass should not have been allowed to speak in the same manner as other speakers before them.

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Nevertheless, the unfortunate circumstances which have surrounded the prospect of their talks have heightened the tension which might arise on their arrival. It would be irresponsible of the Welfare Committee not to recognize the possible danger to the welfare of the members of the university given these circumstances.

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Therefore, we suggest that while we would usually deny any obstruction to an open forum in these circumstances, a closed meeting for Rice students and faculty only would be more appropriate in no way. And we underline that in no way, should this decision be regarded as a

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committee or university president? It's only that the hopefully unique present circumstances determine this decision with the intention of guiding a difficult path between freedom of speech and listening. On the one hand and the necessity of avoiding inflamed passions on the other to avoid repetition of the

00:43:52.340 - 00:44:11.290

unnecessary difficulties surrounding the negotiations between student leaders and administration. We urge that the student Center Board budget be increased beginning next year so that students and seeking speakers of their choosing need not resort to funding methods which are in conflict with the best interests of the

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university signed the University Welfare Committee. Every one of us agreed that we would be happy to sign it in the present circumstances. Major problem really is that if you're going to have an open meeting that's open to the whole Houston community and it's going to be

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advertised, you don't know exactly who will show up and for what intentions. And this is a serious problem. There have been in fact several radical and threatening phone calls today. The lines have been rather hot. Various members of the administration have received disturbing calls about trouble

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that might happen. We hear about trouble that might happen on the one side if they do speak and we hear about trouble that might happen. On the other hand, if they're not allowed to speak board accepts with regret. The University Welfare Committee's decision that the appearance

00:45:25.639 - 00:45:39.314

of Abby Hoffman and Leonard Weinglass on the Rice University campus must be closed to the public. Although this decision has compromised the student center board in scheduling the event. We will continue negotiations for the appearance of these two minute rice. We believe that the committee gave

00:45:39.324 - 00:45:54.439

full and fair consideration to all the factors involved. We recognize that the decision was made under the most unfortunate of circumstances due to certain administrative decisions and acts and due to the irrational threats and acts of vandalism and terrorism. It is clear to us that administrative

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blunders in part are responsible for the set of circumstances that face the university Welfare Committee meeting and their decision. We strongly urge that immediate action be taken to ensure that affairs will never again be allowed to proceed to the point where such a decision must be

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made. We also strongly request that definite guidelines be established for administrative personnel to follow in making decisions concerning speaker appearances planned by recognized student organizations. We would like to thank the Welfare Committee for their rapid response to the request for a meeting. The student center board

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also extends their sincerest thanks to the many students, faculty and staff members who have been of such great assistance to us during this past week.