Exhibit L—page 1
(Plenary VII)
RESOLUTION AND POSITION PAPER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON CRISES IN THE UNIVERSITY, Lutheran Student Movement Constituting Convention
Plenary VII, August 26, 1969
Ft. Collins, Colorado
From the Committee on Crises in the University
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, point eight of the Purpose paper, already accepted and referred to the Writing Committee with approval, reads:
“The purpose of (movement) shall be to engage in study, discussion, and action related to the social and intellectual concerns of our campuses, communities, and the world …”
and,
WHEREAS, under Goals, similarly accepted, point eight, reads:
“The goal shall include executing significant pilot action projects and programs of social concern involving confrontation, education, and concrete action…”
BE IT RESOLVED that this movement here assembled encourage all groups and individuals to become aware, informed, and involved in work toward the exposure and the solution of crisis situations in the university, and
That this assembly refer to the council of the projected organization for adoption of the “Position Paper from the Committee on Crises in the University” as a posture o administer future programs, and
That this movement here assembled commend all university administrators who have shown creative and honest attempts to understand all dissenting factions and alleviate crises situations, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we as members of the constituting convention considering ourselves valid representatives of the movement, adopt the “Position Paper from the Committee on Crises in the University” as the posture and the spirit of this Lutheran Christian movement based on the person and work of Jesus Christ, Who is now very much alive and dangerous to social stagnation,
As students, we identify with and support the aims of higher education. At the same time, as members of a Lutheran student Christian movement our role is to live the teachings of Jesus Christ—which call all men to achieve a full life of love and service whereby the dignity of all men may be restored. Wherever these concerns are manifested in the life of the university (even though at time the language and symbols differ from those of the church) we will support and encourage the university community. Wherever these concerns are negated in university life, the student movement has an imperative to speak out firmly.
Therefore, we present the following as our position. These are to be understood as a description of a posture to be accepted in so far as it reflects the contemporary mood of crises in our universities:
The need for communication at our universities is imperative. An awareness of others and a deep concern for their needs is basic and cannot be over-emphasized. A lack of such concern is often evident in the following area, and new means of communicating must be found:
1) Personal concern and understanding on a student-to-student basis;
2) A sharing of concern and problems that face administrations and faculty as they interact with students;
3) A dialogue between students and their home parishes in which the ideas coming from our universities can be stated and debated;
4) A sharing of problems and concerns between students and campus ministers as they seek to grow in their Christian responsibility to the campus ministry.
The Lutheran student movement, in response to the present national crisis, supports constructive efforts by Black university students to fully attain the black racial pride that the white race has tried to dismiss.
Further, be it emphasized that the Lutheran student movement similarly supports constructive efforts by other racial and cultural movements in their attempts to fully attain their racial and cultural pride, and human dignity.
The Lutheran student movement recognizes and supports constructive social change by all feasible means—religious, political, psychological, etc.
Be it noted that the selective service system, as it now stands, discriminates between carious types of students, non-students, and members of racial and cultural minority groups, and those who have honest and sincere objections to military service, and those who object conscientiously to particular wars. The Lutheran student movement encourages and supports the efforts of those who seek to reform this unfair and archaic system.
As a committee, we recognize the need for more student voice in the area of policy decisions directly concerning the students. Direct lines of communication between students, faculty, and administration should be implemented and expanded where necessary. This includes total control over domestic issues (dorm rules, dress, etc.) and equal representation by students and faculty and administration in decisions to bring civil authority on to the campus.
We recommend that each student be guaranteed due process of law with all attendant safeguards—a clear definition of the charges brought against him, the right to obtain counsel, the right to trial before a peer group, and the right to appeal sentence to higher authority. On many instances students have been denied these rights; action has often been taken abruptly and decisions have been made on insufficient evidence and biased opinions of administrators due to political forces outside the university.
Due to the over-emphasis placed on grade-point averages, and due to the effects of this over-emphasis on the shaping of the lives of students, we propose a thorough re-evaluation of the present systems of grading. We, therefore, encourage experimentation in new grading systems. Experimentation should include (a) testing of a pass/fail system; (b) a self-evaluation system; (c) student-grade-student system; and (d) audio-visual methods. Final examinations should also be reconsidered as to their actual merit in determining a student’s stature.
Due to the restrictions of tradition and institutional bureaucratic procedure, the modern student often finds himself studying material which is irrelevant to him and to the current realities of modern life. Most universities possess inadequate machinery by which the student may voice his opinions or preferences regarding either courses or staff. We feel that, in order to make learning both relevant and meaningful, student opinion must be known. Consequently, we encourage periodic public evaluation of both faculty and curriculum to keep the university community awake to the current teaching and educational conditions in the university.
In the university structure, matters of hiring, retention, and grants of tenure to faculty have traditionally been considered to be only within the administrative sphere. Although the student is the only party directly affected by the teaching of a faculty member, he has little voice in determining whether that faculty member should be dismissed, retained, or granted tenure. While fully realizing that administrators possess greater expertise and experience in these matters, we feel that students should also be granted a significant voice in these matters so that the opinion of those most directly affected are heard.
As there is licensing of elementary and secondary school teachers, and a lack of it on the college level (the only requirement usually being a college degree), we encourage an evaluation and improvement of standards for the qualification of college teachers.
In accordance with our concern to reach the vital issues of controversy and dissent, the Lutheran student movement considers it necessary to draw attention to the extravagant expenditures of the military. Be it noted that the military establishment in the United States uses over eighty (80) billion dollars yearly of our total budget, and this emphasis on weapons of mass destruction and maintenance of a large standing army encourages war and death by its very existence. The Lutheran student movement encourages a re-evaluation of our national priorities and a refocusing on domestic issues and problems in relationship to the university community.
The above is not intended to be a full and complete list of the issues that face the university as crises, nor are these items placed in order of priority or designed to be of a permanent nature.
The Committee on Crises in the University recommends acceptance of the above as valid position of the (Lutheran student movement) here assembled.