• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1975-11-11_Vol41_No21_05

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1L1975 MMIMUMMi THE WESTERN CAROLINIAN Page 5 mm mm Book Review Public Interest Research; THE WAR AGAINST THE JEWS 1933-1945: Lucy S. Dawidowicz, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, $15,00. by Ben Mabry "The Final Solution of the Jewish Question," the code name for Nazi Germany's massive human extermination program, was frighteningly successful. Six million European Jews were murdered, out of a pre-war population of slightly- less than nine million. With a historical perspective of thirty-five years it is still difficult for the human mind to realistically consider the immensity and social significance of the "Holocaust". The subject, often clouded with fierce emotion, ignorance and even a modern indifference, has yet to be presented in an objective and definitive form. Lucy S„ Dawidowicz, in her study: THE WAR AGAINST THE JEWS 1933-1945, gives the most recent and best attempt of determining and analyzingthe roots, mechanics and ultimate consequences ofthe "Final Solution". The book is divided into two distinct parts. The first traces the origins of anti-semitism in modern Germany and examines the complex machinery the Hitler State created for the singular purpose of killing an entire people. The prevailing theme is that the murder of the Jews was the foundation of an ideology where means were identical with its ends. Dawidowicz writes: "History has, to be sure, recorded terrible massacres and destruction that one people perpetrated against another, but ail-however cruel and unjustifiable-were intended to achieve instrumental ends, being means to ends, not ends in themselves." She says that even after the German military situation began to deteriorate the top priority of the annihilation of the Jews went unchanged. For example, duringthe German disaster at Stalingrad, when rail transport was desperately needed to carry supplies, Heinrich Himmler, head of the Nazi elite, the S.S., demanded and received a large number of trains to move Jews from all over Europe to the extermination camps at Treblinka and Auschwitz. The concluding portion of the book examines the efforts of the organized Jewish community to deal with the lethal Nazi rule, Dawidowicz describes the conditions of existence in the East European Ghettos where most Jews were forced to concentrate. In the end, the Jews were evacuated from the Ghettos and, under the guise of resettlement, sent to their deaths in the extermination camps. THE WAR AGAINST THE JEWS 1933-1945, is a powerful book, meticulously documented. It leaves the reader momentarily stunned and then, after a breath, allows him a new awareness of a hell that should never be forgotten. 'Desire Under the Elms' "Desire Under the Elms," Eugene O'Neill's powerful drama about love, hate and greed will be presented at 7:30p.m. Monday through Saturday, Nov. 17-22 in the Little Theatre. The production, WCU's entry in the American College Little Theatre Festival, is concerned ivith the struggles between a New England father and his rebellious son over the father's young wife and the son's inheritance. Cast members include Stephen L. Carr, Margaret McLaney, Carl Smith, Jeff Clavk, Robert Funk, Catherine Dixon, Vanessa Drake, Armando Erba, Delbert Hall, Mary Lambert, William Lambert, Margaret McNeil, Di- ana Marshall, James Neel, Stanley Poole, Dorothy Still well, Dennis White and Ranaall Willis. Director is Donald L. Loeffler, head of the WCU Department of Speech and Theatre Arts, and set designer is Oscar Patterson III. Richard S, Beam is responsible for lighting. Tickets are S1.50 for adults, 75(! for students and 500 for children. Reservations may be made by contacting the Department of Speech and Theatre Arts, 293-7491. Senate meeting Walt Teague and Zeke Sos« soman were elected as president protempore and advisor of the senate, respectively, at last night's student senate meeting) The vote was by acclamation. In other business, the senate voted to uphold SGA president Mike Killam's veto of the WCAT Constitution, A resolution which would provide Homecoming Funds from the university budget was read for a second time and passed. Nominations for the North Carolina Student Legislative Chairmanship were closed. The two nominations were sent io the ad-hoc committee for consideration. Only one person has filed for the seat in Albright Residence Hall. That person was found to be unqualified,November 12 is the last day for the filing. CPA continues in hot debate "The big winners in the pluralistic system are the highly organized, wealthy, and motivated groups skilled in the art of insider politics." * U.S. Judge Skelly Wright The major piece of consumer legislation facing the U.S. Congress this year will receive a final vote by the House of Repre- sentatives in the next two weeks. Having passed the full Senate and the House Committee on Governmental Operations, the Consumer Protection Act of 1975 continues to be one of the most hotly debated bills in Washington. "It's the worst bill I've seen in 33 years in Washington," said Eugene Hardy, lobbyist for the National Association of Manufacturers, "and there's nothing we can do to make it a good bill." "The CPA would serve solely as an advocate for those who purchase or acquire goods and services, just as legions of attorneys and lobbyists now represent the interests of those who produce these goods and. services^.it could help restore public confidence in the federal system," counters consumer advocate Ralph Nader. What would the Consumer Protection Act really do? It would establish an independent, nonregulatory Agency for Consumer Advocacy (ACA) to speak for consumers in Washington, D,C, The ACA will be authorized to advocate the interests of consumers before federal agencies and courts, and to provide the public with information about consumer matters. ACA will have no authority to issue standards or other regulations, to impose fines or penalties, or to force businesses to change their prac«' tices. The ACA Administrator may seek judicial review of any agency action reviewable under law, if it is necessary to protect consumer interests, In addition, the ACA is authorized to act as a clearinghouse for consumer complaints, The legislation authorized a maximum funding of S15 million for the first year of operation, S20 million for the second year, and S25 million for the third year. is the CPA bad for business? Montgomery Wards and a host of other businesses do not think so, and they have endorsed the bill. Perhaps the most direct answer to this question, however, came from Senator Abraham Ribicoff (D-Conn.), who said, "This bill is not anti-business. It is pro-consumer and what is good for consumers is good for responsible business." The fight against the CPA has been led by major corporate interests, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (budget: about S20 million), the National Association of Manufacturers (budget: about S6.7 million) and the National Association of Fodd Chains (budget: about SI.25 million). If this well-financed opposition is to be overcome and an effective voice for consumers created, then individual citizens who support the CPA must make their presence felt. You can do this by writing to your U.S. Representative and urging them to support the Consumer Protection Act (HR 7575) and to oppose any weakening amendments when it comes to a floor vote in the next few weeks. The address for your Representative is simply Representative, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C., 20515, Court system considered slack Dear Editor: Until the night of Novem* ber 3, 1975, I had no established feelings or opinions a- bout the officers of the court system., But in the course of the events which took place on that night, my views toward the judicial system of the government were negatively changed. The following are some of my reasons. _In the Student Handbook of 1975-76, on page 72, under the section of Contempt of Court, Contempt of Court III states "shall be defined as the failure of a student to appear before the Court when under a judicial demand from that court. In violation of this command a student shall be dismissed from school until such time as he gives proof to the court that he will appear, or a warning period of Citizenship Probation with the stipulation that the student will be suspended from school for one quarter for failure to appear, or a charge of not less than five (5) nor more wan twenty (20) work hours." The reason why I brought this up is because the accused was not present at the trial, "or was there any effort bv the court or by the lawyers to see if all persons involved were present. It would appear that our Public Defender had done his homework, however it would also appear that the judges and the Attorney General were woefully inept in their part of the trial. There was no "pretrial conference" as prescribed under Hearings, rulel, Pre-Hearing Conference. However if we were to look at rule 5, under Hearings, sentence 4, "If a student-defendant pleads for prayer of judgement, then the court will hear the case and decide on such motion." The whole case which includes witnesses and trial is to hear both sides of the evidence and then make a decision on the facts brought out during the trial. The trial was a one sided presentation. Another factor from the trial is that the Attorney General did not get a chance to present evidence at the trial according to Rules of Procedure, rule 2, page 1, Purpose of the Rules which states "...These rules shall be construed so as to insure and promote funda mental fairness." Still another factor found in the ti ^ al is that the Attorney GeH» era! conforming with paragraph 2, Rule 5, under Hearing Procedure, page 5, stating that "The Attorney General may first make an opening statement followed by an opening statement from the Student-Defendant. The Attorney General will then present evidence and witnesses, these may be cross- examined by Student-Defendant after each gives his testimony." Again there were no witnesses or evidence presented to the court. In dealing with the behavior of the Public Defender which to say according to the Code of Ethics, Canons, paragraph 7, "proceedings in court should be conducted with fitting dignity and decorum and should reflect the importance and seriousness of the Hearing," The Public Defender did not act according to paragraph 2, under section of Comment, under title Hearing, page 6, "The court will place the highest value on confrontation and cross-examination. Formal rules of evidence as required in courts of law are not here applicable,," This is in reference to the Defense attempting to carry on a "filibuster" which does not fit the present court system, If however, this was a part of the court system it is improper to carry on like this during a Student Court room session, Never in my life have I seen any court system operated the was this one was that night, There is a saying that I.ady Justice is blind, so that she may judge on the EVIDENCE and not on any other factors. In conclusion, I would like to say that I am quite surprised at how "slack" the court system here is operated and the results show this. It is not the court that is rusty, it is the people who run them that are rusty. Bruce Pugh (EDITOR'S NOTE: I cannot condone the court's decision, but I feel it is only fair to offer this comment, I know for a fact that at leat SOME of the justices had inquired into rules and proceedures. They were told that ALL they had to know was the student handbook, When the executive branch fails to give newly appointed justices proper instruction and guidance, one should understand Ahat may result.) i [Court cases In reference to the dismissal of two court cases last week by the Superior Court (see letter this issue), the Supreme Court met Thursday to hear the appeals of the dismissal. In a ruling on the case that was heard and dismissed by Superior Court, Supreme Court upheld that decision on the grounds that no pre-hearing conference was afforded the student, Concerning the dismissal of the second case, Supreme Court ruled to send the case back to Superior Court, It held that since no evidence was heard to begin with, no appropriate decision could have been handed down by- Superior Court.

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1975-11-11;
  • Date digitized: 2017-12-14
• Extent
  • Dimension: 11.5" x 11"
  • Pages: 8 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1975-11-11_Vol41_No21
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library