Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1960 [PAGE 460]

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1959]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

457

None of the petitions for modification contemplated a complete removal of limitations on political speakers. The requests have been, rather, for the permitting of candidates for state or national office only, or those speaking in their behalf, who represent parties legally recognized in Illinois, to use University facilities if their appearance is sponsored by a recognized student organization, a faculty group, or a University department. Candidates for local offices would not be permitted to speak on University premises, and political rallies would not be in order. Appropriate control regulations would be promulgated by the President. The latest Student Senate resolution provides that the modification be made for a two-year trial period, after which the Board would assess the results. The foregoing summarizes briefly the general history of the political speakers question, Substantive arguments can be advanced both in favor of modification and in favor of maintaining the status quo. In favor of modification, it can be argued that (a) political campaigning is a part of American life which college students should be encouraged to consider carefully, and that it is inconsistent for the University to urge participation in political affairs (through such agencies as the Citizenship Clearing House) and simultaneously erect barriers to such participation; (b) appearance of political speakers in the University community negates the effectiveness of the ban because the impression is frequently left that the speech was made on University property; (c) the ban furnishes a rallying point for opposition to the Board's position, while its elimination would not be likely to result in any mass appearance of political speakers on the campus; (d) the ban can result in anomalies which alienate student respect. For example, a political candidate can buy television time and his address can be televised into the Illini Union, but he can not make the same speech in person in a University building. Similarly, a speech on the steps of the Young Men's Christian Association on Wright Street may be amplified so that students at windows in Lincoln Hall are part of the audience, but the same speech can not be delivered in the Lincoln Hall Theatre. A distinguished speaker may appear on campus at one time, but later, as a candidate, he is not allowed to do so. On the other hand, the University is jealous of its nonpartisan and nonpolitical position and surely must guard against any break in this pattern. It would be difficult in all instances to assure equal treatment and facilities to candidates because of previously scheduled conflicting University events. Moreover, the very arguments advanced in favor of modification can be reversed in favor of the status quo. If off-campus facilities are now virtually as convenient as University facilities, why not continue the arrangement? Again, if no frequent appearance of political speakers is expected, why should the ban be a matter of concern? Finally, no matter how close to the campus a speech is made, if it is not made on University grounds, the University has no responsibility for it. Perhaps the basic point is that we are trying to have students understand that politics belong to the people and that the politician belongs to a calling of vital importance to the common welfare. A university ought to be able to arrange for its students to hear political speakers without becoming involved institutionally in political action. I believe the time has come when the University of Illinois should attempt to broaden its practice in arranging for political speakers, as suggested in the resolution of the Senate of the Urbana campus, and I recommend that the Board approve that resolution, as follows: That the Urbana-Champaign Senate of the University of Illinois favors the use, on a trial basis, of University buildings, grounds, and facilities by candidates for nomination or election to state-wide or national offices for the academic years i959-6o and 1960-61 subject, at the end of this period, to review, revision, or repeal by the Board of Trustees. The authorization here requested would apply to another campus of the University only with the concurrence of its Senate. I also recommend that the President be authorized to promulgate appropriate rules and regulations consistent with those governing the appearance of other speakers on the campus and consistent with the educational objectives of the University.

Mrs. Watkins moved that this recommendation be approved. There followed a discussion in which all the Trustees present par-