The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, December 02, 1955, Image 1
47TH YEAR UNIVERSITY PLAY
OF PUBLICATION AIS NEXT WEEK
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
CROWINT. FOR A GREATER CAROLINA
)oeum XLVIX, No. 10 COLUMBIA, SOU:II CAROLINA, DECEMBER 2, 1955
-R E Week
Travelstead Says
Board Fired Him
By Carolyn McClung
Editor
Dr. Chester C. Travelstead, dean of the school of education at the
University, announced last week that he was fired from his position
because of a speech he made last summer favoring integration of the
races in public schools.
He has been appointed dean of the college of education at the Uni
versity of New Mexico and will assume his duties there February 1.
He was to have remained at Carolina until June, but was released
by the University when his new afpointment called for him to report
in February.
The pro-segregation speech which brought about the dismissal of
Dr. Travelstead was d2livered last August 2 in Drayton Hall before
approximately 400 sumnier school students and faculty members.
Titled "Today's 'Decisions for Tomorrow's Schools," the speech con
tained a discussion of eight major considerations, including integration
of the races in public schools, which was discussed at length.
After noting in his speech that the education profession in South
Carolina has made no public statement giving views on integration,
perhaps because of fear of embarrassment, ridicule or reprisal, Dr.
Travelstead said:
Abolish Segregation
"It is my firm conviction that enforced segregation of the races in
our public schools can no longer be justified on any basis-and should,
therefore, be abolished as soon as practicable. Even though, as a white
Southerner, I have, since early childhood, taken for granted the practice
of segregation, I can find now no justification for it.
"The fact that we have practiced segregation on the assumption
that it was right and just does not make it right and just."
The address was also critical of efforts aimed at circumventing the
Supreme Court's anti-segregation decision and posed several alterna
tives including wholehearted acceptance of the decision, complete re
jection, agreempnt on and submission for the approval of the appro
priate court of a plan of "good faith compliance," and abolition of
public schools.
President Russell was out of town and unavailable for comment
and confirmation of Dr. Travelstead's dismissal at Gamecock press
time. The dismissal notice from the board of trustees read as follows:
Dismissal Note
"The Executive Committee of the board of trustees is of the opinion
that it is not in the best interest of the University to renew your ap
pointment as dean of the school of education. It wishes, however, to
give you the benefit of appropriate notice of termination. Therefore
you are advised that your services will end at the conclusion of the
fiscal year 1955-56."
One month earlier, Dr. Travelstead had been notified of his reap
pointment for the 1955-56 year as dean of the school of education. The
reappointment was accompanied by a substantial raise in salary, he
said.
The August speech was Dr. Travelstead's first public expression on
the subject of segregation. Last May, however, he voiced his views in
a personal letter to Gov. Timmerman. The letter sharply disagreed
with a speech of the governor's to the South Carolina Education As
sociation, where the governor attacked the Supreme Court decision
and indicated the state's determination to continue segregated schools.
Letter to Governor
In his letter to the governor, Dean Travelstead wrote:
"You said in your speech, that the 'opinions of the Supreme Court
of the United States in the school segregation cases uphold for the first
time in judicial history that equality of treatment is discrimination.'
". . .Apparently it is the firm belief of most educators and leaders
in state and national government that compulsory school attendance at
public or private schools has teen the backbone of our democracy.
Most of us believe that fidividual parental perogatives in this respect
were not and still are not adequate. The time may come in the future
when education is so treasured that compulsory attendance laws may
(o,onger be necessary, but It Is my opinion that that time has not
"You have said: 'Never before has anyone seriously proposed that
the children of two biologically different races be compelled to mix
socially.' I suppose you are referring to the Negro and Caucasian
races. If so, It should be pointed out that science has not concluded
that there are fundamental biological differences between the Negro
and the Caucasian. The blood which was available for your use and my
use as Navy lieutenants In World War II was not labeled either 'white'
or 'Negro.' The only distinguishing labels were by blood types, which
are determined irrespective of race. I am fully aware that biological
differences exist among us all, but variety in this respect is not limited
to comparison of one race with another. Variety in many ways is
apparent among members of the same race. Therefore, we do not
eliminat, biological diffirences by' putting one race in school and
Sanother race in another school.
" . ..Certainly our citizens should feel free to express their opinions
if such expressions are made In a reasonable manner. I am deeply
sincere about this, and certainly I want to do nothing to cause mn
necesay strife or trouble..
"I will appreciate your serious consideration of my views in this
matter, and I will be delighted to discuss it with you at your con
venience."
Dr. Travelstead stated that he wrote the letter as a private citizen
and used personal stationery. "I gave my home address both on the
first page of the letter and In the upper left corner of the envelope In
which the letter was sent," he said.
Received No Answer
He also said he did not receive any answer whatsoever from Gover
nor Timmerman In response to his letter.
"On May 81," Dean Travelstead stated, "President Russell asked
me if I had written a letter to the Governor. When I told him I had, he
asked to see a copy of it. He indicated to me that he thought such a
letter would do no good. ('You don't chang. a governor'% opinion on
such a matter by writing him a letter,' he maid.) But, even though he
was not pleased that I had written the letter, he did not direct me to
desist from writing such letters; nor did he direct or suggest that I
not discuss the matter of segregation on or off the University eampus."
(Continued on pame sIx)
Prop
Rev. Declan Bailey
USC And C
Debate Mo,
An international debate bet'
bridge University debate teams
at eight, Dr. Merrill G. Christ
debate will be in Russell House
Kenneth W. J. Post and John
G. York will represent Cambridge.
They will be opposed by John Alt
man and Kermit King, both USC
Law School freshmen.
Subject of debate is "That Non
Agricultural Industry of the
United States Should Guarantee to
Its Employees an Annual Wage."
Team Tours U. S.
The British team arrived in 'the
United States October 4 and is
presently on tour. They have met
Princeton, University of Penn
sylvanif, Cornell, Harvard, Brown
and Yale in the East. At the
moment they are in the Middle
West meeting Ohio State, Oberlin, 1
Chicago, Wisconsin, Northwestern
and Illinois. Before reaching USC
they, will have met Miami at
Miami, University of Florida, Uni
versity of Alabama, Tulane and
University of Georgia.
The Cambridge debaters will ar
rive Monday afternoon and will be
entertained at the home of Presi
dent and Mrs. Donald S. Russell
at dinner before the debate. With
them as guests will be USC's
debate squad.
Young Member Is Actor
Mr. Post, the younger of the
two visitors is a member of St.
John's College, Cambridge. He is
secretary of the Cambridge Union
Society. He Is preparing himself
to become a Central American
archaeologist. A spare time activ
ity of his Is acting.
Mr. York is a member of Clare
College, Cambridge. He has his
B.A. In History and Law. He Is
an ex-officio member of the stand
ing committee of the CambridQ'e
Union Society. At the presen,
time he is a student of the Middle
Temple and a National Service
Officer in the Royal Army Service
Corps. His chief di"ersions are
rowing and youth work.
Diorm itories
Will Close
December 22
Dormitories will be closed to stu
dents over the Christmas holidays
according to E. M. Henderson, di
rector of University housing.
Mr. Henderson said the only stu
dents who will be allowed to stay
on campus will be those with writ
ten permission. Male students will
be housed in one dormitory. Girls
will stay In Sims.
Mr. Henderson said students
wishing to stay on the campus dur
ing the Christmas holiday. must
report to the housing office be
tween December 12 and 16 to :niake
reservations in order to house all
students in one dormitory for that
period. Dormitories will be closed
and locead at 6 p. n. embera 22.
;ram
Rabbi Norman M. Goldburg
ambridge
iday Night
veen the University and Cam
will take place Monday night
Dphersen has announced. The
auditorium, which seats 300.
Committees
Are Named
By Clark
Student members to serve on the
publications and cafeteria commit
tees were announced Monday by
student body president Don Clark.
Named to serve on the publica
tions committee, headed by Dr.
Eavilah Babcock, are Carolyn Mc
Clung, Mary Wise Rixey, Tommy
Collins, Billy Bruce, Carol Watson
and Jim Brandon. Faculty mem
)ers of the committee besides Dr.
Babcock are H. Harrison Jenkins,
Jr. and Hennig Cohen.
The publications committee ap
proves student publications and ap
pointments of the editorial staffs.
Students named to serve on the
:afeteria committee a r e: Bob
3teece, "Sister" Heath, -Jim Han
kins, Flossie Terrill and Dew
James. The purpose of the cafe
teria committee is to provide an
utlet for student ideas in regard
to the operation of the cafeteria,
according to President Clark.
Rev. 3. R. Brokhoff
Rev. .San W. Ow..
Begii
Dr. E. C. Rust
Honor Board
Will Speak
To Faculty
An- Honor Board committee wil
appear before next week's facult
meeting, Bill Weston, chairman of
the Honor Board, has announced
Mr. Weston will head the commit
tee that will speak to the facult
on honor at USC and the part the
faculty plays in it.
Mr. Weston said Honor Em,
phasis Week will be held during thu
week of January 9-13.
Letters to the faculty asking foi
their help concerning Honor Em
phasis Week will be in the mai
boxes Monday, Mr. Weston said.
Bulletin
Two Gamecocks, halfback
Carl Brazell and end Joe Silas,
were selected to play in the
annual North-South game in
Miami, Fla., said Head Coach
Rex Enright.
The coaches for the South
are Enright and Coach Wally
Butts of Georgia. The players
report to them for practice on
December 18. The game is
usually played on Christmas,
but it comes on Sunday this
year and the game will he
played on December 26.
No other information was
available when the Gamecock
went to press.
'Rev. D. Swan Haworth
Rev. Harcourt E. Wailer s..
Nine Sen
Are Sche
The eighteenth annual obs4
Week at the University will
through Thursday of next wee
A team of eight clergymei
"Religion: Required or Electi
ODK, AKG
To Tap After
Fashion Show
A fashion show will precede the
fall tapping ceremony by Alpha
Kappa Gamma and Omicron Delta
Kappa, campus honorary leader
ship fraternities for women and
mien, in Russell House auditorium
on Dec. 13.
Participants in the fashion show
will be two representatives from
each sorority, fraternity, and the
Independents, Louise Poston, AKG
president, said.
Clothes for the show will be fur
nished by Lourie's Men's Store and
Kohn's in Columbia. Mrs. Florence
Kohn will be coordinator for the
program.
Tickets will be sold at Russell
House prior to Dec. 13. Price of
admission is $.25.
Carolina's AKG
Chapter Takes
National Award
Carolina's circle of A 1 p h a
Kappa Gamma, national honorary
women's leadership fraternity, took
the only award given at the Na
tional Convention which was held
at Columbia College, Nov. 18-20.
The award is a rotating gavel
which is given to the Circle having
the best scrapbook for the year.
Last year the gavel was won by
Lander College of Greenwood,
South Carolina.
Officer in charge of the scrap
book for the Nightingale Circle is
Catherine McClain. Articles for
the scrapbook contain clippings on
the Circle as a whole, its activities,
projects, and achievements of the
individual members.
Rev. E. S. Jones
Five Ministers
To Lead Panels
Panel discussion leaders for RE
Week are the Rev. J. R. Brokhoff,
pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran
Church in Charlotte, N. C.; the
Rev. D. Swan Haworth, pastor of
First Baptist Church in Lumber
ton, N. C.; the Rev. E. 8. Jones,
pastor of St. Paul's Methodist
Church In Orangeburg; the Rev.
Jan W. Owen, pastor of West
minster Presbyterian Church in
Charlottesville, Va.; and the Rev.
Harcourt E. Waller, Jr., Episoopal
chaplain at Florida Stat. Uni
versity.
day
uinars
du led
rvance of Religious Emphasis
begin Monday and continue
k.
i, working with the theme of
ve," will address general stu
dent convocations, speak to class
room and luncheon meetings, lead
discussion and seminar groups,
and hold personal conferences
with interested students.
Convocations At 10:30
Convocations will be held Mon
day through Thursday at 10:80
a.m. Addressing the Protestant
convocation in the Naval Armory
will be Dr. Eric C. Rust, profes
sor of Christian apologetics at
Southern Baptist Theological Sem
inary in Louisville, Ky.
Speaker at the Roman Catholic
convocations in Russell House
auditorium will be Father Declan
Bailey, professor of homiletics at
Catholic University in Washing
ton, D. C. Rabbi Norman M.
Goldburg of Walton Way Temple
in Augusta, Ga. will address Jew
ish convocations in Room 204,
Russell House.
Other members of the team are
the Rev. J. R. Brokhoff, pastor
of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in
Charlotte, N. C.; the Rev. D. Swan
Haworth, pastor of First Baptist
Church in Lumberton, N. C.; the
Rev. E. S. Jones, pastor of St.
Paul's Methodist Church in
Orangeburg; the Rev. Jan W.
Owen, pastor of Westminster Pres
byterian Church in Charlottesville,
Va.; the Rev. Harcourt E. Waller,
Jr., Episcopal chaplain at Florida
State University.
Seminars Held
Three seminars will be con
ducted from 4:45 to 6:00 p.m.
Monday through Wednesday in
Russell House for interested stu
dents and faculty. Mr. Brokhoff
will lead a discussion of "Faith and
Changing Society." Mr. Waller
will conduct a group on "Religion,
Courtship, and Marriage." Mr.
Owen will speak on "Science, Edu
cation and Religion."
Class Schedule
Monday through Thursday
8 o'clock class-8 a.m.
9 o'clock class-8:50 a.m.
10 o'clock class-9:40 a.m.
Convocations-..10:30 a.m.
11 o'clock class-11 :20 a.m.
12 o'clock class-12:10 p.m.
Afternoon classes - regular
schedule.
A schedule of luncheon talks,
classroom sessions and evening
group discussions has been ar
ranged through cooperation of stu
dent organizations and the faculty.
Details of this schedule have been
printed and distributed through
the campus post office.
"Y" Office Headquarters
Headquarters for Religious Em
phasis Week will be the YMCA
YWCA offices, Room 211, Russell
House. Students seeking to ar
range personal conferences may
call Campus Extension 846 or 612.
An Information desk also will be
maintained in Russell House
lobby.
On exhibit in the ground floor
lobby of Russell House will be a
large selection of books related to
Religious Emphasis Week. Stu
dents may purchase any of these
books from the person In charge
of the ex2hibit.
Plans for Religious Emphasis
Week were made by an executive
committee under the chairmanship
of Prof. Alfred Rawlinson for the
faculty and Peggy Skelton for the
student body.
Notice
The Block C Club cosastitutlen
prohibits the wearing of high
school letters and Block C
President Carl Brasel reests
that all student. pleas hemsr
this provision