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-opinion I Magazine should / I! _ conTirm validity The controversy surrounding the Hitler diaries ) continues. Did Adolf Hitler really write them or are ! they an elaborate forgery? The turmoil began last week when it was reported that excerpts from Hitler's diaries would be published in Stern, a West German magazine, and London's Sunday Times. Stern claimed it had made the most important t journalistic find since World War II with the I discovery of the Hitler diaries. Stern officials, I however, declined to reveal exactly how they ac| quired the diaries no one knew existed. Supposedly, the diaries' authenticity was con firmed by experts. One such expert is Ordway Hilton of Landrum, S.C. Hilton is the handwriting expert who exposed Clifford Irving's bogus Howard Hughes autobiography. Given some samples from Stern, he identified them as having been written by Hitler. The samples are a weakness of the proof the monoiina oloimc fr\ Vimm frtr fVin TJitlor ^iorioc T'r\ wianiio iv; navv^ ivji tuv xiiuvi uiaiivo x u I truly judge authenticity, the whole body of work must be studied. Before Hilton uncovered the Hughes hoax, the autobiography had been authenticated by other experts on the basis of samples. Not until the whole work was studied did forgery uccuiiic appareiu. Stern officials have said they will turn the diaries over to be studied by scholars and researchers when they have finished publishing them. That is too late. The absolute authenticity needs to be established before the publication of more excerpts causes harm. P Some experts said it would be too difficult to fake such a massive collection of diaries. But other people have suggested the diaries are a hoax perpetrated by the East Germans with the possible help of the U.S.S.R. What would be the advantage of such a hoax? By presenting certain historical events in a different light, the NATO alliance could be weakened. In fact, the diaries already threaten the alliance 0 to a certain extent by implying Hitler was interested in n nortntiatpH nnH that the Allies were not lit U UV^V/tlUtVV* WW interested in the welfare of the German people. This could strain relations within NATO and conceivably give the peace movement within Wesl Germany another reason to protest the planned deployment of medium range nuclear missies, Soviet bloc nations have been against thi? deployment. m me aianes musi oe exammcu uy a icam m caperts to prevent a possible hoax. If the diaries are real, Stern does indeed have one of the most important scoops since World War II. If the diaries are a communist forgery, Stern has been duped. The magazine would also be guilty ol acting irresponsibly by not having the diaries completely authenticated before publication. r damecock j Editor in Chief Richard Meyers Copy Desk Chief Ann Applegate Photo Editor Michael Becker News Editor Chris Handal Copy Editors . . . David OeWitt, Mark Asst. News Editor . Janet Edens Farmer, Leigh Jones and Ralph W. Stice Asst. News Edit. Rachel Waterhouse Ent. Editor John Vaughan General Manager ....... Ron Emler Asst. Ent. Editor . . Jim Van Arsdale Ad Manager Linda S. Haines Sports Editor Johnny Boggs Business Manager . . . Jean Hatchell Asst. Sports Editor Dennis Swit/er Production Mgr Mark McEwan Opinion Page Editor Leslie Kat; Graduate Asst Wanda M. Hite Wire Editor Leshe Potash Adviser Mark Ethridge Jr. Newsroom 777 7181 Advertising 777 424J Business Office 777 3888 Production /// The G$m*cock welcomes letters and guest editorials. All letters and guest editorials must be typewritten, triple spaced on a 65 space line. Letters should be no longer than 300 words and guest editorials should be limited ?...mart nn innoAr than four tvned Daaes. Letters and Quest 10 one iio*?3?tui tnj luujuui >>v .,,? , ? editorials MUST be signed with the writer's name, telephone number, mailing address, class standing or faculty position and major. Pseudonyms are unacI i ^ rantaKia hut ?h? u/ritBf's name mav be withheld upon request if the circumstances I \.^ ^"ylOUIU, WHt ?I?V - ... r ! wirrant. We reserve the right to edit guest editorials 8nd letters. Address letters and columns to: Opinion Page Editor, 6?m*coeh, Drawer A, USC, Cotombia, S.C. 29208. " >r"w YW 1>S9P?ws^The Cart _letters_ Letters show mi: Editor: The letters written by the Student Government treasurer and Senate finance chairman, Chris Acquaviva and Steve Short, respectively, concerning the student budget, are perfect examples of misrepresentation. First, the reduction of Student Government's actual allocation came about solely because of external factors (i.e. a decreasing student enrollment) not directly related to any formal action that should have been taken by Student Government to consciously lower the current 8 percent figure. In other areas, the Finance Committee's recommendations, with the Student Senate concurring by a one-vote margin, decided to formally reduce licensed organizations on top of the shrinking activity fee fund for the next fiscal year. Therefore, these organizations were hit both wavs. Student Government's allocation is certainly reaucea m terms or money, but what Acquaviva and Short do not tell the readers are the distinctions that were perpetrated. Another contention in error rests with stipends. Stipends have been reviewed sporadically and there has been only one Doyle should acc< Editor: As for your n i I am writing in response to the seem- "Patrick James" r ingly endless opinions expressed in this well, that is a pret paper against the recent Student After all, most | > Government elections. "Jim" is short for First of all, I would like to address t,.^oul Jim Doyle and his followers. the ballots' : What is your problem? Do ycu not To address the h know how to accept defeat? You were units," if your sup defeated by a large number of votes, in really wanted to 1 fact so large was the defeat, a runoff would have found i I was not even necessary. In view of the know the saying, fact that you were so soundly defeated, will, there's a way it looks like you would bow out Gray's supporters gracefully. in conclusion, 1 Debate society nee Editor: I appreciate your efforts to cover intellectual activities on the USC campus, including the 4aw school (i.e. Athenian Literary Society) debates and those traditionally held in Clariosophic Hall. But I must say I am surprised you felt the recent debate on school prayer warrented any coverage at all. j The school prayer debate is the last in a series of debates nrptpnfpH this spmpsfpr hv thp rnrp urnnn r?f thp Alhpnian J/IV^V.llVV. WV...V?|.V. V/J VV.V C,1 VV#K V4 v..~ * Literary Society, a new group on campus that has had to cosponsor its activities with the Students for a Libertarian Society, the Ideas and Issues Committee of the Carolina Program Union and the Student Bar Association because of licensing difficulties. Previous debates have been on such original topics as euthanasia, the death penalty and social security. It could be ) guessed by now that their debate topics are pretty trite, and I newspaper space could be better used on something other than reireaas or oia aeoaies. This is not so much a complaint against the Gamecock as it is a suggestion to the people responsible for these debates. If they expect to be taken seriously as an academically oriented orcanization in the Carolina community, they will have to put more thought into presenting debates that are not full of cliche and triviality. It is true these topics sometimes draw a good crowd, but they shouldn't expect somebody who is interested in joining a debate^iterary organization to take such lightweight debate J. seriously enough to warrant a return visit. irstoPall, ^ f Heylwashis ^ AY'l^Cl 1C I 17V /*n \ ! -theSsuth. } /f'\ kwtheaiiyj M /? anvfhini ,J T " ep legacy M<An?<A^ANl,?lilIAn 91 cpi C9CII lauuil formal reduction in the past five years. And remember, licensed student organizations are subject to possible cuts every year. So, why the difference in consideration? Also, I take offense to Acquaviva's inane comment about my predisposition concerning money left for the Student Senate. I certainly do not want to see the Senate receive more than what is fair. And unlike other senators, I opposed the use of this money for the purchase of personal nametags. Mr any, snort s comment on my "sneaic-attacK letter is also inappropriate. Any student, including SG members, has a right to have his views printed in an appropriate forum such as the Gamecock. I have also initiated actions on the Senate floor to lower stipends, Student Government's allocation, unnecessary prerequisites and other important matters throughout the 1952-83 Scnool ycai. L/iiAji luimicly, my puaftluu uii Hicsc umiters was not heard by those who had deaf and, in some cases, J U I uuniu eai;>: Matt Ward SG senator ept his defeat ame appearing as that many students, among them ather than "Jim," myself, resent the way Jim Doyle has ty weak argument. caused so many problems just because people know that he is a poor loser. I have no sympathy "James" and even for you, Doyle ? only disgust. You r last name was on claim to be concerned with Student Government, yet your campaign was based on a joke. That really shows ge;sue of the "mobile nuine concern! My sympathy lies with porters would have Barry Gray because of all the time that /ote for you, they has been wasted, and with the i place to vote. You Gamecock for finding nothing more "Where there's a newsworthy to put on the front page Obviously Barry than Jim Doyle's latest exploits. found both! Cheryl Vance would like to say Former SG senator ds weightier tonics Those who are genuinely interested in presenting good debate try to put thought into original topics and original arguments, and if that means fewer debates with lower attendance yet better quality, that is still preferable to lots of ,riviality- Jeff Draine Education sophomore Decision delayed to avoid publicity F.ditor: As of yesterday afternoon, May 1, 1983, I have received no reply to my appeal to USC President James Holderman. The reason is smart politics on his part. /lAlmrttirt nnnAiin/^omont KnpaiicA tVtic ic thn I1UIUC1 lliail l.*> Utiayili^ mo aiinuuiibviiiviii uwuuov inu i.j mv last issue of the Gamecock for this semester, the last source for students to find out that he has signed his name to the whole sorry mess and thrown the Student Code out the window. I'm not holding my breath that Holderman will call for new elections. I guess shrewd politics like that can get you elected president, of the student body or of the university. Jim Doyle History junior