NSA Convenes, 1000 Strong

Upwards of 1000 delegates, representing 800,000 students in 307 member colleges and universities, packed the University of Illinois campus at Urbana this summer for the second annual congress of the National Student Association.

Problems touching on all phases of the college student's life came in for discussion at the ten-day conclave, which opened on August 24. Ton Harvard delegates attended, and of the ten, two were elected to national and regional NSA posts.

Frederic D. Houghteling '50 was elected national NSA secretary and will serve from January, 1950 through January, 1951. He will also act as regional (Northern New England) treasurer. Robert J. Stern '50, the Harvard relegation chairman, was elected regional NSA leader, thus necessitating an election later in the term to name a new College chairman.

The ten-man Harvard contingent, headed by chairman Stern, included Edward F. Burke '50, Paul A. O'Leary '48, Houghteling, Robert F. Fuller '50, Allen E. Kline '50, Charles L. Nutt III '50, Thomas James-'52, David H. Hall '50, and George W. Miller '52.

The Forum

NSA problems were thrashed out in three types of meetings-15-man round tables for actual problems, e.g. discrimination in college admission policies; "commissions" for broader areas of student interest (international affairs); and "plenary" sessions for topics of an even wider scope.

Most of the forums centered around discrimination and segregation, academic freedom, and the current debate on Federal aid to education. The NSA took a stand against discriminatory admissions practices, citing character and academic standing as the only bases for determining a student's desirability. The organization will work for legislative action against schools which perpetuate discriminatory policies.

As for segregation, the NSA formally adopted a course of action which has been used successfully at Michigan. The "Michigan Plan" prohibits campus organizations with discriminatory clauses in their charter or constitution and calls for enlightenment of already existent groups with such clauses. Regional officers will enforce this plan with the cooperation of college student government groups.

Federal Grants Backed

On the question of Federal aid, the NSA went on record as favoring Federal scholarships and fellowship grants. However, it was mindful of the limitations which Federal help would entail. Such help should not be on a discriminatory basis, and where segregation exists in the primary and secondary levels of education in a state, scholarships should be divided in proportion to the racial groups within the population.

The NSA urged the House Labor and Education Committee to end delay in reporting out the bill (Barden Bill) and called on committee chairman Representative John Lesinski (D., Mich.) to exercise all possible effort to bring congressional action to bear on the bill.

Loyalty checks, the Association declared, should not be used in picking the recipients of Federal scholarships.

The NSA defined academic freedom as the right of a scholar to seek the truth, discuss his subject, and offer conclusions through publication and classroom instruction. It also asserted that membership per so in any, political or religious group or adherence to any philosophical, political, or religious belief does not necessarily constitute grounds for dismissal or failure to rehire.

This Year's NSA Plans

The NSA will work towards expansion of the purchase card system inaugurated last sprng and will encourage more American students to travel abroad under the Fulbrght Scholarship fund. Students are now members of the scholarship committee for the first time.

International activities, such as exchanges of radio programs and publications, study tours, and art festivals, will also be increased. The NSA plans to conduct more orientation programs, as well as offering vocational guidance, psychology tests, and human relations clinics.

During the year a survey on the introduction of sex education will be taken and grading systems used in various colleges will be evaluated. One committee will examine the feasibility of granting extra credits to students participating in extra-curricular activities.

The group will continue its present policy of efforts of cooperation on specific projects of a non-political nature with the International Union of Students, but in line with a policy decision reached last winter there will be no affiliation with the Communist-dominated IUS.

Robert A. Kelly, of St. Peter's College, was elected national president. The NSA public relations and international affairs offices will be located in Cambridge while the others will be centered in Madison, Wisconsin.

Harvard Projects

This year, Harvard's NSA chapter will emphasize projects benefiting a large per cent of the student body, in line with a national policy adopted at the convention. Regional projects will include the continuance and expansion of the purchase card plan-of the ten local merchants contacted, nine were highly satisfied with last year's results and intend to renew their affiliations; a national travel tour program similar to the international trips already sponsored; and reduced train and plane fares for students vacationing during the school year.

Also a symphony forum-an inexpensive series of concerts featuring leading artists, with accompanying lectures directed at non-concentrators; a lodging bureau-to line up quarters for both men and women on weekend safaris; a faculty rating system-the rating to be done by students, also successfully used at Michigan; a book re-purchasing agency-to buy and sell used texts; a human relations institute; study-travel tours; placement of DP students-seven will be placed this year; and a national art exhibit.