By Compiled by Robert Platt

The 1960s was a decade of liberalism and transformation. By 1963 the Civil Rights Movement had spread into Hofstra, perpetrating a students’ rally that encouraged black voting registration. The call for peace following the height of the Cold War spawned a pact to improve international relations. Also interesting are students’ views of drinking regulation at that time, and a short story of a trip to Nigeria.

Students to Rally Today For Negro Voting Rights

Lincoln Lynch, leader of the Long Island chapter of CORE, will be the main speaker at a rally presented by Student Council’s Commission n Human Rights today at 2 p.m. on the Playhouse steps. The rally will focus on promoting voter registration in the Hempstead area. There are 10,000 Negro residents in the area of which only 1000 have ever registered at one time.

The rally will be chaired by Daniel Meyers, chairman of the Commission’s Voter Registration Committee. Also present will be Farrell Jones, Nassau County Commissioner of Human Rights, Bob Van Lierop, President of the Student Council and Dean Randall Hoffman will also address the gathering.

Immediately following the rally will be a motorcade that will wind its way through Hempstead and pass the village seat, The motorcade will terminate at CORE headquarters, 517 Franklin St., Hempstead. From CORE, students will embark upon a house-to-house voter registration drive. Small groups will cover specifically assigned areas to remind voters that registration takes place today and Saturday, and to encourage them to meet these registration deadlines.

Drive to Repeat

The drive will be repeated on Saturday when students will meet at 10:30 a.m. in the new wing of Memorial Hall. At this time, there will be another motorcade to CORE in Hempstead, and new areas will be assigned for a second weekly meeting held last Monday, Dan Meyers reminded the 45 members attending that “We are committed to the Civil Rights movement, and the Civil Rights movement is committed to the theory of non-violence.”

Other Committees

The Commission is currently working on the formulation of several other committees. A Public Relations Committee has been formed to notify newspapers, political parties, Congressmen and any other interested organizations or persons of the activities of the commission. Still in the planning stages is a committee to inquire into discriminatory practices in housing and employment, and a committee to protest a possible senatorial filibuster against President Kennedy’s impending civil rights bill. In the event of such a filibuster, the latter committee plans to make an organized effort to send letters to senators and to stage demonstrations in Mineola or possibly in Washington, itself. Another subcommittee, to be worked in conjunction with Hofstra’s QUORUM magazine, will investigate the charge of discriminatory practices and policies directed against the migrant workers of Nassau County.

Just a Few Programs

As Voter Registration Committee Chairman Daniel Meyers stated, “These are just a few of the programs to which the Commission has pledged itself. The support and participation of any and all concerned students will be greatly appreciated.” Meetings of the Commission will take place every Monday at 3:30 p.m. in the Knickerbocker Lounge. Those interested may contact the Commission at the debate office in Memorial Hall.

Paying Jobs in Europe

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Oct. 2, 1963 – The American Student Information Service is accepting applications for summer jobs in Europe. Openings include office jobs, lifeguarding, factory work, shipboard work, child care work, resort and sales work. Wages range to $400 a month.

ASIS also announced that residual funds permit the first 4000 applicants travel grants of $165 each. Interested students should write to Dept. O., ASIS, 22 Ave. de la Liberte, Luxembourg City, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, requesting the ASIS 24-page prospectus with job selection and travel grant and job applications. Send $1 for the prospectus and airmail postage. The first 8000 inquiries receive a $1 credit towards the new book: Earn, Learn and Travel in Europe.

Wheat Pact

The United States is seriously looking into the possibility of signing a huge trade agreement with the Soviet Union for some of this country’s excess wheat. The Soviets recently signed a similar $500,000,000 wheat agreement with Canada.

The Soviets, in spite of the fact that they appear to be ready to pay cash for such wheat, would, in the long run, need credit, and a lot of it, to continue payment.

In order for the Soviets to get more than 180 days of credit, according to the Johnson Act, all that country’s back debts to this country must be paid.

The Soviet Union, at present, still owes the U.S. $2,600,000,000 and 84 ships from World War II. The U.S. in the early 50’s was offered $300,000,000 to settle the debt. Following the U.S. refusal, talks broke off. The situation has remained the same way since.

If the U.S. can legally skirt the above debt and if this country can receive a payment guarantee, then we should have no other recourse than to heartily ratify such an agreement.

In addition to aiding the western farmers a U.S.-Russo pact would add tax dollars to the American economy and, perhaps, in a small way further foster the growing closeness between these two countries.

A loosening of diplomatic rules by the United States could, in this instance, aid a great deal to help these two world powers move forward hand in hand.

Alcohol and the Students

Olga Kabanoff Junior

I don’t think alcoholic beverages belong on the campus at all. This campus is not a playground where alcoholic beverages should be served.

Ceryl Smith Sophomore

I feel that the sale of alcoholic beverages on this campus would be a detriment to the basic foundations of this institution.

Frank DeMartino Sophomore

I think it would be worth trying so a lush like me could brave it through the day.

Maria Ditingo Freshman

No, it would lead to too much trouble on the campus.

Nelson DeMille Sophomore

I am against the sale of hard liquor, but I am definitely for the sale of beer and wine. As an example, wine and beer are consumed at European universities at lunch.

Joyce Helfman Sophomore

No, I don’t think it is necessary because it’s readily available to the student body within walking distance of the University.

Maxine Rosen Sophomore

I feel that it would be good in limited amounts at social activities in the evening.

Iris Hertz Senior

Because this would be such a radical change in University policy, I believe that all standard of moderation would be virtually ignored. I therefore believe that the sale of alcoholic beverages on campus would be completely detrimental to student life in general.

Mel Strauss Sophomore

T would never work because many of the students couldn’t control themselves and would over indulge (in alcoholic beverages).

Preston Packer Sophomore

I feel that the sale of alcoholic beverages on campus would lower Hofstra’s status in the eyes of the community. In addition, both students and professors alike might get carried away.

Student Becomes a Nigerian

Ibadan, Summer, 1963

For the past four weeks I have virtually been a Nigerian. I have lived in a Nigerian home almost as a member of the Nigerian family, eaten Nigerian food and have worn Nigerian clothes My “homestay,” as this part of the Experiment in International living is called, is now almost over. Tomorrow I will be leaving my adopted home.

The “homestay” was devised by the Experiment some 30 years ago as a means of promoting international understanding. The philosophy underlying the concept of a “homestay” is simple. The best way to make friends abroad and learn about a particular country, in my case Nigeria, is to live with the people of that country. After four weeks of “experimenting in international living” here in Ibadan, I can attest to the soundness of this philosophy.

You might be wondering why after 30 years of successful operatio this is still called an experiment. The reason is that it is an experiment for each new person who takes part.

My “homestay” in Nigeria has been in Ibdadan, capitol of Western region of Nigeria (Nigeria has four regions, North, East, West, and Midwest, which are comparable to our states) with the Andu family. The Andu’s have a fairly large family, though not as large as some “extended” Nigerian families, which in fact amount to patrilineal clans.

Mr. Andu is a civil engineer and contractor. He received his higher education in Nigeria at Yaba Higher College. He speaks excellent English, though Yoruba is his native tongue, dances the highlife very well and is a very warm and friendly person.

Mrs. Andu is the mother of four children. The boy, Adenivi or “Ni” Andu is five years old. Ni wants to be a boxer and is a tough little character. He is I might add, a bit of rascal also. The three girls in order of age are Modupe “Dupe” Andu, age 3 1/2. Kekinde, age 2 1/2, and the baby, age six weeks.

First Night

The first night I spent with the Andu’s I frightened Kekinde rather badly. The sight of a six-foot white man, plus the fact that I playfully but unthinkingly shined a flashlight at her, was just too much. She ran screaming into her mother’s arms. We have since, however, become the best of friends, much to my relief.

During my stay with the Andu’s I was able to see a great deal of the city of Ibadan (pronounced e ba don). It is a huge, teeming city of more than 600,000 people and is, the largest indigenous African city on the continent. In the course of its growth it has expanded irregularly in all directions, with no planning whatsoever.

In the old section of the city there are many narrow back streets lined with mud houses. Virtually all the houses in Ibandan, new and old, have corrugated iron roofs. From the air, the city is a mass of “tin” roofs-some old and rusted-some new and shiney.

Mixed in among the mud houses are many fine new homes of concrete. In fact, all over the city there are new homes and buildings being erected. Petrol stations are springing up like weeds.

Along every main street in the city, as well as many back streets, there are stalls, operated mostly by women, and dispensing everything imaginable. There are book stalls, clothing stalls, and innumerable others. As you walk past, the proprietor of each urges you to come and look at his wares.

Street Vendors

In addition to the stalls there are vendors in the streets who carry their wares in trays on their heads. They may be selling bananas, oranges, cola, nuts, soap, brushes, ball point pens, bread, toothpaste, shoe polish, or any one of dozens of other things.

Then there is the market. There is nothing in the U.S. that is comparable. African markets combine a bit of carnival, a little supermarket, a dash of Pitkin Ave., Brooklyn and a sprinkling of Greenwich Village. The result is a symphony of sight, sound, smell ad taste that is unsurpassed for sheer color and spectacle.

The Ibadan market is only medium sized compared to the one in Lagos or at Onitsha on the Nigeria River, which covers sine 15 acres. It is, however, no less fascinating.

You can see and buy peppers, yams, corn, enamel pots, clothing and hardware. You can smell, among other things, roasting corn, bananas, dried fish, fresh and not-so-fresh meat, pen sewers, the smoke of wood fires and the sweat of the hundreds of people streaming through the narrow alleys between the stalls. Highlife music, the shouts of vendors and the beeps of taxi horns blare forth from all sides.

Old and New

There are, in addition to the outdated, modern shops, supermarkets, and department stores, which sell everything from canned hams to golf clubs. In the Kingsway department store you can get a hair-cut for three shillings (.42). have your suit dry-cleaned, or by a copy of the Paris edition of the New York Times.

The traffic in Ibadan is hardly believable. Everyone drives with their horns. Horns are blown at the slightest provocation and often no reason at all. Taxi drivers blow their hors to attract fares. Incidentally you can ride almost anywhere in the city for one shilling (about .14) and six pence (.07) if you are Nigerian.

As there are no sidewalks to speak of in Ibandan, most people walk on the side of the road. When driving down a street, you must avoid both pedestrians and people on bicycles. Before I became used to the traffic, I sat on the edge of my seat every time I went for a drive.

Ibadan is the capital of the Western Region of Nigeria and her government buildings are among the most beautiful and most modern in the world.

I spent one week visiting the federal capital. Lagos. Again many of us stayed with Nigerian families during out time there. Lagos is a modern, cosmopolitan city with all the problems and characteristics of any large city. Lagos has its share of traffic hams and slums much like New York. It is also the largest port in Nigeria and ships from all over the world call at her ports.

Apapa Wharf

Apapa Wharf, which I visited, had several ships of diverse registry loading or unloading. I saw Japanese, Swedish and Panamanian ships, among others. There were also teams of men loading and unloading lorries. These laborers carry 150 pound bags of ground nuts on their heads and earn about six shillings (.84) a day.

During my stay in Lagos I was able to see the opening of the House of Representatives. The spectacle was very colorful. First the members drifted in and greeted each other. Some were dressed in western-style suits, others wore the traditional agabada and buba which consists of a long flowering robe worn over loose fitting shirt and trousers There is no limitation on color or cloth as is the case with western suits. All colors and patterns are worn and the traditional dress is most impressive. After the order was called the Sergeant-at-Arms brought in the Mace, laid it on the table and the session was officially open.

There was a brief question period, as in the British House of Commons and the order of business was read. The government pulled a bit of a surprise when it withdrew a controversial health scheme bill.

One of the most interesting things I did while in Lagos was to ride a bus. That may sound strange but I never felt closer to the Nigerian people than I did on the two or three occasions when I squeezed aboard one of the city’s buses. Women often come aboard with babies secured to their backs and burdens of some kind on their heads. I never saw anyone drop either.

Friendly People

These people were among the friendliest in a nation of very warm and friendly people. On one occasion I was with another experimentor who attempted to play with a baby across the aisle. The child’s mother immediately gave him the child to hold. It was most surprising, a trait very satisfying to see.

When I returned to Ibadan after one week in Lagos, I felt as though I was coming home. It was a very good feeling. I had spent only two weeks in Ibadan, but even in that short space of time, I established an identity with the place.

One of the major reasons, I think, for feeling so at home in Ibadan was the friendliness of the people. I have mentioned this earlier, but I really feel very strongly about it. On several occasions people I hardly knew went out of their way to do one thing or another for me.