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"Created Equal" -Bill Shipp, November 5, 1953
Herman Talmadge has again shown the Mr. Hyde side of his political personality.
He has condemned judicial efforts to give the Negro a chance to get an education
equal to the white man's as "the most foolhardy sociological calamity in our
national history."
In a speech at Southern Governor's Conference, Georgia's chief executive said
erasing segregation in schools is "a step toward national suicide."
We have commended Talmadge in the past for his good work in getting Georgia on
the highway of progress. But we cannot commend him for wanting to deny a segment
of mankind its right to an equal education.
The Governor says we are spending millions to give Negroes equal education in
segregated schools. Even a schoolboy economist should realize that it is
impossible for taxpayers to support two "separate but equal" school systems.
With communism knocking at the Negro's back door, we cannot afford to let
educational segregation barriers stand. It is as plain as the Red flag in Russia
that continued segregation and suppression can and will cause the death of
democracy by the hands of its own leaders.
"No Other Road Open" -Bill Shipp, November 12, 1953
The Red and Black faces one of the gravest crises in its 60 years of publication.
Extinction has been threatened.
The issue involved is not whether we are right or wrong in our stand on
segregation. It is simply a question of whether or not we continue as a free
organ of independent thought or a propaganda sheet dominated by state political
elements.
Mr. Harris points out that The Red and Black does not represent the opinions of
the entire student body. He is right. If our editorial page-written by a mere
handful of students-attempted to reflect the opinions of everybody it would be a
mumbo-jumbo of conflict and contradictions.
We believe that the students and alumni of the University-while they may not
always agree with us on all points-want and need a campus newspaper uninhibited
by the slime of state political entanglements.
As long as The Red and Black exists it MUST be that kind of newspaper.
Mr. Harris does not agree with us on the segregation issue. That is his privilege. But is it
his privilege, because he does not agree, to threaten to put us out of business?
We have criticized the President, the Governor, the University administration and
the student body. None has demanded retraction, watering-down of backing-up. All have
recognized our right to express editorial opinion. Mr. Harris has not.
In recent years the Regents have gone a long way toward making this a greater University.
Will the efforts of one man squelch their accomplishments? If so, it is conceivable that
there will be an ultimate degeneration of free student thought, because such policy could be
extended to other student-controlled groups.
Mr. Harris has given us two choices-to stand up for what we believe and lose our voice or to
acquiesce and lose face. We choose the first course.
If we yield without a word of protest we commit not only ourselves but all future staffs to
a quizling position.
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Walter A. Lundy's Resignation Letter, December 2, 1953
Dean John E. Drewry, Chairman
Red and Black Board of Control
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Dear Sir:
Please consider this my resignation from the position of editor on the fall quarter 1953
edition of The Red and Black.
I could not conscientiously remain in the position without expounding my views on the
charges, which in effect libeled our character and good names, recently made toward myself
and other staff members by Regent Roy V. Harris.
I would like to comment on the proposal asking for our resignations brought before the
General Assembly Monday and tabeled by a representative who intimated that disciplinary
action had been taken on account of the paper's recent stand on segregation.
If I retained the office, I would be forced to strongly disagree with the action taken by the
Board of Control, which as I see it, imposes strict control on the policies of the
publication.
Anything which I had to say on these three counts, which as the paper's editor I believe it
would be my responsibility to do, could only cause further embarrassment to the University
in the eyes of the powers that be.
I regret that I am forced to take this step and would like to take this opportunity to thank
all those who have been concerned with our recent problems for the time and interest they
have shown.
Sincerely,
