Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-12
BY JAMES v. MATHIS
z Special to The star

University of Mississippi campus
may stand in more danger
from within the man than
from violence from without.
For eight years, Mr.. Mere
dith prepared himself to rise
above mass scorn and hatred
and fear of physical harm to
become the first Negro know
ingIy enrolled in the univer-
sity.
Yet there is some feeling
that he seems not TO have pre-
pared himself mentally - as
against educationally-to take
fun advantage Of the opor-
tunity he now has.
interviews with Mr.. Mere
dith as we'll as with sympa-
thetic students and faculty
members here indicate that
the 29-year-old student seems
less concerned with how he
manages at the university
than with what he considers
the overriding fact: A Negro
is IN the University Of Missis-
sippi.
He is like q man who has
run his mile; he would relax
while others share his burden.
Could Make Improvement
With this attitude, his
grades are slipping. Yet he
still chould complete this Sc
mester with a C average If he
makes his move now in his
studies.
His friends here. while re-
cognizing the contribution he
has made in gaining entrance
to Ole Miss, and the effects
Of social ostracism enforced
against him, are deeply dis
tressed by Mr.. Merediths re-
fusal to be concerned with the
academic measurements rep
resented by failing or passing
grades. t4
Mr.. Meredith frankly re-
sents discussion about grades,
which he seems to consider
unnecessary mechanics. He Is
deeply concerned only about
what he thinks is a shift in
emphasis in the public mind
from his presence at the uni
versity to grades. He devoted
himself to countering this
thinking in his interview.
He sat in the cafeteria at
a bare table, with a tray of
juices and a bowl Of dry cereal
before him. There were two
small gases of grape juice.
a larger glass of orange juice,
and a carton Of milk. He
pecked away at the sugared
bran flakes as he talked.
Ignored by Students
A dozen feet away, students
passed in line to get late break
fasts. No student spoke to him.
They glanced at him and his
table companions and moved
away.
At the table were a minis
ter, an economies professor
and two young wives Of faculty
members. Across the hall, two
armed deputy United State:
marshals sat and watched.
Mr.. Meredith talked first OF
his dislike of being elevated by
supporters as an individual.
He felt his cause, which goes
far beyond educational equal
ity to business and political
opportunity for Mississippi Ne
groes, should be Of prime con-
Germ.
He said that the right to fail
was as important as the right
to pass, that basic to both Of
them was opportunity. He
went to his mail for an ex-
ample.
II have a letter from 10
young Negro students in Ala
bama AIM, an unaccredited
college-there isn't an accred-
tied Negro college In Alabama
The boy who wrote this must
have been an intelligent per-
son. a top student. The others
signed.
Discusses Responsibility
What they did that I dc
not like was to assign every
thing that was important Il
them to me. They want me Il
prove here to the white people
that Negroes can succeed
When they signed. they com.
mitted themselves TO me anC
God.
Nov, I want those boys in.
stead to feel responsible, no
TO put their faith and trust jus
in me. We have got to show
In more than one way. They
have a responsibility to no
only put their faith in me, bu
In themselves.
TITS a great triumph to mi
personally, but not to m!
cause. In the beginning jus
about everybody caught tn,
point Of my being here. but 1
is beginning TO fade away"
Draws A Laugh
A history professor, James w
Silver. long a leader Of MisSis
sippi moderate forces. came :,
the table and clapped one han,
on Mr.. Meredith's shoulder
How did he come up with s.
many new suits? the professo
asked.
Doctor" Meredith reptile,
with a grin. "thiS suit Is jus
10 years and nine months old. ="
A graduate student stoppe'