The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-03-15
MSU Students
Protest Attack
On Professor

Contending that "the prin-
ciple of academic freedom de-
mands the unimpaired discus
sion of disparate views on any
ISSUE" and that "this principle
is above the grasp of some
members of the Montana Leg
stature, a group of Montana
State University students Saturday
wired Gov Babcock expressing their
Opposition to Mr.. Blewett's attempts
to intimidate Prof. Morton Borden"
In addition to sending the tele-
gram to the Governor, copies of it
were also sent to various members
of the late Legislative Assembly, the
Congressional delegation, MSU Pres
ident Harry K. Newburn, and the
press.
Text of the telegram is as fol-
lows:
"The undersigned students at Mon
tana State University wish to register
their opposition to Mr.. Blewett's at
tempts to intirnidate Professor Nor
ton Borden of the history department
at the University. Without having
read the text of Professor Borden's
speech given at st. Paul, Minnesota,
Mr.. Blewett set an example of I'M
prejudgment which repre-
sents, in essence, direct attack upon
of academic freedom and
the right of each citizen to express
his opinions openly in free society.
We, as a group, wish to express our
defense of the right to comment on
and criticize the existing order as
both an obligation and privilege in
on citizens of Montana.
'"The principle of academic free
lom demands the unimpaired discus
sion of disparate views on any issue.
Since this principle, so apparent to
my rational being, is above the grasp
If some members of the Montana
legislature. it behooves the under
igned to make clear the nature and
of that which we wish
o defend.
''It is a commonplace of history
hat dictators try to curtail any criti-
ism of the established order. Hitler's
measures to control thought and ex-
ression in the Nazi state led to the
of Lion Feuchtwanger and
llbert Einstein among others. Mus
olini's attempts to do the same re-
ulted in Enrico Fermi's immigration
ito the United States, thus enlisting
is talents, crucial to the develop
lent of the atomic bomb, in the serv-
,e of freedom.
"The free and unhindered express
on of ideas is indispensable to the
rogress of a free society," truism
by such people as George
Tashington, John Adams, Voltaire,
ohn Stuart Mill, Harold Ickes, JUS
ce Holmes, Robert Taft, James MUIR
ay, Dwight Eisenhower, Mike Mans
ED and John F. Kennedy. This
alaxy of names could be extended
most without limit.
"The principle universally recog-
zed as essential to the progress of
free society by those mentioned
Dove is emphatically shared in by
e undersigned. By attaching our
gnatures to this statement, we hope
align our sentiments with those
'ove, and by doing so, further the
use of freedom and democracy.
cit is our devout wish that the
dresses accept the above remarks
sincere effort to make clear the
issues involved in the
esent controversy centering around
'ofessor Borden's comments, and
r fundamental alignment concern
g his right to express his ideas OPP
ly in a free society,""
The Undersigned: Dan R. Bieri,
Try A. Craver, Dale H. Strickland,
Gorge M. Dennison, James w.
ere, Steve HI. Baby, Dennis S.
lrlowe, Charles S. Dorm, Edward
McGivern, MSU, Missoula.