341

320

"This, I believe, is the way of Democratic American society.

"In summary, then, it seems to me that anyone who has the power to move men or to effect decisions of policy has a responsibility to project the positive forces of freedom and liberty which have not only been guaranteed by our forefathers but are also, in the deepest sense, a Divine birthright.

"To this end, I should like to second the motion made here today by Mr. Taylor. "

Mr. Harrison also seconded the motion to adopt the resolution, stating that he felt the Board was faced with a responsibility which it had not faced before, or at least not in his experience in North Carolina government and in education in North Carolina. He stated that he felt confident that the members of the Legislature and the people of the State know that this Board of Trustees is not Communist; that they know that the faculties of the University are not Communist; that they know the students of the University are not Communist, and he felt it was time for the Trustees to stand up and be counted. He also felt that steps should be taken to correct the "speaker ban law" as quickly as possible.

Mr. Skinner and Mr. Smith also favored adoption of the resolution. Mr. Skinner thought the law unreasonable and that action should be taken on it as soon as possible. Mr. Smith had attended one of the group meetings along with about 15 other Trustees, and he stated that after hearing the matter discussed and exchanging ideas about it, it was felt that the law should be repealed.

Mr. Harris spoke in favor of the resolution. He felt that the issue is really whether or not the policies that guide the University will be placed in the hands of the Board where it historically has been, or whetha*the Legislature in its biennial session is going to adopt and change, amend and repeal various policies of the University. He stated that it seemed ironical that after months of deliberations and with the preparation stemming from the Chairman as Governor of this State and a committee appointed by him, that the Legislature of 1963 did more for higher education than any other legislature in the history of this State, not only in appropriating more money, but in many other fields -