YAN AAAGAT
Vol. 1 No. 10 March 23, 1963
As our campus expands and moves to the new site, we have been compelled to
redefine ourselves in terms of the new university. The change in function of
our college has not meant that a university community has been formed. Recently
these issues have been posed anew, Many organizations have had to assess their
roles on the new campus. There has been the realization that it is not enough
only to have a well rounded social life or to do well in one's studics. For if
we were to accept these as the criteria for success in our college years, then
we would be making a great mistake. ‘
The real challange in the university is that its members become involved in
the world around it. Also, all should involve themselves in community problems
instead of remaining aloff from the circumstances around the college. It is
imperative that we become involved in the life of Albany or of where ever we may
find ourselves. It is not enough to give slavish devotion to a paticular group
or to our studies while the rest of life goes on around us. It is our responsi-
bility to sort the trivia from the significant. Hopefully, the ability to
discern develops with education and maturity.
It is not enough to make pious judgements on current social probloms. We
must make our belicfs know, and be prepared to defend thom. We should utilize
our intellects to seck the important issues of our times. It is no longer
possible to remain ncutral. Most of the boons of mankind arose from somcone's
concern for his fellow man and his attempt to imploment those concerns, All good
things have emanated from those who refused to play the role of the spectator and
who willingly took ‘sides.
The student must be unencumbered by all the petty loyalties which distract
and divide him. Our loyalties need to be to worthy ideals, strongand unwavering.
Stephen Bayne wrote, "the goal (of a university) is to teach men how to make up
their minds and choose their sides and build their lives, and if need be give
their lives for the unncutral truth."
While our campus mills over its own weighty problems, it should. keep in mind
that mich of its social divisions arise from the inability and total lack of
desire of its various social groups to try and understand cach other. As long as
reconciliation is non-cxistant, we will be able to perpetuate all. those
ridiculous and inane issucs which divide us now. ~Editor-
THE INSIDE STORY ON "SKANDALON"
In the first issue of this journal it was'suggested that anyone interested
in the meaning of the name Skandalon might turn to the Now Testament verse, "We
preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block ('skandalon') to Jews and folly to Gen-
tiles" (I Corinthians 1:23), A certain faculty wit, here nameless, is reported
to have asked "Docs this mcan Skandalon is to be anti-somitic?" It must be
obvious by now his fears, however fleeting, were nccdless, but it may not yct be
clear why the name was chosen or what it really means.
The word is not an uncommon one in the New Testament, actually. Mathew and
luke use it as well as Paul, although most translators manage. to hide the fact.
For example, on one notable occasion, whon Jesus is forced to robuke Peter (who
thoughtfully cnough would save Josus from the fate which awaits him in Jerusalom
but in the process cause him to betray his whole mission), he cries out, "Get
behind me, Satan, you are a 'skandalon! to mo" (Math. 16:23). Unfortunately,
this gots translated as "hindrance," which is decidedly anemic, rather than
"stumbling block or at least "offense."
But in the passage from I Corinthians, it is tho "Cross" which is the
'skandalon." And whereas Peter has no business being a stumbling block to anyonc
(it is only because he has such a hard time in getting the. point about Jesus),
the "Cross" must be just that. For mon look for a messiah of a very different
sort--a king in fact and not a rabble-rouser from the country; a man of position
and dignity, not a crucificd peasant. They did then and thoy do now.
So it is that any journal which attompts to spoak to relevant, issues from
the standpoint of the Christian faith will be a 'skandalon!, Jt cannot but cause
offense if it challenges the hypocrisy of socicty which is merely bored by the
race question or the shibboleths of a community which thinks man can solve the
problem of the self by rational roflection and diligont inquiry, to illustrate
the point. ‘ (continued Pg. 2)
THE INSIDE STORY ON "SKANDALON" Continued
Of course, the use of 'skandalon' as a title may prove to be a rather major
mistake, If this journal becomes negative by disposition or tries to play the
hero's role, it will morcly show itsclf another "rotcr," But if it trics to
examine issues and ideas sub spocic crucis, and docs so with some grace and skill,
it will be of somo service in suggesting men watch their step.
Frank Snow, Campus Minister
FROM SOUTH MALL TO...SOMEWHERE :
One year ago the State of New York appropriated 98.5 acres of land in
Albany's South End to be used for government office buildings. There were two
reasons for this action--to acquire space so that the cramped and decentralized
conditions under which many state departments currently oporate might be rolieved
and to involve the State of Now York in the urban ronowal of its capital city.
The action from either standpoint is laudable, but Albany Mayor Erastus Corning IT
called it "ruthless," charging lack of considcration for the 6800 people living
in the 40 block area, The problem of rclocating these people to satisfactory
housing is great indeed and the Mayor's alarm is understandable.
The Mall arca is generally recognized as a slum section, part of Albany's
“inner city." Residents are primarily Italian and Negro. Last December, State
Housing Commissioner Jamos Gaynor issued a report calling 52 per cont of the
housing in the South End substandard, In the Mall areca itsolf 15-20 per cent of
the housing is "dilapidatcd,...a hazard to health." Obviously renewal is needed.
The problem is finding satisfactory locations for the people to live. In
the past Albany has not had a housing shortage, The Gaynor report noted a vacancy
rate of 6 per cent compared with 4 per cent state-wide, but many of the vacant
buildings are dilapidated or located in areas where many people don't want to
live (e.g. the South Mall), However the report also stated that, "no privately
owned elevator apartment structures had been built since the 1930's." (One is
currently under construction on the former site of the Dobler Brewery adjacent to
the Mall, ‘This project however will be for middle income families and therefore
not available to present Mall residents.) A large proportion of housing in
Albany is "substandard" or "detcriorating." Of thirteen principal cities in
New York State Albany ranks cloventh, above Troy and Utica, in percentage of
"sound housing" with 82 por cent. Clearly steps must bo taken to provide cnough
good housing for people displaced by the South Mall and other renewal projects.
Steps, of course, are being taken, The City of Albany has several low rent
public housing units available. Othors are under construction and still others
are being planned. Tho statc has an office in the South Mall to help residents
in relocation, The State of New York also plans construction of 100 housing units.
Mayor Corning has asked the State Legislature to authorize him to impose rent
controls in anticipation of a housing shortage. Governor Rockefeller has indi-
cated sympathy with this rcquest, CURE, an indopendent political party, has
urged that landlords be given subsidics so that rent controls will not prevent
them from keeping their property in good repair.
But these stops may not be big cnough. Available sound housing and housing
projects being planned do not provide the necessary 3000-3500 units. ven if
thoy did many would soon become unavailable because of the skin color of many
South Mall residents. Unless the legislature, schcduled to adjourn within two
weeks, acts on the rent control bill at this scssion, the housing shortage could
lead to rents beyond the means of virtually all Mall residents, Both the state
and the city must accelerate and expand planning and construction of public hous-
ing. Privatc builders must be induced to build low rent apartment buildings.
Governor Rockefeller should exert pressure on legislative leaders to act immodi-
atoly to authorize rent controls for Albany.
Tne development of the South Mall is potentially the best thing to happen
to Albany since the city became our state capital in 1797. But, as Mayor Corning
predicted a yoar ago, unlessstho housing problem is solvod, the state's efforts
will be "ruthless."
Tom Bartlow.
taken from MOTIVE, Feb., 1963
.. Luther was a great man of God and a groat theologian. He saw the perils
of conventional religion. Ho had the courage to state the paradoxes of faith in
opposition to conventional picty with tho whole force of his being. ...And just
as Luthor dared to say that "nobody in this lifo is nearor to God than those who
hate and deny him," so today wo should inavo the courage to considor the possibility
that unreligious, even antireligious pocts, novelists, and philosophers may have
more to say to us about tho deepest problems of faith than those who drove out
the pious platitudes of conventional religion, or those who try to convert these
platitudes into a cheery, solf-serving gospel of "poace of mind" and " positive
thinking." ...The one unforgivcable sin is lukcwarmness. The man of faith is
sometimes loss distant from Iuther's "God-denicr" than he is from the conventional
believer, precisely because the former is passionately conccrned with the ultimate
and the latter is not,
THERE WILL BE PEACE...WITH OR WITHOUT PEOPLE
Conflict is a fundamental and pervasive feature of social life.
It takes
many forms, some beneficent in effects, some malign.
One of the most malignant forms of conflict is violence.
Its cost can be
reckoned not only in physical tcrms, which today have become overwhelming, but in
social and spiritual terms as well,
physical damage.
of Niccolo Tucci: "What is a victor but
Who will 'teach him a lesson'?"
The victor suffers another kind of damage:
with his own reliance upon propaganda, deceit and destructiveness.
In a violent struggle, the victim may suffer
He becomes infected
In the words
one who has learned that violence works?
In a bitter and protracted struggle, there is a strong tendency to regard the
adversary as an absolute enemy, to be climinated or rendered impotent,
"outside the pale,"
He is
Christianity challenges this view by affirming the unity of the human family,
if for no other reason than this:
God cares for all his creation.
The Christian
is not entitled to withhold forgiveness from anyone, even the most depraved and
debased,
as an unescapable social reality,
unique relevance.
We can expect deep-seated conflicts
and change,
conflict,
This vicw, apprehended through
the eyes of the spirit, can now be seen
"Loving one's cnemies" takes on a new and
to persist so long as there is growth
The more rapid the change, the greater will be the potential for
How can a dedicated struggle against an adversary be carricd on with-
out becoming victim to the negative dynamics and corrosive impact of violence, of
threat and counter-threat? Can one resist in a way that affirms the underlying
unity of all partics to the strugglo?
That is what nonviolent forms of resistance seck to do.
Whereas violence
symbolizes the broken or unrealized community, nonviolcnce--the willingness to
accept suffering rather than inflict it--is a powerful symbol of the basic reality
of man's communal life, that "we are all
The implicit dynamics of developing
members one of another."
socicties push us ever more rapidly in
the dircction of a world society where there can be neither enemies nor alicns.
Gross inequalities and injustices will no doubt persist.
As we discover more about the personal and
front us that call for resistance.
social origins of violence, as we become
Great evils will con-
more skilled in the control and manage-
ment of conflict generally, and as the human race increasingly recognizes its
inescapable and indispensable solidarity
in spite of its disunity and its capacity
for evil, we shall probably sce the pathology of violence reduced to marginal
proportions.
Issues will still be "soul size", as they always have been and always will
be.
Nevertheless, men will be able to pursue the meaning of the great issues of
their lives without the frenzied outbursts of large-scale violence and mutual
destruction. Anew chapter in man's social and spiritual destiny will have begun,
Written especially for Skandalon by
Charles C, Walker
College Secretary, Middle Atlantic Region
American Friends Service Committec
1500 Race Street--Philadelphia 2, Pa,
STAFF : RANDOLPH NUGENT
TO SPEAK ON RACE RELATIONS
EALCOF 6 oie esi yoieie oeeeeeeeesAlan Minarcik
SCALE ec cane ste wets om ores -Guy McBride The white liberal viewpoint on race
Dave Simington
relations has received mich attention
in the North. The Negro viewpoint has
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Wednesday, March 27, 12 noon, Chapel
Service, First Unitarian Church
(Washington & Robin),
Tuesday, April 2, 7:30 p.m., Bru; the
Rev. Randolph Nugent to speak on "What
the Negro Thinks of the White."
Wednesday, April 3, 12 noon, Chapel
Service.
been almost entircly overlooked. The
Reverend Randolph Nugent will speak on
"What the Negro thinks of the White."
Mr. Nugent is the director of the inner
city program of the Albany Methodist
Society and has much experience in this
ficld, His remarks will be honest and
challenging, All those who are at all
interested in this crucial topic are
invited to attend, The meeting will be
held in Brubacher, at 7:30 p.m., on
April 2,
A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY
In early 1963 Charles DeGaulle, President of France, makes the famous "14th
of January Declaration" in which he permanently shuts out Great Britain from the
European Economic Commnity. This event marks the beginning of the era of
European consolidation and the rise of the mighty "Third Force."
Throughout 1964 and 1965 the French government builds up her armaments at a
spiraling pace and continues regular nuclear testing in the Sahara. While the
totally integrated Common Market prospors with increased industrialization and
world trade, the economics of Great Britain and the Unitcd States move ahead
- sluggishly and even falter as higher tariffs are set in Europe.
In 1969 France and West Germany effect complete political union by declaring
themselves the Republic of Frangaullia. In a matter of months Spain, the Nether-
lands, Luxembourg, Italy, Belgium, and Andorra scurry to annex themselves to
Frangaullia or face economic ruin.
In 1975 the Western world rejoices when the satellite states of Eastern
Europe revolt successfully against their communist regimes and immediately seck
into Frangaullia. Intensive rioting breaks out in tho Sovict Union. On July 18,
Premier Nikita Khruschev calls upon the United States to join in a Treaty of
Mutual Peace and Friendship. After obtaining an agreement for total disarmament,
the President of the United States, Robort Kennedy, asks Congress for a ratifica-
tion of the proposal,
By 1980 the steps toward total nuclear and conventional weapons disarmament
are completed and a Pledge for Peace is signed by the nuclear powers and Fran-
gaullia, the United States, the Sovict Union, Great Britain, and Israel.
In 1983, Sovict and American statesmen and economist map out a long range
plan for close cooperation in guiding their respective nations to socialism.
During the summer of that year, three Russian exchange students are guests at the
home of the American elder statesman, Barry Goldwater. Early in 1984, Nikita
Khruschev denounces Communism as a Stalinist conspiracy perpetrated by the
"ignominious war-mongers of China."
A grave crisis occurs when in the summer of 1989 Frangaullia spurns the
Pledge for Peace and conducts a series of nuclear tests off the coast of Haiti.
United States forces mobilize in Cuba. The American President, Edward Kennedy,
announces an economic quarantine of the area until the situation has been
clarified.
Yot the world is further shocked in carly 1990 when the army of Frangaullia
invades Great Britain with lightning specd and defeats Her Majesty's foreés in a
day-long battle near Hastings. On the day Charles DoGaulle, Now Supreme Director
of Frangaullia, celebrates his 100th birthday, Great Britain and the Commonwealth
are declared provinces of the Republic. Later that ycar Frangaullia officially
withdraws from NATO and American motion pictures are banned in all her territories,
As expected by many observers, Frangaullia announces a mutual non-agercssion
pact with China and both proceed to attack the Sovict Union on two fronts. The
United States declares war on Frangaullia and China, The leader of the huge
continent nation of Africana, now Emperor Nkrumah II, declares official neutrality.
No nuclear weapons are uscd in the 3rd World War. Within thrce months the
United States is overrun by the Chinese, The Amorican President sends China a
stiff note of protest, but to no avail. The Amorican war effort is hampered by a
deadlocked nation-wide transportation strike of the Tcamstor's Union.
By 1992, the forces of Frangaullia end China are in effective control of the
world. Charles DeGaulle is crownded honoary King of the Northern Hemisphere and
the President of the World Assembly. In 1995 the minor reconstruction tasks have
been completed, Few citics were bombcd and the only metropolitan area severely
damaged, Albany, New York, is never rebuilt. In 1996, President DcGaulle calls
an end to all military occupations, But upon the urgent requests of Amorican
consumer industries, most Chinese, who now all speak English, remain in the
United States,
In the grand year of 2000, the Republique du Monde is declared by the repre-
sentatives of all the old nation-states, Later that year, howcver, the whold
world mourns the death of the Father of Peace, Charles DcGaulle. On October 3,
he accidently falls from the second level of the Hiffcl Tower,
But the peace and prosperity of the world continue under the administrative
leadership of Frangaullian statesmen for 30 years. During this period, French
is declared the world language, the sale of milk is outlawed, and a group of
Israelis establish a kibbutz on Mars,
It isn't until 2082 that the peace ends and there follows a long gradual
return to the state system. In that year world civil war breaks out when the
area once called France successfully seccdes from the world undcr the leadership
of an obscure housepointer named Napolean Schwartz. Ross Dunn
