REACTION TO HOFFMANN

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

One of the happier results of the attempt to hold an open faculty meeting in Paine Hall is that the "moderate" positions on ROTC have been brought out for public view. Professor Stanley Hoffmann, who gave no sign at Paine Hall that he had other reservations about the abolition of ROTC than a fear of faculty backlash, now states that "I recognize the right of students to pursue military preparation as one extra-curicular activity among others." In other words, he would rather not have to deal with military men as colleagues, but they have a right to go about their business. As a student faced with the draft, I find this attitude obscene. No one likes to face the choice of the army or jail, and there wouldn't be very many guys in ROTC if the draft weren't on their backs. If I were now in the army, I would still find Hoffmann's hands-off attitude obscene, because I and my comrades would be forced to kill and be killed while Mr. Hoffmann washed his hands of the affair. Only a member of the elite can afford to take that attitude. Many of us don't care to join that sort of elite while our (largely working class) brothers are shipped to Vietnam.

Now if those whom "respectable moral convictions" lead to support the war can justify armed conflict, on the basis of just what abstract principle should those of us who oppose the war be satisfied with a "long and thorough debate?" Furthermore, a debate with such as Hoffmann, who represent SDS as narrowmindedly concentrating on Vietnam.

Mr. Hoffmann made a number of additional points at great length: the creation of SFAC to expedite dialogue; the "new procedure on recruitment"; the willingness of the faculty to consider carefully the merits of open meetings. He attempts to present Harvard administration policy in terms of Marcuse's "repressive tolerance": call the demonstration "the most serious since I've been here" (Dean Ford), threaten unlimited punishment, and then sneer at the number of people who stayed. And finally, he attempts to pin our action on Hilary Putnam. That's pretty foul for a kindly uncle. Hutch Jenness '69