Citation

Heller FH. Am. Rev. Public Admin. 1969; 3(2): 100-.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1969, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/027507406900300203

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The current campus crisis, which needs to be resolved within the framework of a democratic society, is denounced, analyzed, praised, or excused. Initially the tendency was to oversimplify the significance of the campus unrest and violence - fighting a show of force with a greater show of force. Such retaliation alone is simply a means of perpetuating turmoil.

Rather than pursuing peaceful protests through endless grievance discussions, signing petitions which are largely ignored, and writing letters to the editors which are of interest only to the readers, an angry minority of students and non-students are now laying siege to the campuses in efforts to compel immediate changes. The pattern of confrontation, so inviting to those who write the headlines, presents the university with a raw choice: acquiesce or repress. Either way the university stands to lose more than it can gain.