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DICKINSON COLLEGE CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA
OFFICE OF THE CHAPLAIN
April 25, 1968
The Honorable Julian Bond Representative, District 136 823 Drummond Street, SW Atlanta, Georgia 30314
Dear Representative Bond:
During the week of Sunday, February 9, to Thursday, February 13, 1969, Dickinson College will hold its sixth annual Public Affairs Symposium. The topic will be "Dissent in a Free Society." As student co-ordinator for the 1969 Public Affairs Symposium, I would like to invite you to participate in this Symposium on Wednesday, February 12, 1969. I am authorized to offer you an honorarium of $500 plus expenses for this time. During this time you would be involved in symposia, classes, and student discussions, and on Wednesday evening you would speak and participate in a panel discussion with the Reverend William Sloan Coffin and Senator John Tower.
As you perhaps know, Dickinson College is one of the oldest and most distinguished liberal arts colleges in America. There is a lively and intellectually alert student body of 1500 undergraduates, a young dynamic faculty, and a progressive administration. Our Public Affairs Symposium is presented each year by a joint student-faculty committee in an effort to confront the college community with various aspects of a vital public issue. There is also wide participation by students from the Dickinson School of Law and the Army War College. In previous symposia we have discussed: THE AMERICAN PURPOSE IN WORLD REVOLUTION, URBANIZATION AND THE AMERICAN SOCIETY, THE NEW MORALITY, THE POWER OF PERSUASION, and THE EYE THAT NEVER BLINKS (television).
In next year's Symposium we will be using several media of expression in an attempt to bring about a complete understanding of dissent in its history and various ramifications. Thus far in our planning, we have arranged for Phil Ochs to appear in concert, and there will be student productions of "Protest" drama on the weekend prior to the Symposium. We are also arranging for Mr. Ben Shahn to bring an exhibition of his poster art to the campus. The more academic aspect of the Symposium will begin with Mr. Michael Harrington analyzing the dissent of the past decade.
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For the entire week each of the major departments in the College will have on campus an authority who will relate the topic to the specific disciplines. The Symposium will end on Thursday with a major address by a historian who will tie together the dissent of the past with its future in our troubled times.
The topic of dissent has taken on more pressing importance in the recent weeks than it had when we chose it for the 1969 Symposium. A challenge too big to be ignored has been hurled at the complacency of America. This challenge we hope to be able--with your help--to answer in the Symposium. We hope to force our college community and all who come in contact with us not only to become concerned about our "Free Society," but also to commit themselves to complete realization of that term.
Sincerely yours, [signed] Charles J. Vogt Charles J. Vogt, Student-coordinator 1969 Public Affairs Symposium
CJV/s
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Dear......:
I am pleased to accept your kind invitation, although I hesitate to do so when the date in so far in the future.
Might I ask you to periodically remind me of this committment?
Additionally, I have a horro of school guest houses. Might I ask that you provide hotel accomodations?
I am enclosing a biographical form in case you should need one.
Sincerely,