Southern University Won't Re-Hire Graduate Student Teaching English

Southern University has stuck to its decision not to rehire Woodrow Wilson Intern Matthew I. Winston, a graduate student in English on leave from Harvard. Winston, who is applying for a renewal of his Danforth scholarship, plans to return to Harvard in the fall to complete his Ph.D.

The University's refusal to rehire Winston, another Wilson intern, and an assistant professor set off massive student protests two weeks ago. The administration of the predominantly Negro college near Baton Rouge, Louisiana made some concessions to students on such issues as curfews, parietals, and censorship of students publications, but had nothing to say about the three teachers.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Winston said the administration is reneging even on the concessions. Going over the heads of the student editors of the Southern University newspaper, the faculty advisor to the paper had one of his journalism classes, aided by student editors at Louisiana State University, rush out an issue which made no mention of the protests.

The demonstrators received encouraging telegrams and offers of financial backing from student groups at a number of Negro colleges as well as Stanford, Berkeley, Catholic University, the National Student Association, and SNCC. But Southern students have no way of knowing about this support, Winston said, because of the newspaper censorship.

He added that dorm matrons are not allowing students the privileges of later curfews and longer parietals conceded by the administration.

But Winston doubts that students will oppose the administration again, primarily because the student senate refuses to support what Winston thinks is the majority student view. The senate, which was forced by its advisor to meet behind closed doors decided not to invite Stokeley Carmichael, the chairman of SNCC, to come to Southern.

However, the Pierian Club, a literary group which Winston advises, and the upper division honors colloquium, which Winston and three other Wilson interns teach, are sending letters to Carmichael today, inviting him to speak on May 17.