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Copyright
© 1958 Lithuanian
Students Association, Inc. December, 1958 Vol. 4, No. 4 Managing Editor P. V. Vygantas |
STUDENTS MEET
On
November 28-30, during the Thanksgiving recess. Lithuanian students
from all parts of the United States gathered in Detroit. Mich., where
the annual convention of the Lithuanian Student Association, Inc. was
held. Of the more than six hundred registered members of the
association two hundred attended the convention which took place at the
Statler-Hilton Hotel. Most of the nonattending members were represented
by proxy. The students met to discuss the problems confronting
Lithuanian students in general as well as those of their association.
After
the convention had been organized with the election of the presidium
and several committees, it was opened by A. Mickevičius, president of
the association. After his report other members of the Executive
Committee talked on the different phases of activities of the
association. The officers informed the attending members of the general
standing of the association, the various plans for the future, the
financial status and other aspects. They also reported on the specific
work which has been accomplished thus far. Among these was the
establishment of two new chapters since the last convention: one in
Purdue, Ind., and the other in Kent, Ohio. Then representatives of
local chapters gave reports on their activities.
In the
afternoon of the first day Tomas Remeikis, doctoral candidate in
political science, spoke on the character of the students in exile. His
lecture was one of the highlights of the convention and was followed by
stimulating discussions. Later a round table discussion took place on
the activities of the association in which Š. Milišauskas, G. Gedvilą,
Š. Užgiris and moderator V. Valaitis participated. In the evening a
get-acquainted dance was held at the same hotel.
Further
organizational matters took up the morning session of the second day of
the convention. In the afternoon two lectures were presented. The first
was by Mrs. A. Augustinavičienė on romanticism in Lithuanian art. Miss
B. Bilevičiūtė, who has only recently left Lithuania, spoke on the life
of students in Lithuania. She noted that conditions have improved only
slightly since Stalin's death and still stand in grim contrast to the
conditions of student life in the Western world.
Student
representatives of the African and Arab Student Unions addressed the
Convention in person. Numerous messages were received: among them from
Vice-President R. Nixon and many senators and members of the House.
Saturday evening the traditional banquet was held at the Main Ballroom
of the Statler Hotel. On Sunday's afternoon session the convention was
officially closed.