Hyde Park
Ex-con-works for prison reform
The number of young people
imprisoned for draft resistance .
and drug abuse is causing a
change in the U.S. prison
system, according to ex-convict
Virgil Keels.
Talking about prison reform
at Thursday's Hyde Park,
Keels said, "The youth getting
into prisons are politically
oriented, and they're talking to
the older prisoners about
reform."
He cited as evidence of this
change the recent prison riots
and holding of hostages to de
mand reform.
Society has ignored prisoners
because "there are no voters in
prisons' Keels saiU Prison
administrators have not had to
be responsible to anyone for
their human product, he add
ed. He Would like to see com
munity resources used to help
the criminal. Sending men
under sentence for a crime to a
"com munity correctional
center under supervision"
would be preferable to sending
men to "vegetate" in prison.
Drawing on his own ex
perience of 22 years in 7 penal
institutions, Keels described
the bitterness and frustration
nourished in prison. "Ignorance
is never replaced by knowledge
in prison," so the man returns
to crime when he is released.
Keels spoke of the guards'"
brutality, adding that "both the
prisoner and guard are equal in
mentality, the only difference
' Is that one goes home at
night."
Once imprisoned in Alcatraz,
Keels spoke with knowledge of
conditions there. Prisoners
were not allowed reading
material or radios and were
only allowed to talk for one
hour a week, he said.
"These dudes are sharp." If
their ingenuity is remotivated,
if they are given an opportuni
ty, prisoners will ; not be
alienated from society when
they leave prison," he Said.
While in Alcatraz, Keels
talked with the late Robert
Kennedy, who inspected the
prison in his capacity as U.S.
Attorney General.
Keels said he has received "a
lot of inspiration from people
who have heLped me. The only
way I'll go back to prison will
be a case of mistaken identity."
Keels is currently on a 55
college campus tour to "inform
and recruit people for a change
in the prison system."
His book, The Other Side of
the Desk, outlines his ideas on
prison reform. Keels . also
serves as a program consultant
for the National Coordinating
Keels ... If their Ingenuity is remotivated, if they are
given an opportunity,, prisoners will not be alienated from
society when they leave prison.
Who is PACE?
Students helping students. That's what
PACE is. PACE is sharing a chance for
a university education. Reaching out a
hand to help students less fortunate than
ourselves. PACE is you . . . the students
of the university . . working to change
things for the better.
A challenge, to you, to show your com
mitment, to make the university a better
place. i v "
Take that challenge. BACK PACE. Sign
the PACE petition in your living unit. : .
Council on Drug Abuse In
formation and Education.
He also received an award
from former President Johnson
for services rendered to the
President's Commission on the
Causes and Prevention of
Violence.
TOOTH
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Matinee $1.23 After PM $1.71
A film about the guy who started it all!
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OPEN 12 NOON TILL CURTAIN
See Elvis sing many of his greatest hits !
Molio-Goldwyn Mayer presonfe ELVIS PRESLEY in "THAT'S THE WAY IT IS"J
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May the day come soon when we frght our battles only
on football fields and each of us, together, works for
peace elsewhere. "1 -
Peace! Make it happen.
retMrt et Delta Uetilen
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1970
THE NEBRASKAN
PAGE 3