Stand at Isla Vista

"At some time and in some place, Americans must decide as to whether they intend to have their decisions, indeed their lives, ruled by a violent minority. We are but one bank, but we have decided to take our stand in Isla Vista."

That determined declaration by one of the nation's usually faceless financiers, Bank of America Chairman Louis B. Lundborg, may not rank historically with Martin Luther's challenge at the Diet of Worms: "Here I stand--I cannot do otherwise, God help me." It does indicate, however, that society is growing grimmer as it confronts youthful radicals and rioting students. The bank's $275,000 Isla Vista branch was burned to the ground last month during a rampage that began on the Santa Barbara campus of the University of California. Bank officials fear that they may smell smoke again. Nonetheless, they decided not to be intimidated, and workmen erected a $55,000 prefabricated building next to the rubble. Last week the branch was back in business, which is, ironically, mainly that of serving students at the university. So that they can stay in school, some 1,600 students have taken $1,500,000 in loans from the bank.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.