Former professor reflects on life as civil liberties activist

Family, peers, education, religion and income are all examples of life conditions that influence political ideologies. Professor Emeritus of Germanic Studies Frank Banta grew up as a member of what he said he thinks was probably the only democratic family in a totally republican farm community. A friend once told Banta he is the "only living fifth-generation Hoosier Democrat."\n"I was aware from pretty early childhood that my family didn't fit in," he said. "I didn't think of this being political. We just had different interests."\nBut his family's individuality turned out to be the most influential factor in his life. \n"I was shaped strongly by my parents, and I'm grateful for it," he said.\nBanta's political upbringing is what prompted him to join the Bloomington chapter of the Indiana Civil Liberties Union, a chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and remain an active member throughout his life. He said he learned about the ICLU from an army buddy shortly after World War II and decided he wanted to join.\nRight now, Banta said he thinks the most talked-about political issues are abortion rights, same-sex marriage and the right to bear arms. However, he said he does not think these are the most important issues.\n"I don't think these issues are as wide as war or the economic situation or infringements of civil liberties in our own country, my country, issues that affect every one of us," he said. "I don't mean to indicate that those (issues) do not bring personal tragedy and heartache, but they do not affect the entire population the way that the war and economy do."\nBanta said that under the USA PATRIOT Act, thousands of people who came to the United States to seek political asylum are in jail without charges and without knowing when they'll be released. He added that prisoners are being tortured not only in Iraq, but also in Guantanamo Bay.\n"There are teenage kids there (on) no charge but they might know something, they might have done something," he said.\nBanta said he thinks people are allowing the government to take away their rights because people are disinterested. He added that this disinterest comes partly from cynicism, disappointment and ignorance; from attempted changes that have not been successful; and from the feeling that one vote doesn't really count. He said education would help increase interest in U.S. politics.\nThe ICLU is dedicated to education about civil liberties and the Bill of Rights. According to its Web site, "the ICLU conducts an extensive public education campaign. (Its members) conduct seminars, public reports and newsletters, supervise school programs and encourage community participation."\nCurrently, Banta is working to bring the Bloomington chapter of the ICLU back to life. He said it has approximately 500 members, but most of them just pay dues.\nBanta and two other members recently rewrote the chapter by-laws and sent them to the 500 members for approval. He said the chapter needs newer, younger people. He said sometimes an interested student restarts the chapter, but then the student graduates and no other student takes over. \nHowever, he said he is pleased to see all the efforts being made to encourage students to vote.\n"It's terrifically important that (young) people vote," he said. "I'm definitely in favor (of the groups registering people to vote) even if (people) don't vote for Kerry."\nUnlike many people who are just now registering to vote, Banta said he has been interested in civil liberties since his childhood. In fact, he was so interested in civil liberties that he's surprised he didn't get in trouble as a college student.\n"I was continually signing manifestos that were probably communist," he said. "I believed in democracy, in freedom of religion, in cultural freedom, and the communists said they did too. And as communism worked out, we know they (didn't)."\nAfter graduating from IU in 1939, Banta went into the army in World War II, where he learned valuable lessons about civil liberties during times of war.\nDuring basic training, he was put to work on a mindless job and suggested a better way to complete the task. His sergeant gave him what he now calls one the wisest pieces of advice he's ever received.\n"The sergeant said, 'You ain't here to think, buddy.' I went on thinking, but I kept my mouth shut."\nAfter the war, Banta worked in the education and religious affairs departments in the military government in Germany. His first role was to censor textbooks and educational films. Most films, he said, were completely non-political, with the exception of a single frame portraying a Nazi flag or a Nazi soldier. While censorship is often an issue civil libertarians oppose, Banta said he was OK with this form of censorship because he was very much against Nazism.\nThen he began working with college students, just talking and listening to them, finding out what they're thinking, and making suggestions to the U.S. about how it could persuade the Germans to become more democratic. He also arranged for German students to study in the United States.\n"I didn't criticize them," he said. "(I was in) my late 20s; some students were that old, too. I didn't tell them they were horrible people or their parents were horrible people. I listened." \nUpon returning to the United States, Banta taught German and Germanic linguistics at the University of Illinois and then at IU. During his time here, an effort to forbid prayer at University gatherings such as commencement took place. The University won the case.\n"I think (prayer) is out of place," he said. "I understand and respect its importance to some people. As long as its totally non-sectarian, non-Christian, non-Muslim, non-Jewish, (I have) no great objection."\nHe added that it is difficult to give a prayer that would be acceptable to all religions because not all religions are monotheistic and believe in the same one god.\nHis many roles working with students, both in the military and at universities, might have helped him in his current role as a part-time employee in the IU Student Advocates Office. According to its Web site, the Student Advocates Office "assists students in solving problems by providing individual attention to each issue."\nEvery year the Student Advocates Office recruits two new volunteers from IU's annual list of retiring professors. Banta has worked in the office since 1988 and was hired part time in 1999. \n"He is our oldest working advocate, and he is very thorough and very caring," said Lucia Wrestler, the Student Advocates Office secretary. "I wish everybody would be like that."\nStudent advocates' duties include explaining University policies and procedures to students, making inquiries on a student's behalf and accompanying students to meetings or hearings related to the problem.\n"I enjoy contact with students. I enjoy the structure it give my life. I don't enjoy the frustration of not being able to help a student, but I am happy when I can," Banta said.\nBanta's lifelong commitment to helping others was shaped by his many life experiences both at home as a young boy and abroad. When asked which issue he finds most interesting, he replied that he was unsure he'd be able to answer the question.\n"I believe in freedom of speech, freedom of religion, separation of church and state -- there are none that I don't believe in."\n-- Contact copy chief Stephanie Susman at ssusman@indiana.edu.