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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 11, 1926)
VOLUME XXYII UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, EUGENE, TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1926 NUMBER 128 Policy Change Suggested In StudentReport Series of Five Articles Will Be Published During Week Survey Is Result of Recent Questionnaire Opinions of Faculty Added to Statement A STUDENT report suggesting various administrative changes of policy will be published in the Emerald throughout the present week. The final installment will appear in Saturday’s Emerald. The report is the culmination of an investigation started six weeks ago by a committee of student work ing with the co-operation of the Emerald in an attempt to discover the factors responsible for a slack condition of intellectual activity which the committee believes exist ant within the University at the present time. Conditions Outlined Outlined in the full report are factors leading to present conditions and suggestions for remedies of mat ters as they now stand. The report follows an Emerald questionnaire distributed on the campus recently when the committee secured representative campus opin ion on student relationship to the University. Signatures to Be Made Opinions of faculty members and administrative officials have been incorporated in portions <jf the re port, according to those in charge of the report, although final judg ment in all cases has been reserved by the students. Signatures of the committee mem bers will be appended to the con cluding article, it was announced. Piano and Violin Solos Presented Last Night In Eastwood Recital Godard’s “Concerto Romantique,” Opus 35, a violin number, opened Wanda Eastwood’s graduation re cital last evening in the school of music auditorium. Alma Lawrence accompanied Miss Eastwood. A group of piano selections formed the second part, which con sisted of Schutt’s “Prelude,” Sjo gren’s “Eroticon”, “The Eagle”, by MacDowell, and “Mandolinata” by Saint Saens. A second violin number was com posed of “Menuetto,” by Pugnani Kreisler, “Aver Maria”, by Schu bert-Wilhelmj, and a “Spanish Dance”, by Rehfeld. Weber’s “Concerto,” Opus 32, a piano selection was the concluding number, Celeste Campbell playing the second piano part. Miss Eastwood has been a mem ber of the orchestra and a partici pant in many different events in Eugene. She is to return next year and continue her musical studies at the University. Miss Lawrence, who played her accompaniment, was the winner of the Mu Phi scholar ship last year. Scribes Will Play Ball Against Lawyers Today The much discussed game between the law school baseball team and the sports writers will finally be come a reality this afternoon on cemetery ridge at 4:15, if the deep laid plans of both managers do not go astray. The lawyers are fretting for the fray, but just what the scribes will be able to present in the way of a lineup is still an uncertain matter. The following sports writers will please sign the copybook, as nice assignments are awaiting them: Art Sehoeni, Ira Woodie, Verl Flynn, Earl Chiles, Arleigh Eead, Harry Dutton, Honest John Warren, El mer Peterson, Beryl Hogden, Harold Hunnicutt, and Leonard Mayfield. Education Society To Hold Conference Phi Delta Kappa, men’s education fraternity, will hold a Spring Con ference on the campus, May 22, af ternoon and evening. The general subject of the conference will be the tonight for the old and new student body officers. Student Report Deplores Lack of Intellectual Vigor Committee Offers Administration Reform Suggestions, Made with Pur pose of Establishing University More Firmly on Scholastic Found ation; Findings to Be Published Serially in the Daily Emerald (Editor’s Note): Several months ago the students of the University of Oregon whose names are signed to the following report set about on their own initiative with the assistance of the Oregon Daily Em erald to inquire into the status of intellectual activity within the University, and, should remediable lacks be revealed, to seek means of amelioration. The first tangible result of the committee’s work was a student questionnaire distributed early in the spring term which resulted in the collection of a large mass of extremely valuable material on the attitude of the casual student to ward his University. With the questionnaire data as a substan tial aid in the investigation, this committee, by assimilating the op inions of many students and fac ulty members, has drawn up the fol lowing report, which gives briefly, as seen by the members of the committee, the status of the intel lectual vigor of the University, the causes for the present condition, and proposed changes in University administrative policies which the committee believes would be bene ficial in improving present condi tions. The report, which will run several days, follows:) To the University Administration, University of Oregon— Before entering deeply into any discussion of the intellectual atmos phere of the University of Oregon the committee wishes ',to explain several premises upon which the re port is based. First, We do not believe that ev ery young person in the State of Oregon should attend an institution of higher learning. We believe that all persons should be compelled to attend the common schools in order that they may not become charges of the state; we believe that all persons should attend high school in order that they may become good citizens; but w*e believe that insti tutions of higher learning should be attended only by those wo are able and willing to grasp and make use of the advantages available; and that those persons who are unwilling to do so had best seek other employ ments for their time and energies. In other words, we consider a Uni versity education a privilege, and not a right, and we believe that any person attending the University of Oregon rvho is not giving, day by day, honest labor for his own better ment is not being honest with him self, with the state, or with those making it possible for him to attend the University. We believe further that every attempt should be made to rid the University of all stu dents unwilling to’ assume this re sponsibility. Earnestness of Purpose Desired Secondly, We believe that every person in the State of Oregon shoudl be given the privilege of attending the University of Oregon if he has demonstrated by past record that his intentions are sincere and ear nest, and that his innate intellectual capacities are such as will be de veloped by a University education. We do not believe that a state uni versity can afford to be as meticu lous in its entrance requirements as private institutions justifiably may, but we do believe that the Oregon students, once admitted to the Uni versity, should not be permitted to lag far behind the attainments of the students in the most advanced colleges and universities, either privately endowed or publicly sup ported. Thirdly, the committee beleives that education, in the proper sense, is not doled out in four year form alistic portions. Education begins with birth, and the education the students receives in grade school, high school and the University is merely a re-enforcement of his na | tive talents for his journey through life. Hence, any type of education which tends to stultify the intel lectual activity of the student at the end of his four year university course or which fails even to arouse the intellectual appetites of the stu dent during his University career is practically time wasted. Since the intellectual life of a student after leaving the university must continue only on his own initiative, it follows that education in the uni versity should build up those vigor ous mental habits which will per sist without interruption through out life. Student Awakening Comes too Late The committee believes very def initely that a university training should bring about a complete re versal of a student’s “high school” attitude towards education. Du ring his years at the University he should grasp a vision of the “one ness” of knowledge; he should com prehend the vistas of development and scope of human thought and ac tivity in such a manner that will entice and retain his imagination and patronage; he should find him self seeking eagrely on his own in itiative certain phases of this ‘'one ness” which appeals to his particu lar fancy. This intellectual awaken ing, we believe will develop the po tentialities of the student and as far as humanly possible will give the student an opportunity to make use of his talents. The tragedy of the Oregon situation, as we see it, is that the intellectual awakening— this conscious partaking of his own education—does not take place un til the middle or latter part of the senior year when time w^l not permit a zestful partaking of. knowledge seeking, or the breaking of desul tory habits accumulated through four years of listless study. Should this change of attitude take place two years earlier, say at the end of the sophomore year, the student would be pursuing a path of educa tion which would lead without in terruption through graduation and through life. Elimination of Unworthy Sought The committee is convinced that any “intellectual awakening” mist be preceeded by hard work. We must not be confused into believing that curricular reform in present day colleges' and universities is a panacea of all ills. In short, we be live that the university has a le gitimate duty in putting laziness on the defensive. When the student leaves the university indolence will be gainless, ^hd we can see no reas on why loafing should be cultivated and tolerated in a state university supported by a commonwealth of workers. With this attitude in mind the committee is suggesting en trance requirements and standards of accomplishment that would auto matically eliminate the unfit and eject the unworthy. Turning now to conditions as we find them at Oregon, the committee believes that the University of Or egon is today a good, average, com monplace, unobtrusive member of the family of state universities and in the efficiency with which it edu cates its students, neither particu larly good, nor particularly bad. We believe that the University of Ore gon is suffering from ailments char acteristic of the large mass of Amer ican colleges, but while misery loves company, the defects of any one edu cational institution are not the less serious by virtue of their wide spread prevalence. We believe, quite frankly, that the university “atmosphere” is not intellectually vitalizing; that schol arship, the essence of education, is not the coveted goal of the mass of students. Too Much Emphasis Placed on Grades We believe that the widespread diffusion of interest which prevails among a majority of the students is a factor which tends to lower the scholastic achievements of the aver age student. We are convinced that far too much time and energy is spent in the distractions of student activities and in the whirl of col legiate social life, and that as a result there is insufficient oppor i tunity for consistent concentration on genuine intellectual activity. We believe that the standard of ex cellence established within the stu dent body has been set too low, and that it tends to emphasize qualities in the individual which are intrin sically of secondary importance. We believe an “intellectual boycott” which would make the student who merely “gets by” both uncomfort able and unpopular is decidedly lacking at the university. We believe on the other hand that there exists on the campus a dis tinct tendency to overemphasize grades. The grade sheet and indeed the entire mechanical measurement of intellectual accomplishment has thrown the emphasis upon the means rather than upon the result. We be lieve that any changes in policy which will focus attention upon the accomplishment rather than the measurement will be well justified. High School Training Not Satisfactory In placing the responsibility for the situation at Oregon the various factors quickly group themselves under two divisions; first, those be yond the control of the University, and those within the scope of the University. Considering the first of these headings—outside influences— we find two very powerful factors which we believe are responsible in no small measure for the deficien cies of Oregon undergraduates. The first of these is unsatisfac tory high school training. While many students come to the Univer sity well prepared for their work here, the majority of them matricu late with woefully meager back grounds to assist them in university work. Whereas a thorough study of English, history, foreign languages, mathematics, and science would be invaluable, a hodge podge smatter ing of high school studies, desultory habits, and poor instructors has re sulted in a condition where Univer sity freshmen must be taught to study before he can be instructed. While high schools may resent this criticism, we do not believe that t h«> University will make entirely sat isfactory progress until the fresh men come better prepared for their work. A second and extremely formid able factor in the present situation entirely beyond the control of the University is the “newness” of higher education in the Pacific Northwest. For the most part the students now in the Univer versity are the first generation of Northwest families to be accorded University advantages. No group of people are more anxious for their children to be educated, we are cer tain; but we believe also that these same families are not aware of the finest fruits which may be plucked from a higher education; or, to put the situation a little less gently, we believe the average Oregon fam ily is not demanding sufficient re turns from its children in the Uni versity. We believe also that eco nomic stress in the earlier North west generation made higher edu cation an unfamiliar figure, and hence, the present generation of University students is totally unacquainted with university edu cational traditions and methods be fore matriculation. Scholastic Tradition Does ISot Exist While the aforementioned outside factors, we believe, have been in strumental in bringing about the present condition, in our opinion by far the greater portion of the burden, must bo assumed by the University. And to the following causes within the control of the Uni versity we would ascribe its share of responsibility. First, The absence of a positive scholastic tradition; afnd the ab sence of a negative tradition which is stifling to the ambitions of a freshman. Secondly,Lack of correlation in the University curricula. Particu larly in the first year there is no (Continued on page four) Track Squad For Palo Alto Meet Chosen Coast Conference Title to Be at Stake in South Next Saturday Fourteen Men Picked To Leave Wednesday Light Workouts Scheduled in California rpHE fourteen-man track team which will enter the Pacific Coast conference meet at Palo Alto this. Saturday was named last night by Bill Hayward, coach. The team will leave for the south Wednesday night in time for several light workouts in preparation for the meet. Hayward sen the team thru light workouts last night, and this light jogging, will continue until the men leave. “Possibly the only sure point win ner in the meet will be Proc Flan nagan,” said Hayward yesterday. “The rest of the team will be taken for the experience in running in fast competition and under prac tically ideal weather conditions. The men have been working hard all year and they deserve the trip.” Teams Showing Good The showing of the team last Saturday was as good as Hayward expected. The position of the Ore gon track team, without a single first class weight man, practically spotted the “Husky” team 27 points before the meet started. It was a handicap which could not be overcome. # Yesterday marked the return of the injured men to the track. Vic Wetzel, who has been on the bench for two weeks with a torn ligament in his right arm, appeared in a suit and took a light workout. Tom Holder, has been kept out of the meets with a broken ankle, jogged for the first time. It is possible that both athletes will be in shape for the O. A. C.-Oregon dual meet on May 21, the last of the season. Squad is Named This week-end at Palo Alto, the hurdlers get their first hard com petition (on the ’coast and it is probable that one of them will come in close to Dye and Grumbles of Southern California and West of Stanford, leading stick men in the south. Tuck or Cleaver in the high hurdles may get a point. Captain Walt Kelsey is entered in the low hurdles and should place. Those making the trip will be: Jerry Extra — 100, 220; Ralph Tuck, high hurdles; Francis Cleav er, high hurdles; Walt Kelsey, low kurdles: Joe Price, 440; Rob Over street, 880; Fern Kelly, mile; John Neidermeier, two mile; Ed Crow ley, pole vault; Roland Eby, high jump; Proc Flannagan, broad jump; Paul Ager, relay; Bill Prendergast, relay, Hampton Allen, relay; and Dob Gridley, track manager. Women’s Federation Votes Approval of Fine Arts Building The Oregon Federation of Wom en ’s Clubs passed the following resolution, at its recent conference in La Grande, endorsing the cam paign for funds to construct the Fine Arts building: “Whereas, the University of Ore gon has been the recipient of a col lection of Oriental art and an art library valued at more than a half million dollars, besides other valu able art objects, and “Whoreas, the University is try ing to help itself by raising from private sources $5,000,000 in 5 years (half of which is accomplish ed) and „ “Whereas, the Fine Arts building fund is being accumulated to make possible a fire proof building to house safely these treasures, and j “Whereas, this building is to be | the late President P. L. Camp- j bell’s memorial, therefore “Be is resolved, that the Oregon Federation of Women’s Clubs do I hereby endorse and approve of the proposed Fine Arts building pro ject at the state University.” Strawberry Social Postponed for Week The Strawberry Social, sponsored by the W.A.A. to raise funds for Play Bay with O.A.C. on May 22, has been postponed another week because of the banquet scheduled for the old and new student body j officers. Sign of the Black Cat Takes Unusual Aspect JJLACK eats are usually con sidered harbingers of bad luck by the superstitiously in clined, but in the case of sev t 'al University and high school Btudonts from Eugene who were attending the state DeMolay convention at La Grande last Friday and Saturday, the po tence of the black feline was a flop. Financially embarrassed, in fact dead broke, because of de lay in the allotment of expense money at the convention, Mark Taylor and Earl Neet, Univer sity students, and Charles Brech tel, student at Eugene high school, wandered into the Black Cat cafe in La Grande and “bummed” jobs to earn their dinner. One “jerked” soda, an , other served patrons, while the third washed dishes. The men reported to have been offered employment for the summer. James Johnson, Frances; Morgan Win Honor Cups Junior Class Awards Are Conferred at Prom by Faculty James Johnson, and Frances Mor gan, both members of the class of ’27 were awarded the Koyl and Gerlinger cups respectively at the Junior Prom last Saturday night. These cups are awarded each year to the most outstanding junior man and junior woman. The Gerlinger cup was donated in 1918, by Mrs. George T. Gerlin ger, member of the board of re gents of the University. Miss Morgan has been a promin ent member of the class through out her three years in the Univer sity. In her freshman year she was secretary of the class. Each year she has made the first swirn ing team, and has been on student union and homecoming committees. In athletics she has proven as ef ficient as in other activities, having during the three years she lias been on the campus won the 500 points for her “0,” an award made by W.A.A. She has been secretary of Women’s League this year and at the last student elections she was elected secretary of the studeht body for next year. The Koyl cup was first present ed by Charles W. Koyl in 1914. Mr. Koyl was a member of the class of 1911. James Johnson lias ■ been men tined on the honor roll five times and is an outstanding varsity de bater of commendable ability. He is on the swimming team this year and was a manager of minor sports. He has served on homecoming and student union committees during his three years. He is also presi dent of the junior class. Mrs. Virginia Judy Esterly made the award of the Gerlinger cup and the award of the Koyl cup was made by Dean John Straub. Dick Reed to Enter Garden Ring Tonight Dick Reed, football captain in 1924, will make his third entry into the ring tonight in the six round semi-main event of the Winter Gar den Boxing card. He will box Ken Horn of Noti at 190 pounds. The former Oregon football star, who recently signed a contract to play with George Willson’s 'fbot ball team next fall as a linesman is keeping in training for the com ing season by boxing. In his last two encounters he knocked both of his opponents out within three rounds. Bill Hayward, varsity track coach has been engaged by Promoter G. A. Gallows to referee the fight and give all decisions. Arthur Rudd Writing For Associated Editors Arthur Rudd, ’24, is in Hamilton, Ontario, doing syndicate work for the Associated Editors of Chicago, a newspaper feature syndicate, ac cording to a letter recently received from him. He will leave for Europe July 3 and will be gone for six weeks. The tour he is going on will include England, France, Italy, Switzerland, and perhaps Germany, he states. Rudd was editor of the Emerald in 1923-24. Nomination of Class Officers Will Be Today Elections Will Be Held on Thursday; Time Is Thought Ample Present Heads Urge Large Attendance Juniors to Select Barber for Under-class Mix TV-OMINATIONS for class offi 1 cers for the coming year will be made this evening by the fresh men, sophomores and juniors. The members of the first year class will meet in Villard hall at 4:15 for that purpose, the sophomores will nominate at 7:15 in Villard, while the juniors will meet at the same hour in Guild hall. The president of each of the classes will preside and all nominations will be made from the floor, according to an an nouncement made by James John son, president of the junior class. . Officers to be nominated in each class are president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and sergeant at-arms. The class elections have been scheduled for Thursday, May 13, of this week. This is a sligbtr variation in the usual custom. Pre viously one week has been allow ed between the date of nominations and that of elections, but class of ficers feel that the shorter period will give ample time for delibera tion and at the same time will eliminate any possibility of polit ical “wire-pulling” or “cut-throat politics.” James Johnson, junior, Benoit McCrosky, aophimore and Arthur Anderson, freshmhn, retiring presi dents, urge that every member of the different classes attend the. nomination meetings, as that is tho only way to insure officers for tho coming year who are representative and capable of the duties such of fices involve. The junior elections are especially important, ijue to the important questions that come up during tha senior year, as well as those of the present sophomores who will have an unusually largo number of duties as juniors. The present freshmen will find themselvos with numer ous responsibilities next year when sophomores, and the officers should be selected carefully, is thte be lief of those in charge of elections. In addition to the regular offi cers, the juniors will choose an official class barber to act as mas ter of ceremonies at the annual under-class mix which is held in the fall. It has been hinted that sev eral candidates are already in line for political honors in this partic ular office. Lucille Pearson, vice-president of the junior class, will have charge of the junior election board. She will be assisted by Bob Neighbors, sergeant at arms and Anne Bunes, secretary. J. Stanley Gray Leaves To Make High School Graduation Addresses Professor J. Stanley Gray, head of the public speaking department, left last night for central and east ern Oregon where he will deliver a series of three commencement ad dresses this week at rural high schools. His first address will be at Day ville tonight. Prom there he wilt go to Monument where he appears Thursday night. Then he will go to Long Creek for the last address Friday night. “Fingerboards on Life’s Turn pike,” is the subject on which Mr. Gray will speak. He is being sent to these places by the Extension Division as a part of its program in relation to Oregon high schools. Father O’Hara to Speak To Sociology Students “The Catholic Church and Rural Welfare,” will be the subject of an address by Rev. E. Y. O’Hara be fore Dr. Kimball Young’s principles of sociology class at eleven o’clock next Wednesday. Father O ’Hara will talk about the work of the Catholic church in both Europe and America in improving social conditions. He has recently returned from an extensive Euro pean trip in which he made a study of conditions in the principal toss tries. The meetings will be open t* the public.