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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1936)
PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon EDITORIAL. OFFICES: Journalism building. Phone 3300 — Editor, Loral 354; News Room and Managing Editor, 353. BUSINESS OFFICE: McArthur Court. Phone 3300--Local 214. MEMBER OF MAJOR COLLEGE PUBLICATIONS Represented by A. J. Norris Hill Co , 155 E. 42nd St., New York City; 123 W. Madison St., Chicago; 1004 End Ave., Seattle; 1031 S. Broadway, Los Angeles; Call Building, San Francisco. ______ Robert W- Lucas, editor Eldon Haberman, manager Clair Johnson, managing editor The Oregon Daily Emerald will not be responsible for returning unsolicited manuscripts. Public letters should not be more than 300 words in length and should be accompanied by the writer’s signature and address which will be withheld it requested. All communications are subject to the discretion Ot the editors. Anonymous letters will be disregarded.__ The Oregon Daily Emerald, official # student publication of the University of Oregon, Eugene, published daily during the college year, except Sundays, Mondays, holidays, examination periods, all of December except the first seven days, all of March except the first eight days. Entered as second-class matter at the postoffice, Eugene, Oregon. Subscription rates, $2.50 a year. All advertising matter is to be sent to the Emerald Business office, McArthur Court. _ . Interfraternity Council And Public Opinion A BAD hitch in fraternity relationships on the Oregon campus was straightened out yes terday with the release of the advisory council’s ruling in the case of Sigma Nu versus the inter fraternity council. Both sides have agreed to abide by the advisory council’s ruling and have expressed a willingness to cooperate in the re organization of the council. In the report of the appelate body, reference was made to publicity released by the Emerald, prior to the tribunal’s rehearing of original charges against the fraternities, as being "pre mature, ill-timed and ill-advised . . . making more difficult the possibility of a fair inquiry at the time of the rehearing which occured some six days after the original announcement of the charges.’’ In previous years, actions of the intertratern ity council have not been released for the press. As a result of such closeted procedure, Inade quacies in the constitution of the group were left unremedied, fines assessed were either “fixed up” or lost in the routine of general business, and the council degenerated into an uncertain and ineffectual body for governing the practices of its members. It was ignorance of the expressed provisions of the atrophied constitution that drew the present council into a quandry and caused the disc.repencies in its machinery to be made widely known and criticized by heretofor uninformed students. As long as there exists such a body as the interfraternity council responsible for and cur ators of the student welfare, their actions must be made public and understandable. Of course, it is unfair to publicize the guilt of the defendant before he has been given a chance to defend his case. But failure to provide for adequate hearing before release to the press is a fault of the council—based upon» essential weaknesses in the constitution or ignorance of provisions restricting the powers of the executive group. The mistake will not be made again. If it is, the Emerald will be pleased to let it be known. IN a report made recently and presented before the state board of control by Mr. E. C. Hobbs, numerous references were made as to the desir ability of moving state-owned printing plants at the University of Oregon and Oregon State col lege to Salem- -under one head. Mr. Hobbs’ report rolls merrily on and ap proaches a meek question: “May we be pardoned Hob r. Hobbs for making this general observation?” Then Mr. Hobbs places the stiletto neatly between the ribs of Oregon’s campus newspapers (which naturally includes the Emerald) and twists it in a manner that would be murderous—were it not so ludi crous. Opines Mr. Hobbs: “A school of journalism to endure and merit support must be wisely directed and funda mentally sound. It should inculcate into the minds of the students the principles of American jour nalism. And the student or campus paper partic ularly if supported by the state, as in Oregon— should not be the plaything and toy of youthful crack-pots with bolsheviki tendencies; nor should it be the propagandizing vehicle for jealous and zealous professors.” Now, Mr. Hobbs, let us look at this thing in a manner wisely directed and fundamentally sound. We agree with the forepart of the foregoing essay. And it is also a most condensed and accurate statement of the fundamentals under lying Dean Eric W. Allen's 35 years of journalism teaching at the University of Oregon. But by an extensive and honest application of all the canons of true journalistic integrity we find it most difficult—yes, practically impossible to agree with the gentlemen as to our being "young crack-pots with bolshiviki tendencies.” The Emerald will pay 54 per head for any beard discovered on any Emerald staff member beard discovered to be of a length approximating one fourth of one inch. And all beards must be measured by Mr. Hobbs’ own line guage. There Mr. Hobbs—isn't that nice ? As for the professors. It is difficult to be inything but hungry on the pay they get. Tsk, tsk. As for “crack-pots.” Mr. Hobbs, were we not of stern stuff, toughened by the tempo of news paper endeavor, we would slump to the floor, beaten things, and cry like all manner of babies. Oh, but why carry this on ? -We shall go home place our crack-pots where they belong, climb INTO the bed, unfurl our shaggy bush outside the covers, and dream of the American Legion, the constitution, and pray God’s indulgence on our scarlet souls. Oregon Needs A Theater GRATIFYING and encouraging as it is to see a new library, gymnasium, and infirmary being built up to make a greater University, we must not consider that the completion of these projects means the fulfillment of all the needs of the school. For, almost as badly-needed as a new library, is an adequate theater for the pres entation of the dramatic efforts of the University players. The dinky theater in the administration build ing, with its doll-house stage, has for many years curtailed the programs of the drama divi sion directors who would prefer to cast more elaborate productions and play to larger audi ences. But the “little theater’’ seats a mere 190 persons, and the narrow confines of the stage hindors any adequate settings, even disallows a proper perspective for the audience. However, it would not be necessary to erect a new building. Villard assembly hall has all the potentialities of a fine theater, and with a moderate expenditure could be renovated to hold several hundreds of people. The classrooms at the back of the hall could be removed, extending the seating capacity, the acoustics could easily be made perfect by proper treatment. Such a change might well mark the beginning of a golden era in University dramatics. For many years the drama division has felt the handi cap of an inadequate theater, and the lack has been reflected in a discouragingly uninterested attitude of the Student body to the plays that have been presented recently. Legitimate drama should play a far greater part in the education of University students than it does at Oregon. Air Y’ •> •> ❖ Listenin?’ By Jimmy Morrison Emerald of the Air Archie Parrott will, as Woody Truax puts it, “tickle the keys” of the KORE grand this afternoon at 3:45. Local Bands It is rumored that Hal Grayson and his famous orchestra has been engaged to play for the senior ball here Februray 15. And it's with a sigh that Tilten fans regret ti n lovely Martha Tilten is no longer witli him. But even at that, the band is still very fine, and the dance should be a swell deal. Scott Held, who with his orches tra has just completed a successful engagement at the Trianon in Seattle, is booked for a one-night performance at Willamette Park Friday evening, January 24. The Air Angle “Der Mustk Geht ltund Und Rund,” suite fur cine grosse or chestra mit 29 horns, in the man ner of Franz Liszt, will be played by laid Gluskin’s orchestra on CBS tonight at 7:15. The novel work is in three move ments entitled, “Dus Kleinc Valve,” “Das Mittol Valve," und “Das Grosse Valve," played just us Liszt himself might have written it. in * n Ever like to sit down and hoar a few of those good old tunes tkut swept you off your feet just a few years ago? If so, tune iu KOIN or some other C«.s station at p. m. today and hear Freddie Rich und his novelty orchestra play “Two Cigarettes in the Dark,’’ “X Just Couldn’t Take It, Bahy,” "Collegiate,” "Overnight,” “San," "Lazy Bones,” "Stormy Weather,” and “My Swoetie Went Away.” w * * Another gay Caravan of music and humor, featuring Deane Janis, Walter O’Keofe, and the Casa Lomu orchestra, will be heard this evening at 8:30. Miss Janis will sing "Please Be lieve Me,” with Kenny Sargent and Pee Wee Hunt singing the vocal interludes to "Too Much Imagina tion” and “Dancing Feet.” The Casa Loma lads will play Stephen Foster’s famous melody of "Old Kentucky Home” und "Should 1?” # * » You can hear Eddie Duchin, one of society's favorite pianists and orchestra leaders, on the "bigger and bettor than ever" Jumbo-Fire Chief show tonight at 0:30, when he and his band joins the weekly program. • HI * Lawrence Tlbbett, who has starred in famous baritone roles at the Metropolitan opera house, will demonstrate the unusual range of his voice by singing as a tenor the popular aria, "Vesti la Giubba" from Leoncavallo's opera "Fagliacci" this evening at 5:30 over CBS. * o » It!BC*CltS Programs Today 12:30—Among Our Souvenirs. KOIN. 0:30 Pickens Sisters. KPO, KGW. Lawrence Tibbett. KOIN, KSL. [ 0:00 N. T. G. and His Girls. NBC. Jumbo-Fire Chief show. NBC. 7:00 Swift Studio Party. KPO. KGW. i .1j—Lad Ciu-d.ui orchcotra. KOIN, KSL. 7:30 Jimmie Fidler’s Hollywood Gossip. KPO, KGVV. 8:30 — Camel Caraven. KSL. KOIN. Complete Report (Continued from Page One) posed by the action of the coun cil on October 10, 1935. Subsequently provision was made for a review of the case and a rehearing before the same tri bunal that imposed the fine for the five specific cases of violation. This rehearing took place on Thurs day, October 17, 1935, after which the tribunal saw no reason for revising the decision reached at the previous meeting and the fines were allowed to stand as original ly assessed. Sigma Nu fraternity then raised the question of the regularity of the proceedings and alleged that bias and prejudice had played a large part in determining the de cision against their group and the amount of the fines which had been assessed. At the same time the defendant organization assert ed its desire to withdraw from the Interfraternity council, expressing a lack of confidence in the present personnel of the council and the tribunal. The Interfraternity council ap pealed to the president of the Uni versity to support their decision and to enforce compliance on the part of the Sigma Nu fraternity. The president of the University properly referred the case to the Student Advisory committee with a request that a thorough review of the case should be made and recommendations with regards to the lines of settlement should be transmitted to the president and to the dean of men and dean of personnel a damns tra Lon. It >\as I --W. ~_ * . H&RBIE — LAN DON-' f KNOX* I msot ON THE PA PTV Tf E5 •• — 1.. ---5g The Marsh of Time By Bill Marsh Haircut Bill Barker started it. Now Noel Benson has followed suit, and got ten himself a haircut, too. Benson looks like the barber’s foot slipped. His ivory is covered with a scant half inch of bristly stubble, mak ing his head look like a Kansas wheat field in the middle of the drouth. I wonder how Franny Johnson feels, going around with a con vict. * * * Sidewalks of Eugene: Overheard just outside the College Side. Two charming young ladies, conversing rapidly. Says one, “And he didn’t even try to insult me. Was I sur prised?’’ Whoever the gentleman in ques tion was, his reputation seems to have preceded him. Look thee now, oh spirit of Immortal Casan ova, and behold thy modern coun terpart—the collegiate Borneo. * :l: * NEW YORK: Scores of Gotham police rushed to a downtown hotel when they received a call, saying that a “man has been stuffed into a sack.” Sensing another hatchet murder or something, they burst into a room and found the man sitting up in bed. “It just seemed to me, at the time, that I was stuffed into a sack,” he explained. Fortunately the room was too small for the chap to see any pur ple alligators running up and down the walls. it oner This brodlc was executed last Friday night by Scott McKeown, University debater. Orator Mc Keown led off with a recital of the causes of the next war, working' up to the question of the evening, to wit, "Can the United States re main neutral?” Booming to a stirring climax with a flourish, MoKeown cried in a righteous fervor, “We in Amer ica must guard against being in volved in such a holocaust of hate, death and INSTRUCTION!” He said it was the effect of Hell week, but they shot him anyway. Pun of the week: “The new deal Is doing Farley well, thank you.” Skunks and Cabbage Some crackpot scientist at Cor nell has invented a smellless cab bage. All right, then, howinhell do you spell smellless? An the smell is the best part of cabbage anyway. Cabbage is like a rattlesnake. It gives fair warn ing. When you smell it cooking, you can always sneak out and run over to the Greasy Spoon for a hamburger. But cabbage without a smell could be served on your blind side, and by that time it would be too late to run. Thank you, no. Mother nature gave cabbage a smell, just like she gave the little polecat his distinc tive aroma. Now if someone were to invent a smellless skunk, there would be something. But no scien tist, however zealous, lias the cour age to experiment with skunks. What started all this hooey any how ? Phooey. assumed that whatever decision was reached by the Student Advi sory committee would be enforced by the proper authorities. On account of the fact that Dean Onthank and Dean Earl had been rather intimately associated with the Interfraternity council and the tribunal by which the judgment was rendered, it was deemed ad visable to eliminate both of these men from the Student Advisory committee and to substitute for them Dean Wayne L. Morse and Orlando J. Hollis of the law school. Mr. Patterson, a student member of the committee because of his affiliation with a certain frater nity. was also asked to withdraw and the president of the student body was asked to name a sub stitute. The substitute member, if appointment were made( did not appear at any meeting of the Stu dent Advisory committee. All oth er members of the Student Advis ory committee wore present for a two hour session on Thursday, January 16th. and again at an ad journed meeting held Friday after noon, January 17th. Those pres ent for the combined sessions which aggregated f o u r hours, were: Gilbert, Morse, Hollis, Spen cer, Shumaker. Mrs. Sehwering, William Hall, and Virginia Younie. The specific questions on which the committee was asked to rule . were as follows: 1. Did the accused fraternity have a fair trial before the tribun al or did prejaduv., bUG. or ucsiiv to satisfy a grudge have a part in shaping the decision? 2. Assuming the guilt of the Sigma Nu fraternity, were the pen alties assessed fair and regular ? 3. In the light of the decision on the foregoing question is Sigma Nu privileged to withdraw from the Interfraternity council or has the organization assumed a con tinuing obligation of membership and of conformity to the by-laws to which the organization has sub scribed ? 4. What would be the conse quence of allowing a fraternity to withdraw from the Council when dissatisfied with its rulings and with penalties assessed? Proceedings Wert* Irregular But No Evidence of Prejudice or Bias Found. With regard to the first ques tion on which the Student Advisory committee was asked to rule, the committee was compelled to reach the conclusion that proceedings before the tribunal in the original hearing of October 10th were ir regular and failed to conform to the express requirement laid down in Section 4. Article VI. of the constitution, in which it is stated. “The accused fraternity may ap pear at the meeting of the tribunal to present its case." Extensive inquiry into the cir cumstances surrounding the orig inal hearing lead to the conclusion that the procedure was more or less secret, the eases being dealt with by number, no particular fra ternity being accused, and no op- j portunity being presented for a representative of the house to for- J mulate a defense and to state the case from the standpoint of the defendant organization. There seemed to be general agreement upon this point between the con tending parties. On the 10th day of October the Interfraternity council met with the representatives of all organi zations present. At that time it was the unanimous opinion that the charges and the fines assessed should be reported to the organiza tions at once and that an oppor tunity for a rehearing should be afforded in case any fraternity re quested a review of the decision already reached by the tribunal. At this point an unfortunate in cident occurred. Despite the fact that one member at least of the council had requested' the editor of the Emerald to withhold publicity until after the rehearing and the final decision, and another'mem ber of the same body had raised the question of the expediency of any publicity prior to the time of final settlement, the Emerald edi tor apparently reached the conclu sion that the rulings of the tri bunal were legitimate news and the rulings were spread on the first page of the Emerald on Oc tober 11, 1935. Although this first account in the Emerald referred to the fines assessed upon nine fraternities to the extent of $140, subsequent pub licity emphasized the particular guilt of the Sigma Nu fraternity and gave prominence to the amount of fines assessed upon this one or ganization. The council believes that this publicity Was premature, ill-timed and ill-advised, and made more difficult the possibility of a fair inquiry at the time of the re hearing which occurred some six days later on October 17th. At the rehearing referred to above, Sigma Nu fraternity was given an opportunity to present its case in defense. The president of the organization, however, already embittered by the adverse public ity, regarded the rehearing as per functory and, according to the tes timony of various persons present, admitted most of the charges which had been preferred against the organization. At that time the tribunal saw no reason for revi sion of its original verdict and therefore agreed that the fine should remain in effect. Although proceedings were ir regular and not in conformity with the express provisions of the con stitution, the Student Advisory committee finds no convincing evi dence to support the claim made by Sigma Nu that prejudice and bias had entered into the delibera tions, and that certain members of the Interfraternity tribunal had been actuated by a desire for re venge because of political develop ments during the spring election. Our committee found no evi dence to support the view put for ward by the defendant fraternity that the tribunal had assessed the fines only upon organizations al lied with Sigma Nu during the spring elections of 1935. Although the majority of the fines assessed upon fraternities for the violation of rushing^ regulations (nine all all told) were assessed upon fra ternities allied with Sigma Nu in the spring campaign we believe that this distribution of penalties was accidental. Two organizations in the opposite political camp were subjected to fine, and more con vincing still is the consideration that the tribunal was divided equally between the two opposing political camps. The Student Advisory commit tee finds no evidence to support the charge that Thomas McCall, president of the Interfraternity council and ex officio member of the tribunal, was actuated by any desire for revenge upon Sigma Nu because a member of that organi zation is alleged to have prevented McCall from being elected senior class president. The senior class presidency was never an object of considerable desire so far as Mc Call was concerned, and he is not, in the opinion of our committee, the type of man to cherish a long standing grudge and seek to ob tain revenge upon his political en emies. Whatever warnings were given to Sigma Nu fraternity by both LaBarre and McCall were in the nature of friendly reminders and intended to forestall further violations of rushing regulations. If LaBarre and McCall had been actuated by a desire to “get Sigma Nu fraternity” by laying a trap for the organization they certainly would not have warned the offend ing fraternity in advance of the time when the “trap” was being set. Despite the fact, therefore, that the procedure before the tribunal was not regular and in conformity with the terms of the constitution, we believe that the personnel was j impartial and that prejudice played 1 no part whatever in shaping the final decision. Sigma Nu Frateriiity Guilty on Two Counts Despite the fact that the pro cedure was irregular, the commit tee reviewed in detail the charges which had been made against Sig ma Nu fraternity and arrived at the conclusion that the defendant organization was guilty on two of the five charges which had been preferred against them. (Nos. 1 and 5). Under No. 1 it was charged that the Sjgma Nu fraternity through William Dick and Lee Canessa had been talking to Brad Foley, a rushee, in an automobile parked in front of the Osburn hotel at the hour of 11:15 p. m. on Monday, September 23, 1935. The facts as stated here were freely admitted by the representative of Sigma Nu. The organization attempted to make a defense on the ground that Dick and Canessa were not members of the organization at the time when the offense oc curred. Technically this is true. Both Dick and Canessa had been released from pledge at the end of the academic year 1934-35. They were, however, repledged to the organization on September 28th under special dispensation re quested from the national organi zation by the local chapter. In the interim these two men had all their affiliations with Sigma Nu and unquestionably acted as represen tatives of the organization in ap proaching rushees. The defendant organization must therefore as sume responsibility for the acts of these two men and the charge against the organization is sus tained. On No. 5 Don Goodall and N. Kavanagh, members of Sigma Nu fraternity, were in the room of Mr. Bill Polk, rushee, in the Eugene hotel until twelve midnight. This charge was freely admitted by the representative of Sigma Nu fra ternity, both at the original hear ing by the Tribunal and in the re hearing, and in the written brief submitted by the organization, and finally before the Student Advis ory committee. The fine originally assessed upon these two specific offenses were $5.00 and $10.00 respectively, and it is the decision of the Student Advisory committee that these fines remain unchanged. Sigma Nu Fraternity Exonerated on Three Charges On charges Nos. 2, 3, and 4 the Sigma Nu is exonerated and the fines remitted. The committee be lieves, however, that a consider able measure of blame attaches to Mr. Fenwick’s conduct with Dick Roberts at the Eugene hotel after the hours for such contacts on Tuesday, September 24th. Mr. Fenwick entered the plea that he and Mr. Roberts were long-stand ing friends, and that he. Fenwick, happened into the Eugene hotel at the time mentioned and stopped to converse briefly with Mr. Roberts. The committee believes that the relationship between the two, the fact that the meeting was acci dental and apparently not pre-ar ranged, constitute extenuating cir cumstances. On the other hand, the committee believes that Mr. Fenwick as president of the or ganization should have recognized a special obligation on his part to '•shun every appearance of evil" in the matter of violating rushing rules to which his organization had subscribed. The fine was remitted but the action of Mr. Fenwick is subject to censure. Under charge No. 3, namely, that several members of Sigma Nu fraternity were seen at Mammy's Cabin after midnight on the eve ning of September 24th, it was not established to the satisfaction of the committee that any rushees were present and the concourse of members of Sigma Nu fraternity at any hour of the night or day does not constitute a violation un less rushees are present and being entertained by the members of the organization. It appears that rushees had been present at an earlier period in the evening but they had been sent home before 10:30 at which time lawful rush ing ceases. Upon the fourth charge that the Sigma Nu fraternity entertained rushees at Chicken Inn until one o'clock in the morning, the evi dence was conflicting and not con clusive. It appears likely that the contention of the fraternity that no rushees were present at an hour subsequent to 10:30 is a correct statement of the case. On the three counts last men tioned, therefore, the Student Ad visory committee reaches the con clusion that not only was the pro cedure irregular but that the evi dence submitted was not convinc ing. The fines therefore originally attached to these three offenses should be remitted. We may therefore list the find ings and recommendations of the Student Advisory committee under the following heads: First: Because of the irregular ity of the proceedings involved and because of the lack of satisfactory evidence Sigma Nu fraternity is adjudged not guilty with reference to charges Nos. 2, 3, and 4, al though some censure must be at tached to the conduct of Mr. Fen wick in connection with his meet ing with Mr. Roberts at the late hour mentioned, in the Eugene ho tel. Second: The committee finds, de spite the irregularity of the pro ceedings involved, that charges brought against Sigma Nu frater nity under 1 and 5 are supported by conclusive evidence and admit ted by the fraternity itself, and that the fines levied against the organization to the extent of $15.00 shall be allowed to stand. It is fur ther decreed that that the fines, now long over-due, shall be paid to the Interfraternity council on or before January 22, 1936. Third: It is the opinion of the Student Advisory council that Sig ma Nu fraternity has no just grounds for withdrawal from the Interfraternity council during the present academic year. Mention was made in our hearing of advice from the national organization that the local chapter sever its re lation with the Interfraternity council. It is difficult for us to un derstand how the national organi zation could request withdrawal of the local chapter from an organi zation to whose constitution and by-laws it has definitely sub scribed. Moreover, in matters af fecting the discipline of organiza tions as well as students, full power is given to the University of Ore gon faculty and its proper com mittees, and their decision with regard to the status of a definite fraternity must take precedence over any wishes expressed by the national organization. Tourth: The Student Advisory committee after a careful study of the situation presented by the case, is firmly convinced that an organ ization modeled after the present Interfraternity council is necessary to regulate matters of common concern to the Greek-letter organ izations on the University campus, and to establish a code of fair prac tices with regard to competitive rushing. It is, therefore, the recommen dation of the committee that the present Interfratornity council be reorganized on a permanent basis and that membership therein be made compulsory. Fifth: As indicated in the body of this report, procedure before the tribunal was irregular, failed to conform to the requirements of the constitution and with regard to the usual practice that an in ; dividual or an organization charged with an offense shall have power I to submit evidence in its own be half and present in a formal way an answer to the charges made. VVe believe that the procedure be fore the tribunal should be revised with a view to safeguarding future decisions against the charges set forth in the body of this report. The committee refrains from mak ing definite suggestions, believing that the problem should be solved through collaboration between the Interfraternity council and the present administration of the Uni versity of Oregon. Respectfully submitted, JAMES H. GILBERT. Approved: C. V. BOYER,