Oregon daily emerald., May 21, 1938, Page Six, Image 6

Germany Votes Yes/ and So Do the Freshmen
i
I (Noto—The editors of this frosh edition have
>10 desire to condemn the administration of the
former freshman class under its elected officers.
To our knowledge there is no great dissatisfaction
with the personnel of the present sophomore class
officers. Let at least this much be granted, because
V ■ do intend to use the class of '41 as an example
of the way class polities should not be run. We
believe the fault to lie in the system, not in the
persons using the system.)
A BOLT a year ago a new constitution for the
AtSUO was put into effect by the University
i mdent body. That new constitution completely
Separated slmUnt body business from the adminis
tration of the four classes. The classes of ’38, ’39,
and '40. then already in the Universirv. each chose
an individual constitution. Then came rush week
last fall, and a new crop of freshmen. What did
• they do! First, a 50-eent class card fee was charged
all who would pay, and the money went into the
core of the educational activities office. Second,
a nomination and election assembly for the fresh
man class wax called by the ASUO president, and
only those hearing class cards were admitted at the
Poors. The group split into two blocs, voted accord
ingly, and elected three officers.
But a few freshmen, adhering to no bloc, pro
tested the meeting and election. They maintained
that the ASUO president had no right to call the
meeting, that the class cards were unauthorized
and that they did not constitute a legal contract,
and that the whole chain of events was in the worst
possible parliamentary fashion. Editorially, we be
L *ve that their claims were legitimate. Their pro
test disrupted the whole campus politically. The
matter was referred to committees, to meetings,
a id it seemed that the whole tangle could be solved
.only by a decision from the faculty. Finally the
matter was straightened out in a rather anti-eli
niactic, but nevertheless turbulent class assembly.
For the rest of fall term and through the winter
the frosli political front appeared fairly placid,
with only an occasional murmur about abolition
of old blocs, coalition parties, and direct primaries.
But with the arrival of spring term and time for
new elections, the brew began to bubble again.
Campaign managers and prospective candidates for
the new sophomore offices began to call their blocs
Together to do some astute horse-trading. Came
election day, and the individual members of the
class found themselves in the same position as citi
zens in Europe’s mucli-publieized “dictator”
states. They voted for only one candidate, because
only one candidate was on the nomination list.
'JMIUS far. we have offered nothing more than a
statement of acknowledged history. In doing
so we are not attempting to reveal any skeletons
in the closet, but we are trying to point to a solu
tion for future classes. Last September, when the
class of ’41 was in the turmoil we told of, everyone
was highly resolved that “something ought to be
done” to protect the next freshman class from a
similar fate. In fact, a few of the leaders com
mitted themselves to the task of “doing some
thing” when spring term came. The results of those
commendable resolutions have failed to materialize,
and now we wonder if the University student body,
as a part of an institution of “higher learning,”
is going to perpetuate a political system that has
failed to prove successful. We wonder if, instead,
they shouldn’t be setting an example of political
progress to the nation.
* «= *
We propose, first, that an addition be made to
the A.SUO constitution or by-laws, outlining a
skeleton constitution for each freshman class
as it enters the University. That constitution need
be no more than a statement that three officers be
elected. After being organized, the class could
add to the document as it pleased. The ASUO presi
dent should be empowered to preside over the first
two assemblies, the first one for receiving nomina
tions for office, the second for elections. And if
sophomore fingers are to be kept out of the fresh
man pie, call botli meetings before announcement
of pledges is made. That won’t keep the freshmen
from forming blocs of their own, but it may delay
operation of the political “machines” to some
extent. It is granted that this system would have
the disadvantages of not being soundly organized.
The chances of students coming from the larger
schools would be raised. It cannot be said, how
ever, that the individual members of the class
know much about the nominees under the present
system, except that the upperclass brothers tell
them to vote for “Ginnsberg, lie’s a swell fella.”
Being followers of the principles of democracy, per
haps somewhat optimistically, we feel that if the
freshmen are at least selecting their own choice,
that in itself is an advantage. And very few people
will be willing to say that the freshmen have
voted for their own choice in the past and present
scheme". As a test, they might try to persuade a
group of freshmen to vote against bloc instructions.
# # *
^^FTER those first two meetings, we would put
the class on its own. Then it can enlarge upon
its lianded-down skeleton constitution, select its
membership qualifications, sell its class cards, and
plan its activities. But in leaving them, we would
offer one bit of advice. If the members intend to
vote upon the officers who will govern tlqeir class
when they, too, become sophomores, then let them
incorporate a system of direct primaries into their
constitution. The world has long recognized that
horse-traders are shrewd dealers.—G. R.
Our Orchids Are Reserved for Editor Leroy Mattingly
^U^/ddl-iX May comes, and college students write
to the folks-back home, saying, “We’ll see
>'»u soon, it is usually deemed the appropriate
I aie to write a farewell or a swan-song for the
£•••!!ior class. I he inference that those seniors are
p.eing to taee "lile for the first time appears
Ji ghly questionable in the ease of most college
people; they are going, however, to leave tin1 realm
of classes, professors, ■•houses.” athletics, and earn
pit' dances. So to the members of ’38 we wish the
b ->t of luck.
I hit among all others, there is one senior man
1 whom we desire to dedicate this editorial.
‘■Mat,” known in some places as LcRoy .Mattingly,
) ■ listed by the Oregana in the senior class section
jw only a journalism major, but the “loyalists” of
h 8'hack know tiiat h me raid Kditor Mattingly is
also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Friars, and
that lie also represents the University on the base
ball field. To those of us who do the term’s study
ing' during exam week, when there is no.Emerald
to publish, this list of Mat's accomplishments is
especially astounding.
As an editor. Mat can gain no praise from us
higher than that from the National Collegiate
Press when it awarded to the Emerald under his
direction the honor of the Pacemaker award. As
the. director of the paper’s editorial policies. Mat
1ms been fair, just, and as impartial as possible:
but if occasionally he found it necessary to trod
upon someone's toes, he had no fear in doing so.
As a student leader, he has been respected, and has
drawn towards him the peojile who have helped
to make a Pacemaker paper. And if in that light.
Mat must share the honor of the award with Lloyd
Tripling, who contributed his well-directed efforts
in the management of the staff and in-the make-up
of the pages, he is in no way discredited by it.
As wc struggle through a maize of awkward
phrases striving to hit upon a likely reading com
bination, we realize that Mat’s task of writing sev
eral of his own editorials for each edition was no
soft one. So, far as one man can serve as a model
for other men. he will probably continue to be the
example set for the generation of this frosh edition.
Now tlie time has come, when after writing
paragraphs of praise, we shall expose the favor
which we have come to ask. If Phi Bete Mattingly
would do one last good deed, let him accept both
our thanks for what he has clone, and our best
wishes for whatever he may do in the future.
Wanted: One New Set of Kilts for the Duck Band
1 \\ ednesday, as far as this Ibuversity and
t ho Oregon State college are eoneerned, is
(•avernor’s day. (’lasses will bo dismissed for the
akernoon. and all the forees of the combined KOTO
d -partments will pass in review. That ceremony
V dl no doubt cause the sendees of the two hands
( be ealled to duty, and any appearance of the
) 1 tek band reminds us of another subject.
About three months ago, John Stehn. director
of Oregon's band, announced plans for buying a
i “W sot of uniforms to brighten the appearance
o: the musical Tallymen. The announcement was
> -rived with enthusiasm by the campus because
11 preceding football games had convinced the
fans that the two sets of suits the band now wears
have lived beyond their time. One of the suits was
made in typical ‘‘cadet” style. The pieces of that
set are now either incomplete or falling apart.
AVhen the band wears the other set. the bystanders
wonder when the convention of taxi-drivers came
to town.
Now all this is no reflection upon Director
Stehn. lie himself can purchase no new uniforms.
W e suppose, however, that he must have had some
reasonable assurance from the University's pur
chasing agents that action would be taken before
he announced that new dress would soon be on its
way. In fact he seemed confident at that time that
the new set would be here ready for use when the
state high school band contest eras here. But the
contest time passed long ago, and the new uni
forms appear no closer to reality than before.
Little more can be desired of the band’s play
ing. Such has been the success of Stehn’s leader
ship and directing ability. But when passing before
military review, when marching on a football field,
or when parading for a rally session, a bright and
neat appearance makes a good impression, which
when lacking leaves only a sense of disappoint
ment.
It is impossible to get any new uniforms now
before Governor s day. But there is plenty of time
to order them before the 1938 gridiron schedule isi
opened. Let's be sure thev get here
Not Responsible—or Foo on All the Upperclassmen
t res h men who have struggled heroically
through night ami morning to give the cum
pit' thi.'' journalistic epic have accomplished this
work, good or had, without the guiding influence
0'' any upperclassmen. In fact Friday's edition
pointed out especially that the regular editors were
d solaiming an\ responsibility for our efforts. All
\ can say is that we disclaim any responsibility
J r that front-page story concerning this paper.
Now anyone who can see beyond the end of his
uoso. bo it ever so short, can also see that the story
on the front page concerning our edition was not
marked “editorial." And anyone who was suffi
ciently patient to read the story through to the
last paragraph could quickly and correctly discern
that the statements contained therein were edi
torial by their nature and were not of pure news.
A e wouldn t for the world imply that our wise
upperelass veterans would do anything outside
the realm of sound journalism. Nevertheless, we
ieel obliged to point out to the campus that the
newspaper is obligated to present the news im
paitialh and without unnecessary comment from
the reporter.
1'Ut " HI be lenient and understanding about
the whole matter. Maybe they didn't do their “ele
mentary" assignments either and don't know
better. So we apologize for them, knowing all the
while that they are now hunting feverishly for
some ‘sli2'llt errors, perhaps on this very page.