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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 1941)
Forty Indignant Dormitory Residents Air Opinions On Emerald Editorial Policies (Editor’s note: The following letters were received by the Em erald yesterday after publication of an editorial criticizing dormi tory management. Believing that students should be given every opportunity for the expression of their opinions on campus ques tions, the Emerald is publishing part of the letters received, the rest to be run in future is sues. Letters are arranged al phabetically by last names of the writers. In certain cases it was thought advisable to withhold the name of the writer. Definite proposals for revision of the dormitory set-up appear on page 2 of today’s Emerald.) Hearty Agreement To the Editor: We, thjf undersigned residents ^ifttZeta hall, wish it to be known that we heartily agree with the editorial, “ARE THEY GETTING THEIR MONEY’S WORTH?’’ which appeared in the December 4 issue of the Oregon Daily Em erald. We wish to protest par ticularly the low wages of the housekeepers and the noon lunch es. George R. Pederson James R. Magee Peter Gregos H. Zophar Tharp William Anderson John W. Stott Dudley Fagerstrom Ray C. Abst ^' Bill Goss Sherman Otts Lew Scale Bob Johnson Saul Wasmuth John L. Jeensen Supports Stand To the Editor: We heartily agree with you in the stand you take against the dormitory situation. Bob Baldwin Clell Crane Euclid Paris Greeted Warmly 2Jo the Editor: Your editorial in this morning’s Emerald was greeted very warm ly by a very large percentage of the members of our organization and we appreciate very much your efforts to bring this matter to the attention of the University administration. You covered the situation very adequately when you stated that the men in the dormitories were not getting for their money a sufficient return, when compared to the returns realized by the members of fraternities and so rorities on this campus. It would seem therefore, that our admin istration should be carefully in —vyestigated and any discrepancies in management should be brought to light and corrected. I am very much in favor of your stand, and think that, as a result of your editorial, the sit uation will be investigated, which will be of great benefit to the res idents of the dorms. Peyton Bennett A Gem To the Editor: Your editorial on the situation now prominent at the men’s dor mitory was a gem. In the pro verbial term, “you hit the nail square on the head.” You can count on my 100 per cent coop r eration. Don Bridenstine <Swell Editorial To the Editor: Swell editorial on the dorm sit uation. I hope it will do some thing towards better meals. Ike Brown. For the Management To the Editor: "The dorm situation” as you put it, is not, perhaps quite so bad as your editorial infers. It is only natural for a group of peo ple such as those who live in the dormitory to have little griev ances and "whispering cam paigns.” The atmosphere in the dormi tory is very congenial and friend ships are carried on in their true light, without having any atti tude of fraternal spirit forced upon the residents. The living quarters are ex tremely good. In fact, I would go so far as to say they are the best on the campus. Where, on the campus, will you get a room, shared only by one other person, with a private wash-hand basin, lighting system, reliable heat, mirrors galore, adequate closet and drawer space, two sturdy desks, and chairs to match—all for $33 per term? in case oi nreatcage, naturauy we pay for the broken article. Do they have some mystic financier to pay for breakage in fraterni ties and sororities ? The wages paid in the dormi tory may be the minimum, but they do not vary greatly with the wages paid in fraternities and so rorities. The preparation of meals for over 400 students is, as you say, a problem, especially as these meals have to suffice for both boys and girls. During the two years I ate at the dormitory, I found the meals quite substan tial, and never remember being hungry. However, there were times when the lunches were open to criticism. Therefore, it appears to me, that the “dorm situation is not such a serious problem that it cannot be rectified by a proposal, through the inter-dorm council to Mrs. Turnipseed, to change or omit certain items on the menu. Jim Browne President, Inter-dorm -Council Unsavory Breakfast To the Editor: Having just finished another unsavory breakfast, I picked up this morning’s Emerald to find that the editorial had taken a good many words out of my mouth and expressed them in somewhat more modified terms than I would have. I heartily ap proved of the editorial, not simply because its contents coin cide with my own sentiments on dorm conditions, but because I am fully aware that our entire hall has long felt angry resent ment toward the defective dorm management. I, for one, greatly appreciate your interest in see ing that the dorms get a square deal, and have confident hope that you will obtain satisfactory results, so that the occupants will no longer have to grumble their complaints in helpless de spair. Ross Butler Better Looking Food? To the Editor: I think that some of the meals are very good and some are poor. How about some better looking food than that over-cooked cream pea serving we had this week? Usually the meat cuts are good, but could they come right off the stove to the plate and thus avoid that warmed-over look and taste. With a dietician at the head of the kitchen we are probably get ting balance and calories. Now how about a high standard every day? Some speed and polish in serving would help the effect. Would it take one more man? Relf Case Bold Stand To the Editor: I wish to commend the Emer ald for its bold stand on the dor mitory food situation. Your edi torial of this morning was the entire truth throughout. It is the opinion of all residents of Alpha hall that conditions are as bad as presented in the article. In fact it might be said that you even pulled your punches quite a bit. Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot. Robert Edwards Agree 100 Per Cent To the Editor: Yes, you bet I agree with your editorial 100 per cent. Another thing that gets me is: where is all of the money that is being paid by over 500 stu dents going? Somebody must be getting paid a nice fat salary. And for what ? Sitting with their feet on a desk! Why is it that if a chair or a light globe is broken unintential ly, of course, that we immediate ly get docked the full amount of our breakage fee. You can’t even mount a pencil sharpener in your room without going to 15 people and getting their permission. We want to be free! Why treat us as though we had to answer to a “big boss” that we never see. To be our own bosses is the reason we chose to stay in the “Dorm.” I think it is about time some thing were done about just a few of the things are going around here. Let’s do something about this. Let’s pay a decent wage for hired help. Why do we have to pay “scab” wages. These boys and girls give the University valuable time and get nothing in return. If a decent wage scale was main tained the labor turnover would be reduced to a minimum. At the present time they are having to beg students to help the regular crew in the kitchen. All that I can attribute this to is very poor management on somebody’s part. You bet, Mr. Editor; I’m behind you 100 per cer t. Bryce Thalman Lynn Freeman Heartily Commended To the Editor: The Emerald is to be most heartily commended on its edi torial concerning dormitory food as expressed in this morning’s edition. As a member of one of the dormitory living organiza tions I hope the policy will be urgently continued. Jim Gibson Poor Pay To the Editor: I agree with the editorial in the Emerald of Dec. 4, 1941. The employees of dormitories are very poorly paid. The dishwashers, hashers, and bussers get only 30 cents an hour for their work. They really earn at least 50 cents an hour. When the prices go up the employees wages raises to 35 cents an hour. The average employee makes about $15 to $20 a month. The food is good sometimes and again it is very poor. I received twice as good food in a boarding house in Portland for $25 a month where they buy it in much smaller quantities and at higher rates. It seems to me it is a racket. Robert Gierau. Vividly and Accurately To the Editor: Great! You have voiced vividly and accurately the views I have heard countless • dormitory resi dents express. Roy Hensley. Where's Money Go? To the Editor: I appreciated that article of this morning’s Emerald about the dormitories. I am sure that we all would like to know where all our money goes. Another thing is the fact that many of us miss meals such as breakfasts or even as much as our weekend meals when we go home. It doesn’t seem right that we must pay for all the meals we miss, too. True I admit that I will gladly pay for my meals even if I miss one or two meals a week but many dort’t eat any breakfast and still pay for all the meals. I hope that the Emerald will continue to back us as long as within reason. John Hediger Well Pictured To the Editor: Thanks for your editorial on the “Dorm Sityation.” The situa tion was well pictured. Perhaps more emphasis can be placed on certain points, such as the lack of paper towels and soap dispen sers in the washrooms. H. Kay Ito Improvement To the Editor: There certainly is room for im provement. I believe you are cor rect in wishing a check-up. Edgar Lewis Money's Worth To the Editor: I read your splendid editorial concerning the “dorm” in this morning’s Emerald with a great deal of pleasure. For years the living and eating conditions here in the dorm have been the object of considerable discussion and criticism from the students living in the various halls. Time after time the ques tion as to whether we were get ting our money’s worth has arisen. I believe the greater ma jority of the residents here agree that they are not. The “dorm” of all places on the campus should be the most eco nomical place to live. It is the place where the people of lesser financial means, and those who are endeavoring to get through college in the most economical way naturally expect the most for their hard earned money. Indications point to the fact that many shortcuts are utilized to cut expenses and costs in the building. The fact of reduced per centage of people eating on Saturday and Sunday mornings is taken into consideration. Furni ture broken in the buildings is charged to the students at out rageously high prices, repaired, then returned to use for some one else to unavoidably break in its weakened condition. It is a common joke among the students that said furniture has been paid for many times. It is a commonly known fact that the University of Oregon Dads’ club is investigating the food situation by an occasional visitation. On one of these visita tions we were served the best meal that we have had this term. On weekends when visitors are at the University our food is of the best quality and well planned. These facts I believe are signi ficant. I do not know the situation concerning the allocation of the funds here at the dormitory nor do I have any evidence to support a belief that there is mismanage* ment, but I do believe that a very thorough investigation should be made by a group of experts to determine any improvements which might be made or if the present administrators are incom petent. Immediate action should, I believe, be taken in this direc tion. Daniel E. Mercer Yea Man To the Editor: Regards your editorial about dorm food. Yea man. Rod Miller Paying for Them To the Editor: The editorial appearing at the top of page two of Thursday, De cember 4, Emerald very well ex presses my idea of the food situa tion in the dormitories. Some thing really should be done to better this situation. We should have consistently good meals be cause we are paying for them. Jack O’Harra A Protest To the Editor: As one of the girls who have eaten at the men’s dorm for two months, I wish to protest the editorial in this morning’s Em erald as being unjust. It would be impossible to plan each meal to suit the whims of 550 individuals but the food is remarkably well balanced with plenty of milk and green vegetables, the meat is well cooked and on the whole there is something wrong with a girl or boy who leaves the table hun gry. I have heard the same com plaints from those who live in sororities and fraternities, so it is evident that some people can never be satisfied. It is true that we prefer roast turkey to creamed turkey, and put up a howl—but maybe by Christmas that craving will be satisfied! With the price of food sky high, let’s be fair and generous to those who serve us. W. L. R. Food "Stinks" To the Editor: I read your editorial this morn ing, and you seem to have hit the nail on the head when you polite ly intimated that the dorm food “STINKS.” Fortunately, for my self, I don’t have to eat here any more, due to the fact that I have a job that pays my board. How ever, my heart really pines for the poor fellas that have to con tinue eating here. There is one other thing that I cannot see. There are 52 students residing in Alpha hall. Each of these students pays the fee of $33 per term for room rent. This does not include the so-called board. 52 times 33 dollars equals 1,716 dollars per term, or 5,148 dollars per year, merely for our room. Yet, the domitory manage ment claims that we don’t have enough money to have soap and paper towels in the lavatories. .... What do they do with the 5,148 dollars that we pay every year? Frank Sauer Favors Proposal To the Editor: I am in favor of a proposal which will, to any degree, im prove the quality of nourishment administered to dormitory resi dents. Even if a change in ad ministration or of administration policy is necessary to effect this change. Donald E. Selby