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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 1947)
Brecon it Emerald MARGUERITE W ITT WER-WRIGHT Editor GEORGE PEGG Business Manager TED GOODWIN, ROB FRAZIER Associates to Editor BIDE STRATTON Managing Editor BILL YATES News Editor BERNIE HAMMERBECK Snorts Editor DON FAIR, WALLY HUNTER Assistant Sports Editors Signed editorial features and columns in the Emerald reflect the opinions of the writers. They do*not necessarily represent the opinion of the editorial staff, the student body, or the Ul"VeEntered as second class matter at the postoffice, Eugene, Oregon.__ Little Lost Sheep The perennial expressions of alarm, deploring' the wayward ness of college students in general and "cigarette smoking coeds" in particular, have made their usual appearance. To emerge briefly from the security of the ivory tower and the usual safe policy of inveighing against sin, cancer, and the man-eating shark, consider the plight of the neo lost generation. It is said that our students are shallow' and lacking in purpose, even that some of them have been known to take a drink.” In some circles such things are said more forcibly. We are patently on the road to ruin. Self destruction is our witless and unhappy end. The outlook is pretty bleak . . . but before contemplating the river, we can observe how some of these lost generations eventually find themselves. A large per centage of today’s men students can remem ber the shallow, cigarette sucking wenches with which they went to school in 40, 41, and even before. 1 hey were con demned from the pulpits and storied by traveling salesmen. They left the campus to what inglorious end? We married them. They followed us around the army camps, to the port of embarkation. 1 hey bravely returned from dockside to hold our homes together, to beat our child ren, alone. They put by their earnings in the bank to help us when we got home. They prayed and hoped and. wrote letters. Now these girls are making homes for us on $90 a month. Homes we are pretty proud of, at that. They help us with our lessons while we add to the GI check. 1 hey make last year's dresses do another year and buy baby clothes until A\e graduate and can bring about the kind of living we dreamed of, evenings in the Side, or by the Millrace. Thank God for such “lost" women, and may Oregon con tinue to produce them. Pro - P.R.O. The Emerald agrees with Reader Iredale that the 1_ ni versity’s public relations has not been too good recently. \\ e repeat our editorial suggestion (Knierald, January 8) that a public relations director is necessary. The Knierald first pointed out that a public relations of ficer was in order when the handling of the athletic board s resignation showed a regretable lack of understanding of pub lic opinion. Iredale mentions this fiasco in his letter (edited out because of lack of space) and notes that "we should not irritate the press but cooperate with it as much as possible because it is one ol the tools which the University uses to promote its public relations." The truth of that statement is self-evident. A case in point is the reported “feud” between Dean Orlando Hollis and Oregon sportswriters—a condition which certainly did not make for good public relations. Students have been equally guilty of behavior not con ductive to "universal understanding, respect and prestige." The incident deplored by Iredale is especially irritating. But students whose behavior in public places in Eugene shows lack of breeding, who pass out under tables at local bars, who treat townspeople with discourtesy at University affairs open to the public, or who tend to lower the University's reputa tion while on vacation at home—are just as guilty of poor public relations. Wo must admit trial a public relations oincer m me em ploy of tlie University may not he able to do much with stu dents. A feeling of responsibility cannot he enforced—it must he developed slowly. However we go on record as recommending a PRO for the use of the administration, who would coordinate the school's publicity and public relations endeavors. .... \Ye hasten to add that due credit should go to the University news bureau for its past and present work toward good public relations. Hut the news bureau cannot be given the whole complex job. ,\presponsible, experienced, capable man must be found elsewhere. Someone like the athletic bu reau's Art Pitchman- one man who probably knows more about public relations than anyone else on the campus. ♦ 'a?t ™ rr rrnr rr rr t Telling the Editor ABOUT PUBLIC RELATIONS After an incident during the Washington vs. Oregon game I be came convinced of the need for pub lic relations at Oregon, not only among the students but the faculty and administration as well. The incident I speak of occurred when members of the state legislature were introduced to the audience. In stead of getting the respect that was due them, they were greeted with loud and noticeable BOO’S. This happened just at the time when the administration is trying to get the legislature to appropriate more funds with which to run the University. As the old saying goes, “Don't bite the hand that’s feeding you.” I proposed that Dr. Gage be al lowed to establish a public relations counsel for the University to be headed by President Newburn, and that Dr. Gage conduct a class in public relations for the faculty and administration in addition to the one already being conducted for the students. I am not alone in stressing the need for public relations in the uni versities. Sills and Lesly in their book “Public Relations” also stress this fact: “There is probably no more self-centered group of men in the country than college professors and administrators. No group is less qualified to ascertain public opinion about itself or to attempt to influ ence it favorably. There is need for a counsel to sit at the elbow of al most every board of directors to counsel on policies, plans, and pro cedures in achieving good will.” Dr. Gage has a good definition of public relations in regard to how it applies to Oregon: “Public relations is that actibility of an organiza tion which aims to develop and maintain universal understanding, respect, and prestige.” Let us have better public rela tions at Oregon in the future. H. J. Iredale. ABOUT VET ACTION About that vet who says the vet "doesn’t need to talk; he’s going to DO.” What’s he going to DO? When’s he going to DO it ? If he’s got such “deep convictions; crawl in a hole and sneer out at ever-present stupidity, he may find Uranium 235 and 238 digging the hole out from under him. If he's got such deep convictions; cinched opinions; and workable schemes” and doesn’t talk them over with others, he may find peo ple disagreeing with his convictions with “cinched opinions” of their own. Then talking does NOT become a dispensable prelude — unless comes da revolution and democracy is to be dispensed with. This vet who writes about the blank stares and Mr. Bombarde who both feel the disillusionment we all feel after participating in the world's political squabbling had bet ter be careful that they don’t fall, suckers to the idea that we need “leaders who act.” If they want to act as well as talk, they can find active groups on the campus which still prefer democrat ic palavering as a prelude to action. If they are interested in improving Eugene or Oregon, ethere is th American Veterans’ Committee which already has done much for students and townspeople. If they are interested in getting an organized gripe into world affairs, there are numerous campus organ izations along those lines—new ones ODD FELLOWS LODGE Spencer Butte No. 9 Meets Tuesday Nite at 8:00 p. m. Corner of Oak & Broadway ABOUT GREEKS During the International Festi val a young Egyptian student asked two weighty questions. I thought the answer might interest the school. These answers, as were the questions, asked and answered pri vately. They, of course, are not part of the festival or its program. 1. Why are fraternities and soror ities so restrictive in membership ? 2. Why the difference in Greek and Independent politics? I told my friend that the two questions are highly related and the answer cannot be separate and apart. That when discussing frater nities and sororities two facts are apparent. One is the basic sound ness and acceptability of organiza tions. The idea of men living togeth er in brotherhood and accord is a fundamental concept. When they are united in common interest and friendship it is the paragon of social intercourse. The second basic fact is the inherent weakness. When fraternities and sororities surren dered their autonomy to a central sovereign, when the chapters left the campus which they represent to join a national federation—with that union went their freedom. Gone now is the right of the chap ter to exercise membership require ments, a right which should be firm ly implanted and reserved in the lo cality. In its stead are bars based on color and creed. The discretion of local officers should be para mount and the choice of members a local function. With the advent of rigid national control the individual members sacrificed also a great measure of their rights. Or for what other reasons would students vote in blocs ? Voting blindly and led by a secret committee speaks unfavor ably toward individualism. If a plan of local sovereignty was followed eventually (as at Linfield college) there would be a greater degree of cooperation between Greeks and In dependents. The needless dissipation of student intelligence and resource fulness in a callow political fashion would cease. Perhaps the students could present then a unified front and coordinated effort to obtain their desires. The responsibilities of the Greeks are heavy ones. The qualities 01 such institutions are limited to a few. Those members then are obligated to themselves and the school to pie scind from social affairs and bloc politics, and unify the student body. Leonard C. Maxey. spring up every day, in fact! A democracy only works when people work within it. Geo. Holcomb. For frankfurters used in the Unit ed States 49,000 miles of casings are needed yearly. r Side Patter By BOB WHITERY To say that it was a full week end is putting it mildly . . . the Sigma Noo’s threw a corker of af house dance . . . Triad was a tre menjous success and Willamette park was still cold but cozy on Sat. night. Sigma Noo Pinky Williams and Alpha Gam Penny Wray are all sewed up,'Bob Moore hung his pin, and Bill “Flaps” George and Chi Oh Alla Eoomis are now engaged. “Genial Jim” Curry and Alpha Chi Vivian Oyala are real serious about each other . . . and we don’t blame him. “Ailing Brad” Francher was piqued at the Sigma Noo dance when six or seven eager fresh man ..girls ..apologized ..for ..not knowing what department he taught in. Shouting “Geronimo1 . . . Francher lept on the slide and went down head first mumbling trrrack! Shades of Lake Placid. The lawyers have three more queens to announce this week as the smooth Ex-Marine Sarah Cambell, Chi O Nancy Fitzhugh and Theta Mary Jo Warren are all tied in a photo finish. The judges decision was unanimous, and no duplicate prizes are awardT ed. The Joe Hall quintet are rated as coke servers supreme, and Gay Baldwin has taken over their booking problems. We forgot to mention Sigma Chi’s “Big Jim” Sheppard for King of Hearts can didate from the old boys club. The Young Republicans met in town last weekend, the campus was represented by such stalwarts as “Senator” Kulter and Walker from the law school who make plenty of wheels turn ’round. The most fascinating news story of the week in its entirety is re printed from the sterling pages of the Emerald. Incidentally those new co-eds on the rally squad are doing well, and they’ve really been getting a rise out of the students. Don’t forget those deelishouss cof fee and donuts always available at the local snake pit. The in side straight and Thanatopsis club will have a meeting soon. Look to Lockheed for leadership. Note to Sigma Kappa Betsy Moffit. Your wallet is at The Side, ask Jim or John for it. Pd. 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