Oregon W Emerald
ALL-AMERICAN 1946-47
The Oregon Daily Emerald, official publication of the University of Oregon, published
daily during the college year except Sundays, Mondays, and final examination periods.
Entered as second-class matter at the postomce, Eugene, Ore.
Member of the Associated Collegiate Press
BOB FRAZIER, Editor
BOB CHAPMAN, Business Manager
BILL YATES
Managing Editor
JUINii UULUt. imurni
Co-New 8 Editors
DON FAIR FRED TAYLUK
Co-Sports Editor
We Point Without Pride
That old bugaboo—politics on tbe campus—was dis
cussed at some length recently in Collier’s magazine. Dick
son Hartwell, a reporter for the National Weekly, set out to
investigate the often-repeated charge that the present day
campus is a hotbed of Communism. He visited a number of the
larger campuses and a few of the smaller ones and found some
small evidence to support the old charge.
But, he says, the college students are too smart to buy any
of the new panaceas. Today's student, the reporter says, can
be trusted with all the theories (left and right) and can be
depended upon to exercise mature judgement. The article
winds up "with an Everyman’s Political Directory of these or
ganizations. reading from right to left, from the Young Re
publicans to the American Youth for Democracy.
In short Mr. Hartwell likes what he saw:
Extremes of intolerance and of radical thinking are as rare today
as is the raccoon-coated Joe College of the goldfish-swallowing era
There is still plenty of college spirit, but, inside, it has crystalized' the
new idea expressed by one student: “So little effort, so few changes,
would make such tremendous improvements in this world. It seems
we all ought to try to do something.”
That young man—and the 150,000 other leaders like him—will
come out of college better equipped to make those changes than any
other group of students in history. Never was our academic atmos
phere more favorable; never have young people been more receptive.
Neither Roosevelt nor Truman nor Marshall nor Dewey nor Taft nor
any other leaders today developed from surroundings of such favor
able portent.
The Collier's reporter didn’t come to the University of
Oregon, or, if he did, he didn’t find anything worth repeating.
Probably it is just as well that he didn’t come here, because
the campus offers little of the keen political interest that he
found so admirable on other campuses.
Students here just don’t seem to give a hoot. And there is
reason to believe that the situation is similar at other institu
tions in the state. The Oregon Federation of Collegiate
Leaders, meeting Friday and Saturday at Oregon State col
lege, agreed that at none of their schools were political issues
in the limelight.
Of course there are bright spots. The One World club, the
International Relations club, the Political Science club, Wes
ley and Westminster house, seem to heading in the right di
rection. But these groups are small. It is still safe to say that
there is no general popular interest in the things that matter.
As one professor remarked this week in his history class,
campus political groups won’t make any real dent in the na
tional scene. That’s so true.
But a healthv discussion of those matters, added to all the
others healthy discussions in groups all over the nation, will
make a difference.
College students probably have access to more real fact, to
more intelligent speakers, than any other group in the nation.
'To overlook this real opportunity for active participation in
society is to overlook one of the more valuable aspects of
this thing called a college education.
There WILL be Dancing
Those who have been waiting with indrawn breaths for the
v erdict on the continuance of Friday night free dances in the
new tierlinger annex can exhale and relax now. The opener
was a huge success and> therefore, will become SOI*.
The dances will be held every Friday night that is reason
able, and will feature different campus bands, according to
Dick Williams, educational activities manager. “Reasonable”
means that dances will not be scheduled on weekends featuring
other all-campus events, thus overloading the social calendar.
The educational activities board, which is sponsoring the
dances was not only pleased with the turn-out of students but
also with their cooperation with the balcony smoking rule. An
attempt is being made to have coat hangers on hand next time.
Since thcWAA carnival is scheduled for this Friday even
ing and the following Saturday marks the Senior Ball, the
next free dance has been scheduled for January JO and will
feature Herb Widmer’s combo. Other definite dates are Feb
ruary JO and 27, and March 5 is tentative.
'The success of the first dance was possibly because it fol
lowed a basketball game, so the true test will be on January
JO when there isn’t a game. Students have been elamering for
free mixers and now they are here. It will depend on student
attendance whether or not the dances continue. M.F..T.
The Public Be Damned
By BERT MOORE
It’s list-making time again. All of Hollywood’s critics pick this
time of year to settle down, re-read their jaundiced outpourings for
the past year and judge the various films and actors they have seen.
It doesn’t make any difference to them as to how the general
public received Miracle Studio’s (“If It's a Good Picture, It s a Mir
acle”) twelve-star production of “Out West With The Gleeks
if the g.p. riots in front of theaters all over the U. S. trying to get in
to see kindly old Judge Gleek tell Willie the facts of life, the picture
is obviously “too commercial.”
Same practice holds for the stars whose appearances on the screen
send thousands of men or women back to their once-happy homes
to look at their mates and then cut loose with an axe. Barry Betel
geuseViould have palpitated a million hearts with his portrayal of
Stalin in “Orion,” but the critics may say of the same performance:
“No depth . . . amateurish . . . should have stayed in Puyallup . . .
acted as if in the latter stages of locomotor ataxia ... Joe Bfptlsk
couldn't have made this reviewer feel worse . . .”
Even as Bert
The steady, rustling sound of bills dropping on boxoffice counters
so the public can see some cinematic soap opera that the critics have
panned unmercifully doesn’t disturb the critics at all. They go right
on giving their verdicts on filmfare, inconsistent as the verdicts may
be with popular judgments. They make out the lists each year just the
same. Even as I.
So, here’s another listing of the best and worst of them all. Take
it for what it’s worth. I’ll admit that I missed some well-praised
movies: LIFE WITH FATHER, KISS OF DEATH, MIRACLE ON
34TH STREET, DEAR RUTH, and BLACK NARCISSUS are some
of them. Consequently, the list could be improved easily.
Perhaps the following should be called the “most interesting” in
stead of the “best.” Can you make a good argument against any of
them? BOOMERANG, CROSSFIRE, GREAT EXPECTATIONS,
PERILS OF PAULINE, SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY, SHOE
SHINE and TAWNY PIPIT.
The Seven Worst
The seven worst? Let's try CALCUTTA, COPACABANA, DARK
PASSAGE, DESERT FURY, DUEL IN THE SUN, GUNFIGHTERS,
and THE HOMESTRETCH.
Best actor—Hume Cronyn, who almost completely overcame the
stagnant lines he had as the assistant warden in BRUTE FORCE.
Best actress—Celia Johnston, the wife in THIS HAPPY BREED.
Worst job, male—Dennis Morgan in CHEYENNE (although Alan
Ladd almost copped the award in CALCUTTA, and Mark Steyens
tried hard for it in I WONDER WHO’S KISSING HER NOW). Worst
job, female—Easily Lauren Bacall, in DARK PASSAGE.
The Disappointment
Greatest disappointment—DUEL IN THE SUN. Biggest surprise
TAWNY PIPIT, an English comedy of a type indeed rare.
Best comedian—Groucho Marx in COPACABANA. Compare what
Marx had to work with and the material Danny Kaye had, for exam
ple, in MITTY, and you’ll have to admit Groucho is tops.
Best comedienne—Elizabeth Scott in DESERT FURY. So she
wasn’t trying to be funny. . . .
Any objections ?
Ask For Narcissus...
By FRED YOUNG
Last Friday evening the presence of the new sound was not in
cluded in the program notes. And it seems that the Saturday morning
reviews were duly critical of this frantic syncopation. You know
what syncopation is—it travels along with the drunk—moving irregu
larly from bar to bar.
Billy Butterfield finally has brought out his most interesting, and,
consequently, his b^st record to date. Just ask for Narcissus. And,
also in the way of Capitol records, find Kay Starr’s new release of
“Then I’ll Be Tired of You.” She has been featured by Charles Bar
nett and is currently doing quite well around Hollywood. I think
you’ll agree with me that her sexsational voice outheats torrid Peggie
Lee.
A Barnett Repress
We were speaking of Charlie Barnett. His “Pompton Turnpike”
has been re-pressed. Also several of T. Dorsey’s better records, and
one of the all-time GREAT records, Coleman Hawkins’ “Body and
Soul.” These are all available in the greater Willamette valley. And
while you and the big white terrier are getting your kicks from these
Victor re-releases, do us a favor and hear Dizzy’s latest, “Stay On It.”
In a word—it is very fine. It will cause you to forget the $5 you
spent to view Kenton.
Hate to dig up old records, but the Krupa Columbia label has not
read interestingly for the last few months. So get another copy of his
"Disc Jockeys Jump” or the other side, as Hogan would. And you can
hear Dick Jurgens on records, which fact may serve as added proof.
Listen to Bands for Bonds on Mutual, Saturdays from 10:30 to 11
a.m. It features bands which are not direct from hotels. It has the
only sponsor that offers you cash and progressive music besides.
Buddy Rich was featured recently.
Herman’s Herd
Incidentally, Rich's band should make a big noise in '48. Also check
Herman’s New Herd which will develop into more than his last. And,
naturally, the Diz will be great, in ’48. And to chum along with Look
Mag., let’s watch Thornhill this coming year. We’ll readily admit
(Please turn to age three)
Lest We Get Confused
There has been some misunderstanding- about this "board
of deans" which was reported in yesterday’s Emerald as hav
ing refused to cancel classes Friday afternoon and Saturday
of Junior W eekend. The personnel deans (the dean of women
and the assistant dean of men) are not on this board. The
board of deans is made up primarily of the academic deans
(deans of schools and the college of liberal arts.)
Side Patter
By SAIXIE TIMMENS
Why doesn’t someone with tal
ent write a poem on fogbound?
That seems to be what has af
licted this campus in the past few
days, and flashlights are a nec
essary evil for those insane
enough to be taking 8 o’clocks.
Alfa Xi Delta Yolande Stoll be
gan 1948 romantically by taking
Peter Blyth’s Sigma Chi pin on
New Year’s eve. Three Zeta Tau
A If as got themselves engaged
over the holidays, too. Namely,
Jess Bartels to Ed Palfreyman of
the University of Washington,
Edy Rae to Doug Warner of OSC,
and Dolores Friedrickson to Don
Miller, from her home town, Mo
lalla, wherever that is.
All good things seem to be
coming in threes, and so be it
with the Sigma Kappas who have
three new lings since Christmas,
Chris Rannow who,, is tied up
with a teacher; Virginia Avery
with a Pasadena lad, Jack Rit
zell, and Elizabeth Howes and
Phi Sig Art Elbon.
The end of January is the date
set for the marriage of Alfa Fie
Patty Newton and Delt Harry
Nyland. At present they are hav
ing a problem, apartment, hunting.
Eugene gal Shirley Mahoney sur
prised her Alfa Fie sisters recent
ly with her engagement to Claire
Thomas, also of Eugene.
Once again Gus “YoYo” Kikes,
of the Del't house, has his pin out.
The lucky femme is .Delta Zeta
Gloria Talarico. Alfa Gam Jean
McCauley is sporting Bill Hollen
bach’s Sig Ep heart, and likewise
for ChiO Jill Archer and Sig Ep
Bob Chaney.
Two more newsy engagements
are Alfa Chi Judy McRugg to DU
pledge, Ted Schultz, and romance
during final week for Alfa Gam
Margaret Rauch to John Car
mack. Not a scoop, but a good
combo are Kappa Poddy Fitzmau
rice who is pinned to Kappa Sig
Vic Risley.
A Stanford Fiji is the man to
whom Ann Spence of the DG pil
pi liars is now pinned, and Fiji
Hank Voderberg- has liis pin on
Shireen Ferguson from Portland.
Fiji Bill “Move on Proletariat”
Van Dyke looks so good in morn- -
ing coat and striped trousers, it -
has been suggested that he be
come an undertaker. Business on
the campus might pick up during
final week.
Some pretty steady combos of <
late are Alfa Fie Mary Handelin
and SAE Ed Anderson, Bill Bosse
of the Chi Psi lodge and Theta,
Caryl Delzell, a transfer from
OSC, and Kappa Sig Bob New- ,
man with Theta Mary Ann “Pc
tey” Fortmiller.
Carl Reusser, Johnny Miller,
Sooup Campbell, and their little
group are now the possessors of s
a foundling collie pup which was
left on their doorstep. Question
seems to he what to do with said »
Pup.
What do the Chi Psis think ^
they're running—a fraternity or a
nursery? Outward signs seem to
prove 'the latte*.
Off for a cup at ye ol’ College
Side myself. They have powdered ^
their donuts now!—(Pd. Adv.)