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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 4, 1949)
Look Here, Mr. Braun USA Platform Was Not 'Fantastic' To the- Editor: In the interest of our govern ment, vve feel that the following comments are in order in answer to those of Kirk Braun in Satur day’s Emerald, when he labeled the AGS and USA platforms as sure confessions of immaturity. We see neither constructive criti cism nor logical arguments in his statements. However, the fact that he took time to review the platforms, plank by plank is gratifying. It is in the interpre tation that we disagree. Let's look at the “fantastic” USA ' platform. Ilis first two comments con cerned our reconunendations for the Student Union. The idea that everybody ought to get into the act is exactly what we were try ing to get across. From the size of the building itself, it's eaSy to see that the program is going to be a big one requiring the par ticipation and leadership of more students than are now activity minded. So, we say, the more leaders, the better. The Student Union board, as wo want it, will bo responsible for the planning of a well-balanced program—well-balanced in the sense that the revenue-producing activities (dances, shows, etc.) are sufficient to support the non revenue producing ones (art ex hibits, music listening rooms, etc.). The inevitable student turn over makes it desirable, of course, that this grqup be mainly a poli cy-forming body, and that full responsibility for the operation of the building be left to the per manent director. As for the 2500 off-campus students mentioned, v,-e want the Union to serve them just as much as it does the on campus students. This is quite possible without establishing a “private student union’’ for them. A close tie between the ASUO council and the Emerald was one of our points under “more cam pus consciousness of student gov ernment.” It remains that the Emerald is the sole contact be tween the students and their gov ernment, and the only way that student leaders can obtain their cooperation and hear their voice. Certainly they are entitled to complete reports of what their government is doing. Unless there is a close tie be tween the council and the Emer ald, student responsibility cannot be broadened. The fact that Kirk did not know that student body offices have been moved froln McArthur court for the past year and a half indicates the very lack of knowledge we are talking about. Finally, regarding the millrace. It is true that the Millrace Devel opment association has been do ing well. However, they have done so with the cooperation and aid of not only individual stu dents but their leaders as well. To insure that the millrace will be in by fall, it will be necessary to raise considerable more funds. This will require the unified ac tion of both political factions, the student government, and the Em erald. In this way, we hope that the millrace will again become an integral part of campus life, just as our long-awaited Student Un ion will next year. It did not occur to us until we read it in Kirk's column that we were not obligateed to carry out our platform. In this we fully dis agree, even more strongly than on the other points. We feel that, not only are we obligated to carry out our platform in the bset man ner possible, but that both par ties, in making recommendations, have a responsibility to fulfill. Also in Saturday’s Emerald was a letter similar in note to Kirk's article. Mr. Scullin states he refused to vote in silent pro test to the impotence of our pres ent student government. We won der if Mr. Scullin realizes that it is this “silent” indifference that brings about the very ineffec tiveness which is being criticized. The very essence of democracy prevents anything from being gained in silent protest. Student government is charged with ignoring student interests. Few problems are brought di rectly from the student body to the council, but council mem bers spend many hours every week working on campus pro jects, including such present ones as Student-Faculty Rating, Ore Nter, Millrace, and Traffic Court. We would make the suggestion that Mr. Scullin and others at tend an executive council meet ing to learn more fully what the council does and what the spe cial duties of the president are. Anyone who thinks that the of fice of student body president is no more than an honorary title should know that administrative duties alone (about which most of us know nothing) often require as much as forty hours of work a week. It was stated that if the stu dent officials really had the in terests of independent govern ment at heart they would take steps to change the ASUO con stitution. Apparently, Mr. Scul lin lacked sufficient interest to knew that in the election in which he abstained from voting there was an amendment to the constitution which would per mit making the necessary chang es. This amendment did not get enough support from the student body to pass. Rather than wait ing until student leaders liberalize the constitution and broaden the base of responsibility to include all students, we urged that every student assist by taking an active part in such endeavors. We do not agree that there i3 no truly independent student ac tivity or publication on this cam pus. Further check into how much supervision the Emerald, and especially the OREGANA, receive, will bear this out. Many times our officers have been nothing more than figure heads, but we still maintain that our government is limited only insofar as the individuals whom we elect are persons of ability and integrity. Art Johnson, '50 Olga Yevtich ,49 We Must Not Fail! It looks as if the old University of song and sentiment is just one more fund drive away. With success in the coming drive for Millrace restoration money, the beloved stream should be restored. University bul letin writers will no longer be frabricating when they laud canoe fetes on the Millrace and dreamy afternoons spent on its banks. The student body’s share of the $25,000 matching funds should be easy to raise. From the students, $3,500 will be asked. It will be obtained by pledging over the remainder of the break age fees. There are more than 5,000 students, and breakage fees are—theoretically—$5 per student. That’s $25,000 if you fig ure nobody breaks anything, which you can’t. The figure that can be reached in this manner is “variable,’’ to understate. But anything raised in this manner will help. The important thing is that we keep this matter stirred up, that we let nobody rest until there is once again water flowing in our cherished race. If there is a canoe fete in '50, and we pray there will be, it will not be because University students and their good friends downtown sat around and hoped for it. Rather it will be because we have given ’em no peace. We have agitated, we have speech-made, we have “beat the bush es” for support. Nor can anybody overlook the good services of people like Kieth Fennel and Dr. Milton V. Walker, whose good offices have been so valuable in pushing this thing. Nor can we over look the services of William M. Tugman, managing editor of the Register-Guard, who makes civic beauty and civic im provement a religion. Fie has been especially valuable to the project through his good work in connecting millrace develop ment with the development of beautiful “gateways” to the city. No student con conscientiously escape doing his best in this last big push. Too much agitation, too much good work, too much toil has gone before.—B.H. Oregon W Emerald Tur Orsoox Dut y F.mfru.d, published daily during the college year except Sundays. Mondays, holidays, and final examination periods by the Associated Students, l.mversity ot Oregon. Subscription rates: $.*.00 per term and $4.00 per year. Entered as second-class matter at the post office, Eugene, Oregon. _____ BILL YATKS, Editor VIRGIL Tl'OKKR, Business Manager Associate Editors: June Goetre. Bohlee Bropiiy. Diana Dye. Barbara Heywood Advertising Manager: Cork Mobley BOB REED, Managing Editor Assistant Managing Editors: Stan Turnbull, Don Smith BOB TWEED ELL, City Editor Assistant City Editors: Ken Metzler, Ann Goodman NEWS EDITORS Chuck Grell, Hal Coleman, Steve Loy, \ ic Fryer, Diane MeeUam Paddling, Dunking Good Fun ... iZ&it&i Qu&t GioicUetu, Old fyetefaut Open Letter to Emerald Editor: Three years ago, in the spring of 1946, a group of crochety old veterans, irritated by the pomp and bustle they called “juvenile,” petulantly cried for an end to the “brutal” Junior weekend traditions. The campus laughed them into a red-faced silence. Judging from Tuesday’s Emerald, it appears as if the whimperings have started again. This issue has been hashed over throughout col legedom for centuries, but tradition, and tradition grown into custom, has continued to remain an in tegral part of college life the world over. Without them a University becomes a cold, mechanical sort of machine: one that gives off light, but no warmth. Labeling these traditions—older than the edi tor himself—as “dangerous” or “brutal” is a rather old ladyish viewpoint. For decades Oregon coeds have been having their heads dunked. None were ever maimed; only & few ended up bald. Oregon men have withstood the occasional application of the paddle for years without permanent ill-effects. In size, number of students, financially, intel lectually and athletically, our University is grow ing bigger each year. These advancements will be hollow victories if we lose the intimate spirit that has helped make it a real “alma mater” to so many. The Order of the “O” is, like so many other campus organizations, an instrument of custom previously established, not the inaugurator. A good-natured acceptance of the few Oregon traditions that are enforced will be more in keep ing with the spirit of Junior weekend than sense less whinings about practices long accepted by the lemon and green. Cordially, , ORDER OF “O” An Editorial... Are You Building a Library? Junior Weekend, with all its attendant ga iety, will not be all frivolity, for one of the scheduled events is the exhibition of student libraries. At the same time when visitors can see the college students at play, they can view what is often closeted in the rooms—the individual libraries of the students. Probably better than anything else these books indicate what their owners are thinking and reading about. Ever since the student library contest was started in 1938, interest in it has grown, until now more han 60 entries are anticipated. Na tionally, this contest is recognized as the best in the country for actual participation and for building up student interest in books. This creating of interest is just what the sponsors of the contest have in mind. They realize that the short college years are hardly enough to compile an adequate library, but they like to see a good start of fundamental books. What better time could there be for start ing a book collection than when one is in col lege, when one has easy access to books and to advice on good ones? All the rest of one’s life, additions can be made. But those who have already made their start can exhibit it this weekend. Though these libraries may be only beginning, so is the education of each owner. J.G.