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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 1949)
Gloomy Housing Situation for Married Students By Walter Dodd The Lane County Court Tuesday abolished the Lane County Housing Authority. More than 500 veterans and their families in Eugene, Veneta, and Mapleton may be deprived of housing after Jan. 1. The county court acted without prior public notice and without a pub lic hearing. The court acted at the re quest of a handful of real estate men, building supply store owners, and contractors, headed by James Rod man Sr. In less than ten minutes County Commissioner Less Raish and Judge Clinton Hurd outvoted Democratic County Commissioner Walter Hol lard, passing a court order to abolish the housing authority. President Truman Wednesday sign ed the Lanhatn Act which continues federal control over low cost govern ment housing until January, 1951. Originally federal control would have ended January, 1950. Under the new act local authorities can abolish government housing projects. Under federal law only city or county housing authorities can qual ify for federal grants for low rental housing. With the abolishment of the county housing authority no federal funds would be available to Lane county for a housing s#urvey. A recent Associated Press story stated that rent in the Eugene area had increased between 75 and 100 percent with numerous apartments vacant because of the high rentals. You may well say, so what? How does this problem affect me and the University ? The issue is vital. Spring term 25 percent of the student body, other than those who lived with their folks, lived in off-campus housing. More than 800 students are married. The student body Executive Coun cil could well afford to broaden the scope of its housing investigation. The Eugene City Council after a public hearing on June 29th recom mended to Governor Douglas Mc Kay that rents be decontrolled and further declared that there was no shortage of rental housing. Only 2.3 people testified at the rent decontrol hearings. Charges were made that the hearing were purpose ly held when the University was not in session and a large number of veterans and students were unable to testify.. Governor McKay urged that an impartial housing survey be con ducted. The city council refused. Rent controls were lifted August 8th. The Eugene Chamber of Com merce, in its annual information bul letin issued June 1st stated, “Eugene, like most cities on the Pacific Coast, is experiencing a housing short age . . . This warning is issued so that adequate preparation will be made before moving to the area. The growth of the lumber industry and the expansion of the University, particularly through increase in en rollment of G. I. students, have caused shortage. . .” Those who called for the abolish ment of the Housing Authority don’t believe that public housing in Eu gene is necessary. Others charged that the housing authority would stifle private enterprise and dis courage building. The mere existance of the authority was termed a “threat.” An overflow crowd of Lane county citizens Thursday evening overwhel mingly on record in favor of the Lane County Housing Authority and called for an impartial county hous ing survey. The meeting was in an uproar as bitter personal attacks were made against the Register Guard and Karl Wagner, a member of the housing authority. The Eugene Register-Guard hit the nail on the head when it stated editorially: “In our opinion it is futile to argue that Eugene is a quiet little city which does not need any govern ment-aided housing. Industrial boom in the last 10 years has doubled our population and changed the charac ter of the community greatly . . . The only answer for low rental housing must be found in public undertak ings.” Such views would be seconded by such men as Senator Taft and Gov ernor Dewey A man’s house has now become a matter of public concern. So long as he can provide it for himself without impairing the rights of others, we leave the problem to him and private enterprise. But when a man’s earning capaci ty will buy only substandard shelter which is a menace to the community; when unrestrained speculation ere-, ates a chaotic condition injurious to the welfare of all its citizens, when the pursuit of private profit takes place at the expense of the common good — then the people must plan, initiate, and control the provision of adequate housing and the building of adequate communities. On the Air... The 'Big' Chance to Break Into Radio ...by Marty Weitzner Students who harbor long-suppressed de sires to become radio writers now have a chance to display their wares. Robert L. Montgomery, instructor in speech, and direc tor of the KOAC Radio Workshop, is look ing for original work by Oregon students. Scripts can be of a dramatic or documentary nature, and should be submitted to Mont gomery in room 209 Villard. Choice of sub ject is optional. With all the campaigning and publicity go ing on about the campus, some of the organi zations in need of a little drum-beating ought to find out about getting a little of the Uni versity’s air time. Last year the “Campus Headlines” show boosted plays, dances, and the like, but this year that program is not scheduled. Perhaps some of the other shows might take up that function. According to reports received at the radio division of the speech department, one of the coming programs on the Oregon airways is “Webfoot Huddle Time.” We read a letter dispatched by the sports editor of Coos Bay’s KOOS, and if it is any indication of the popu lar feeling, then Bob Roberts’ football inter view show is one of the top sports features in the state. Radio and speech students are keenly wat ching the situation over at KERO, the Regis ter Guard’s new station. With its opening date scheduled for the near future, the sta tion may prove to be the first foot-in-the-door for 1949-50 graduates. We can remember several surveys taken last year by the School of Journalism in con nection with radio and radio listening. In case anyone is considering an opinion poll for the current year, we would like to suggest a lo cal Hooper-type test which would show to what extent people listen to the productions put on at Villard. The basic purpose for the time given by KOAC to the University is to give the students practical training, but if certain types of programs showed marked lo cal popularity, there would be no harm in ar ranging the schedule to include more shows of a like nature. We have received reasonable assurance that KDUK will come on the air sometime this year. The word is, however, that we should not expect too much. Because of many difficulties the station may be more powerful than it was last year. The speech department has been loathe to air its difficulties, but we cannot help wondering whether it would not be wise for them to bring the case before the ASUO, the IFC, or other interested campus and alumni groups. The possibilities of a good campus radio station are too many to allow the idea to fade because of a few initial reverses. Wild Notes... Portland Dancing ...by Fred Young Cood rumor has it that the place to see your friends Friday night before the Washington game in Portland will be McElroy’s Ball room. Offering a good downtown location, Burt is virtually turning his Friday night dance over to all of us from his alma mater. A very reduced cost with or without student body card for all wishing a merry time. Also, a student program—plus a rallying radio show. Good things to listen to with Harry Bela fonte's “Close Your Eyes” still the unsung one of the recent months. Also, Woody Her man’s "Tenderly” which will rate also a third mention. A pretty, new thing by Charlie Barnet fea tures ex-Kentonite Ray Wetzel with trum pet and “Over the Rainbow.” One of the best releases by the new, progressive “Mab” mob with nice, full sounds aided by the bass bow ing of Eddie Safranski. The backside, aptly titled "Pan America” which accords credit to Latin America for the bongo influences and ; North America for the Stravinsky kicks, is i not altogether high in its east Eugene rating. I Recent news has Charlie Barnet perma nently folding his band and retiring to join 1 band-managing Carlos Gastel who handles 1 such as King Cole and Woody Herman. On Things in General Sex and Psychiatry ...by Steve Loy There is little left to be said about the bust bucket contro versy except that it’s strange how anything which gives so much uplift to the gal could be such a letdown to her guy. Re minds me of the Reader’s Digest gag about the little girl who plaintively inquired of her mother, “Mama, how come I’m so plain and you're so fancy?” How broad-minded can we get department. Bette Davis and her crochety old vet ex-boxer, artist husband are going to take a psychiatrist along on their second honeymoon to help combat their “nasty little tempers.” I wonder if he will operate like the one who interviewed me when I joined the Navy. The recruit was directed into a small cubby-hole where sits a dignified Commander with full braid uniform. I sit on a cold metal chair clad in my well-worn birth day suit and answer questions like this: “Do you like girls? “Have you a girl friend? “Is she a nice girl?” How did I know if she was a nice girl ? She shot her mother and father so she could go to the orphan’s picnic. Anyhow I sat there trying to give the right answers so the psychiatrist wouldn’t club me with the vicious little pointed hammer he was toying with. I was siting there in my goose pimples with my legs crossed and he raps me on the knees to see if I’ve got strength enough to kick back. If I don’t I’m nuts. That isn’t psychiatry, it’s horse sense. This weather reminds me of the signs strewn throughout Seattle to the effect that, “your streets are washed every day.” ..Rather amusing to stand in the rain and fog waiting for a bus and stare at those signs. All of which is very nice, but does anyone know what to do after you run your prize Ronson through the Bendix? It’s nice and clean but it don't light so good. Have you future divorce lawyers who plan the small office and big apartment heard the Hit Parader entitled, “The Philadelphia Lawyer?” Best heed and beware. Oregon W Emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald published daily during the college year except Sunday! kfondays, holidays and final examination periods by the Associated Students, University c Oregon. Subscription rates: $3.00 a term, $4.00 for two terms and $5.00 a year. Entered a econd class matter at the postoffice Eugene, Oregon. )on A. Smith, Editor Joan Mimnaugh, Business Manage Glenn Gillespie, Managing Editor Don Fair, Barbara Heywood, Helen Sherman, Fred Taylor, Associate Editors ¥ews Editors: Anne Goodman, Ken Metzler. Assistant Manager Editors: Hal Colemai >ports Editor: Dave Taylor. Vic Fryer, Tom King, Diane Mecham, Sta >esk Editors: Marjory Bush, Bob Funk, Turnbull. Gretchan Grondahl, Lorna Larson, Larry Chief Night Editor: Lorna Larson. Mciacr. Women’s Editor: Connie Jackson. jjj
