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
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