’Herald
Why Study—Religion
Head of Religion Department
There ate many reasons why the modern
educated man should be informed about the
field of religion, but the main reason is prob
ably that religion is related to so many fields
of study.
Religion is closely related to art and liter
ature, to the social studies, history, anthro
pology, sociology, psychology and philoso
phy. Evidence of the relation between the
natural sciences and religion is the increasing
interest which the most eminent scientists to
day are taking in religious problems and tbe
various expressions of religious faith by
these scientists.
However, the problem of religion in higher
education is particularly acute because of the
crisis in which contemporary civilization is
now involved. It is widely recognized that
the great need today is not for more highly
trained technologists but for more persons
who understand what the purpose and des
tiny of our civilization should be.
Individuals and civilizations become cre
ative to the extent that they have an integrat
ed philosophy of life and are conscious of the
goals toward which they are driving. Down
through the course of history the profound
and far-reaching influence of religion upon
culture and civilization has been evident.
But religion is no mere antiquarian and
historical interest. Every man mho is con
cerned about ultimate values, that which has
to do with supreme loyalties, must be con
cerned about the great problems with which
religion has dealt perennially.
Dr. H. N. Wieman has recently emphasiz
ed the intellectual and yet the practical na
ture of curricular courses in the department
of religion. “The problem of religious
thought is the problem of what is most im
portant for human living; what should com
mand the self-giving of religious faith by rea
son of its importance; what will carry human
life to its highest possibilities of value when
given first place; what will save from disinte
gration and destruction of human good when
its required conditions are met.”
Although the Department of Religion is a
non-major department on the campus of the
University, it recognizes its obligation to
supplement the university, curriculum by af
fording students the opportunity for dis
ciplined and. scientific study in this field.
V
They Were Hellions
To show you that girls will be naughty girls this year and
every year, we pass on this interview with one of the found
ers of Pi Beta Phi written up in a December 1936 Emerald.
The good woman was 91 when she met the Emerald reporter
—and she thought girls were slipping. She said:
“Modern cocktail drinking, cigarette smoking girls don’t
compare with the standard set by the 12 girls who started Phi
Beta Phi. Why, I walked into one chapter house to find them
gambling. They were playing for small stakes, it is true, but
in my day, girls would never dare to think of doing such a
thing.”
She was additionally bothered by reports she had heard
that modern coeds stand up to a bar and drink with men. She
felt young men would be disgusted with such a girl—and she
thought, too, that the 1936 college girl would be better off if
she went back to the voluminous skirts of the Victorian era.
The clear eyed lady who still did her own housework at 91
took a definite stand against slapping paint on the face. “The
only time I wore powder was when I was married, because I
thought I should look white. But I found I was white enough
with fright, so I didn’t keep it on.”
Those 1936 Oregon coeds must have been hellions!—B.H.
• • • •
We heard recently of a new organization that was almost born
on campus. The presidents of three honoraries sat together discuss
ing the impossibility of holding meetings. None of the members
could ever get together at the same time; they belonged to too many,
other clubs.
So the presidents decided to form a Society for Disappointed
Presidents, which would meet for the sole purpose of being woeful.
But when they tried to find a meeting time they couldn’t.
That’s why there’s not another club on the campus this morning.
Wild Motel
No Deferred Talent
Around This Village
by fy>ied rlfou*Uf
This talent file should be one of the better ideas that has hit
the village recently, and with nothing “deferred” about it eith
er. There’s the hope that every and anyone interested in per
forming around the campus and town will file a card with the
Talent Committee and then allow them to receive the act so it
can be catalogued accordingly.
Incidentally, to be included in any future c-mpus show the
act or single must be on file with the Talent committee. The
fun starts this Monday night at the Gerlinger annex.
A very pretty King Cole thing heard recently, pleasantly
combines originality with the intimate Cole voice for an Ha
waiian “Nalani.” Backed by his trio plus studio vocallers
which lend this the “must be heard" quality not always located
in the commercial Cole works.
A feeling that there’s probably even a litcle more rhy
thm and originality in the “Daylight” than in the current fad
“Mule Train.” Maybe, after all, there’s still hope for that ridicul-.
ous bebop. You have to listen closely to the “Mule” to get
nothing, maybe when the listeners get that habit for bop they’ll
realize there's still a lot of music being played.
That’s interesting to the purists: Bud Freeman and Mug
sy Spanier, who headlined the Second Annual Dixieland Jam
boree recently held in Los Angeles, proved disappointing to
the two-beaters while 1’ete Dailey’s Chicagoans never seemed
to get in the spirit of their tunes.
One of the outstanding groups to appear on the show was
the unknown Castle Jazzband of Portland which always im
proves with the audience, (6,b00 attended the show) and has
received limited attention due to the sparse marketing of their
Castle records. Hear them on the weekends at the Creolized
PIv-Mac in Portland.
The Orf.oon Daily Eukxald published daily during the college year except Sundays,
Mondays, holidays and final examination periods hv the Associated Students, University of
Oregon. Subscription rates; $.1.00 a term, $4.00 for two terms and $5.00 a year. Entered as
second class matter at the postoflice Eugene, Oregon.
Don A. Smith. F.ditnr Joan Himkuku F’tsir-rss Managr*
(11 i’N \ [ill ’ i<imv I'lir’in’ib1
Barbara Hrvwoop, Hkikn Siii rm.w, Associate Editors.
Cork Mori vv, Advertising Manager
Kovs Editors: Anne Goodman, Ken Metzler. Sports Editor: Dave Taylor.
Assistant News Editor: Mary Ann Delsman. Chief Night Editor: Lorna Larson.
Assistant Manager Editors: Hal Coleman, Desk Editors: Marjory Bush. Suzanne Pock
\ ic Fryer, Tom King, Stan Turnbull. t ram. Bob Funk, Gretcheu Groudabl, Lorna
Women’s Editor: Con me Jackson. Larson.
The Man Who Knows Says...
By Sister Mary Gilbert
Alas and alack and alumnus!
With Homecoming- near, bringing a camp
us full of alums, there’s a chance to air a pet
peeve.
Pronunciation of the plural of the species
has long plagued this weary mortal. Gender
she could forget if only the King's English
were not Latinized with such impunity.
Newspapers are supposed to educate. On
this hopeful theory, the word for “a person
formerly a member of a school or college
class that has graduated” is herewith eluci
dated.
According to Webster, “alumnus” is a
masculine noun. The plural is “alumni.” But
it’s pronounced with a long “i” and not in the
best scholastic Latin fashion—“alumnee.”
Female of the species, taken singly, is an
alumna. Multiplied by two or more, she be
comes “alumnae.” Final syllable sounds like
the noise emitted when a mouse attends a so
rority meeting: long“e,” second vowel in the
rally routine for first grade: “A-E-I-O-U
(Rah! Rah!)”
Readers should be properly confused by
now, and more discerning souls will revert to
the easy solution—“alums.” This is a simple
way out, but not quite the scholarly ap
proach.
Conflicting associations are probably at
work. Careful Katies will not be quite so glib
when next they speak of old grads.
But hesitation, in this case, marks the me
ticulous. It is the sign of scholastic scruples.
And what better ailment could one have?
Badge of the scholar, this professional
stammer doesn't mean the ultimate in human
knowledge. But it does distinguish the man
who knows from the man who knows he
doesn't know.
“Alumn . . us . . ah .. ee . . I ..” will soon be
standard stutter on campus. But, in the event
that the speech department may object, a
handy little gadget to support a lagging
memory may be devised if someone can tell
this eager versifier what rhymes with alum—
er—ah . . >>
Riti+t' At Random
The Jack of All Tracies,
Master of One-Fowler
by fJo-Qilbe'it
May I be pardoned if this week I rob my
own book shelves for a review? The reason is
that this week I did some re-reading of an old
favorite-—and I am a great exponent of
browsing through books. Else, why buy
them ?
One of my favorites is Gene Fowler—his
writing has the comfort of an old shoe that
you constantly wear. Possibly my affection
for his work is a result of my interest in jour
nalism and Fowler is a product of the
FRONT PAGE era. And the guy can « rite
and does it well. The English department may
sneer at an author coming from a sensation
alist school, but weren’t Addison and Steele
Mearstlings in their day? And Defoe who
wasn't exactly appreciated by the best of so
ciety ? So back to Gene Fowler.
The book is his autobiography—A SOLO
IN 1 OM-TOMS (A iking' Press.) It is, in my
humble estimation, not as good as the autobi
ographical novel, TRUMPET IN THE
DUST, but Fowler would have a long, long
may to travel to reach that peak, much less
excell it. SOLO is good, well written, and full
of the usual collection of anecdotes that fills
any of his works. The man seems to have an
inexhaustible store of fine stories—be good
for a party.
Hie basic search in Fowler's 0fe was that
for a father, whom he finally met after he had
left his home town, Denver, and was in New
A ork. 1 he father, as a result o.f a subtle feud
with his wife's mother, the Granny who rais
ed Fowler, walked out previous to the boy’s
birth and all because of a cuppa coffee. Ill's
mother married again (after a divorce) and
(Please turn to page three)