9k 74e featf JldUu W HU Qu&i\ AGS is Weary of Being Tried and Accused in Editorials Dear Editor: We have asked to be allowed to give an answer to last Monday’s editorial. It is difficult to answer anything which deals in innuendo. It is hard to an swer political editorials when—without equal rep resentation on the paper—our words and actions are subject to misconception and misconstruing. Editor Smith has coined a new phrase. He • speaks of a “rather reliable rumor.” Is there such a thing as a rather reliable runnor? No, there is not! It seems that the Emerald editorial page is the only newspaper in the country where rumors are used as reliable sources. Our party thinks that either all sides should be given equal space in the student paper or there should be no political material printed on the edi torial page. On this campus we have only one student news paper. This newspaper’s duty is to serve all of the students. It is neither just, nor ethical, for one man to try to sway campus opinion through this medi um—the student's newspaper. In ordinary life, it is a crusading editor’s duty to point up wrong, and choose sides. But, on a campus paper, where there is absolutely no editorial competition, it is def initely unjust to play politics. Most Greeks are frankly tired of having these “rather reliable rumors” of “TNE” crop up, like a plague, every year around election time. If there is any such organization, write about it. Don’t write about any “rather reliable rumors” which do nothing more than sling mud. We deny the know ledge of the existence of any party known as “TN E.” We are weary of being accused and tried on the editorial page. We do not believe in any doctrine which pre sumes a man or party 'guilty without proof. We can no more prove that we are not run by such an organization than Editor Smith can prove that he is not run by the same organization. Just as we do not believe that any party should be condemned without trial, so do we not believe that any person sliouia ne conuemneu wunout a hearing. College is no place for politics to reach this low and partisan level. The AGS party would like to go on record as strongly endorsing the present Executive Council representatives. The AGS is, however, opposed to the method in which the pre viously endorsed candidates were eliminated, and the personal slander directed against them. We ask for a cessation of name calling without proof. We expect an equal right to the use of the student paper which we, also, support with our fees and work. We hope for a better understand ing between all students, both Independent and Greek. We believe that this can come about through honest issues, honestly discussed. Our party meetings have been open to the edi tor of the paper. We hope “his” paper will be open to us. Sincerely, Associated Greek Students An Issue is an Issue is an Issue is an Issue is an Issue is an Iss The Emerald is open to any student of the Uni ■i versity, as you can easily determine by reading the names of the staff workers. I have picked my staff ■ members not because of their political affiliation, but because of their journalisic and Emerald quali ifications. The AGS has an equal “use” of the student pa per. Any news of AGS is reported on news pages, I am sure you will agree, impartially and fairly. It is true the editorial page very seldom looks with favor upon AGS activities. This is because the editor usually feels these activities are not in the best interests of the University. The Emerald has an obligation to its readers that requires it to go beyond the point of providing space for AGS or USA or any group’s propaganda. An alert and interested press is an asset to the Uni i versity. By “daring”to comment on political issues I have been charged with being biased and partisan. But an editor is supposed to know what is going on, and I feel he must speak up on behalf of such policies as his intelligence and judgment tell him are in the best interests of the University. AGS was usurping a power of the ASUO Execu 'Change it Back' Dear Sir: ,«_««. The 38 girls of my house are unanimously op posed to the change to a semi-formal Senior Ball. If it had been done earlier than two days before the dance, when all dates have been made and most tickets already purchased, it would certainly have been’fairer. The Emerald speaks of a survey of living orga nizations. We wonder who they called because our informal survey of several houses on the campus has not found any groups who were asked, but has found many that are decidedly opposed to the change. Ten of us are Seniors and definitely think we have been gypped. What about those of us whose fellows cannot afford to attend every campus dance and have picked this out as the first important formal dance of the year? It is now reduced to the same status as the Frosh Glee or the Sophomore Whiskerino. Many girls on the campus have already purchas ed new formats, evening slippers, etc., and fellows have bought new tuxes and ordered corsages. In addition, low-heeled flats (which can be worn with formats and are infinitely more comfortable than dress heels) are better able to stand slushy wea ther than are our best shoes. Finally, we say again that the main trouble is that it is unfair to make this change at such a late date, and we ask the committee to “Change it Back.” Very truly yours, Weslie J. Eyres. tive Council ( given to it by the Constitution) By prohibiting more than two party members from petitioning for representative positions. The peti tions of the two endorsed candidates were, in mine and in other’s opinions, inadequate and did not qualify them for the job, in comparison with po tential candidates. The method in which the candidates were elimi nated then was merely this—members of the Ex ecutive Council looked over the petitions and found two petitioners unqualified, then they said so. Honesty should not be condemned. The petition submitted to the Council is the “hearing” of the student petitioner. It should be as complete as possible. The interview session, which this year’s Council has wisely adopted, is to enable Council members to question the pe titioners concerning any doubts the members may have. I, too, am tired of having TNE rumors crop up every year. And so to make sure no rumors will be spread about me having a connection with TNE, I do not behave in such a manner as to create that suspicion. Realizing there is only one newspaper on this First Column campus, I do not prohibit the point of view oppo site to the one I take from receiving space. In fact, I shall encourage the reasoning of the other side; so I may point out what I consider the good and the bad in this reasoning. As long as things political affect the students of the University, I shall consider it my duty to com ment upon things political. I shall attempt to be as fair as possible. I shall not prevent either side from expressing it’s opin ions. But I shall continue to speak up in behalf of those things I believe are for the good of the Uni versity. The editor does not “play politics” on the editor- , ial page. I stand up for things I think are just and good; I attack those things I think are not good. If this lines me up with one political party or the other, it lines me up with one political party or the other.' As editor I have not and shall not line up with one political party, or with any group, and stick with it right or wrong. The Emerald is not now a mouthpiece for any group; and judging from the caliber of the individuals on the staff, I do not fore see that it shall be in the near future.—The Editor. Mortar Board to the Fore To the students: Complaints about college life are a lot like gripes about the weather—much talk, little action. Frequently this is so because the student is not in an effective position to remedy his troubles. His five-year->plans for improvement reach no ear other than his roommate’s. Enter Mortar Board. Mortar Board (the national senior women’s honorary) proposes as a service to the University and the students to provide a sounding board for current issues. We will run a column on this page every Friday presenting some problem of University life. These columns will re flect your opinions and difficulties as best we can gather them, hut we’d like to hear, in care of the Emerald, your additional comments. We want your suggestions, constructive or destructive, on the given subject. The next step w ill be to put on our detective badges and see w hat more we can learn about the matter at hand. If you want to know, to use a rather simple example, why a great many students have to take Rhetoric K, we will visit the English department and find out why. The findings will be reported to you. If anything can be done, we will try to secure cooperation of the necessary officials by Senior Women's Honorary to get the machinery in motion. If this sounds ambitious—a try is better than nothing'. And we’ll need your cooperation. Deluge us with your troubles. Now—Why is Mortar Board putting a finger in this pie? For several reasons: 1) 'io be of service to the students and the Uni versity—that’s the primary reason. 2) Because we feel we’re in a position to do the job well. The fifteen white-jacketed Mortar Boards aie well represented in student government and on the policy forming boards of the campus. They are representative of on- and off-campus students. They are respected for their high scholastic stand ing, and through consistent work for the Univer sity they have met a lot of people and learned the ropes. Mortal Board is a ‘live organization. It meets regularly, and traditionally is one of the most ac tive service organizations. But enough of that. In its first column next week Mortal Board will set to work on the cheating problem from a new angle. Let us know how you feel, what you want investigated. Sincerely, Members of Mortar Board