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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