Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012, April 18, 1950, Page 2, Image 2

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    9to the feacj,
Jlett&il,
'A Requiem? Not for Us to
GowunCtoti,
Say'
An Open Letter to the Members of the Student
Affairs Committee:
As is known, the Young Progressives applied to
you requesting admission to tire campus on the same
basis at the Young Republicans and the Young
Democrats. We very carefully followed all the re
cjuirements for recognition.
At the end of some four months of adroit beating
around the bush, when it was necessary to either face
our request or ignore it altogether, you decided that
since our parent organization, the Progressive Party,
had not polled over five percent of the ballots cast in
the last election and therefore was not a recognized
party in the state, we as a student group could not be
admitted to the campus. So sorry! •
•It was probably to be expected that this would be
the outcome of our request; nonetheless, it is shock
ing to find that in these United States, con
ceived in liberty, the home of the free and the brave,
minorities are disregarded. This is a hard blow to the
lessons of the little Red School House where we were
taught respect for the right of minorities to have and
express their opinions with the same freedom as any
one else.
You may say that there is no restriction of the
freedom of the Young Progressives. No one is pre
venting us from meeting. But if you say this it is so
phistry. Freedom is not just an abstract word. Free
dom- implies and demands opportunity. Freedom to
eat means nothing to a man who is denied the right
to obtain food. Freedom of education has little mean
ing to those who are denied access to public schools.
Political freedom, a prized American heritage, is a
farce if minorities are denied, for instance, the same
privilege of using public buildings as are the domi
nant political groupings.
It is not just this decision by itself that should be
disturbing to all who took to heart the lessons of the
civics text. It is the implications of that decision
which are frightening because they represent the
kind of opening wedge that is used to brush aside the
right of a minority and disenting voice to be heard.
Extend the principle of this action and one can al
most hear the voice of the new “leader” saying: “You
can not be put on the ballot because you did not poll
five percent of the votes in the last election in which
you did not run.”
What prompted this decision of yours? Was it
fear? If so, what could you have been afraid of? Are
the policies which you support so weak, so ill con
ceived that they can not stand the faintest breath of
criticism ? Or do you believe they are so letter perfect
that nothing remains to be said, and that the i's are
dotted and all the t's crossed? If the former, then ac
cording to the old fashioned, democratic concept the
criticism is needed. If the latter, then you fail to grasp
the vital dynamic nature of American life that denies
that the last “i” will ever be dotted.
Whether this letter is a requiem to freedom on the
campus of the U. of O. is not for us to say. In the final'
analysis, the answer lies with the students who will
reap the rewards of liberty, or pay the price of lost
freedoms.
Young Progressives.
The Student Affairs Committee was following
the laws of the State of Oregon which do not recog
nize a political party if it does not poll over five per
cent of the ballots cast in the last election.—Editor.
What Can a Man Do? The Professor Has a Problem ^
The following statements are taken from com
ments made by students on faculty rating forms in
one man’s classes. The pairs or groups are in such
case taken from the same class.
(a) As a person Mr.-is fine, but as a tea
cher his rating is not so high because his lec
tures are boring. I like a lecturer who is a
little more inspiring.
(al) Outsanding quality—Lectures interesting and
stimulating.
(b) Materials poorly organized. Difficult to take
notes from lectures.
(bl) Has lectures better organized than any of my
other professors have had all year.
(c) The text and other readings are especially
good. They show excellent selections.
(cl) Thfc textbook is poor. It devotes page after page
exploiting subjects which in general could
be summed up in a sentence.
(d) He is rigid, inflexible, unable to see or attempt
to see others’ viewpoints.
(dl) Has friendly, pleasant attitude and does 're
spect opinions and feelings of students.
(e) He allows too much of his own philosophy to
permeate his lectures and allows little or no
class comment on what he seems to consider
fundamental truths.
(el) Outstanding in the fact that he can listen to
students’ side of discussion objectively.
(e”) He is excellent at presenting both sides of a
question.
(f) Mr.-is intelligent, but he cannot lec
ture effectively.
(fl) His lectures are clear and meaningful. He stim
ulates the students’ thinking.
(g) Voice tends to drone.
(gl) A pleasant voice.
'(h) Very effective in speaking
(hi) He mumbles.
(i) Should speed up his lectures and make it more
lively. The only pleasure I get out of the
course is in reading the book. The lecture is
a complete and absolute waste of time.
(il) Easily understood, enthusiastic in his lectures,
makes the course very interesting and more
so than the subject matter warrants.
(j) Some lectures are jumbled and I haven't been
able to gain anything from them.
(jl) Outstanding quality: smooth, comprehensible
lecturing like reading from a book.
(k) Should use more illustrations of material pre
presented.
(kl) Gives excellent illustrations to supplement
facts.
(k”) Gives too many examples to illustrate a point.
(l) Do away with essay questions, use objective
tests.
(11) Essay questions quite adequate but objectives
are ambigious.
(1”) Outstanding quality : giving fair tests.
(m) Smug, tends to avoid questions. Seems to get
a big kick out of himself.
(ml) very understanding person who will go out
of his way to help a student who is having
trouble.
(n) Watch temperature. When it’s too warm
everyone goes to sleep.
(ill) Freezes the class by opening too many win
dows.
(o) Suggestion for improving course: provide soft
seats.
(ol) Ease up on the GPA.
Note: May I take advantage of the same immun
ity students have in making their ratings, and remain
anonymous?
Professor X
No comment.—Editor.
Stimulating an Interest in National Politics
A Suggestion to the Emerald:
In the past it has been the policy of the Emerald
to view the activities of national political organiza
tions from the viewpoint of being "national" in scope
rather than on the basis of any importance these or
ganizations may have to the campus community.
Heretofore, campus political activity has been
subordinated to other aspects of campus life. Polit
ical groups have not been officially recognized by the
University with the result much of importance to all
members of the University—faculty and students—
has been ignored or minimized .
It can not be denied, from the campus life stand
point, other activities necessarily take preference
over student groups concerned with national affairs.
However, the fact the University now has officially
recognized campus political groups indicates an
awakening to the importance of stimulating an in
terest in national politics. To this end, the Emerald
could he of immeasurable value in inciting Univer
sity interest in these affairs.
Our suggestion then, would be to have the Emer
ald institute a program to accomplish the fulfillment
of this great need. We feel if the Emerald were to
enact such a policy the educational and stimulating
benefits, alone, would be of great service to the indi
vidual and community.
This is not a plea for special privileges for any
political group but rather an attempt to suggest a
service we feel is needed.
To be informed, a people must be able to read
any and all sides of political questions and—in the
light of reasoning—formulate opinions which can be
carried into action as their own conscience directs.
As the mirror of campus activities, the Emerald
cannot afford to overlook the need for dissemina
tion of political information.
The question remains then, what will the Emer
ald do to satisfy the arguments presented?
Bill Lees, President,
Young Republican Club,
University of Oregon.
Charles R. Zalauf, President,
Lane County Young Democratic
Club.
Activities of political groups will receive the cover
age the News Editors believe the activities are worth,
in so far as practacality will allow such coverage.—•
Editor.
Coed Returning From New York
Dorothy Orr, business senior, is
expected to return from New York
today or Wednesday. She repre
sented the University at Mademoi
selle Magazine’s seventh annual
College Forum.
Miss Orr was one of 55 students
from leading American colleges
and universities who were chosen
to attend the conference on "The
Welfare State in a Free Society.”
The delegates were selected on
the basis of recommendations of
faculty and student organizations,
as well as personal interviews, aca
demic standing, and relevant ex
tracurricular activities.
The conference was divided into
five panels, with noted authorities
as speakers. Student discussion
and questions followed the main
speaker.
Miss Orr flew to New York by
United Airlines from Portland
last Tuesday. She also planned to
visit at Syracuse University and
in Washington, D. C.
Application Deadline
Set for Kwama Awards
Application blanks for the three
$100 scholarships to be awarded to
freshman women by Kwama, soph
omore women’s service honorary,
are now available in the Office of
Women's Affairs.
Money from the scholarships will
go toward expenses of the sopho
more year. Applications are due by
5 p.m., May 8.
Kwama's fund-raising projects,
selling football programs, sweater
bags, and concert ushering, earned
the money for the three awards.
Satuixlays''but<"Tunio?J’uW'shed daily during the college year except all
ceding Junior weekend in **?'il?J s’ final examination periods, Monday pre
S vlrsi V of Orelon F„ e?ef • "d ‘5e ,lait Thursda>' >» May by the Associated Students,
n„ n „ Oregon. Entered as second class matter at the postoffice, Eugene Oregon.
opines ofXTsrUO^r,ofelh't0TrTalS arVh°TSeof ,«« writerVand do not daim Vo resent the
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Ook A. Smith, Editor
Anne Goodman, Tom King, Associate Editors
Joan Mimnaugh, Bnjinerr Manager
Glenn Gillespie, Managing Editor