Constitution--A Fair Trial?
Today student government goes up for trial. And there s
lots hanging in the balance—namely, the guidepost by which
your student government will conduct itself in both the im
mediate and also distant future. It is on the acceptance or re
jection of the ASUO Constitution, to be voted upon at the
polls today, that this rests.
As a jury—-for that is what you are today—you owe it to
yourself, to your fellow students, and to the University to
familiarize yourself with the proposed constitution, weigh the
facts of the case, and then return a decision.
Basically, the changes incorporated in the new constitution
call for :
The formation of a senate, a president’s cabinet, a student
judiciary, a petition system for ASUO elections, and a more
flexible amendment procedure.
The abolition of the Executive Council and the positions of
student body secretary-treasurer and second vice-president.
This means:
1) A legislative body more representative of the students
woud replace an Executive Council whose operation has been
limited by its size. The council is too small for legislative tasks,
too large for administrative tasks; the latter would now be
turned over to the president and his cabinet.
2) Candidates for ASUO posts would file for office by sub
mitting petitions.
3) Amendment procedure would be made more flexible.
Only one-third instead of one-half of the students would be
required to vote; two-thirds of them would be required to give
approval. ^
4) The ASUO would be in closer working rapport with such
organizations as the Co-op and the Student Union Board.
Thus, the proposed constitution offers many advantages
now unprovided for in the present one.
However, the ultimate decision rests with the students.
But there are danger points.
They lay in the possibility that you will shirk the duty and
responsibility that is yours.
They lay in the possibility that the student body—the jury
—will not reach a decision, either for or against.
For if less than one-half of the student body go to the polls
today, the proposed constitution will automatically fail to go
into effect.
This, then, would not be a decision by a jury. Instead, it
would be the failure of a jury to reach a decision—and by so
doing put the skids under student government and point up
the apathy with which the jury regards its case.
If the constitution is defeated today by a vote embracing at
least half the student body—then the decision will have been
justified.
But if it is defeated because of the sole fact that less than
half the students voted—then the decision is an irresponsible
These are the facts of the trial. The case is in your hands—it
is your job to return the decision.
Let’s hope by nightfall you’ll be able to say: “Well done. ’—
T.K.
If the word gets around, Sen McCarthy will probably want to start
investigating Gloria Grlmson, candidate for Junior Weekend Queen.
A mysterious sign with Russian characters was posted yesterday in
Friendly Hall, with the ominous (and un-American?) lettering “Rus
sian Language students support Gloria for Queen of Siberia.”
The OREGON DAILY EMERALD, published daily during: the college year except all
Saturdays but Junior Weekend, Sunday, holidays, final examination periods, Monday pre
ceding junior weekend in May, and the last Thursday in May by the Associated Students,
University of Oregon. Entered as second class matter at the postoffice, Eugene, Oregon.
Opinions expressed in editorials are those of the writer, and do not claim to represent the
opinions of the ASUO or of the University. Initialed editorials are written by associate editors.
Unsigned editorials are written by the editor.
Opinions expressed in an editorial page by-lined column are those of the columnist, and
do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editor or his associates.
Don A. Smith. Editor Joan Mimnaugh, Business Manager
one,
* * * *
Anne Goodman, Tom King, Associate Editors
Glenn Gillespie. Managing Editor
Shirley llillard, Advertising Manager
jS’ews Editors: l^orna Larson, Ken Metzler.
.Assistant News Editor: Grctchen Grondahl.
Assistant Managing Editors: Norman Ander
son, Hal Coleman, Mac Epley.
Jdcrle Guts, Walt McKinney, liill Stanfield.
Sports Editors: John Barton, Sam Fidman.
Chief Night Editor: Mary Hall.
Copy Editor: Marjory Bush.
Desk Editors: Marjory Bush, Bill Frye,
Gretchcu Grondahl, Larry Meiser, Jackie
1‘ritzen.
Office Manager: Karla Van Loan.
National Advertising Manager: lJonnie Birk»
Assistant Business Manager: Don Thompson
Zone managers: Sue Rachelder, Virginia Kel
logg. Jeanne Hoffman, Fran Neel, Barbara
Williams. Margie Wells.
Layout manager: Martel Srcoggin.
Circulation Manager: Jean Lovell
9*i the BcUf,
Columnists On the Receiving Line
The Case Against Kane
To the Editor:
Mr. Hank Kane condemned, in Monday’s
Emerald, the undergraduate creative writing
major which is to be inaugurated next fall.
Mr. Kane’s presentation of the picture is in
adequate if not totally erroneous. Since an
exhaustive comment upon his article would
require more space than the Emerald affords,
I shall discuss only a few ideas.
What does Mr. Kane have against such a
major? There is no question, as I see it, ex
cept the supposition that “little more than a
skill is acquired. Writing is a mechanical pro
cess displaying thoughts in a convenient form
for examination by others.” Mr. Kane is to be
complimented upon his definition of writing,
for an adequate definition of this process has
defied the best efforts of great thinkers and
writers through the ages.
Mr. Kane says : “Good writing derives from
imagination drawing on insight, observation,
and experience, not solely from courses on
how to write.” Almost any critic will agree
to the derivation as Mr. Kane put it. How
ever, he would have us believe that inspira
tion of genius alone is necessary; perspira
tion does not enter into the question.
This belief would serve only to fatten the
heads of aspiring writers if they believed it,
and those who have written a sustained work
know better. He should have said that good
writing derives from these sources and a
thorough understanding of the mechanical
processes involved, and also from the ability
of the writer to take advantage of these pro
cesses.
Writing is, and necessarily must be, the
synthesis of thought and mechanics of ex-N
pression, for even our thought is stated in
terms of mechanical or artificial symbols.
Even da Vinci wielded a brush, and where
would Rubenstein be without his fingers or,
his keyboard? Mr. Kane oversimplified the
question to the detriment of clarity or under
standing.
Mr. Kane suggests that “any bellhop, taxi
driver, or attorney has seen more story ma
terial on a par with Dreiser’s ‘An American
-Tragedy’ in one week than the average under
graduate passes bv, unseeing, in a year.” But
what happens if this bellhop, taxi-driver, or
attorney cannot write an intelligible sentence?
We hope, for the sake of the profession, that
the lawyer can. Perhaps Mr. Kane has not
read of the long and arduous period of ap-‘
fPlease turn to page three)
The Case Against Weitzner
Dear “Former Friends”:
This concerns creative writing and people
from Brooklyn and girls named Kahelia who
have been dead for fifty years. In Monday’s
Emerald, Hank Kane was squelched by cre
ative writing professor Robeson Bailey. This
was all well and good. But in yesterday’s is
sue, the constant purveyor of misinformation
concerning the University Radio Studios
took it upon himself to criticize an original
radio script called “The Isle Of Kaheila.”
Now appears to be the time to squelch Marty
W eitzner.
In the first place, Marty may have glanced
through the Kahelia script, but he couldn’t
have read it. The names Marty mentioned
were the same as in the original script, but
that is where the similarity ended. Second, a
radio script is written to be heard—not read.
Only experienced radio producers have the
faculty to determine if a script is good or not
by reading it. Marty Weitzner is not an ex
perienced radio producer.
One point which makes Marty’s whole ar
ticle unjustified is that he neglected to men
tion that the show was a fantasy. The only
evidence of fantasy in his article was his fan
tastic misinformation.
And just to get the facts clear—Kahelia was
not heard over IvERG last Sunday. It is
scheduled later in the term. Another point—
KERG regularly schedules University Radio
Workshop dramas every Sunday—not just
when KOAC has baseball games. And final
ly, Kaheila will be heard over KOAC this
, Thursday at 4:30.
No, The “Isle of Kaheila” certainly could
n't be compared with 'Norman Corwin. Imi
tation isn’t considered as ethical in radio as it
evidently is in journalism. In fact, Kaheila
was nothing exceptional as far as radio writ
ing is concerned—but it was original. If a
comparisan is to be made, try holding up Mar
ty’s article to the standards of good, factual,
journalism.
A few of \ illard Hall’s displaced persons,
Dick Hardie,
Dick Zarojnes,
Janet Harris,
Lorin Miller,
John Roaney,
Alan B. Hicks,
Jim Bleu,
Elmarie Wendel
Ray Hamilton.
*7be Gintmab
The Redhead and the Reformer
Last week I traipsed down to the Heilig
dutifully to see Barbara Stanwyck in “East
Side, West Side,” and got in on a preview of
MGM's "The Reformer and the Redhead,” a
comedy with Dick Powell and June Allyson.
After seeing the film. I an! more convinced
than ever that David Wayne, who got second
hilling and top laughs, is a fine comedian and
actor. He's the fellow that helped Katherine
Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in "Adam’s Rib,”
and since Powell and Allyson are easier to
steal scenes from, Wayne has a field day in
" The Reformer and the Redhead.”
1 he picture is about a reform candidate
(Powell) running for mayor. With his side
kick (\\ ayne), he tries to get the backing of
the corrupt political machine, since the two
vy Qeosupe SfieLtin
are not so interested in reform as they are in
getting on the gravy-train. Just as they are
about to jump aboard, the redhead (Miss Al
lyson) comes along and catches the reform
candidate s eye. As a result he misses the
train but catches the miss.
Involved are also a number of animals, in
cluding a tame lion, Herman, and a wild lion,
Caesar. However, even with these two,
Wayne still steals the show.
In fact his only real competition in getting
laughs comes from a fellow whose name I re
member as Melvin Kaplan. Kaplan, who
plays Leon, a b25 a week flunky for lawyers
\\ ayue and Powell, is at his best when he
a'ks for a $10 a week raise from Wavne,
whose only answer is a no dressed in legal
(Please turn to Page three)