On Legality and Morality
The New Constitution did not pass at a regular election
Wednesday. It failed because less than 50 per cent of the stu
dent body voted.
The ASUO Executive Council then decided to continue the
election Thursday and Friday, in the hopes of getting the re
quired 50'per cent.
Legally, the Executive Council feels it is within its rights
to continue the election. Legally, the election has been con
tested, because some students feel that the Executive Council
is not within its Constitutional rights.
Because of the contestation, the constitutionality of the
election will be determined by the judiciary committee.
It is a shame that 50 per cent did not vote Wednesday. Of
the 2,100 students who did vote, about 2,000 probably voted
“yes,” probably not more than 100 voted “no.”
The legal question we will gladly leave to the judiciary com
mittee.
But there is another question involved.
Is it playing cricket to take a look at the ballot boxes, to
even glance at the ballots, and then decide that the election
should be continued?
The Executive Council meant well in continuing the elec
tion. Obviously students who care do approve of the new Con
stitution. Because of the apathy of 2,000 students who don t
give a damn, 2,000 students who DO care were denied the right
to improve their system of government. (Granted, some of the
students who didn’t vote refrained from doing so because they
disapproved of the new constitution or of student govern
ment ; but many students who didn’t vote would have had they
realized that the simple casting of a ballot was of such impor
tance to fellow-students.)
Still the fact remains: the Constitution did not pass Wed
nesday. After two terms of hard work, it is difficult to throw
it overboard, but that is what should be done—at least for this
election.
It is unfortunate the Constitution did not pass. But it can be
brought up again. It can be brought up at the regular Spring
term ASUO elections, at which it is easier to obtain 50 per
cent of the votes.
And between now and the ASUO elections, the Executive
Council can seek the legal advice of law students who should
be willing to see that the judicial clause of the constitution is
legal in word and spirit, and seek the would-be lawyer’s advice
on methods of enabling the constitution by legal student vote.
There is no need for student officers §nd law students to be
hitting head on. The two can work together to bring about
more effective student government. There has been some mis
understanding on both sides, with little feelings for the prob
lems and attitudes of one another.
Because the Constitution fell down Wednesday does not
mean it must stay defeated. If it is a good thing, and we strong
ly believe that it is, it can be further strengthened and placed
before the students once again.
This may mean a delay. But if anyone can find a legal way to
get the Constitution to go into effect next year, it will be found
by the combined efforts of ASUO leaders and law student lead
ers.
* * * #
A band of shady figures descended on the University campus this
past week—but authorities report no arrests thus far. Also, no burg
laries. So don’t get startled too quickly if they come prowling around
your habitat. With flashlights in hand, they’re only kids hunting night
crawlers. The word is that the campus is full of ’em—night crawlers,
not kids, or both.
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 tile last Thursday in May by the Associated Students,
University of Oregon. Entered as second class matter at the postomce, 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 edrtora.
Unsigned editorials are written by the editor.
““ Opinions expresses! 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.
©on A. Smith, Editor Joan Mimnapoh, Bonnets Manager
Daily
EMERALD
Amrs Goodman, Tom Kino, Associate Editors
Glenn Gillespie, Managing Editor
Shirley Hillard, Advertising Manager
2views Editors: Lorn* I .arson, Ken Metrler.
Assistant News Editor: Gretchen Grondahl.
Assistant MatiuKitiK Editors: Norman Ander*
son, Hal Coleman, Mac Ejdey.
Merle Gors, Walt McKinney, Bill Stanfield.
Sports Editors: John Barton, Sam Fidman.
Cnief Night Editor: Mary Hall,
Copy Editor: Marjory linsh.
Desk Editors: Marjory Bush, Bill Frye,
Gretchcn Grondahl, Larry Meiser, Jackie
Pritxeu.
Office Manager: Karla Van Loan.
National Advertising Manager: Bourne Birk^
n»e«r
Assistant Business Manager: Dun Thompson
Zone managers: Sue Bacheldcr, Virginia Kel
logg. Jeanne Hoffman, Fran Neel, Barbara
Williams, Margie Wells.
Layout manager: Martel Srcogcin.
Circulation Manager: Jean Lovell
Jlettesii.
Sh the Roxf
The Ore-nter Gets an Onion
To the editor:
We received a request at our last meeting
to contribute toward publication of the Ore
nter. After discussion, we unanimously voted
against such a move. We would like to ex
plain our reasons.
We all agree that sending such a booklet
to incoming freshmen is a very desirable
move. It serves as good University promo
tion. But we disagree with the methods by
which it is being financed. Why should each
student be asked to pay for the Ore-nter
through his house, through Heads of Houses,
Interfraternity, Council, fanhellenic, Inter
dormitory Council, professional and service
honoraries ?
It is unfortunate in the first place that the
booklet cannot be paid for by University or
ASUO funds. But if this is impossible, we feel
that each student should not be hit more than
once for such a purpose.
Sincerely,
Members of Phi Theta Upsilon
The Legal Side vs. thelTechnical Side
Dear Mr. Smith:
An editorial in the April 25 edition of the
Emerald, entitled, “On the Technical Side,”
took issue with the interest shown by a num
ber of the law students in campus activities.
This admonition that perhaps it would be
better for the law students to stick to their
books seems hardly to be consistent with the
usual policy of the Emerald which is to stim
ulate student participation in student govern
ment.
Whatever may be the motives of individual
students who take an interest in campus ac
tivity can best be inferred from a knowledge
of facts. It would be a sad commentary on
student government, or any government, if
every dissenting voice be dismissed by the
group presently in power as the selfish
grumbling of an obstructionist.
The charge of “technicality” is one fre
quently employed by persons who do not un
derstand the subject under discussion and is
used a§ a substitute for thinking. There is
nothing technical about honest criticism,
which, if read in full, will be found to be con
structive. A reading of the petition respect
ing the student traffic court should indicate
to any layman just what the criticism is, free
from “technical language.”
A sound and respected student government
can be achieved at Oregon only if those
charged with the duties of government in
turn respect the opinions of those who may.
see fit to disagree.
The suggestion that the law students might
better have held their peace raises the ques
tion “Better for whom?”
If the ASUO or any branch thereof can
not stand open criticism and discussion of its
policies, the remedy it is submitted, is not
to silence the dissenters, but to correct the sit
uation which feeds the criticism.
Respectfully,
Thomas E. Brownhill,
President, Law School
P.S. This letter was unanimously endorsed
by the law school student body in open meet
ing.
Martin Agronsky and the Iron Curtain
To the Editor:
The Iron Curtain has fal
len on Eugene. One of the
few remaining liberal com
mentators in America. Mr.
Martin Agronsky, has been
forced off the local radio.
This was done, according to
available information from
Skeie’s, by the pressure of lo
cal individuals who by this ac
tion have denied the citizens
of Eugene the right to hear a
particular point of view. This
is the very antithesis of de
mocracy. Democracy de
mands that all ideas be freely
expressed.
The president of the U. S.
has said that this country
needs an informed public
opinion to solve our many
problems. If we are to be per
mitted to hear only what cer
tain influential people desire
to be heard, we can not at
tain this goal.
Because the Young Pro
gressives whol e-heartedly
support this statement of
President Truman, w^ are
circulating a petition to urge
station KUGN to find radio
time for Mr. Agronsky. We
are confident that this can be
done as it was once before
when Mr. Agronsky was
taken off the air. If you are in
accord with our petition, sign
it and in addition phone sta
tion KUGN requesting radio
time for Mr. Agronsky.
Yours very truly,
Robert L. Dresbach
Chm. Young Progressives^
g*at Stall
Telephone Company Puts Bite On
by fyic tffujesi
The upkeep on those little black books is
going to be more expensive in the future if
the telephone company gets the new rate in
crease it’s asking. Not only will house phones
cost more' (up to a buck a month more) but
you’ll have to drop a dime in the pay phones
each time you call instead of the lowly nickel.
Oh well, I guess the phone companies have
their troubles, too—what with their employ
ees striking for higher wages and threatening
to jam the circuits so customers can’t make
long distance calls.
Today is the last day to vote for the Junior
Weekend' Queen and her court—which re
minds us that Junior Weekend is only two
weeks off.
Speaking of JW, congrats should be given
the Junior Prom committee for getting Char
lie Barnet for the Prom. It'll be a pleasure to
dance to the kind of music his band puts out.
Maybe a “name” band will draw enough dan
cers to keep the Prom from being a financial
flop like so many recent all-campus’ dances
have been.
It’s a shame Hazel Scott’s concert was can
celed. The Student Union Board went to a
lot of trouble to book and publicize her in
their attempt to get top-notch artists here.
A lot of students were really looking forward
to hearing her.
Heard one the other day about a guy who
took his new gal friend for a canoe ride on the
mill race. After coyly paddling down to a se
cluded nook, he found she wonldn't kiss in a
canoe so he paddled her back.
1 lie poor Aggies still don’t have a liquor
store closer than five miles. One enterprising
individual applied for a license for a store
just outside the city limits. The state liquor
commission refused him on the grounds that
it would "violate the spirit” of the Corvallis
City Council’s refusal to have a liquor store
in the city. Oh well, it’s only five miles by
good road to Philomath.
Xhat hotbed of communism, the University
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