Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1950)
Ozeaa* Daily EMERALD Thp Oregon Daily Emerald, published Monday through Friday during the college year ‘2h| ME’kw ^Uidionai papers Mr* l‘and by’theV Oninions exoressed on the editorial page are those of the writer and do not pretend to represent the opSs or the ASUO or of the University. Initialed editorials are written by the associate editors. Unsigned editorials are written by the editor__ A Fraternity, A Fine, and the Future Oregon’s fraternities and the Interfraternity Council have looked just a little foolish the past week. The council has levied a total of $700 in fines for violation of rules set up by council members themselves last spring. The rules stated that “rushing shall be defined as social con tact of any kind at any place, and as an attempt to influence any freshman in his choice of fraternity. This provision shall not be construed to prevent an individual fraternity member from contacting an individual freshman for purposes other than in fluencing his choice of fraternity.” A more indefinite rule we’ve never seen. No wonder it was violated (but no one is naive enough to be lieve all violations were done unwittingly.) Chairman of the committee who drew up the rules last spring said Tuesday he had not intended the “narrow defini tion” of the rules which the Tribunal of IFC had used. An obvious truth—his house was fined $200. But the five-man Tribunal was forced to draw a line—and vou certainly must give it credit for pulling the string taut. However, must a fraternity man wear a muzzle when fresh men are around. If the man in front of you in the cafeteria line happens to be a yearling, do you move to the soda bar or pay :$50? You may pay if a member of another house—especially a ri val—sees you. It only takes one complaint to put a case before the Tribunal. But all cases put before the adjudicators have not been convicted. Those convicted cases have hit some freshmen mighty hard. If the frosh are as unsure about the rules as their big brothers on the campus—it’s unfair to penalize them. So what should Interfraternity do? With an outsider’s viewpoint, we’ll suggest: Setting up more concrete rules which will either define this hands-off policy or establish a plan that was offered last spring. This plan suggested that so many weeks of fall term be set aside for regulated visits to houses by the freshmen. Hands-off would be the order for the remainder of the term. Some reasons given for rejection of this plan were: that too much money and time would be spent. We can’t help but believe that the political climate of spring term and never-say-die opposition to the living-in plan influ enced this decision. But, whatever Interfraternity decides—law-enforcement provisions will be just as important as the basic rules. Oregon’s road to the honor system is still unpaved. Just Leave a Little for the Host The “it” spot for high school teenagers is going to be the Student Union, according to a column in last Thursday’s Reg ister Guard. The column, Teeners’ Topics, discusses teenagers who have been seen in the Erb—such as, “Harold ‘Frankie’ Clift, Madge Barnes, and Don Crawford relax in the big lounge, dreaming up plans for the parties they could hold in all the spacious, luxurious rooms.” Among the attractions of the building (other than pool tables, ping pong, art gallery, and music listening rooms which the column mentioned) are “handsome cashiers who went to high school once themselves.” Now while all this is rather amusing—at the same time it brings up a question: What about high school students in the student union? They could become a problem. It’s nice to share facilities with whoever wants to use them, and whoever uses them with care and respect. And as long as there is plenty for everybody —who is going to complain about sharing with the high school students, who, after all, may go to college once themselves. THE DAILY ^ ... ... to Alpha Phi and Sigma Nu for giving a Hallowe'en party last night in the Sigma Nu house for the underprivi leged children of Eugene. THE OREGON LEMON . . . ... to professors who are so pleased with having a doctor ate they correct students who address them as Mr., and in sist upon being called Dr.—in or out of class. Some Daylight on the Subject Number 310, 311 . Oregon’s clocks will be affected by this bill if it is approved by the people next week. “Providing uniform standard time in Oregon" is the ballot title. The 1949 legislature approved it, but the referendum sent it back to the voters. The Measure Would: Adopt specific standard time as Oregon’s official time, except for that part of the state from Huntington east. Allow the governor to proclaim a variation of such time by not more than one hour “when the economy and general welfare of this state are planed at material disadvantage by lack of uniformity between standard Oregon time as herein established and the time in general use in border states, and upon a formal finding of such fact made by the governor and in that event proclaimed only by the governor.” Proponents Say: Uniform time throughout Oregon would be established. Farmers and laborers are inconvenienced by daylight time. If economic needs are strong enough, the governor can proclaim daylight saving time. Opponents Say: The issues of the bill are not clear-cut. The voter does not know if he’s favoring daylight or standard time. Daylight time is needed in Oregon business. The Emerald Says: Yes, we definitely favor uniform time in Oregon. But, no, we don’t want to be saddled with standard time all year round unless the governor changes it—which seems unlikely under the bill as it is written. This is one of those measures where you might say “if in doubt, vote no.” The best solution seems to be in a League of Women Voter’s publi cation which says: “Note: It is very probable that the bill will be re written by the 1951 legislature.” But since a definite vote must be made, we’ll say “no” and hope that the bill is revamped. _ -——Letters— The Campus Answers T £ 4-Vin lnff OH TITO C* TY1 DOnf QC €1 Specific Gnarges, r-iease Emerald Editor: It seems that when a group of uninformed and obviously bitter people such as the Abolitionists start complaining, it always tries to cover up its ignorance of the facts with the use of “loaded words;” a well known method of propaganda. I am a member of a fraternity that has no secrets and I am will ing, at any time, to sit down with one or more of the Abolitionists and explain to them any of the practices, ceremonies, procedures of my fraternity that interest them. In return for this offer. I ask the Abolitionists to come out from behind such generalities as “system of organized lice” and “social parasites” and get down to facts. What does specifically bother you? Such an attack as yours must be prompted by con crete heartbreaks and injustice. Out with it! We of the fraternity norority system would like to an swer your charges as soon as we know what they are. Selective living is not new. Man has always picked his friends and neighbors. Nobody picks your wife for you and no body tells you where you have to live. If you don’t like the way we "Greeks” live, then either show us why or keep your “loaded words” to yourself and pick your own so cial group. Rod Smith Delta Upsilon And Some Reasons Emerald Editor: In regard to the letter submit ted by the Abolitionists: It is too bad that this subver sive elements league cannot re strict itself to more constructive purposes. In itb charges that so rorities must go there is no evi dence of specific facts which w'ould lead to this irrational con clusion. The language used is par ticularly obnoxious to any intelli gent mind, and I am surprised that the editor would print that letter. jest it is a poor one, if it was meant to rile the Greeks then it has accomplished its mission I’m sure. I would like to point out that even though you say no Greek personality is under attack, a sorority or fraternity is made up of individual personalities, and you attack all when you attack one. I would listen to any specific reason why sororities should he removed, and more than that I would like to know what the “to tal bad” is that would warrant the abolishment of sororities. Signed: Walter D. Alley Sigma Chi • It Could Be Oregon • “This is the last time I can ask you, Freda—How about a date this week end?” He: Hash By Bob Funk Heretofore we had always thought of the library as a tryst ing place for the more romantic elements of the campus popula tion, and a place where you studi ed during final week. Now there is a big, new confus ing addition to the library, which caused enough curiosity in us the other day to force an off-season visit. We are not quite sure what the idea behind this new addition is. Perhaps it is to bring the People closer to the Books. Come to think of it, we are quite sure that is it. Anyway, one is quite free now to wander about in the new addition and impress oneself with just how many books there are. Believe us, there are a great many. Most fascinating thing about the new addition is, however, the variety of ways one can get up and down. There are stairs, ramps, and an elevator. After a little experimentation, we have decided to come out in favor of the ramps. They are the most fun. All the stairs, elevator, and ramps set-up is blessed with many little signs, etc., which an nounce, level four, deck five, ad infinitum. It is best just not to pay any attention to all these signs. You should try to find your book by instinct, instead. Our first visit to this new and wonderful p 1 a c e-to-get-lost-on campus was with a person from the-place-we-live, who somehow understood which deck to get off the elevator at, and even how to find a book. We are not sure whe ther he really found the book he intended to find, or just picked one out at random to impress us. We are afraid, however, that be did this all on his own brain power—which gives us sort of an inferiority complex.