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
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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.