Oregon Dcciltf . «
(EMERALD
THE OREGON DAILY EMERALD h published Monday through Friday daring the
college year except Oct. 29; Nov. 23, 24; L)ec. 5 through Jan. 3; Mar. 4 through April 1 ;
and after May 29; with issue* on N.v. 24 *nd May 10, by the Associated Students of the
University of Oregon. Entered as second class matter at the post ot.ice, Eugene, Oregon.
Subscription rates: $5 per school year, $2 per term. . . .
Opinions expressed on the editorial ; iRe are those of the writer and do not pretend to
represent the opinions of the ASUO oi of the University. Initialed editorials are written by
the associate editors. Unsigned editorials arc written by the editor.
A Light in Darkness
“Your newspaper lights the way of freedom."
That's the theme chosen for the 1951 observance of National
Newspaper Week—this week. And it has a deeper meaning
than ever in these days of ever-tightening controls, when the
press is being successfully stifled in many parts of the world.
Censorship is becoming more of a reality daily in Indo-China,
Lebanon, Venezuela, Columbia, Mexico, and India, as well as
in Argentina where the recent suppression of "La l’rensa ’
stirred up an international furor.
And it can happen here. Recent indications, such as the pro
posed censorship of government agency news in regard to what
is released to the public, reflect a disturbing trend in that
direction. Perhaps what is needed is a new fighting spirit in
the nation's press for the preservation of what we have come
to take for granted as one of our inalienable rights.
The men who founded this nation considered the right to tell
so important that they wrote it into the first amendment to
our Federal Constitution: “Congress shall make no law...
abridging freedom of speech and freedom of the press."
But the right to tell is more than a privilege, it is a duty.
The Oregon Daily Emerald purposes to stand in the ranks
of the newspapers of integrity by informing its readers of all
the news, “without fear or favor.” For we firmly believe in the
principle set forth by Christ that “Ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall set you free.”
“Your newspaper lights the way to freedom.”
The vital truth of that message is the one thing National
Newspaper Week has to sell.—G. G.
A Golden Opportunity for IFC
There’s going- to be a beach party this week-end for members
of the Interfraternitv Council.
Besides the usual equipment for such outings, IFC will be
joined by Ray Hawk and Donald DuShane, who have some
thing to do with the affairs of Oregon students, especially men,
and most particularly, fraternity men.
This party is a wee bit more important than the ordinary
marshmallow roast. Combining business with pleasure, the
group will seek to reach a common understanding regarding
freshman rushing procedure. (Which won’t begin until winter
term, incidentally.)
Of course, the understanding has already been reached as far
as technicalities are concerned, but it is the hope of IFC presi
dent, Dick McLaughlin, that this blanket party will help moti
vate the fraternities to cooperate full-heartedly, not because
they have to, but because they want to.
We go for that idea.
We believe the program now in effect at Oregon, called by
various names, of which the Oregon Plan seems as good as
any, is one which can benefit the student body as a whole.
For one thing, it puts college life in a better perspective. It
helps new students realize that obtaining an education is the
important issue—pledging a fraternity is of secondary im
portance.
Fraternities are benefited by being able to look over the best
prospects (discounting yellow convertibles) and make the
appropriate choice.
Freshmen are given a chance to study a number of frater
nities without having to grab whatever comes first. They can
make a thoughtful selection.
Independents who have no interest in such goings-on are
allowed to live in peace.
We won’t dwell on benefits to the administration but there
are several obvious ones and we doubt if the financial revenue
gained from dormitory bills is the most important one, even to
the administration.
We like the idea of infusing IFC with that old college spirit.
We hope they are as sincere as a group as their president is
as an individual. The fraternities have a very important part in
making the program work as it was intended. We might say
they have a golden opportunity.
So do the freshmen.
They can take advantage of the counselling program which
has been set up for them. Some of them may not need any
help. Others may remain in college by virtue of such help.
But no one will benefit unless everyone plays fair. It’s up to
the freshmen as well as the fraternities. And we might add, the
resident assistants and sponsors have a very important role.
It’s not just the fraternities who can disrupt the program.
They’re just the most obvious, that’s all.—B. C.
Camp^A. <MeaAli+te4.--£lle.u*U&i&
Alabama Faculty Man Resigns Due to Beer Interest
One of the faculty members at
the University of Alabama re
signed because his financial in
terest in a beer distributing firm
made his presence on the faculty
•‘detrimental to the University"
in the eyes of the administration.
Just putting theory into prac
tice, we'd say.
* * • * *
And traffic problems are not
exclusively ours. At Aus^i,
Texas, a new truffle program
opened. Most of the students and
faculty members who live within
walking distance are leaving their
oars at home. "It's much easier
for them,” explained the campus
cup, "it's too hurd to get an
authorized parking space.”
UCLA shows ii drop In regis
tration figures nearly 1,000 below
last fall’s quota. They only have
12,850 this fall. Hardly enough to
field a good football team.
*****
The University of Maryland has
suff. red a staggering cut in their
yearly- Student Government bud
get. The Student Government will
have to get along with only $58,
000. Last year they got $07,000.
Maybe they have bigger and bet
ter sports nights.
*****
An obliging burglar broke in
to some fraternity houses at
Syracuse University, New York,
and lifted $128. He overlooked
$ 2,000 which Interfraternity
President Greg Ferrintlno had
hidden in a closet. Probably i
good friend.
• * • • *
University of North Carolina:.
James Walker, a Negro, returned,
a number of football tickets tic
had been issued In lieu of the reg
ular athletic pass boo1-. The tic-*
kets were marked "colored” ai l
entitled him to a scat at the
end of the stadium.
Chancellor House explained
(that's the word used by the stu
dent newspaper, "The Dally Tar
Heel”) that “There Is u dlstlne-'
tion Itetween educational services
and social recognition. Ily law
Negroes are entitled to dormitory
rooms and a section has been re
served for them In Steele Dormi
tory. They can also use the uni
versity dining room.”
fynxMtt the Manque
20 YEARS AGO
Oct. 3, 1031—llran Wayne
Morse announivs a 35 per cent
increase in enrollment at the law
school. The increase is due to
the law school’s outstanding rep
utation, according to Morse.
10 YEARS AGO
Oct. 3, 1041—Orides President
C'orinne VVignes and 1040-41 Em
erald Editor Lyle Nelson are mar
ried in a ceremony at Gerlingec
hall.
5 YEARS AGO
Oct. 3, 1946—University offi
cials meet with municipal offi
cials to consider plans for allevi
ation of congested traffic on 13th
street.
Aside from the News
NSA Doesn't Represent Voice
Of Students Columnist Believes
___ By Bill Frye
If 5 per cent of the nearly
4,500 students now enrolled in the
University have ever heard of an
organization calling itself the
United States National Students
association, that will be surprise
No. 1. If 5 per cent of this small
number understand the principles
and aims of said organization,
that will be surprise No. 2.
A Day at the Zoo
The Story of a House Meeting,
Or-Is Pie Throwing Moral?
--By Bob Funk
It was Monday night in the
dim-lit heart of the Fraternity
With A Soul, Gnu Pu. The as
sorted brethren sat solemnly
about the living room, some
chewing On the rug, some pulling
chairs out from the already
seated, one pushing another into
the fireplace, the fire at that
time being rather in need of fuel.
Ten persons were simultaneously
attempting to sit on a davenport.
The light of fellowship shone
in all their eyes. This was par
ticularly impressive considering
that most of the junior class had
two heads.
“The question Is,” observed the
Grand Keeper of Morals, who was
balancing himself on his big toe
in a corner, “whether it is really
MORAL to throw pies at the
house president.” “It is some
thing” (at this he wept impressi
vely) “which we as loving broth
ers cannot dismiss lightly,”
“Nay, never,” chorused the 10
men on the davenport, all of
whom were on the Grand Keep
er’s coffee list.
"But the rushees will EXPECT
us to throw pies,” complained
the Grand Deluder of Young
Freshmen. “All the other frat
clubs throw pies.”
An anonymous person from the
fringe of the rug asked if it were
necessary to be like all the other
frat clubs. It turned out that he
was only the house president,
and his comment was declared
out of order.
“As any REAL member knows,
it Is often necessary to sacrifice
One’s own desires to desires of
the—urp—multitude.” All eyes
turned to the speaker, who was
the Grand Real Member of the
fraternity. “No REAL member
would mind.” Several persons
blanched guiltily. The Grand
Keeper of Morals glared signi
ficantly at the davenport crowd,
all of whom prepared to give a
negative vote.
At this point three persons
swept dramatically from the
room and ran sobbing upstairs.
They were later heard chuckling
at their clever method of escape.
“Question!” shouted the Grand
Keeper.
“I second!” shouted a rug
chewer.
“Pa**!” shouted the Grand I>e
Inder.
"Double!” chorused the dav
enport.
At this point it is necessary to
explain that none of these per
sons knew anything- about either
bridge or Robert's Rules of Or
der, and that no motions were
ever really voted on anyway, but
always referred to some officer,
who promptly forgot about it.
The meeting broke up with a
stirring shouting of the Official
Song, which was "Neat Are We."
There was sporadic fighting after
this, and other good cheer.
If you don’t understand this
coiumn you must have skipped
house meeting.
Going on the assumption that
this is not my day for surprises,'
we’ll tuke a brief look-see into
an issue on which not too mu< lr
is certain. This much is known,
however:
NNA has a membership of 3<i3
schools, 83 per Cent of which urr
small In si/at and not comparable
to stale universities. Since llllli,
47 schools huve withdrawn, a
mong them University of Wash
ington, Stanford and Ohio State.
NSA places much cmphusis on
solving nationul and International*
problems. It presents Itself as the
voice of the students in world
affairs.
Financially, NSA la a very
weak organization. Its balance,,
sheet for 1950 showed a deficit of
$10,867.87.
The annual costs to the AS! IT
would include a minimum of $HM)
for membership fees, plus $IIT
to register each delegate at the
yearly congress.
This much appears obvious: ,
Such representation as NSA
offers could not be considered the
voice of the students since most,
of the large schools are not mem
bers.
I’he costs to the ASUO would"
not warrant Joining such an or
eganization. We ulready have ade-#
quate representation in the Paci
fic Student Presidents association
and the Oregon Federation of
Collegiate leaders.
Couldn't we find a better white
elephant someplace ?
One for IFC?
“And as a member of our dub, you’ll enjoy our friendly rivalry
with the frat next door.”