Oregon Daily . _ EMERALD The Ouaw Daily Eukkals i> published Monday through Friday during the college year, except examination and holiday periods, with issues on Homecoming Saturday and Junior Weekend Saturday hy the Associated Students of the University of Oregon. Entered as sec ond class matter at the post office, Eugene, Oregon. Subscription rates: $5 per school year, $2 Opinions expressed on the editorial page ere those of the writer and do not preCend to represent the opinions of the ASUO or of the University. Initialed editorials are written hp the associate editors. Unsigned editorials a*-s written by the editor. Loan a Lasso if, Editor_ Aaaprr Paine, Business Manager Phil Bettens, Managing Editor _ Geetcuen Geondahl, Bill Clothie*, Don Dewey, Associate Editors Gketchex Geefe, Advertising Manager Why Not Scrap Hell Week? There’s a trend on America’s college campuses today that we hope spreads to the University ot' Oregon. We refer to the idea of substitution a fraternity “Help Week” for the traditional hazing of “Hell Week.” Nationwide publicity has been given recently to the policy adopted by inter-fraternity councils in several universities of having fraternity pledges join in constructive community work as a pre-initiation project instead of putting them through a series of antics which at best accomplish nothing construc tive and at worst may do considerable harm. We list but two examples: at the University of Maryland, the first project of the “Fraternity Help” program was the clearing of an unsightly vacant lot. Other proposed projects are the building of playgrounds for children and the renovation of an old library. At San Jose State, pledges and active members joined to paint the First Congregational church “as a step in the direc tion of changing fraternity hell week into help week.” It’s at San Jose State that Oregon’s IFC President Dick McLaughlin is now attending a regional IFC conference; be fore he left, McLaughlin told us that he expects that the “help week” idea will be one of the major topics of discussion. One of Oregon’s fraternities inaugurated the “help week” idea last year with a pledge project at the Children’s Hospital —but didn’t dispense with hell week. We may be wrong, but we’ve always understood that the only reason advanced by fraternities for hell week was that “the boys ought to go through something to make them ap preciate initiation” and “this brings the pledge class together.” It seems to us that this end could be accomplished—and ac complished better—by working together on something con structive rather than destructive. The matter of “help week” will undoubtedly be coming up in IFC soon, as the end of the term approaches. It is to be hoped that Oregon fraternities will seize this opportunity to rid them selves of an old bogey and join in a progressive national move ment toward useful community service.—G. G. Forced Attendance No Solution ‘‘Lets require them to attend.” That seems to be the uppermost solution in many students minds to the problem of poor attendance at group, or campus wide, functions. Illustration: The other day ASUO cabinet members were discussing the poor student turn-out for anniversary events, and student assemblies in general. They agreed it would “look better” for the school if more attended. How would they promote attendance? Compel the freshmen to attend, as they do at OSC, said one student. Reasoning here was that if students have to attend when they're freshmen they’ll probably still be going when seniors. Make assemblies a “house function” and pair living organi zations, said another. The large turn-out for rallies was used as an example. Living organizations, some by means of fines, compel their members to attend rallies. Have each living organization sing songs when the students are assembling. In this way, the contributor reasoned, students would have to come because they’d want to make a good vocal showing. We think they’ve got the wrong approach. Simple human nature makes persons dislike things they “must” do. There’s enough of this in University life anyway. Students must go to classes, read textbooks, take tests, and so on. Students will turn out for something that interests them. Whether they should or should not be interested in these cam pus events is beside the point here. They obviously aren’t. And no one’s going to change the situation by telling them they must be interested. If student officials'feel obligated to make it “look better” for the school by trying to increase attendance, they might investigate ways of promoting the assemblies. Or, perhaps a poll could be taken to discover what students don’t like about the hour, or content, of programs. Bill Carey, ASUO president, said, “Compulsory attendance would not be effective.” We agree wholeheartedly. --Letters to the Editor Let the Bonfire Burn Emerald Editor: I am now accepting contribu tions which will be used to re pair the shattered morale of the Misses Hart and Thurston, whose woebegan letter appeared in Wednesday's Emerald. These ladles, who are members of the Homecoming Publicity committee, wove a heart-rending tale of hardships and difficulties which would hard to surpass any where. Thus, because of their suf fering, students should give up "one more night of sleep In your own bed; one more chance to nibble at the Thanksgiving left overs; a Friday night with no closing hours other than those designated by your parents.” Meanwhile those poor ladies have to stay and suffer on the campus, although this has come about through their own choice, as I presume they weren't forced to serve on the commit tee. The Misses Hart and Thurston then attempt to threaten the stu dents with a warning about a projected OSC burning of our bonfire. We had our fun. let the OSC students have theirs. In conclusion, I suggest that all Oregon students remain on the campus during Christmas vaca tion and have a cozy little dinner together. Why should we all go home for a lousy two weeks for mere animal comforts when we could stay here and prepare our studies for winter term ? Martin Meadows Mad at Madwoman Emerald Editor: “The Madwoman of Challlot" struck this particular author like a bulldozer crunching over a heap of rotten cabbage. After viewing this far from notable dramatic abortion, one is prompted to be come either abusive and belliger ent or to maintain a polite and disgusted silence. However, having a social as well as an aesthetic conscience I am forced to express my opinions on this subject. Preliminary to attempting a clarification of the plays failings, I might mention its only virtue its brevity. The affair that took place on the stage of the University Theater Friday night has managed to ac camplish for the drama what the puritan revolution in England and the Watch and Ward society in Boston had failed to do. That is to demonstrate forcibly that the way to kill the theater is to let it kill itself. Unfortunately the lighting and the acoustics were so excellent that one could see and hear every thing that teas said including the conversation among the members of the cast backstage, which was a good deal more interesting than the sentimental tedium presented in the guise of dialogue. The only thing the actors (lid well wan get In each other’s way, except for the Madwoman who also got In her own way. The high point of this evening, for this viewer, occurred when a minor member of the cast, either because he was drunk, blind or disgusted with the whole thing stumbled (or was tripped) buck stage and destroyed a section of the scenery. About the play Itself, little can be said that is printable. "The Madwoman of Chaillot" is fant asy. It is composed 80 per cent of berry sentimentality and 20 per cent of vulgarity. It would, in all probability, have been no more enjoyable if the proportions were reversed. (liradoux, the author, who In dead and cannot defend himself, undoubtedly intended the Mad woman as a comedy. That the University Theater also hail this purpose in mind is Impossible to determine on the basis of their presentation. Giradoux, who was never much of an Intellectual giant, has man aged to say in two long, dull, talky acts what the average re tarded idiot usually coughs up in two minutes under five grains of sodium amytal. I feel that the University Thea ter, even under the skillful direc tion of Mr. Robinson, will have a good deul of trouble in ever ap proaching the level of The Mad woman in is future production. Allen Hcrtzog On Treatment of Islam Emerald Editor: I have attended a number of talks and discussions by Dr. Means of the religion department on Island in the present-day Mos lem world. It appears that he is trying to emulate Dr. Mayo who wrote the book "Mother India." We, in our countries, refer to that book as "The Report of a Sewer Inspector." If Dr. Means’ talks are published in book form I think we will detect the same familiar odor. Muzhanil Islam, Pakistani student fynxMti the Mvufue... HO YEARS AGO Nov. 8, 1921—Every student is asked to send letters of a "per sonal and appealing nature" to alumni inviting them haek for the Homecoming celebration. 20 YEARS AGO Nov. 8, 1981—Tentative plans to join with the Register Guard and Eugene merchants to have citizens tidy up their luwns along principal streets during Home coming weekend are in process of development. There's No Easy Way Out *r4i A/£*i 7/ X /JOIN 1 TH' 1 A RMV v\Y i the International Uelutlons club's topic of discussion at 7 p.m. to day In the Student Union.) It's quite difficult to write on this topic set for the Thursday discussion. A German certainly will have only one answer. ''No,” there should be no Western Ger man State. What the Germans want is the reunification of their divided country us quickly us pos sible. The Germans want this since the unfortunate division in May, 10-15, which meanwhile Is com monly seen as one of certain reasons for the Fast-West-con flict which since that time has overshadowed the world and des tinuted Its fate. The reunification of Germany cun be of great Importance fo.“* the world peace. In any case world peace will not last without u united Germany. Besides Korea and besides the Austrian State Treaty (instead of a "Peace Treaty") the German question is the big touchstone for Soviet good will to settle the world problems finally without a new Germany Is with tin* West. Tlierr Is no doubt und no reason to doubt In Iut future attitude. That's of Millie for nil of tier many. And no Wrr.tern tirniiun nun surpass the desire of all the Germans suffering under Eastern terrorism In the Soviet /one le hind the Iron Curtain. lint th reason Gcrnnmj Is with the W'-st and will further lie Is her belief In world peace, guaranteed by the greater strength of that side of the divided world, which has tie1 le tter alms. Hut the Germai - also recognize thut world pencil can't lie maintained without | sia’s participation. The Germans are with the j West; Himultanioualy they nev- r will agree in two Germany^ o: .• with the Fast and one with ti. ■ West, because they don’t belies that such a status would advn the West. They see it as question of 1 i manlty first and of political se secondly to do not close the do r of a possible solution of the <; r inan unification problem before the Soviets themselves close that door. The Soviets never will do that unless they want war. The , world powers and the West-Ce r man-Goverment should not su) p sede the present temporary stiff: with a definitive stiitus whh h everybody knows will be the g< i :u for later trouble. The Gemmas generally don’t want separate peace treaties wlih either present German state. The main-problems of the fuliirc Irca ty will be In the Fast, for Instance the border-problem. How could that problem he solved In u svf- j flclent way for all sides, it they are to get settled by Moscow "ii the one hand uiiil its compliant instrument In Fasten Gcrn a'y, the “Grotewohl-Cahlnett,” on He other hand. If the West wants peace \vit.li Germany it is first of ull easy to give West Germany a real peace status now. That will i !,t anticipate a subsidient treaty and will rise the hope and belief >f the Germans in the Soviet 7.' That all might sound a tat selfish. Most Germans belon::' to the West with all their heart. Germany claims to be an impor tant part of the Went, parti' larly culturally and ideolo-ic dly. J Politically she already ha ■ I it by nearly eliminate ;; munists in the past eleclio: :t how it may be, the evolutii World War I which fiiviily ! Hiller, not without conri.t.in y. 1 has taught us that the w.-c.-.L policy is that which consul rs the reasonable selfish inter .is <'i ^ the peoples. That is good • . •>» peoples. - v Thus, “No separate V/cr! a Germany.”