FRESHMEN 'LIVING IN': THE SECOND YEAR
The Oregon l'lan—n modlflcu
lloii of flic deferred living pro
gram adopted |n the fall of 1950
—hits been In effect more than
lour months.
tjiille likely we are In no posi
tion to pass final Judgment on
the “plan.” And we won’t.
Nevertheless, In this special
Dad’s Day Issue, we are review
ing the "living In" program as
It presently appears to adminis
trators, freshmen, sororities and
fraternities, and ourselves, the
Fmerald editorial staff.
We think the general picture
Is good, although fraternities and
sororities have to face definite
llnaneiul problems. Itut as far as
tin freshmen and tin* University
•is a whole are concerned, the
plan has been to their advantage.
As we recall, that has always
been the prescribed goal.
On Men'i. 3>o*md
Physical Layout
' Main Complaint
THK deferred living plan for
freshmen at Oregon is every
thing from a "howling suefcess"
to a "fairly successful program,”
according to an opinion survey
made among the counselors and
administrative officials.
But we didn't accept just the
administration’s o pin! o n. W c
checked with the freshman hall
presidents and others in the
frosh dorms. Their opinions of the
system ranged from "fairly good"
to "very good." The rather mean
ingful point is that the freshmen
and counselors were not very far
apart on most points.
There Merc complaints, to In
sun-. There always will he. But
tin- criticisms, such ns there were,
conic mostly from the counselors,
not thi- freshmen.
The freshmen don't think much
of the vet's dorm. Neither do
most of the counselors. And that's
no surprise. The physical char
acteristics of the building were
never regarded as particularly
good, ami it was a sort of calcu
lated risk when the upper dorm
was allotted to the freshmen. But
it has been, and still is, necessary
to provide adequate housing for
students.
We talked to several freshmen
who had been moved from the
vet’s dorm to another hall In
John Straub. "Man!” said One
enthiisiastleally, "They've got
everything over there. If they hud
another dormitory like that I
don't think there would ever la*
any complulnts.”
-c Dorm food was no subject for
pi-aiie. Wc cannot recall when it
ever was. It's doubtful that it
ever will be. The fact that the
gripes seem to be normal indi
cates that the food is average
dormitory fare. The dorms can't
compete with Mother.
Thi- separation of freshmen
from upperclassmen was strongly
favored by both freshmen and
counselors. As Hay Hawk, direc
tor of student uffalrs for men,
put it, “The proof of the pudding
Is in the eating. We were not
sure at first that It was educa
tionally wise to separate fresh
men from upperclassmen. But
this year there is no comparison
to Iasi year In the matter of con
trol, discipline, cooperation and
spirit." And no eomparison, we
might add, in the number of
freshmen who were not dropped
from school at the end of one
term because of scholastic de
ficiencies.
The counselors were in favor of
delayed rushing, in one form or
another. Some mentioned the
sophomore year, others indicated
satisfaction with the present win
ter term rush schedule. All agreed
that rush week was something of
a problem regardless of when it
happened, and all of them op
posed any soit of rushing before
winter term.
The freshmen, generally, were
not too concerned about the rush
ing timetable.
Kay Hawk voiced solid ap
proval of winter term rushing.
“Ptte the isalvation of the frater
nity system,” lie said. “The. na
tionals have long wanted the
Little Fault Found by Freshmen. Counselors
Administrators;
chapters here to select their
pledges more carefully on a
scholastic basis. Fraternities will
gain In stature and stability. I'rep
deciles, pretesting show nothing.
One term’s gardes are the best
criteria.”
The social activities of the
freshmen Heem to have been more
(■alisfactory from the freshman
viewpoint than from the view
point of the counselors. Home
counselors thought too much time
hud been spent on a social pro
gram. The only freshman com
plaint in the men's dorm was
that some girls didn't take advan
tage of their opportunities. (Dur
ing exchanges, etc.)
One counselor was critical of
the movement of some freshmen
from vet's dorm to a hall in John
Stiaub. "If they continue to split
them up and move them to
Straub, it will indicate they are
washing the program down the
orain," he said.
He has a point, but considering
tlie general opinion on the value
of keeping the freshmen in one
group, we don't think his point
will ever become a sore one.
Tlie pudding seems to be pretty
good stjiff. It can probably be im
proved. but the basic ingredients
are not likely to change.
I lie credit c an't be given to
one person, or one group. The
counselors have carried the big
gest load. The- freshman class, in
turn, has been called one of the
finest groups to enroll at Oregon.
And IFC has rounded out the
grand alliance in a very credit
able manner.
As one of the counselors re
marked, “.We still have quite1 a
ways to go, hut by the time we
have four classes echo have gone
through the program, we'll have
a much bettrr University."
It seems to us that the feeling
of satisfaction concerning the
program was shared nearly as
much by the freshmen as the
counselors. And that is a very
lavorable sign. Everyone expected
the first year 0“ two under the
plan to be fairly rough in spots.
Perhaps a rough spot or two
lies ahead.
But as of now the whole pro
gram is sliding along as if it
were on greased rails. The fresh
men dormitory system for the
men is a success by a most any
standards. P.C.
On 'Women'*'
More ^Counselors
Needed for Frosh
E won't go out on a limb
TT and say everybody’s happy
in an about every detail of the
women’s dormitory program, but
we really can’t find much dis
satisfaction.
Counselors and students are
not in complete agreement on the
merits of the all-freshman dor
mitory. Some feel some sort of
program should be instituted to
bring the frosh into closer con
tact with the dorm upperclassmen
as the frosh would benefit from
the more mature thinking of the
older students. Ideally, we think
there should be more contact. But
we'll admit we have no plan.
Study conditions are generally
good, although counselors from
Carson wish they cOuld provide
a supervised study table for those
who want to attend. This will
never be solved, however, since
Carson has no sufficiently lighted
looms which would serve this
purpose. At Hendricks, students
study in the basement, or dining
room, if they wish.
Reactions to 7:30 to 10 p.iii.
mandatory study regulations
varied. Frosh felt the regulations
helped them settle down. Some
counselors feel students should
definitely be allowed to study in
the library if they wish. (The
frosh are quite restricted here.)
Several counselors felt that, ideal
ly, i the girls; sh<?uld be allowed to
study anytime they wanted. We
Greeks Have Money Troubles
agree that this would be ideal,
but the argument always arises
that the girls' parents would ob
ject and wonder why their daugh
ters weren't getting better
grades.
Few griped about the food, or
about social contacts.
Concerning sororities, the
freshmen generally complained
that the rush period had been too
short and they hadn't had a
chance to see all the houses.
Counselors were in just about
unanimous agreement that rush
ing should lie postponed at least
until the beginning of winter
term.
Two main suggestions were
made: ill more emphasis on the
cultural aspect of college and
(2i more counselors.
One counselor thought more at
tention should be paid to man
ners, for instance. She also
thought more emphasis was need
ed on concerts, speakers, and so
on.
Freshmen were quite enthusi
astic over the help given by their
counselors. And the latter were
satisfied with the acceptance of
their advice. But counselors
thought more of their number
were definitely needed.
He agree wholeheartedly that
more are needed. One student
counselor has eharge of 80 fresh
men in Hendrieks hall, whereas
there are 8 frosh counselors in
Carson. This Is not good.
Also, wouldn't it be possible
to perhaps set up some course for
the counselors prior to their year
or two of counseling which would
give them instructions in the
work and some credit ? Coun
selors seemed to think this a good
idea.
But although some improve
ment could be made, everyone
thinks the overall picture is good.
We'll agree too.
*7he. So'i&utieA. Say
Plan Leaves Gap
In Most Houses
DEFERRED living, from the
sorority point of view, has
brought some problems, probably
among the chief of which is the
financial hardship involved.
It has been reported that the
unfinished Holloway report to the
alumni asserts that deferred liv
ing has brought no financial
hardship to fraternities and so
rorities.
We beg to differ.
According to the facts and fig
ures we've picked up from the
Office of Student Affairs, this as
sumption simply doesn’t make
sense, at least as far as sororities
are concerned.
Here are the facts:
Each sorority is assigned what
is known as a “base capacity,”
based on available sleeping, eat
ing, study and sanitary facilities.
For more efficient operation, ac
cording to treasurers and house
managers, each house should be
filled approximately to base ca
pacity.
Oregon's sorority base capaci
ties range from 32 to 48, with the
average capacity approximately
42. With four classes living in
the house before deferred living,
houses were filled to base capa
city or over.
But:
Official figures for this term
show that the actuul number of
women living in ranges from 17
to 42, with an average of 27. Only
one house has over 34 living in; 9
of the 16 sororities are below 30.
In order to fill the gap left by
having three classes living in the
house instead of four, each soror
ity would have to pledge an av
erage of 15 sophomores, juniors
and seniors—a total of 240. Ac
cording to Mrs. Golda P. Wick
ham, director of women's-affairs,
there aren't that n\any . sopho
.more.i junior and-aenio* 'wotrsen
living in the dorms who arc elig
inle to go out for rushing, let
alone who are interested in rush
ing.
And the picture isn’t likely to
improve very fast; enrollment is
dropping now and isn’t expected
to go up until 1960.
Why must the houses be filled
nearer to base capacity for sound
financing?
Whether a house has 17 mem
bers living in or 18, there are cer
tain costs which remain the
same. Cooks’ wages, for instance,
or housemother’s salaries; and op
erating costs such as light and
fuel.
In addition, houses with excep
tionally few members cannot
take advantage of quantity buy
ing with its lower costs. Granted,
the picture is darker because of
the combined factors of the en
rollment drop and inflationary
prices, particularly for food.
But the fact remains that if
the houses were fuller—if their
freshmen were living in—the fi
nancial picture would be much
healthier.
Sororities in general are not
actively opposing deferred living
as such. Most recognize the ad
vantage to freshmen of wider
acquaintanceships on campus.
Comments from pledged and in
dependent freshmen to the effect
that there has been no hostility
—as was expected by some—be
tween the two groups in the
dorm is seen as a hopeful indi
cation of better relations between
sorority and independent women
—unquestionably a valuable out
come.
There have been some com
plaints that actives and pledges
don't get to know each other; but
in general the sororities are anx
ious to promote dormitory loyalty
in order not to undermine the
dorm program. And another
thing that's good about deferred
living is the simple psychological
factor that a freshman woman,
when she arrives on campus,
knows where she's going to live
and has a chance to settle down.
But—if only for the sake of
honesty—when it's asserted that
deferred living is "no financial
hardship.” they’d like to have the
picture cleared up. G.G.
*7he rf-'iatetuUUel Say
Men Profit, But
Not Financially
DEFERRED living is apparent
ly here to stay and Oregon's
fraternities are gamely trying to
make the best of it. Fraternity
men can see the advantages to
the freshmen men and to the
University' of having the frosh
■spend one of their four college
years living together. They have
seen better class spirit and wider
groups of acquaintances among
the freshmen.
Fraternity men have also profi
ted from the opportunity to look
the freshmen over as to scholar
ship, interests, and personality
and realize that the freshmen
conversely have had a chance to
get a better look at fraternities
making it possible for them to
better determine in which group
they would best fit.
Fraternities on this campus
last year lost between $600 and
$S00 apiece because of what ac
countants describe as lack of
membership. These are the cold,
hard facts. Fraternity men con
sider the statement said to be in
the Holloway Report that the fra
ternities' financial suffering was
to a large extent their own fault
and not that of “the plan" a bold
faced lie. When the report is fi
nally released, fraternity men will
want to know how decreased
membership caused by having
three rather than four classes
“living in” is “their own fault
and not the fault qf the plan.”
It is suspected that Mr. Hollo
way'^ Committee choose firiantial
mismanagement rather than just
lack of membership as the cause
of this financial hardship. Frater
nity financial advisers will take
issue with this stand, however.
Fraternity men have been told
that in a few (usually five) years
these things will ‘hVorlt them
selves out”, and probably they
will. It is believed by many, how
ever, that Oregon’s fraternity
system will never be as strong as
it once was, and the very fact
that only three classes are “living
in” is offered as evidence.
Fraternity men also question
the strange coincidence of the ad
vent of “the plan" and the costly
construction of Carson hall.
Ever since deferred living was
first discussed on this campus,
fraternity men have been sus
picious of the University admin
istration. The administration has
steadfastly maintained that, far
from seeking to get rid of Ore
gon's fraternities, it seeks to
better their position. In the light
of tins objective, consider the
statement of the president of the
University at a joint IDC-IFC
meeting two years ago to the
effect that his ultimate objective
was to secure University owner
ship of campus fraternity and
sorority houses. The reasons ad
vanced were that this would make
these organizations tax exempt
and enable them to enjoy the
advantages of central heating and
utilities. Fraternity men wonder.
So, the future of the fraternity
system at Oregon lies in Johnson
hall. In chapter meetings methods
of keeping up membership are
searched for and doubts are ex
pressed as to whether some
houses with smaller membership
will be able to survive this five
year period until things “work
themselves out.” Onlv time can
tell.
We think deferred living is
good in a number of ways. We
think it’s good for the freshmen.
We think fraternity scholarship
will ultimately be strengthened.
But, u'e're afraid that the fra
ternity system will be weakened
through the elimination of the
smaller fraternities which, we bfe
lieve, will be unable to survive fi
nancially the transition to de
ferred living.—R. N.
^Ue. OnufUtal Plan
All-Frosh Dorms
Plan Violated
SOMEWHERE between now
and last April the “Stanford
plan” became the "Oregon plan.”"
Now we can note the original
recommendations for a deferred
freshman living system, and com
pare them with “the plan” as it
is today.
The 9-person ASUO committee
which viewed the situation at
Stanford last April issued, a. 20
page report on conditions at the
California institution and recom
mendations for the University.
This report was quite detailed
and of course some of its lesser
points have been ignored.
But perhaps the biggest and
most dangerous divergence is the
current movement of freshmen
men to John Straub hall. It was
impressed on the 9 campus lead
ers who visited Palo Alto that
freshmen dormitories are an es
sential part of a successful de
ferred living program.
This exodus from freshman
dormitories to Straub—even if it
does result in Straub’s being filled
—seems to defeat the purpose of
our freshman consolidated liv
ing units.
In only one other striking par
ticular has the recommendations
of the committee been ignored—
and bnly partially so in that case.
The committee considered it “es
sential for the houses to post
pone their rushing program until’
the first of winter term.” This
is now the case for male fresh
men, but the rush week for girls
comes early in the fall term of
their freshman year.
The system in force at Oregon
is not a carbon copy of the Stan
ford freshman program. But it
is clearly modeled after Stan
ford’s. And judging from last
term's experience, it’s a pretty"
good model.—D. D.