/J*t Cdit&ual
A LOOK AT THE AGS CANDIDATES
"My vote's going to ...
That’s what a lot of the Associated Greek Stu
dents are saying these few days before Monday's
primary. The last word in the sentence is one of
three aspirartts Bill Frye, Pat Dignan or Mike
Lally.
So we d like to say something, too.
Our conscience has been bothering us.
We do not think that one of the candidates run
ning for the AGS nomination should become presi
dent of the Associated Students of the University
of Oregon.
Our reason ? Questionable integrity. We firmly be
lieve the representative of our student body should
be absolutely trustworthy.
We hold this above proven organizational ability;
above speaking ability; above the sheer impact of a
“good” personality; above an excellent knowledge
of the ASUO program; above an active interest in
that program.
We’ll tell you a story.
On Feb. 22. 1951, a news story was submitted to
the Emerald by Bill Frye, then assistant news edi
tor. The story did not contain complete information.
It was given to Gene Rose, an assistant managing
editor and also a member of Phi Kappa Psi frater
nity, and rewritten. The story? Some Phi Psis had
taken a desk sign from the police department. A
charge was made by the police. The Phi Psis were
placed on social pro.
Rose turned his story in to News Editor Gretchen
Grondahl late in the afternoon. Shortly after she
returned from dinner, it was discovered that the
m
m
story then in the news office was not the story Rose
had turned in although it was labeled with his name.
Some pertinent facts had been omitted. The carbon
copy of the original story had also disappeared.
Miss Orondahl informed Frye that the attempt at
substitution had been discovered. * Suspecting that
Frye was responsible, she asked him point-blank,
"What did you do with the original story?" "I lost
it," he asserted. Later, in speaking to Managing
Editor Lorna Larson, he claimed, “You'll never
find it.”
Frye later admitted his part In the disappearance
and substitution of the story, and submitted an
apology. The incident was considered closed.
Why have we reopened it now?
Because we feel the incident has importance
when the person involved is presenting himself be
fore the student body as a candidate for their sup
port.
It's not that the individual news story Involved
was important. It’s simply that a story was secretly
removed; that the name on the story was falsified
in an attempt to sneak through a substitution; and
that a person attempted to represent another per
son falsely. Putting another person's name on your
own writing is certainly falsification.
Frye may deny this now. But it’s perfectly obvious
that the Emerald would not print these facts in its
columns without definite proof.
Mr. Frye later said he’d "lost his hend." He prob
ably did. But is that a desirable quality in a stu
dent body president ?
iff m i
In our eyes, that leaves two candidates.
What about Mike Lally? His list of activities is
lengthy and indicates leadership experience. On his
performance, we’ve heard little but the average
amount of praise and complaint. His biggest job—
that of general chairman of Junior Weekend—is
yet before him.
It’s the program which Lally presents as his set
of goals were he elected student body president that
disturbs us. We quote from his own statement: “The
rally board should be the core of university activi
ties.” Strange, but it had always been our im
pression that the students’ elected representatives
in the Senate—which, after all, controls the rally
board—should form the core of organized university
student body activities. We assume he means extra
curricular activities. It’s nice to have effective ral
lies; we’re all for them.
But we feel that Oregon’s student government has
more important needs which should more deeply
concern a student body president than the rally
board. There’s a place for a good rally board—but
not as the core of student activities.
Lally also comes out in support of a unified cam
pus fund-raising drive. This idea has possibilities,
we and other students have done a bit of research
on it. The trouble is that Mr. Lally hasn’t.
We asked him the other day what his ideas on
working out the drive would be, and how he would
meet some of the difficulties involved—and there
are many. He confessed he hadn’t done any research
on it— just thought it was a good idea. He couldn’t
foresee any problem in getting the independent
fund-raising agencies to cooperate; however, both
Red Cross and March of Dimes have national pol
icies against unified drives.
Lally wasn't aware how many or just which drives
are permitted to come on the campus by the ASt'O;
his campaign statement is that there are about two
a month. (There are four a year, only one of which is
actively sponsored by the ASL'O, the other three
being permitted to use student personnel.)
Now there’s nothing essentially bad in Lally's
ignorance about the campus drive situation. He's
still better informed than many a student. But it
seems to us that a candidate should do some investi
gation about a problem before using it as a main
plank of his campaign.
Lally also supports the honor code, which is fine
with us. But he goes on to say that his program
the active rally board, the unified drive, and the
honor code- - is the ‘‘concrete route to the elusive and
long sought for goal of a less apathetic student
body.”
School spirit is made up of a number of things. ,
It’s a feeling of pride in an institution which results
from students' relationships with their professors,
from the subject matter of courses, the objectives
and attitudes of the administration, even the food
the students eat and the buildings they live in.
There’s no one panacea for apathy or magic formula
for building up school spirit.
So we’re not convinced that Mike Lally is the
best candidate.
► ♦
That leaves Pat Dignan.
His activity list is shorter than that of Lally or
Frye. But the longest list is not necessarily the
best criterion for judgment.
Dignan’s statement in Thursday’s paper advocates
a primary for AGS, and perhaps one sponsored by
ASUO for the whole campus, under which the stu
dents would select the entire party slate by popular
vote, v/e are strongly in favor of such a plan, which
would give the individual a specific opportunity to
have a say in the slate’s makeup, without having
to depend on the choice of a few representatives
and resulting political chicanery.
Dignan, like Lally, suggests one unified fund
drive. He has talked with drive officials, and knows
some of the prime arguments for and against such
a plan. He indicated this during a discussion the
other day. He knows what the present situation on
the campus is.
We, too, would like to see something dbne about
the deplorable Millrace situation. We would like to
see a candidate in office who would work for a Mill
race park. We know this is not a wild dream; there
is good possibility for such a park, and a flowing,
swimmable Millrace.
Pat, like the other two nomination-seekers, is
aiding in the honor code orientation program. But
his statement on the code confuses us a bit. He says
he is neither for or against it and believes it de
sirable “only if the students want it.” Isn’t he
planning to vote on it in the coming poll ? Of course
he’s right that it won’t work if the students don’t
want it. But he’s one of the students who. will
decide, isn’t he ?
So we hope that, prior to the April 30 general
election, we’ll be comparing Dignan’s qualifications
with the United Students association candidate,
whoever he or she may be.—The Emerald editorial
page staff (Don Dewey, Gretchen Grondahl, Roger
Nudd, Marjory Bush and Ltorna Larson.)
Oreaon daihf ~ __
EMERALD
The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Feb. 4 thru 8, 11 thru 15, 18 thru 22, 25 thru
29 March 10 Apr. 2 thru 4, 7 thru 11, 14 thru 18, 21 thru 25, 28 thru May 2, May 6 thru 10,
12’thru 16, 19thru22, and May 26 by the Associated Students of the University of Oregon.
Entered as second class matter at the post office, Eugene, Oregon. Subscription rates: $5 per
school vear, $2 per term. .... , , , , , * * i *
Opinions expressed page on the editorial are those of the writer and do not pretend to
represent the opinions of the ASUO or of the University. Initialed editorials are written by
the associate editors. Unsigned editorials are written by the editor.
Lorna Larson, Editor
Carolyn Silva, Business Manager
Phil Betters, Managing Editor
Carolyn Silva, Advertising Manager
Grrtchen Grondahl, Don Dewey, Associate Editors
Wire services: Associatfcd'Pre^s, Voted Press. tfcuber. Associated Collegiate Pres*.
HUH tlte MotofUe....
10 YEARS AGO
April 11, 1942—“Politics have
become un-democritic and I
don’t think we need to run things
like that on this campus,” charg
ed John Busterud as he filed In
dependently for student body of
fice.
A surprise element In the
ASUO nominations assembly
Tuesday was a blasting speeeh by
Jack McCliment commenting up
on the TNE sponsorship which
presidential candidate Ees Ander
son was “alleged to have.”
-Campus Political Scene
What Happened to the Primary?
The Big Stall Seems Successful
---By Merv Hampton
(Ed. Note: Thin 1* the second
In a Hurled (if "Campus l’nlltleal
Scene” coIuiiiiih which will ap
pear during the next three weeks.
The writers are Merv llninpton,
ESA. and Jack l.undrud, AGS.)
Trying to find one's way
through the maze of tactics that
have revolved about the proposed
ASUO primary is about ns easy
as picking the next student body
president. We’ll try, though.
From this side of the fence it's
interesting.
When Virginia Wright first
promised the plan Jan. 24, copies
were unfortunately noi available
for every member Of the Senate.
Normal procedure would have
postponed a vote on It anyway
until the following meeting. A
rather weird motion to table the
plan followed, which completely
cut off debate and would in ef
fect have killed the primary un
less the AGS wanted to take It
off the table sometime later.
All this without the benefit of
any comprehensive debate of the
plan. Needless to say, the motion
to table passed along strict party
lines. Evidently Greek thinking
followed the line of one rather
highly placed AGS Senator who
commented "With this thing
you'll be able to organize the
independents and we (\GS)
won't have a chance." Not very
intelligent reasoning but typical
that they cared to voice publicly,
of the party thinking. We'll give
them credit for usually being a
bit more subtle, though.
The next meeting found the
plan being brought off the table,
much to the glee of the USA
Senators. Apparently no one
could find a good enough reason,
for keeping it there. The dis
cussion was postponed for still
another week, though, much to
the glee of the AGS Senators,
especially since a USA Senator
moved for the postponement. w
The next session appeared to be *
critical, with discussion tithing %'
place and u vote apparently dun
—when up (Hipped a stalwart and *
moved for the plan to be sent to •
committee. It was. This was Feb.
14. It’s, In effect, still there. #
The prcRldcntially appointed *
committee was made up of five *
AOS and three USA Senatora. *
A safe margin, It seemed, if it *
were found necessary to kill the
measure.
The high sign for a stall was up *
and the AOS Senators carried the ,
ball beautifully, almost as if it
had been rehearsed.
Apparently the machine In *
control of the party figured that
a direct primary by Oreek voters
would knock off their No. I can- »
dldate. Tradition has It that you ,
just don’t have two student body
presidents from the same house
consecutively.
But surprise of surprises, up
comes the party with of all
things a primary, apparently *
hoping to scotch one of USA's *
strongest platform planks. The
machine, still in control of the
situation, has now adopted a re- '
form line to get their boy the
nomination: "as long as the party *
is being renovated, It’s about ,
time we forgot about our archaic
notions of passing the offices »
around." The sentiment is noble
but the tactics stink.
Well, where doe* all this put
the ASK) primary? Probably lu'
)t much better position to be
passed. With both parties corn- -
mltted to the principle of "democ
racy” we don’t sec how the Sen
ate cun turn It down in spite of *
what the student iMidy president
says. The opposition won’t be so
tough now that the big stall has
been, for the most part, success
ful. But you won’t see an AS I/O ,
primary this year.
On Static and Screen ...
French Comedy Proves Witty
By Toby McCarroll
Have you ever seen a French
play? You might enjoy it, especi
ally if it is Moliere's (Poquelin's)
"The Doctor in Spite of Himself.”
East night began the three
day run of the play as presented
by the French honorary. The play
Is a 17th Century farce and the
humor Is not that strange brand
peculiar to the humanities but
very enjoyable. The play (In
French, but understandable) be
gins with an English prologue
written and spoken by It. I).
Horn, professor of English.
(What It lacks in clarity it makes
up in wit.)
Dave Eakin stars in the pro
duction and performs his part
well; Bob Luoma goes through
some contortions, together with
some fine acting, which will be
long remembered. The cast is
adequate; it is unfortunate that
some of these people have not
acted in regular University plays.
Jim Blue, of just fame on the
regular stage, gives an excellent
performance as a peasant.
The Buddhas of Villard, smug
in their self-inflected pseudo
sophistication, smile down from
their niches in scorn at these
performers. But, despite this
small point, the fact remains that
the play is enjoyable, rewarding
and refreshing.
The, top movie bf the week will
lie at the Iieilig on Sunday.
M.G.M., winner of the Academy
Award for “An American in
Faris,” is trying to do it again.
"Singing in the Kain” stars Gene
Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Deb
bie Iteynolds. As with most musl
cals tho plot Is unimportant. The
main dance is the “Broadway •
Ballet” which will rival, if not
equal, the famous Paris scene
from “An American In I’aris”
(also a Kelly film).
The Mayflower presents “FI^KT'
an Fantasy," an enjoyable but
not outstanding film with more .
flesh than fantasy. On Sunday
they will bring back “All About »
Eve.” A rather carnal weekend
for the Mayflower. •
The heralded film “Decision
Before Dawn” will be at the Rex, 4
and across the street will be play- ■ <
ing the worst bill this week. The
MacDonald f hows two pictures
which would offend the taste of ’
an ape and insult the intelligence
of a moron, “Cat People" and •
“The Hunchback of Notre
Dame.” We wish someone would
find out what type of people go
to those things, thus making
them possible.
“Buttle of Apache Pass,” star
ring Jeff Chandler, plays at. the
Heilig Friday and Saturday. This ,!
film makes us good a western as
it Is possible to make, and the
results are not too unpleasant.
Contrary to a story in the
Emerald, Dr. Gelhauscn (music)
is directing "The Old Maid and
the Thief,” not Mr. Hunter
(speech), who has begun re
hearsals for "The Sea-Gull.” This
is a bad place for there to be any
confusion. The Musical bill opens
a week from todaji The magic
touch of Horace Robinson seems •
to have done something to "Tho
Devil and Daniel Webster” that
has never before been done— j
made it enjoyable.