SORORITIES I
Alumnae Hold Majority Control
(Ed. Note: This is the first Pf a series of four editorial discussions
of sorority-alumnae relations. The second in the series wll appear
Friday.)
“Let's abolish sororities!" urged Mrs. Glenn Frauk, widow
of a University of Wisconsin president in a national magazine
a few years ago.
Mrs. Frank’s article outlined the common criticisms of the
sorority system. Sororities, she declared, cement class con
sciousness, foster racial and religious discrimination and
support a set of outdated social standards that have reper
cussions far beyond campus life.
She said the rushing system was near-medieval in its cruelty.
Mrs. Frank, a Pi Beta Phi herself, said she was critical of
sororities mainly because she felt they had not improved in
the 30 years since she had been initiated. Since she saw no
hope of change, she advocated doing away with the institu
tions entirely.
The validity of Mrs. Frank's argument was evidenced In
irate responses to her article. Despite favorable reaction from
ministers, educators, and sociologists she was ousted from I’i
Beta Phi.
Dr. Frank Porterfield of the University of Southern Cal
ifornia answered her in print.
Porterfield estimated that there was one Greek letter organ
ization in existence for every 2,000 students, but thought the
groups should be even more selective. He advocated reducing
the number of sororities and fraternities, and suggested a six
point credit in classical Greek with a grade of B-minus as a
requirement for membership.
Most of Dr. Porterfield s suggestions were similarly ridi
culous, but he had articles printed in three national maga
zines.
The Porterfield side of the question was taken by the uni
versities. There are few-who have taken the bold step of out
1 awing sororities.— - —
They have avoided this because of pressure from promi
nent alumnae who mean money and support to the institu
tions. And it is these same alumnae who are busily working
to keep the sorority behind the times.
“The most ardent exponents of the system as it is are the
professional alumnae,” wrote Mrs. Frank.
The Panhellenic creed calls for active interest in the life
of undergraduate sisters, in chapter house and dormitory,
and “loyal service to chapter, college, and community” (in
that order).
We do not agree with Mrs. Frank that sororities are beyond
redemption, although we realize that a half-century of mili
tant traditionalism is hard to break.
Alumnae activity in campus organizations has its good
side too. But if the groups are to remain in existence, and to
grow with the times, then the alumnae should play a sec
ondary rather than dominant role.
The majority power they now wield is seen on the Oregon
campus.
Henn: An Outsider Looking In
On page seven of today’s Emerald we have reprinted an article
by Thomas Rice Henn which appeared Jan. 18 in The Oregon
ian. Mr. Henn has sketched his impressions of the University
of Oregon with such skill and depth that we feel it is important
for students and faculty to be a\Vare of his views.
It is rare that a single individual is able to encompass the spirit
of a university in print. Mr. Henn has done this. He has dra\vn
the “bg picture” which we so seldom see.
Nor is Mr. Henn’s description the usual flattering or super
ficial approach. He probes gently at what he considers the Uni
versity’s faults, commends it upon its successes and points out
a path for the future.
Mr. Henn is an outsider looking in; and what he sees com
prises an intelligent and sober critique of the University of
Oregon.
The Oregon Daily Emerald published Monday through Friday during the college year
except Jan. 5 ; Mar. 9, 10 and 11; Mar. 13 through 30; June 1, 2 and 3 by the Student Publi
cations Board of the University of Oregon. Entered as second class matter at the post office,
Eugene, Oregon. Subscription rates: $5 per school year; $2 per term.
Opinions expressed on the editorial page 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
editorial staff members. Unsigned editorials are written by the editor.
Larry Hobart, Editor Sally Thurston, Business Manager
Helen Jones, Bill Gurney, Associate Editors
Jim Haycox, Editorial Assistant
Al Karr, Managing Editor
News Editor: Kitty Fraser
Asst. Managing Editors: Judy McLoughlin
Paul Keefe
Sports Editor: Larry Lavelle
Asst. News Editors: Laura Sturges, Jackie
Wardell, Len Calvert.
BOB FUNK and 'A Day at the Zoo'
v By Bob Funk
It was sort of a seminar or
something in the Student Union.
It had quite certainly been a sem
inar earlier in the evening, and it
probably still was, although the
conversation had veered rather
radically away from the course
under study.
The course «ns Madagascar
Since; they had determined this
without any doubt during the
first half of their session. It
was a history course, they
thought, although Miss Lymph,
the sole female member of the
seminar, insisted that she had
signed up for textiles.
Some Regrettable Bickering
The seminar group was
brought together through a hap
pen chance of geography. They
all sat in the fifth row of the
Madagascar Since class. Other
than this common bond, the
group held little in the way of
unity. In fact, from time to time
there was some regrettable bick
enng.
For instance, (taring the sec
ond cup of coffee, George had
presented the opinion that the
professor who plotted the
course in Madagascar Since
was Mr. Ghutful, head of the
department. Miss Lymph, who
seemed to be a born dissenter,
insisted that Ghutful was on
Sabbatical leave, or fired, or
something. It had been a rather
nasty argument. Miss Lymph
had procured a hot, fresh cup
of coffee and flung It, steaming
into George’s face.
Close Vote
They had finally brought the
issue to a vote, George voting
that it was Mr. Ghutful, Miss
Lymph voting it was not I guess
I know, and the other members
abstaining.
Since then everyone was sup
posed to be looking in his note
book for relevant notes, and the
conversation topic had changed
to How Wet I Got Coming Over
Here: Subtopic I: Remember
That Time Two Years Ago
When It Rained So Hard We
Almost Couldn’t Go Home For
Lunch* (Footnote: I was in
Friendly Hall and Pete he was
with me and I said, see it was
raining so hard outside, and I
said to Pete he was with me, I
think I’ll call a taxi, we should
be wearing swimming suits I
said. Hahahahahaha.)
So Is Coffee
oeorge was trying to find his
note in his notebook. He had been
to class only once so far this
term, not being one to glut him
self with good things. The only
note he could find was one saying
“Lectures are stimulating; so is
coffee. Have you ever considered
cold showers?’’ It was not the
sort of note that you proudly
flung out into a seminar. Maybe
it was for the wrong course, he
thought. Although this seemed to
be the wrong course.
“The trouble with this sem
inar,” Miss Lymph was saying,
“is that nobody knows nothing.
The last seminar I was at we
had this Phi Beta Kappa and
he bad this outline in this little
blue book from this outline
series—”
Advance Copies
“Yeah, I heard about those Phi
Beta Kappas,” someone broke in.
“They got all those little outlines
and test files in their house, and
all they have to do is go to the
file and get the test, and besides
that they have alums in every
department and you can’t tell me
they don’t send advance copies of
the tests over to the house.”
“Phi Beta Kappa,” Miss
Lymph said coldly, “is this na
tional group for being smart.”
No Rebuttal
“Yeah, I could be smart too if
I had a big test file and a mem
ber in every department and two
graders in the history depart
ment.” Miss Lymph offered no re
buttal. She was continuing her
narrative of the rhi Beta Kappa
and how he had almost asked her
for a date only hadn't, because
there was this other awful girl
there, see.
As hour followed hour amt
cup of coffee followed cup of
coffee down the assembled gul
lets, the seminar members wilt
ed in their chairs, and llulf
dosed eyes peered dismally
through the thickening cloud
of smoke. Periodically everyone
Mould shuttle, with some show
of Interest, through their note
books.
On and On
“What do you think about it ?”
one would ask,
“The way he lectures, you
know that day 1 moan he talked
so fast, the way he lectures you
can't possibly get it down and he
never makes anything clear mij.
way.” They would stumble on t,,
the next point, blissfully Ignorant
of what the last one had been.
Finally George went to sleep,
and awakened by Miss Lymph,
and decided to go home, bis
note tucked under hla arm.
Miss Lymph left with the next
contingent, her voice fading In
a Inst “this Inst seminar I was
at, see, this other girl—”
The two remaining members
arose slowly and walked town id
the door. It was raining with the
constant and unconscionable qual
ity of Oregon rain.
“I remember one noon last
year, or maybe it was two
years ago,” said one as they
went out the door. “I was hi
Friendly Hall and Fete he was
with me, and I said-—”
Radio Review
Lone Ranger Has Lost His Aim
-by Don Collin
After last week's non-confer
ence try (what a rationale for
the SFU game) Oregon-can get
hopped up about coining back to
conference games with closest
rival from up north. For those
that have lost athletic cards or
won't be going (Max's will be a
quiet place Friday during game)
KERG will carry the OSC con
test both nights ... An appetizer
for sports Friday night will be
the Martinez-Flore bout on
HASH at 7 p.m.
A few of the popular artists
will he making the rounds this
week. Kay Starr joins Crosby
tonight at 6:30 over KERG . .
Roberta Lee guests with
Vaughn Monroe Saturday at 7
p.m. on G . . . Frankie Laine
visits Bergen-McCarthy Sun
day at 5 and 9 p.m. also on G . .
Treasury Bandstand (KERG,
daily at 1:30) will feature Ted
dy Powell and Tony Pastor the
rest of the week.
In Passing: Erwin Canham
(HASH-ABC) begins eight year
of reporting. Canham along with
Elmer Peterson (5:45 p.m. daily
on KUGN), Ed Murrow (8 p.m.
daily on KERG), Elmer Davis
(6:45 p.m. daily on KASH) and
Martin Agronsky (9 a m. daily
on KASH) are all credits to ra
dio news reporting. Unfortunate
ly, listener ratings indicate they
can’t begin to compete with the
“shoot ’em, chase ’em, kill ’em’’
programs.
This Saturday will mark
twenty years of coming out of
the West for the Lone Ranger,
the eldest continuous half
hour program in ratlin history.
The program has born aimed
at more than mrrr entertain
meat. It trirs to rmphasi/c
triumph of law and a better
way of living to Us ymingrr
listeners of an impressionable
ago.
This latter aim has been lost
somewhat with sponsorship.
Trior to that time the "Ranger" 1
would have a short talk with the
kiddies at the 15-minute break to
point up the aims of good living.
Now they hear about "tiny k'-r
nals shaped like the little let-,
ter ’o’." If nothing else, part four
of the William Tell overture is
now more widely known.
SU will soon rc-lnstute the
niclde doughnut . . 1*1 Phi's
were playing the part of the
mythical Greek sirens during
rush week by blaring songs
like “Come On To My House"
at the Phi Delt rushees . . .
Campus rushing problem
might be solved if It followed
the Law School method—
“light refreshment’’ and no
holds barred.
Met presents the grand dad of
opera—“Carmen” . . . Philhar-'
monic has Brahms, Mozart and
Winthrop Aldrich, banker turned'
diplomat. The latter is during in
termission.
Dwight Cooke (10:15 night
ly, KKKG) winds up the Phil- .
ippines and heads to Japan
next week , . . William Douglas
has chosen to discuss “Travels '
of Marco Polo’’ on KEKG, 7
p.m. Monday.
A Study in Human Behavior
REFERENCE UBRftRV