The Oregon Dally Emerald ii published Monday through Friday daring the college year
from Sept. IS to June 3, except Nov. 16, 36 through 30, Dec. 7 through 9, 11 through Jan. 4,
March 8 through 10, 13 through 39. May 3, and 31 through June 3. with issues on Nov. 21,
Jan. 23, and May 8, by the Student Publications Board of the University of Oregon. En
tered as second dase 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. Unsigned editorials are written by
the editor; initialed editoriala by the.associate editors.
AL KARR. Editor
BILL BRANDSNESS, Business Manager
Why We Like The Choice
It is reasonable to expect that most persons who meet and
study the record of a new university president, and who parti
cipated in his selection, would be pretty much on record in
praise of the man.
But we believe that in the case of O. Meredith Wilson, the
enthusiasm shown >at his selection is more than justified, free
from routine expression.
In talking to members of. the board of deans and the faculty
advisory council, who interviewed Wilson, we found that
they were without reserve in their strong praise of the man.
And Wilson’s accomplishments in academic study, teach
ing, and administrative work, plus the views we have heard
him express, plus his personality, plus the many formal and in
formal praises which he has received (an awful lot of them are
Striking in that they point out aspects of his record and charac
ter which convince one that they are not just about a “pretty
good” man)—all these contribute to our own belief that he is
a great selection for the University presidency.
- Wilson’s thinking about the function and program of edu
cation in general is what impresses us most. He is a man who,
at Utah, worked for an integration of the various departments
of formal education. This is according to what we feel is his be
lief that learning is a logical whole and that excessive em
phasis on the differences between the disciplines (within and
between the social sciences, pure sciences, and humanities, and
professional disciplines) is harmful to a true liberal education.
He has done much to overcome the evils of departmentali
zation.
Wilson’s intellectual capabalities are vouched for by those
who have known him, as are his sincere ethical thinking and
application of same to his official actions. The degree of praise
among faculty members on campus seems to be in direct pro
portion to their contact with Wilson, although even those
with limited contact are strong in their praise.
And the new president seems to have an awareness and inter
est in all aspects of a university education. He has emphasized
that a college graduate should neither a narrow vocationalist,
nor a narrow theoretician.
i Along this line, we feel that Wilson will take a sincere interest
in the life of the students, the feeling bolstered by witnesses’
testimony that Wilson is that kind of man. Wilson will be doing
a great service to the students, of course, by helping to shape
an academic program which provides an approach to a complete
liberal education. Out of this, as he has expressed it, comes a
natural interest in student life as a setting for academic growth.
He’ll do his best, and that’s mighty, mighty good.
Something To Base A Grade On
Mlf ya ask me, all that test will ever measure is Frustration.”
Wilson Named President
(Continued from page one )
the curriculum, as Wilson has stated it. The central question asked,
of all the faculty members participating in these seminars was: What
should be considered as the central core of each group of studies (the
social sciences, or the physical sciences, for example) in order to pre
sent this core to faculty members not teaching in that field, when
your time is limited?
Wilson’s purpose in this program was to increase communication
between teachers at the institution, to establish a greater intellectual
environment. Departmentalization, he feels, destroys this, or at least
lessens it. . _
Believes University Must Educate a Man
Wilson, who believes that you must reach any applied science man
who doesn’t know English, and that you must reach a theorist who
has no practical knowledge, says that a university has as Its job the
education of a man (not just a vocationalist); maturity is the goal.
The program at Utah, he feels, was fairly well underway when he left
for the fund, although he was not completely satisfied with progress
in the physical sciences; that of the social sciences was successful
as far as the faculty, but not yet in courses, he believes.
In line with his emphasis on integration of studies, Wilson believes
that a major task now facing education is to examine those forces
which inhibit re-orientation of the mind away from dogma-bound
thinking. He stresses the importance -of creating independent, self
reliant, free minds, controlled only by truth, as a central factor in
liberal education.
And, in this day of an increasing trend toward the investigation
of college faculties, Wilson says that college communities are essen
tially responsible ones, that they deserve the public trust as well as
or more than any other type of community in our society.
Used Funds in Working to Improve Education
As secretary of the Ford fund, Wilson was one of three officers
concerned with six general areas of educational Interest, working to
improve education externally through financial means:
1. Venturing money in support of some institutions, on an experi
mental basis.
2. Clarification of functions of units of the educational system, in
order to determine what to do in streamlining departmental “boxes.”
3. Improvement of teaching in general (about two-thirds of the
program directed here).
4. Helping educational institutions in poor financial shape, probing
their financial condition.
5. Education in the armed forces, on assignment by the federal
government.
6. Equalization of components of education (such as different
facilities in segregated education).
Quality is the basis of support in this program, according to Wilson.
While at Utah, Wilson was chairman of the Western Interstate
Commission of Higher Education, an organization that has grown
to include eight states which are exchanging students in medicine,
dentistry and veterinary medicine.
Wilson was also a member of the faculty fellowship committee of
the Ford fund from 1950 to 1952, and executive associate of the fund
from July to December, 1952, while on leave from Utah. He has
been a member of the educational committee of the Aspen Institute
for Humanistic Studies since 1951, and is a member of the American
Historical society.
CAMPUS BRIEFS
f Candidates for Swamp Girl
of Sigma Phi Epsilon will be en
tertained tonight at a dessert be
ginning at 6:30, according to Dave
Todd, social chairman. The Swamp
Girt will be announced at the Sig
Ep house dance, “Swamp Stomp,”
Nov. 7.
0 All committee members for
the Homecoming luncheon will
meet today at 3 p.m. in the Stu
dent Union, according to Germaine
LaMarche, luncheon chairman.
0 Freshman election petitions
are due Wednesday midnight, ac
cording to ASUO Vice President
Don Collin. They should be given
to him in the ASUO office on the
third floor of the Student Union.
0 Student art work is on ex
hibit in the Student Union Art
Gallery. This weekend through
Nov. 4, according to Barbara
Johnson, SU Art Gallery commit
tee chairman.
«w
0 Rev. Herb Butt, evangelist
and Bible expositor, will speak on
“Are You Sure You Are a Chris
tian?” at the initial meeting of
Inter-Varsity Christian fellowship
tonight at 7 in the Student Union.
0 United Independent Students,
campus political party, will meet
at 1 p.m. today in the Student
Union, Pres. Hollis Ransom has
announced. All independent living
organizations should send at least
one representative to the meeting,
Ransom said.
Journal Club Meeting
Scheduled for Tuesday ..
The Journal club of the depart
ment. of foreign languages will
meet today at 8 p. m. at the
faculty club. F. M. Combellack,
associate professor of classic lan
guages, will speak on “Today’s
Homeric Scholarship—Sound or
Fury ?”
This meeting marks the begin
ning of the seventh year of or
ganization on campus. The public
is invited to attend.
0 Deadline for obtaining stu
dent rate cards to Student Union
board-sponsored functions is to
day noon, according to Andy Ber
wick, SU board chairman. These
cards, available to civil service em
ployees and the faculty of the
University, may be picked up at
the SU main desk, he said.
0 Counselors of men’s and
women's dorms will meet with
members of the University coun
selling center at 5 p.m. today for
dinner at John Straub hall.
0 The Homecoming finance
committee will meet Wednesday
at 4 p.m. in the Student Union,
according to Milan Foster, chair
man.
0 William Woods, instructor
in piano, will present the first
faculty concert this year, tonight
at 8:15 in the music auditorium.
His program includes Sonata in E
Flat by Haydn, Kubinlane by
Apostel, Rondino by Elston and
Fantasy in C Major, Op. 17 by
Schumann.
0 Mortar Board will meet to
day at 6:30 p.m. at Delta Delta
Delta, according to Sandra Price,
president.
• Junior Panhellenic will meet
at 4 p.n>. today at the Delta Delta
Delta house, according to Barbara
Rubin, Panhellenic adviser. The
group includes all sorority pledge
class presidents.
-0 Associated Greek Students,
campus political party, will meet
today at 4 p.m. at the Kappa Al
pha Theta house, according to
Bob Glass, president.
• Noise parade representatives
from the campus living organiza
tions are to meet in the Student
Union Tuesday, with the noise
parade committee, at 4 p.m. The
room will be posted.
0 Phi Theta Upsilon, junior
women’s honorary, will meet to
day in the Student Union at 6:30
p.m., according to President Janet
Wick.
Deans, Faculty
Lavish in Praise
(Continued from page one )
Wilson Is a man of Independent
thought, intellectual interests,
moral conviction, broad outlook,
and national reputation. He fits
our need because he stresses high
est quality in education while in
no sense denying its democratic
extension to all competent youth
of the state.
"He will keep us moving for
ward with no nostalgia for by
gone days merely for the sake of
tradition. Oregon is destined to
have a great university, and I
mean by national rather than
local standards, if we have able
educational leadership in the state.
Mr. Wilson can be depended upon
to do his part."
Theodore Kratt, school of music:
"We are very fortunate to have
him as president. He Is well
qualified.”
Sidney W. Little, school of archi
tecture and allied arts: "It is a
very happy choice. Wilson will
carry on the tradition of develop
ment of the University as did
Newburn. The University will at
tain greater strength in academic
offering and greater prestige in
the Pacific northwest and particu
larly in the state. Wilson brings
to the University experience in
sound administration on both the
university level and that of the
Ford foundation."
Gordon A. Sabine, school of
journalism: “I think he is exact
ly what the University needs at
this time.”
oruuido j. moiun, school of law:
"The experience and background
of Dr. Wilson would Indicate that
he is very well-qualified to lead
the University of Oregon to an
even higher degree of success than
it has attained in the past."
Donald M. DuShane, director of
student affairs: “I was particu
larly impressed with the way in
which Dr. Wilson proceeded from
an ethical basis to the drawing of
conclusions on matters of educa
tional policy. I agree with nearly
everyone else that he will be a
fine president for the University.”
Carl W. Hints, University libra
rian: "Wilson impressed me as an
outstanding man. I am personally
quite happy about his selection.
From meeting him and from his
previous career, I was most im
pressed."
4. O. Lindstrom, University
business manager: "Dr. Wilson is
an excellent choice for president
of the University of Oregon. He
comes to us with top recommenda
tions of many leading educators in
the nation. The fact that he has
so much whole hearted support in
the University community means
a great deal for the continued
growth and development of the
University.”
Blood Drive
Ends Today
The Red Cross drive for 800
pints of blood from Lane county
residents and University of Ore
gon students entered its last day
today.
Donations will be taken in the
Student Union ballroom today un
til 3 p.m., according to Janet Gus
tafson, chairman of the campus
division of the drive.
Fifteen minute period appoint
ments have been assigned stu
dents through living organization
representatives. However, students
may also give blood without sched
uled appointments. Unmarried
students under 21 must have writ
ten permission from their parents
even though they have donated
blood before.
ADVICE
ON ALL MAHERS
FORTUNE TELLER
Special Readings
For Students
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