'O' Reaches
Turning Point
by Jim White
Emerald Feature Writer
November marks the end of the
blight times of the year, and for
the University it marks a fatal
turning-point in the life of one of
the oldest and best traditions
the 'O’ atop Skinner's Butte.
The ‘O’ may fall victim to civil
Jzation. As the area around Skin
ner’s Butte became more devel
oped, it was evident that the old
landmark would, in time, be
crowded out; but no one suspec
ted that University students would
considerably hasten its death.
The ‘O' was constructed in 1909
by the junior class of that year,
and for 44 years it withstood the
rigors of weather, tar and paint,
until at last imaginative vandals,
supposedly U O freshmen, dyna
mited the solidly-built concrete
structure.
Located on the Butte
The landmark, located on top
of Skinner's Butte, a little hill,
just north of Eugene, faces the
city, and overlooks the main street
of town. In such a location, it
was only reasonable that the ’O’
should become one of the best
known of the city’s landmarks.
Townspeople became accustomed
to the ever-changing color of the
■O’.
Until 1952, freshmen at the Uni
versity painted the ‘O’ lemon yel
low twice a year at Homecoming
and during Junior Weekend. OAC
(now OSCj also pitched in to help
the freshmen about once a year,
painting it a bright orange color.
Estimates as to the number of
times it received a new face range
from 120 to 150.
In 1940, when Oregon and UC
LA were the principal combatants
in the Homecoming celebration,
the ‘O' did its best job of changing
colors. It was painted yellow on
Thursday as scheduled, black Fri
day, not according to schedule,
and Sunday morning it was adorn
ed by four bright hues; black, yel
low’, blue and brown.
On June 7, 1952, at 3:45 in the
morning, the city of Eugene was
rocked by a mysterious blast that
had the citizens in an uproar for
several hours. It was finally dis
covered that vandals had set an
entire box of dynamite off under
one side of the 'O’ to make an al
most perfect 'C'.
wwirr 10 ignore
The ‘O’ stayed in this condition
for nearly a year. Since it was the
duty of no specific organization,
the Oregon students decided that
it would be easier to let it go
than to put out a little effort in re
pairing it.
Finally, Delta Upsilon frater
nity accepted the project, and on
May 5 the ‘O' was once again in
tact. The landmark received its
last coat of paint May 6 for the
annual Junior Weekend celebra
tion. At 3:10 a. m. on May 15, an
explosion, estimated as about
twice as strong as the 1952 blast,
completely destroyed the lower
half of the ‘O’.
Police later found unexploded
dynamite under the upper half of
the ‘upside down U' that would
have completely demolished the
structure and “rained cement half
way down Willamette Street” had
it gone off. Rumors attributed
the blast to UO freshmen.
The DU’s volunteered to fix it
again and “keep repairing it as
long as they try to blow it up,”
but the citizens of Eugene were
becoming irate. A week later, Dr.
Eva Frazier Johnson, who lives
in the vicinity of the ‘O’, circula
ted a petition requesting the re
moval of the old .landmark. The
petition, with the signatures of 123
Eugene residents was taken before
the city council but no definite ac
tion was taken on it.
"Wc don’t want the ‘O’ obliter
ated,” Oren King, then city mana
ger said, "but we must face the
realistic problem of pacifying the
citizenry.”
This, seeming to indicate a
change in construction, brought
about a recommendation by a stu
dent committee, that the ‘O’ be
moved some yards from its /ormer
position and be constructed of
wood and sheet metal.
This fall, the recommendation
was accepted by the ASUO senate,
and the freshmen class construc
ted the ‘paper O’ just before
Homecoming.
TO 1M CENTER ----
Three Oldest Traditions Moved
By Lee Ramsey
Emerald Feature Writer
Since the completion of the Stu
dent Union in the fall of 1950,
three of the oldest homecoming
traditions have been moved from
their former location on the old
campus center about the SU.
Homecoming in 1950, in addition
to the traditional ceremonies, in
cluded the dedication of the SU
which Donald M. Erb, former Uni
versity president, had visualized
as early as 1923. Construction on
the building was begun in 1948
and continued through the sum
mer of 1950.
The Oregon seal, annually
scrubbed by members of the fresh
man class as part of the home
coming festivities, had originally
Alums Honor Hayward
*t onnnuca irom pane one )
irom the Wesley house were ser
enading h i m with Christmas
hymns. The physician at his bed
side, Dr. Hal Chapman, was a
former football player under Hay
ward.
In 1947, the Eugene Realty
board named him ‘‘first citizen"
of Eugene. The Oregon Alumni
voted him an honorary member
ship in that organization.
As a further tribute, the ath
letic department is making plans
for a Bill Hayward lounge and
trophy room which will be located
in McArthur court, according to
Bill Bowerman.
Many of Hayward’s trophies and
other awards have been donated
by Mrs. Hayward. His letterman
sweater which is now in the trophy
case in McArthur court, will also
be displayed in the memorial room.
Given to him by one of his teams,
the sweater has 28 stripes on the
sleeve signifying his years of
coaching at the University up to
that time.
As alums and students celebrate
this Homecoming, Col. Bill Hay
ward is remembered not only as
a great athlete, trainer and coach,
but as a man who made sports
manship and clean, rugged compe
tition traditions at the University.
been dedicated by the class of
|1912. At that time it was located
on the north side of Villard hall
near the Dad’s gates. As the cam
pus expanded, the center of stu
dent life began to move southward
from Villard and Deady, the oldest
buildings on campus.
Seal Relocated
In 1950, tbe class of 1912 unani
mously voted to relocate the seal
in its present position in front of
the SU. In the old location they
left a plaque telling of the moving
of the symbol. The seal received
its first scrubbing in the new posi
tion during the 1950 homecoming.
Oregon’s original hello walk was
destined to the same fate as the
seal. Originally located on the
old campus, it was moved to its
position from the SU main entr
ance to the corner of 13th and Uni
versity streets in 1951. The walk,
where students are supposed to
greet everyone they meet, tradi
tionally stretched from the front
of Villard to the front of Fenton
hall.
The old tradition was not limit
ed merely to homecoming but was
observed during the entire year.
Rededication of this campus tra
dition was further evidence that
the center of campus activities had
shifted from the old campus.
The senior bench tradition is
one that has been observed on and
off for several years. Originally it
too held throughout the year and
woe betide any freshman, sopho
more or junior who ventured upon
its sacred sanction. Recent ne
glect of this custom is evidenced
by the fact that the bench in &&
present condition, appears to have
gone five or more years without a
painting.
In 1910 the bench was donated
by the graduating class and placed
on the old campus. Later, however,
it was moved to a position be
tween Susan Campbell and Hen
dricks halls where it stayed for
several years. This year the large
j concrete bench has been moved to
the block between the SU and
the physical education depart
ment, directly across the street
from John Straub hall..
Then There's Oregon
F acuity house directors at
Southern Methodist university
vetoed a proposal to extend the
Friday.night campus curfew to 1
a.m. The 1 a.m. extension was
passed by the Associated Women
Students, who maintained that
women on campus favored the
new ruling. However, the house
directors have the final say.
The dean of women said the
veto came about because the di
rectors were “definitely of the
opinion that the majority or
; women students . . . did not real
I ly want the 1 a.m. permission.”
Following the incident, the
I SMU Campus took a survey
j which showed 11 out of 12 wom
| en wanting the extension.
Student Church Directory
First Congregational Church
490 13th Avenue East
TWO SERVICES - 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Last in a series on God and Man
"Protestantism Prepares"
Wesley Goodson Nicholson Weston H. Brockway
Minister Director of Music
Sunday Service-8:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
"Who Will Love God?"
(Sermon by Vicar Arthur Wright)
Bible Class: 10:00 a.m.-Dr. E. S. Wengert, Leader
Thanksgiving Day Service, Thursday, 11:00 a.m.
Gamma Deltans meet 5:30 p.m. in church parlor.
Welcome!
Grace Lutheran Church
East 11th Avenue at Ferry Street
W. B. Maier, Pastor Arthur Wright, Assistant
First Assembly of God
710 W. 13th St. (about 1 Vi miles west of the university)
Rev. E. Elsworth Krogstad
Rev. Norman Campbel, Minister of Youth
9:45 a.m. Sunday School. 11 a.m., 7:45 p.m. Preaching Services
9:45 a.m. Suday School hour
Special class for college students in beautiful youth chapel
11:00 a.m. Devotional service
6:30 p.m. C.A.'s Youth Service in chapel
All Students and Alumni Welcome
First Church of Christ, Scientist
A Branch of the Mother Church, The First Church of Christ,
Scientist in Boston, Massachusetts
Nth and Pearl
Sunday Services 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunday School 11 a.m.
Sermon: "Soul and Body"
Nursery Facilities During All Services . . . Reading Room 86
West Broadway . . . Organization at University of Oregon
Tuesday 7 p.m. First Floor Gerlinger
— ' — — ...I
11:00 a.m. A Song of Thanksgiving"
Broadcast over KASH
University Class, 9:45 a.m.. Dr. Webster, teacher
7:30 p.m. Baptismal Service
Sermon; "The Battle of the Stars"
First Baptist Church
Dr. Vance H. Webster, Pastor Brdwy. at High
First Methodist Church
1185 Willamette
Two Services - 9:45 and 11:00 a.m.
Sermon: "Our Heritage"
Ministers: Berlyn V. Farris, S. Raynor Smith, Dorothy Harding
Kenneth W. Petersen
1166 Oak
First Christian Church
Phone 4-1425
Dr. CarroH Roberts, Minister
TWO SERVICES 10:50 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
9:15 a.m. Donut Hour and Bible Class
5:30 p.m. Fellowship and Discussion
9:00 p.m. Fireside Hour
Students are ihvited to sing in our Student Choir
on Sunday evenings
CHRISTIAN HOUSE-OUR STUDENT CENTER-736 E. 16th Ave.