The Oregon Daily Emerald la published Monday through Friday daring the college year from Sept. IS to June 3, except Nor. 16, 26 through 30, Dec. 7 through 9, 11 through Jan. 4, March 8 through 10, 12 through 29, May 3, and 31 through June 2, with issues on Noe. 21, Jan. 23, and May 8, by the Student Fublications Board of the University of Oregon. En tered 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. Unsigned editorials are written by the aditor; initialed editorials by the associate editors. AL KARR, Editor BILL BRANDSNESS, Business Manager PAT GILDEA, ELSIE SCHILLER, Associate Editors KITTY FRASER, LAURA STURGES, Editorial Assistants JACKIE WARDELL, Managing Editor JOE GARDNER, News Editor Chief Makeup Editor: Paul Keefe Chief Night Editor: Anne Hill Chief Copy Desk Editor: Gloria Lane Asst. Sports Editor: Rob Robinson bAM \ AHti, sports Editor 'Asst. Managing Editors: Len Calvert, Bob Patterson Asst. News Editors: Dorothy Her, Gordo© Rice, Sally Ryan Sophomore Honors What’s in an education for modern America? Has mass edu cation really loweredd the standards of learning in our public schools, colleges and universities ? In seeking to supply the basic fundamentals of education to all youth, is modern education forsaking the true goals of edu cation? Are the surveys that indicate that modern youth, with a high school diploma, can’t read, write or spell correctly an in dication that American scholars are taking the wrong road for mass education? Or is there a happy medium where classes can be adapted to the average mind, while at the same time supplying enough initiative to the bright student and enough - additional help to the slow scholar that the nation benefits socially, politically, economically from a high literacy rate? We think the University of Oregon is correctly seeking the answer through a program established here last year—sopho more honors for lower division students who indicate the ability to do better than average in the college classroom. Sophomore honors presents a program designed for a strong Eberal arts education during the first two years of college. Classes included are literature, history, social science, biological science and physical science. By the end of the second year, when honors are awarded, the student must have completed four of the five honors courses. Looking at statistics, during the first year of the program, 45 per cent of students eligible participated in honors courses. This year participation has been boosted to 55 per cent. These figures indicate a need for this type of program and they also prove that the need can be fulfilled. Seventy sophomores are going into their second year of hon ors with 125 freshman participating in the program. Compare this year’s 70 sophomores with the 90 freshmen enrolled- last year. Fewer honors students are dropping out of the program than the medium of average decrease in class enrollment from the freshman to sophomore year. ~ In viewing any statistics, we must look not only at the avail able figures but, behind those figures for their true meaning. Percentage of participation may seem low’, until we consider the number of students entering professional schools who cannot work in a liberal arts course because of their tight major course schedule. The instigators of the Oregon honors program are not con tent to rest on their success. Instructors feel they now are just beginning to find the correct methods of teaching such courses and the whole program is definitely still in the experimental stage. There is still some dissatisfaction with the method of compre hensive examination upon which the honor rating is based. All of which indicates that sophomores honors is a progressive pro gram which can and will adapt to student needs and problems as they arise.—(E.S.) DG's To Hold Y Soph Desert Sophomore women will hold their second YWCA-sponsored des sert, tonight at Delta Gamma, ac cording to Donna Buchanan and Carol Huggins, sophomore cabin et social chairmen. ; The dessert will last from 6:15 p. m. to 7:30 p. m., and co-hos tesSes for the affair will be Alpha JP micron Pi and Alpha Delta Pi. - All sophomores are invited to attend the dessert, and plans for the sophomore “Skip Day” as well as the service project of the cab inet will. be discussed, according to Miss Buchanan and Miss Hug gins. A charge of 10 cents per person will be made for refresh ments. Tickets may be obtained from living organizations Y rep resentatives, or at Delta Gamma tonight. _ Debaters Place A University of Oregon debate team placed second in the annual far west tournament of the West ern Speech association at Fresno, Calif., last weekend by winning six out of eight debates. Donna DeVries, freshman in lib eral arts, and Bruce Holt, sopho more in speech, received individual cups for second place after losing to Los Angeles City college in the final round of the tournament. The University received a plaque for the place winning. Miss DeVries also made the fin als in oratory and Phil Cass, sophomore in economics, reached the finals in extemporanious speaking. A second University debate team of Cass and Don Mickelwait, junior in economies, lost out in the preliminary competition. The Art of Dropping Courses “Hello, Registrar? Miss Slauson has just withdrawn from ‘cooking 281” Letters to the Editor Emerald Editor: The Student Union Board is very much interested in the re cent letters to the editor con cerning the organization of a graduate student program. It has always been the policy of the board to present to the campus a varied program that will meet the student needs. The board has therefore set up a graduate program investigating committee to look into the pos sibilities of some kind of a gradu Oregon Dads, Mom To Hold Joint Party Oregon Mothers and Dads clubs of Lane county will hold a joint Christmas party Wednesday eve ning in Gerlinger hall. A musical program featuring high school and campus talent is being planned by the two groups under the leadership of Mrs. O K. Burrell, president of the Moth ers club and Mr. L. L. Erdman president of the Dads group. Guests at the event will be Act ing Pres. Victor P. Morris, Mrs Golda Parker Wickham, dean oi women, and Karl Onthank, asso ciate director of student affairs. Primitive Christmases Discussed at Lecture “Pagan Origins of Christmas’1 will be discussed at the Friday evening coffee hour at 7:45 p. m, in the Student Union browsing room. Dr. Paul B. Means, head of the religion department, will be the featured speaker. Coffee will be served after the lecture. Court Case... (Continued from page two) Still another question arises— that of whether or not the court or the office of student affairs has the right to deduct a fine from a student’s breakage fag. Farris said no, “the fee can only be touched pursuant to the provisions contained at page 60 of the bul letin of this University.” The ad ministration hasn’t come out with a clear-cut stand on this subject, except to repeat that students may always let their cases be handled as a disciplinary case. Orlando J. Hollis, dean of the law school, commented: “As I see it, student government is a game, but a good one. All students, when the administration gives them the opportunity, should take advan tage of it. However, “for the stu dent who refuses to play the game, there must be an alternative course with a sound legal back ground.” n ate student's program here at the University of Oregon. Bob Pollock has been ap pointed chairman of 'this com mittee, and he Is now in the process of contacting the stu dents who have written letters to the Emerald editor. The board is definitely inter ested in the requests of gradu ate students concerning a “graduate club,” and we are now doing everything we can to make thiS program a reality. Andy Berwick Chairman, SU Board CAMPUS BRIEFS 0 Quartets Interested In pur* tlcipating in the Barbershop Quar tet contest are to return interest blanks to the Student Union music committee ns soon as possible, ac cording to Luclu Knepper, contest chairman. 0 The Student Union music committee will meet today at 4 p. m. Plans will be discussed for the All-campus Barbershop Quar tet contest, according to Lucia Knepper, contest chairman. 0 The Student Unkin movie committee will meet today at 3 p. m. in SU 302, according to Bar bara Wilcox, chairman. Commit tee members should bring reports and suggestions for* educational movies, Miss Wilcox said. ^ Pre-nursing ehih will meet today at noon, In the Student Union according to Hanna Sue Hansen, vice-president. Group pic tures will be taken and there will be a guest speaker. 0 All students who have been already contacted or are interested In working on the Oregana caption staff will meet in the Oregana of fice, Student Union 308, at 1 p.m. today, according to Laura Sturgcs, Oregana associate editor. 0 Kwama will not meet this week, according to Janet Gustaf son, president. Members of the honorary will not distribute bas ketball programs this year, Miss Gustafson said. 0 Members of the 1953 Home coming general committee are to meet at 5:30 p. m. today in the Student Union for the annual Homecoming banquet. Transpor tation from the SU to the banquet will be furnished, according to Geri Porritt, who is handling the arrangements. Committee chairmen who will not be able to attend the banquet are to contact Miss Porritt at Delta Gamma this noon. 0 Student chapter of the American Institute of Architects will meet today at 7:30 p. m., in Architecture 107. CONTINENTAL TIAIIWAYS U * -1US' LOOK AT THESE LOW FARES Portland . 2.90 Seattle . 6.20 San Francisco . 9,20 Los Angeles . 14.25 An ,0r»« p'«. fc*. »•* hoveling day, >9lt Christmas