Honor—How Much?
“High minded character or principles; fine sense of one’s
obligations; credit or reputation for behavior that is becom
ing or worthy; high public esteem.”
'’That is the definition Webster’s dictionary gives for the word
"honor.” And any honorary must derive its principles from
those basic roots of the word.
Our campus honoraries, Mortar Board, Friars, Phi Theta
Upsilon, Druids, Kwama, and Skull and Dagger, are now sift
ing through the names of activity people on campus. And
we’d like to remind those groups of their responsibility as
they consider those names for "tapping.”
Will the members you select really reflect those qualities of
high esteem and worthiness you wish to see in your organiza
tion? Does that house brother or sister really have the qualifi
cations which your organization.uses as a basis to select mem
bership ?
We can see a lot of reasons why your selections might not
earn honor for your organizations. We’ve watched your opera
tions in the past and we know that sometimes petty dislikes
and house loyalties are the criteria used rather than service,
leadership and scholarship.
It’s hard to be objective about personalities. But every
member of an honorary has committed himself to that obliga
tion by his membership. An organization can only be as
worthy as it membership.
Kwamas probably have the roughest time selecting mem
bers. They have over 100 names to consider in selecting 30
members. And the girls they are considering have had only a
year to prove themselves worthy of honor. There’s lots of room
for “the flash in the pan” activity girl.
Kwama, we think your quota system is a big mistake. Limit
ing Kwama membership to three girls from one house has
meant that some outstanding fourth girl gets the cold shoulder
because she is that fourth girl. Yes, we’ve heard the argument:
you’re an honorable group but will the next group ot Kwamas
refrain from padding the “honor roll” with house favorites?
I ou can oniy De as Dig ana wormy as you minx you are.
And if you’re selecting that type of person for membership
next year, then you’re making a lot worse mistake in judg
ment than even we thought you could. Junk that quota sys
tem and let the individual be the one that counts.
By the time a girl is nearing completion of two years of col
lege, it’s much easier to tell if she really possesses the quali
ties our campus should want to honor. And that’s where Phi
Theta comes in.
You have a chance to see if the women you are considering
are really developing interests and rounding out their own fields
by the services they perform. Activities for the sake of activities
or to get into an honorary can become an awful grind. The un
derlying purposes of these activities is to develop the individual
and if this purpose is neglected they become meaningless.
There is always the debate about the woman who has a
narrow field of activities versus the one that spreads herself
over a whole field of interests. But measure up these services
against your yardstick of service and leadership and the dif
ficulty becomes less.
We also think Kwama and Phi Theta might raise the qual
ity of their membership by taking steps to eliminate member
ship by petitions. It somehow goes against the grain with us
to think of someone asking for an honor. There’s a different
principle involved here than in petitioning for a job you’re
willing to do. And we know of girls who have gone through
their college career without benefit of Kwama or Phi Theta as
a matter of principle. But they’re Motar Boards in their senior
year.
We’d suggest a system of recommendation, including con
tacting department heads, house presidents, housemothers,
and people holding responsible positions on campus. A lot of
sifting could be done before the groups ever met, giving them
more time to weigh and evaluate the women they do consider.
We think Mortar Board has probably done the best job of
choosing new members each spring. And that’s logical. They
are seniors leaving school. They are expected to be more adult.
They have to keep in mind their national affiliation. And the
candidates they are considering have had three years in which
to develop.
And that’s why it disgraces Mortar Boaard so much when
they do make a mistake. Perhaps it is an honest mistake, al
though we’ve known at least one case when it was personal
dislike that kept a girl out of Mortar Board. We expect higher
things of you.
So, look at that activity list again and re-read those recom
mendations. Is there reason to suspect house affiliation or
that a department is pushing a mediocre person to gain a little
glory? And use that old rule of thumb: it’s quality, not quan
tity that counts.
Attitudes count too, and we’re talking to all three groups
now. Is*that girl that “has really worked” been doing so be
cause she is a responsible and dependable person or because
she'd like to Avear your particular skirt and sweater outfit?
So remember—Mortar Board, Phi Theta, and Kwama—if you
want your organizations to have the respect and admiration of
this campus, it’s entirely up to you. An honorary can only ex
tend that amount of “honor” Avliich they have earned.
And So Much More
The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Vriday during the college year
from Sept. 15 to June 3, except Nov. 16, 25 through Dec. 7 through 9, 11 thiough Jan. A
March Hthrough 10, 12 through 29, May 3, and 31 through June 2, with issues on Nov. 21,
Jan. 23, and May 15, by the Student Publications Hoard of the University of Oregon. En
tered as second class matter at the post office, Eugene, Oregon. Subscription rate*: $5 per
school year ; $2 per term.
Opinions expressed on the editorial page are those of the writer ami do not pretend to
represent the opinions of the ASUO or of the University. Unsigned editorials arc written by
the editor; initialed editorials by the associate editors.
r
“Your entrance exams predicted failure in coIIcrc, but your “.Vs"
and “B’s” show tests don't take into consideration ambition, hard
work, drive and determination."
Have You Given?
Got a spare dime or two?
Think that world peace might be worth something? Ever get
a feeling that maybe you ought to be a little grateful for the
opportunity you have to get an education?
Most of us do. And an excellent way to get rid of that spare
dime and do a little to promote this world peace is available
on campus now.
The World University Service fund drive opened on campus
Monday. Money collected in the drive goes to help university
students abroad. It helps buy books and clothing—it provides
dormitories and student health centers.
Why do we mention peace? We think that one of the main
hopes for peace in this sadly torn-up world of ours is an un
derstanding among peoples. Sure, it sounds trite and terribly
idealistic. But we think it has a practical aspect. We think
our system of government is best. And we think an educated
world will agree with us. The best way to fight Communism
is through education.
Besides that, we like the ways WUS has thought of to raise
money. You’re given an original way to get rid of your money.
You can vote for your favorite Ugly Man, or have your car
washed or buy some useless or useful item or person at the
auction, or see the all-campus Vodvil. Somehow that seems to
make it a little more fun to give.
We get as tired as anyone else of the endless number of fund
drives. But we think this one is special. It’s for fellow university
students around the world.—(J.W.)
NAACP Gathering
To Hear Speaker
Bill Berry, executive secretary
of the Urban League of Portland,
will speak to the campus chapter
of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People to
night at 7:30 p.m. in the Student
Union.
Berry’s topic will be “Minstrel
Shows Innocent Fun or Social
Shame?’’ A discussion period will
follow the talk, according to Rob
ert Holloway, president of the
campus chapter of NAACP.
Berry is a member of the fac
ulty of Portland State college, and
has been active in matters of in
ter-racial relations in Oregon* Hol
loway said.
All intersted students are* in
vited to attend the meeting.
Inter-Varsity Meet
To Hear Speaker
Fred A. Beard, sales manager
i of Kokp-Chapman Printing Co.,
; Eugene, will speak on "Believing in
| Vain” during the regular meeting
[ of Inter-Varsity Christian fellow
I ship tonight at 7 p.m. in the Stu
! dent Union.
DIAMOND -WATCHES
SILVERWARE
HERBERT OLSON
JEWELER
175 E. Broadway
Eugene, Oregon
Expert Watch and
Jewelry Repairing
Phone 4-5353
SU Ar! Gallery
Shows Sculpture
Sculptured, patntlugfl, and draw
ings by Thomas Hardy, an Oregon
graduate and one of America's
leading sculptors, will be exhib
ited in the Student Union Art gal
lery on the second floor until Muy
15.
Hardy miikes figures of unlmuls
with a blowtorch by cutting
through sheets of Iron and rusting
them with heat. Ho uses the me
dium for naturalistic forms, ab
stracted forms and forms of high
emotional Impact.
Ills works have been exhibited
In te Metropolitan Museum of Art,
Portland Art muaeum, Seattle Art
museum. Ran Franciaoo Museum
of Art, Robert M. Kasper gallery
of San Francisco, Kraushaar gal
leries of New York City and in mu
seums In Denver, Philadelphia,
Syracuse, and Wichita.
Hardy received his bachelor of
science degree In general art from
the University of Oregon in 19-12
and the degree of master of fine
arts in sculpture and lithography
in 1952
Hardy served U a first lieuten
ant in the Army air force from
19-12 to 1945.
He served as a graduate assist
ant in the painting dc-pui tment
of the school of architectuie und
allied arts in 1961-52. He was also
an instructor of painting, ceram
ics and sculpture for the general
extension division.
Among Hardy's works in collec
tions are works at the Portland
Art museum. University of Ore
gon, .Seattle Art museum, and
Springfield, Missouri, art museum
His works have also been ex
hibited In numerous college cam
puses.
Mother's Weekend
Chairmen Revealed
Committee chairmen for Moth
ers weekend were announced Mon
day by Donna Dory, general chair
man.
Chairmen and the committees
follow: Barbara Kamm, tickets:
Sam Vahey and Shirley Johnson,
promotion; Sally Jo Greig and
Gloria Stok, publicity; Karen
Kraft and Mary Sweeney, tea; Ann
Krickson and Ruth Hoppe, hospi
tality; Carol Huggins, awards;
Agnes Thompson and Joanne
Bums, breakfast, and Jack Socol
ofsky and Nan Hagedorn, housing.
What Mother
Wants Mostl
B
The Best Way to
Say "Happy
Mother's Day"
Is with
Your Portrait!
May we make it for you?
THE
Fehly Studio
ON THE CAMPUS
For Appointment
Phone 4-3432
—