No Interference
We think Boh Summers, AGS presidential candidate, inad
vertently supplied the ultimate in reasons for NOT rejecting
the all-campus primary at the Tuesday coffee hour.
In answ er to a question concerning the guarantee AGS could
provide that a nominating convention would not degenerate
into another TXE, Summers admitted there were faculty-ad
ministration safeguards* set up to prevent formation of such a
pow er group.
May we point out that under the present campus primary
organization, there is no need for any such interference. Stu
dents are able to control their own politics.
No matter how much pressure is applied in a living organi
zation. a student is still free to make the final decision at the
polls, with no party leader breathing down his neck to make
sure he votes the right nominee.
Several “fighting” issues have arisen in this campaign be
tween AGS and UIS. But, from where we sit. there can be
no more fundamental issue than the decision on the AGS
proposed amendment to the ASUO constitution to eliminate
the all-campus primary.
Voters must first nrake the decision if they want progressive,
democratic campus politics or party power politics before they
can approach the decision on what they want student govern
ment to do and how they want it done.
AGS stated in the mimeographed paper the party released
on their stand on primaries: "AGS is not interested in how
other parties nominate their candidates—that is their business.”
We disagree. We believe that as “a citizen of this com
munity” it is the Emerald’s business how campus political
parties conduct their primaries. And as voters, it is your
business.
We stand firmly on the ground that the value of student
government lies in the experience it gives students in voting,
conducting campaigns and electing candidates. We would like
to keep that experience as democratic as possible.
And democratic participation in student government—like
it or not—lies with the present ASUO-sponsored all-campus
primary.
Those 'White Chargers'
Bob Holloway, president of Oregon's XAACP, came in to
see us yesterday afternoon and we had a short talk on XAACP’s
position about a number of things on this campus. (See Hol
loway’s letter in the “Letters to the Editor" column).
We are only too glad to admit it when we have been
wrong. And we think we were wrong in presenting only one
side of the discussion on discrimination at the ASUO coffee
hour Tuesday afternoon.
Far be it from us to start a campaign to rid our campus of
XAACP or even to put their already shaky stand with the
administration on any shakier grounds. We think XAACP has
an important function to perform in making our campus aware
of the fact that discrimination does exist.
In turn, we think it is our duty to “afflict" any members of
this pressure group when they become too heavily seated on
their “white chargers.”
So, first let us admit that we were wrong in labeling as
NAACP members the students who spoke out at the coffee
hour. Although a couple were members, they were not speak
ing for the group but as individuals.
And then let us aim our opinions in the right direction : at
those individuals who have assumed an aggressive attitude
toward the whole problem of discrimination on this campus.
If you wish to support this organization and its cause—that
of racial tolerance and anti-discriminatory policies—we suggest
a short course in human psychology.
1. You have made us aware of the existence of discrimina
tion on this campus. Now, it’s time to quit shadow boxing
and calling people names, dealing in emotion and idealistic
phrases, and start giving us some concrete things to work on
to eliminate this problem.
2. If you don’t have any concrete ideas for specific ex
amples, then shut up and let the campus gnaw over its own
problems for a while and attempt to reach its own solution.
3. And quit waving the flag so hard, or it’s likely to ex
plode in your face.
Many of us who belong to organizations which do admit
all races, colors and creeds are beginning to resent these hot
headed people who insist on lumping us all in one discrimina
tory group and demanding that we do something about these
“white” clauses in living organizations.
And if several of these people have so much energy to waste
on the great cause of human rights, they might more profit
ably spend it helping NAACP’s president in doing some of
the constructive work needed to educate people on this topic.
We think Holloway had a right to protest our linking the
name of his group with every student that stands up and yells
“fire” about discrimination. But, we think for XAACP’s own
safety, some students might remember natural human tenden
cies to react against being labeled as bigots and prejudiced
individuals.
Daihf
EMERALD
The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday during the college year
from Sept. 15 to June 3, except Nov. 16, 25 through Dec. 7 through 9, 11 through Jan. 4
March Sthrough 10. 12 through 29, May 3, and 31 through June 2, with issue* on Nov. 21,
Jan. 23, and May 15, by the Student Publications Hoard of the University of Oregon. Kn
tered as second class matter at the post office, Eugene, Oregon. Subscription rates: $5 per
school year ; $2 per term.
I
Do As We Say
¥
‘By, you should have teen her «lonix*r nun guy \i M«»nia>.
Letters to the Editor
Apoligies
Ernerala Editor:
In reference to the letters
which have been published in
the past few days regarding
our Vodvil skit, we should like
to apologize for any misinter
pretations which may have
been misleading to observers
last Friday evening.
It was our entire purpose to
satirize previous Vodvil skits at
the University, and there was no
purpose as to the authenticity
of each dance. Actually, all we
can say is that we are sorry if
any other motives were suggest
ed.
Delta (iamma
It's Not NAACP
Emerald Editor:
In reference to your editorial
of the 28th (Dog Eat Dog)
whereby you grossly misrepre
sented the position of NAACP
at the coffee hour forum. I would
like to make the following cor
rections.
Because two of the four NA
ACP members present at the
forum offered comments on ra
cial discrimination (after the
question had been raised by
someone else from the floor) you
immediately jump to the con
clusion that . . the NAACP
was there, questioning candi
dates about their opinions on dis
criminatory clauses . . etc.
Robin Lamson and Don Elling
ton, the two members who spoke,
also belong to Sigma Chi and
Alpha Phi Alpha, respectively.
Why did you not say that
these two fraternities were
there questioning, demanding
answers to “sneezy” questions
about residues of white su
premacy? The answer is, of
course, no one or two indi
viduals represent any group
unless they are delegated to do
so and these two were not.
It is interesting to note that
you equivocate NAACP with “an
tagonistic sociology majors.” j
Another oversimplification. We
have only seven sociology majors
(none holding office) out of 37
members.
I am surprised to see your
sensitivity about seeing out
group question bigotted racial
activity. You are right. We have.
We are and we will continue to
bring into the open any and all
forms of racial and religious dis
crimination. You may think it is
a practice to ridicule but we see
it as fundamental-to our .society.
We are aware that the
changes in racial clauses have
to come from within the par
ticular fraternal system invol
ved. We do not want to see
them thrown off the campus
because of their “clauses.” We
agree with Mr. Summers’ edu
cational approach of self-edu
cation and hope that wo may
l»e of any assistance In sup
plying information germane to
'the problem.
You assume that we are an
“out-group'' criticizing an 'in
group'’ but many of our mem
bers are fraternity men and wo
men who have a lot at stake also.
Robert Holloway
President NAACP
Approval
Emerald Editor:
Open letter to Delta Gamma,
Dear DG President,
We liked it!
•loltn It. Waugaman
Mike Noee
Jerry Williams
Emory S. Richardson
Larry It. Chapman
Kolt Enright
I>. E. Ross
Leighton Wilbur •
Richard V. C'riscra
WSI Instruction
To Start Monday
The American Red Cross water
safety Instructor's course will be
taught on the campus May 3 to
14, according' to John Borehnrdt,
assistant professor physical ed
ucation.
The course is offered on the
campus for the benefit of students
who wish to qualify as swimming
instructors for summer jobs, Bor
chardt said.
In order to qualify for the
course it is necessary to have a
current senior Red Cross life sav
ing certificate.
The coufse will begin Monday,
May 3 at 7 p. m. in the Men’s
I pool. The class will be held for
! two hours each week night for
, two weeks.
Exhibition Display
From Columbia U.
An exhibit commemorating the
two humlreth anniversary of Co
lumbia university is now on din
: i>lay in the current newspaper
room of the University library.
Ah part of the Columbia bi-cen
tennial an exhlbtt of 00 panels
based on the theme "Man’s Might
to Knowledge • and tin- Free Use
Thereof," was prepared.
Twenty-five of these are includ
ed in the traveling exhibit. The
panels wei* selected from many
period* of history and fields of
knowledge to provide a graphic il
lustration and explanation of the
theme.
The exhibit will remain at the
library until May 9, Administra
tive Assistant John Lauber an
nounced.
-. *
IT PAYS TO PATRONIZE
EMERALD ADVERTISERS
►
EACH THURSDAY
Be Sure
to
'MEET MILLIE'
at
7:00 P.M.
and
'Meet Mr. McNutley'
at
8.00 P.M.
KERG
1
PRESSING
While You
Wait!
821 E. 13th
Ph. 5-6321