+ EMERALD EDITORIALS +
An Opportunity
When it conies to actually taking the lead
and trying to manage their own affairs, a
majority of Oregon’s students like to sit back,
make cynical remarks, and think of them
selves as “sophisticated.”
But now the time seems to have arrived
when the great majority no longer even
cares.
Generally, we refer to the realm of student
government.
Specifically, we refer to the ASUO senate
sponsored essay contest, which as yet has no
entries.
Student government has the large prob
lem of having only a limited number of peo
ple working in it. The same people who gen
erally take the lead in house activities and in
scholastic endeavors also migrate toward
student government.
From time to time student government
should be refreshed with new blood. This
is the perfect opportunity for critics of
student government to take a positive
stand.
This is a time for the cynics as well as those
who take the more optimistic view to make
themselves heard. Outside of student apathy,
overwhelming student ignorance is one of
the main reasons why student government
isn't always what it should be.
Student government can be more than a
game—quite a bit more.
Oregon students are given ample oppor
tunity to run their own affairs. If they
would take the trouble, cast off some of
their adolescent skepticism, and do a little
work, they would probably be amazed at
what they could accomplish.
This is an opportunity to do some thinking
about it and let your ideas be known.
WRA Carnival
We noted with interest the decision of the
student affairs committee not to ban all fund
raising drives not campus-wide or for charity.
We presume this means the WRA Carnival.
Basis for the action evidently was the feel
ing that such a step should come from the
organiaztion itself or from the living groups.
We agree.
This last term the living organiaztions
were drawn into the annual carnival without
having anything to say about it. They should
not be forced to participate in something
which will raise money for a separate group
at a both monetary ami a personal cost to
the living organiaztion. Any such participa
tion should be optional.
The work involved in the preparation for
the \\ RA Carnival seems out of proportion
to its net worth to the average University
student—especially the men, who do most
of the booth construction.
Yet, the WRA is largely dependent upon
income from the carnival to support its pro
gram. With a participation of less than 300
(based on attendance at 50 per cent or more
of one of the WRA activities) out of a total
female population of over 1500, the role of
the WRA on campus seems rather limited.
This would imply that possibly its budget
could be cut.
We would like to see the WRA take action
itself. If not, the action may have to come
from without—from the 1FC and Heads of
Houses, fur there is little apparent desire for
the inclusion of the Carnival on winter term's
crowded social calendar. — (S.R.)
Yearly Oregana
A recurrent idea of Oregon students and
more particularly Oregana editors, has been
shelved again this year by the publications
board. Off and on for years requests have
been made for a yearly ()regana—one which
would include the whole year's activities.
A yearly Oregana would mean that spring
term activities would be included along with
the fall and winter. It would also mean a de
layed publication schedule. It was on this
latter ground that the pub board turned down
the request. L nder the proposed plans, the
Oregana would be distributed at the begin
ning of fall term. Copies would be mailed to
all students who did not return to school.
In addition to having the whole year’s ac
tivities under one cover a yearly Oregana
would make it easier for the yearbook staff,
since work could be spread out over a longer
period of time. One or two staff members
would be needed after school was out to com
plete the book. By having the work done in
the summer, lithography costs could be cut
approximately 5 to 10 per cent, a figure which
would nearly trike care of the added costs of
mailing the book.
The idea of a yearly Oregana certainly has
merit. Somehow, though, we like getting
our yearbook before we’ve forgotten all about
the year’s events, before we're involved in the
activities of another year. — (S.R.)
INTERPRETING THE NEWS
Russia Pressures Austria
In Attempt to Ruin WEU Plan
By J .M. Roberts
Attocutcd Prmtt News Analyst
By going to work first on Aus
tria’s Chancellor Raab the Rus
sians have handed out a good tip
on the nature of the last desper
ate tactics they will use in an
effort to prevent rearmament of
Western Germany.
If their current efforts were
directed basically at an Austrian
settlement they would bypass
Raab as ineffectual and go di
rectly to the three Western pow
ers with whom they will have to
settle in the dong run.
They propose to do this, how
ever, only after they have
wrapped Raab up in some fine
sounding proposals which he
will be politically required to
urge upon the Allies.
One such thing is the proposal
for all foreign troops to withdraw
from the former German satellite
in return for a guarantee from
the Vienna government that it
will not join any alliance directed
against any country which
fought Hitler.
The Russians would like to
make neutralization of Austria a
major plank in the treaty. The
West, with Austrian acquies
cence, clings to the contention
that Austrian independence must
be complete, as promised long
ago, and that it carihot be so un
less she has the right to make up
her own mind about such things.
The Russians obviously
think, however, that if they
can get a neutralized Austria
they can then create quite a
stir against rearmament in
Germany by proposing a sim
ilar status in return for reuni
fication there.
Some Western observers be
lieve that in order "to create such
a situation with regard to the
larger problem, the Russians
might come up with Austrian
proposals which could be accept
ed. Nearly all of the issues have
been settled for a long time.
One place where the Western
powers can and must hammer the
Russians, however, is at an ex
tremely tender spot. When the
Russians talk about withdrawing
troops from Austria they must
also talk about withdrawing from
the Balkans, where their military
forces are technically posted to
guard the supply lines to Aus
trian occupation forces, but
where they are actually the back
bone of Communist political con
trol.
On their side, the Russians
are likely to counter this by
demanding an agreement that
after Austria, negotiations
will move on to consideration
of the foreign armies in Ger
many. They already have sug
gested that withdrawal must
be the basis of a settlement
there too.
This, would be almost as deli
cate a topic for the Allies as
withdrawal from the Balkans is
for Russia. The whole pattern of
Western European defense has
been built around Anglo-Ameri
can guarantees to keep their
troops in Europe, which means
in Germany, to soothe French
fears of a revived Germany.
Theoretically, a neutralized
Germany would seem to take
care of these fears automatically.
Actually, nobody believes that a
nation such as Germany will re
main a military vacuum very
long, no matter what agree
ments may be put on paper.
V-P" Day May End
Dread Polio Threat
By J. M. ROBERTS
Associated Pmi Npwk Analyst
It was V-P Day.
The results of the year-long
tests of the new antl-pollo vac
cine were coming out, and every
one knew the announcement
would contain news of a great
victory. The question was, just
how great.
The press room at the Univer
sity of Michigan was jammed.
When copies of the report were
brought, in there was a wild
scramble as though the reporters
were about able to announce the
end of a war.
And indeed it was much the
same, though not quite the final
surrender of the dread disease
which has stricken the heart of
the world because it strikes so
brutally at its children.
There was a polio epidemic
in my old home town of Ashe
ville. N.C., In the SRiriimer of
11116. In those days almost
nothing was known of the
causes, or of proper treatment.
That year, too, the virus was
partioularly violent. Then came
a flood which cut off many vital
services for a brief time. That
year many of the children did
not even escape with paralysis.
They died at widely scattered
and dissimilar spots over the na
tion, as they had been dying for
years and as they would continue
to die for many more years.
Nothing except the fight
against tuberculosis and raneci
ever engaged Die attention of so
many doctora and scientists.
A man who wan to la- presi
dent got It, and hla painful
struggle hank to useful life
drainatl/.ed the Imttle.
A national foundation was
formed to finance resesrch, the
people contributed dimea aiyl <lol
lar.s, and now the fight aeema
largely won, although it may be
years before It la ended against
all forma.
Ah was fitting, the victory Is
that of a young scientist. Dr.
Jonas K. Salk, for it was against
youth that the disease struck
most often.
There is always heartbreak
when such an event comes so
late for so many, but in some
respects this one comes just in
time for vast areas of the world
where polio has been less of a
problem than in America.
There was speculation, dur
ing the long study when r\en
the muse was unknown, that
people In rohginsted areas, lark
ing sanitation and proper
health measures, de>elo|x*d
early Immunities to polio.
Now they, as well as the fath
ers and mothers of the United
States, can know that he||) is
coming. There won’t be enough
serum for all right away. But
it will be coming, along with
relief from that most terrible
fear of all, a threat to your chil
dren.
Test Results
“Is it true that you recently gave your Western Civ class
a test made up of unassi^ned and inconsequential material?”
Thr Oregon Daily Emerald is published five days a week during the school year except
examination and vacation periods, 1>> the Student Publications Hoard of the I'nivris t\ of
Oregon. Entered as second class matter at the post office, Eugene, Oregon. Subscription
rates: $5 per school year: $2 a term.
Opinions expressed on the editorial pages are those of the writer and do not prelend to
represent the opinions of the AKL’O or the Vniversity. l'nsigned editorials are wf*,ucn by
.the editor; initialed editorials by members of the editorial board.
JEKRY HARRELL, Edito? DONNA RUNBERG, Business Manager
_Pit K LEWIS, SALLY RYAN, Associate Editors “
PAUL KEEFE, Managing Editor HILL MAIXWAK1NQ,~Advertising-ManageV
GORDON RICE, Xews Editor_ NANCY .SHA.W,.Office Manager
JERRY CLAUSSEN, f'lH I K'.MFTu)IELMORE, Co-Sports Editors'"
EDITORIAL HOARD: Jerry Harrell, Paul Keefe, Dick Lewis, Gordon Rice, Jackie
Warded Rice, Sally Uvari.
i hiet Makeup Editor; Sam Nancy
Ass’t Managing Editors: V'fllerie flersh,
Dorothy Her.
Ass’t News Editors: Mary Alice Allen,
Carol Craig, Anne Hill, Anne Ritchty,
Boh Robinson
Feature Editor: Dave Sherman
Morgue Editor: Kathy Morrison
Women’s Page Co Editors: Sally Jo Greig,
Marcia Mauney .
Ass’t Sports Editor: Buzz Nelson
Natl. A<lv. Mgr,: I .aura Munis
i ireulation Mgr.: Kick Hayden
A"'i. Office Mgr.: Atm Baakkonen
( lassified Adv.: Patricia Donovan
t od.a>out Mgrs.: Jon Wright and Dick
Executive Secretary: Beverly Landon
A"'t. Adv. Mgr.: Evelyn Nelson
Photography Editor Dale Turner
danagiug Assistant: Sanford Mlikes