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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1960)
Needed: A Revision The failure of student body president Gary Gregory to achieve his eligibility re quirements (so to speak; the outcome of his Fall term grades is still pending) has dramatized the most glaring flaw in the ASUO constitution; the failure to provide for a successor in case the president becomes ineligible. IT SEEMS incredible that one of the more important provisions of any consti tution should have been neglected. Yet on closer examination of the problem on the University level, this may be understand able. It is doubtful if any University student body president has ever failed to make his grades while in office. It is a much more common occurence to read about a presi dent being elected to Phi Beta Kappa Sen ior Six. We only know of one prexv who failed to make a 2.0, but this happened Spring term prior to his taking over the office. The student merely went to summer school where he achieved well over the minimal requirements. A lack of precedent to guide the fram ers of the most recent constitution could be another point. Then who would have be lieved that a student with a 3.79 GPA could fall so far so fast? NOW THE PROBLEM exi-ts. and the Senate must cope with it. This will probably take the form of a constitutional amend ment to be voted on in a general election Spring term. There are a number of courses which the Senate can take. One would be to stipulate that the vice-president immediately assume the duties of president should the top offi cial become ineligible. This succe>sion could be spelled out even further, including the senior class president, vice-president, and others so designated. The Senate could also call for new elec tions as soon as possible in order to fill any void. The vice-president could act in an ad visory. capacity until a new official was elected. Petitions could be considered with the choice left up to the Senate; the power could be granted to the constitutional com mittee; the Senate could make a pro tern appointment from among their own mem bers until a regular election could be held. There are any number of possibilities. However, we feel that the first suggestion (the succession of the vice-president) would be the best course to follow. • I he succession of the vice-president would take place immediately, therefore as suring^the continuance of student govern ment without the void that now exists. • THE VICE-PRESIDENT has the ex perience to assume the duties with the least possible effort. The transition would be a smooth one, requiring little, if any, train ing to equip him for the job. • It would avoid a political wrangle on the part of presidential aspirants. The neces sity to mount a quick campaign or button holing support of a petition could produce some shoddy politics on the part of the can didates. In short, an amendment stipulating that the vice-president take office with the un derstanding that he will assume the presi dency should the occasion arise. These are only some of the more promi nant reasons in support of a logical succes sion. Support could probably be mustered for other methods of providing for a stu dent body president in case of an emer gency. However, we feel that the above is the most sensible, administratively logical choice. It should be provided for in the con stitution as soon as possible. Footnotes Monday’s pitiful snowfall has proved a boon to at least one segment of the campus population—the Robins. Acres of them were observed on lower campus Tuesday, heads cocked. The reason being that the melting snow soaked the ground with water, forcing the bird's favorite fodder, worms, to strug gle to the surface for air. Or maybe you have a more valid scienti fic hypothesis for this startling phenomona? * * * The following bit of rhyme was received in our office. Signed with the initials R. MacE., it dramatizes a recurring situation facing many a professor attempting to find a parking place on campus: It’s nearly nine, and in each parking lot Are several likely spaces that I spot; And as I play my daily musical chairs With others of my ilk— Oh, the mayhem I could gladly render To somebody’s unsuspecting fender* It’s the guy who always parks off-cender Who curdles Baby’s milk! Editor Gives Reasons Behind News Item By LARRY KURTZ Emerald Editor Several unfavorable comments have reached our ears concern ing- the Emerald’s handling of Gary Gregory’s failure to make his grades last term. WE THINK it only fair that we clarify our reasons for “play ing” the story as we did. Most of the criticism cen tered around the idea that, by running a front page article (January 6, with the headlines "ASUO President falls belotv 2.0”) The Emerald was delib erately “slamming” Gregory as a person, and attempting to somehow put him in an unfa vorable light. To use the trite, but ap propriate, expression: Nothing could be farther from the truth. In actuality, Gregory himself gave tha Emerald all details which were printed about his scholastic troubles, and took the initiative to call the office with a statement. This would indicate that he realized a story would be forthcoming, did not object to its being printed, and wanted to make sure we got the correct information. BUT THIS is not the impor tant issue. The reasons the Em erald published the srtory and placed it in so prominent a po sition are apparently unknown to a portion of the student body and require an explanation. In the first place*, Gregory’s problem was the most important news story of the day by fall-, and thus was the only one which could justifiably warrant the top position on page one. Secondly, the Emerald was careful to say nothing whatso ever about his competence as a student body president or his personality. It was as factual a report as could be expected. Thirdly, it was obvious that the eventual outcome of this dilemma would create a “suc cession problem,’’ and the Em erald felt it necessary to make the student body aware of the situation at hand. SOME MAY FEEL (and un doubtedly do) that merely printing the article caused the University, in general, soma embarrassment, but the news value of a story is no't judged in terms of how much it will raise or lower University status. It is not up to the Emerald to make the University look good—the paper’s duty is to report what goes on, and not merely to praise good actions and pass over those which are unpleasant. The Emerald editorial board, in commenting on the situation, again made no reference to Gregory’s personality on his ability to conduct student gov ernment. The board suggested only that his responsibilities as a student should seem more important than being student body president for a few months. We’re very glad that students have commented to us on this matter as well as others, and we encourage them to continue this practice in the future., through letters or personal ap proach. We hope, however, that they will stop to realize that a newspaper is just what the title states, and prints the items that will be of interest to the stu dent body even if they aren't always happy ones. We sincerely hope that the student body president will find a solution to this dilemma soon, and that the problem of what’s going to happen with student government will be cleared up. Little Man on Campus ✓ .ililll ijr—---- — -- -~ <?UICK- eO*Z#Xr< TFAP UP £0|ME CLEAN 6HE£T^ ANP RUN FETCH U€> PLENTY OF 0OILING WATgR/" Loan Talks Resume Between U.S., Soviet By J.VHKS MAKI.OW Assodalrd Pfess News Anal) st WASHINGTON (JB For the third time in 13 years the United States and the Soviet Union are trying to settle the Soviets’ lend-lease debt for American help during the war. But don't read too much into an agreement, if there is one. TIIK TWO sides talked about it in 1947-43 and again in 1951-32, without success. They started talking again Monday, but this time under different circumstances. Premier Nikita Khrushchev, when he was here last Septem ber, made a pitch for trad< as part of better relations ir. a number of fields between the USSR and the United States. He was told a lend-lease settle ment might remove a major ob stacle, and the new lend-lease talks are a result of his urging. So there may be a settlement. If there is, trade between the’ two countries should increase a bit, but probably not on a large scale for a good while. Agreement on trade doesn’t necessarily mean agreement on other big issues such as dis armament or the Soviets' de mand that the Western Allies get their troops out of Beilin. It has been past Soviet prac tice to haggle on each issue in dividually, as if none was re lated to any other. DURING THE war this coun try provided the Soviet Union with $10,800,000,000 worth of military and civilian equipment. After the war the United States wrote off the military equip ment and concentrated on get ting' paid for the civilian goods still in Soviet hands. The value of the civilian goods was pegged at $2,600, 000,000 by this country. A.*^r the two previous talks the United States had scaled down its claim to 800 million dollars. The Soviets offered 300 million. There are various legal re strictions on trade with the USSR. Some go back to before World War I, because the Com munists have never paid on loans made to the Russian gov ernment before the Soviets took over. The result is trade between the two countries is in tiny terms, compared with their economies. Last year the United States exported 3>/2 million dol lars worth of goods to the Soviet Union and imported about 17 million dollars worth. WHI N KHKISIKIIKV nut President Eisenhower last fall at Camp David lie wax report edly very upset over American restrictions on trading with the USSR. He wax said to feel the Soviet Union was being treated like an outcast. Undersecretary of State Doug las Dillon said last September Khrushchev was told at Camp David that if the Soviet Union is reasonable about paying off on its lend-lease debt it may pave the way to easing Amer ican restrictions. He said the Eisenhower ad ministration may ask Congress provided there is a settle - ment to remove some legal prohibitions against dealing with the Soviet Union and to ex tend more favored tariff treat ment. But one of the main road blocks to any big increase in trade with the USSR soon — even if there’s a settlement is that goods that American purchasers want from abroad in substantial quantities, and which the Soviets have- avail able, are already being supplied by free world countries. Emerald deadlines Persons wishing to place neu« Items or announrrmcnU In the Oregon Hally Kinerald will l*» required to meet deadlines, letters to the Editor are due by S p.m., material for the Campus Ilrlefs eolumn is due at 4 p.m., and general news stories are due by 7 p.m. on the day before publication. All material submitted must be typed double spucc. OREGON DAILY EMERALD The Oregon Daily Emerald is published four timet in September and five dars a week during the school year, except dur ing examination and vacation period., l,y the Student I'uhlicaliolit Hoard of the I ntversity of Oregon. Kntered at ecood elatt matter at the post office. Eugene, Oregon. Sulncriptioti rates; $5 per sear per term. ’ Opinions expressed on the editorial page are those of The Emerald and do not prr trnd to represent the opinion of the ASl’O or the University. LARRY KURTZ. Editor WARREN Rl ( KER, Holiness Manager MARY JO STEWART, Managing Editor DON JEI'SEN, Editorial Cage Editor STEVE M11,1.1 KIN, Advertising Manager KERNAN TURNER, News Editor AI. JIN NDING, Sports Editor KEI I II POWELL, Feature Editor EVERETT CUTTER, Entertainment Editor PEGGY DOERKLER, Women’s Editor TED MAH A R, JIM HOYD, Assistant News K Iitors I.ARRY STURGES, JEET" WILLIAMS Associate Editors
