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
✓
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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