A Challenge
Does Oregon’s Greek System
Have the Courage of Its Convictions
University President Arthur S. Flemming
in his release to the Emerald concerning dis
crimination in fraternities and sororities was
in essence saying that if fraternities and
sororities pledge non-Christian or non-cau
casian members, and because of this run into
difficulties with their national organiza
tions, the University will stand behind the
local chapters 100 per cent.
The president obviously is in favor of in
dependent and autonomous local chapters,
able to make their own decisions and stand
by them.
He is aware that many national organiza
tions have removed the clause in their
constitutions that prohibits non-caucasion
members, and have merely substituted un
written clauses. He is urging local chapters
to have the courage and conviction to test
these unwritten clauses to the utmost.
But the president is in no way saying
that fraternities and sororities must pledge
non-caucasians or non-christians. He recog
nizes that greek organizations by their
very nature are selective.
President Flemming himself, probably
made his stand clearest in his final para
graph : "1 urge that, consistent with the con
cept of the dignity and worth of each hu
man being, the living groups on the Uni
versity of Oregon campus consider persons
for membership solely on their merits and
without regard to their race, color, national
ity, or creed. Groups that act in this manner
will have the complete support of the Uni
versity if they are subjected! to any pressure
from the outside to follow a contrary pol
icy.”
We cannot think of a better time for the
president to have made his stand. There will
be many groups on this campus facing just
such a decision this week. We hope that they
will realize that the president has spoken
to them, to each of them. We agree with
President Flemming, that if they do not
realize this and demonstrate that they
realize it. "they are standing in the way of
this University's achieving its highest po
tential.
The Long, Slow Line
At one time people thought that registra
tion by IBM machine, although efficient,
was a thing to avoid because it tended to
“dehumanize" the student.
Wednesday’s line of students waiting at
McArthur Court to register for English
courses has adequately demonstrated that
long lines also have a dehumanizing influ
ence and cause a great deal of trouble as
well.
Now, the main cause for concern should
be whether Wednesday’s confusion will be
repeated before an IBM or other efficient
system can be adopted.
Those who have the unenviable job of
planning registration procedures expect that
things will get better. Winter and spring
terms should not cause trouble, they be
lieve, because reservations will be made for
students w ho desire to continue a sequence
in the same section. Students then won't
have to fight for available class places.
Next Fall shouldn’t be too rough either,
because many freshmen will register during
the summer and most other students prob
ably will have registered the preceding
spring.
These are still sort of stop-gap plans, how
ever. as officials work towards the ultimate
goal of complete registration and schedul
ing by using IBM machines. According to
Dean of Students Donald DuShane, students
may some day come to the University Sun
day night and start classes the following
Monday morning.
By then, we suppose, there will probably
be lines for something else.
Our Universities OK
The following editorial is reprinted from
the Oregonian, Saturday, September 15.
* * *
What gripes Dr. Robley William, the Uni
versity of California’s faculty representative,
who says the Oregon universities must ad
just their entrance requirements before
seeking membership in the “Big Six,” is that
so many good California athletes come to
the Oregon schools.
In the early days of the Pacific Coast
Conference, when the California universi
ties had not yet been forced by the great
numbers of college applicants to tighten up
their own requirements, and when those
schools constantly clobbered the smaller
Northwest schools, there was no concern
about our entrance requirements. Later the
tremendous population growth in Califor
niania made necessary the creation of an ex
tensive state college and junior college sys
tem. The universities had to limit their stu
dent bodies and this they did by making it
more difficult to enter.
Washington has also developed a state
college and junior college system to provide
advanced education for those who may not
be able or may not wish to attend its two
universities. Less populous Oregon is just
beginning to organize community colleges
to meet this same problem. Meanwhile, our
universities are constantly revising entrance
requirements and performance standards.
Students who can't keep up with the stiff
curriculum are soon flunked out. This ap
plies to athletes as well as to other students.
The football tramp no longer exists. The
California youths who come to Oregon,
where the opportunity to play against the
country’s topflight teams is greater, are
intelligent, though brawny. So are the ath
letes from Oregon and other states who en
roll here. Their scholastic records prove this,
as does the performance in business and
the professions of a great number of them
after graduation. The Oregon universities
provide an excellent education, regardless of
the snide remarks of persons such as l)r.
Williams.
Little Man on Campus
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Letters to the Editor
SORORITY RULES
Emerald Editor:
In reply to the editorial < Silly
.Sorority Rules), the facts were
basically correct The slant of
the editorial, however, distorted
these facts
True, Panhellenie Council
members may not participate in
rush. This is so, first, because
the rushees must have someone
who is impartial to bring their
questions to and to guide them
Secondly, council members sim
ply do not have time to rush.
It is also true that council
members are to sleep in Ger
linger Hall during this rush.
This must be regarded as a safe
ty measure above all. which the
girls requested since they do
not finish their work until the
late hours. Incidents involving
unescorted girls late at night
have occurred on many campus
es.
The statement that silly sor
ority rules and a drop in the
number of rushees have a correl
ation should not have been
made without some closer ex
amination of other factors. The
fact that all girls with stanines
of 4 have been eliminated from
rush (until these girls have
proven their ability to do col
lege work) certainly accounts
for a smaller number of girls
rushing.
It does not seem likely that
the number of girls rushing de
pends upon where Panhellenie
council members sleep.
Dulcy Moran
Panhellenie Publicity
Chairman
* * *
CAMPUS CLIMBING
Emerald Editor:
At the very outset, this year,
the Alpine Club would like to
make known its policy regard
ing a popular campus sport. The
activity in question is the climb
ing of campus buildings. The
club will, in the future, refuse
to recognize any climb which
does not adhere to the following
rules.
1. Ropes may be used for pro
tection against falls only.
Footnotes
The old gag turned up again
Sunday as a new student appar
ently in all seriousness asked a
Student Union employee “Is this
the University of Oregon?”
Informed that it was, the stu
dent cheerfully replied, “Fine!
Where do I register?”
“Downstairs,” was the answer,
“But have you applied for ad
mission?”
“I sure hope so!” responded
the prospective student, and off
he went.
2. No climbs may be made
during mid-terms or finals;
the administration might
suspect burglary.
3 Be careful of the girders
on the new Science build
ing — the material with
which they are covered
crumbles easily.
4. Climbs on sororities and
girl's dormitories must be
adequately chaperoned
5. Do not drive bolts or pitons
in conspicuous places.
6. Please do not establish
base camps on the fire es
capes.
7. Do not break windows to
secure handholds
8 Do not drop bricks, ruck
sacks, or ice axes on the
campus policemen — they
mean well, in their own
way.
9. Hemove crampons before
treading on the tar-covered
"summits.”
10. Coeducational climbing is
encouraged — no overnight
climbs, however.
Modification and or enforce
ment procedures relating to
these rules will be discussed at
the first meeting of the season
next Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. in
room 30 science We will also
plan group climbs and other ac
tivities for the year, such as the
New Year's party on the North
Sister. All are welcome at the
meeting
David L. Smith
Vice-President,
Alpine Club
OREGON DAILY EMERALD
The Oregon Daily Emerald is pub
lished seven times in September and five
day* a week during the school year, ex
cept during examination and vacation
periods by the Student Publication Hoard
of the University of Oregon. Entered as
second clans matter at the post office,
Eugene, Oregon. Subscription rates: $5
per year; $2 per term.
Opinions expressed on the editorial
page arc those of The Emerald and do
not pretend to represent the opinion of
the ASUO or the University.
NON HU EE. Editor
ANT EM1CE lUisincH* Manager
TED MAHAN, Managing Editor
MENKIK HUE!.. News Editor
PHIL COCSWEEE,
Editorial Page Editor
M AN TV KETELS,
Advertising Manager
CHRIS CHl’NCH, Sport* Editor
JANET (JOETZE
Assistant Managing Editor
K V E N KTTE I) E N MS. I > A V E
SANDS, Assistant News Editor*
DAVE STOREY,
Assistant Sports Editor
KANE BROOM. Photo Editor
DUECY MOHAN, Women's Editor
LINDA KNOWN,
Entertainment Editor
EDITORIAL HOARD :
Non Hue!, Phil Cogswell, Ted Mahar,
Mcrrie Hucl, Janet fJoctze.
Everette Dennis, Dave Sands,
Chris Church, l)uIcy Moran,
Linda Krown, Hal Carpenter,
Phil Sherburne, and
Steve Hint*.