Crossing the Bridges
With Freedom of Speech
Go Certain Obvious Responsibilities
There is a possibility that Harry Bridges,
controversial president of the International
Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen's Un
ion, might be invited by the Young Demo
crats to speak at the University this year.
This would be likely to have serious reper
cussions, for Bridges’ left wing views would
be welcomed with the same eagerness with
which Gus Hall was received.
Unfortunately, this is a legislative year,
and public reaction to Bridges’ appearance
might have a detrimental influence on
higher education appropriations. Obvious
ly, from a public relations standpoint, it
would be better for the University if he
is not invited.
This does not mean, however, that the
University would take action to bar
Bridges’ appearance if he is invited. The
Gus Hall incident showed that the Univer
sity will uphold its policy that any speaker
may appear if he is invited by a recognized
student or faculty group.
With every freedom go certain responsi
bilities. With the freedom to invite any
speaker on any subject goes the responsi
bility to give some consideration to the
good of the University. Recklessly seek
ing speakers because they are notorious,
or merely to gain publicity for a group, is
not justified.
We hope the Young Democrats respon
sibly assess whether Bridges’ appearance
will benefit the students of this University.
If it is their sincere and honest belief that
it will, we would not discourage them in
any way from extending an invitation, and
hope that no other group offers such dis
couragement.
A Questionable Idea
Governor Hatfield in his recent inaugural
address suggested that the State Board of
Higher Education and the Board of Educa
tion be combined.
Not presuming to be experts in the field,
we would like to quote a few other opin
ions.
The Eugene Register-Guard:
‘ Both boards . . . have all they can do to
keep up with the problems they now have.
To double those problems, no matter how
large the board were made, would be to
add to the work loads of the members.
Too few citizens now can afford the time
it takes for this sort of service.”
The Oregonian:
“. . . we are not convinced that . . . pros
pective benefits outweigh the prospective
disadvantages . . .
“. . . study should not necessarily be di
rected toward a merger. Current efforts
toward improved coordination between the
two appear to be working very well in
deed.”
Chancellor Roy Lieuallen of the State
Board of Higher Education:
“There are practical reasons for not mak
ing the move. The disadvantages of the
plan outweigh any advantages that might
accrue.
“It might very well deprive us of the
services of some outstanding lay peyple.”
President William Walsh of the State
Board of Higher Education:
“I don't see how it could be possible to
appoint board members and expect them to
do a responsible job. Combining the boards
would make the job even more complex
and demanding. A member would need to
neglect either the work of the Board or that
of his full-time outside activities or occupa
tion.”
Statements such as these make one won
der exactly what was behind the Gover
nors suggestion to combine the two boards.
Was it an honest attempt to provide for
a great deal of overlap?
Or was it, as one prominent Lane Coun
ty Senator suggests, an attempt to take
some of the punch out of the requests of
the State Board of Higher Education’s
budget requests by putting the Board on
the defensive?
Letters to the Editor
NSA
Emerald Editor:
It is more than obvious that
during the last few months,
there has been considerable
discussion and debate on the
relationship of our student
government to national and in
ternational affairs and the join
ing of the USNSA. I must ad
mit that I agree with the goals
of NSA, but at the present,
even after the structural
changes at the last congress, I
am still not satisfied with its
present structure and opera
tion. Consequently, since wc
have many of the same pro
grams that NSA offers on our
campus already, I sincerely
feel that at the present time
student government on this
campus should continue to in
volve itself with the problems
of this campus. However, I think
it would be wise to continue to
observe and evaluate the oper
ations of NSA.
Dell Smith,
ASUO Senator-at-large.
Cultural Center?
Emerald Editor:
President Arthur S. Flem
ming and those who brought to
his attention the need for
strong action in the problems
of the fraternities are to be
highly commended and should
be thanked by the fraternity
system itself. I say this for two
major reasons.
First, although the fraternity
system is necessary to the full
growth of this University and
to the development of many in
dividual students, its full good
is obstructed by problems which
need not exist. These problems
exist with regard to hazing, fi
nancial solvency and mutual aid,
and IFC control. The problems
exist and will continue to exist
until directed actions are tak
en to correct them. These ac
tions should originate from
within the fraternity system.
Unfortunately, strong inter
nal control and corrections were
not possible. Hazing continued
and the IFC again proved its in
effectiveness. The action tak
en by President Flemming now
allows the fraternity system to
reorganize and derive some type
of strong internal control for
the future. To do nothing this
coming year would waste a
good opportunity to strengthen
the system.
Second, the external control
coming from our own campus
indicates to others that we can
handle these problems here.
This alleviates most of the ar
gument by outsiders that con
trol through the state legisla
ture is a necessity. And conceiv
ably the legislature could take
action, for the ire of some legis
lators was raised last week.
In fact, the legislature could
place disastrous restrictions up
on the entire Greek system.
Perhaps with a movement to
wipe out some evils of the fra
ternity system the people of the
State of Oregon will begin
achieving a higher opinion of
the University of Oregon. Per
haps then opinions can be
swayed to recognize the Univer
sity of Oregon as an influential
academic, cultural and research
center.
Howard Liebreich,
Junior in Economics.
* * #
Warm Spot
Emerald Editor:
I am very glad I read Joyce
L. Emrich’s letter concerning
“fallout shelter” signs. I had
thought that those responsible
for the signs were following the
Boy Scout motto, “ Be Prepar
ed.” However, after reading
Miss Emrich’s letter, I am cer
tain that they are up to “condi
tion us to accept a military way
of life ...” Even in case of
nuclear war, God forbid, I must
enter my plea with Miss Em
rich’s, that the “members of
this university . . . refuse to
participate in a program which
is useless, at best ...” Just
remember this: You will not go
down without a cause. There
will be a warm spot for you
always in Miss Emrich’s heart
and in mine.
Robert A. Butler
Freshman in History
“CALORIES DON’T REALLY COUNT”
Letters to the Editor
Laud Loudly
Emerald Editor:
Some of our mass media have
been doing an increasingly ex
cellent job of news and educa
tional coverage over the past
few years. Yet the majority of
us tend to accept and expect this
to continue as if it is our right.
Too often we criticise and too
infrequently we praise when
praise could do so much
I suggest action—eight cents
worth of action
I propose a positive organi
zation called I.AL'J) (L listen;
A adjudge; U-urge action; D
don t stopj.
The membership rules are
simple:
1. Buy two postcards (total
—eight cents. Inis may be con
sidered membership dues).
2. Whenever you see or hear
an article or program of mer
it. send the publisher or broad
casting company a note of ap
predation
3. Give the second card to a
friend and ask him to do the
same
Never before could so little
do so much for so many.
Hurry! before membership
dues go up again
Jack K. Kollwagen,
Grad. Student Anthrop.
Emerald Editor:
In Monday’s editorial on haz
ing, the writer asks several
questions concerning the char
acter of students who partici
pate in ‘ hell week” activities
"What standards will they bring
into business? Into society'' Into
government?” he writes.
Only one thing is wrong with
this statement—it lacks sound
reasoning.
Let’s take one section of so
ciety—government — and name
a few of the fraternity men
who have gained state and na
tional prominence in this field.
Gov. Mark Hatfield and Chief
Justice Earl Warren, Beta Theta
Pi; Adlai Stevenson, Phi Delta
Theta; Estes Kefauver, Kappa
Sigma; Sig Unander, ATO, ami
Wayne Morse, Pi Kappa Alpha.
These leaders became frater
nity members when initiations
and hazing were more severe
than today. Can we judge them
now merely as products of the
fraternity system? If so, it
seems the system hasn’t done
too much damage.
We cannot defend hazing,
but we can defend logical rea
soning.
Stan Darling,
Soph., Journalism.
❖ * *
Effecting Policy
Emerald Editor:
IFC Tribunal Chairman Ken
Wilson resigned in the middle
of a Tribunal meeting held Jan.
17 in the midst of a dispute
over policy determination con
cerning flagrant violations of
hazing rules.
Throe days later University
President Arthur S Flemming
made the latest announcement
of administration policy toward
such violations: "There is no
place on the University of Ore
gon campus for any group that
engages in ha/ing practices and
thereby demonstrates its utter
lack of concern for the dignity,
worth, and well being of indivi
duals."
It might he inferred from this
portion of the President's state
ment that positive action on the
part of the administration will
be taken to effect this policy.
There is, however, a disturb
ing note to be found further on
in the President's statement.
Does he really wish to imply
thal there could be "extenuat
ing circumstances" which would
justify ha/ing'1 If so, what con
stitutes an "extenuating circum
stance" in this situation'1
Since the administration takes
the responsibility of framing
policy, it must, of necessity,
take the responsibility of effect
ing policy. If the administra
tion is not prepared to form a
coherent policy and to match
it with consistent enforcement,
then the only viable alternative
is to abdicate this responsibility.
Simeon i. (Towther,
Jr. in History;
(iary li. Newton,
Jr. in Math.
William F. Komis,
Jr. in History,
t'atherine E. Taylor,
Jr. in English;
Catherine Simian!,
Jr. in English.
OREGON DAILY EMERALD
The Oregon Daily Emerald is published
seven times in September am! five day* a
H'*rk during the school year, except dur
ing examination and vacation period* by
the Student Publications Hoard of the
I'nivciMty of Oregon. Entered .* second
• lass matter at the (Hint office, Eugene,
Oregon. Stile enption rate*: $5 per year;
$2 per term.
Opinion* expressed on the editorial page
a•< those of The Kmerald and do n»»t pre
tend to represent the opinion* of the
ASUO or tlie University.
RON BUHL. Editor
MARTY KICTKLS, Business Manager
TKI) MAHAR, Managing Editor
KVKRKTTK DENNIS, Nc\. Editor
PH • I- COGSWELL,
Editorial Pa&e Kditoi
LARRY \V IJ.LIAMS,
Advertising Manager
LARRY GRAVES, Sports Editor
Dt LCY MORAN.
Assistant M.mailing Ed tor
DAVK SANDS. JIM ERAKE,
JANET GOET/'E,
Assistant News Editors
GEORGE BIGICAM, Phott Editor
LINDA ORCWN, Entertainn ent Editor
RON COWAN, CATHY NE IDLE,
THORA WILLIAM: ,
Associate News Ed tot t
EDITORIAL BOA RD:
Ron Buel, Phil Cogswell, l ed Mahar
Everette Dennis, Davt Sands
Dulcy Moran, Linda frown
Hal Carpenter, Eub F >r*yth
Grant Lcdgerwood Dot t Ragen
Janet Gretze, and 1 ill ii jtchi-on