ASUO Senate Vacancies
In an Inadequate Constitution
Process of Filling Vacancies Is One of Worst
For several years, the AUSO Senate has
been filling its own vacancies. This practice
deserves some serious questioning.
When an ASUO Senator resigns or is
disqualified for academic reasons, the Sen
ate calls for petitions to fill the space.
Those who petition are narrowed down to
three by the six-member student govern
ment committee, a standing committee of
the Senate. Then the Senate spends about
five minutes interviewing each of the three
candidates, and elects the new' officer.
Several obvious faults are built into this
system. In the first place, any shortcomings
the present Senate possesses are compound
ed by the selection of members who agree
with the present Senate. Any possibilities
for dissent are automatically lessened be
cause of this method.
There is also a tendency for the Senate
to play political games with the open posi
tions. Fraternities with five or six members
on the Senate have a pretty good chance to
get another frat brother on it. for instance.
These problems were pointed out for all
to see at the last Senate meeting when
there was considerable debate as to wheth
er or not the new Senator should be se
lected before or after the vote on NSA. It
was decided he would be selected before
the vote. Then, after being selected, he pro
ceeded to give a 20-minute presentation
against NSA.
But even more apparent than these prac
tical objections, is the lack of a democratic
basis for this practice. Why should fresh
men be on a committee which narrows
down candidates for upper-class women’s
dormitory representative? Why should
sophomore ASUO Senators vote for the
graduate representative?
We would like to suggest that the ASUO
Senate, in revising the ASUO constitution
as it has said it is going to do, should con
sider recommending to the student body
changes in this process of filling Senate
vacancies.
Perhaps the runner-up in elections could
automatically fill all vacancies. This would
be more democratic, more representative
Or maybe the Senate should even consider
the idea of leaving vacancies open, with the
exception of the class presidencies and
ASUO president and vice president. This
would put more of a premium on the selec
tion of members who are likely to last' an
entire year.
In an ASUO constitution which is riddled
with loopholes, inefficiencies and inadequa
cies. the present process of filling vacancies
is one of the worst.
A Misunderstood Stand
We are somewhat disappointed with the
degree to which our editorial stand on the
possible appearance of Harry Bridges on
this campus has been misinterpreted, as
evidenced by recent letters to the editor.
We do not stand against inviting contro
versial speakers to the University, and will
support the right of Harry Bridges or any
one else to speak on this campus. We would
like to see more such speakers come here.
These feelings do not, however, change
the reality of dollars and cents, as related
to this legislative year.
We detest the, “Don't rock the boat” at
titude prevalent every legislative year as
much as anyone else. But it is also our be
lief that the way to change such an attitude
is not to fly in the face of it whenever
possible.
Letters to the Editor
On Fraternities
Emerald Editor:
For quite some time fraterni
ties have been subjected to var
ious “morality movements”.
Why it is that Greek organiza
tions are singled out as partic
ularly sinful? Perhaps too few
people are aware of the Greek
side of the picture. I am speak
ing from the viewpoint of an in
dividual fraternity member—
not for all fraternities.
Fraternities are not “anti”
anyone. It is simply that many
national organizations were
founded on the belief that clos
est brotherhood comes when
those of the group are of the
same ethnic origin. This may
not be each member’s personal
belief. However, being a nation
al organization, Brothers of the
Oregon chapter must be accept
able to any other Brother in an
other part of the country, as
well as to those who have pre
ceded us. This is respect, if
nothing*else. A person who can
not accept these circumstances
should not become a member of
such a national organization.
Rather, he should seek a group
with convictions similar to his,
or form a group of his own.
Possibly this could be the role
of local fraternities on our cam
pus, for presently the co-ops
are the only other living organi
zations founded on the concept
of brotherhood.
Certainly, no one can be justi
fied in forcing another person
to believe as he does, or even to
create a situation under which
it is impossible for an individual
or a group to hold the ideals
they see fit. I understand the
University Administration’s pol
icy is to guarantee each U of O.
farternity chapter the freedom
to pledge whoever they wish. I
respect and appreciate their con
cern, but I also respect the be
liefs of my fraternity. A waiver
is one way to solve the problem.
It grants an individual chapter
freedom to pledge as it wishes,
but is given with the trust that
the chapter still believes as the
rest of the chapters do. Is the
NAACP trying to deprive us of
the right to preserve our integ
rity?
It might be well to clarify
several points. Fraternities re
ceive no financial aid from the
University or the taxpayers of
Oregon. Persons who join a
Greek organization do so volun
tarily. Fraternities are there
fore independent, private
groups.
It is my opinion that the
impetus and responsibility for
making any necessary changes
should come from within each
private organization. I challenge
the IFC and the President’s
Council to meet the issue square
ly, and I ask non-Greeks to rec
ognize our rights.
Laurence Arnold
Junior in Architecture
* * £
Closing Their Ears
Emerald Editor:
I was surprised to see so few
professors at the lecture Thurs
day given by Robert S. Sum
mers. Professor Summers’ “Last
Lecture” was devoted to attack
I
ing the method of teaching used
by most University professors.
I wonder why the professors
did not have time to hear their
“spoon-feeding” lecture method
criticized. If their method is
correct, why were they not pres
ent to defend or attack? Are
our professors that sure that a
spoon in the student's mouth is
the correct way to teach?
Lee E. Harrell
First Year Law
If # tf
Oldest Profession
Emerald Editor:
If any male wants empirical
evidence that girls really are
illogical and confused, he has
only to observe the coming
“Women’s Week”. The theme of
the week is “Gay Nineties”, sup
posedly celebrating the accom
plishments of the turn-of-the
century feminist movement. Sus
an B. Anthony! Elizabeth Cady
Stanton! Freedom! Equality! In
dependence! Hurray!
. . . That is, until one looks
at the last, and probably best
attended function of Women's
Week—the pledge auction. Ap
parently the women of this Uni
versity are not as grateful to
the Anthonys and Stantons of
the nineties as they would have
us believe, for at the auction the
girls do as women have done, in
one way or another, for thous
ands of years—they sell them
selves to men.
Bobbye Stanley
Sophomore in Anthropol
ogy
Carole McMann
Sophomore in English
-
*■ /Wv>.N'fc>
"YOU RE HAYING MY SONG."
Letters to the Editor
Shocked Header
Emerald Editor:
Having read your Tuesday,
Jan 22. issue of the Emerald.
I must admit to a great feel
ing of shock and outrage
1 feel shock at your editorial
entitled “A Rebuttal" and out
rage at the editorial entitled
Another Greek Exemption.”
Why should I be shocked a*
the article you entitled The Re
buttal''” First, let me quote a
few sentences you have written.
You have stated that our (The
Emerald) job is to report the
news " This may be your job
but, if so, you certainly are not
icporting it very well You have
not reported any favorable news
about the Greek system this en
tire school year 1 would clas
sify this as news—why aren't
you covering it? This point ties
in with a second quote "We
would gladly have reported
something constructive about
fraternities," well, the fact is,
you will not 1 will point out
three constructive things done
by fraternities, one of which was
covered in the back pages of an
issue, but the other two com
pletely ignored. The item that
was covered was the holding
of Christmas parties for un
derprivileged children that at
least two fraternities on cam
pus held. I might add that if
the fraternities had not handed
in the articles the Emerald staff
would never have dug them
out, being too busy covering
smut concerning the Greeks.
Now, as to the other two items
that received no mention at all
One, a number of fraternities
and sororities have been donat
ing money to a professor in our
history department, to send a
Japanese student through medi
cal school. The money raised has
been enough to cover a year’s
expenses for the student. This
has been going on for a num
ber of years and, as far as I can
tell, has not been mentioned
once. But, perhaps you don't
feel that this is constructive.
Second, a fraternity volunteered
a morning's work to the Univer
sity in helping clean up branches
and other debris that the wind
storm left on the campus. Again,
no mention in the newspaper
that is supposed to be covering
the activities of our school. So
here I have mentioned three
constructive things that frater
nities have done, one receiving
little mention and the other two
none at all. And yet you say
you “report the news” and will
gladly report something con
structive about fraternities. You
say you won’t report “only good
news,” well, why don’t you try
to report something other than
the bad news?
Regarding the other half of
your editorial “Another Greek
Exemption,” I have never seen
such colored journalism in my
life You u >ed every dirty trick
you could use. Is it fair journal
ism to refer to the sorority girl
as "Moilie Mudd' Why didn't
you use the names "Moilie the
had nasty rotten apple" and
"Jane the all American college
Kill"’. You could have achieved
your objective, putting sororities
in a had light, even better.
Then you go on to represent
the sorority girl as a student
just barely making it through
college, a 2001 GI’A, and the
non sorority girl as the straight
and narrow 4 000 student If
you would check the grade list
I’m sure you will find that this
is not the case You certainly
weren't kidding when you said
you "slightly over exaggerated"
the situation But I just pick on
small points here Your major
thesis seems to he that drink
ing is another of the double
standards What, pray tell, is
your original double standard?
I certainly can’t see it
If you want to write an edito
rial on drinking you should at
least sit down and think it out.
You state that the sorority girl
gets away with coming home
drunk, and that no upper-class
women in dormitories get away
with coming in with so much as
the faint scent of one drink on
their breath. That statement is
so ridiculous that it hardly rates
consideration If you feci that
the statement is the truth then
1 feel that you have been cooped
up in your office too long and it
is about time you started getting
around campus a little.
I would like to ask one final
(Continued on piK/e 3)
OREGON DAILY EMERALD
The Oregon Daily Emerald is ptibti«b(d
seven time* »ft Septrmber ami five day* a
week •luring the school year, except dur
ing examination and vacation periods by
the Student Publication* Board of the
University of Oregon. Entered a* MCdtid
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Oregon. Subscription rates: $5 per year;
%2 per term.
Opinions expressed on the editorial page
ase those of The Emerald and do not pre
tend to represent the opinion* of tire
ASUO or the University.
RON BUEL. Editor
MARTY KLTELS, Business Manager
TED MAKAR, Managing Editor
KVKRLTTK DENNIS. Neva Editor
PH*L COGSWELL,
Kdhorial Page Editor
LARRY WILLIAMS,
Adrertising Manage!
LARRY <iRAVES, Sport* Editor
Dl LCY MORAN,
Assistant Managing Ed tor
DAVE SANDS, JIM ERA ICE,
JANET COETZF,
Assistant Nets* Editort
CEO ROE BIG II AM, Photo Editor
LI NDA BR(.' W .V, Entertainrr ent Editor
RON COWAN, CATHY NE IDLE,
THOR A WILLIAM! ,
Associate News Ed'tot »
EDITORIAL BOARD:
Ron Duel, Phil Cogswell, fed Maliar
E erette Dennis, Dav« Sands
I nicy Moran. Linda frown
Bob Forsyth
Gra it Ledger wood Dor a Raimi
Jan t Gcetze, and F ill II itchison