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‘Student Leaders Conference
Gave Broadening Experience’
ASUO President Phil Sher
burne discusses his experi
ences at the student body
presidents’ conference at Chi
cago last weekend. The con
ference was in preparation
for the summer Congress of
the United States National
Student Association.
The critics of USNSA on this
campus should take cognizance
of the receptiveness of the na
tional officers of NSA to make
certain changes in NSA consid
erations.
Individuals on this campus
have suggested that one Nation
al Executive Committee has had
much of the actual power of
USNSA. It was contended that
this small group could make
decisions on issues as represent
ing NSA. The National Execu
tive Committee has recommend
ed that their legislative powers
be removed and that the NEC be
only an administrative body.
The national officers showed
genuine concern for the lack of
emphasis placed on issues re
lating to students in their role
as students. Consensus was
reached on this point with the
discussion turning to means of
achieving considerations on pro
grams and problems of student
concern. This was a very en
couraging note in reward to the
future benefit of USNSA on this
campus and in its contribution
to student problems in the
United States.
Discussion also centered on
the finances of USNSA with
Dennis Shaul, president, report
ing that the total budget for
NSA is about $500,000 while the
organization leaving good suc
cess in obtaining foundation
grants. The national officers
feel that it may be possible to
discontinue the membership
dues paid by the schools.
Travel rebates will also be
given to delegates from schools
who come a considerable dis
tance to the congress. The Uni
versity will receive approximate
ly $30 per delegate in rebates.
The cost to the University for
OREGON DAILY EMERALD
The Oregon Daily Emerald is published
seven times in September and five days a
week during the school year, except dur
ing examination and vacation periods by
the Student Publications Board of the
University of Oregon. Entered as second
class matter at the post office., Eugene,
Oregon. Subscription rates: $5 per year;
$2 per term.
Opinions expressed on the editorial page
are those of The Emerald and do not pre
tend to represent the opinions of the
ASUO or the University.
EVERETTE DENNIS, Editor
LARRY WILLIAMS
Business Manager
NS A will not be as great as had
been anticipated.
There were students from
Massachusetts, Florida, Kansas,
Illinois, New York, California,
Tennessee. North Carolina, Wis
consin, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas,
Iowa and Oregon in attendance
at the conference held in Chi
cago this past weekend where
these previous considerations
were brought forth.
The conference was extremely
beneficial for me in providing
an opportunity to meet with stu
dents from very different
schools and who have different
experiences with student gov
ernment.
Several suggestions on stu
dent government programs were
exchanged in addition to the
discussion on USNSA. A number
of the schools were very inter
ested in our program with the
state legislature working to
adopt a similar program on their
own campuses.
I found that the University
of North Carolina students
handle all disciplinary prob
lems, a student court having
the authority to expell or sus
pend students. I found other
schools whose senates or legis
lative assemblies have complete
budgetary control over student
funds and others who have en
gaged in extensive overseas
study programs.
With this kind of information
exchanged with such limits on
the number of persons involved
and time available as existed
this past weekend, I look for
ward to a very successful and
rewarding conference this sum
mer. The conference will pro
vide a seldom-found opportun
ity for students from the Uni
versity to participate with stu
dents from all over the United
States in the discussion of cer
tain programs and problems.
They will hear government per
sonnel, business leaders, college
administrators, and special in
terest groups in subcommittee
hearings on a particular issue.
So it should be a very broad
ening experience for these stu
dents.
Following the conference the
delegates will have an opportun
ity to begin working on projects
on this campus as a pioneering
group. For students who can
possibly afford the two weeks—
August 14-28—and have an in
terest in student programs
should take this opportunity to
have a rather unique experi
ence, we will accept petitions
for USNSA delegates until 5
p.m. Monday, May 20, with the
election being held May 27 and
28.
Discipline Recommendation
Faculty Proposals Would Allign Student Life
With the Goals of tlx University
In approving the amended motion on
student discipline last week the University
faculty has voiced confidence in the in
dependence and maturity of students. The
faculty action is an important milestone in
aligning the student discipline system with
the goals of the University. It is also a clear
rejection of the in loco parentis approach
which has traditionally governed the dis
cipline system.
The faculty action can be interpreted as
a victory for those who support the phil
osophy of the majority report, which was
issued several weeks ago by the Student
Discipline Committee. President Flemming
will use the report as guidelines in re
writing the University’s outdated discipline
code and in setting up a new student-fac
ulty committee to review the administration
of discipline. Especially encouraging is the
faculty’s recognition that “in the formula
tion and administration of rules and con
duct . . . the primary guiding principle
should be the fulfillment of the most es
sential funtions of a university, which are
intellectual development . . . and the ad
vancement of knowledge.”
The faculty motion sets down five recom
mendations which in most cases are the
same or very similar to those of the orig
inal majority report.
• Recommendation No. 1 says “when
student conduct directly and significantly
interferes with the basic purposes of the
University, the University appropriately
may impose disciplinary sanctions.” The
only significant weakness in this proposal
is that the goals of the University as laid
down in the majority report recommenda
tion are omitted. They are mentioned in
the preface to the motion, however.
• The second recommendation is ab
solutely the same as the second recommen
dation of the majority report. “The Uni
versity should distinguish its proper dis
ciplinary responsibilities from the control
functions of the larger community. This
means that the student should be directly
answerable to the community for violations
of its required code of conduct. The Univer
sity in turn should exercise its disciplinary
powers only when the student’s conduct
directly and significantly interferes with
the accomplishment of the University’s
goals.” This recommendation, we believe,
will assure equal treatment for all students
and will give them neither an advantage
nor a disadvantage over their counterparts
outside the University. The present dual
jurisdiction under which a student may be
punished by both the civil and University
authorities will no longer exist.
• Only a change in the wording from a
negative to a positive approach is added to
the third recommendation. This recommen
dation says that the “approach to the reg
ulation of student conduct should be based
on the premise that the development of
responsible behavior is most effectively
realized by policies that encourage inde
pendence and maturity.”
• The fourth recommendation is a
strong statement which makes it clear that
“the conduct of female students should
not impose greater restraints than those
that apply to the conduct of male students
. . . ” The wording of this recommendation
is changed, but it appears strengthened
over the majority report’s proposal. An ad
dition stating that “in the imposition of
sanctions affecting the conduct of male and
female students general principles of equity
should be recognized.”
• In Recommendation No. 5 the faculty
stated “actions taken by the Office of Stu
dent Affairs in its administration of the
(discipline) code should be subject to re
view by the Student Discipline Committee
or a specially constituted student-faculty
committee. When representatives of the
Office of Student Affairs impose the sanc
tions of expulsion, suspension, blocked reg
istration, or “informal” request that a stu
dent leave the University, an appeal to the
student-faculty committee should be avail
able on the initiative of the student or of
the committee. The student should have
the right of lay counsel.” Two changes from
the majority report are evident in this rec
ommendation. First, the majority report
said that appeal should be “automatic”
while the revised motion says “available”.
Most encouraging is the addition of a pro
vision for a member of the faculty to act as
lay counsel. This adds teeth to the majority
recommendations.
It is important to recognize that the fac
ulty discipline motion shows concern that
students be concerned with moral respon
sibilities, but indicates that codes and sets
of rules are not the method by which these
should be developed. We believe that the
performance of the University as an insti
tution which develops rational thinkers will
contribute more to the moral growth of in
dividuals than strict rules and regulations
ever could. We commend the faculty for
the progressive motion which has emerged
from their study. The next year will see the
development of a new liberal discipline
code which will relax some of the present
rules but will also call for greater respon
sibility in other areas. We envision a new
system under which the objectives of the
University will carry through to both the
classroom and student life.
Rebuttal to Mrs Pbetteplace
Voting Record, Educational Records
Of Negroes Not So, Says Southerner
Emerald Editor:
I am not aware of Mrs. Phete
place’s competence to speak on
race affairs in the Southern
U.S. Political convictions often
lead a person into an area
where his or her knowledge is
decidedly slim.
I have lived the greater part
of my life in the South and
would like to offer a few rebut
tals, based on facts, which I
lived with for a good many
years. First, Negro schools, be
they elementary, secondary or
college-level, are not equal to
white schools in North Carolina,
South Carolina, Virginia, Geor
gia, Tennessee or Alabama. I
can’t see any reason why the
state of Mississippi would offer
any change in this pattern, since
it is the poorest and most back
ward state in the South. Second
ly, the opportunities after gradu
ation are even slimmer.
AS FAR as the voting record
goes, if the records be examined,
I think Negroes would show a
higher percentage than white
southerners of similar economic
level. I think it is a shabby
thing indeed to palm off the
aspirations of millions of Ne
groes to be treated as human
beings as a political maneuver
only. The concept of American
individualism and democracy
falls pretty short when used to
justify social repression of eth
nic groups.
I have no addresses where
pamphlets can be had, and I
support no political dogma. But
if anyone would verify the many
opinions on the South, all he, or
she, has to do is go there and
see for himself. The truth is as
plain as mud (or something
worse).
Michael A. Foster
Junior, Slavic
Languages
from Greensboro, N.C.