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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1964)
Dorm Life: Educational Aspects Educational Opportunities in Dormitories Prorule a Rise for Active Student Life Years ago when dormitories were first organized at the University we are told that they were cold, austere places designed for individuals who wanted to escape the chal lenges of group life. But over the years a different kind of dormitory system has grown up. Students no longer live in dormi tories for the purpose of escape. In fact, the off-campus life can be a more condusive study atmosphere for those who do not want the bustling activities of an organized liv ing group to interfere with their academic pursuits. Upperclass students now live in dormitories for other reasons. The closeness to the campus, stable living conditions and regular meals all at a cost slightly less than Greek letter living groups have been cited as reasons. Freshmen of course are required to live in the dormitories during their first year. These factors and others have given dormitories an active participating role in student life. The reaction of outraged umega Han residents last week when they were abruptly transferred to other dormitories illustrates that dormitories have become something more than a place to hang one's hat and coat. Much of the credit for the new outlook among dormitory residents goes to the Dor mitory Social Educational program which was established a year ago. Mrs. Marjorie Ramey directs the program. Th~e program presently has four central areas of concern. They are (1) faculty sponsors. (2) cultural programs, (3) scholarship programs and (4) social programs. The program provides an organizational base for student life within the dormitory. Dormitories, once void of intellectual life, have had discussions stimulated by faculty sponsors. Each dormitory now has a faculty sponsor who occasionally eats meals with the hall residents and is available on other occasions. The faculty sponsor program not only provides better student-faculty under standing, but also a meaningful dialogue on issues of the day or the faculty member’s special area of interest. Cultural programs established in the units provide films and speakers. Topics have varied from esoteric intellectual inter ests to exteremely pragmatic ‘how to do it’ speeches by stock brokers and travel agents. Some dormitories have set up series of lec tures and panel discussions on such topics as comparative religions and international travel. Several volumes for pleasure read ing have also been placed in each living unit as starter sets for dormitory libraries and a reference library for all dormitory residents has been set up in Dunn Hall. A dormitory scholarship program has also been started with a scholarship chair man in each unit. After the first term some units are planning to set up tutoring sys tems to aid individual students. A number of informal seminar sessions operate from time to time when numbers of students ex press a desire to discuss the content of a particular course prior to examinations. Social activities are much the same as they have been over the last few years. Firesides, house dances and occasional teas are held. We believe that these new activities in dormitories are a progressive first step. We are hopeful that dormitory officials in charge of the educational programs will re ceive the support of student groups which could make positive contribution to educa tional program objectives. The campus Na tional Student Association which has ma terial for seminars on national and interna tional affairs is one that should step forward to offer its services to strengthen this posi tive new aspect of dorimtory life. Cocktail-Party Boy Meets Wallace Wrath Alabama Governor George C. Wallace who speaks at the University today once noted at a news conference that when a man becomes identified with one cause the public is often likely to forget that he has other convictions and stands for other things. Integration isn’t the only thing that Wallace opposes. From time to time liquor has also met the wrath of his words. An example is this selection from his inaugural address: “I have said to you that I would eliminate the liquor agents in this state and that the money saved would be returned to our citi zens ... I am happy to report to you that I am now filling orders for several hundred one-way tickets and stamped on them are these words . . . for liquor agents . . . des tination ... out of Alabama.’ I am happy to report to you that the big-wheeling cocktail party boys have gotten the word that their free whiskey and boat rides are over . . . that the farmer in the field, the worker in the factory, the businessman in his office, the housewife in her home, have decided that the money can be better spent to help our children’s education and our older citi zens . . . and they have put a man in office to see that it is done. It shall be done. Let me say one more time ... no more liquor drinking in your governor’s mansion.” Letters to the Editor■ Co-op Sought Inspection Emerald Editor: There is no mystery involved in the closure of the College Side Inn. It is a result of the Co-op management’s having “Asked the advice” of the build ing inspector’s office. This was made clear by Mr. Barker, Act ing Superintendent of Building OREGON DAILY EMERALD The Oregon Daily Emerald is published twice in September and five days a week during the academic year, except during ex amination and vacation periods by the Stu dent Publications Board of the University of Oregon. Entered as second class matter at / the post office, Eugene, Oregou. Subscrip tion 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 opinion of the ASUO or the University. EVERETTE DENNIS, Editor JIM SPEER, Business Manager JANET COETZE, Managing Editor MARIE FORRESTER, Advertising Manager RON COWAN, News Editor DOUG RAGEN, Editorial Page Editor CATHY NEVILLE, Academic Affairs Editor Inspection for the City of Eu gene. Until they called us in, Mr. Barker said, we were not aware of any code violations in the Col lege Side. Once the need for re pair was pointed out to us, we felt we could not turn our backs on it. The Co-op (Manager Hen son, and Board) have neglected to make the needed repairs and so we have found it necessary to issue the threat of an abatement action. This is what has happened as Mr. Barker described it. Group for the Preservation of The Willcox Building Names available on request * * * Opposition to Wallace Emerald Editor: A front page article in yes terday’s Eugene Register-Guard observed that Gov. Wallace has been a first-rate governor in many ways outside the area of civil rights. It mentioned a num ber of “bread and butter liberal” programs instituted under the Wallace regime. Yet it takes no great heap of imagination to acknowledge that Hitler and Stalin had also instituted pro grams of this nature. Mussolini, too, was long admired by many for making the trains run on time. Do we admire Hitler, Stal in, and Mussolini, totalitarians, on such weak grounds as these or do we condemn them as geno cidic murderers? In light of events in Alabama, how may we judge Gov. Wallace? The ASUO has seen fit to offer Wallace the University platform. We of CORE welcome his appearance because it is our belief that the governor will discredit himself and his cause far more effectively than could any other individual or group. We welcome his appearance be cause it offers us the opportunity to forcefully demonstrate that there can be dialogue between Wallace and those concerned about basic human dignity and Herblock i I'll Huff And I'll Puff And I’ll Blow Myself Down Sophomore President Reportr wmmmmmmmmm Many University Traditions Outmoded and Inappropriate Whether Oregon's traditional Homecoming activities still apply to the modern college life and accomplish any purpose has been the topic of considerable discussion. In this column Tom Bates, sophomore class president, reviews traditions and makes recom mendations for next year's sophomores who will handle the annual program. —Eds. By TOM BATES Sophomore Class President The 1903 Homecoming Committee has had an opportunity to evaluate the traditions and activities of Homecoming Week and would recommend several important changes to next year’s sopho more class. The most important change we could recommend is a change in attitude. We believe that no future Homecoming committee should feel bound to certain “traditions," which have been out moded by the progressively changing atmosphere of the University. Homecoming activities should bo continued on the basis of merit, and we have found in our own program activities of little merit, and traditional only for past traditions committees. The “decoration of the senior bench” is one of these Another, “kangaroo court," stirs up so much unrest among campus intellects that whatever color it does add to the week is not enough to com pensate. “Hello Walk" is pleasant in title but of little value in practice. The “scrubbing of the seal” is no more traditional than the others, since no one turns out to watch it, and no one would miss it if it were discontinued. It is perhaps more of a tradition for nonconformists to sit on the seal. However, the scrubbing of the seal receives good newspaper coverage as a novelty and should be continued on that basis. Besides, the seal needs a good scrubbing once a year. To distinguish Homecoming Week from the rest of the term activities are needed which bring students together. This year we sponsored a Tug-of-War, Keg Hunt, and Keg Hunters’ Ball, which were well-attended. We recognize that such activities sound trivial, but they are, never the less, of value in promoting spirit and adding color to the week. These activities are by no means traditional, and better ones can undoubtedly be found. To this end we are writing to other universities in search of ideas. The rally parade, bonfire, and dance on Friday night, and the Saturday night concert and dance have proved their merit in the past, and all indications were that this year’s would have been highly successful. Something needs to be done to make Homecoming more mean ingful to the alumni. This year we had planned an alum-faculty coffee hour, a luncheon, and open house, as well as the Victor Borge concert. We think these would have been successful activities, but something should be done to make alumni aware of changes that have taken place within the university. We suggest that a popular lecture could be given Saturday morning, possibly incor porated with the luncheon. A comparison and contrast talk by someone familiar with the Old Campus would familiarize the alumni with the present University while awakening students to its past history. This lecture, combined with the lighter kind of Homecoming activities, would make students aware of the real tradition within the University—not seal-scrubbing or bench dec orating—but the tradition found in the University’s history as a place of learning. rights because the issue can not be segregation vs. integration. Segregation can no longer be considered a legitimate alterna tive by people with ethical prin ciples. We have repeatedly been told to be courteous to our guest when it is the moral obligation of those who believe in tradition al American values to be angry and to protest all that he sym bolizes. Many of fho events that we have experienced this past week while setting up our program for today have clearly revealed the timidity of the mood in Eu gene since the assassination. It would be tragic if this mood were prevalent throughout the nation because it implies the destruction of democratic val ues. Gov. Wallace’s advance men have thoroughly capitalized up (Con tinued on page 3)
