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)