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THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
Friday, February 25, 1949
J Jul 0aih VkJbhaAkatv
Membd
Intercollegiate Press
rom-8KVENTB f BAB
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EDITORIAL.
ttdltor Norm IVgcr
Maaaclac Editors Cab Clem,
Frlti Simpson
News Editors. . .Louise MrDIII, Souk) Koed,
M. J. Mejirk, Gene Berg, Brace Kennedy
BUSINESS.
Business Manager Inr Dirwn
assistant Baslcns Maaagers. Merle Htaldrr,
Rob AxteU, Keith O'Hannoa
rirenlatloa Manager Al Ahramsoa
Mr.ht News KdHor Brace Kennedy
eel Jhe
The Greeks and Dean Thompson
A point made yesterday in one of the columns of The Daily
Nebraskan is in need of re-emphasis. That is the "popular miscon
ception" that Dean Thompson is "down on Greeks."
We learned from a conversation with the Dean that the idea
of his being "down on Greeks" is a misconception. The misconeep
tion stems, of course, from the Dean's disapproval of the present
political situation which exists on campus. Interested students must
grasp the concept that one may be strongly opposed to faction politics
that is, fraternities banding together and agreeing upon candidates
before campus elections are held and be strongly in favor of the
fraternity system a the same time.
Unless we grossly misinterpreted our conversation with the
Dean, we are of the impression that the Dean feels as we do:
that the system of organized houses provides excellent training
for its members in many ways. One, it affords its members train
ing in social adaptability. Two, it renders its members a valuable
service in giving them the responsibility of looking after their own
affairs: striving for harmonious relations among themselves, learn
ing to keep their finances in the black, and discussing and solving
in a democratic fashion the problems which confront the organizations.
From a psychological viewpoint, the system of organized houses
is sound in that it gives to its members a sense of belonging, which
is not so easily obtainable when one must live apart from his fellow
students. The organized house can prove of value in an informal
academic way by bringing students together where they may discuss
not only principles and problems brought out in the classroom but
current controversial issues on a local, national and international
scale as well. From our own experience, we can say our thinking
on the subject of religion has been stimulated far more by outside
discussions than by anything we have picked up in the classroom.
Students need and, should t-2 exposed to the thinking of other
students. The organized house helps to fulfill this need.
In no way do we mean to infer that students not living in
organized houses are deprived of the above advantages. These
same ends can be and are reached in many ether ways. There are
religious groups, literary societies, rooming houses, departmental
clubs and organizations and numerous unorganized groups of stu
dent friends which serve these same ends. Our point is that
organized houses, too, serve in these same ways the welfare of
the students and therefore are entitled to a place on campus.
The question arises, "what lies behind Dean Thompson's dis
approval of 'faction activities'?" and "what is meant in the Student
Council's being charged with 'political corruption'?" Our answer
is that it does not mean that Dean Thompson or anyone else in the
administration is seeking to eliminate the Greeks and the system
of organized houses from campus. It does mean that the adminis
tration, not just Dean Thompson alone, feels that student life is
not at its best when the Student Council and other activities are
predominantly made up of Greeks, who are in a minority on the
campus. The administration says that such predomination prevents
the Council from being truly representative.
(Council
Another Teacher's College rep
resentative to the Student Coun
cil is Pat Black. She is a junior,
serving her first year on the
Council.
Miss Black is a member of the
rally committee. This group, in
co-operation with representatives
from Corn Cobs,
Tassels and the
Yell King, plans
all football ral-
lies.
She is also a
member of a t
new committee
which is inves
tigating enlarg
ing campus pep ?
organi z a t i o n
large enough to .''
fill the card
section. Pat Black
In addition to her duties in
Council Miss Black is a member
of the WAA sports board. Tassels
and secretary of Alpha Xi Delta.
Graduate College has one rep
resentative on the student Coun
cil. He is Rod Franklin.
Franklin is
-J,
Dear Editor:
I'd like to tender a nomination now for Nebraska U's "Biggest
Crow Eater." We all excuse honest mistakes, but it seems as if one
of your columnists has a propensity for spouting first and looking
afterwards.
Every columnist has the right of "fair comment" but it's be
coming increasingly evident that one of your staff member's remarks
tend to the unfair, Drew Pearsonish, side. How about toning down
the enthusiasm and misplaced sincerity for a few facts, in a little
more journalistic tradition?
After all, any student on this campus could write if they went
off the deep end. We expect superior reporting and the factual, even
by the "little tin gods" of ye columns.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Schneider.
Klllor's ante: Thanks to Mfan Schneider for her first contribution to nnr
I.HT1 1.KII' column since laat February. At flint time, waea the beat was aa Ns,
she made the observation that 'Krd doesn't Mend too well with green." As to todnv s
letter, we must atk Miss Schaelder to be more specific a to the staff members;
the crow-ajipctite is known ts many In our office. Lastly, the grammatical error In
the third paragraph, first sentence, Is Miss Schneider's, aa oars. We believe in placing
credit where II l doe.)
WmmtMXm9
Rod Franklin
serving his third
year as a Coun
cil member. He
was a senior
holdover mem
ber last year.
He is a for
mer member of
Innocents, past
president of In-
terfra t e r ni t y
Council and a
member of
Kappa Sigma
Dear Editor:
One of the reasons offeredfor
the republican defeat in the elec
tion of 1948 was "the failure of
many party members to get out
and vote." If this statement is
true, if there are more people in
the United States who express
the republican point of view than
the view of the democrats, then
the whole nation is now under a
"minority control." This minor-
: ( ;
JAOJ7L UtSL
Jhont (paqsL .
BY Bruce Kennedy
TRUMAN'S strong language re
ceived both criticism and a large
news play yesterday. The chair
man of International Council of
Christian Churches asked for an
apology in what he termed "an
offence against Christian people."
But Truman asserted Friday that
the language suited him, and no
denial or retraction would be
given.
THE ENDING of Israel and
Egypt warfare seemed to indicate
an early return of peace to the
Middle East. Praise was given to
UN Mediator Ralph Bunche for
his part in the negotiations. Sim
ilar pacts with Israel and other
Arab states are expected to be
negotiated soon.
THINGS just aren't going right
for Dr. Anna Strong. The ex-Ne-braskan
was ousted from Russia
on spy charges. Now the FBI sub
poenaed her to appear before the
Federal grand jury probing com
munism. Will Anna be deported
again?
THE BERLIN Airlift set an
other record Wednesday as Rus
sian soldiers celebrated the 31st
birthday of the Red Army. A to
tal of 905 flights in 24 hours ex
ceeded the mark set the day be
fore. Since June 26, 1,021,271 tons
of supplies have been flown into
Berlin.
Questions rf "why is there such a predomination of Greeks
in activities?", "why isn't there any Barb representation on the
Council?" and "what can be done to achieve the administration's
want a truly representative Council?" are Questions which we will
discuss editorially in the next few days. We hope that others,
too, will discuss these questions in our Letterip column.
Today's point is thus: the upstart in campus politics should not
be interpreted as an attempt to eliminate the Greek system from
campus. The upstart does call for a change of some kind none
yet offered by the administration in the make-up of the Student
Council and other activities.
iy control objection is now being
used to discredit the student coun
cil and other campus activities
that are administered by elected
officials.
Dean Thompson used the word
"coercion" to describe the way in
which most of the students are
elected to responsible positions.
Coercion means to "restrain by
force, by law, or by authority; to
repress or to curb." Is it coercion
to accept the responsibility of
campus elections? Is it coercion
to have a miniature "political
convention" for the purpose of
selecting the best candidates for
a given job? Finally, is it coer
cion to have a following interested
enough to adhere to the sugges
tions of that political convention
If this is coercion, then our whole
American political system is the
victim of coercionists.
The dean goes on to say that "it
too bad that if you want to get
ahead, you must have the bless
ing of the faction. It is too bad
that the "blessing of the faction"
is the only reason for the sur
vival of most of the student ac
tivities on the campus today. The
faculty has "been waiting for the
reform to come from the students,
but if it does not come it will
come from the faculty." This
thought is exactly what the un
affiliated students on the campus
have been waiting for. They lack
the organization, the initiative,
but not the numbers necessary to
put the reform into effect. Yet
if the faculty is bent on taking
the reform into their own hands,
it will deliberately destroy th
only organization and initiative
laft on the campus.
The group that rets things ac
complished, no matter how small
they are. should get the reward of
representation. If the faculty
moves to destroy the faction, they
will also destroy the life-line of
many rampus activities solely de
pendent upon Greek support.
WILLIAM F. CAMPBELL
A Disinterested Spectator.
Don't Forget Today is The Deadline
CORNHUSKER
u
Cobs & Tassels Have 'em. Get 'em now!