Poos 2
THE NEBRASKAN
Friday, March 9, 1955
Nebraskan Editorials:
halleucje To Fraternities
Fraternities at the University of Nebraska may
be experiencing their first challenge from that
numerous and nebulous group called the inde
pendents. Recent scholarship reports might herald the
beginning of worry and a new era. While the
combined average of fraternities dropped, the
grade average of men's co-ops and Selleck Quad
rangle raised. If Cornhusker Co-op and Gus
tavson House H, the leaders of the two divisions,
had been placed within the fraternity ratings,
they would have rated sixth and eighth respec
tively. The average of the leading house in
Selleck Quad was boosted by J15 and the lead
ing house average of the Men's Co-ops was in
creased oy the respectable percentage .379.
The cuttiiJined fraternity average of 24 groups
dropped .080 as compared with last semester's
average. The lowest average on record this
semester was recorded by a fraternity.
Looking on the brighter side, fraternity men
may still fall back on the actual averages of
fraternities and independents. The All fraternity
average is 5.409 and the combined average of
Selleck Quad and the co-ops is approximately
5.260 a difference of .149. If fraternities had had
accurate scholarship rolls in all cases the dif
ference might have been less, however. Inde
pendent houses dont have repledges or inactive
members.
Few fraternities can equal the actual physical
facilities of Selleck Quadrangle, but most can
better the food. Not many fraternities can
match the housebill for the dorm, but they all
possess such things as fellowship and prestige
which are intangible and inestimable as to
worth.
AH the things which fraternities extol as com
mon only to their Greek organizations, however,
are meaningless if the purpose of University life
is defeated. No matter how green an incoming
freshman might be, it is very doubtful that he
would join a mystic group which has a mediocre
record in scholarship and the promise of fun
and games which hardly can be termed as
academic exercise.
The hour comes, and it is very likely that it
is here now, when fraternities should re-examine
their position on scholarship. At a university,
scholarship is decidedly a virtue and if fraterni
ties are to remain a part of University life at
Nebraska, it is imperative that scholarship
becomes a year around concern starting
now. SJ.
A Successful VJeek
Religious Emphasis Week for 1956 has come to
an end. Nine speakers from across the nation
have spoken to an undetermined number of
students in seminars, addresses and "bull
sessions" in the organized houses.
All this was accomplished in five days, from
Sunday to Thursday, after months of planning
by various committees, all under the auspices
of the City Campus Religious Council.
And from a number of angles, it was a success.
First, REW almost reached its goal of reach
ing eery student on the campus. True, there
were probably a large number of students who
did not actually attend a seminar or a lecture,
or who missed out on the informal discussions.
But there scarcely could be any students who
did not realize that Religious Emphasis Week
was taking place on the campus, and that his
fellow students were taking part in it and talk
ing about it
Even if an individual student did not take
part, he very likely found himself in the middle
of a private discussion prompted by what some
one else picked up in REW.
The most effective way of contacting the
students was through the informal discussions
held in the organized houses. Here students
could sit down with the speakers and hash out
their questions in an informal, unembarrasing
manner. Students who would never think of at
tending an organized lecture or seminar found
themselves drawn into these informal sessions.
The sort of contact with religion afforded by
Religiouw Emphasis Week does not produce con
verts. There is no attempt to win the individual
over to the ways of one creed or faith. It does
produce cognisance of the concern of religious
men for the university student
By talking with these men, and listening to
their beliefs and the beliefs of their particular
faiths, students could perhaps find something
that explained their own beliefs, or lack of them.
By realizing that men of good faith have interest
in the religious life of the student, a new interest
in spiritual matters might be roused in this
student.
Religious Emphasis Week has ended, for this
year. Enough student interest in it was aroused
to warrant it being continued. This, however, is
not important.
The important thing is that University students,
by realizing that religion can hold something for
them, and that others are interested in their
problems, might find a way leading out of the
maze in which modern man so often finds
himself. F.TJ).
Indications Of Success
With a flurry of banners and back-room
caucuses, the Mock Political Convention will
invade the campus next week. All indications
seem to point to a hugely successful meeting of
genuinely interested students.
NUCWA, sponsoring organization with the
Student Council, should be congratulated for
bringing the opportunity to University students.
NUCWA leaders and the group's adviser, James
Harrison, received only discouraging comments
when they began work on the idea some months
ago.
Harrison said he had been told he would get
only twenty students at such a meeting, if that
many. At present, over 400 students are on
delegation lists, and not all delegations have
been taken.
The convention itself is a healthy sign of po
litical activity on the campus for students who
will soon compose the country's electorate. It is
an opportunity for students to learn the ins
arid outs of the complicated American political
system and how it functions to formulate some
of the policies which will result in law.
Politics is not a dull, academic concern and it
is more than black cigars and baby-kissing. They
should be regarded as free exchange of opinion
on policy and a compromise intended to work
the most benefit for the most people.
Political matters cannot be ignored by citi
zens. They crop out in everything from higher
taxes on a national level to zoning ordinances.
Politics are the backbone of society; Law pre
supposes politics in this political system and law
is the cohesive force of society.
It is the purpose of NUCWA to encourage po
litical awareness on the University campus. This
is a laudable motive and the Convention is a
much more effective device than NUCWA 's pre
vious mock United Nations assemblies.
The Nebraskan hopes that NUCWA will con
tinue to give the campus such opportunities as
this one. The group is to be commended for its
effort and renewed vigor.
The Nebraskan also urges that as many stu
dents as possible attend the sessions. They will
be more colorful, exciting and different than
the daily coffee hour. They might be more
profitable too, J.B.
enhiskered Tradition
AH colleges have traditions. This is an estab
lished fact. No self-respecting school would
dare open its doors to .prospective students
without a few traditions and legends hanging
around.
The University of .Nebraska, although some
times a little sun-bleached from the prairie sun,
has managed to build up a few traditions itself,
and displays these with the proper amount of
pride and enthusiasm.
One of these is the annual Whisker King con
test, which opens next Monday, and closes May
13 during the Farmers Fair. To qualify, a male
student must present his clean-shaven face when
he turns in his application. Contestants are
judged for fullness, texture and originality.
All in all it is a fine tradition, well suited for
our agricultural state, and to the Farmers Fair.
Although modern Nebraska farmers are seldom
seen with whisker-feated chins, their sons seem
to have a line old time growing beards every
spring.
"The reasons for a healthy young male grow
ing a beard in the springtime are a little ob
scure, however. Aside from the personal pres
tige sained from having the most whiskers on
the campus and in pushing the Farmers Fair,
there doesn't seem to be much else in favor of
the idea.
Some habitual woman-haters might like the
idea, or those who have just broken up with a
"true love" and wish to hide their broken hearts
behind three inches of bristle.
There also may be certain advantages in grow
ing a beard if one was hiding from the Federal
authorities, or trying to keep from paying a
housebill.
The main disadvantage is in the thwarting of
most amorous endeavors during the period in
which the beard is flowering into full maturity.
As one time-honored young maiden said, long
ago: "It tickles!" F.TJD.
Afterthoughts
Amazing Medium
Advertising is an amazing medium. Even at
fhe University, hard-hitting, bright-eyed pub
licity chairmen have learned to hold their
fingers to the student pulse.
A new poster in the Union begins:
"MARTINIS are not what we are interested
in, but now that we have, your attention ..
It was accompanied by a picture of the big
gest and driest martini to hit this compus in
years.
The Mebroskcn
FIFTY-FIVE YEARS OLD . mm to be printed. February R. lmn
Kntarad mm aaewnd alnaa matter at tan pout ofllea hi
ElCTUbcr: Associated Collegiate Press Wacom, Hum, im Mt nt Auut , ion.
intercollegiate Pre.. E,1Ujr EMTOMAI. ETAJT
JSsfjresentative: National Advertising Service, kaiuium icntr "..!.!....... ihiit
Incorporated Maaln (ulltar . ...... . am Jiuhk
published at: Room 2, gtnoeat unio ?Sl?:r:":::::::r:::rMi'&l!!SS
11th it. K IHWt JUIIlaaj . ........ LiMldnHMt nn-IUar. Monroe ltnr,
., , . . T , Barbara Wwm, Hub "ok
University of Nebraska wiht w editor hoi ;h
Lincoln, wewrasKa Ni?raKan t writ mh
Th Wtikn I rtiHihn TMwfay, W an HH..iv, arteiia Hrliak, Omthla Khan, Watt Ulrrre.
ttntli t: iti . (Inrl.i mcntluM tuvnnmnt l.lnrta Irrv , Moll inland, I'm Tntroa, Naimr
-mm prnmH, d na (aaaa In pm.l'l during- ltiii. Maflann Thygaaan, Hani Atoxamltar, lat
n-z.-nni atwimiM of the lin.lJf of Khrk miliar Irraua, Diana Karmond, Alyae httUihtmu, Hob Win,
na iMJOmrfwiiom of Mm t;oMmlM an Mtu.l-nt Aflnlra (motm Horn and Well raleoaar.
an wmn-MMtaai t atwtont mnmi.wi. rawiimlm amiar tibttt"!o on m
ttm r'im trt Mte n!awimUt-a tm Mmrftrt P1IKII- X i; C liN 1. S 3 BlA.tr
toa hiul I fr from .adlorial .nnr.i on nHaM MatMMrar Gwrrm iiaoMn
Hit f M(.-.nmiitta. rr an Um part at aw . .. . . ... ...
ttm 'i of tna i.nirijr, an tua part of any " ""'' T iT ' "'"""r";
... Hit Nn fnlTrltv. 1M mmttimn of tna trtaMta Hum, Van UmtU
.ii.nt-.Mun ara wnmmlisr tmihhm!om tar want Mm SHvmatttaa Manatar t ............. ... mabmtt KmUttx
Little man on campus
by Dick Bi'bler
'ttOfctOL TOJ PREP-HE'S A flXI W XtU
f2
)
intellectual 'Type1
Bluffs Criticism
By CORBAN LePELL
Much of the painting that is
being done today is unintelligible
for the lBy gallery goer who trav
els the gallery halls infrequently,
cannot expect to be familiar with
all the many specialized fields
which surround him in his society.
Art is specialized as are many
other fields of today, but the lay
gallery goer tries to afford himself
tne luxury of being an able art
critic.
The man who affords himself this
false luxury must feel he under
stands the problems, motives, de
sires and needs of the contempor
ary artist. The man who boasts of
possession such a luxury is a fool.
The product of a modern artist
is of a personal nature. Modern
painting has certainly reduced its
audience from the days of the
Barbizon School of pretty landscape
painting. Today painting has an
extremely esoteric range.
It is rarely conceivable that the
University intellectual wo u 1 d
think of himself as being excluded
from that esotreic group. He can
bluff his way through art history
and then with all profoundness
nay, '"I've discovered Velasquez.
This intellectual Type is always
lacking superficialities on to con
temporary painting.
He talks of art as philosophy, so
ciology and grass culling, but
never art as art. The University
Intellectual is always explaining
art to the people he is trying to
impress. This God-Act makes him
feel superior. There are no words
which can replace vision, but this
Type tries to do just that.
The Type also tries to explicate
music in terms of social enigma,
giving intellectual meaning, or a
message, importance greater than
that of aural expression. From him
expression built upon relationships
The Image
Nebraskan Leiterip
Union Chapel Nof Constitutional
The City Campus Religious Coun
cil petition proposing the inclusion
of a chapel or meditation room in
the new Union, and The Nebras
kan editorial ("A Logical Follow
Through") supporting it, are ex
amples of some of the least logical
thinking I have ever seen in the
Nebraskan.
The writer of the editorial tries
to differentiate between "church"
and "religion" in a manner not
very acceptable to either the re
ligious man or the adherent of our
national and state consitutions. .
The concept of the separation of
church and state is more than
"traditional and it cannot be cir
cumvented by omission of the
word "church."
The United States Constitution
prohibits "an establishment of re
ligion. Where does that leave the
proposed chapel which is to be
"identified with religion itself"?
The language of the petition is
just vague enough to make it en
ticing to prospective signers. "The
Student Union is to serve the needs
of ail students. " Well, we students
have a lot of different needs; and
most of us do not expect the Un
ion to supply them all.
"A chapel or meditation room
would serve as an opportunity to
not susceptible of proof. How has
the spirituality of UN debates been
augmented by that organization's
meditation room.
"No specific place the fJnivrr
city campus (emphasis mine) is
provided for all students and fac
ulty to worship and meditate.. ls
this a criciticism of the University
for abiding by the spirit of the na
tional and state constitutions?
And "Most major universities in
the Midwest have a chapel or
meditation for room for general
campus use." This is frank "band
wagon" technique. Should NU stu
dents feel hopelessly underprivi.
leged spiritually if theirs is the
only school in the Big Seven with
out a chapel on state property?
If I seem harsh, it is because ob
servation and experience have
taught me that any weakening of
the barrier between church and
state the released-time system in
public schools as a notorious ex
ample) results in no advantage for
either side, but rather in a loss
of both power and function for
each.
"God does not need our lies"
St. Gregory. Much less, I believe,
does He need our illegalities and
our logical absurdities.
G. Thomas Fairclough.
Presumptuous Headline
in pitch and time does not have
the value of expression built upon
his own preconceived allegorical
relationships.
He has placed media above ex
pression. He prefers opera with
its literary value to the more ab
stract chamber works, thus judg
ing music by literary criteria. This
is certainly a narrow approach,
of the printed word.
When Shakespeare comes to
town in the form of a movie the
Type really goes to work. He may
be familiar with the play through
the printed work or, and this is
less likely, the stage.
This Type who creates no art
of his own, but is trapped in the
shallow ground between the sensi
tive critic and the artist serves
no purpose but that of annoying
and borinp both artist and critic.
Whatever the functions of a
student newspaper may be, pa
rading its limitations before the
public is not one of them. I refer,
specif icaJy, to the story on the
front page of Wednesday's Ne
braskan beaded, "Speakers Clar
ify Basis of Existence in Session."
Ncrw there are those who believe
the basis 'or bases) of existence
has not vet been discovered, let
alone clarified. Have these men
isolated, in one week, what the
greatest minds of every age have
sought to locate?
1 cannot believe the speakers
themselves are as presumptuous
as the individual who write this
headline.
Wake Up,
To The Editor:
An open letter to the Committee
on Students for Johnson, and to
others -appearing to be robots:
The following is a quote from
.a letter sent to the fraternity and
sorority system at Nebraska by
the Students for Johnson Commit
tee. "In our minds it matters not
whether you are Democrat or Re
publican or whether you are an
advocate of Dick Johnson's poli
cies or not the problem is this
do you want a representative of
your University who is also
member of the Greek system,
who is now crying for financial
aid from that system, do you wish
that fall to go unanswered?"
And the story itself! Space is
limited, I realize; but there is no
excuse for tossing quotations from
each speech (apparently picked at
random) into this pseudo-electric
ttew which is offered as a -clarification.
Is this the intelligent summation
rf significant discussions students
have right to demand from their
newspaper? I leave it up to you
to decide.
And let m say to those men
who put considerable time and ef
fort into preparing a lecture, that
there are students who appreciate
that time and effort.
Barbara Farquar
University
The committee implices here that
the only important thing is that
we support this member of the
University and Greek system.
What, might I ask, ever posses
sed the members of this commit
tee to put such trivial things be
fore their own beliefs and convic
tions? Are we of the University or
Greek system such thin-shelled in
dividuals as to, put these two
things above all else?
Might I say, wake .up commit
tee, University, Greeks, independ
ents or whoever you may be
lest you lose confidence in your
self and become mere robots with
some crackpot pushing the nut
tons. Paul Zucker
, ' ' ' I"
I i
- 6, I - - A
i
1
1 t
6. .'
I , v f i
v.
flhinv
(SAN DIEGO)
Repreesnratires will be here March 15
TO INTERVIEW
ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, AERONAUTICAL
ENGINEERS ABOUT TO GRADUATE
At Convair, in beautiful, smog-free San Diego, California, you wiU
find the diversity of challenging, far-reaching projects that offers yoti
the unlimited career opportunity you seek.
This is young country, beautiful, exciting country the -very heart
of the busy, vital aircraft and missile industries. And good, young
engineers are needed now to grow with new, long-range aircraft and
missile programs.
You will find the Convair Engineering Department a genuine "engi
neer's" engineering department imaginative, energetic, explorative.
You will discover the very latest engineering equipment, excellent
working conditions, salary, personal job advantages, and opportunities
for continuing education.
Remember these jacts about Convair: Convair was awarded the
Nation's first production missile contract and the first production
contract for supersonic all-weather interceptors.
Convair lias the greatest diversify of aircraft engineering projects
in the country, including high performance fighters, heavy bombers,
Jarge flying boats, transports, trainers, seaplane fighters, vertical take
off aircraft and guided missiles.
Convair has a completely integrated .electronic development pro
gram devoted to advanced development and .design on missile guid
ance, avionic projects, radar systems and special cathode fay tubes.
Sow you are invited to get full information about your career K
Convair. Talk it over with our Convair Engineers on your campus soon.
GRADUATING CfVIL ENGINEERS interested in the field of aircraft
structure are also invited to apply.
Gfaduase degiae Candidate! in iinnineecing, Mauxmatic or Phyi u iffwiitxl
to ducuM Convair opportunities hi the general field of advanced riginaafinf
tMlyiis and design.
CONVAIR ENGINEERS WILL INTERVIEW ON YOUR CAMPUS
March 15
Please crrcnge eppointment now!
socman
FT)
A Divikw of General Dynamic Corpotaiiuo
2unn, imoi ftee San Ttcgo on titt conn of Southern California offer,
you way of hit judd by moat ai i Nation finetr for year-round
climate, beauty and indoor outdoor living. Sailing, fiihinn, wimming,
olf, tkiing, mountain and dmtett retorts, Hollywood and Old Mexico are
all within minute.
