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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 1955)
Page 2 Nebraska n Editorials: THE NEBRASKAN Tuesday, September 27, 1955 Hires Rushees Md The IK Two rather hurried and ambiguous amend ments will be considered by the Interfraternity Council Wednesday. The amendments are the result of an embarrassing and confused incident which occurred during Rush Week, Three rushees made hasty and unwise de cisions concerning their choice of fraternities and after conferring, with members of other houses decided to break their pledges. Under present IFC rules, it is impossible for the rush ees to pledge another house until the second semester. The retroactive amendments would make it possible for the rushees involved in last Rush Week's mixup to pledge, but it would set a dan gerous precedent and could very easily cause more serious and more confusing incidents in Rush Weeks to come. The proposed amendments would make it possible for pledges who break their pledge during Rush Week to affiliate with another fra ternity after a period of 30 days. Official pledging would then held little or no significance until the pledge and the fraternity had weathered a period of thirty days. Rush Week would not signify the end of the season's rushing as fraternities would seek to recoup their losses by influencing impressionable rush ees to depledge their first choice and within a few weeks affiliate with the better fraternity which they had ill advisedly passed over during the period of formal rushing. The proposed amendments seem to be di rected at specific occurrence with little thought for the future. It is like cutting off a hand to cure a broken finger. If this case warrants special attention, the logical thing for the IFC to do is to suspend the rules in this specific case which could be done through parliamentary channels. All the fraternities involved in last Rush Week's affair are reconciled to the switch and there is no difficulty in repledging by the three rushees in volved. But, after all, what can a fraternity do once a man has decided to depledge. It would be quite humiliating to again tryo change the rushee's mind. The proposed change states that both fraternities would have to agree to a switch, but few reputable fraternities would want to dirty their hands by trying to again convince a rushee of the various merits of their group. mv - The IFC is currently looking into the recent Rush Week with a critical eye. The IFC's Rush ing Committee will soon become activated. It has its work laid out for it. The problem of spiking and other unfair practices should be considered carefully and objectively. The IFC's reputation has grown and strength ened in past years. It it about time it put its foot down and considered some of the following proposals which are not new or revolutionary, but they are practical. Enforce rules which do not allow contact by fraternities of rushees during Rush Week at times other than during formal Rush parties. This would mean that Rushees would not stay with fraternity men in private homes in Lincoln. Stop "Spiking parties" in Lincoln the nights immediately preceeding Rush Week. Control summer rushing, at least to the ex tent that rushees would not be contacted per sonally before the first of August. Investigate fraternities that have large pledge classes immediately following the opening min utes of the first party. This sort of action would mean that the IFC would not wait for formal charges by a fraternity, but would take auto nomous and immediate action. There is a decided difference between a Rush Week that is watched and one that is super vised just as there is a note of futility in open ing the door too late after the kitten, or the pledge, wants to get out. S. J. Let's Start A017 Last Saturday afternoon, despite chilly and rainy weather, competition from an exciting football game and a minimum of advanced pub licity, the Sigma Chi fraternity staged an un usually successful, first annual, "Derby Day." Everybody on the mall during the "Derby" kept talking about the weather, but this is nor mal. And even more normal, nothing happened. It just continued to rain and become colder. But everybody liked the "Derby." Sigma Chi, as a fraternity, is to be congratu lated. There was more work, behind the scenes, before the actual competition and then afterward in cleaning up, than most people realized. It seemed from observation that all who at tended and watched the affair enjoyed it. Grant ed, it had traces of the gladiator ring in old Rome, some silliness (even for a college fra ternity), maybe a little mockery of University rules and possibly a little too much sex for the more staid element; but it was to most of us, a lot of fun. And judging from the attendance, it was as successful as conditions would allow. It was so successful, in fact, that we n ust look a little bit beyond the Sigma Chi's "Derby Day" to what someday might be an all-University "Derby Day," with a change of name, of course. What about the Spring Event? Last winter intricate plans were begun for an all-day affair, actually very similar to what the Sig Chi's staged. It was to be held near the mall, it was to consist of games and team races, the campus was to be divided in logical competitive teams, there were to be prizes, The Repi As the entire world knows, the President has suffered what the nation's leading heart special ists have called "a moderate, not mild and not serious" heart attack. Mr. Eisenhower has become a victim of one of this country's greatest current medical prob lems, a sickness that strikes, just as it has in the case of the President, the most active men in all fields. Newspaper reports have carried the well wishes of leading men and women throughout the world. All of us, large or small, famous or unknown, Republican or Democrat wish, in most tervent way, that Mr. Eisenhower's covery may be as speedy and complete possible. Right now the most important wish anv us could make is for the health of the President. But, politics being as they are in this country, pundits are already looking ahead; for even though physicians say the President might well be able to serve his present term and then be healthy enough to survive the strains of another four years of office, there still remain the two jobs of, first, getting the voters to agree with the doctors and second, living through the rigors of another presidential campaign, undoubtedly the longest, at times most useless, and always Ibe most trying extravaganza of the entire po litical world. lor a good many months now pollsters and predicters have wondered what Mr. Eisenhower will decide about 1956. Mamie's ideas have crept out. The new farm in Gettysburg seems very nice. But the President has kept his si lence, as he should. Now, things are really confused. For the first time in many months the Demo cratic nomination seems inviting. And the a re-as of publican nomination, well, say what it seems to te. Re- who can possibly The Ne FIFTY-FIVE YEARS OLD Member: Associated Collegiate Press Intereolleriate Press Representative: National Advertising Service, Incorporated Th y-hrmmkm TwMtmwl hy tnAni ef the rnJTT- ny nt rsse nndw the aorhortrattoa ef the Commit ter nil Siu.i.nt Affair a mi eprjii of tttlnt optnlrm. J-oi.i"-tton pnflrr thr )urttlrttrm of the fitfbeeromltt'e m MHrtnit fTMifltttirtis Khali fee fre from editorial riiwrKtoj oo thr rmrt lhr Wirfoeommltt-, w mi the tart f aflf mrnvr af the farirlty of the r'nfverHj'J er tm the pun of any persm otitetde the mtveruty. The rnmVit of the !jr&ftkan Btaii are perwonaOy re?rnn fMe frr what Ihejr tntr, or ao or cause t be printed. Irrhrminr a, JSW. f ruered e weonfl1 Wm matter at the pot offfrj ta Onroln. rbraa, trader the act of Aegunt 4, 19JZ. there was to be a large dance afterward, there was to be a lot of publicity and, to top it off and this Sigma Chi just couldn't arrange there was to be part of a day off of classes. But we all know what happened. Came a warm night pnd a little bit of foolishness and the best laid plans were for naught. There was no desire on the part of anybody to go ahead with the Spring Event. Right now is the time to begin thinking. We have just witnessed what one group of frater nity men can do. Is it really possible that an entire University cannot equal their perform ance? Last year the Council began work. A large committee was appointed by the Council which actually made the preparations, those that were made. The committee found complete co-operation from the entire faculty and administration. In fact, the committee's only stumbling block was the student body. Right now is the time to begin. There is no reason why a committee cannot be set up and plans begun. This is not too early, and cer tainly there is not a soul who lived on this campus last spring who could honestly oppose the project. Let's take a lesson from Sigma Chi. They were successful in their field day. Here is something positive the Council can do." Here is something the entire campus can support. Here is something that just might be able to Fill that certain "void" with which this univer sity seems to be plagued every year on many of those warm Monday evenings. But let's get started on this project and do something while we still have time. D. F. Tcussions It is unusual that the nation knows as much as it does about the condition of Mr. Eisen hower. In times past, the government has at tempted to keep the declining state of various Presidents' health unknown. With the political overtones being what they are, this could h2ve been reason for the men around Dee to repeat past secrecy. But since they did not, we are all speculating. To the Democrats, there are new possibili ties. Already in the presidential field are such names as Stevenson, Harriman, Williams and even Kefauver. Each of these men has his standing and his following. Each of them have been considered by all "in the know" as "pos sibles." But in the Republican camp, there has come a mighty and a swift change. Ike, unlike few presidents before him, has remained throughout over two years in office, amazingly free from personal criticism. Ike was considered a "sure thing" for re nomination and re-election if he just gave the go ahead sign. There has been no other candi date who could even begin to compete with the President for next year's race. Now, the GOP is faced with a rather large question mark. "Just who," GOP leaders are saying to them selves, "are we going to run?" There's Nixon, Warren, Humphrey, Dewey, Stassen and others, all of whom are usually dis missed (with the exception of Nixon) for one reason or another. So here we go. First, we all want and wish the best of health for Mr. Eisenhower. And then, sadly enough, we now seem to be begin ning, over one year in advance, the political spectacle we call our presidential campaign. D. F. braskon EDITORIAL STAFF rltsr ..M Dlek Feflman fdllorlal Pure l",dltw .....Brace Brturmami Managing fditor Sent imva ew Editor Frea aly oorte Falter Bob Cook Copy Editors Ju-fy Boet, rsb Jelerhui, Mary gfteJLeay, lactrraee r-wttwr A Editor JTIra Feather TfHrtit ?ra Editor Bah JetfeehnU Keporten .. tknwiy DTe. Barbara, herp. Fat Drake, Wait w1trer, Ariene Hrb'k, John Hanaea, Kick Hentlinrer, Wee fit lark BUSINESS STAFF ft?)Ktne Maitarer .Oeorre Matfwa A't BtwIneM Manager ...BII BnAwell. Hartmre ti-tif. Connie Hunt, Jtl'-a ff Circulation Marnier .............. loa Beck Little man on campus by Dick Bibler !; Pi PJT I' V-X.l I'll J - ""a.e If 'NOW I KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN FY HI6HK JPUCATiON.! College Deludes Young Idealist Gay, reckless scapegrace that I am, another week has passed with out my discovering anything perti nent or important to relate. Thus, I have been driven to explor ing the dark and morbid recesses of my mind, where are found thoughts not usually brought be fore the public. In doing so, I have come up with a tale calculated to make you slightly uncomfortable and a trifle itchy. e Jhis charming story Is about an idealistic young man who came to college while suffering from the ft Jess Jesting delusion known as education. That is, he firmly believed in education as a great and good power in the world. Even worse, he believed that col lege was the proper place to get one. My experienced readers can well imagine the dire consequences in store for such a fellow. Before I go on, I had better tell you more about my hero. He was a pleasant lad who paid his debts, was reasonably loyal to his friends and did not go about striking others without provocation, even when drunk. In short, had it not been for the delusion which I have mentioned, he would have presented no prob lem for the college. However, plans had been laid long in advance for students of his type. He possessed certain superfluous qualities which were not long in being removed. The first thing he lost was his soul. It was taken from him during registration, given a number, placed on an IBM card, punched full of holes and fed to a machine. . s The first step taken while the victim was too confused to protest, the rest became progressively eas ier. His enthusiasm was quickly sapped by a series of dull and con tradictory teachers; his respect for his fellows was removed by the simple strategy of placing h i m among too many of them; and his love for simple and somewhat bawdy pleasures, while not de stroyed, was made to seem a sort of perverted desire which was hardly discussed, and never ful filled, by really nice people. All these things having been accom plished, he was considered ready for the diploma mill, and set to work. And here is where the surprise ending of my story begins. For while appearing to be a well-functioning member of the system, this clever and sturdy fellow was act ually learning. He discovered the meaning and value of education, and learned that its acquisition was a life-long process. He saw the ways of the world, and most important, he learned that if the things he loved were often despised by many, this did not lessen their value for him. But his crowning achievement was. that upon graduation, he re mained a pleasant lad who paid his debts, was reasonably loyal to his friends and did not go about striking others without provoca tion, even when drunk. Yet when I meet him on the street, I still discern a harrowed look about his eyes which attests to his former struggles and which I fear time will not erase. He is a good man, in the good sense of the phrase, but he learned his trade in a hard school. A i f Henkle Defines VaCI Column Position Since my first and almost last column a week aso, people have been after me with brickbats and clever comments, advising me to strangle myself with typewriter ribbon. I only go out at night any more, and then with a pack of dogs, and as soon as I get fat enough and sleek enough and grow a good enough coat of fur, I'm going into My Bootless Cries . hibernation for the rest of the win ter. But before I do, I'd better pull up and explain my attitude to wards column-writing and what I'm planning to do in this space. I'm not trying to be another Walter Winchell Drew Pearson is good enough nor is this intended to be an Ivy League version of the Zebra Derby, or of Jess Brow nell. " This is intended to be a serious, furrowed-brow sort of thing about petty campus affairs (that is, petty affairs, not petty campus I'll get in trouble on that one, too), and what I say had probably better not be taken too seriously. Remember the Roman Cato who said, "Be lieve nothing rashly." He's dead now. A columnist, it seems to me, has certain rights and freedoms which are denied editorial writers and re porters. I feel I can say things un der this by-line that I wouldn't dare or care to say as an editorial writer. For one thing, I don't have the responsibility of the paper to up hold. I speak now only for myself, and sometimes I will undoubtedly speak in opposition to the views of Dick Fellman, the editor of the Nebraskan, or Bruce Brugmann or The Nebraskan as an entity."l am free to be inconsistent with the pa per. Secondly, I am not bound to stand by so-called journalistic eth icsa nebulous thing at best, but definitely influential in any news man's reasoning. These ethics re quire that a newspaper writer who cares not to be guilty of "yellow journalism." makes sure to back up each statement he makes in news columns with enough facts to defend himself in' court, if neces sary. I should have facts before I say outrightly that so-and-o drinks beer with Dean Hallgren, or shoots craps with Dean Marjorie, but I don't have to have such facts if I prelude such a comment with "it seems to me," or "I believe" or "I think." As long as I make clear what comments are the results of per sonal observations or opinions, I am not violating any ethics, journ alistically or otherwise. This column is frankly intended to give my personal views and con victions on campus questions. I'm not out to run a crusade, but I'm out to point out any evils or wrongs which I see. I'm not out to slander people or carry out personal grudges, but sometimes I will undoubtedly be a little incontinent. I'm also not pre tending to be an expression of student opinion, but rather of one student's opinion which may or may not be shared by others. Finally, since this is a personal column, I will admit to certain prejudices. I am a fraternity man and so intend to support the fra t e r n i t y system, prejudicially if need be. It's about time, it seems to me, that somebody supported the Greek point of view in this newspaper's- columns. However, I'm not likely to be led around blindly by the fraternity pin. If I think there is something wrong with fraternities, I'll point it out, because no healthy organi zation needs to be glossed over by secrecy. And the IFC, despite the prophets of doom, seems to me to be a pretty healthy organization. That's about all I have to say at the moment, except that, as you notice, the name of this column has been changed. We had a hard time finding an appropriate and unusual title, running the gamut from "Drop the Henley" to "Boy on a Hot Tin Roof." "My Bootless Cries" is a phrase from Shake speare (which helps a lot). He's also dead now. And this column is well on the way. Letterip History Staff Dear Editor: Your headline "History Staff Cut Ten Staff Members Leave the University" would imply that the History Department has no per scnnel remaining, since it had a staff of only nine and one-h a 1 f members. Perhaps the public should be as sured that the staff is in no way reduced from its previous stature. The department has two members on leave, and the two members who resigned have been replaced. The changes leave us with a net increase in staff. Professor E. N. Johnson who was on leave last year without a - replacement to handle his advanced courses during the second semester, has returned. Professor A. T. Anderson has been replaced by Professor Samuel Ba ron. Professor E. N. Anderson is re placed by Professor Robert Koehl. Professor Pincetl, a temporary ap pointment, has been replaced by Professor Burdette Poland. Pro fessor John Alden has been re placed by Professor Aubrey Land, from Vanderbilt University. In addition, instruction in the field of Ancient History has been resumed through the appointment of Samuel Eddy, who has taken his advanced work at the Univer sity of Michigan. Professor Robert Sakai who has a Fullbright leave will return next year. The Department feels that its offering of courses is more com plete than at any time within re cent years. J. L. Sellers Chairman of History Department. Filmed in ft MORE EXCITING THAN "REAR WINDOV"!! 'Jul' V M - "I 4, ! '" , "0 V t i ...v. y z X, " '1 : M 1 V ft.. s . -a"- a". 4 4-W-- VU4VaAaw. -. . . For y moment he f forgeta he' E thief and ! ah forgeta ) - ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S a lady! frf'e tm year , danger een- ' . ' nation with the love eenei of the century! 65c til 6! 'X Color ty TECHNICOLOR Doors Open 12:45 V e - j1225 N STREET PHONE 2-20 97