The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, October 11, 1962, Page Page 2, Image 2

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    HUSKER
COLORING
BOOK
. ii i
M
Page 2
EDITORIAL
Thursday, October 11, 1962
TEXT OF SPEECH . . .
Guard Against Sub-Rosas I
(EDITOR'S NOTE: One of the things which the "Old Guard" and several other stu-
dents on campus have concerned themselves with has been sub rosas. Part of the
.program. of elimination of these organizations from campus is that of indoctrination
of freshmen to properly orientate them to the problems which sub rosa organiza-
Hons have caused in the pa'st. The following is the speech given to Junior IFC Tues-
day night by Don Ferguson, past president of IFC and former editor of the Nebraskan.
The characteristics of these organizations and their members are stated bluntly, and
one might caution readers not to classify good Greeks who may fit one characteristic
as sub rosa.) I
Speech by don ferguson
Last spring, Harold Angelo, dean of men at the University of Colorado, made a
very fine speech to Nebraska Greeks during Greek Week. In his speech he made ref-
erence to sub rosas.
"Subrosas are a cancer," he said. And he continued to compare organizations such
as Theta Nu Epsilon and Pi Xi to a cancer in that they eat away at the structure and
the inner-workings of the Greek system until it is dead.
What is a sub rosa. You men are just entering the Greek system at Nebraska. You
are just beginning to involve yourselves in this idea of fraternity and what its idealism .
and brotherhood really are. At the present time, you probably are curious about sub
rosas, you have heard about them, but you don't feel concerned.
You men are the potential leaders of this Greek system. Many of you and your
pledge brothers will be approached by members of these organizations. They will prob-
ably make wild promises of a great fraternalistic feeling which in reality can best be
described as drunkenness.
A sub rosa is a group of men who are not satisfied with their own fraternity. They
may have failed to get an office. They may have lost their respect through acts unbe-
coming a member. So they feel they can get even with their fraternity brothers by be-
traying them to a sub rosa. I
It used to be that sub rosas would require you to divulge fraternity secrets. But
anymore, they just thrive on disruption. These men seem to attract each other.
Sub rosas have also caused the degradation of many individuals.
I can remember when two houses on this campus faced internal destruction because
of heavy infiltration of sub rosas. I can recall pledge training programs that were
wrecked because the pledge trainer was a sub rosa. I have heard of house power strug-
gles between the good guys and the bad guys the fraternalists and the disruptors.
Sub rosa members have black balled a pledge because he didn't drink enough. In one
instance that person was a brother to an active. Needless to say the house conflict that
resulted was damaging.
These are men who are constantly opposing the general goals of a chapter. They
are men who are referred to as the old guard keep the Mickey Mouse in pledge train-
ing. Why should we care about the development of human dignity? Why should we be
concerned with the need for scholastic encouragement? Isn't a man really measured
by how much he can take? Isn't he measured by how much he can guzzel? Isn't he
measured by the type of smut that emotes from his mouth regularly, disregarding who
. is around or where he may be?
Probably the worst thing about this whole stinking mess of sub rosas is the fact
that they are promoted and developed by alumni of this University and the fraternities.
Prominent Lincoln businessmen, who, like many men keep cats or gardens, keep col-
lege students. They give them money to print smut sheets their newspaper, which
they claim is a builder for the Greek system. Constructive criticism, you ask? No.
Just plain obscenity. The impression it makes on John Q. Public or Billie Nebraska
Legislature is probably not what we need in our public relations program.
But why men, who have left the University, who have gained prominent positions I
in the city and state, who have attained financial success, who have built a good repu-
tation for themselves, who claim openly to be builders of the University and many of
whom are actively involved in alumni activities of the University or fraternity system I
why do these men destroy their image, why do they tear down the Greek system from
within while claiming to support it from without. This is the main question that we
have all asked. But there has not been an answer given.
So you might ask, what is the solution? The solution is the watchfulness of the
Greek system and its members. The fraternities must develop the type of attitude and I
atmosphere that will not promote this type of activity. Freshmen must develop a sin- I
cere respect for their chapters. You must build, not destroy. All of us who love our I
chapters, who believe in the good of the fraternity system, who want to see it in exist- 1
ence when we send our sons to school, must develop a watchful attitude.
Sub rosas are on this campus. The midwest is the primary place where they now
exist. Every national fraternity has public ally and in their constitutions stated that
they will remove from membership any man caught associating in sub rosa activities. I
Men will continue to pledge their fraternities, they will subscribe to the principles and
goals and the constitution, then they will betray their brothers. This activity will con- f
tinue unless men on this campus act to stop it. They will pledge men who want a thrill
and think they can pull the wool over their chapter walls. But someday that wool will
cause the collapse of those walls. They will disrupt pledge training until there are no I
pledges to train. They will print smut about their brothers and their activities, about 1
their university and its faculty, until there are no future brothers, no activities.
They will continue to lie to you and worse, to themselves. How these men can i
live with their consciences is beyond comprehension. They will paint their emblems on
steps, until more of them are banned from the University. They may be re-admitted,
but their permanent records can not be changed. Files even indicate that sub rosa mem-
bers have even been -denied admission to medical schools or promotions in the military
services have been blocked because of their activity., So their acts really don't comple- 1
ment their personalities or their lives. f
There is no place in our chapters for sub rosa sympathizers. f
There is no place in our University for these disrupters. And you, the future fra- 1
ternity leaders, should pledge yourselves to fight it, each Greek should take it upon
himself to see that his brothers, your pledge brothers, don't become involved. I even
feel it would be a good idea if all freshmen pledges would sign a pledge upon their ini- I
tiation or upon pledging, to never become associated with such activities.
But don't think that all is doom. The things that I have talked about spell a pretty 1
black word for most of us. But they are the only major black marks we have. The
college fraternity is not headed towards death or doom. I am confident that leadership
will stop the continuation of these organizations and their sister organizations, and that
the system will grow.
Last year, Dean Parke, from Illinois, was also a campus guest. He talked to the
old Jr.-IFC officers and all chapters. He left me one statement made by one of his
fellow administrators: I
"I suspect that fraternities will survive longer than I will, and in those spots where
zealous administrators abolish fraternities, they probably will reappear ... An institu
tion with the stamina to survive for more than a century may just possibly prove
adaptable enough to last another hundred years, provided it makes itself a useful mem
ber of a dynamic educational community.
My thesis is that our educational system is undergoing a period of rebirth which
must be encouraged if American society as we know it is to survive. Fraternities in my
opinion can muster forces strong enough to impede, if not entirely to thwart this ren
aissance. On the other hand, fraternities have the capabilities and I believe the obliga
tion to actively promote the movement which brings education again to a preeminent
place in our modern society."
Fraternities can impede if not entirely thwart the advancement of education. We
have been faced with rapidly increasing standards at our University. Pledge training
is changing. Fraternities are placing more emphasis on the scholarship aspects. A new
type of men are coming to school now. You have one of the strongest and most effec
tive Interfraternity Council systems in the United States. But it needs support. Here
again, is a place where sub rosas have, several years ago, hindered growth. But under
John Nolon and his fellow officers, Nebraska fraternities have an excellent future.
The task or challenges rest on you and your chapters. Work together, build to
gether. Work with your institution. Dr. Ross, Chancellor Hardin, deans and administra
tors. They are not anti-fraternity as many would lead us to believe. They have a job to
do. They have a university to perpetuate. We have a job to do. It is our university, too.
Would we thwart its growth? Would we hinder its development? I think not.
With one last thought, I will close. Remember that fraternity is an' ideal with
high goals. That idealism must not be lost. But along with that idealism must go realism-
and dedication by each one of us to do our part in the building of a better Univer
sity and system. . Thank you
iVf Discrimination:
Is It Not Serious?
To the Editor:
After reading your edi
t o r i a 1, "Discrimination
Style" (0"t. 4),
Daily Nebraskan
SEVENTY-SECOND YEAR OV
PUBLICATION
Telephone 432-7631 ext. 4225, 4226, 4227
Member Associated Collegiate Press,
International Press Representative, Na
tional Advertising Service, Incorporated.
Published at: Room, 51, Student Union,
Lincoln 8, Nebraska.
Enters as mnd class matter. mU pa at the
wt fflua la I Jnonln, Nebraska.
Ttia Dally Nftbraskan la published Monday, Wednesday,
Thnrsdst and Friday during the ichool year, exeept daring
vacation and exam nerloda. and ones during August, by
students of the University of Nebraska under the nuthorlza
tlen f the Committee en Student Affairs as an expression
student opinion.- Publication under the Jurisdiction of
a MkconuBUIft en Biuoent FuDileatlons shall It free
Northe-n Style" (0"t.
I felt that it contained a
fairly accurate summary
of the racial . prejudices
that do exist on the NU
campus. But the one point
in the editorial with which
I differ is "we have no
serious prejudice problem
at the University."
Do we need martial law
on our campus before we
. admit that the problem is
serious.
Isn't it serious when a
person who is at the age
in life when opinions are
formed that will endure
throughout life becomes
' embittered, cynical, pessi
mistic, prejudiced, un
friendly and begins to sus
pect that maybe some of
the derogatory .belief s
about him may be true as
a result of constanly being
stiffled in every form of
interaction with other stu
dents? Isn't it serious to be
stared at by unsophisticat
ed people to the point
where you look down to
see if your fly is open?
Isn't it serious when a
person earnestly asks "do
you tan as a result of sun
ning yourself?"
Isn't it serious when all
the positive attributes pos
sessed by you for the
making of an attractive
person and personality
are canceled out by the
fact that you are a Negro?
Isn't it serious when a
person who enjoys your
company tells you "they'd
rather not be seen talking
to you?"
If these experiences be
fall one person, then isn't
it important to society or
the country as a whole?
But when we realize that
experiences such as the
ones mentioned above will
be encountered by nearly
every Negro who attends
the University and schools
like it throughout the coun
try for the indefinite fu
ture this is very seri
ous. i
No Negro after having
experiences s i m i 1 a r to
these is still capable of
making the same contri
bution to society that he
was potentially capable of
before having these best
forgotten experiences.
When we consider the
magnitude of the loss that
society will suffer as a
direct result of Negros be
ing discriminated against
and resenting it, I say it
is serious!
If enough people agree
with what I have said, the
situation may improve.
Otherwise, the only good
accomplished by Meredith
in Mississippi is that Ne
groes may now have the
right to attend school
there under the same cir
cumstances that now exist
at Nebraska.
I do not think that when
Meredith decided to en
dure the atrocities he has
in Mississippi that he was
from editorial censorship en the part of the Subcommittee
or on the part -f any person outside the University. The
members of the Dally Nebraskan staff are personally
respoii" for what they say. or do, or cause to be printed.
February I, IdSi.
14th & R
EDITOttWL STAFF
E""0'' Jim Forrest
Managing Editor Dave WohMarth
Sports Fdlto. mck Akin
Copy Editors ... Linda Jensen, Susie Rntler, Lynn Corcoran
Staff Writers Sua Hovlk, Gary Lacey, Karen Ounllcka
Junior Staff Wrilera Ai Spore, Jim Moore, Susie
. . . Bmllhberger. Tom McGlnnls
Photographer Rosemary Bmallwood
Reporters Diana Corner, John Rleacr
BUSINESS STAFF
Business Manager John Zeilinger
Assistant Business Managers . . .BID Gunllcks, Bob Cunning.
, ham, Tom Fltchett
Circulation manager Jim Trester
hoping , for his efforts to
result in a situation like
the one here at Nebraska.
If I am wrong on this
point, I feel that Mere
dith is a fool.
I do not think that Mere
dith is a fool but I do
think the discrimination at
NU can accurately be
called SERIOUS.
Sincerely,
Ronald Moore.
(Editor's Note: The
quote you refer to was
made by a faculty mem
ber of the University's ad
ministration. We do feel
that the problem here is
serious and feel sorry for
anyone who does not think
that it is. And if the ma
jority opinion feels that it
is not serious, we feel sor
ry for the country.)
Third-Man
Theme
Dear j.j.g and a.g.b.:
I've been following with
interest the war of opinions
which has been raging
'twixt the independents and
the Greeks in the Daily Ne
braskan and I would like to
throw my hat into' the ring
as somewhat of a hybrid. ,
I joined a national social
fraternity while attending
college elsewhere last year.
Since then I've transferred
to this Unviersity where
there is no chapter of the
fraternity to which I belong.
This "man without a coun
try" situation has placed me
in a third-man position with
regard to those involved in
the current argument.
From this vantage point
of being neither a Greek
nor an independent or be
ing both, have that as you
will, I have made some ob
servations and have some
questions which may be of
interest.
First, a fraternity is an
organization of young men,
designed to further human
relationships and give the
individual something with
which to identify. And, if
you will notice, a non-Greek
when asked about fraternal
affiliations will usually state
emphatically and proudly,
"I'm a GDI." And by doing
thisthe independent acknow
ledges that he identifies
himself with a group com
prised of individuals with
common interests or char
acteristics. Now, independent, what is
WTong with the Greek sys
tem? It merely performs the
function that the GDI group
performs for you. Perhaps
while you are answering this
question, you should also
examine your motives for so
loudly decrying the Greek
system. It couldn't be that
you feel left out, could it?
Okay, Greeks, how about
a little introspection on your
part?
Does your particular or
ganization really meet the
stipulations set forth in your
charters and by-laws?
Are you really function
ing in the manner intended
by your founders, or have
standards slipped through
the years?
If there is nothing rotten
I 1 iia-vKj i
I ' j j
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-ARROWS
FOUNDED 1BB1
in your state, I feel you de
serve due credit; but if
things are slipping, I also
feel you should meet your
responsibilities.
I've also been wondering
if somedne could tell me
what, if any, are the sound
foundations of the disagree
ment, or is it a case of the
Greek yelling "ya, ya, ya
you're out of it" and the
independents throwing rocks
at glass houses just to be
throwing rocks.
I also wondered if ten
sion would ease if Greeks
and GDI's alike would hold
each other in the light that
Abraham Lincoln did when
asked about a certain book:
"PEOPLE WHO LIKE
THIS SORT OF THING
WILL FIND THIS THE
SORT OF THING THEY
LIKE."
Yours truly,
Michael P. Cartwright
KUON-TV Shows
Debut Next Week
'This New House" and 'Chal
lenge' will debut on Univer
sity television KUON-TV next
week.
'This New House' which be
gins Tuesday at 7 p.m. sur
veys important political and
economic developments which
have taken place in Western
Europe since the end of World
War II.
Atomic energy is the sub
ject of 'Challenge.' The show,
to be launched Thursday at
7:30 p.m., explains the hope
ful and destructive sides of
the atomic energy commis
sion and takes viewers on a
tour of the projects at Ar
goone National Laboratory in
Chicago.
This is y tOUJlyJ r Nijf
OMUWE "TOE toiAEn, fT W
SnMCTW To To ucm SfcK,
Read Nebraskan
Want Ads
c3
CifiCc!
(Author of "1 Wat a Teenage Dwarf," "The Many
Lovet of Dobie Gillii," etc.)
HAPPINESS CAN'T BUY MONEY
Can education bring happiness?
This is a question that in recent years has caused much
lively debate and several hundred stabbings among American
college professors. Some contend that if a student's intellect
is sufficiently aroused, happiness will automatically follow.
Others say that to concentrate on the intellect and ignore the
rest of the personality can only lead to misery.
I myself favor the second view, and I offer in evidence the
well-known case of Agathe Fusco.
Agathe, a forestry major, never got anything less than a
straight "A", was awarded her B.T, (Bachelor of Trees) in
only two years, her M.S.B. (Master of Sap and Bark) in only
three, and her D.B.C. (Doctor of Blight and Cutworms) in
only four.
Academic glory was here. Her intellect v.:is the envy of
every intellect fan on campus. But was siie happy? The
answer, alas, was no. Agathe she knew not why was miser
able, so miserable, in fact, that one day while walking across
campus, she was suddenly so overcome with melancholy that
she flang herself, weeping, upon the statue of the Founder.
By and by a liberal arts major named R. Twinkle Plenty came
by with his yoyo. He noted Agathe's condition. "How come
you're so unhappy, hey?" said R. Twinkle.
"Suppose you tell me, you dumb old liberal arts major,1!
replied Agathe peevishly.
"All right, I will," said R, Twinkle. "You are unhappy for
two reasons. First, because you have been so busy stuffing
your intellect that you have gone and starved your psyche. I've
got nothing ngainst learning, mind you, but a person oughtn't
to neglect the pleasant, gentle amenities of life-the fun
things. Have you, for instance, ever been to a dance?"
Agathe shook her head.
"Have you ever watched a sunset? Written a poem? Smoked
Marlboro Cigarette?"
Agathe shook her head.
"Well, we'll fix that right 'now 1" said R. Twinkle and gave her
a Marllwro and struck a match.
She puTed, and then for the first time in twelve or fifteen
years, she smiled. "Wow !" she cried. "Marlboros are a fun thing)
What flavor! What filter! What pad- or box! What a lot to
like! From now on I will smoke Marlboros, and never have
another unhappy day!"
"Hold !" said R. Twinkle. "Marlboros alone will not solve
your problem -only half of it. Remember I said there were
turn things making you unhappy?"
"Oh, yeah," said Agathe. "What's the other one?"
"How long have you had that bear trap on your foot?'!
said R. Twinkle.
"I stepped on it during a field trip in my freshman year,"!
said Agathe. "I keep meaning to have it taken off."
"Allow me," said R. Twinkle and removed it.
"Land sakes, what a relief!" said Agathe, now totally happy,
and took R. Twinkle's hand and led him to a Marlboro vendor's
and then to a justice of the peace.
Today Agathe is a perfectly fulfilled woman, both intellect
wise and pereonalitywise. She lives in a darling split-hve!
house with R. Twinkle and their 17 children, and she still keeps
busy in the forestry game. Only last month, in fact, she became
Consultant on Sawdust to the American Butchers Guild, she
was named an Honorary Sequoia by the park commissioner of
Las Vegas, and she published a best-selling book called vm
a Slippery Elm for the FBI. lm Mia
The maker of Marlboro art pleated that Agathe It finallg
out of the woods and to will you be If your goal U tmoklng
pleasure. Just try a Marlboro.
'(