Sixty-Ninth Year
EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
"When Opinions Are Free UNDER AUTHORITY OF BOARD IN CONTROL OF STUDENT PUBLICATIONS
Truth Will Prevail" STUDENT PUBLICATIONS BLDG. * ANN ARBOR, MICH. * Phone NO 2-3241
Editorials printed in The Michigan Daily express the individual opinions of staff writers
or the editors. This mus t be noted in all reprints.
TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1959 NIGHT EDITOR: THOMAS KABAKER

Willie's Words ...

1

Ay

Affiliated System
Re-Orientation Necessary

The Contemporary Student:
Quiet, Analytic, Seeking,

SILENT OR BEAT or what-have-you, the
graduating senior is going out in a couple
of weeks into a world which knows something
is wrong with him, but can't quite figure out
just what, because he won't tell very much
about himself.
Reports and studies continue to appear, cate-
gorizing the college student as conformist, cau-
tious, violently security-conscious, unwilling to
stick his neck out about anything. Educators
occasionally complain (or rejoice) that a con-
servative movement, conservative both politi-
cally and socially, is sweeping or creeping across
American campuses, that radicals of all sorts
are becoming anomalies. Students do not react
to anything very much; they simply yawn.
There is perhaps enough truth in this view
to make it a persuasive generalization. No doubt
there are students at the University of Michi-
gan, and every other campus, who care only
for Michigras, the Pretzel Bell and the Rose
Bowl, and who have no goals beyond getting
through, getting a wife and job, and getting
comfortable; it seems probable that there al-
ways have been students like this, even in the
wildest of the '20's, most dismal of the 30s, and
most war-worried of the '40's. There may well
be more such students now than in the past,
or possibly people are only now beginning to
notice them because present-day students do
not conveniently label themselves in a loud
voice.
But much more should be said.
TfHECONTEMPORARY student, perhaps, is
quiet because he does not think he has the
answers to the world's problems, or his own.
He has been trained, in college, to use an
analytical method of seeking the truth, a meth-
od which is most useful in detecting flaws in
reasoning, but not very helpful in creating
new systems to replace the old. He is aware that
the ideas he learned at home, in Bessemer or
Bay City or Brooklyn, are somewhat out of date
and rapidly getting more so; but he also may
think the militant liberalism of many of his
professors has accomplished, or is about to ac-
complish, its major aims, and has reached the
"mopping-up" stage.
And this may be just the stage modern lib-
erals have reached.
They appear to believe that Rafael Trujillo
constitutes a greater menace to world peace
and stability than Nikita Khrushchev; they
are loudest against France and Chiang Kai-
Shek, and Syngman Rhee, and strangely silent
concerning Tibet, the Kohler strike, and the
Paul Hughes case. They 'turned with relief to
the complicated Suez crisis, ignoring the plea
of the Hungarian people for active help. The
memories of the Fascist dictatorships that
brought on World War II are too strong to
permit recognition of the full dangers of the
Communist dictatorships that may bring on
World War III.
Some new outlook is needed for the upcom-
ing problems; the contemporary student may
well be seeking new outlooks, and thus fal-
ing to respond with enthusiasm to the liberalism
that was so virile and challenging between
the wars.
O1N THIS CAMPUS and many others, the ma-
jor liberal issue for years hias been racial
and religious discrimination-in fraternities
and sororities, in residence hall roommate
policies, in individual attitudes. Here, too,
the fight is about to be won, at least to the
extent that a militant liberalism can win it:
four fraternities alone still have bias clauses;
residence hall roommate policies have been lib-
eralized. Institutionalized discrimination is well
on the way out; personal prejudices are com-
pletely beyond the reach of organized effort.
However, the battle here is by no means
over, as the past year at the University clearly
indicates. A series of at least temporarily de-
laying actions were put across. These included
the recognition in record time of a fourth pre-
dominantly Jewish sorority to soak up the ex-
cess of Jewish girls who wanted to affiliate, at
a time when several predominantly Christian
sororities were having trouble making quotas,
thus passing up a fine chance for gradual ra-
cial integration; the notorious reversal of the
Sigma Kappa decision by the Board in Review
and consequent weakening of both the 1949
bias regulation and Student Government Coun-
cil; the tentative recognition of an eighth pre-

dominantly Jewish fraternity.
- These are all setbacks. But they are only tem-
porary setbacks, and they occurred concurrent-
ly with the elimination of the photograph re-
quirement on applications for men's residence
halls, which was a major step forward. Sooner
or later the four bias clauses will go, as will
those of other national fraternities not on the
University campus; eventually, the University
will even run out of predominantly Jewish and
Negro fraternities to recognize. The fight
against discrimination is being won; another
chief liberal goal is being achieved.
As it is achieved, students will start looking
for other objectives, where perhaps organized
effort will not be particularly useful. When the
Board in Review reversed the Sigma Kappa
decision, student leaders expressed two atti-

last weekend students, all by themselves, or-
ganized the biggest pep rally in University his-
tory." Contrasting with this essentially useless
viewpoint, other members continued their ef-
forts toward increased student participation in
academic matters, begun last year with the
abortive attempt to set up a course evaluation
booklet, and the resolution seeking student
participation on faculty curriculum committees.
Academics, however, would not seem to be a
very fruitful field for organized student effort.
A few intelligent students talking to their pro-
fessors informally can accomplish a great deal
in the way of changing curricula, in mid-
course at times. Probably they can accomplish
more quickly and without creating antagonism
than any number of students on curriculum
planning committees. Organized student effort
in this field perhaps is most worthwhile when
it is discussion of problems, without necessar-
ily reaching conclusions - which is the same
kind of approach used, conscioisly or uncon-
sciously, by any student who goes to see a
professor or dean or another student about any
academic concern.
THUS, the intelligent student, with some
ability at analysis and a realization that
the problems which faced the generation ahead
of him are being solved and new problems have
arisen, is inclined to recoil within himself to
attempt to work out solutions. He will talk to
two or three professors he respects, and a few
other serious students, but he will not lead
demonstrations about issues which he feels are
becoming less important ,or offer his tentative
hypotheses as answers while he is still com-
pletely unsure if he is even working in the
right direction. What he most desires is to be
let alone while he tries to think - not to be
bothered by a corridor meeting to discuss ex-
tending shower hours, by a plea from the social
chairman for tenors for the IFC Sing, by a
Rose Bowl referendum which does not directly
concern him (where his opinion will be next
to meaningless), or by a research worker try-
ing to find out what his goals in life really are.
Clear evidence that students are not over-
cautious and sunk in apathy was provided last
November, when, with the future of SGC ap-
parently at stake, voting records were set in the
write-in campaign for then-retiring president
Maynard Goldman. Convinced that something
important to them was threatened, students
did what they could to preserve SGC.
This spring, however, with the Clarification
Committee unwilling to trust student govern-
ment with the same power given SGC four
years ago, all-time low voting records were set
as it became evident that SGC would no longer
be the valuable method of testing student ideas
that it had been in the past. Essentially ad-
ministrative experience can be gained in a
variety of less time-consuming ways; a severe-
ly crippled SGC cannot compete successfully
for student attention. Students are again
looking for new ways of developing their ideas.
WHILE THE STUDENT is beginning to think
along these lines, the University is becom-
ing increasingly centralized and bureaucratic,
increasingly interested in keeping tabs on the
students. The student living in an apartment
has not the slightest interest in whether his
apartment is registered or unregistered wheth-
er he is or is not using contracts from the Dean
of Men's Office. Such questions are irksome
and insignificant; it is not essentially the con-
cern of the University where he lives, as long
as he stays within city regulations concerning
minimum housing standards. Nor should the
University be concerned with whether a stu-
dent in the residence halls is dating very much,
little, or not at all, or with his compatibility in
a group of 60 to 120 perfect strangers. By and
large, the student is looking for the privacy to
be able to hear himself think, and the freedom
to develop on his own, which, to judge by the
increasing number of students living in apart-
ments each year, he does not find in either the
residence halls or the fraternities and sororities.
At the same time, the student seeking to de-
velop his own mind may find himself held
back, somewhat paradoxically, by his courses
-by the sheer volume of work which must be
done. Several professors have commented oc-
casionally that classes in many subjects, not-
ably the humanities and social sciences, might
just as well meet twice a week instead of three
times, with the student using the extra time
either to prepare himself more thoroughly or

to explore other fields on his own. Whether a
student would in fact do this, or whether he
would go to an extra movie every week, the ex-
periment might be worth making, perhaps in
specifically selected classes for a year; if the
University is unable to interest its students in
educating themselves during two meetings per
class per week, it will certainly be unable to
interest them during the extra hour, and the
time gained might well be put to use in out-
side work, more in line with students' inter-
ests. Learning is essentially a lonely process,
according to the triusm; it is not fostered by
requiring attendance at classes 15 hours each
week, or by keeping tabs on social adjustment.
STUDENTS interviewed for The Daily's pro-

Nature must have a

-Daily-Annette Way
sense of humor to let spring fever and finals
come at the same time.

WAITING FOR GODOT:
'And If He Comes?'
'We'll Be Saved'
LAST EVENING, Samuel Beckett's tragicomedy in 2 acts, "Waiting for
Godot" opened before an often amused and occasionally perplexed
audience. Unlike many plays which drop into Lydia Mendelssohn's arena
from time to time, "Godot" is not at once easy to comprehend; nor is a
capsule analysis available in paperback edition. Indeed, "Godot" has
been described in terms often as difficult to understand as the play itself.
Sandwiched in between two of Drama Season's less exciting offer-
ings, "Godot" no doubt represents the high-point of the current series,
although such a prediction may be subject to later revision.
Before accepting this evaluation, readers should be warned that
"Waiting for Godot" is not a play which can be effortlessly assimilated
The necessary effort will be well worthwhile though, for this is a play,

MICHIGAN is, by administrative definition, a resi-
dential university, and when one comes here,
he is expected to live in a residence hall or in an
affiliated housing unit. There is a third choice of
apartment living for men, but women have almost
no alternative. Apartment permission for women is
difficult to get - bordering on the impossible -
unless one can prove dire financial need or is over 22
years old.
So the University practically forces a woman who
doesn't want to live in a dormitory to become an
affiliate. But, who really wants to live for four years
in a monster dorm? - one where each year fresh-
men flood the place with noise and ceaseless activity.
Few upperclassmen honestly want to live, (let alone
can survive) a never-ending four years in a fresh-
man oriented environment. So women who can af-
ford it and are lucky enough to "make it" live in
sororities.
There they live for three years, learning much -
in fact too much - about one particular type of or-
ganized living. As one experiences Homecoming, ex-
change dinners, house council meetings, Michigras,
Greek Week, house meetings, Spring Weekend, Lan-
tern Night, house sports, class meetings, song prac-
tice, initiation, alumnae functions, class traditions,
rushing, ad infinitum, one is in constant close con-
tact with 50 or more "sisters." The schedule of ac-
tivities and meetings greatly limits individual free-
dom.
T HE HOUSE is always thought of as a cohesive
entity, and the individual is expected to follow
its lead. She is not encouraged to get out and follow
her own interests, but is pressured into conform-
ing to those of others. She should not only be en-
couraged to try to do things outside the context of
the group, but to bring back to her group the bene-
fits of her experiences, so all can mutually benefit.
Sororities frown on individuality. If one doesn't
acclimate oneself to the house and participate in all
house functions, she is forced to do so - either
through social pressure or by a system of fines. The
needs of the individual are seldom taken into ac-
count. Mealtimes are rigidly set and add to the regu-
lation surrounding the individual's life. Perhaps,
just for once one wants a place to sit down by one-
self to study or relax, without interruption. Com-
monly, this is impossible. Sororities in their "togeth-
erness" demand too much of the individual.
Each member should give to the house -- but she
should not be forced to participate in all house ac-
tivities, especially at the expense of the too little
"precious individuality" left to the members.
ONCE IN THIS "little world" of affiliate life, many
members become more and more irrevocably in-
volved in its friendships and obligations. They go
to class, but this activity is entirely separate from
the rest of sorority existence. It's a 30 hour work
week. One "goes to college" for 15 hours, studies for
15 hours and spends the rest of her time involved
with her house and her social life. Such an existence
makes it almost impossible to integrate what one
has learned into the other 138 hours of the week,
Isolation of academic matters thus results through
an entirely disproportionate emphasis on and con-
cern with activities in the house.
Participation and the "house over all" seems to
be the motto. One must get good grades for the
house. The house must have a Homecoming display
or lose face in the college community. Always this
competition to win for the house. Some of this is
good, but it has expanded far beyond the legitimate
demands the house can make on the person and still
leave her any remnant of individuality.
IT'S OFTEN too easy to let one's activities over-
shadow the real purpose of the University. Activi-
ties are somehow more immediately demanding than
a course, especially when they directly involve your
living unit. Though a student at the University, and
ultimately here to learn, the member -acquires an
obligation to the house when she pledges. Most mem-
bers are not independent enough to resolve this con-
flict of values in favor of learning when it arises.
Always sandwiched in between house activities are
class hours and studying. And sometimes during the
week preceding a "major" house activity (such as
Spring Weekend) some sandwiches have no filling
at all.

One solution to the problem of the split in aims
between fraternity life and the University is to de-
velop small housing units, which would give students
the opportunity of small group living without the
overwhelming social responsibilities and demands
which are imposed by membership in a sorority. This
is apparently financially impractical, especially
since the University wants to fill Markley dormitory.
(There is some reasoning astray somewhere when
the University reduces apartment permissions for
women because it wants to fill the dormitories, and
yet finds it feasible to - in effect - raise sorority
quotas for the second time in three years by chang-
ing the method of determining quotas.)
ANOTHER solution is to encourage a re-orientation
of the affiliate system around the goals of the
University. Panhellenic Association, Inter-Fraternity
Council and the individual housing units could con-
structively rebuild their presently operating programs
to increase the emphasis on educational values.
Amazingly enough, the primary goals and ideals of
the University coincide with the theoretical goals of
the affiliate system. Panhellenic purposes include
"furthering intellectual accomplishment and sound
scholarship." But this is all talk and no show. From
the over-emphasis on social activities and the de-
mands made on the individual in the affiliate system
one would never recognize its "purposes."
Here are small housing units, encouraged to exist
by the University, that in many ways detract from its
true purposes. Yes, they help to strengthen alumni
ties, thereby helping the University financially, and
they do fill some of the housing needs; but the fact,
remains that much of what a sorority actually does
conflicts with the primary purpose of the University.
T HE AFFILIATE system should be a part of the
University's intellectual program, not just a so-
cial and living unit by itself. It should give perspec-
tive to college and to learning, helping the indi-
vidual to adjust to the opportunities available
through the peer counseling of its more experienced
members.
This is especially important for women, who after
graduation are often forced into commonly accepted
"nice girls do this" roles. While women are here
they should expand their lives and broaden their
habits when they have the chance.
Sororities, almost the most selective group in exis-
tence at the University, have a high caliber of mem-
bership. Members are chosen for intelligence, social
ability, and the contributions they can make to the
group. The members certainly have the native abil-
ity to change their group's orientation.
W'HAT IS to be done? The affiliate system should
use its enormous potential to become a vital
force for education in the University community, A
sorority shouldn't be an escape from intellectualism
-but a part of it.
The starting point is in a re-evaluation of the
system, of the social emphasis, the rushing system,
of the demands on the individual. And then after
deciding what is worth keeping, there must be posi-'
tive action. A good start was made by cutting out
Greek Week (even though most of the events were
kept and just scattered over the calendar year), but
more is needed. Individual members should ask about
and try out things that are outside the house and
get others to do the same. Then collective effort to
discuss things other than the weather, clothes or
the opposite sex at dinner should be made.
More speakers should be invited to dinner and dis-
cussions at the expense of an occasional house meet-
ing. Further suggestions are more faquty teas, invit-
ing international students for dinner and going to
International Center teas to get to know other ways
of life.
Participation and attendance in cultural programs
should be encouraged. And there should always be
some allowance for individual freedom and flexibility.
A SMALL GROUP is an ideal place to discuss
courses, thoughts, and religion. But when one is
too busy working in and for the house, it never hap-
pens. So a reorientation and reevaluation, and a re-
duction of affiliate encouraged activities is in order.
The affiliated system can add a tremendous impact
to the University's intellectual life. Their housing
units have the potential. Will they use it?
-ELIZABETH ERSKINE
Associate Personne! Director

s
4

A
A

i

LETTERS
to the
EDITOR
t
Discrimination .. .
To the Editor:
THE University has bound itself
to non-discrimination in a very
limited way. The Regents' Bylaw
2.14 covering employment and
placement service, and the Student
Activities Committee 1949 regula-
tion against recognition of new
discriminatoryrgroups seem tonbe
the only regulation of this kind.
Considering the lack of an over all
directive, the non-discriminatory
policies and practices of individual
boards and administrators are
highly commendable.
It is fair to say the efforts of
student, faculty and administra-
tion to limit discrimination have
not been particularly effective, and
many are pessimistic about future
effectiveness.
Three areas are going to take
enormous effort to eliminate dis-
crimination; ie "off-campus" hous-
ing, scholarships, and fraternal
organizations. Three other areas
require an unique approach; ie
professional schools admissions,
some units' employment practices
and residence halls administra-
tors' practices. These very press-
ing items can not be dealt with in
the present University framework,
and must not go unattended to
any longer.
* * *
THE FAIR Employment Practi-
ces Act offers us an applicable
precedent for dealing with dis-
crimination. The act made dis-.
crimination illegal in employment,
and set up a commission that has
worked through mediation and
conciliation to adjust cases which
investigation show to be in viola-
tion, and has taken only one case
to court. More important, hun-
dreds of employers have estab-
lished merit hiring and promotion
completely voluntarily.
Our Regents should and must
establish through bylaw an over
all policy of non-discrimination for
the whole of the University, and
establish a University Human Re-
lations Board and appoint a pro-
fessional Human Relations Direc-
tor to implement this policy, if the
University is to cope effectively
with discrimination.
It is shameful that in the five
years since the Supreme Court
decision, the U of M has taken
few significant steps to complete
it's own desegregation. This Uni-
versity will be delinquent until it
firmly decides: (1) it shall not
practice or abet discrimination,
and (2) that it will provide for
the implementation of this goal.
-Brereton Bissell
C. D. E. and R. Guild
Social Action Chairman
Divine ...
To the Editor:
ON OCCASIONS of violent na-
tural phenomena, it is cus-

one suspects, which will outlast
most of the others on the contem-
porary scene and, like wire wheels
and color TV, will remain a topic
of conversation for a long long
time.
"WAITING for Godot" is a time-
less play; the rate of time's flow
being variable while events, once
they have happened, seem to be
in the far distant past. Of the two
protagonists, Vladimir, the "'intel-
lectual"is always aware of the
passing of time, while his com-
panion Estragon can remember
only with difficulty.
When asked what happened in
this "time," one can only answer:
"nothing." "Nothing" happens
twice during the -course of the
play.
At the beginning, Vladimir and
Estragon appear amidst bland
scenery. They are two tramps who
are waiting. Waiting for Godot, a
mysterious figure or concept. How
long they have been waiting is un-
certain, but wait they must, for
only Godot's coming can save
them from their meaningless exis-
tence.
ne. * * *
VLADIMIR and Estragon are
more than a trifle incompatible. At
the close of Act I, Estragon re-
marks: "I wonder sometimes if we
wouldn't have been better off
alone, each one for himself. We
weren't made for the same road."
Yet they seem to be everlastingly
tied together; each to torment and
console the other.
Two intruders into this ambigu-
ous scene are Pozzo and Lucky,
master and slave. Just as Vladimir
and Estragon are bound by ties of
mutual need, Pozzo and Lucky are
bound by a more readily apparent
tie: a rope.
Pozzo is fat, prosperous, success-
ful. To supplement his own lack of
"beauty, grace, truth," he has
Lucky, who can Think. But
Lucky's thoughts are confused
now, and when they do come, they
come in an unrelated jumble of
words which can hardly be under-
stood, much less interpreted.
Yet, this curious pair continues
to exist, needing no "Godot" for
its salvation-Pozzo supplying di-
rection, of a sort, with his whip
and shouted directions, Lucky
trotting along ahead, supplying
thoughts, of a sort, and carrying
the baggage.
* * *
SHORTLY BEFORE the first
Act ends, a boy appears to say
that Godot will surely come to-
morrow, but not today. This
strangely phophetic creature is
questioned by Vladimir, but he
seems to know little but that
Godot feeds him well. And so,
Vladimir and Estragon are left
waiting for another day.
THE SECOND ACT begins much
like the first, for nothing has
changed and elapsed time cannot
be measured here.
"Tomorrow, when I wake," con-
cludes Vladimir," what shall I say
of today? That with Estragon my
friend, at this place, until the fall
of night, I waited for Godot?"
THEN THE BOY appears again,
to say that Mr. Godot will surely

°r

A

Recommendation GoodStepr

THE RECOMMENDATIONS of the Interfraternity
Council committee on selectivity represent the
most progressive and sensible approach to discrim-
ination ever taken by a fraternity group on this
campus . . . potentially.
The set of recommendations by the five-man com-
mittee would assign to a permanent IFC committee
the task of inspceting problems of racial and reli-
gious discrimination and in effect stimulate efforts
to remove arbitrary discriminatory practices.
MORE IMPORTANT, the committee report sug-
gests that Interfraternity Council continue its
efforts toward the elimination of discriminatory
practices in accord with the following policy:
"The Michigan Interfraternity Council, while
maintaining the necessary and basic principle of free
membership selection by individual fraternities, is
opposed to selectivity practices which are based on
race, nationality, or other similarly artificial cri-
teria, rather than on individual merit."
The committee is somewhat incorrect in seeking
a continuation of efforts toward clause removal,
however, since no really coherent and effective IFC
policy has ever existed. Nonetheless, the committee
is to be praised for constructing a sound policy
framework, which should provide necessary direc-
tion in a confused policy area.
CERTAIN difficulties, or better, obstacles, must be
confronted and overcome if the report is to be
successfully implemented, however.

the IFC regards discrimination as a problem for
the fraternity system to solve, it must somehow en-
sure the placing of highly competent individuals
on the selectivity committee.
At the same time, it is hoped that more influence
and guidance will be offered by the Assistant Dean
of Men for Fraternities, since he is tied more inti-
mately to the fraternity system than any other
administrator.
FINALLY, it is hoped that the administration and
the Board of Regents will outline an emphatic
policy regarding discrimination. The University has
the authority to oversee the fraternity system, but
has not thus far used it substantially. What is asked
is not an extreme mandate, e.g., a statement asking
for removal of all clauses by a specified date, but
rather, an uncompromising statement of the feeling
regarding discriminatory clauses, such as the com-
mendable one made recently by Vice-President Lewis
and Dean Rea.
A change in "attitude" is the only thing which will
eventually end the discrimination problem, the IFC
correctly points out. It is true an attitude change is
necessary by those who lay down the discriminatory
barriers in the first place. In another context, an
attitude change is necessary on the part of the Uni-
versity administration also. In place of the admin-
istrative silence which has existed for some seven
years concerning the discrimination issue, an audible
and emphatic statement would be praiseworthy.
Such a statement would hardly be out of line for
an institution such as the University, with its liberal
heritage, and its non-discriminatory practices in