TIHE MICHIGAN DAILY
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1950
CROSS CURRENTS
THE STUDENT LEGISLATURE is to be
commended for its courageous decision in
setting a limit to the period which frater-
nities will be allowed to eliminate discrimi-
natory clauses from their constitutions.
The question of what to do with discri-
minatory clauses is one of importance not
only to fraternities but also to the entire
campus. The whole student body has a
stake in this issue. Institutionalized pre-
judice which is a blot on the University
must be eliminated as soon as possible.
How this may best be done is an important
consideration. Many fraternity men are
deeply concerned about the discriminatory
clauses and have been working long and
.hard to convince their groups of the need
for action. Some have been successful and
the record indicates that several fraternities
have, through their own actions, eliminated
clauses in the past few years.
From the fraternity point of view, this
method may be best because it allows fra-
ternities to take their own actions. With
this in mind, the Inter-Fraternity Council
has suggested that fraternities be required
to present anmotion to eliminate clauses at
their next nation convention.
The IFC proposal is fine, as far as it
goes. But what happens to the fraternity
that simply does not want to eliminate
discriminatory clauses? There is no indica-
tion in the proposal to show that pressure
would be brought to bear on a fraternity that
fails to present a motion to the national
convention. A fraternity might be allowed
to drift along, as long as it chose, without
taking any action on the clauses.
So the IFC proposal becomes ineffective
for some members of the fraternity system.
It is like passing a law without providing
any means of punishment for those who
choose not to obey the law. A time limit
seems to be the only effective means of as-
suring that all fraternities will take action.
In the long run, the time limit can be
an effective instrument for fraternity men
who sincerely wish to get rid of the dis-
criminatory clauses. With a deadline in
hand, fraternities can point out the dra-
matic need for immediate action. There
is no indication that discrimination will
die of old age. Although prejudice cannot
be legislated out of existence, discrimina-
tion, its overt, institutionized form, can,
and must be removed.
The problem of discriminatory clauses is
a fraternity problem and in the final analy-
sis it is the fraternities who will actually do
the elimination process. But whether or not
fraternities determine to take action is the
concern of the entire University community
and a certain measure of responsibility rests
with all students. SL has shown that it is
willing to take that responsibility
-Janet Watts.
Editorials published in The Michigan Daily
are written by members of The Daily staff
and represent the views of the writers only.
NIGHT EDITOR: RON WATTS
/CURRENT MOVIES
At The Orpheun . .
THE FACTS OF LOVE with assorted
English actors and actresses.
SIDNEY BOX is probably best known to
American movie-goers as the producer
of the very British success Quartet. The lat-
est of his pictures to appear in Ann Arbor,
The Facts of Love, all too clearly shows the
lack of a Maugham to write the scenario.
However, the result is not entirely unplea-
sant, as Mr. Box seems to have come up with
a fairly interesting example of what British
comedy can be, though it never reaches the
level of Kind Hearts and Coronets.
The film centers around th shenannigans
of what is called a middle-class English
family. At the outset, Father, Mother, and
daughter Joan are about to start out on a
Mediterranean cruise. Joan suddenly gets
engaged, so she can't go along, and although
her brother Peter is approached to take her
place, he begs off because of commitments,
in the form of a seductive chance acquain-
tance.
So Mother and Father set out by them-
selves, leaving the children to play. And play
they do.
By the time the parents return home
unexpectedly in the middle'of the night,
daughter Joan has conceded to the plead-
ings of her fiancee, the son Peter has
returned home sopping wet (unbeknownst
to the couple) after a disillusioning bout
with his chance acquaintance, and the
cook has just avoided the clutches of her
boyfriend to run crying home. Things are
flying pretty thick in the living room when
somebody apparently censored a chunk of
the film. It is quite tantalizing.
In parts, this movie is rather boorish-a
poor imitation of a poor American comedy.
Publications Board Elections
"Going To Call On Him For A Post-Election Speech?"
ONCE AGAIN this year, students will be
electing members of the Board in Con-
trol of Student Publications, but with seem-
ingly little knowledge of what these Board
members, once elected, will control.
Therefore, it might be helpful to in-
telligent voting if there were some clearer
picture of what the Board does, and equal-
ly important, what it does not.
The Board is composed of 12 members-
seven faculty and two alumni appointed by
the Regents, and three students chosen
yearly in campus-wide elections. Tradition-
ally, the two alumni members are in the
newspaper or publishing business.
In its relation to the student publications,
the Board can best be described as analogous
to the Publisher. As such, the Board makes
or approves the appointment of editors, and
handles long-range decisions involving capi-.
tal expenditures, budgets and technical mat-
ters.
More specifically, the purchase of The
SAC
Representationt
NOW THAT the Student Legislature has
passed its proposal asking that official
recognition be withheld from fraternities
which still have discriminatory clauses in
their constitutions by 1956 the spotlight
shifts to the Student Affairs Committee.
The SAC is the only administrative com-
mittee in the University upon which stu-
dents are adequately represented. It is
composed of six members of the University
Senate appointed by the President, the
Deans of Students and Women and seven
students. But close inspection shows that
none of the student representatives on the
Committee actually represent the student
body.
On the body sits the President of the
Union, the President of the League and the
Managing Editor of The Daily. None of these
people are elected to their office. By virtue
of having worked themselves up in their re-
spective organizations they automatically be-
came members of SAC, which has full con-
trol over all student activities.
The president of SL and a woman legis-
lator are also members of the Committee,
but they do not, as one might think, repre-
sent SL. They are on the Committee because
they are supposed to be campus leaders.
When they assume their seats they are asked
not to vote as representatives of any body,
but as individuals.
The chairman of the Women's Judiciary
Council also sits on SAC. It is hard to say
whether her position is justified. All candi-
dates for Women's Judic are screened by
a League interviewing board and then are
elected by the presidents of organized wom-
en's houses.
At any rate I can see n6 reason why all
seven student membets of the Committee
should not be elected directly by the en-
tire student body.
Student government at Michigan is get-
ting stronger year by year. At this date stu-
dent representation on SAC is looked upon
as a great achievement. But before we start
to build on this base, this glaring weakness
should be removed by allowing the student
body to have full democratic representation.
-Paul Marx
Drafting
Women
THE DRAFTING of women into the mili-
tary services may soon be a grim reality
should full mobilization become the theme.
But compulsory civil service for women could
offer a far more satisfactory answer.
As many civil service jobs are handled
by the military during wartime, women
could do these assigned jobs and still re-
tain their civilian freedom.
Civil service employees are paid more than
the' military for the same jobs, but this
pay rate couldbealtered. Pleasant living
facilities are provided for many civil ser-
vice workers near their jobs, and this could,
in turn, solve the accompanying housing
problem.
The variety of jobs and choice of travel
would be appealing to many young women
who would willingly go overseas. As civilians,
they would be protected by the government,
but would not be subject to such strict regi-
mentation as their uniformed sisters are.
Such an expanded compulsory civil ser-
vice program would eliminate much of the
discontent now prevalent in the women's
military services. At present, uniformed
women are subject to similar regulations,
discipline, living conditions, and recrea-
tional facilities as the soldiers are.
Such an expanded wartime civil service
program would also eliminate the rank-
consciouness that the service fosters. With
the strict regimentation of the service modi-
fied and living conditions improved, com-
pulsory civil service for women could be the
answer to the problem of conscripted labor,
should an emergency occur.
--Mary Letsis
Daily's new press, an increase in the salaries
of building personnel, the sale price of pub-
lications, or a, change in type-size are de-
cisions made by the Board.
Also, with faculty and alumni members
appointed for three year terms, and usually
renewed at least once, the Board serves a
an element of continuity and a balance to
the frequent turnover characteristic of any
student enterprise.
In a more informal manner, the Board
members are a group of people interested in
student publications, and the problems of
the publications, thus a group with whom'
the editors of the various publications can,
if they desire, freely discuss some of the
problems or situations which arise.
And although these are all important
functions, it becomes apparent from just
this quick listing that the Board does not
directly determine the character or con-
tent of any of the student publications.
On The Daily, for instance, the Board
does'not determine what will be printed,
on either the news or editorial pages.
These, the essentials of day to day pub-
lication, are decisions made by the editors
in accordance with The Daily's Code of
Ethics. The paper you pick up in the
morning, therefore, is not shaped, in-
fluenced, or "controlled" by the Board.
But the fact that Board members do not
actually edit or shape either policy or pro-
grams on any of the publications does not
decrease the importance either of the Board
as a whole, or of the elected student mem-
bers. It does, however, mean that the voter
should be clear as to just what functions
the students he casts his ballot will have,
and use this as the basis for evaluating the
several candidates and for choosing the
three he thinks are best.
-Roma Lipsky.
Free
Enterprise
IN THE November 5 issue of The Monroe
Street Journal, the Business Administra-
tion's weekly journal, an article appeared
under the title "Hitler-The Free Enter-
priser," which was a very awkward attempt
to defend free enterprise. Not that the writ-
er's intentions weren't virtuous, but his
means were sadly incompatible with his
ends. He attempted to justify capitalism by
virtue of the success Adolf Hitler -had with
it when the Dictator was compelled to turn
to free enterprise in 1942. In this way of
thinking, capitalism would be justified even
if the Devil had sanctioned it.
"It is ironical"-the writer explained-
"that this increased production was
achieved because, in 1942, Adolf Hitler, up
to that time the greatest exponent of to-
talitarianism the world had ever known,
was induced to abandon authoritarian con-
trols, take the shackles off industry, and
let free enterprise hold sway."-
He concludes: "In war as in peace, a na-
tion courts national suicide if it does not
maintain a healthy, competitive industry,
free of excessive governmental controls. Al-
bert Speer (former German Minister of Arm-
aments Production) knew that-Hitler found
it out, but too late to stave off defeat."
Perhaps the author intended this article
as a back-handed slap at the present Ad-
ministration's policies toward business. If
the writer is subtly attempting to equate
Hitler's totalitarian grasp of business prior
to 1942 with the so-called officiousness of
the present Government, he fails to point
out any similarities.
If, on the other hand, he is attempting
to justify free enterprise by the fact that
Germany's production increased after its ini-
tiation (which seems to be the tenor of the
article), the feasibility of tying up the two
is open to question. True, a quasi-free en-
terprise system did exist under Hitler's later
regime and did contribute to an increase in
production. But it is difficult to believe his
assertion that the free enterprise which
existed in Germany after 1942 was free from
any authoritarian control. And fear among
German businessmen certainly remained an
important factor in expanding production.
At any rate, even our own free enterprise,
capitalism under democracy, is not govern-
ed by laissez-faire principles, and some gov-
ernmental interference has been found nec-
essary.
Moreover, Hitler's motive for employing
free enterprise, upon the failure of totalitar-
ian methods to increase productivity, was
exclusively world conquest. Under no cir-
cumstance can free enterprise be justified
in this light. The writer heedlessly fails to
take into consideration the political aspects
behind any free enterprise system. Free en-
terprise in a democracy means much more
than free enterprise under a Fascist state.
From a practical standpoint, this article
is not likely to win friends and influence
people. The tie-up between free enterprise
and the brutal Hitler regime is bad taste.
Most people shy away from mentioning
free enterprise and Fascism in the same
breath. They haven't yet forgotten the
horrors of World War II. In addition, Com-
manist propagandists are all too likely
to jump at this opportunity to syllogize in
a manner, which we're certain the writer
didn't mean to suggest: fascism equals free
enterprise; democracy equals free enter-
prise; therefore, fascism equals democracy.
The possibilities of distortioA are infinite.
motion (and there were affiliated
students among them) felt that a
move urging fraternities to remove
clauses needed teeth. The six year
limit provides those teeth.
Mr. Brentlinger believes the na-
tionals will drop many chapters on
campus rather than change their
constitutions. However, he forgot
to take into, consideration that the
University of ,Michigan fraterni-
ties will not be the only ones that
will -be required by their schools to
remove clauses. Other colleges
have already passed similar mo-
tions containing time limits and
within the next six years surely
many more colleges will seek to
have selectivity clauses removed.
This means that the National
Fraternity will be dropping not
just one or two chapters but many
many member fraternities.
Those who voted for the Student
Legislature motion believe that
rather than lose so many chapters
the Nationals will remove their
clauses. University of Michigan
fraternities will not be alone in
fighting their selectivity commit-
ments.
Mr. Brentlinger derrogated the
integrity of the majority of SL
members when he said that if it
rejects the SL proposal, the Stu-
dent Affairs Committee will be
subject to criticism from those
"who may not be familiar with the
details of the situation in ques-
tion."
I sincerely hope that he knows
more than to believe that those
who helped to pass the motion did
so without trying their best to in-
vestigate and to understand all
views.
Every SL member will agree that
his associates did their best to see
the situation from all angles and
voted according to what they con-
sidered the most logical viewpoint.
-Leah Marks.
* * *
Standards*.
To the Editor:
4 fm
ir ~
eftteP TO THE EDITOR
The Daily welcomes communications from its readers on matters of
general interest, and will publish all letters whichsare signed by the writer
and in good taste. Letters exceeding 300 words in length, defamatory or
libelous letters, and letters which for any reason are not in good taste will
be condensed edited or withheld from publication at the discretion of the
editors.
Fraternity Bias. .
To the Editor:
HERE I SIT collapsed at my
desk, squinting through sev-
eral strands of hair with bleary
eyes, and weakly grasping my pen.
Ever since The Daily published
my name along with the others
who voted against setting a six
year time limit for fraternities to
get rid of discriminatory clauses
in their national constitutions, I
have been almost forced to walk
down the street backwards in or-
der to avoid meeting someone I
know. I have been through so
many discussions that I now auto-
matically flinch when someone
casually remarks, "I saw your
name in the paper." Believe me,
it would have been easier to vote
for the motion. Here's why I
didn't.
First, I do not believe we should
confuse this issue with that of the
removal of questions on applica-
tion blanks of other cases which
can be debated on different
grounds. The arguments for the
motion just passed by SL are that
it will force people to re-examine
their beliefs, and it will remove
legal barriers. What bothers me
is that I foresee a boomerang ef-
fect. Much progress has been;
made and is now being made by
sincere individuals who are work-
ing inside their fraternities for
- the removal of clauses. The an-
tagonism which will be created by
this motion will greatly retard
their work. It is well known that
you don't win an argument by an
outright attack on the other per-
son's beliefs, because he will re-
sent being told his judgement is
faulty. Therefore he will imme-
diately search around for ration-
alizations to strengthen his side,
even if he began with only a va-
gue half-formed belief. Prejudice
has deep emotional roots, and a
great deal of tact and under-
standing is required to pull it out.'
Unless the movement comes
from within the fraternities in a
natural manner, it will not come
at all. This time limit or force
hovering on the-outside will be a
definite handicap instead of an
aid to a chapter which is fighting
for removal of a clause. It will
cause "national" to recoil and go
into a huddle, forgetting the in-
trinsic worth of the argument,
and come out with somethingthat
is far worse: a hidden clause or
understanding. The barrier will
still be there, and the process of
changing attitudes will have been
retarded.
Instead, why not go all out to
remove prejudice and clauses
through a constructive, recondi-
tioning program. I am working 'on
the Human and International Re-
lations committee which is just
beginning to scratch the surface
on this. If you'll pardon the ana-
logy; let's not go charging into
the broad side of a barn in hopes
of smashing it in a bit.
Why not try opening the door?
-Nancy Porter
horse candidate." Perhaps it is
within her power to more. fully
describe the people's choice
"Frank J. Kelly" and his wonder-
ful accomplishments in this great
state of Michigan. Having such a
great leader and economist as
this. the State of Michigan should
Fraternity Bias .. .
To the Editor:
THE Student Legislature's recom-
mendation of a six-year time
limit on the removal of discrimina-
tory clauses was a very serious ac-
tion. As one who both spoke and
voted for it, I feel that i is very
important that those who oppose
the motion clearly understand its
motivations and objectives.
For myself, I begin with the as-
sumption that the bulk of fratern-
ity men at Michigan are already
convinced th a t discriminatory
clauses should go. Unsuccessful
delegates to national conventions
last summer who worked for re-
moval support that premise as well
as the survey of campus attitudes
made by the Survey Research Cen-
ter in the spring of 1949.
The purpose, then, is lot to
coerce Michigan students, but
rather to attack a national prob-
lem by a method which in some
cases is the only possible efective
procedure.
(Incidentally, the SL as well as
the University are both already on
r e c o r d against discriminatory
clauses because of the so-called
"Michigan Plan" which in the
spring of 1949 barred new campus
organizations with such clauses.)
The motion does not purport to
legislature against prejudice as a
state of mind.
Rather it is aimed solely at
eliminating discrimination as an
existing structural barrier. Reflect
for a moment upon what state
the South today would be in if the
14th and 15th amendments had
not prevented the states from
adopting offically discriminatory
policies.
The removal of clauses is a prac-
tical political one. Southern groups
can seldom be swayed by moral or
logical arguments in this type of
issue. The action does two things.
First it gives the National con-
ventions an added reason for re-
moving clauses-the prospective
loss of chapters, and secondly it
provides the Southern groups with
a reason, or excuse if you will, that
they can explain or justify in their
own communities.
For the last year and a half
many of us have worked with
representatives of IFC, seeking to
develop Human Relations pro-
grams aimed at expanding con-
tact, and hence increasing under-
standing, between affiliated and
ur affiliated groups.
I have sensed that underling
these discussions and activities
there has been a continual dis-
trust or fear of future anti-fra-
ternity action which prevented full
and effective cooperation.
It may sound odd to many of you
when I suggest that the SL action
will improve Fraternity-Indepen-
dent relations.
Clearly, the ending of the un-
certainty has aroused resentment.
And yet this is a long range prob-
lem. In a semester, or a year, or
two years, when the motion's sup-
porters are gone and the present
resentment has slackened, the
problem of human relations and
Frat-Ind. cooperation will remain.
Prospective fears are much more
of a barrier than past resentments.
The total story doesn't boil down
to a single letter to the editor. I
am quite willing to discuss the
matter personally with any group
interested in doing so.
-Tom Walsh
1
4.
G11,4l UU V V Iiuligl ;lul 3 EADING the editorials of the
not keep his accomplishments in last four or five issues of the
the dark, bu.t should publish them D lystIfour o t elpssu ts o ner
to the world. After all, if Soapy Daily, I could not help but wonder
can get in Life every now and if I were reading' the Michigan
then, there is no reason for them Daily, or some pseudo-liberal pa-
to discriminate against such a per, such as The Delta Democrat-
superior man. We have looked in Times, or Ralph McGill's venerable
Who's Who but found no refer- Atlanta Constitution. To get down
ence to Miss Watts' model of ef- to cases, it seems that the hem-
ficiency. Perhaps this book of vir- ming, hawing, indecision, and dou-
tues has made a glaring mistake. ble-talk concerning SL action on
In either case, more power to The Fraternity Bias, the Michigan gu-
Daily writers and their "efficien- bernatorial election, etc., does not
cy" programs, reflect clear thinking at all. If any-
-Herbert Furman thing, it shows that the many edi-
-Gordon I. Ginsberg torial writers of The Daily are re-
« * . luctant to talk about standards.1
Furthermore; it is evident that
psi u . . . . there is at present no rigorous in-
quiry into the origins and bases
To the Editor: of standards-this, I' suppose, be-
E: PSI U 'Fraternity Fine . . . ing left to 'mossbacks and fogies!
"If the lovely and pleasant If this is so, I am proud to be num-
coeds who attended the Psi U bered among them, for I do see
drinking party (Nov. 3) still wish clearly that there is a difference
to share in the wealth, they could between 'truth' and 'expediency,'
also share in the !expense. Seem- between the 'right' and the 'plea-1
ingly enough, the Psi U fraternity surable,' and between 'feasibility'
has been doubly fined-and the and 'necessity.'
responsibility of the violation lies Where do you suppose our coun-1
also with the coeds. try would be today, if those 13 lit-
--Stan Gould tle colonies had let conditions of
* . * 'expediency,' 'feasibility,' or 'prac-
ticality' get in their way of realiz-
Haircuts . . . ing their freedom from 'big, bad,
Britain'? All the progress of man-;
To the Editor: kind has been made when it wa'sn't
AFTER READING "Letters to 'expedient' or 'feasible' to do cer-
A the Editor" since the Fall Se- tain things: (e. g., social reforms,
mester and after hearing the vari- religious movements, political li-
ous complaints on Campus, we of berties.) If - we wait around on
the Hiawatha. Club are very sur- 'practicality,' we will never get
prised that there has been no men- anywhere! Can't you just hear the
tion of the increased price in hair- basileus of some old staid (I al-
cuts. Certainly there has been most said stale) chapter of- ad-
much comment among the men on dressing his brothers as follows, by
campus on this subject, but noth- candlelight: 'Now, good brethren,
ing more than just "comments." there are certain clauses in our
The Hiawatha Club has a pro- Constitution (all bow at the men-
gram in effect now which we be- tion of the word), which not only
lieve will work. We have asked our are discriminatory, but have a dis-
300 male members to skip their criminatory potential which can
next haircut and put the $1.25 (or only do harm to a great many peo-
$1.50) in their pockets. Our 150 fe- (ple. I, therefore, as basileus, recom-
male members (note the 2 to 1 ra- mend unequivocally, the elimina-
malememers(noe th 2 o 1ra-tion of those clauses from the Con-
tio) have agreed not to boycott us.,tito a ethertaking o-all
This is our method of formal com- stitution, and the taksureofhal
plaint. We don't know how much necessary steps to insure the
good it willdo, but it will be in- carrying out of this action.'? In a
teresting to watch the results. Ob- pig's eye!
viously, we have very few members Finally, I want to say that I in-
in comparison with the student tend to use the words 'truth,'
population, but if we were to re- 'right,' 'wrong,' 'good,' 'bad,' with
ceive support from other groups on a fairly clear idea of what I mean
Campus, we may be able to cause by them. I want to use them in
a little uneasiness. If not, well, we connection with certain judgments
did save a little money this month. about U. S. foreign policy, 'Fair
Incidently, if you do see any of jDeal,' Fraternity Bias, UMT, high
our members on Campus, please be prices, Rent Control, and anything
. I
I
easy on us.
-Ted Chapekis, Pres.,
Hiawatha Club.
.~- ,-,
Fraternity Bias-...
To the Editor:
DESPITE Mr. Brentlinger's as-
surance that there was only
one correct way to vote on the
fraternity clause motion, the ma-
jority of Student Legislators de-
cided against his view after dis-
cussing and thinking out all
anglesfor many months.
Those who helped to pass the
else that comes into my purview.
And mind you, I shall not just
be giving a catalogue of my emo-
tions, or a 'reflection of social con-
ditioning.' Incidents in the past
(Cf. the Phillips Ban, Birth of a
Nation, etc.) have convinced me
that there is not only a general
confusion about standards, but also
a 'sophomoric cynicism' as to the'
possibility of talking about them
intelligently. This is true of the
campus, as well as of The Daily.
It is not my general policy to make
blanket indictments, but here, I
know I am justified.
-Berkley Eddins
Sixty-First Year
Edited and managed by students of
the University of Michigan under the
authority of the Board in Control of
Student Publications.
Editorial Staff
Jim Brown..........Managing Editor
Paul Brentlinger...........City Editor
Roma Lipsky.......... .Editorial Director
Dave Thomas....... Feature Editor
Janet Watts..... ....... Associate Editor
Nancy Bylan.......,..Associate Editor
James Gregory.......Associate Editor
Bill Connolly............ Sports Editor
Bob Sandell....Associate Sports'Editor
Bill Brenton..Associate Sports Editor.
Barbara Jans..........Women's Editor
Pat Brownson Associate Women's Editor
Business Staff
Bob Daniels..........Business Manager
Walter Shapero Assoc.vBusiness Manager
Paul Schaible...Advertising Manager
Bob Mersereau.......Finance Manager
Carl Breitkretz... . Circulation Manager
Telephone 23-24-1
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Entered at the Post Office at Ann
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Subscription during regular school
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Kelly .
1
To the Editor:
W E ARE very glad to see that
Daily writer Miss Watts has
come forward with a very lucid
explanation of the term "dark
BARNABY
Looking Back
I That goose is getting to know
me, Ellen. Yesterday she took
grain right out of my hand-
No need to worry, Barnaby-
Your father won't kill the
Goose that lays Golden Eggs.
After all, if we're going to eat
roast goose, it's your job to-
know,
i-f,'-
You know the old humorous cliche--
Man has a goose, turkey, chicken-
Feeds it...Becomes fond of it...
Can't bring himself to do it harm ...
i