Sunday, January ? 5, 1956
T HE MI C H IG A N D A LY
Page Five
CAMPUS LEADERS
Separated according to six "classic" types, the activities
men are here presented in handy guidebook form
Bs JIM DYGEt beyond sensible proportions of sig-
nificance in campus political af-
jN SPOTLESS new suits and fairs.
with the latest in Samsonite If he is reasonably confident he
luggage, the freshmen carefully will get the credit, he is interested
descend from the train and thread in accomplishing things construc-
their sway through the Ann Arbor kive, and actually works very hard
Terminal Railroad, embarked on because he is ambitious.
their coliee careers. What he suspects, but doesn't
Although they all look the sam . know for sure, is that many people
some are sOns ur dauhters of see through him. The prevailing
successful and loyal alumni, some attitude toward him may be
are there to better themselves termed one of toleration.
from their fathers' factory fate,
some were presidents of half their 4. THE COMP Y MAN sees
highe choos' or nisatrons pome everything in relation to the effect
se queens of last ye ar'- ps-mart it will probably have on his or-
some were stuain very sort4 ganization. If the effect appears
some were ont' stdentsid d somegood, he's for it; if bad, he's
aretes re because thmeir patrias 'against it; if it seems there will
ared it wa the thin to mdo. be little or no effect, he's not in-
Mnny of them a-sated no time terested. Most students interpret
coinin students activitiea, Most ','-t this as a kind of narrowminded-
waited until they understood the 1hsa ido arwidd
pace before involving themrseh es s inees iestife n i of
in exr urcua tsmevs - \ 1 '\He is quite satisfied in his post-
Some thought mainly of the ex-- tion as head or assistant head of
parce. hisorganization, and is quite
perience. Others dreamed of get- redtio meash eaorassistanyhado
11 ote o fte raz-ready to meet head-on any and
tin to the top of the organiza- -all threats to its prestige, which
tions, or of oneof heorganiza- -he identifies with his. He is ag-
tions, they joined, gressive for his organization, as
These latter, as well as those,. energetic in seeking favorable
who gather ambition along the gtas-Dakne pulcyasiavdnghenf-
way, are the most interesting, for -Cartoons by Dirk snei publicity as in avoiding the unfav-
they become what are not too THE DIPLOMAT: Tactful, cautious, THE DABBLER: Charming, handsome and Itres dncontructiv-action
affectionately termed "campus conservative, The prevailing attitude witty. He never takes sides on anything because on if a g srhi acu's
leaders." Onlyif t cocerws his rgarma-
toward him may be termed toleration. of the danger of losing friends, - tion, he is not aconservav
HE TRM s nt a oodonebut even non-conmIttal us all
THE TERM is not a good one. which is a generalized way of de- handsome and witty, a big hit His one real value is in stimu- other bu tgng oOf course, he works
divergent variety of student, many fining the general responsibility with all the coeds in activities and lating students to think; if about very ha - witth n antd tfo i r
of which become "campus leaders" of the "campus leader." In any a friend of every student who nothing else, about ways to get ganizaton In snort he - well
o whic beme "camypuy leaders" event, a "campus leader" is hard could conceivably be considered rid of him, indoctrinated.
to advance their everyday prestige to define, because so many kinds a wheel. What prestige he wins s. "
as well as to impress the future of them grow from these different is due to these attributes, of which
employer. An undetermined per- motivations and circumstances he is always partially aware, 3. THE DIPLOMAT is very care- 5. THE REPRESENTATIVE is
centage of them, perhaps all of ful to keep his ambitions from really good only when shaking
them for undetermined percent- Despite the numerous nuances He is also a great practical showing. He is usually the husky, hands with someone. He is almost
ages of the time, are really in- separating them, "campus lead- joker and laughs off all contro- athletic type, or the son of a always the president or vice-presi-
terested in the responsibilities ers" can be reduced to approxi- versial subjects as being really millionaire, who has become presi- dent of an organization who finds
connoted by the term "campus mately six general types. Classi- very silly for a man of his intel- dent or vice-president of some- himself saddled with a lot of
ledes.Eying them seems, icidentally, lectual mein. He never takes sides
leaders." yn he eminietly, lculmi.H ee ae ie thing to prove he is more valuable public relations work and little
No doubt the key lies in their bet if not the only approach on anything, because of the dan- here than in sports or to demon- actual work, whihb is handled in-
motivation, which itself may be to understanding them, their ger of losing friends whic are strate he doesn't have to depend stead. aad qte adecuately by
very complex with subtle shad- characteristics and their problems. his only hold on things, on his father for everything, either an abundance of uadertings.
logsthatdon't even stand still It must be faithfully remembered, Although he gives impressions
from day to day, howeve, that any given "campus of bing very dedicaed, he works of which he tends to doubt him- B-ecas sos -iton i - a tles n tdas "en.l-s detod
Atlestoe tuy a e u-leader" may just happen to fall much harder on the impressions-
dertakenstyfarsdycho st wen into more than one of these rate- than in the organization, because Having found himself in his except shak han su he choen
dertaken by a psychologist who gones he is not much interested in ac- position, he is extremely cautious accordingly. eis undeniably a
reported of a college newspaper gorier.-complishing anything except his lest he lose any of its prestige. The grand guy and often a great one
staff that neurotic Insecurity had own reputation. A few weeks of resulting conservatism makes it for parties. Not especially intelli-
a lot to do with it. A student at- 1. THE DABBLER maintains this in most organizations lends difficult for him to increase the gent or intellectual, he compen-
tempts to gain recognition for an interest in several related or little to advancement, and he do- prestige, in which, of course, he sates quite well for his blandness
his worth, either because he has non-related activities, either sim- cides to make a change. is also interested. by his agreeable personlity.
failed previously or in another ultaneously or over a period of s He appears as being very tact- He Is secure in his position,
area of endeavor, or because he time or both. Invariably, he never 2. THE AGITATOR attempts ful, with the ability to reconcile which is ordinarily one the pres-
fears the loss of that previously gets very far in any of them, to keep himself constantly in the conflicting views, and never takes tige of which no one would or
gained or the realization that it which helps to explain why he campus spotlight with a minimum a definite stand on an issue lest could menance anyway. He can
was a fluke. keeps changing. Very unsure of of constructive work and a maxi- he antagonize someone. Though afford to take at least a vocal in-
The more normal (somewhat himself in the beginning, this sort mum of destructive noise. Having innately a bit dictatorial, he tries terest in matters concerning the
undefineable itself) he is, the of thing keeps him that way. developed the art of attracting also to hide this and takes great entire campus, but words are the
more sincere is his interest in the What usually saves him to some attention into a science of obtain- delight in back-room political limit of his participation. It
advancement of the student, extent is that he is also ,harming, ing recognition, he continually maneuvering, which he magnifies See ACTIVITIES, Page 6
brings up new ideas and schemes,
each more shocking and radical
than the last, shouting them out
louder and longer than an auct-
i ' " oneer,
Very seldom does he find him--a
self in an important position or ' '
in any position at all. His lone
claim to fame and security is his
monopoly on the organs of pub-
~ #-' licity, which he eventually loses
as the novelty of his demagogey --
wears off.
- 'As a justification for his antics, '
/ he insists he represents student
opinion, and can ordinarily be'
found in some form of student ..t""
R government, though sometimes in
a medium of communication. His
contributions to the organization
-are minor, for what is good pub- -
lcity for him is often not for the
group.
One consolation for him is that
he is usually admired for his
courage in being willing to enter
any controversial issue on one
side of which he takes a cery
strong stand, He will never let
himself be caught without his
name connected in some way to
any issue that is at all big.
Whether this is caused by his pub-
THE COMPANY MAN: Aggressive for his organization, he is idealism, he ekingnvariablyr is bysme-an THE AGITATOR: Controversial, ingenious, willing to take a
as energetic in seeking favorable publicity as he is in avoiding the what narrowminded on the side strong stand. Has developed the art of attracting attention into
unfavorable. he chooses, a science of obtaining recognition.