'GE POUR
n?SS s 5L c ? v SS | ©Jf£ BHtlg CsiU^gteit
of The Daily Collegian of the ■
Pennsylvania State University,
Entered as second-class matter
DAVE JONES. Editor
STAFF THIS ISSUE: Night editor, Len Goodman'; Copy editors, Jack Reid, Peggy McClain; Assistants,
13 ob Dunn, Marilyn Ambler, Louise Glud, Joe Beau Seigneur, Ron Leik. Ad staff, Linda Holmes,
Enie Wolfgang.
1L Fraternity Housemothers: The Answer
(The last of two editorials' on the fraternity
housemother controversy.) .
Interfraternity Council last week took a real
istic stand in the fraternity housemother ques
tion. It considered three courses of action and
came up with the only possible solution.
The council considered the housemother ques
tion from three points of view: accepting house
mothers, accepting a more restricted unchap
eroned dating code, or offering resistance to
both. The council chose the third course.
The gradual constriction of the unchaperoned
dating code could eventually reach a point
where chaperones would be required almost
constantly. It would be both impossible and un
desirable for fraternities to secure chaperones
in this situation. Thus, this would not be an
alternative to the housemother plan, since fra
ternities would virtually be forced to employ
housemothers. The IFC has rejected such an
alternative.
Similarly, IFC rejected any idea of having
housemothers in the near future. Employment
of a resident housemother in most fraternities is,
at this time, physically and financially imprac
tical. Many houses cannot afford housemothers
without undue cost to members. Aside from this
is the contention that housemothers are unde
sirable, anyway.
Rejection of the first two courses left IFC no
choice but to accept the third: resistance. This
could be anything from refusal to enforce Uni
versity regulations to merely declaring the
newly-defined unchaperoned dating code "im
possible." The council has already done the
latter.
If the University asks for housemothers, it
must provide some alternative. The majority
of fraternities have said, they cannot employ
housemothers at this time. Therefore, failure
to provide an alternative could be disastrous.
Interpretation of the unchaperoned dating
icode, to require chaperones almost constantly,
is no alternative. One good alternative might
be strict enforcement, of the unchaperoned dat
ing code in effect last semester. .Houses would
then be given the chance to live by. regulations
Participation, Not Abstention, Is Needed
Town independents tonight will have the op- If in the opinion of town independents the
portunity to again choose their ward repre- situation in town government is one that should
sentative, or in one case representatives. Fre- be improved, then there is all the more reason
quently the question is asked as to what good to participate.
it does to bother voting at all. The good can Participation in any student government is
be seen in every phase of student government. ■ very seldom restricted to those who have a big
The good is seen in the existing good govern- idea every hour on the hour. It is done largely
ment or if good government does not exist, by those who have only an interest m doing
the good can be seen in the opportunity to something, other than eating or sleeping. The
ch&ngs government policies. sure-fire idea is not as necessary as the ability
Town Council has been beset with two major to work with others in piecing many small ideas
problems in its elections. One is the matter of together into a workable plan,
candidates. There usually are not enough. It The ofher major problem is the matter of
was recognition of this factor that led the ex- voters. They have outnumbered only the num
ecutive committee of the council to take an ber of candidates. Probably the reason most
illegal method to secure the number of rep- 'men move into town is the same reason that
resentatives necessary to conduct government. so few of them bother to come near the polls—
It was an equal recognition of this factor that they do not wish to be bothered by the mun
led the elections committee of the Association dane duties of government. .....
of Independent Men to try to form a method oi Yet how many of them are so satisfied with
legalizing the method of elections. their own existence that they feel it cannot
It is said that the mess that developed has be improved? Taking time to vote will not
discouraged even those who advanced them- automatically provide them with everything
selves previously from participating. Some of they could want, but taking an interest in
the previous candidates feel they were caught selecting those who may be able to improve
in the middle. We cannot see how. They did their situation is the only way open to town
only as instructed. Unless they had knowledge independents. _
that an illegal action was taking place, their Government by abstention will not produce
present reluctance is something that cannot be anything but a vacuum. But government par
determined by their conscience.' . ticipation can help any situation. —Dick Rau
Safety Valve-
TO THE EDITOR: ... If I may, I would like to
express the opinion of the majority of fraternity
men of Penn State (concerning fraternity social
problems) as I interpret it.
Jones has indicated in his editorial (Tuesday)
that, the IFC is outwardly defying the Univer
sity administration. No group . . . would ever
exhibit such a "lack of intelligence" to openly
defy the very thing to which it owes its being.
In no way has the IFC implied that it has the
desire to defy the University administration, or
has it refused to obey University rules and
regulations.
The existing rules and regulations governing
the use of alcoholic beverages are unenforcible.
This theory is supported not only by the IFC
but the administration as well. The (present)
IFC Board of Control . , . has never refused to
enforce the section of the unchaperoned dating
code regarding the use of alcoholic beverages.
Our policy has been one of punishment for the
misuse of alcoholic beverages rather than the
mere use.
We cannot punish one fraternity when 51
member fraternities . . . are guilty of the same
offense . . . The lack of ability to enforce this
section of the unchaperoned dating code is no
reflection on the Board of Control as the (Uni-
versity) administration
There is a great deal of difference between
“refusing” and not having the power to do
something.
Saecemr to THE FREE LANCE, eat. 138}
July 5, 1934 ict the State College* Pa. Past Office uni
Fraternity Problems
admit.
readily
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA
VINCE DRAYNE, Business Mgr.
hitherto acceptable to the University, or em-
ploy housemothers.
It does not seem logical the University would
force housemothers on houses willing to abide
by University regulations. Providing strict en
forcement of the, unchaperoned dating code—
-by IFC or the University—would be a realistic
approach, and a realistic alternative. Those
houses willing to live by an enforced unchaper
oned dating code would not need housemothers.
Those unwilling to live by the code would have
housemothers. Either way. University regula
tions would be in effect.
The only problem with this plan is enforce
ment Will the IFC or the University enforce
the code? The IFC should be given a chance to
strictly enforce the code. If it fails, the Univer
sity should assume the burden. If the University
sets acceptable regulations, the University must
be responsible to have them enforced. This
would not necessarily make a spy team of the
administration, as some would believe. It would
merely be University acceptance of this re
sponsibility.
Many are wondering how IFC got in this
mess. It is obviously from failure to enforce the
unchaperoned dating code, as in effect last year.
This code .was probably the University’s at
tempt to meet the IFC half-way. Many IFC
members, however, do not believe it was a fair
attempt.
The basic difference here is almost irrecon
cilable. Fraternities see drinking as tantamount
to social success. The University sees drinking
tearing down its prestige. The answer, some
where in between, is hard to reach. The un
chaperoned dating code, one attempt, has ap
parently failed. It is hard to say whether IFC
was at fault in not enforcing a logical code, or
whether the University was at fault for creating
an impossible code.
. The Interfraiernity Council now surely rea
lized that if the University wants housemothers.,
there is little IFC can do about it. The only hope
is to press for a good alternative to house
mothers. A restricted unchaperoned dating code
is no alternative. Enforcement of last semester's
unchaperoned dating code may well be the
only plausible alternative.
. . . there is complete agreement that these
existing laws are unenforcible when all the
factors are considered . . . The final outcome of
the recent IFC meetings . . . was the feeling that
the new interpretation of the dating code was
impractical and virtually impossible to adhere
to . . . No motion was made concerning any
"outright defiance" as Jones has indicated.
It was stated that the IFC has refused to en
force the “new” interpretation of the dating
code. This is . . . misconstruing the facts . . .
The grievances were taken to the Dean of Men’s
office . . . It was decided that the interpretation
of the code was not and still is not clear either
to the administration or the IFC. It was then
proposed that the “old” code be followed until
a more workable solution could be evolved.
Does this sound like an outward refusal to
obey?
The purpose of this letter is to refute any
beliefs that have been fostered that the IFC
considers itself on such a plane that it can dic
tate administrative policy ...
• Letter cut
Editor's note—lnformation concerning the
conference between Schott and the Dean's
office was withheld from the Daily Collegian,
and as a result this rewspaper could not re
port the previous code interpretation would
be followed until a new one could be evolved.
Collegian editorials represent
, the viewpoint 'of the writers,
I not necessarily the policy of the
newspaper. Unsigned editorials
are by the editor.
ider the act of March 3, 1379,
—Thomas Schott
IFC President
tie Man on Campus
Cjiancing
I dropped around at All-College Cabinet Thursday night. I don’t
, ordinarily spend my time among our august legislators, but this time
my presence was requested. And in these days of subpoenas, I de
cided to go peacefully. There wasn’t any legislation going on. They
were just nosey.
Having had a little to do with
this year’s Student Handbook, I
was requested to present a report
on the state of affairs/ Cabinet
wasn’t as particularly concerned
with suggestions for furthering
the etherial quality of the litera
ture as they were with the filthy
question of money.
For the past few years cabinet
has been picking up the tab on
the cost, not covered by . advertis
ing. This year there was a change
—the handbook paid dividends.
Having taken care of this little
chore, I was ready to sit back and
enjoy the deliberations on other,
more worthy, subjects.
One of these subjects con
cerned the possible formation
of an Outing Club. It seems the
Ski Club has been performing
the functions of the Outing
Club so-an Outing Club is need
ed so the Ski Club can get back
to things concerning things the
Ski Club should be concerned
with. Follow me?
But another subject brought be
fore cabinet promises an even
greater future for Penn State
than the trials to be encountered
in getting Penn Staters into the
open air oftener than necessary.
There was a suggestion that
cabinet sponsor a “Beat Pitt* 5
week. The idea of special weeks
has long intrigued me.
The idea for the formation of
special weeks was probably
thought up by'someone who no
ticed that all the months of the
year have names.
Everyone could gather around
the Cathedral of Learning for a
Panther roast. Something no foot
ball game should be without. It
might even replace the featuring
of western bar-b-cues in eastern
cities.
Other possibilities perhaps
would suggest wearing blue and
white by everyone on campus
such as, I believe, was tried last
year. I understand the Army
ROTC wouldn’t go along with it
-die-hards. - N
The idea of special weeks has
not only been harbored by those
with a disregard for the Panthers’
well being. The junior class held
a Junior Week. - The committee
came up with something of an
unseasonal . stretch of idyllic
weather.
Snow reminds me of a situa
tion that presented itself in
State College last summer. The
residents migh't hold an annual
snow-job Week in honor of one
of the better known itinerants.
Snow Week might also be eele-
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1953
-At WJ»
brated by the students on any one
of the big weekends when it
would be most inconvenient.
But to get away from the
sordid side of life, Penn Staters
might inaugurate an annual “Hold
Your Breath While You’re Walk
ing from Rec Hall to Temp Week,”
to he held during the manure
spreading season. This might lead
to a “Who Has the Bluest Pace
Week.”
A “Let’s All Go to the Library
Week” might be held in conjunc
tion with a “Let’s All Go to 'the
Movies Week.” The best time for
these weeks would probably be
during finals.
The selection of a "Lei's hon
or the Nocturnal Hort Woods
Census Takers' Week" would
probably have to be limited to
one of the warmer months, if
it could be held at all. State
laws on lynching might, have a
tendency to curtail the high
lights of the week.
The successful completion of a
“Let’s All Walk Through- Pollock
Dorms Week” could be followed
by a “Let’s Put Pollock Back To
gether Again Week.”
All in all the idea of having
special weeks at Penn State has
wonderful possibilities. It might
even lead to a special cabinet
committee on the scheduling of
special weeks. The cabinet com
mittee could, of course, be hon
ored by a week of its own. The
future would be bright, not a
week in the school year would
be left unscathed.
The scheduling of weeks might
be undertaken in a campus polit
ical party platform, which of
course could lead to a
Former MB Dean
Heads Mine Board
Edward Steidel, former dean of
the Mineral Industries school, was
sworn in recently as chairman of
the Federal Coal Mine- Safety
Board of Review.
Steidel succeeds Alex U. Muller
of Vincennes, Ihd., for a term to
expire. July 15, 1955. His appoint
ment by President Eisenhower is
subject to® confirmation when
Congress reconvenes.
The board of review hears ap
peals from orders issued by the
Bureau of Mines under the fed
eral coal mine law enacted in
1952. Its three members serve on
a part-time basis.
By BiM
i
'/jj /. }f4j
•l}-,
Ey DICK RAU