The Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 40, No. 36, Ed. 1 Friday, April 24, 1953 Page: 2 of 8
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FRIDAY. APRIL U. IMS
Threshing It Out
Letter to the Editor-
It seems to me that each and
every week brings hotter and hotter
letters(?) to "Threshing It Out."
The entire column is packed with
weekly slashes at school officers
' and biting satires on campus per-
sonalities in general.
A column for students to offer
helpful suggestions and occasional
stinging remarks for the admini-
stration is fine, but this whole
thing is getting out of control and
balance. I realize that Rice students
are inherently pungent in nature
due to constant heckling from the
faculty, but they are also known to
be considerably more sensible than
other student bodies.
I know no real solution for the
problem, but in desperation I advo-
cate an all-student brawl and general
knock-down-drag-out in front of Fon-
dren Library some Saturday after-
noon. And being quite disgusted
at all this quibbling about stool-
, pigeons, honor councils, elections,
cheerleaders, et cetera, I have alrea-
dy chosen sides for myself . . .
namely, the Cheaters. Meek fellow
that I am, I certainly want to be
on the biggest team for the scrap—
and believe me, from all past ob-
servation, the Cheaters are going
to be an alarmingly large horde.
Ken Gunter
that is objective in that the editpr
never refuses to print opinions con-
trary to her own, whether the sub-
ject concerns national politics or
campus activities. We find ourselves
able to submit a letter on most any
subject and to see that letter pre-
sented to the student body; our com-
plaints, even against administration
and faculty, find a voice. The Thresh-
er serves as an almost fierce and
always brave advocate of campus
improvements.
The important news items and an-
nouncements usually find their way
to the front page with laudable
accuracy. The literary supplement
allows literary hopefuls to air their
creations, and its quality is deter-
mined only by the availability of
material—a factor beyond the reg-
ulation of the staff. Other features
please some students, and can't be
expected to please everyone.
All things considered, one might
arrive at a considerably more favor-
able estimate of the 4 to 8 pages
that we scan over coffee on Friday
mornings. I, for one, feel that the
gentle reprimand voiced in the poll
was undeserved and should be re-
placed by a hearty "Thanks!" to
Mrs. Cole and to her staff.
TOM BURKETT
Senior English Major
Editor, The Thresher:
If the Thresher staff had any mis-
givings when it invited criticism
from the students two weeks ago,
the response proved its fears to be
well grounded. If, on the other hand,
it expected some measure of the
sort of balm that eases the aches
of hard work, it was not prepared
for the censuring 35-per-cent loud
cry of "ugh!" that issued from those
students who filled out the poli (this
being a plurality of votes, since 23%
marked the features "enjoyable";
. 16%, "informative"; and 26%, OK).
These figures came from only 48
students and cannot, of course, be
_ considered representative of the feel-
ing of the student body. The poll
itself was npt conductive to con-
structive criticism, nor did it give
the student an opportunity to com-
ment on other points, possibly more
important than those listed. The
staff might have asked, for example,
"Do you feel that the Thresher ful-
fills its purpose as a college news-
paper?" Or, "Do you find the
Thresher generally objeective in its
editorial policy?"
The purpose of a campus news-
paper is not at all easily defined,
and the definition invariably differs
with the individual. Generally, how-
ever, the publication should inform
tKe student of campus news; it
should provide "enjoyable" and "in-
formative" features; and, probably
most important of all, it should serve
as an outlet for student opinion and
(if possible) creativeness.
The difficulties involved in meet-
ing the deadline are not so hard to
pinpoint, consisting chiefly in the
lack of a properly trained staff and
the constant struggle with finances.
Schools which include journalism in
their curriculum have less cause for
complaint, since at least one of these
problems is removed by departmental
instruction and the newspaper is
often financially backed by the de-
partment. The Thresher, unassisted,
leaps both these obstacles each week,
and this without pay for most mem-
bers of the staff, who tackle the
job for their enjoyment and for ours.
The general result is a news sheet
To the Editor:
During the past week I have
heard and read a great deal about
the Forum on Intellectual Freedom.
However, it seems that McCarthy
became center of attraction—he is
an expert at this, but this time he
wasn't present. However he was
represented there by some of his
supporters. Let me state that they
were Republicans, one of them a
member of our Young Republican
organization here on the campus.
Yet, being a Republican myself, I
am forced by sincerity and truth to
say that I do not believe that most
Republicans today would support
the views presented at this Forum
in favor of the methods used by
Senator McCarthy. I do not believe
that President Eisenhower himself
would be pr has been an advocate of
the work that the Senator is con-
fused in. ("confused") At first I
believed that McCarthy was doing
a job that'needed to be done, but
now he seems to have overstepped
his power of reasoning into a pit-
fall of imagination. Possibly a man
such as McCarthy is needed in the
category he is now in, however
only if he is not allowed to go too
far. In other words investigation
is needed; the innocent will be hurt,
tjie guilty convicted. But when the
Senator attempts to go beyond his
limits of authority and his actions
begin to do damage to the nation
as a whole—to national feeling;
when too many "innocent" suffer;
when our rights are threatened—
then it is time for the Senator to
quiet down, or be quieted down—
especially in his broad liberties of
investigation (outside the Senate).
Let me state that I am a Republi-
can. I supported and campaigned
for Eisenhower, also supporting
McCarthy, Taft, Lodge, etc., but I
try to look at things from both
sides of the picture. Not all Repub-
licans favor McCarthy his methods
of investigation, and his means of
gaining information and they are
just as much Republicans as those
that do. I am a liberal republican
and I am proud of that word "liber-
al." I am an "internationalist" and
I favor world government, if at all
Boulder Creatiue
Writing Conclave
Open To Rice
Students of Rice Institute who
have demonstrated superior writing
talent are eligible to apply for free
tuition scholarships at the 20th
Writers' Conference in the, Rocky
Mountains, at Boulder, Colo., July
27 through August 14.
The tuition scholarships, valued
at $110, entitle successful appli-
cants to attend any or all of the
nine workshops which will be of-
fered. Board and room and other
expenses, except tuition are hot
covered.
One undergraduate or graduate
student, under 30 years of age,
from each of a number of selected
colleges and universities will be eli-
gible for scholarship consideration.
Nominations for scholarships
should be made by the heads of
English departments or teachers of
creative writing in eligible institu-
tions. Applicants should also write
Don Saunders, director of the Con-
ference.
possible. I am also a strong sup-
porter (as of late) of Senator Taft
and I favor the protection o f
"states rights to the utmost ex-
tent."
Paul Metzger
fyowden Teaches In Vienna
On Fulbright Grant
VIENNA, AUSTRIA—Rice Pro-
fessor Wilfred S. Dowden is one
of the four American professors
who are presently teaching at vari-
ous Austrian academic institutions
under a Fulbright grant for visit-
ing lecturers. Professor Dowden's
field is English and American lit-
erature.
Research on Byron
Presently on leave of absence,
the American scholar is trying to
acquaint students of the University
of Vienna, Austria, with works of
English and American poetry. In
his free time, Professor Dowden
scans the State Archive, the Aus-
trian National Library, and other
collections of historic documents
for material relating to his private
research project: "The Attitude of
Metternich's Regime Toward By-
ron's Activity in Italy and Greece."
With the help of friendly Austrian
Officials, the American professor
has discovered valuable and unpub-
lished material which he regards as
an interesting addition to what is
known about that great English
poet and revolutionary.
Viennese University LUe
Asked to comment on his impres-
sions of Viennese university life,
Mr. Dowden said he was surprised
to find Austrian students speaking
English so proficiently. He does
not like the library system of the
English Department which he calls
"rather awkward, and sticking to
the closed-shelf-tAdition."
Seeing the Country
Vienna's grand opera, concerts,
and dramatic productions are often
attended by Mr. and Mrs. Dowden,
and they never miss any opportuni-
ty to see the countryside. Graz,
Innsbruck, Bregenz, Salzburg, and
other towns of Austria have been
on their travel itinerary.
For the towering peaks of the
Alps, the Texas professor has a
one - word - comment: "breathtak-
ing."
Entered as second class matter, October 17. 1916* at the Post Office,
Houston, Texas, under the act of March I, 18ft.
* Subscription Rate fU>0 Per Tear.
Represented by National Advertising Service, Ine., 420 Madison Are., New York City.
Published even Friday of the regular school year exoept during holiday aad
examination period* by the students of the Rice Institute. Editorial and
Advertising offices are in the Fondren Library on the campus.
Editor Allyce Tinsley Cole
Business Manager Roger Bonney
To the Editor,
Is it right for a newspaper to
crusade against so-called "totalitar-
ian methods" and at the same time
use these very practices it so loudly
denounces ?
Because one speaker at a discus-
sion is undeniably bigoted, are the
rest of us who may support the Con-
gressional Un-American Activities
Committee to be classed, as you
say .among the "opposition to aca-
demic freedom"? Or is this "guijfc
by association"?
Or take the discussion of the
Congressman's idea to classify sub-
versive literature. This is obviously
impractical, but nevertheless he did
not, as stated in the Thresher, sug-
gest that the Library "eliminate it
from the shelves." Is this not an
example of "half-truth" and actual
"mis-quote" ?
Unfortunately the remarks that
were "quoted" as having been heard
after the Forum discussion have
caused a number of "irresponsible
charges and rumors" to circulate
around the campus. To place in a
newspaper unsigned and unverified
quotations, slanted in such a way
as to make them seem the views^ of
a certain group is certainly danger-
ous and is "smear tactics" at its
worst. The article is not even signed.
Certainly such remarks as those
printed are intolerant and narrow-
minded (and also not representative
of the feelings expressed by every
group present at the Forum, includ-
ing those members of the Minute
Women and American Legion pres-
ent.) But to 'lable, by insinuation
or otherwise, any particular group
or organization because one or a
few persons, sometimes not even
members, are out of line is as bad
a3 saying that all teachers are Com-
munists.
I have it on very good authority
that neither the faculty nor the
students of the Rice Institute are
being investigated by the Minute
Women, the American Legion, or
the F.B.I.
I feel that perhaps the Thresher
and all of us could profit by refrain-
ing from clouding the issues with
"character assassination" of per-
sonalities and sticking to the basic
problems which are certainly very
real in America today.
Sincerely,
FRED ROEHR
Allyce,
Would it be possible to keep this
on one page so as not to get it all
garbled up in the middle?—Fred
Editor's Note:
Mr. Roehr is correct on one point.
Mr. Velde's bill was to label the
"subversive" material in the Library
of Congress and not to "eliminate"
it directly. This obviously, as Dr.
Craig's reasoning pointed out would
functionally serve to eliminate the
bocks from the shelf. Public pressure
upon those "caught" reading labelled
books would have the same effect as
to burn them or bqy them. This
opinion is not limited either to thfe
Thresher, Rice or Houston. Mr.
Roehr, may we recommend the New
York Times editorial page, February
24, 1953, section 4, page 8, column
3?
view, that view is legitimately chal-
lenged.
The Thresher has not accused any-
one of anything on the basis of
association. It has not slanted any
unverified quotations against .the
Minute Women (who never act as
an organization but always as in-
dividuals) or against the American
Legion. Neither has it undertaken
any character assassinations. It ap-
pears to me that the Thresher of
last Friday did not cloud any is-
sues, and that it certainly dealt
with one of those basic problems
for which Mr. Roehr shows osten-
sible concern.
Sincerely,
TERRY MALTSBERGER
To the Editor: "
Mr. Fred Roehr protested that
the Thresher has classed certain
speakers who participated in the
Intellectual Freedom Forum with the
"opposition to intellectual freedom."
It seems to me that no such group-
ing has be^ri made by the Thresher,
which merely mentioned the fact
that such an opposition did exist.
The opposition group is not defined,
and if there -is any guilt by associa-
tion it belongs to the Forum speak-
ers themselves. The associating is
without any help from the Thresher.
I collected the six remarks over-
heard at the Forum and printed on
the seventh page of this newspaper's
last edition. This insertion was pub-
lished unsigned because it was not
an editorial or a feature article.
It was a piece of reporting without
anything other than objective ex-
planatory comment on my part.
Realizing tliat the statements printed
could not Be attributed to any partic-
ular group, the caption was made to
read: "A number of remarks by
some of the visiting women were
overheard at last Friday's Forum on
intellectual freedom. . . ." The re-
marks quoted were made by women,
and by visitors insofar as we could
determine. If Mr. Roehr wants to
know who overheard each of the
published, quotations, specific names
are available at the Thresher office.
At lssstonc person can verify the
authenticity of each comment. Mr.
Roehr has no basis for accusing the
Thresher for smearing any particu-
lar group.
Mr. Roehr has it on "very good
authority" that no investigations by
the Minute Women, the American
Legion, or the F.B.I. are being con-
ducted at Rice. What authority, Mr.
Roehr?
The letter concludes with another
accusation—the Thresher has turn-
ed te -character assassination. It
seems to" me that the only thing be-
ing tidied by the Thresher is an
attitude/#n# not any individual per-
sonality. If a person holds a bigoted
To the editor:*
I think that The Thresher has
missed the point. Certainly most
people do not object to Dick Karig's
editorial, but there were other things
to write about that were more im-
portant.
Such groups as the Minute Women
have become rather serious threats
to academic freedom and something
needs to be done. However, The
Thresher is not goinjf to accomplish
anything at all by just screaming
how bad the Minute Women, etc.,
are. Careful reading of Dr. Tsanoff's
speech will indicate that there is
the distinct possibility that a bad
situation exists in our nation's col-
leges. If Communists are teaching
in the schools, steps must be taken
immediately to oust them. The im-.
portant thing, then, is to insist that
faculties everywhere take a serious
view of his problem and investigate
carefully and unprejudicedly among
their fellow professors. If this were
done, these apparently misguided
individuals such as Mr. Rogge and
Miss McCall would -be silenced.
There is also the possibility that
these people are simply members of
that group of people who always
complain regardless of „the situation.
In tjiat case, there is nothing that
can be done; and it is even mote
useless than ever to complain about
them.
Sincerely,
John Blakemore
Editor's Note: If Mr. Blakemore
will read Dr. Tsanoff's article with
the care which he advocates in the
above letter, we doubt that he will
find a stogie statement to lead to
the conclusion "that there is a dis-
tinee possibility that a bad situation
exists in our colleges today." As far
as we can read Dr. Tsanoff never
even implies that "communists are
teaching in the schools." Dr. Tsanoff
asks for legal trials for anyone ac-
cused, investigation of professors by
universities and not outaids groups
but doesn't ever not say such in-
vestigations are a pressing necessity.
o>,
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The Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 40, No. 36, Ed. 1 Friday, April 24, 1953, newspaper, April 24, 1953; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth230940/m1/2/: accessed May 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.