The Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 18, No. 23, Ed. 1 Friday, March 24, 1933 Page: 2 of 4
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PAGI TWO
III
The Rice Thresher
ESTABLISHED 111!
Km Arahn, official umytpw of students at the Bice Institute, Houston,
I* published every Friday morning throughout the scholastic jrear except
during the Christmas vacation and during examination periods.
Entered ae second class matter, October 17, 1916, at the post office in Hous-
ton, Texas, under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription price: By mail, one
year, $2.00. Payable in advance.
Campus office: 104 Administration building. Downtown office: 607 Mi Frank-
lin avenue.
THOMAS GREADY Jr. Editor-in-chief
A S. MOODY Jr. - — Business Manager
JOE ARTHUR KOCUREK Managing Editor
EDWIN McCLANAHAN Assistant Business Manager
TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Editor Taylor 8758 Managing Editor Wayside 7990
Biuiness Manager „ Hadlcy 8365 Downtown Office Preston 2902
SENIOR STAFF
Editor Mildred O'Leary
Managing Editor Gardner Soule
Associate Editor Barry Rose
Sports Harry Vinock
News Keel Jordan, NaomiGuion
Features ... Leon Bresky
Society Jennie V. Modesett
Contributors: Marguerite Stuart, Harry Bloom, Hazel Pace, Ruth Provinc,
Harriet Malloy, Tommie Grace Mansfield, Evii Mendel, Evelyn Fink, William
Strozier, and Eula Goss.
Owl Band Hall
tfifr dorms,
there were
That is 52
iting tables,
rho were not
the 199 stu-
high a ratio,
ith the maxi-
38 waiters if
rs each waiter
any students
waiter load,
tedly a good
of privacy and decency by certain uncurbed 9]
But why the high cost? Let's see. This
222 men all told in the halls of which 52 were
men were ostensibly working out their board
There was then one waiter to every 3.46 stu<
waiters. At present'there are 38 or so waiters
dents or one waiter to every 4.25 men which is
A little elementary arithmetic will soon show
mum of 325 students in the halls there are needed',
one figures one waiter to every eleven men and a
a day off every week. It is a small wonder then that
are rebelling or have rebelled at carrying this top-heq
and are moving out of the dorms. Mr. Hardy is undo .
manager and is struggling along as best he can, making the best of
a bad situation, but he receives his orders from higher up, and not
until the higher ups act will he be able to improve things.
We cannot evade the sentiment among the dorm inen. There is
dissatisfaction, exasperation, and the irritation that cqmes from being
taken for a sucker. If a poll were to be taken, it-would no doubt
reveal that a great many upper-classmen (and lower-classmen too)
intend to live in town next year unless there is a change, a drastic
change, for the better. Three years ago there were 60 or more
seniors in the halls, this year but 28. It used to b# that practically
every post graduate lived in the dorms, now there are practically
none. In short we are willing to make the not so rash prediction
that unless something is done, and done now, there will be an exodus
of old students from the dorms and there will not be 199, but 150 or
even 125 dorms residents, and the ratio of students to waiter will not
be one to four, but one to three, or even one to two.
Certainly the Committee of Executive Management cannot be
blind as to how matters stand. Another year of the present policy
and the dorms as a power in the life of the Institute will cease to
exist, and Rice will become not a university but) merely a gloried
high school where one attends" school, not where one goes to school.
If this contingency is to be avoided, there must be some definite,
open assurance from the administration soon, NOW, that conditions
will be improved. Perhaps then the Owl's recommendations for the
Dormitory organization may go into effect with direct backing from
the office.
A healthy, vigorous dormitory group is essential to Rice as a pro-
ducer of Rice men, not merely Rice graduates. Wo advise, save
May Fete Elections
Current efforts being put forward by the Owl band to obtain a
regular hall for practice sessions can only meet with approval of
ovt'ry student and faculty member on the campus.
The writer h?s played with the band four years. During that time,
the band has practiced at Autry house—inside and out; in Hermann I t{le dorms!
pork; id the Field house; on Rice field; in the stadium; outside of.
the Commons; in the senior mess hall, and, everywhere else at Rice,
we believe. Members have fought every obstacle possible. They
have made a remarkably good record. What they could do with a
band hall of their own is a matter of conjecture, but possibilities cure There has been a good deal written about the recent May fete
unlimited. elections, most of the material favoring the misnamed "rebels," for
During the past four years the band has played at every home most of the sentiment was with them. There probably won't be
football game. It has made two grid trips each fall. It has played at 1 much more after this, however. But delving into hislory—last year
every home basketball game, at track meets, at baseball games. It | about this time, you know—we find these quotations in The Thresh-
has participated in parades for this and parades for that. It has j er columns: "The selection of a duchess and eight.in aids from each
taken part in scores of pep meetings and rallies. It has played for class should not be such a painful process if they are selected with
May fetes. Engineering shows, and commencement programs and an honest effort to secure the loveliest, and most deserving of the
has given concerts of its own. ! honor. And to those who are defeated, there is this consolation, that
It has earned widespread recognition, and there certainly is no or- j delightful and charming as the pageant is, it is only for a day, and
ganization more worthy of support. j people come, and look, and then go away and forget very, very
Officers have managed to amass a sum sufficient to construct a ! soon This is a plea for impartial election on a basis of the well-
band hall immediately. It is to be hoped that the Administration j worn beauty and charm-sans politics." End qtffote one.
will apportion a place on the campus to the band at once, so that j "The same girls are elected to the May fete year after year. There
work on the building can start. „ i , are many other attractive girls on the campus, always just one vote'
rho building hoped for would be of adequate size, of stucco or j behind . A girl could be eligible for a class maid for only two
similar material,, and would require very little upkeep. It would ... . . ...
R. J. Cummins
In Address To
RiceArchitects
m
Former Instructor Here Tells of
High Scholastic
Standing
Robert J. Cummins, president of the
Cummins Company, consulting engi-
neers, spoke to the Architectural So-
ciety Monday night, March 20. His
subject was "Don't To Architects."
Mr. Cummins, a former teacher of
senior architectural construction at the
Institute and a graduate of the Uni-
versity of Michigan, said that Rice as
an architectural training school can
compare with the best schools in the
country, The standard of work re-
quired is as high as that required in
Michigan Institute of Technology and
the University of Michigan.
Mr. Cummins' main don't was to tell
the stuednts not to be discouraged
about present conditions. The archi-
tectural profession has probably suf-
fered more than any other. If no posi-
tion presents itself immediately in the
designing of buildings, then get out ai)d
get some practical knowledge of build-
ing. Mr. Cummins could not decide
what to do with the girls in this case.
Things are bound to turn up for the
better and then the efficient architects
will be needed to design new build-
ings and also to remodel the old ones
for new occupancy.
Don't hang out your shingle imme-
diately on graduation. It is better to
get about ten years of experience in
two or three well known firms and
then branch out for yourself. Don't
make the mistake of waiting too long
before branching out or you will lose
your initiative and become satisfied to
remain with one of these firms.
Don't advertise in every magazine.
A professional card in an architectural
magazine is allowed by the code of
architectural ethics. But the best ad-
vertising possible is a 'satisfied client."
Such a client will bring in more com-
mission than any other means.
After the main talk, an informal dis-
cussion was held. Students took ad-
vantage of this to ask Mr. Cummins
questions of conditions, building and
nevtf trends in specialization in archi-
tscture.
furnish the band with the one thing it needs most of all
If action is taken quickly, the materials may be purchased while
prices are still low; while the unemployment situation would be
helped out to a certain extent.
years. In this way more girls would have a chance, and it is quite
certain that the May fete wouldn't suffer at all." End quote two.
Both of these quotations were written by members of the Owen
Wister Literary Society. Be it said to the credit of both girls that,
after taking part in the May fete, they later withdrew in favor of
Certainly no other college band has been given as little to work I others when they themselves might have taken part again.
with as the Rice group. At Texas university the athletic association | And also be it said; If it hadn>t been"for the unyielding stubborn-
foots ail the Longhorn bands bills. Other athletic associations, as a ness of the Rice Literary Societies in trying to put the same girls
rule, d othe same. A.I. A. and M
aries. At. T. C. U. scholarships
band members are paid small sal-
(ten annually, $150 each) are put
in year after year, and in trying to always elect only their own "ex-
clusive" members, such occurrences as happened in three class elec-
aside for band members. All conference schools except Texas, A.jUons this year would never have been necessary.
>>A .1 TV/I T J , / In Hill c ■ lit innloMnrt c ___« .
and M., and Rice -have music departments and in most instances
The Senior Thresher wishes to congratulate the Sophomore co-eds
whole-heartedly. Never has there been another as effective politi-
cal machine on the Rice campus during our seven years in attend-
ance. It seems a little incongruous to call the soph ladies "Inde-
pendents," as they simply went their society opponents one better
and formed a super-organization. All candidates for class and gen-
eral offices this spring had better go around on tiptoes. The soph
scholastic credits are awarded for participation in the band.
On the other hand the Rice band is never assured any certain fi-
nancial sum for any year. True, the band gets a small amount from
the blanket tax. But this has fallen off greatly in recent years, as
have receipts from the Saturday night dances and the senior class
dues, in which the band participates.
The band raises a great deal of its money itself, by handling re- , ..Independents controi 77 votes; and do they all vote? Fifty-seven
freshments on football trips or at Engineering shows, by playing, of them wprf> in thp nhvsi(!s arnnhithpatpr maoca w m.„
concerts and by playing for commercial organizations. (
Surely, it would be the least that could be done for the band to
<r,m! permission for immediate construction of the proposed hall.
In each case a member varied by about one name. With an
organization like that behind us. we'd gladly run for governor of
Texas. And win, too. •
Since the debacle, the sophomore literary girls have, as a wnole,
taken their defeat good-naturedly. But it is doubted the literary so-
cieties played a fair game in their effort to win. After 20 "Inde-
pendents" had sought to cast absentee ballots, the woman's council,
controlled entirely by the societies, ruled out absentee voting the
morning of the election, after indicating previously Jthat votes of ex-
cused girls absent would be accepted. And it was most disappoint-
ing to us to have the president of the Rice woman's council, in an
attempt to get the non-society members to withdraw their nominees,
make a Baron Munchausen discourse on the cost of dresses for the
fete maids. We never heard of anything quite so partial, so unfeel-
ing, so unfair, and so unrepresentative of a supposedly, "democratic"
of them were in the physics amphitheater en masse for the May
J fete balloting, while 20 others had sought to cast absentee ballots.
! And do they vote as a unit? After their votes had been counted
... , . . . ,. ,, ,, , ,, . , ... .. J last week, there were four instances of members not voting a straight
We understand that practically all of the Administration officers at et - - . . . e s
Rice are already favorably inclined. More power to them! And 1
may this newest of campus buildings appear in the near future!
Save The Dorms!
In our esteemed contemporary, the Owl, there recently appeared
an editorial on the decadence and the depopulation of the dorms.
The points made in 1 he editorial are very true, but the Owl neglect-
ed, either purposely or through ignorance, to recognize the real
causes behind I he present situation. The Senior Thresher will not
quibble and will present the situation in its entirety.
The forces behind the decadence of the dorms began in 1929, the
year in which the present senior class entered and the beginning of
the new era, so called, in Rice athletics. The effects of these forces
What Seniors
Think
first became evident in 1930 when for the first time in many years I group. It is a shame that one junior "Independent," a thoroughly
charming girl and one of the most popular on the campus, felt she
had to withdraw accordingly.
The significant thing is tnis: Wherever there was .any organiza-
tion at all against them, the literary societies went down in defeat.
Where there wag a real machine against them, the societies were
swamped.' This is probably just the beginning; 'the non-society
co-eds have seen the possibilities of ganging together, and probably
will from now on.
We want to congratulate the "Independents" for t ie girls they put
in. Everyone is likeable (we started to. say "lovable," but that
might meet with disapproval of the W. C. T. U.) and thoroughly
representative in every way. We haven't the statis' ics on the other
classes available, but the sophomore "literati" trie<| to put back in
five of the nine girls they elected last year as frfshmen.
others, one is a third-year freshman; one "flunked
there were vacant rooms in the dorms. Before that time not only
were there no vacancies but there was a long waiting list of men
wishing to enter. Since that time the population of the halls had
steadily decreased to its present low of 199 students. Of course, we
realize that there has been a depression, but this in no-wise totally
explains the situation since the enrollment at the Institute has not
only held its own, but (unless we have been misinformed) has ac-
tually increased slightly.
Let us analyze. In 1920-30 the average cost of board in the halls
was around $1 per day. Last year the average cost per day was
around 96 cents per day or a decrease of only"4 per cent. This year
the low has been 87 cents with an average of 91.6 cents, which is a
decrease of 8.4 per cent from 1920-30. Meanwhile food prices and
labor costs have decreased from 25 to 50 per cent. Even assuming
the inflexibility of fixed charges this does not explain the dorm
board bill although it may explain the room rates. It is small won-
der then that students move into town when they find they get room
and board with room service and fresh linen (which items are not
included in the dorm scheme of things) for $10, $15, or even $20
cheaper than in the halls. A recent investigation by a group of stu-
dents gleaned the fact that the average student can eat in town, and
get food along with excellent service for an amount not exceeding
80 cents per day, and this from places which are frankly and openly
making a profit on the deal, while the dorms are supposed to oper-
ate at COST! In passing it may be noted that the Transient Bureau
can feed a man three wholesome meals per day for 1 1-3 cents.
They say that it is the woman who pays, but at Rice it is the dorm
resident who pays and pays and pays.
But this is not the whole story. What are all the causes? First,
abnormally high rates. Second, poor food, which may or may *iot
be an imaginary ill. Third, inefficient and frequently insolent waiter
service. Why should anyone consider his being a waiter a divine
dispensation to those he serves? Fourth, the violation of all rules
drew from school. The ninth was successfully retimed by the so-
'<mgsu
cieties to serve her second year with the freshman
as she was scholastically ineligible to serve as a 6
this kincf of politics that one enjoys seeing defeated,
. |
The refusal to be imaginative in a thoroughgoing
requisite of the accumulation of vast personal we
vation of the same habit in the poor is capitalism''-
Arthur Branders. *
The ultimate result of the disarmament confc
people will be destroyed by ten-inch shells inst
ones.—George Bernard Shaw.
When the modern politician begins to talk of Jj
sured he is evading the issue.—Bennett Craig.
tM
out;
.>>
Of the
one with-
group, inasmuch
iphomore, It is
fashion is a pre-
1, and the cuiti-
ittly salvation.—
ice will be that
<K sixteeji-inch
H.
rest as-
For Gordon B. Nicholson, Jr., presi-
dent of the Student Association, we
have every respect as a man, a con-
scientious student, a splendid politician
and a sterling fullback. We have no
doubt that when he took office last
September he had great ambitions for
the student body he was to lead.
And yet we think that as president of
the Student Association Mr. Nichol-
son has been a bitter disappointment to
the great majority of Rice students.
We think this because of Mr. Nichol-
son's total lack of leadership, in any
form whatsoever, that has been so evi-
dent throughout the past seven months.
We admire Mr, Nicholson because
he has not tried to tell every organiza-
tion on the campus what to do. He has
not tried to run the affairs of every
group at' Rice, a thing some past ad-
ministrations have been famous for.
But in his zeal to keep "hands off,"
Mr. Nicholson has gone to the other
extreme. For some reason or other,
he has not even been able to run the
student council.
That the august governing body of
the University should be so inactive,
in a year such as this when action is
most needed, can only reflect very
unfavorably on its constituency. But
so flagrant has been the lack of con-
structive work this term that already
students are looking forward td(^te
spring elections, that they may chooSe
successors to the present office-hold-
ers, and that they may get a new deal
next fall.
The hope Rice students once had,
that Mr. Nicholson and his assistants
might work out a lot of the pressing
problems confronting them, is fast fad-
ing. There is little time left for this
year's student council to redeem itself.
Consider, for a moment, the problems
that faced the student council of 1932-
33 when it took office, and consider
what has been done and what has not
been done to solve them.
There were the questions of economy
dances; fair and representative student
electioas; and competitive choosing of
publications' officers, among others.
In his announcement as a candidate
for office last spring, Mr. Nicholson
said: "The dance situation has reached
a crisis. The dances can not continue
as they are, and definite action must
be taken. This action is not possible
through efforts of a single individual.
Co-operatisn is the one solution, and
this is possible only through selection
of capable leaders.
"Another issue that confronts us is
the limitation of voting power to blan-
ket tax holders, recently brought to
the attention of the present adminis-
tration. It will be possible to alleviate
this condition without discriminating
against blanket tax holders."
Just how Mr. Nicholson intends to
alleviate it he has not yet explained.
As for the dances, Mr. Nicholson and
his committee have certainly succeeded
in bringing about • marl
mant. Perhaps the aituat
present time is all that could
tor. The question has been raised as
to whether or not prices for'the Satur-
day affairs should be reduced to 50
cents, the price charged at Columbia
University and other major colleges of
the East. When one sees the half-
hearted turnouts coming out for the
Tuesday "two-bit" parties, however, he
is discouraged here.
Mr. Nicholson has said nothing and
has done less about the publications
question.
Then think of the minor questions
facing the council. That of deciding
places on election ballots by lot. That
of revoking the rule requiring stu-
dents to have full sophomore standing
before seeking publications jobs. And
so it goes.
It is quite possible that Mr. Nichol-
son has these problems in mind, and
intends doing something about their
solution in the near future. We sin-
cerely hope so, for one good session of
the student council could thresh out
the questions to everybody's satisfac-
tion. If Mr. Nicholson really has the
good of Rice Institute at heart, he can
show it in the next few weeks,
SOCIETY
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Leonard Shep-
hard announce the engagement and
approaching marriage of their daugh-
ter, Eleanor Barnes, to Joe Hamman
Eagle, son of the Hon. and Mrs. Joe H.
Eagle.
* * *
Misses Virginia and Julia Vinson
will entertain with a dinner party at
home Saturday evening honoring Mrs.
William Sims Elkins, a recent bride,
and Misses Mary Jane Walne and
Nella Neville.
♦ *
Misses Betty Rogers, June Greer and
Sarah Rotan are attending a reunion
of former students at Hockaday school
in Dallas.
* * *
E. B. L. S. Alumnae will be guests
at a tea at the home of Mrs. Roy
Needham Saturday from 4:30 to 6 p.
m. Assisting Mrs. Needham as host-
esses will be Mrs. Albert Howze, Misses
Katherine Wood and Verner Benton.
Judd Mortimer Lewis will be guest
speaker.
• * *
Miss Charlotte McKinney was host-
ess Tuesday at a bridge party and
handkerchief shower honoring Miss
Claire Blocker, bride-elect. Mrs. C. B.
McKinney assisted her daughter in
hostess' duties.
* * * *
Miss Adele Drenkle visited friends fa
Austin last week-end.
Councils in Joint Meeting To
Select Roundup Representative
A joint meeting of the Student coun-
cil and the Women's council will be
held March 31 to select the Rice rep-
resentative to the annual Roundup of
the University of Texas, to be held
April 28-29-30.
At the regular meeting of the Stu-
dent council, on Monday, Gertrude
Manford of Houston was selected to
serve as freshman member for the re-
mainder of the semester.
DEPRESSION—
(Continued from Page 1.)
crease purchasing power by shorten-
ing the working week without redw-
ing wages."
Conservatism and faith are included
in the suggestion of Harold Wigren,
who advises that we "avoid overspecu-
lation and keep a clear head and unre-
lenting faith in the possibilities of our
nation."
R. L. Lastrapes gives an engineer's
views on the question and suggests an
"expansion of currency and a suspen-
sion of farm taxation," while Edward
Kinzer presents another engineer's
opinion and believes that "we should
increase the pay of the working man
to a point where money will be put
back into circulation."
Marshall Hibbler offers a prosperity
formula with "conservative living," and
Truman Douty urges that we have
"more confidence in national institu-
tions and in each other."
Government control and supervision
is suggested in the panacea of Moses
Krafcheck, who believes that we can
escape from the cycle of economic un-
rest if we have "price stabilization of
farm commodities and industrial prod-
ucts without Wall Street bulls getting
their hands in it."
Abolition of tariff is included in
Harry Bloom's suggestion that we have
"free trade and confidence in the pres-
ent administration," and dictatorial
powers for the president is part of
the advice of Richard Shannon, who
suggests "to have confidence in the
United States and uphold its presi-
dent as an absolute executive."
Jack Reeves believes that we can get
more chickens for our empty pots "by
giving labor instead of capital the ad-
vantages of labor-saving machines,
permitting the world to participate in
the natural flow of internatinoal trade."
"Eliminate overproduction and over-
expansion" is the panacea that Howell
Foy offers, while "make firms that are
weak go broke" is the solution that
Tom Driscoll suggests.
George Illes can see hope for us and
an end of the search for the corner
around which prosperity Is hidden if
we "reduce high tariff walls, get an
international monetary medium and
give labor a greater percentage of the
profits of industry."
An increase in the powers of the ex-
ecutive is suggested by Del win James,
who believes that "dictatorial powers
to the executive and an increase in the-
building of public projects" will ban-
ish depression and restore prosperity.
Carl Crofford suggests that we "give
the returns of the two biggest grafts—
theology and cosmetic—to the gov-
ernment," and Leon Taubenhaus urges
that we "spend more money with a
carefree attitude."
Sufarah Griffin sees no need to end
the depression as "it is already , a
panic," while Thomas Gready believes
that we can end the depression "by not
getting into one."
SENIOR RINGS
April 1 is the dead line for final ring
order. This will be the last oppor-
tunity for seniors to order a class ring.
Orders should be placed in the Co-op
and a $5 deposit is required with the
order.—FRANK WALLACE, Chairman,
Ring Committee.
SPRING SLITS
--in smart double
breasteds and sport models
And are they uftart!
New solid tones,.clever
light weight tweeds
and new glow plaids.
Come in and see them
soon.
SLEEVELESS SLIPOVER SWEATERS
0
NEW MESH WEAVE SHIRTS - -
PLUS 8 GOLF KNICKERS
- $1.95
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The Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 18, No. 23, Ed. 1 Friday, March 24, 1933, newspaper, March 24, 1933; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth230261/m1/2/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.