The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 24, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 15, 1948 Page: 2 of 4
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TBI THRESHER
Should Any Student Club
Have Closed Members hip?
Tomorrow at noon the Student Council will
probably decide whether or not the Rice Student
Association Will continue to authorise invitation
societies under its auspices.
The action the Council may take is in itself
important only so far as it represents student
opinion and conviction. Until a substantial maj-
ority of Rice students have been convinced that
they cannot have a Democratic Student Association
and give official sanction to societies whose very
existence is based upon such undemocratic mem-
bership procedures, and whose qualifications for
membership are such arbitrary judgments of the
conformity of an individual to the particular small
group, the members of this Student Association
will be unable to enjoy the full fruits of a democra-
tic society based on merit and virtue.
No one will deny to any person or any group
the right to choose friends upon any basis that
the particular person or group cares to impose.
However it is dubious whether any such group
should be given the rights and privileges that are
present in being recognized as an official Rice
student organization. It is also dubious whether the
Rice Student Association should have these organiza-
tions if their very presence discourages the forma-
tion of other organizations whose membership would
be formed on a more democratic basis, and whose
aims would be more worthy, and who could fulfill
the social functions that are now done by the Liter-
ary Societies quite as well as is done by the
present Literary Societies.
It is extremely doubtful whether the students
of this Student Association can ever feel at home,
acting in their duties as citizens of the Student As-
sociation, al long as there are groups on the cam-
pus whose excuse for existence is an implicit disbe-
lieve in democratic procedures. It is doubtful wheth-
er the girls who are members of the societies can
ever take part with honest conviction in student elec-
tions, believing, as they must, that their particular
group is especially meritorious because of its ex-
clusiveness, and especially representative of those
traits of personality and character that they con-
sider desirable.
It is then, not desirable just to incorporate into
the new Student Association constitution a section
declaring that the Rice student body does not de-
sire to incorporate any closed-membership, or in-
vitation, societies under its auspices. The thing that
can .be achieved that w^ll be actually desirable that
can be achieved from this discussion will be a
stronger determination to establish at Rice an as-
sociation of students based upon democratic princi-
ples, and which recognized only the merits and vir-
tuesof individuals.'
As has bgen said, no one will deny any group
or person the right to choose their own friends up-
on any basis whatsoever, though it is of course
hoped that a conscious, effort is made to associate
with those persons of highest sincerity of purpose
and highest attainments. Should a group based upon
mutual friendship decide to band together and give
themselves a name that, of course, is their privilege.
Should they decide to entertain themselves, give
themselves open houses, have dances and other af-
fairs, that is of course their privilege.
•
But should this group, based upon arbitrary
standards of acceptability established by themselves,
intrude itself into the realm of public affairs, then
their influence may be adjudged a destructive influ-
ence to that democratic society. Furthermore, when
these societies become too important to the members
that their entire activities are directed towards the
betterment of that society, to the exclusion of their
legitimate duties as a member of that Student As-
sociation, and discourages formation of other more
worthy societies, that same Association has a right
to declare that it does not condone, and in the fu-
ture will not allow societies whose membership is
based upon exclusiveness, and whose purposes are
selfish and the perpetutation of their own particu-
lar clique.
Open Literary Societies would better serve their
social purposes, and would create in the minds of
the members of this student body and especially the
members of the society a more democratic and tol-
erant attitude towards their fellow students, and
would increase the opportunities for recognition of
honest merit and virtue.
Uniteriaa Students Organize Emerson Society;
To Concern Itself With Humanistic Ideas
A newcomer to the group of religious organisations at Rice is the
Emerson Society. A small group of students recently decided that some-
thing should be done towards providing individuals of Congregational,
Unitarian and non-sectarian religious views, with a meeting place where
they could discuss their ideas in an open and objective manner. Hence
" " ' the club came into being and aU
COMMITTEE APPROVES
(Continued from Page 1)
too severe, and that such a vote
might allow prospective new mem-
bers to be kept out of the club be-
cause of the petty dislikes of a very
few members. He said that he is of
the opinion that no girls are now
being refused membership for this
reason but that, since the new con-
stitution must last for several years,
such a situation might arise in the
future.
Frank Bryan asked if the stan-
dardization that had been suggested
"would increase democracy enough
in each club to make it worthwhile,"
since this seemed to be the aim
of such action. Roy Woodmansee
then stated that he thought "democ-
racy was a system of free enter-
prise, and if, such is the case, then
this business of standardization
looks a little bit like socialism to
me."
Jimmy Meyers stated that he
had been congratulated "by at least
two people today" on the stand the
Student Council was taking in the
situation. In answer Roy Woodman-
see said that "for every two people
you can point out, I can find ten
who think this is the most juvenille
thing to come out of Rice Institute."
Brady Tyson then suggested that
a referendum be presented to the
Student Association on whether to
ppen the Literary Societies or leave
them as they are. This suggestion
met with several groans of disap-
proval from the students present.
J. D. Suggs said that Brady's sug-
gestion for referendum may be con-
structive. He recommended asking
the Student Council's opinion of the
possibilities and the advantages o#
a referendum, and approving the
E. B.'s constitution with the 5/6
vote minimum.
Roy Woodmansee asked what kind
of publicity might be expected from
the Thresher on this question. Nancy
Hood stated that any person who
wants to write an article for the
though small it hopes to make up
in seriousness and intent of purpose
what it laclu in number.
In line with the Unitarian tradi"
tion for a broad humanistic expres-
sion of man's religious ideas, the
organisation shall concern itself
with many problems in addition to
those strictly theological. - The pro-
jected program includes discussion
of such matters as labor relations,
foreign affairs, and some of the
basic issues between capitalism and
socialism. The predominant senti-
ment of the club is liberal, yet its
sponsor, Mr. Richard H. Warren of
the English Department, struck a
note of caution in his initial ad-
dress concerning the dilemma of the
present day liberal and warned
against hasty decisions and the
practise of those who become dog-
matic extremists and still clutch to
the liberal title. Independent
thought, frank discussion and un-
biased analysis are all goals sought
by the group.
* At its second meeting, the
^evening of December 12, John C.
Petrie minister of the First Unitar-
ian Church in Houston offered to
the group "an insight to Emerson,
the man."
After the Christmas holidays, the
Emerson Society will meet each
Sunday evening at 6:30 in the Par-
ish House of the First Unitarian
Church on Fannin Street at South-
more. The meetings are all com-
plete open and an invitation is ex-
tended to all Rice students, regard-
less of religious affiliation, tq^t-
tend and share in the discussions.
Thresher might do so, and that it
will be printed.
When the presidents were asked
asked their opinions of having a
referendum, they agreed that it
did not seem necessary to take such
a vote. They also agreed that it
would be alright with them if the
maximum were set at a 5/16 vote
for all the clubs to comply with the
wishes of the E. B. L. S.
Rice Drinking Song
Words and Music by
Scott Van De Mark.
From the cloisters of the campus
To the schools that hear our cheer,
Let no one say that the Blue and Gray
Passed up a round of beer.
*
Chorus:
0
Drink, Owls, drink!
Toast the Blue and Gray!
Let's raise our glass while seniors pass,
And toast them on their way.
We'll drink, once more to memories
Before they fade away.
For those who care, I'll drink my share,
And yours, too, if I may.
Forget your Math One Hundred.
Throw a Thresher on the fire.
Send out a slime for one more round,
And join in with the choir.
Chorus:
From the men in Senior Commons
To the Campanile's shade,
You'll hear our calls from the ivied walls,
And the tributes that we've paid.
v Chorus:
A toast, yes a toast to a lady so lovely
A lady do nobel And lovely
There's naught in life but pleasure
There's no other treasure.
chriitcnss season is here;
but joy costs too much now
by Emmett McGeever
Christmas is here. The-Spirit of St. Mick, is
once m,9f* pervading the Hallowed Halls. Old
feuds are forgotten, hatchets buried, gripes laid
aside, People are smiling, gaily wish each other
Merry Christmas and generally spreading joy. Peo-
ple on the whole are not, however, spreading as
much joy this year. Joy costs too much now.
Along with gasoline, food, and clothing, the price
of joy has also been inflated.
Time was when a child (any American to and
including twenty-five years of age) would be satis-
fied with simple gifts, a sleigh, a pair of boxing
gloves, or a football, a party dress, a new hat,* or
a "Mickey Mouse" watch. These children were
dependent for the splendor of their Christmas gifts
on the efforts of their parents to keep up with the
Joneses. Now, every child thinks his parents are
the Joneses. Santa Claus is asked to produce Cadil-
lac convertibles, yachts, diamond-studded wrist-
watches, and polo ponies. Infants demand Venetian-
lace diapers, jet tricycles, and authentic atomic pow-
er sub-machine guns. Average parents have enough
to do keeping their kids in caviar, without providing
these luxuries, but they'll try. After all, that's
what Christmas stands for—peace on earth and good
will toward men. What parent wants his child to
lose faith in Santa Claus, and Santa Claus must
keep pace with the machine age.
The parents themselves, the chiding older gen-
eration, will be very religious about Christmas dur-
ing the hour or so in church. They'll keep in mind
tjie religious spirit of the feast as they go from
cocktail to cocktail party. As they heist their fif-
teenth drink, they'll "still say "Merry Christmas."
And fifteen will be about as far as they'll go. Li-
quor costs more this year too.
The diplomats of the United Nations will have
the Spirit of Christmas. They'll stop writing
speeches for two weeks, perhaps, and perhaps do
a little thinking. The Russians won't have to say
"No" to the Western Powers, and the Western
Powers won't be saying "No" to the Russians.
The Chinese won't stop fighting, but they're
heathens and don't believe in the Spirit of Christ-
mas.
The defeated people of the world won't stop
*
starving, but they'll pause a -while to consider
the greatness of the feast of Christmas. They'll
realize how well they've been treated and how for-
tunate they are to be on earth this Christmas.
But the people who are not on earth this Christ-
mas, the war heroes, criminals, victims, jailers, and
judges won't have the Spirit of Christmas. That
is, they won't have our Spirit of Christmas. • They
might even think of our Spirit of Christmas a little
silly, almost pitiful.
But well celebrate Christmas our own way,
shoving each other through crowds, stepping on
people's faces, paying exorbitant prices for useless
objects, and piously praying for the less fortunate. *
Let's get in there behind the good old team
and fight.
WEDNESDAY EDITION
Managing Editor Ken Reed
Typist Carol Wheeler
m*/ce m /msam
Editor Brady Tyson
Assistant Robert Mcllhenny
Sports David Miller
Assistant . Howard Martin
Business Manager Nancy Hood
Assistant .* Tom Smith
Fanfare Betjty Faye Grosse
■t
V
Published every Wednesday and every fetor
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periods by the students of the Rice Institute. Editorial and (i
advertising offices are in Lovett Hall on the campus.
-i
Entered as second class mailing matter, October IT, 1916,
at the Poet Office, Houston, under the act of March S, 1879.
Represented by National Advertising Service, Inc., 420
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The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 24, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 15, 1948, newspaper, December 15, 1948; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth230779/m1/2/?rotate=90: accessed July 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.