The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 20, Ed. 1 Friday, March 3, 1961 Page: 2 of 6
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Two
THE THRESHER
FRIDAY, MARCH S, 1961
A Matter of Conviction
Monday night five Rice students were arrested
for taking part in a "sit-in" demonstration at
the Union Station Coffee Shop. The owner of the
coffee shop was practicing racial discrimination
in operating a semi-public facility in open defi-
ance of the Supreme Court's interpretation of the
Constitution and laws of the United States.
The Thresher endorses these few whose con-
victions on the immorality of segregation were
strong enough to move them to gravely respons-
ible action outside the ivy-covered walls. We shall
support any action of this sort as long as it is
conducted in a non-violent and law-abiding man-
ner.
If they were guilty of anything, their guilt lay
in a peaceful attempt to persuade the owner of
his legal responsibility and to bring public notice
and legal action to his discriminating operation.
As a tiny segment of mankind, as citizens of
the United States, and as students of Rice Uni-
versity these individuals nobly represented each
of their allegiances.
The responsibility for the arrest of these
young citizens does not lie with them. It lies
with the outmoded and inhumane Southern insti-
tution of segregation. In the end, it lies with this
community and all others like it which tolerate
two classes of Americans.
Rice's Renaissance?
Comparing the actions of the Student Associa-
tion over the past two years, we are struck by
one noteworthy feature: last year's big commit-
tee was established to study "Student Apathy
at Rice"; this year the committees have made
positive proposals, on positive issues: curriculum
problems, student government, freshman week,
and guidance.
"Apathy" has been a conversational byword
around here for a long, long time. Its absence
this semester is conspicuous.
The Senate committees are but one indication
that Rice students are rising from their lethargy
and showing distinct, long-needed determination
to become better acquainted with their culture
and environment. The popular Wiess College
"choice of a major" discussions, talks at Will
Rice on "What is a University?" and general
ferment at each of the colleges over numerous
phases of university life—all these are proof
that Riceites do have a concept of higher educa-
tion that extends past the textbooks on their
shelves.
And contrary to traditional student sarcasm,
it is the faculty and administration who are al-
lowing student opinion an effective outlet. The
days are past when an idea died on the drawing
boards simply because "the administration won't
listen." Highly-placed figures like acting presi-
dent Croneis and Dean Masterson have shown
repeatedly that their interest in student opinion
is both genuine and active.
To see nothing but sweetness and light in this
picture, however, is to get thoroughly carried
away. A new Rice frontier is coming, certainly;
but shadows linger from the old disinterest. For-
ums, infrequent as they have been, produce dis-
mal attendance records. Outside of a very few
students in the Young Democrats and the Young
Republicans, there is virtually no political aware-
ness on campus. An amazing number of people
know almost noth,ing about entertainment and
cultural events in Houston itself.
Perhaps these things will improve as student
morale improves—we certainly hope so. If the
outburst of creative energy in the last three
months is any indication, they will be the next
bulwark of "apathy" to fall.
The point is not that Rice is at a crossroads—
it has been at some crossroads practically every
day since the doors opened in 1912. What is sig-
nificant is this: as the semi-centennial year ap-
proaches, the university and its students are
more aware than ever before of the nature of
this crossroads, and far closer to choosing the
one right path.—G. S.
o '
Wax Beans & Comradeship
Poor management of the college food services
is one thing; sadism is quite another.
Last Friday college residents lunched on tuna
fish cheeseburgers, the bottom half of the buns
dripping with the juice of some tiny, greyish
corn, leisurely ladeled onto the plates by at least
three food service employees who didn't even
try to look busy as they offered occasional con-
dolences to the students who had invested 90
cents each in the meal. In all fairness it must
be pointed out that cold cuts and thick pink
soup were also available, as was one banana per
student and excellent potato chips, along with
the usual milk, coffee, salt, pepper and the per-
ennial peanut butter for those who can't take the
sight of the daily fare.
That evening the $1.50 dinner consisted of
scraggly but well-fried shrimp, tempting wax
beans, jello which melted immediately upon con-
tact with the warm plates, and, of course, pota-
toes. The "something green" were the half-
wilted lettuce leaves under the jello salad.
This day's menu, thank heaven, was excep-
tional. Elaborate meals every day are clearly out
of the question, but for the prices students are
forced to pay, they have a right to expect appe-
tizing and nutritious board consistently.
The college masters and cabinets rightly ex-
press concern when students prefer to live off
campus and worry about enticing off-campus
students to participate more actively in college
affairs and to attend "college nights." A dollar
and a half for nauseous pork loaf, comradeship,
and indigestion? The masters and members must
check the menus ahead of time before inviting
a guest.
It would seem that for their own good the
colleges would get together and demand better
meals from the food service.
Chances are the food service will go its merry
with poor food, extra labor ("dieticians" sitting
around puffing cigarettes), and unpublished
budgets.
The students and the college masters are get-
ting what they demand.
Sweat & Contact Lenses
The seconds ticked by . . . the crowd arose and
held its breath . . . shoes squeaking . . . fingers
nervously tapping . . . time out . . . skillful,
erratic rhythm on a polished oak floor . . . smoke,
applause, and drumbeats drifting from the
packed bleachers . . . tense laughter at a frantic
search for a contact lens ... a buzzer and a
thundering release of pride and energy.
A triumphant final home appearance for a
valiant team.
- - *
V rv;.?'
m
nJ
PERSPECTIVE
Congress
Kennedy's
By EUGENE KEILIN
Having exhausted the tradi-
tional period of grace granted
by Congress to a new executive,
President Kennedy faces stiff
congressional opposition to much
of his legislative program. Con-
fronted with restless discontent
among conservatives in his own
party, Kennedy must weld to-
gether an effective and depend-
able coalition of like-minded
legislators from both parties to
secure approval of his proposals.
In customary fashion, the Sen-
ate offered little opposition to
New Frontier executive appoint-
ments (with the exception of the
choice for Ambassador to Switz-
erland, withdrawn after criticism
by the Senate and the Swiss gov-
ernment) while the House busied
itself with procedural measures.
THE FIRST REAL FIGHT
came over the proposed change
in the House Rules Committee,
after which both Houses have
stood in virtual adjournment
while the Republicans celebrated
Lincoln's birthday, and both sides
prepared for the real struggle
just now beginning.
In addition to the general hos-
tility which has existed between
Congress and the President since
the Roosevelt era, the executive
branch of the government is
traditionally liberal while the
Congress is customarily conserva-
tive. This division is a re*sult of
the nature of the electorate from
which each receives its power:
the large cities usually elect the
The BBfe Thresher
<4n all-student newspaper for 44 yeart
The Rice Thresher, the official student newspaper of Rice University,
is published weekly from September to June, except during holiday recesses
and examination periods, and when unusual circumstances warrant a special
issue. The opinions expressed are those of the student staff and do not
necessarily reflect the views of the Rice University administration.
Entered as second class matter, October 17, 1917, at the post office
in Houston, Texas, under the act of March 3, 1870.
News contributions may be submitted and advertising information pro-
cured at the Thresher offices on the second floor of the Rice Student
Memorial Center or by telephone at JAckson 8-4141, ext. 221.
BILL DELANEY DICK VIEBIG
Editor Business Manager
MARJORIE TRULAN MILTON NIRKEN
Associate Editor Advertising Manager
GRIFFIN SMITH * BURTON SILVERMAN
Managing Editor Circulation Director
EM LINDAMOOD DENIS ASHTON, BILL PANNILL
News Editor Editorial Assistants
DEPARTMENT EDITORS
Colleges Phil Kusnetzky
Sports Chuck Yingling
Social Activities Evelyn Thomas
Entertainment Fran Murphy
Religious Activities Neal Holifield
Photography Scott Morrisr Bob Warren
Cartoons Charles Dent, John Fowler
REPORTERS
Judi Travis, Reed Martin, Anita Jones, Harvey Pollard, Louis Smfth, Syd
Nathans, Melvin Buck, Anne Watts, Lawrence Ellzey, Bill Pannill, Sue
Burton, Carol ^M|ipon, Bill Furey.
o
THRESHING IT OUT
Katanga s Tshombe:
Enig ma Or Ally?
To The Thresher:
Last week's article by Eugene
Keilin on the Congo crisis was
well-written and a distinct con-
tribution to The Thresher; how-
ever, I would like to take issue
with one point Mr. Keilin made.
He refers to Katanga premier
Moise Tshombe as "equally cri-
tical of the US and Russia." This
may be quantitatively true, but
for wholly different reasons in
each case. Tshombe has shown
time and again that he is the
bitterest of opponents to com-
munist penetration in Africa. In
contrast to the late Mr. Lumum-
ba, he realizes that the Congo is
a land of regional, tribal loyalties
rather than a unified nation.
Tshombe rebukes the US for our
total inability to comprehend 1)
the nature of colonialism, 2) the
communist threat, and 3) Congo
politics. On grounds of principle
he opposes Russia; the US he
criticizes as a somewhat mis-
guided friend—but still a friend.
American indifference to re-
cognize Tshombe's great potenti-
al as an ally — recognition which
would refute the communist-
neutralist claim that we oppose
the emerging nations of Africa
on racial grounds — seems even
now a serious error. It may some-
day be accounted one of the
major foreign policy blunders of
the Eisenhower and Kennedy ad-
ministrations.
GRIFFIN SMITH
Hanszen '63.
Threatens
Program
President (as they did in this
past election) and the rural vote
normally elects a majority of the
legislators. Many Representatives
are selected from gerrymandered
districts which are neither con-
tiguous nor compact, and many
Senators must depend for sup-
port upon State organizations
drawn from similar territories.
The Rules Committee vote
seems to foreshadow the disinte-
gration of the Southern Conser-
vative-Northern Labor coalition
within the Democratic party.
Kennedy hopes that Rayburn and
Johnson will be able to keep this
voting bloc partially intact while
others concentrate on a consoli-
dation of big-city legislators from
both parties.
Despite determined White
House efforts, the chairmen of
almost all the major Senate
committees are opposed to most
of the Kennedy proposals. Ellen-
der of Louisiana, Fulbright of
Arkansas, Robertson Of Virginia,
McClellan of Arkansas, Byrd of
Virginia, and Eastland of Missis-
sippi will fight the President on
the heart of his program: Civil
Rights, health insurance under
Social Security, and increase in
the minimum wage to $1.25 over
a three year period. Controlling
the powerful Agriculture, For-
eign Affairs, Banking and Cur-
rency, Operations, Finance and
Judiciary committees, these men
are in position to slow down or
modify the bulk ^t^the. Kennedy
program.
FACED WITH this opposition,
the President is not without
strong weapons of his own. The
choice of Johnson as Kennedy's
Vice President brought with it
the powerful support of tough
House Speaker, 6am Rayburn.
The House Rules fight was a vic-
tory for Rayburn's prestige and
the Administration's pressure
over Republican party-line op-
position, southern regional
loyalty (to embattled chairman
Smith) and congressional tradi-
tion.
A vigorous President with
Congressional majorities from his
own party controls vast patron-
age within and without the
party. Kennedy, Johnson, Ray-
burn, and Mansfield are skilled
professionals at the game of
pressure politics, able to do a
great deal with very little and
doubly impressive when provided
with a full arsenal.
THE PRESIDENT Would like
to see action on his program
completed by June 30. If con-
gressional apathy and opposition
(Continued on Page 3)
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The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 20, Ed. 1 Friday, March 3, 1961, newspaper, March 3, 1961; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth231172/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.