The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 4, Ed. 1 Friday, October 6, 1961 Page: 2 of 10
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■THE THRESHER EDITORIAL PAGE
7^ daiU" *)t 'StywUty'
Last week The Thresher reported the trial of
a Rice graduate who was penalized for publicly
demonstrating her views on racial equality. This
week we call attention to events which could well
result in a similar type of trial in Austin, were
someone to test the newly-enforced segregation
restrictions in the dormitories.
The Board of Regents at the University of
Texas has decreed that any male Negro students
are to be barred from visiting the dormitories,
even to use the telephones or exchange class
notes. Negroes are allowed in the lobbies only
when serving as messengers or when delivering
food—i. e., when playing the role of servant,
rather than student.
Negro girls may visit with the white girls,
but only in individual dorm rooms, and then be-
hind closed doors. They are denied the use of
any dormitory facilities such as the drinking
fountains or the restrooms—who knows? Per-
haps even the privilege of sitting in chairs like
their hostesses.
Officials at the university claim that the rule
covering the restrictions has been in effect for
over ten years. It would seem, however, that
now is a poor time to cram such a rule down the
throats of students who are just beginning to
realize the race which they have been raised to
despise does have a real cultural contribution to
make, a real place in the academic community,
and a real thirst for the education which it is
fighting so hard to acquire. Certainly the new
ruling affects the educational rights of the Ne-
groes, for communication between students is a
vital part of a university education.
The student body at the University of Texas
plainly does not like what is being imposed upon
it. Last week, in addition to protesting the dor-
mitory regulations, it also presented the Board
of Regents with a -petition, signed by a third
of its members—6000-plus—asking for the de-
segregation of athletics.
Unlike the ex-director of Houston's Progres-
sive Youth Association, who resigned this week
because the group was leaving demonstration
tactics for more moderate techniques, The
Thresher is not advocating race riots or "sit-
ins." Instead, we advocate a campaign to educate
the community. We suggest first a personal re-
evaluation to crystallize one's own thinking, then
a project of exchanging ideas and viewpoints
as much as possible through conversations with
other members of the community. Surely one
needs to know what he believes and why he be-
lieves before he can ever expect to explain clear-
ly those beliefs to others.
The Thresher feelg that complete integration
is definitely in the future and no doubt will
eventually reach this campus. Whether it will
be met with violence or with understanding de-
pends upon the way. which has been prepared.
Right now that way is rocky with misunderstand-
ing, prejudice, and diverse interpretations of a
concept basic to the charters of the nation.
That concept? They call it "equality."
*4 Afautcc 7*
The recent announcements concerning thel for-
mation of the Joint Christian Ministry to Rice
University and the reconstitution of the Religious
Council have raised again the question of the
place of religion in the University.
The answer to this question we believe lies in
two parts: First is the concept of commitment,
and second, the idea of a liberal education—both
immediately relevant to those in the academic
community whether they regard themselves as
"religious" or not.
"Every man is committed—the free man un-
derstands his commitment."
This was the conclusion of the Harvard Stu-
dent Council in a report on religion at Harvard
a few years ago. It simply means that all per-
sons operate on certain presuppositions about
themselves and the world, but not everyone is
conscious of these presuppositions, or has thought
seriously about them.
The significance of this notion is that it stands
in direct opposition to the usual university idea
that objectivity and lack of commitment are
synonymous. In reality true objectivity comes
only when the commitment is understood; other-
wise, one is not even aware of his prejudice.
We do not propose to urge a specifically
"religious" commitment, for this is not de facto
the best.
But the Joint Christian Ministry proposes to
offer through study the opportunity to consider
this commitment, for in order to make an intelli-
gent choice the most persuasive arguments of
all alternatives should be considered. Such an
opportunity has not previously been available
here at Rice on a non-sectarian basis, and we
heartily commend this responsible action.
The second consideration is that of a liberal
education. Theology was formerly one of the
basic faculties of a university and was an inte-
gral part of education. The object of such an
education is not to convert but to infor^i so
that the student may know something of the
subject which has occupied, and still occupies
many great minds. The seminars now offered to
the Rice community are a rare chance to broaden
its members' general education.
Only when those within a university, whatever
their personal commitments may be, are work-
ing for a goal of making it a community where
men are free to seek the truth in all fields, can
the university hope to fulfill its task of educa-
tion.
We are pleased to see the Joint Christian Min-
istry publicly express its concern in this area,
and we hope that their example will not be lost.
h
"WHERE DOES CZAR ALEXANDER CALL *
NAPOLLOW 'SHORT/?"
Hugger Mugger appears for the first time in The Thresher
this week with all his accomplices (he doesn't really have friends,
like people.)
Hugger is the bearded black knight who tilts externally with
Education, his lance a deadpan needle, his armor sunglasses and
sheer effrontery, his targets the sacred cows from ivory tower to
darkened cellar. He is the warrior against status quo.
Hugger will appear regularly on the editorial page from
now on.
•THRESHING - IT - OUT-
CR's Defend Calendar
To the Editor:
We would like to call your attention to the fact that any
errors in the CRLS Calendar are the result of post-deadline
■changes in the official social calendar. All dates for the CRLS
Calendar were taken from the official calendar of the S.A. social
committee and therefore errors are regrettable but unavoidable.
CHAILLE RICE LITERARY SOCIETY
Ann Combs '62
Corresponding Secretary
The Thresher apologizes to Don Parrish, Wiess senior, for
publishing a letter last week above his name.
The letter, a rather caustic one, was received by the editors
Monday afternoon. It was typewritten, with what appeared to be
Mr. Parrish's signature and class at the end of it.
It is indeed unfortunate that the real author of the letter could
only use epithets in his criticism and could not sumnjon up the
courage to sign his own name.
PAT McGOWAN
Shorter Work-Week Is A Historical Necessity
Both of the presidential can-
didates last fall promised labor
that a shorter work-week was
a goal for which they both
would work.
This sort of promise could be
expected from the then Senator
Kennedy; but we also had the
word" of Vice-President Nixon
that the five-day, thirty-hour
week was now within our reach.
Tabulating the virtues of free
The
Thresher
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.
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.
Entered as second class matter, October 17, 1917, at the post office
in Houston, Texas, under the act of March 8, 1870.
EDITORIAL STAFF
EDITOR MARJORIE TRULAN
ASSOCIATE EDITOR GRIFFIN SMITH
Managing Editor Eugene Keilin McGowan
News Editor Fryar Calhoun Engineering and Science
Editorial Assistant Jan Gordon
Feature Editor Harvey Pollard
Sports Editors Dick Park,
Milton Nirken, Ronnie Kline
Senate Larry Moore
Colleges Charles Kipple
Politics Ken Carr,
Syd Nathans, Bill Lieblich, Pat
Steve McCleary
Religion Phil Strange
Pine Arts and Entertainment
Kathryn Pulley
Photography Scott Morris,
Bob Warren, John Reavis
Cartoons Charles Dent
Faculty Advisor Dr. Donald Mackenzie
BUSINESS STAFF
BUSINESS MANAGER CHARLES WILLIAMS
Assistant Business Manager Danny Tompkins
Local Advertising and Circulation Manager Barton Silverman
National Advertising Manager Dick Viebig
enterprise, Mr. Nixon explain-
ed that this development would
be as an inevitable outcome of
improved technology.
Be IT FOR good or bad, in
purely economic terms a short-
er work-week is a historical ne-
cessity. By 1970 the labor force
is expected to rise by sixteen
per cent, but productivity will
zoom ahead by over forty per
cent.
Assuming that real living
standards go up one or at othe
most, two per cent a year, that
would still leave future mil-
lions of unemployed. The only
way out is to cut down on the
work-week, thereby sectioning
out the economy's work load so
that nearly all will be able to
find work. Not to do so is
simply inviting widespread un-
employment and economic in-
is whether less Work will mean
a happier worker. What will the
working man do with the eight
or ten hours a week of addi-
tional leisure? Will it help
make him a more rounded, so-
socially-oriented human being
or will it cater to his desire
for more escapist pleasures?
Melvin Maddocks, writing in
the Christian Science Monitor,
recently pointed out that the
"average adult" watches tele-
vision sixteen hours a week,
perhaps a third to a half of his
"available leisure time. Our pop-
ulace spends three times as
much each year in buying TV
and radio sets as on the thea-
ter, concerts, opera, and books
combined. Television viewing at
the saturation level virtually be-
comes a substitute for living.
THE LABOR movement is
thus in a trap, one at least of
its own making. It can and will
eventully win the shorter work
week; but based on its present
philosophy it cannot help the
worker to convert those addi-
tional hours to "meaningful ex-
perience."
Most labor leaders still talk
of "more" rather than "better."
Seemingly unmindful of the
fundamental changes that have
occurred in our economy during
the past few decades, they seek
more wages alone rather than
a better utilization of money,
more leisure time rather than
a better utilization of leisure
time.
BEGUILED BY the value
patterns of our "free enter-
prise" economy, they assume
that if labor's benefits are con-
stantly added to, then all of la-
bor's major problems will be
solved. Our present labor lead-
ers continue to live too much
in the past when labor was still
struggling for a "living wage"
and for time to relax.
The big question is, then, ""
what to do to make leisure
more meaningful. One of the
most progressive suggestions
has been advanced by the labor
economist Sidney Lens, who has
suggested that the first step
towards economic humanism
stability.
THE REAL ISSUE, however,
should be' a reunification of
work and education.
Under this thesis we would
continue the forty-hour week
but devote five, ten, or fifteen
hours to adult education. Of
course, how could a worker be
induced to stay at work to
study economics or history or
biology ?
TO SOLVE this problem, the
factory or office of the future
might reward a worker not only
for what he produces in the
Way of goods but for what he
does to enlarge his own per-
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The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 4, Ed. 1 Friday, October 6, 1961, newspaper, October 6, 1961; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth231186/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.