University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

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82 THE JAYHAWKEB we ' re running a training school for po- tential Jim Parleys. The idea has pos- sibilities. For three weeks every spring the entire campus becomes politically minded. Every fraternity man and so- rority woman solicits votes for candi- dates for some really non-functioning office in a so-called student govern- ment. (They throw a dance once in a while). It all happens because the campus is divided into two groups. These combines of fraternities cut each other ' s throats, sling mud until they are blind, and tell themselves they are having a big time. It ' s truly politics for polities ' sake. The caucuses fight with each other and among themselves. Last year, a caucus split elected an inde- pendent Student Government Associa- tion president. This year nobody knows exactly how things will be lined up. Classes are neglected and in most cases not even considered during this period of turmoil. When it ' s all over and the caucus that could secure the most ghost votes is safely seated in office, the cam- pus settles down to study only to find that the school year is over. Elections are only a part of this po- litical panorama. Everything in school is tainted with campus politics. ' The politicians pick the beauty queens, run the publications, hold all the campus honors, and attempt to monopolize every activity no matter how great or small. The setup may be bad, but after all it is great sport, provides a lot of ex- perience, and so far it has done no drastic damage. Sixty per cent of the student body is unaffiliated. These barbs are ac- tive to a certain extent in social life, more in campus politics, but they are sadly in the minority when it comes to active leadership in either field. We ' ll have to plead guilty to the charge that social standing, acquired by member- ship to one of the twenty-eight fra- ternities, or eighteen sororities is usual- ly essential to campus success. Yet above all this sea of social whirl- pool, and political storms, Missouri can well boast of several unique and outstanding activities. You can easily see that what is described above could not satisfy the great variety of students found in Columbia: small town hicks, as well as big city sophisticates; pau- pers, as well as millionaires; the seri- ous-minded, as well as the frivolous. The hundreds working their way through school slinging hash, firing furnaces, mowing lawns, tutoring, bang- ing typewriters and other hundreds who come really to go to school are not interested in costly flippancy. They de- sire the worth-while, and they get it. Phi Beta Kappa, Blue Key, Mortar MEMORIAL TOWER Board, Mystical Seven, Alpha Delta Sigma, etc., are not sneered at. True worth is still recognized and praised. The most widely respected students are still the ones that do the most effi- ciently. An unusually successful activity sup- ported by the student body is the Mis- souri Workshop, which offers an excel- lent medium for the dramatic develop- ment of its members. Twenty to thirty one-act plays, student-directed, and four major productions under the direction of Workshop ' s talented leader. Dono- van Rhynsburger, are presented during the year. The organization provides real dramatic stimulus. Students of the drama can observe the technique of play production as well as get practical experience in the field. The large mem- bership is not limited to those enrolled in dramatic art courses. Both Your Houses, The Late Christopher Bean, and, this year, Yellow Jack have drawn the highest praise, along with many others. Famed for its journalism, the Mis- souri student body publishes the town daily, The Columbia Missourian, which is connected with the Journalism School, and the Missouri Student, an uncensored expression of student opin- ion. The latter originated when the Mis- sourian became more of a journalistic laboratory than a report of collegiate news. The student editor is chosen by the Student Government Association and is free to select his own staff. Many of his recruits come from fraternity pledge classes, who are compelled to go out for a definite number of activities their first year. The Savitar, the Missouri annual, is also purely an activity, and has always received high ranking. It is published by a large staff. Heads of both editor- ial and business divisions are selected from those who have been Savitar work- ers for several years. As an official humorous publication, we have the Showme, also under student manage- ment. Religious life on the campus can be summed up in Burrall Bible Class, the only thing of its kind in the world. At- tended by some nine hundred students of the University of Missouri, Christian, and Stephens colleges, this class is whole-heartedly supported and is very influential in campus life. A Student ' s Religious Council with its denomina- tional divisions also adds a spiritual seriousness. Religious Emphasis Week, sponsored annually by these organiza- tions, presents some outstanding lec- turers who make us stop to think. Despite recent attempts to break down compulsory military training, the R. 0. T. C. continues to flourish; and, no matter how much the anti-war group screams for its downfall, the stu- dent body as a whole is heartily in its favor. Honorary military groups are well supported, and R. 0. T. C. offices are among the most coveted. Athletics and the accompanying school spirit have been at a very low ebb, but, we hope, are now on the up- grade. An eastern flash of polo is run- ning up in popularity on the old favor- ites, football, basketball, and track. An extraordinarily active M Men ' s Club is doing a great deal toward rebuilding the old Missou fight.

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UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Mi issouri if. BY A MISSOURI STUDENT Is the University of Missouri a country club or an insti- tution of learning? . . . .-. OUT of the dim dark past has come an idea which has spread to every corner of the state of Missouri and every campus in the Big Six Mi ouri University, a playground for the idle rich, a country club, the At- lantic City of college life. How the idea started, where, and why, nobody seems to know. Nevertheless the impression exists; and so far no one has taken the time or trouble to answer those charges. Many of us realize that our student body, as a group, is being accused of carryings-on that are really characteris- tic of a minority, that we ' re all thought of as going to town in a big way with no thought of rules or conventions. e admit our faults. Every school has them. But we ' ve got our good points too, and we ' re proud of them. How about a good picture of the whole situa- tion for a change? What do we do in our moments of relief, when we can for a time tear our- selves away from the monotonous rou- tine of classes, libraries, and quizzes? There are a million things to do. We i.-an take our pick. If a few of us pick wrongly, that ' s not everybody ' s fault. We will have to admit that our social life is much over-emphasized, that cam- pus life seems centered too much around fraternity and sorority affilia- tions, that many undergraduates spend twice as much time on dance floors as they do on school work. Perhaps that is because we are locat ed in a small town, so far away from a large city that the majority of us must create our own amusement. It ' s a little inconven- ient and somewhat expensive to dash to Kansas City or St. Louis for week-end parties. So, with some exceptions, we prefer to find our diversions here. That ' s where our Greek life shines. Fraternity houses are mammoth mansion affairs, perhaps the most beautiful in the Big Six, but probably the deepest in debt. The average house holds thirty men, and the average active membership is about twenty. How do they make ends meet? Many don ' t. Our building splurge of a few years ago has been followed this season by- many houses slipping or vaulting into the hands of the receivers. This neces- sitates much financial rushing and as many pledges as can be talked into pay- ing fifty dollars a month. As a result, many Greeks are not of a higher type than independents. They just happen to have more cash on hand. Of course, if you ' re a star quarterback, or a beauty- queen, that ' s different. Sororities as a whole are better off financially than fraternities. Each week-end these near-palaces are the scenes of dances unparalleled in any- other school. In addition to dates, some two hundred stags are invited to each dance sorority parties are much more crowded than fraternity functions and the constant cutting makes the event a girl ' s Paradise and her date ' s Hell. Rules have been repeatedly passed to reduce the number of invited guests, but none of them have met with approval. Therefore, they are seldom obeyed. After all. all the Big Shots as well as everybody you know as a good fel- low ought to be on hand for the fun. Fraternities and sororities twirl the political wheel. Tom Pendergast and Boss Tweed might pick up a few- pointers from M. U. politicians. Maybe THE COLUMNS THE PRIDES OF THE M. U. CAMPUS

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TTNTVEBSITY OF KANSAS JESSE HALL MISSOURI ' S AD BUILDING Intra-mural competition varies one- act plays, touch football, swimming meets, inter-fraternity sings, etc. After rush week winds up, relations among fraternities are on the most friendly plane. Rivalry is interesting but not bitter. The Farmers, Engineers, and Lawyers, have their customary scrim- mages; but nobody gets awfully excited about it, merely amused. So much for the campus in general. Now, to be more specific, what of the students themselves? What kind of per- sons are they? Any kind they want to be. Let ' s talk about our typical Joe Col- lege, the kind we want to forget, the kind all campuses, including Missouri, have, but of which they as a whole disapprove. Joe doesn ' t let his work interfere with his college life. Requirements of a high average for fraternity social privileges make him study enough to make fairly decent grades. Maybe this is the reason for the rather high scho- lastic average of the student body; al- though some themes can be written by professionals, and grades can be gotten in peculiar ways. Joe doesn ' t take athletics very seri- ously. It ' s been so long since he saw a winning football team that he rather frowns on athletes, although he admits that in a lot of respects some of them really get around. He envies their popularity. He wants to win but refuses to do anything other than cuss about his lost bets and criticize the coach, who really doesn ' t deserve it, and is rather universally liked. Joe would much rather jelly in one of the too many local joints than go to any mass meeting! And you can bet if a Missou beer bust is under way, Joe ' s seat at the stadium will be found vacant. What about drinking? Missouri is reported to be one of the wettest cam- puses west of Virginia, but that is hardly true. There is plenty of drinking, but no more than exists in any other college. Joe isn ' t a drunkard by a long shot, though he may see to it that local druggists keep their doors open. Before repeal, bootleggers found Missouri a fertile field: but now business is fall- ing off. Probably more individuals drink but real drunks are less notice- able. As in every school, sub-rosa drinking fraternities exist in abund- ance, but they are rather harmless. Girls are sometimes as guilty of infraction of the drinking sin as men. Joe doesn ' t care very much about campus activities. He supports them pretty well. But. one man in each fra- ternity does al! the work, and Joe lets him. Joe loves parties, roaring around in big cars, dancing with pretty girls. He usually thinks those that don ' t join him are prudes or butts. We are dis- gusted with him. In contrast, the unsung Missouri man. for whom we pray recognition, came to school to make something of himself. He has a good time. He probably dates, dances, maybe drinks, but he is not an extremist. His education is costing him something and he intends to get his money ' s worth. He does it by working some day to startle the medical world, to add law victories to his credit, to grow the right crops in the right season, or to thrill his readers by the output of his pen. The girls whose types correspond, perhaps come more for the fun of it; but they, too. num- ber many level-headed among them future school teachers, journalists, mu- sicians, wives. This student goes out for (Continued on page 60)