HLU Asks Council Bar Discrimination in Clubs

The Liberal Union last night asked the Student Council to write and anti discrimination clause into its proposed Rules for Student Organizations.

HLU acted at the suggestion of Frederick D. Houghteling '50, who reported to the Council Monday night on his suggested revision of the present rules. Haughteling said that he was "leaving a blank space in case anyone wants to insert an anti-discrimination clause."

HLU president Donald H. Dowd '51 said last night "we feel that the Council should seek to eliminate, through the University, any discriminatory clauses against race, color, or religion in the constitutions of undergraduate organizations." He excepted religious groups.

Dowd said he expected the HLU membership meeting this Thursday to present a formal request to the Council. If the Council agrees with the anti-discrimination clause, it will be written into Haughteling's recommendations before they are submitted for University approval.

Affects SAE

If the faculty accepts these rules, they would affect all future clubs and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, which is the only College, organization that has publicly admitted having discriminatory rules in its constitution.

SAE is bound to a national constitution which limits membership to "male Christians of the Aryan race."

"The Liberal Union is of course, opposed to all discrimination, tacit or open," Dowd stated. "But it especially feels the Council should try to eliminate the open aspect. The first thing to do in getting rid of discrimination is to eliminate all constitutional sanctions for it."

"Right now nothing can be done about tacit discrimination in the College," he added. "Something should be done, but this bias is so undercover if would be impossible to set now."

Dean Hender commented last night that the College is opposed to discrimination in any way, but it is also reluctant to interfere with students. "We don't like to jump in unless there is strong reason for it," he said