Council Sets Up Group To Get Opinion on Rules

The Student Council last night voted to establish a committee to formulate all arguments concerning the Rules for Undergraduate Organization and submit them to the Council next Monday. At the end of the open meeting in the Dunster Common Room, Stanley Goldfarb '52 questioned the attitude and powers of the Council and particularly its "passivity" in dealing with the question of rules immediately.

Before the question period began, the Council reiterated its argument against the first two provisions of the rules--that organizations must submit a membership list on request of the Dean's office and the joint meetings with outside organizations are prohibited in University buildings.

Members appointed to the Committee last night were: John R. W. Small '51, Richard E. Johnson '52, Saul I. Skoler '52, and Donald L. M. Blackmer '52.

Goldfarb, a member of the Young Progressives, who later identified himself as "merely a student representing no particular group," declared that the Council did not seem willing to take definite action on the question of the rules.

He said opinion in the College was "very much in favor of the Council's suggestions" for the rules, particularly its provision that groups should have to submit a membership list to the Dean's Office.

The Council opposed this ruling because it fears that students, who belong to groups which, at the present time, may be labelled radical or "left-wing," will have difficulty in finding jobs if their affiliations become known.

Goldfarb contended that the attitude some Council members have toward the Dean's Office is bad. "The crux of the problem," he stated, "is whether the Council is sincerely trying to get Dean Watson to change the rules. if you (the Council) are going to be passive at the outset by claiming that nothing can be done, nothing will be done."

Chase N. Peterson '52 replied that the Council has been going over the rules with the Dean's Office for two years and has succeeded in changing many of its provisions. "I do not think we are weak in our present action on the rules," he concluded.

Goldfarb asked: "Do other Student Councils assume the passive status?" Council member Robert H. Cole '52 replied: "The general feeling here is not one of passivity."

Peterson stated that Goldfarb brought up a basic weakness of the Council. He quickly added, "I think, however, we should take our weakness in stride."

Several Council men asked Goldfarb what he would do about the rules. He answered: "I think you should take the position of the students against the rules."