WATCHBIRD TELLS ALL ON SC TONG
THE WATCHBIRD
. . . views situation
Underground Group On Campus Since 31
By The Watchbird (Editor’s Note: Election campaigns at SC are characteristically hard-fought affairs frought with tension and antagonism that often leaves the average student shaking his head in bewilderment. Therefore, the Daily Trojan, via the Watchbird, is presenting this first in a series of articles analyzing the political situation on campus, in the hope of stimulating more intelligent voting in the Spring election.)
Probably th# aspect of life on this campus that new students find hardest to grasp is the degree of organization of school politics. Most freshmen find it inconceivable that elections at SC are not the popularity contests that they were in high school. This is borne out by the fact that there is always a great number of candidates for freshman class offices—activity-minded students eager to start college where they left off in high school.
Campus Politics
And the first inkling of the complexity of campus politics usually begins to dawn on the neophytes when the party-backed candidates win, with the other party-backed candidates close behind.
As shocking as it often is to democratic minded students, SC politics have been dominated for nearly 25 years bv a powerful underground fraternity Theta Nu Epsilon.
Since the early ’30s th§ letters TNE have had a sinister connotation, something to be discussed in low tones over a pitcher of beer or in a fraternity cellar.
With the recent decline of TNE, it has become popular for politicians to denounce the “Tong” and its tactics and to label rivals as TNE members in much the same way that the national politicians yell “Communist” at each other.
The following therefore, is a brief history of the growth of TNE at SC.
Drinking Fraternity
In the first place, the fraternity is not a local creation. Theta Nu Epsilon was founded at Wesleyan University in Connecticut in 1870 as a drinking fraternity. It later went underground and was reported to have as many as 82 sub rosa chapters in existence in 1930. As far as anyone knows, the SC chapter has never been affiliated with the national organization.
TNE was formed here In 1931 as a means to oppose Kappa Alpha fraternity, the controlling political group on campus for many years. Leaders of fraternities outside the Kappa Alpha machine were brought into the organization —usually two members from each house. This method of getting new members still persists—usually the older man in the house perpetuating house membership by bringing in a younger man.
Since then SC politics has been characterized by back-ftlley “deals," fraudulent elections, and intense personal antagonism. And most of it has been blamed on TNE.
1935 Trojan Tells All
TNE became the issue in the election of 1935. Presidential candidate Jim Parker excited a four-column headline (all stories then usually carried one column heads) in the Daily Trojan when he announced that he had been a member of the organization and was withdrawing to fight it.
The TNE candidate Eames Bishop narrowly beat Parker despite the political capital Parker had made from slamming the Tong. Charges of fraud were made following the election but nothing was ever done about it.
After the 1935 affair, the Tong slipped into the background until 1939 when charges of fraud forced a re-election. TNE was never mentioned publicly in this campaign and much of the wrath of the student body was directed at the Amazons, who conducted the election, for allowing the fraud to take place.
Michael McBan was the TNE candidate in this election and won both elections but by 200 votes less the second time. The vice-president results were reversed.
Tong Controlled Senate
Election turmoil hit the campus again in 1943 when the TNE candidate Jack Wiiliams won the presidency. The Tong-controlled Senate chose to overlook voting discrepancies until Daily Trojan pressure forced a re-election. The results of that election gave the presidency to Kappa Alpha Bill Caldwell.
In 1944 the practices of Theta Nu Epsilon caused an investigation of the group to be launched by Dr. Rufus B. von KleinSmid, then president of the university. It was during this time that the machine candidate was elected president but immediately left for the Navy.
Tong Pirates Papers
The fact that he appointed his successor aroused such a storm of protest by the Daily Trojan that Tong leaders pirated the entire issue of the DT before it could be delivered to campus. DT printers, however, discovered the theft, completed another press run. and delivered the papers on campus by mid-morning.
After a year of investigation. Dr. Von KleinSmid dissolved the ASSC Senate and allowed the spring elections to proceed only after he had obtained a list of TNE members. To all intents and purposes the Tong was dead.
(Tomorrow, the Watchbird tells how Theta Nu Epsilon came into post war power and eventually sowed the seeds of its own downfall.)
PROFESSOR SLATES FILM OF HANCOCK EXPEDITIONS
Illustrated highlights of the Hancock Expeditions,’ 1931-1955, will be presented in motion pictures tomorrow night at 8 m Hancock Auditorium by Dr. John S. Garth, associate professor of biology.
Such highlights as the birth of a seal on San Benito Island, Mex., the elephant seals on Guadalupe Island. the Seri Indians of Panama. Mt. Chimborazo and the Quichua Indians of Mexico, and the Bird Islands of Peru.
On the Bird Islands, guano is collected commercially to be used for fertilizer. The birds gather in the millions on the islands.
Dr. Garth will also show the capture of the Manta
Ray. which has an 11-foot wing span.
Dr. Garth has been with the Hancock expeditions since the first trip in 1931.
He was a senior in the School of Music and Captain Allan Hancock, who played the cello, was looking for a musician to accompany him on the expedition.
Da
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Vol. xivi
LOS ANGELES, CALIF., MONDAY, APRIL 11, 1955
no. ur
Drive Opens Week of Events
'BRANDO'S BRAWL' PLANNED
It’s “Brando’s Brawl,” on the waterfront that is.
The rirojan Chest dance this year will be held at the Westport Beach. Club in Playa Del Ray from 9 Friday night.
Dick Walker and his band will play the music for this “casual,” denim and sweater, dance. Walker’s band played for the Y carnival and the AWS Mixer.
The crowning of Mr. Trojanality will be a highlight of the evening in addition to the appearance of a Hollywood personality, according to Jothn Valentine and Paula Muench, dance co-chairmen.
Larry Courtney, Alpha Phi Omega president, has pledged full support of the national serving fraternity in ticket distribution. During the entire week a booth will be located outside the Student Union Building and A Phi O members will be selling bids for $2.50. The bids are available for all Universiy students. Proceeds will be donated to the Trojan Chest.
PROFESSIONAL'
Juniors to Present Broadway Review
“Broadway In Revue,” a musical review will be presented by the Junior Class Council Wednesday night from 8 to 10 p.m. in Bovard Auditorium. Under the direction of Jim Coday, the Trojan Choraliers have been in rehearsal for a
$6000 Goal Set
For 3 Charities
By Nan Funcheon
A determined Trojan Chest committee will kick off the annual SC fund drive this morning as the first part of a concentrated week-long drive to rai.se $6000 for three charities.
The drive will be highlighted by 14 campus events, the
TROJAN CHEST CALENDAR
MONDAY
Faculty collections start with, collections on Row at night.
the
week.	j-
Tickets to the show are being	from long-run Broadway shows,
sold on campus and on the Row	Soloists include Dave Hodgson,
tonight bv members of the jun-
, r-. ___, ,	Shan Mayo, Lee Green, Betty
lor class. They can also be bought,	* ’. ^
r	„ .____Rhoads, Adrienne Atwood, Dave
for oO cents at the box office on	, 0 , ,
. ,. , .. c ____ An	Hammond, Ellen Rarnard, and
the night of the performance. All	’ ’
j -n * t,	Tyler Gilman. Music will be pro-
proceeds will go to the Trojan	., , , T. , ,
™ ^ * j	vided by Jim Coday at the piano.
Chest fund.
All Choraliers Program
The Trojan Choraliers group is
piano, Featured Song
Among the scheduled songs are
made up of 22 members of the A1 “This Was a Real Nice Clam-Cappela choir, and some Junior bake,” -You’ll Never Walk Council members. Lighting and Alone,” “June Is Bustin’ Out All stage properties are being bor- Over,” and “If I Loved You” rowed from the drama depart-1 from “Carousel.” ment, and set up under the 6U-1 From “Oklahoma!” the group pervision of Lee Green.	will present the title song and
“We want everyone to come because it will be the best show ever seen here,” said publicity chairman Ruthanne Marr. “The students have worked hard on it, and both the singing and choreography look professional.1
The show w'iH feature hit tunes Love.’
“Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” “Surrey With the Fringe On Top,” and “People Will Say We’re in Love.” From “Brigadoon” they will do the title song and "The Heather on the Hill,” “Come to Me,” and “Almost Like Being in
first to take place tomorrow is the traditional pie throwing contest.
Ninety-eight per cent of the proceeds from Trojan Chest will be divided among Troy Camp, Living War Memorial, and the YWCA. The remaining two per cent will go to the Red Cross and the Community Chest.
Funds will be raised through faculty, class, sorority and fraternity collections. Letters containing pledge cards have been sent to faculty members.
Buy a Pie
Pies will be auctioned off in the parkway between Bovard Auditorium and Founders Hall tomorrow at 12:45 by the senior class. Students will be given the opportunity to get revenge on campus personalities while donating to a worthy cause.
Money from votes for Mr. Trojanality will be donated to Trojan Chest. At present 10 well-known campus personalities are competing for the title.
Mr. Trojanality will be crowned at Brando’s Brawl, another Chest benefit. The dance will be held at the Westport Beach Club and will feature the band of Dick Walker. Bids are on sale for $2.50 and may be purchased from members of Alpha Phi Omega.
Juniors Sponsor Review
“Broadway in Review,” a musical, will feature the Trojan Choraliers and is being sponsored by the junior class. The show will include selections from recent Broadway hits. Tickets may be obtained from members of the Junior Class Council and the cast for 50 cents. The presentation will take place in Bovard Auditorium at 8 p.m. Wednesday The freshman class will pre-
Class Collection Helpers Needed
Students are still needed to assist in making classroom collections this week for Trojan Chest.
Collecting starts tomorrow in 9 and 10 a.m. classes as well as in the evening, and continue on Wednesday and Thursday.
Signups should be made in the ASSC office, 215 SU.
Those who have already signed up to help with the collections are asked to report to the Senate Chambers, 418 SU, at 3 p.m. today. Every service group, fraternity, and sorority is requested to have a representative present.
TUESDAY 9 & 10 a.m. Classroom collections. 7 p.m. Classroom collections.
12:45 p.m. Pie Throw.
WEDNESDAY 9 & 10 a.m. Classroom collections.
7	p.m. Classroom collections.
9-3 p.m. Trojanality Contest opens. 12:45 p.m. “Blast the Buggy”
8	p.m. Broadway in Revue.
THURSDAY 9-3 p.m. Trojanality Contest 12:45 p.m. Push Cart Race.
7 p.m. Classroom collections.
FRIDAY
9-3 p.m. Mr. Trojanality Finals. 8:30 p.m. Brando’s Brawl.
PICK WINNER!
sent “Blast the Buggy” Wednesday. Students will be entitled to blast an ancient car with a sledge hammer through donations to Trojan Chest.
Well-known campus personalities will be seen pushing or riding in push carts Thursday. The Squires are presenting the contest. The proceeds from entry fees and betting will be turned over to the Chest.
“This year’s goal must be met if SC’s three favorite charities are to continue. I hope that people will keep in mind that every dollar will help send an underprivileged child to camp through Troy Camp, give the children of our war heroes college educations through Living War Memorial, and perpetuate the fine hostess house offered us by the YWCA,” said Jerry Nace, Trojan Chest chairman.
10 Trojans Enter Mr. T Competition
Kappa Alpha Theta is the first sorority to back a candidate for the Mr. Trojanality Contest as 10 candidates entered the race.
The candidates will be voted on Wednesday through Friday at 25 cents a vote. The winner will be crowned at
Brando s Brawl, Troy Chest dance I--
to be held Friday at the Westport De|ta ^ professional j0urna-Beach Club. All proceeds w,U be lism fratern,ty. turned over to Trojan Chest.
Theta has pledged its support
Howard Smith, another Mr. T.
and
POSTERS OUT. ENTRIES IN
Songfest Due Soon
The posters are out, the names are in and the university is once again becoming very Songfest conscious with the second annual Songfest due May 13.
Over spring vacation “Bur- i ma Shave” type posters were placed over the entire campus to publicize the event. Such slogans as “The 'Singing That’s Best Gets the Tommy of Songfest” are staggered on place-cards between the Annex and the music building, in Bovard Field, between Founders Hall and the Administration building, in Alumni Park, and in other strategic spots throughout campus, and on the Row.
The posters, conceived by Vince Thompson and Jack Kyser, were run off by the Audio-visual Department on an ozalid machine.
Posters All Week
The posters will be up this entire week to publicize Songfest preliminaries which will be Apr. 25-29, according to Bob Jani, Songfest chairman.
Over twenty-five organizations have entered in the six divisions in competition for the preliminaries, according to Jani.
“This is an exceptionally fine turn-out in comparison to the first Songfest held last year,” said Jani. “The organizations should remember though that this must be a week of diligent prac-
tice for following ten week exams next w7eek comes the pre-lims.” Get Your Tickets Tickets for the event have been on sale since March 30. The prices are $1 for general admission and $1.50 for reserved seats. The songfest will be held in Greek Theater which holds approximately 3000 persons.
Each organization will have to be thoroughly rehearsed in time for the preliminaries. Props to be used will not have to be completely finished, but their sizes and shapes must be given to the judging committee. Costumes will not be worn to preliminaries, but a description will be given the Songfest group.
Prelim Entries Organizations entered in the 1955 Songfest preliminaries are as follows: Women’s Division: EVK, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Omicron Pi, Pi Beta Phi, and University Hall.
Those entered in Men’s Division are Phi Gamma Delta. Al-
Notice
TO: Campus Police
The Old Dental School Lot is reserved on April 12, all day for the Sixth Annual Public Relations Conference being held in Hancock Auditorium.
Elton D. Phillips, Business Manager
pha Tau Omega, Lambda Chi I Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Theta Xi, j Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, and Phi Kappa Tau.
Entered in the Mixed Division | are Alpha Delta Pi and Theta i Chi: Town and Gown and Marx Hall; Alpha Gamma .Delta and Sigma Alpha Epsilon; Pi Beta Phi and Sigma Alpha Epsilon; Delta Delta Delta and Delta Tau Delta; Kappa Kappa Gamma and Acacia; Delta Gamma and Phi Delta Theta: and Alpha Chi Onv-ga and Sigma Chi; and Kappa Delta and Delta Chi.
More to Sing
Participating in the small group Division are Alpha Tau Omega. Phi Rho Sigma, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma. Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Phi, University Hall, Acacia, Lambda Chi Alpha, Sigma Phi Epsilon, and Phi Beta. Kappa Alpha Psi, Alpha Delta Pi.
Taking over the Novelty Division will be Kappa Kappa Gamma and Kappa Alpha, Kappa Alpha Theta and Acacia. Delta Delta Delta and Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Gamma and Phi Sigma Kappa, Alpha Phi and Tau Kappa Epsilon, Zeta Tau Alpha and Chi Phi. Alpha Epsilon Phi and Zeta Beta Tau, Chi Omega, Phi Kappa Tau. Kappa Delta and Delta Chi, and Delta Sigma Theta.
Completing the Songfest entries will be the Special Division featuring Squires; and Phrateres and Alpha Phi Omega.
to John D. Garr Clendening.
Garr, a member of Phi Delta Phi, law fraternity, has been president of Blue Key, the college of LAS, and a member of Knights. He is a member of Skull and Dagger, and the ’54 club.
Clendening in Running Clendening is a member of Kappa Sigma and Phi Delta Phi fraternities. He has been president of Squires, the junior class, ASSC, and a member of Knights
Warren I arK* ®eta Alpha Psi, honorary accounting fraternity.
Phi Sigma Kappa president Jerry McMahon is chairman of the Board of Publications and a senator-at-large. He is also a candidate for ASSC student body president.
Bob Gerst is a member of the ASSC senate and is a varsity baseball player. He is a candidate for AMS president.
More Candidates
Also in the running is Steve He is also in Blue Key, Skull Robertson. Robertson is chair-and Dagger, the ’54 Club, and the man of the forum committee and
Trojan Club.
publicity chairman of Greater
Also running is Mike Sullivan, University Committee. He is a candidate for vice president of member of Acacia and is a can-the School of International Rela- didate for the office of senior
tions. He is publicity chairman for TRG, a member of Sigma Nu and the Junior Class Council.
Keith Brandt, president of the student council on religion, is also president of Sigma Phi Epsilon, and AMS quarterback chairman.
City Editor Runs
Gary Kreutz, a member of Sig-the Daily Trojan. Kreutz is a ma Phi Epsilon, is city editor of member of Blue Key and Sigma
class president.
Ron Weintraub is president of the Interfratemity Council and a member of Zeta Beta Tau. He is running for AMS president.
After-Six * is combining its Mr. Formal Contest with the Mr. T. contest and will present the winner with a white dinner jacket, formal trousers, dress shirt and tie, a cummerbund set, an Evans lighter, a black briar pipe, and a Pioneer accessories kit.
5 Final Cases
Of Hale Court traffic to appear again
Begin Tonight ON UNIVERSITY AVENUE
The quarterfinals of the Law School’s Hale Court will begin at 6:30 tonight in the law auditorium.
“Whether professional football comes within the anti-trust laws” will be the first case to be argued. Craig Biddle will present the plaintiff side, with Yvonne Watson the defendant.
The second case will involve the state of the California Real Property Law. and will have Frank Simpson III and Joseph Weissman on opposing sides.
Final case to be settled tonight will be “What constitutes the practice of the law by a certified public accountant?”
Two final cases wiU be presented tomorrow evening.
Acting as judges will be Victor Netterville, assistant professor of law; R. Dale Vliet, visiting professor of law; and Vern Hunt. Superior Court judge.
The top four contestants will be picked to enter the finals next year.
University Avenue will be the scene of the second annual “Buggy Races” Thursday afternoon at 2:30. The Trojan Squires are sponsoring the event this year to raise money for the Trojan Chest.
Entrants and partners will race on an oval course in front of Bovard Auditorium. Buggies will consist of wheelbarrows, baby carriages, or wagons, according to Herb Hirsh. Squire Chest Chairman.
There will be a trophy awarded to the men’s and women’s organization that scores the most points. Five points will be awarded the winner of each race and three points and one point respectively to the place and show entrants.
Organizations will be allowed to enter one buggy in each race. A one dollar entrance fee will be charged each competing organization.
Pari-mutual booths will be set up for the spectators, with the highlight of the day, for betters, being a daily double. To win the daily double, the better must pick the winner of the last two races. All winning ticket holders will receive valuable prizes, Hirsh said.
The Squires are now trying to obtain a famous sports announcer to call the races.
Organizations can turn in their entrance fee to the Squire office, 228 SU, any day this week between 1 and 3 p.m.	_