The Gavel of Delta Sigma Rho Volume 43 Article 1 Issue 4 May 1961 5-1961 Complete Issue 43(4) Follow this and additional works at: https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/gavel Part of the Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Delta Sigma Rho. (1961). Complete Issue 43(4). The aG vel of Delta Sigma Rho, 43(4), 53-70. This Complete Issue is brought to you for free and open access by Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. It has been accepted for inclusion in The aG vel of Delta Sigma Rho by an authorized editor of Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. .'f ■) the gavel volume 43 number 4 of delta Sigma iho may 1961 • vl : CTi V- ii>-^ THE GAVEL Officiol publication of Delta Sigma Rho, National Honorary Forensic Society PUBLISHED AT LAWRENCE, KANSAS By THE ALLEN PRESS Editoriol Address: Delta Sigma Rho, Bureau of Continuation Education, Colorado University, Boulder, Colorado Second-class Postage Poid at Lowrcnce, Konsos, U SA. Issued in November, January, Morch and May. The Journal corries no paid odvertismg. TO SPONSORS AND MEMBERS Please send all communicotions relating to tween September of one year ond September of initiation, certificates of membership, key orders, the following year, appear in the November issue ond names of members to the National Secretory. of THE GAVEL. According to present reguiotions All requests for authority to initiate and for em of the society, new members receive THE GAVEL blems should be sent to the Notional Sec for two years following their initiation retary ond should be accompanied by If they return the record form supplied check or money orders. Inasmuch as all them of the time their opplicotion Is checks ond money orders ore forworded by approved by the Executive Secretary and the Secretary to the Notional Treasurer, certified to the sponsor. Following this pleose make them to: "The Treasurer of time oil members who wish to receive Delta Sigma Rho." THE GAVEL may subscribe at the follow The membership fee is SI0-00. The of ing rotes: $1.50 per yeor for the stand- ficial key of lOK (size shown in cut on ord subscription; $5.00 per yeor for those this page) is $6.00, or the officiol keypin who wish to contribute to the work of of lOK is $7.00. Cut diamond In key is THE GAVEL and who will be listed OS $7 odditionol. Prices Include Federal Tax. sponsors in eoch issue; and $25.00 for o The nomes of new members, those elected be lifetime subscription. NATIONAL OFFICERS President: Herold Ross, DePouw University, Greencostle, Indiana. Secretory: Paul Cormock, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Treasurer: Kenneth G. Nance, Michigan State University, Eost Lansing, Michigan. Trustee: E. C. Buehler, University of Konsos, Lawrence, Konsos. Henarary Trustee: Gilbert L. Holl, 1208 N. Wayne, Arlington, Virginia. Vice Presidents: Eugene Chenoweth, Indiana University, Sloomington, Indiana; Bob Griffin, University of Nevodo, Reno, Nevada; Leroy Loose, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebrosko; Bob Newman, University of Pittsburgh, Pitt^urgh, Pennsylvania; Marvin Esch, Woyne State University, Detroit, Michigan; Mel Moorhouse, Wichita University, Wichita, Konsos; Herbert Jomes, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE GAVEL Editor: Charles Gcetzinger, Bureau of Continuation Educotion, Colorado University, Boulder, Colorado. Associate Editors: Halbert E. Gulley, University of Illinois, Urbona, Illinois; Clayton Schug, Pennsyl- vanio State University, University Pork, Pennsylvania; Poul Carmack, Ohio Stote University. Columbus, Ohio; Austin Freely, John Corroil University, Cleveland. Ohio. Copyright 1961 by Notional Secretary of Delta Sigma Rho, Paul Carmack THE GAVEL 53 THE GAVEL of Delta Sigma Rho Volume 43 May, 1961 Nitniber 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS The Fine Art of Being Ignored 53 President's Page by Herold T. Ross 54 Practical Experience in Human Relations for Debaters by Donald W. Klopf 55 A Postscript to The History of Debating in the American Colleges by David Rotter 57 A New Look at The Debate Brief by William A. Behl 60 Total Forensics Programming at Washington State University by Gerald M. Phillips 62 Ohio Wesleyan Debate History by W. Roy Diem 64 The Art of Persuading Whom? by Joseph A. Wigletj 67 Secretary's Report 69 Index to Volume 43 70 The Fine Art of Being Ignored Another school year is drawing to a close. support of the countries' debaters and debate And witli that fact comes the annual coaches. "soul-searching" deluge of articles about The recent controversy has been marked what is wrong and right with American by this conspicuous absence. The "let's get education. tough school" has never bothered to men As usual, your editor gets a little bitter tion forensics as one of the toughest dis about this time of year. Mostly because the ciplines in any school curriculum (secondary thought of being ignored is just more than or college). By omis.sion they have made man should have to take. They can love us it plain debate just isn't one of the finer or hate tis, but how horrible to have them things in life. Loosely speaking, they have pretend we don't exist. lumped it into the general category of "frill" This yearly battle, between the "hard- subjects. What really hurts is the fact we noses" as represented by Rickover and Bestor haven't been mentioned by name (at least in and the "Deweyites" as represented by our the articles I have read). The acceptable sub entrenched public school officials, is a fight jects are listed, the most objectionable of worth enjoying. But to really enjoy a fight, the so called "soft" subjects are damned, one must take sides, even become a par and the rest of us are labeled by unplication. ticipant. And somehow I get the feebng Of course, the brave warriors on the other tlrat neither side is overly eager to have the (Continued on Page 59) 54 THE GAVEL President's Page ... The Faculty Sponsor Herold T. Ross A new chapter sponsor recently raised two tion so as to augment and stimulate co questioas: What are ray respoasibilities? operation in tlie debate and oratorical pro What are my duties? There are doubtless grams. Then the spoasor and chapter mem other sponsors who have the same questions bers should set a date near the end of the but have not taken the time to ask them. season to consider students who are eligible Tills is an answer to the Lssues raised. and to elect them to membership. Since it The chapter sponsor is the key link in the is always more impressive if new members chain of communication between the na receive tlieir certificates and keys at the tional officers and the local chapters on the time of initiation, elections should be held at various college campuses. This in no way least a month before the initiation in order dLsparage.s the cooperative and generally to give the national secretary and the jewel effective work of chapter officers. Their ers time to make out the certificates and period of activity as active members of Delta engrave the keys. The sponsor should as Sigma Rho on any campus is necessarily sume responsibility for an impressive initia limited to two years and they hold office tion ceremony. generally for one year. They really hai'e Delta Sigma Rho is not only a national little opportunity to establish effective com forensic society but it is a national honor munication with the national office. The society. This distinction should he estab chapter spon-sor, for the most part, serves for lished on the campus and in tlie thinking of a number of years, he has an established students, faculty and administration. There mail address to which letters, reports and are so many recognition societies and clubs Cavels may be sent and he is able to contact on the average campus that it is often neces members in the chapter. For this reason, the sary to consider the best way in which to national president seeks to establish chapter establish prestige of the cliapter on a campus. contact each fall with the chapter sponsor. On several campuses, for example, members In return, he asks a short form respon.se elected to lionor societies have their names which will establish tlie communications link printed on honors day programs or they are for the year. read on such occasions. On anotlier campus Obviously then, the first duty of a sponsor the annual forensic banquet brings to the is to send in his chapter reply, giving the campus state and national leaders who were national officers any infonnation which they elected to Delta Sigma Rho in tlieir college need to know about the local situation. days. There are many other ways by which What duties and responsibilities follow? tlie society may be given a place of prom The siwnsor should, of course, establish the inence on the campus. chapter each fall by contact with the mem Finally, the sponsor should keep the rec bers. If tlie local chapter has a program or ords and rituals of the society in his care, sponsors a tournament, plans should be especially during the summer vacations. Val made. The spousor, with tlie actives, should next encourage students who are academ uable material has been lost on occasions ically in the tipper third of their classes to when a summer mishap destroyed it or a come out for debate and to qualify for key student failed to return to the campus. membersliip. There is no thought here that The duties and responsibilities of a spon the chapter will in any way interfere in tlie sor are not heavy but they are exceedingly activities of the forensic director; tlie chap important—so much so that the future of the ter .should recruit and encourage participa society lies in their hands.