Show TOO MANY COOKS To many cooks spoil the broth is a saying that may tingly fittingly fi be applied ap sip plied to student publications With this fact in view an amendment to the theA A A. A S. S U. U U. U constitution is being agitated to reduce the Pen editorial board to three members and to make all students eligible for election to the board who have had two or more articles published At present provision is made for the election of a board of six persons each of whom must have had three articles accepted for publication in the Pen Experience has proved that this system is full of disadvantages without with with- out having any material advantages In the first place three can do the necessary work as efficiently ss as s six In fact with six on the board there is not enough work to go around and naturally those who have no responsibility soon lose interest The main argument in favor of the change however is the fact that the present system of electing the Pen board coupled with the eligibility requirements practically eliminates competition The election amounts simply to the appointment of everyone who is eligible Last year there were only five students who had had three articles published so that it was necessary to nominate one member who was constitutionally ineligible This is a condition that is bound to continue There are only eight issues of the Pen during the year and it is highly improbable that more than half halfa a dozen students will ever contribute to a third of the numbers during any anyone anyone anyone one year On the other hand there would be perhaps ten or twelve students eligible eligi ble for positions if the requirement were reduced to the publication of two articles Then if only three were to be elected there would be compel competition tion ion as there is for any ny other office This would result in a keener interest interest interest in in- terest in the Pen and would make more m re certain the selection of those best fitted to manage it Competition should be maintained in all college activities The fact that a man is a skillful writer does not entitle him to hold an important office unless the majority of the students want him Furthermore he does not take as active an interest in a position when he gets gets it without effort as ashe ashe ashe he would if he had to work hard for it Every other student body office is competitive Lets Let's make membership en the Pen editorial board competitive al also o. o |