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Past opinions provide perspective
Looking Back reviews opinions published in The Spokesman-Review during this week in history.
Truman’s comeback, Nov. 4, 1948
Though the S-R editorial board endorsed Republican Thomas Dewey, it marveled at Harry Truman’s victory.
“Harry S. Truman is the president of the United States in his own right by virtue of an astonishing upset victory, which he won single-handed against odds discouraging enough to have daunted the boldest warrior. Unquestionably he made the most gallant fight ever waged by a candidate for the presidency in the history of this country.
“He had to fight the leaders of his own party to get the nomination, and at the very moment the convention choice was made an important segment of his party in the solid South broke away to place a rival Democratic ticket in the field against him.
“Never did a presidential candidate’s fortunes appear so low … as when Mr. Truman started on his remarkable campaign. Yet never for an instant did he falter or display the slightest inkling of doubt that he could win the election.”
The editorial continued: “It was a magnificent achievement of grit and courage – a victory won against overwhelming and seemingly insurmountable odds. … Americans love a fighter who can come back off the floor and go on to win. And whatever else may be said of Harry Truman, he proved to the world that he is that kind of champion.”
Coed dorms, Nov. 1, 1983
An S-R editorial examined whether it was wise for male and female college students to live under the same roof.
“When WSU decided to try coed living in 1970, it cautiously experimented with three dorms. In two of them, the sexes were housed on alternate floors. In the third, Orton Hall, they were housed on opposite wings of the same floors, separated by a common area made up of laundries, elevators and lounges.
“The experiment worked and coed living remains a fixture on the WSU campus. Now, 13 years later, the school is ready for another experiment – maybe. A student group has suggested a new system whereby the sexes would share wings of the same floor.”
It continued: “WSU officials have found that coed dorms, generally speaking: are no different from other housing facilities in terms of privacy; are quieter than all-men’s dorms; suffer less damage than men’s dorms, and see very little dating between students living on the same floor.
“Orton’s students tend to build strong brother-sister relationships that have made that living group one of the most community-spirited on campus. It shouldn’t be forgotten that men and women managed to find each other on campus for years before anyone ever devised coed dorms. Those who are inclined will engage in certain behaviors no matter their living arrangements.”
The editorial concluded: “WSU officials have found coed living a healthy part of the educational experience and they have the evidence to prove it.”