Mizzou Entertainment

The media had a very negative view on this survey.  The Columbia Tribune denounced the survey saying it was "filthy, downgrading, carnal, immoral, revolting, and perverted characteristics and tone."  The two in charge of the distribution of the survey, DeGraff and Meyer, were put on review by the Executive Board at Mizzou.  

Accusations:

1. That they (DeGraff and Meyer) allowed a questionnaire to be circulated which tended to make students sexually immoral.

2. That the questionnaire was shocking to students, especially to women students.

3. That the questionnaire could not produce any scientifically valid conclusion nor any facts likely to be of substantial value.  

4. That the questionnaire "tended to create the condition that it is alleged to correct."

Evidence:

• There is little or no evidence that any student receiving the questionnaire was shocked or insulted by it.

• There is no evidence that the questionnaire led to sexual immorality or to the decreased self-control in the matter of sex behavior on the part of the students.

• The students testified that these problems of the sex code of morals, engagement, and marriage, are frequently discussed frankly, not only in the fraternity and sorority houses, but also by the girls with their boyfriends.

These are just some of the accusations and evidence from the University Report on the Dismissal of Professor DeGraff and the Suspension of Professor Meyer.  Now as we can see from the evidence, the students did not seem to have an issue with these surveys being sent out.  It even shows that students went out of their way to defend the professors saying sex was a topic they often discussed. The end of the report mentions how a few years a go, knee-length skirts and one piece bathing suits were seen as indecent, but no so much anymore.  The views of this sex survey scandal show how time was changing and it was not as big of a taboo as it was a decade or so ago.  

Professor DeGraff was dismissed for his conduct in authorizing this questionnaire.  Meyer was suspended, mainly because of a sex lecture he gave in the Psychology class and a bit for his participation in the formulation of the questionnaire.  The Board disapproved of this research and way of teaching, but from students views, they were both pretty well loved teachers at the University.  Before the Executive Board meeting, five of the most popular sororities showed their support for the faculty involved in the situation.  Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Alpha Phi, Tri-Delts, and Kappa Kappa Gamma all in some way announced that they saw the survey as educational or they were not in favor of the dismissal.  Chi Omega being the only sorority standing with the Boards decision.  

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