February 28,1979
ij
Recycling goes
j The recent Biophile recycling
drive was such a success that the
Biophile Gub has decided to collect
aluminum cans and newspapers
on a weekly basis after spring break.
Someone will be in the Bryan
parking lot each Saturday from
12:00 to 1:00 for pick-up.
There will be a special meeting
this coming Wednesday, February
28, at 9:00 p.m. in the Passion Pit.
Pictures will be taken for the Quaker,
Siimmpf Tnhs
Job openings scarce
By GORDON PALMER
Now is the time to start apply
ing for summer jobs. In fact, Dick
Goe in the Placement Office revealed
Friday that the deadline for most
federal summer jobs has already
passed by.
The federal jobs that are left are
mostly of a scientific or technical
nature. These require significant
science and/or math backgrounds,
usually in a specialized area.
There are no jobs left in National
Parks, either, but there are some
and the budget for next year will
be discussed.
"The Plutonium Connection," a
Time-Life Multimedia film, will be
shown on Wednesday, March 14
at 9:00 pjn. in the Gallery. The
film tells the story of how a student
at MIT designed a workable nuclear
bomb. This is an excellent film
which depicts an issue of vital
importance to the public.
openings in State Parks. These
include lifeguards, temporary
forest rangers, park attendants, and
historical tourguides, and can be
applied for until March 1.
Other opportunities for the out
door-oriented are camps, hotels, and
resorts. Especially numerous are
the camp openings. Some helpful
skills include lifeguarding, sports,
crafts, and liking kids. Requests for
counselors frequendy come into die
Placement Office, and on March 14
from 9-11 a.m., representatives
Guilfordian
Letters to the Editor...
continued from page two
your complaint to where they will
do some good, to the food committee
Shirley, try not to take it out
on us trying to earn some money.
Maybe if you were nicer we would
be too, and then we both would
have a better day.
Sincerely,
MaeSexauer
Hackman rebutts
Dear Editor,
In replying to Don Gibbon's letter
in the Feb. 13 issue of the Guilford
ian, I would like to address the fact
of the politicalization of science.
Because of the public uproar over
the investigations and claims of
sociobiologists and geneticists, the
mention of and proposal for study in
this area has become taboo in scien
tific circles. I contend that not only
is the freedom of speech a point in
question but also the freedom of
scientific inquiry.
Dr. Gibbon addressed the matter
of the freedom of speech quite well,
from Camps Winaukee and Robin
dale will be in the Office to talk to
interested parties.
For those who want to stay here
in North Carolina, there is a chance
to have a job, learn about the city,
and possibly even work in your
major field of interest. Applications
for state internships can be turned
in until March 1.
There are a few jobs in Greens
bono, but more in Raleigh. There
is a wide range of possibilities; most
tall into the categories of human
issues, youth work, statistics, and
science. Internships last eight
weeks (paid, of course) and include
weekly seminars and a chance to
meet city officials, including the
mayor.
Near the end of the semester,
other full-time employment open
ings come into the Placement
Office, and sometimes no one here
shows up to fill them. There is a
bin in the Career Library (two doors
down from the Placement Office)
reserved just for summer job
requests. Part-time as well as full
time employment is available.
Students are also encouraged to
look on their own. "We are an
assisting, not employment, agency,"
says Coe. "We will arrange con
tacts, but we have to know who
wants them."
For further information, see Dick
Coe in the Placement Office, in the
front lower section of Bryan Dorm.
so I will not reiterate his statements.
My main concern is with a pheno
mena wherein . . science had
been invaded by political considera
tions.' * This passage is quoted from
an article in the December issue of
Harper's magazine. It is entitled
"Burning Darwin to Save Marx"
and was written by Tom Bethel. I
urge everyone to read this article
which can be found in the library.
In this article Bethel divides
American history since 1896 into
four 'phases.' He shows in each
how science has been used to sub
stantiate the socio-political 'truths'
of each particular time. The last
phase Bethel places us in now. He
calls it The Age of Compulsory
Equality, which referes to the
elaborate bureaucratic structure
devoted to creating and enforcing
equality along the lines of the Civil
Rights Act as well as encompassing
feminist concerns. Bethel says that
society is so 'taken' by this idea of
equality among all things that to
mention the possibility of differences
among people along racial lines es
pecially, is unallowable.
A current exponent in the field
of sociobiology is Edward O. Wilson
of Harvard. In several books Wilson
has attempted to take the ideas from
Darwin's Origin of Species in which
the evolution of bodies is explained,
to explain the behavior of animals.
In his latest book, On Human
Nature, Wilson applied these same
principles exclusively to mankind.
Thus it can be seen why sociobio
logy is not a field of inquiry in
harmony with this age of Compul
sory Equality. "Genes play a big
role in sociobiology, and (they)
are supposed to be tiny blueprints
that more or less prescribe what we
can or cannot do. Genes won't
be denied." Wilson, however,
explains that sociobiology is really
a modest proposal involving the age
old ideas of nature vs. nurture.
"We may be inclined to behave
in certain ways, because of genetic
control, . . . but these inclinations
can easily be overruled by learning."
Bethel adds that this idea of there
being some kind of genetic pre
disposition sounds plausable and yet
meets only with opposition. Till
more research is done who knows
page three
what ideas may arise. But science
unfortunately has become the tool
of politics. It has been used to
prove only those truths in harmony
with the climate of opinion.
Bethel cites in his article the
fact of peer review among scientists
which occurs in the evaluating of
research proposals. Most money for
research at the university level
now comes from the federal
government and research proposals
are judged very much according to
the socio-political atmosphere. The
'peers' who review incoming
proposals do not wish to upset that
delicate balance which keeps the
coffer's of the federal government
open to them. The infusion into
the scientific community of
"Marxist" and "Socialist" scien
tists is also contributing to the
current opposition to studies in
genetics and race.
Thus, it can be seen, that because
William Schockley and Edward
O. Wilson differ in their scientific
pursuits from the spirit of egalitar
ianism they are rebuked not only
by society but by their peers.
Darwin, Schockley, and Wilson
are all being "burned" because
they differ. Science has become so
politicized as to become stultified
and antithetical to the ideal spirit
within which it itself was born.
The scientific community owes
it to the populace paying taxes for
its research, to determine the truth
or falsity or Schockley's and
Wilson's claims. The government
cannot so tightly define the para
digims within which science
operates. Currently, science is only
as good as it serves to support
current social and political thought.
"Truth" is not discovered in an
atmosphere such as now prevails.
I believe in the freedom of speech
as the fundamental right from
which all others stem and this
includes the freedom of scientific
inquiry. Schockley and Wilson
have the right to investigate and to
make public their findings.
Since when are there criterion
for judging whether a person's
remarks should be heard publically?
There is not now and I hope in the
name of liberty there never will be.
Carrie E. Hackman