Newspapers / St. Andrews University Student … / Feb. 14, 1964, edition 1 / Page 2
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Page 2 THE LANCE Editorials CONCERT—LECTURE SERIES- ADEQUATE, USELESS, OR OTHERWISE? The survey conducted recently by the Student Center Board concerning the Concert-Lecture Series was not highly success- ful. Why? Because only 65 students bothered to complete and return the questionnaire distributed by the Board. The Board was trying to learn specifically what was thought good and bad about the Series, and to obtain suggestions for possible changes. Is there any reason or justification for over 90 per cent of the student body not voicing their feelings and opinions on this Im. portant matter? Every college or university has a concert and lecture series of some sort. Content and scope varies, as well as cost, from campus to campus. However, general objectives and alms are not decidedly dissimilar. All such series propound to offer the student further education outside the classroom, to bring to campus aspects of culture not otherwise available, and to provide stimulation for thought and individual exploratioa A breakdown of the Series since 1961 shows that, with the com* pletlon of the 1963.64 Series in May, there will have been offered in the area of performing arts three solo pianists, three vocalists, three string groups and two string soloists, one dance group, and one drama group. There will have been included one lecturer each in the fields of science, sociology, literature, education, and theology; two lecturers in foreign affairs, and three in pollti* cal science. With this diversity of fields represented, the average attendance of a group of 63 students for the Fall series was 1,12 programs per student! There is, however, one pect of the Concert • Lecture Series In which St. Andrews is somewhat unique, and that is in the amount paid by St. Andrews students for the Series. Only $7.50 of the Gen. eral Fee of each student allotted for the Series—far less than the amount paid by students in larger institutions for similar programs. If events such as those presented in the Series were paid for separately, $7.50 would hardly cover the price of any two events, all things considered. Of the '65 questionnaires completed and returned to the Student Center Board, 13 Indicated no knowledge of the committee respon. slble for the planning and content of the Concert. Lecture Series. This year the name goes under the title of the ASSEMBLIES AND PUBLIC EVENTS COMMITTEE. There are ten members on this committee, eight faculty and administration, and two students: Profs. Franklin West (Chairman), Robert Gustafson, Doris Hawse, Arthur McDonald, Charles Smith; Dr. Carl Bennett, Mr. Silas Vaughn; and Preston Stone and Mary Elizabeth Ricks. The obvious Incongruity of the whole matter Is that students are apparantly dissatisfied with the Series as it now is, yet only 65 individuals bothered to express and voice their dissatisfaction in a constructive and mature manner. However, the Student Center Board feels that this matter Is of great enough Importance to war- rant another attempt to gain suggestions and Ideas from the students concerning the scope and content of the Series. Sometime within the next week another questionnaire will be distributed, this time through suite leaders or at dorm meetings. In order to allow for the forms to be completed and returned at one meeting. This should be convenient enough for even the most Indolent student. THE LANCE CHARGED AS IN ADEQUATE'IN NEWS COVERAGE It has been charged that THE LANCE contains no news. We deny this charge and assert that THE LANCE adequately covers news, as well as almost all events on and off campus which per. tain to St. Andrews. We can safely use the adjective “almost,” because no newspaper—college or other—can honestly say If covers EVERY event or happening, even In lt;S particular locality. We admit to the less than desirable situation of publishing only every other week. This policy was initiated In the first year of St. Andrews’ operation due to limited operating funds and shortage of staff members. However, It Is the goal of the present editor to organize matters so as to have a weekly publication for the 1964-65 academic year. We are presently in adequate financial shape to permit such, but there Is still a problem of enlisting an adequate staff. THE LANCE suffers from somewhat the same ill.directed crltl. clsm as does the Concert Lecture Series. Last spring a questionnaire was distributed to all students, asking for constructive criticisms and suggestions. Of some 700 forms distributed, less than 30 and returned, ^tlll, we solicit your advice and will try to follow those which are constructive were completed suggestions, and and worthwhile. NEW WRITERS ADDED THE LANCE welcomes to the staff Caroline Clower and George Davidson, who will serve as general reporters and writers. PEACE CORPS Any Junior or Senior student interested in service with the Peace Corps upon graduation should make applications now, before February 19, Placement tests wUl be given Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m., room No. 116 in the Liberal Arts building. ’ Applications are available in Dean Hester’s office. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor; (This letter refers to the arti cle “Goidwater-Reactionary, by Robert Ham, which appeared in the January 31 copy of the LANCE.) It seems in our society that those who expound on political topics, and finding themselves without facts for their position, revert to an unintellectual, strictly pedestrian propoganda technique of “name-calling.” Bergan Evans, Professor of Eng lish at Northwestern University, in his DICTIONARY OF CON TEMPORARY AMERICAN US AGE disserts that “Reactionary” is a word so emotionally charged as to be little more than a term of abuse,” Now our society grants freedom of the press, and we most assur edly at times abuse this right. And while outright slander is a prominent abuse, the real problem is born in the presenta tion of general unsubstantiated statements which represent nothing but an ambiguous insin uation to a thesis. This is the problem with “Goidwater-Reactionary,” in that the “writer” has assumed three general positions of Sen. Goldwater, about none of which is he well informed. Otherwise it would seem logical that he would try to explain the impli cations of each to his proposed thesis. If not facts, possibly a misguided “pro” or “con” or two, or just one small reason ably thoughtful “con.” But thfc author is proving the adage of “a little knowledge,” when he states a proposition and proves that proposition with the same proposition. The conclusion to the “article” is eloquent “gobbledygook” while in the author’s words “In short,” he sums up the whole one true political dogma in his own mind. But, I assert that he should let his devoted readers know his thoughts, and lead us out of our hopeless state of ignorance on political matters. By the way, Mr. Ham, what are the basic principles of the Republican Par ty? Robert L. Hatcher ni February 14 On And Off Catnpu By JOE CHANDLER, JR. EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Charles Quick ASSISTANT. EDITOR Joseph McKenney SPORTS EDITOR Courtney Siiives CONSERVATO-'iY EI>ITOR Jeanne Smith MAKE-UP Sara Payne, Beth Hopkins PHOTOGRAPHKE Mike M'ullinnix REPORTERS AND WRITERS Mary Fisher, Pat Ball; Caroline Clower, Carol Privette, George Davidson BUSINESS STAFF BUSINESS MANAGER Wilson Nancy Stroupe, Lucille Crook DISTRIBUTION jim Keylon, Mary Ellen McLean; Meredythe Lawrence ADVISOR Abernathy litorary Magazine This semester, a new landmark will appear in the history of St. Andrews. Posters scattered over the campus have announced to you the formation of a college literary magazine to be made up of stu dent contributions in the fields of poetry, the short story, the criti cal essay, and art. You may have wondered about he choice of a name for the .nagazine, THE CAIRN. The dic tionary says that the work, “cairn” is of Scottish origin and means “a rounded or conical heap of stones, heaped up as a landmark, or to arrest atten tion, as by explorers or sur veyors.” The first edition of THE CAIRN will appear this spring, but we must have your help. If you write, or would like to try writing, this is an excellent opportunity for you to begin. Your work should be presented, preferably typed, to one of our co-editors - Maggie Abrams, extension 67, or Harriet Otten, extension 40 - by March IB. A money prize will be offer ed for the best entry in each area. Politics Aid Parties On CJam Americans are a politically minded people, Anierican young people are no exception. Student government is, of course, practice for the real work to oe pursued in life as a citi zen. But it is a practice field, and the strength of the team is built here. What, then, ought to be politics on campus? Why parties on campus? Why not issues in place of platitudes? * * * Politics is the business of demo cracy. Elections, parties de bates, campaigns—all are inte gral parts of democracy, and all are unmistakable signs of its existence. “Politics is ma chinery,” says a prominent con temporary author. Politics must then exist and be encouraged if students are to have any semblance of real autonomy on campus. But, perhaps this last statement is the real problem on campus. Just how much autonomy does a student have on a cam pus? How much is a student en titled to have? How is the stu dent's relationship, to his su periors reflected in his political maturity? We have all signed on a dotted line when we entered college. We recognize the familiar and neces sary stratas of authority on a campus. A student may be said to have no real autonomy at all. The student does have one right which tends to make him and her much less than a mute and as near to autonomous as a stu dent may rightfully be. This is an inherent right to be informed about and be a powerful influence in decisions that affect students. Secondly, this principle should be extended as far as is possible, placing as much autonomy and responsibility as possible in the hands of the students. Lastly, the force with which the students responsibly push for their auto nomy will largely be the measure of how much they get, and this will be .aoeood.yardstick of their political maturity. Cooperation, not conflict, is still the by-word. But cooperative efforts are based on the fact that there are at least two sides, as well as two forces, to everything. Politics on campus is the very real, very good process by which students compete to be the re presentatives of the students be fore campus officials, as well as the heads of a student govern- ment. To call one a “campus poli tician” is not to diminish his or her stand for the good of the campus. This is an unfortunate, naive, and grossly immature con notation. Parties are simply instruments for political action. Most of us, I would venture to say, form groups of various sorts frequent ly to gain more and better public attention for ideas. As asso ciations for promoting certain ideas, legislation, and people to carry these policies out, politi cal parties are vital to a healthy student government. It is far better to allow students to or ganize to promote their wants and seek redress of their grievances than to hold down smoldering issues or ignore opposition, or worse, pretend to. Parties force consideration of issues, and on some of their own terms. Platitudes, like baloons full of hot air, rise at first and often carry the day on campus, it is sad to admit. But, like the air when it coois and the baloon faUs, platitudes fail to stay up in days of crisis. The campus, or candi date, that has to dress itself in excessive finery of ph, where one may often k weakness. The yardsiiei ever be what one has don. than what one has said a candidate has lived' ideas he or she espouses the good and true arefontij them. Then demand that tli’ up to their pledges. Aboi it should be rememoered will be risk involved if the 1 are meaningful. That’s it. are meaningful. Platitude not. Issues are risky, pia are not. Issues offer hope, tudes offer nothingness. * * * As the torch passes fti.. the hands of those studen make up the first, seco third classes of St. And first full generation of stii it is important to assess and project a future, students fail to be politi these students fail to or themselves; if these stude prey to platitudes and an i of security, they will fail mature. The work here is not plished. It is hardly begi to the students of the year to fulfill all our hopes Andrews. Whether theywl still and be burned by a shortening torch, or d strike out into the darkwi torch held high as a ligh road to greatness remai seen. NEXT TIME: “TwoLittle and the Honor Court; the Scene.” Bowlers B: DIAC Reco: The St. Andrews broke their own league re a match bowled Tues against Methodist Coll Knights had a high game 0 a 2669 series. The ol set earlier this year b drews was 941 and 2667, Lawrence of Arabia If your name is lis low you will recei tickets to “Lawren Arabia” which begi 20 at the Gibson T Present your colleg card at the boxoffi Names: Frances Boiuw Elaine Burton LeRO’y Martin Libby Lyle Jack Cole Thomas Hale Pat Eisenhut Ilene Douglas Richard Johns Jerry 'Marshall
St. Andrews University Student Newspaper
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Feb. 14, 1964, edition 1
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