Page 95 - Scrimshaw1976-77

Friday, February 18, 1977 Scrimshaw CoUege "What Impact- in Human Terms?U The following, reprinted from should be useless or that its social has at its disposal a rich and varied external competition for grades break through to their students, not The Sun of Dec. 7, 1916, was taken applicability is irrelevant, but store of learning; and if there is, that pits them against each other. that it often fails to happen. As for from Dr. vtuners annual report on there is more to knowledge and the does not its cultivation demand a On the other hand requirements those students who really come to Johns Hopkins University. Muller learning of)t than explicitly less brutally utilitarian conception are onerous and the competition the university to learn. they find is president of JHU, perceived social utility. than our SOCiety acknowledges? intense. Social pressures their opportunities undercut by the Let us translate this to the un- (4) When four undergraduate have removed the in- prevailing countertrends. Perhaps dergraduates. If they say they years are perceived primarily as centive to learn as well the saddest commentary on un- Most undergraduates m effect want to attend a university to learn an economic investment, what as the intellectual joy dergraduate education is student write off their undergraduate for the sake of learning, their impact does that have on the same of learning, so a type of resentment against someone who years in terms of intrinsic value. families are apt to regard that as four years in human and emotional schizophrenic behavior gets a' good grade and doesn't These are not "real" years; they frivolous. Yet if they say their terms'? results. -For recreation and "need" it-for qualification later, are only "pre-" years. Their value purpose is to become doctors or The final question brings us to relief, these exceedingly bright, of course .. is seen to lie mostly in what follows lawyers, their families are pleased the next point. Many un- gifted, yet hard-pressed young them, not in what they themselves because utility is preceived in the dergraduates are depressed people turn not to any pleasures of Renewed emphasis on learning contain. Stated simply, they are sacrifices entailed. emotionally, although most of the intellect but mostly to frantic, for its own sake will result in not regarded as years of learning But • them, happily, are not clinically ill mindless, ~ primarily physical happier students and a more but as years of effort to qualify Ior . (1) How surely can a person at Look at their dilemma. On the one diversion. The cynic, of course, agreeable society. what is missing something else; and learning and eighteen or so know what he or she hand they are bored. Their interest may regard this as socially useful increasingly on campuses and trying to qualify can be two en- will do as an adult, is best qualified in learning has been eroded by because it initiates students into an throughout American life is the tirely different things. to do, or wishes to do'? their overwhelming need to qualify adult American world in which a intellect at play, the joy of learning (2) If the knowledge worth for something else, and they have sharp and unhealthy distinction not for economic gain but for Our society tends to - treat learning is confined to what is subordinated whatever potential persists between work and relaxation, the integrated per- knowledge as a commodity whose essential to the pursuit of one interest they may have had in a pleasure-a world in which ex- sonality whose learned knowledge value depends on its utility, rather career, then is not learning awfully subject to receiving the highest treme utilitarianism has driven serves both vocation and leisure. than treating knowledge as an end narrow, inflexible with respect to possible grade in it. They study not pleasure out Qf work and sensible The most devastating weakness of or good in itself. The question we career alternatives, and only a to learn but to be tested. They purpose out of pleasure.. a society so utilitarian that it ask most about knowledge is what means to an end? regard testing not as an in- good it does-how useful it is. I (3) Is there truly nothing of value ternalized process that challenges When many undergraduates ~e~~:~~Ii~:~oeC;cncoe~:c p7~~~~~s would not argue that knowledge in a lively, well-trained mind that them to do their best but as an complain about teaching, most of Some of the best that life has to them are really saying that they offer is economically non- Trustees are the Last Word reC:~~~h;~!~~~~le~Z!"s~~~:; productive SOCiety can sustain No human and that their mutual Carlton Harris - feel compelled to take bore them, "itself on the basis of work alone, competition The following is the first in a General Assembly) under which it may call special meetings of the for high grades is too intense to be but the utilitarian imperative series on the Board of Trustees. operates. Finally and most_ im- entire Board when it deems it to be tolerable. That is not directly an nurtures the concept of leisure as portantly, the Board .is the final necessary (special meetings may indictment of teaching. How can escape from work. It also fosters a Scrimshaw at the outset wtsnes authority on itself - It is a self- also be called by any five Board one expect any but the most gifted split personality that must take to thank Dr. Ralph C. John, our perpetuating body, nominating and members). In addition, it is professors to inspire their students economic productivity seriously President for his help in the electing its own new members. responsible for nominating persons under these conditions'? while either dismissing pleasure researching of this article. His The Board of Trustees consists of for membership on the Board when Professors do well if they make and leisure as trivial, or cooperation has been both valuable forty-two members elected to vacancies occur. New members the necessary more endurable. It is demeaning them as only fostering and much appreciated. Dr. John three-year terms. They receive no are chosen on the basis of being surprising that so many manage to productivity or imitating it. and the school charter were the compensation for their service. able to make significant con- primary sources of the information Every year one-third of the tributions for the betterment of Phallaey 101· contained within. members are up for re-election or the college. Dr. John explained replacement. This rotation is very that these contributions may take -t R d f- d "Be it enacted_ by the General similar to that used by the U.S the form of unusual expertise in aM aseu .- IDI y e e IDe Assembly of Maryland, that Senate. Members are eligible for relevant field, such as education, a .... non-profit corporation be and re-election until they attain the budgeting and management, or ~ is hereby established to found, own mandatory retirement age of 70. ~ay take the form of financial DO~~t~~~d~ubt, the most talked~ ~~u.ght," .co~me.nted Mike Davis. and operate a college .... the cor- Upon retirement, a member may gifts. about class of January Term was Girls didn t thmk. th;y ~ould be porate name of which is be designated a ," ustee The Finance Committee has Bill Tribby's Phallacy 101: Big doctors, and boys didn t think t~ey WESTERN MARYLAND Emeritus," of which there re now general supervision of the in- BoysDon'tCry.Thefortystudents s~uld be nurses," ~n~ther field COLLEGE, INCRPORATED ... " eleven, at the discreti of the vestment of all funds of the college. learned, through a variety of ways, tr-ip v.:as to a ~ender clinic at Joh~s So states Section 1 of the charter of Board. The "Trustee meritus" Purchases and sales must go a redefinition of the male role in Hopkins hospital. Appar~ntly this this institution. Did you know that and the "Honorary' ustee,' a through this body for approval. society. Using a combination of was unusual and, according to Joe Western Maryland is a cor- separate designation, have the The Committee on Academic guest lecturers; films, field trips, Golden, "John Money, the head ~f poration? Probably few students right to attend Board Meetings and Affairs decides on matters of discussion groups, and one-to-one the clinic, really went ~ut of his do. Did you know moreover that to participate in discussion, but not the governing body of this cor- to vote, ~:d:~:~i~~:n:~r~hea~~i~~: ~~siocn:~:~: s~~~nts aca~i~f~~~~~ ~~~gst.~, ~~~o,u~e ~~~~~~~t~~! poration is the Board of Trustees, Faculty. Both Deans and six awareness of masculinity. class were required to VISI~a gay and that the Board controls the Meetings are held twice a year, students are members of the bar, a new and ey~-{tpemng ex- affairs of the college in a way once in April (the "Annual Committee on Student Affairs. Its "If Phallacy 101 didn't change penence for all who did. analogous to that of major Meeting") and once in October purpose is to "provide a means of people's ideas," explained Joe stockholders in a business? The (the "Regular Meeting"). At- communication among students, Golden, "it at least made them Readings and daily sensitivity purpose of this article is to explain, tending these meetings other than faculty-staff members, and aware of their own feelings." Bill exercises were also utilized by the the duties and organization of that voting and honorary members are Trustees." It reviews all matters Tribby, the class's instructor, tried class, The books ranged from the important and mysterious (to "visitors to the Board." There are relating to student affairs. The from the beginning to set up a two textbooks to children's books students) body known as the Board nine alumni visitors, three faculty Committee on Buildings and "consciousness-raising group to that were blatantly stereotyped in of Trustees. vlsucrs, and three student Grounds exercises supervision provide an escape from male-female roles. Both Bill visitors. As with honorary mem- over and care and control of all meaningless dialogue." To achieve Tribby and the students felt that The Board is the last word in all bers, these visitors may raise buildings, grounds and equipment that, each student was able to the sensitivity exercises led to a matters_of policy regarding the discussion but may not vote. of the college, recommending new meet; on a one-to-one basis, every great deal more openess in the college. Even Dr. John must an- Presently, the three faculty structures when necessary. person in the class. Also, groups of group. The exercise involved swer to the Board-he literally visitors are Drs. Palmer, Royer Finally, the purpose of the Com- ten would meet daily for dialogue touching as a form of com- works for them. So do the faculty. and Case. The S.G.A. has not yet mittee on Development is to on the masculine role. Oc- munication of feelings. _ The charter states that the Board appointed tfie student visitors. promote the financial development casionally the class would get " ... shall have full power and The Board is organized in a of the college in all area;;. together as a group for fllm, guest Where does the Phallacy 10; authority to constitute and appoint, fairly simple and straightfor:vard The Board of Trustees was first lecturers, at. discussions. The co!-,rse go from here'? For one in such manner as they shall deem mann~r. Ther~ are four off~cers fQ,Tmed back in 1868 when WMC lecturers included a transexual, thing, Bill. Tribby said that he best, a president and faculty as and SIX commlttees~ each WIth a was born. Most of the original 33 senior citizens, career awareness would certamly run the class agam they may deem proper for in- chai~an. Th~ ChaIrman of thf' members wer.e clergy. Over the councilors, and Warren Farrell, next year, with maybe less structing the students and scholars Board I~ Mr. Wilb~ D. Pr~ston, J~. years several revisions have been about whom Mr. Tribby said, students and a few more guest T in,.said college in all the liberal arts of Baltimore; ,vIce-Chairman ]S made of the organization of the "A number of people were hungry lecturers. All the members of the and sciences ... " Only the Board of :Mr. Robert BTicker of Gw~edd Board. The present guidlines as for Farrell'f, concepts." Marcia. class expressed a change. in at- Trustees can procure land or Valley, Pa.; the Secretary. IS our described here were adopted in Polk, another class memoer, said, tltude. Most everyone said thaI \ property, sell that land or own Dr. John; an? servmg as October of last year. Slightly over "The class really opened up a lot th~y felt that the most importa~t t~eo~~a~~:~~e ~~~i property, or authorize the erection 1'reasurer;s Mr. Phlhp Schaeffer. 50 per cent of the Board members ;~:e \~;e: ~~:a~~r w::ns~er~f ~~~~att~ of new buildings on that land or property. The Board has the sole The six committees divide up the ~:.t;~~~~~~~roximatelY 10 per community." in their relationships wIth other' power to accept gifts and bequests duties given to the Board. Com- Students interested in being people of either sex. Some feel that in the name of the college. The mittee assignments are made by appointed a student visitor to the The cou~se also .had the students there is a need for more. Dave tloard is in charge of com- Mr. Preston. He also chooses the Board should contact Jay Rodstein taking field tripS that were Meyer felt that "there is a need for mencements and is the final chairmen of each, except f~r the or some other person on. the relevant to the. subject of more consciousness-raising authority in the granting of Executive Committee, of whIch. he Executive Council of the SGA. maSCUlinity. One tnp was to. a groups. These would reaffirm all of degrees, both earned and is chairman. The ExecutJve Those of you merely interested in children's day-care center to hnd ~e theSi~;:~sth!~~S ~~ii:~:~~:~ honorary. Only the Board can ~~m:~~~si~~h~u~~~;~~ to~t~:~~ ~~a:~t~g :~~:I:bo~!x~he w~~~rs~ ~~!~~e,,~t~~t~d~eOfc~~~:~u~~~~~ Phallacy 101 only started." and Charter J. amend the By Laws of the Maryland meetings. The Execuhve Comm. Scrimshaw. reaffirmed what I had always been (with the approval