r
THE NEBRASKAN
Tuesday, May 3, 1955
Nebraskan Editorials'
Final hams In One I7eer?
A plan Jn Chancellor Hardin's mind to reduce
the present two weeks of final examinations to
one week has definite good points in its favor.
The plan has not been publicly announced, but
the administration is seriously airing arguments
on both sides.
Pro: A majority of students more than would
admit it do not need tw weeks of preparation
for tests. In the spring, particularly, a great
deal of this time is spent on recreation.
Con: This is not so. Students spend every
minute of the two weeks in preparation for
tests and in finishing up lose ends of the sem
ester's work. Moreover, even though much of
the time is spent in recreation, this is good for
the student psychologically. After a heavy sem
ester schedule, breathing time is required for
good preparation for tests.
Pro: On the other hand, psychologically speak
ing, it is a well established fact that the best
work is done when a reasonable amount of
pressure is exerted upon the student. If the stu
dents had to take tests in one week, they could
do it
Con: But wouldn't such a plan mean that the
possibility of a student having two tests at the
same time be increased?
Pro: Not necessarily. Such a plan includes a
reduction in the time for each test to two hours
instead of three. In such a case three tests
could be giving in each day. That way, the
number of test periods would be much the same
as they are now, so that no duplication for one
student would be any more necessary that it is
now.
Coa: And where would the student who had
three tests in one day be then? Preparing ade
quately for tests would be practically impossible
for him.
Pro:This is possible, but such a chance exists
now on a different scale. Moreover, a two-hour
test would require much limitation in scope, so
that not as much preparation would be required.
The effect might even be that less emphasis for
purposes of grading would be placed on the
final exam.
Con: What's wrong with the schedule we have
now? What benefits could be derived from of
different one?
Pro: Every year students moan because long,
drawn-out exam schedules prevent them from
going home in February, or leaving school early
in June. Both faculty members and students are
forced to stick around even though they may
be wasting time in between tests. This is a real
problem on campus this year. One example is
a coed who wished to take her tests early be
cause her wedding was scheduled to come soon
after her originally scheduled last exam. The
administration has set up a policy that prevents
a student from taking a test before it is sched
uled. The reason is that too many students
would require the same, and teachers ha vent
the time to make out new tests. Such a policy
is justified. On the other hand the request of
the coed was justified since other factors forced
her to set the date when she did. The result is
a dilemna; both are right and both are wrong.
While the plan to limit test week to one week
would not completely solve the problem, it would
alleviate a great deal of it. Students could be
free for summer jobs much sooner. Basically
such a plan is economical for both student and
professor.
Unfortunately, some students would be hurt
by the plan. On the other hand, many would
benefit. Once students became accustomed to
it, and planned their time accordingly, all would
benefit K. N.
Case For Senior Honoraries
Ivy Day Is here again, and the conspicuous
absence of one Innocent, and the reverberating
criticism of the past few months against the
Innocents seem to be overlooked in the curiosity
over next year's Innocents and Mortar Boards.
It might still be wise, however, to try to eval
uate these senior bonoraries whose influence
at this time of year pervades every phase of
student activities. Obviously, they are as infuen
tial as ever, and obviously, they sre as strong
as ever. And perhaps, they are as necessary
ss ever.
Mortar Boards and Innocents, which call them
selveslike every student organization a "serv
ice organization," are not , under keen analysis,
demanded and maintained for their services to
Bie University. Certainly both organizations do
perform many valuable services, but one won
ders whether these services are enough to justify
two such powerful and large organizations. One,
in fact, doubts that the two senior bonoraries
exist merely as "service" organizations.
Yet, they are undoubtedly necessary phases
of college life. Many of Nebraska's activities
and this is probably true for most other colleges
in the cation are emulations of successful
organizations which have built up traditions at
the oJder. Eastern colleges. Scholarship bonor
aries, fraternities, college humor magazines,
and secret senior bonoraries were all originated
in the East, and were copied by Western schools.
This may be one reason for senior honoraries
at Nebraska.
Behind this reason, of course, lies the fact that
humans seem to crave secret fraternal organi
zations. This desire to nucleate into exclusive
groups, with all kinds of mysterious lore and
"mumbo-jumbo," seems to be a universal trait,
and one especially popular in the United States.
This desire is stimulated by the need for close
companionship, and by the difficulty in creating
such companionships in a confusing, untrusting
society. And these desires are the forces behind
fraternities, sororities, bonoraries and lodges of
all kinds. They give diverse people common
grounds for fellowship.
' And finally, senior bonoraries seem to be
necessary to maintain the structure of the activ
ity system at Nebraska. This coveted and prestige-filled
position as a recognized can; pas
'leader, in an ultra-exclusive organization
gives impetus and meaning to the often drudging
and difficult work of activities. Many people
would undoubtedly forsake activities hastily if
there weren't a reward at the end of the road.
So it seems that even if the two senior bonor
aries. Innocents and Mortar Boards arent neces
sary to the University, they probably are neces
sary to the students in the University jJt. H.
Campus Circuits
Commonwealth Status Possible
Compromise For Alaska, Hawaii
From The University DHy Kansas
Lawreace, Kansas
The House Bales committee has recently re
sinned consideration of how and when to bring
op the bill that would authorize statehood for
Hawaii and Alaska.
A Democratic leader predicted that the com
mittee probably wi3 send the bill to the House
aj-iia a closed rule, which means there could be
no amendments.
Many persons are !n favor of making either
Alaska or EawaS a state but not both of them.
Hawaii has been predominantly Republican
and might add two .Republican senators to
Congress. However, Alaska is xnostJy Demo
cratic, so the gain 'would be canceled. For this
reason the bill, in order to pass, almost has to
be for both.
Hxwsa lias takes Che lead a efforts to gala
eitebe. Bawaiiaes seem U feel that they are
entities' to statehood because Hawaii ks a larger
fttpafioa as4 pays mere federal taxes than
teem ( fee presea states. Of 585,023 residents,
SS per cent are Americas citizens.
Some of the opposition to statehood for Hawaii
las arisen because in time it would bring two
senators of Asiatic extraction to Congress. Some
Southern Congressmen fear that it would en
courage racial voting.
Tne Caminurifit control of organized labor in
Hawaii also has been against the territory.
Others feel that if Hawaii becomes s state
&ere would be so reason to keep out Guam,
the Virgin Islands, end irfSer territories.
Alaska's size bas hurt ber is regard to staie
Sjood. Texas, ia its typical attitude, does not
'went to lose its tile of being the largest state
la Urn Union.
The ierrSery Is ?B mBm from tie United
f lisies bet wfy 69 m5rs treat Russia. Siberia.
Fsr Cis reasea Trrsiiect Elsenhower feat said
la wtssli prefer te gram statehood to nly the
populated area of Alaska rather thaa the entire
territory.
One reason a: any persons are against
admitting either territory as a state is that
according to the Constitution, statehood is ir
revocable. H the territories became states their
status could never be changed.
Those who are in favor of statehood feel that
it is desirable to eliminate hampering and dis
criminatory federal controls over the territories.
But mere and more persons are beginning to
agree that statehood is not the only solution to
this problem. They feel that if Hawaii and Alaska
were granted a commonwealth status, it would
correct the problems that exist now without
bringing on the complications that statehood
might incur.
Alaska and Hawaii both voted for statehood,
but they had only two choices for or against.
Many persons feel that they should have a
chance to express themselves on the issue of
commonwealth.
Ia 1954 a proposal for commonwealth pat forth
la Congress was defeated 6B-Z4. Another pro
posal for referea4sms fa each territory to deter
mine what they wasted was rejected 59-26. At
thai time a Hawaiian delegate said Hawaii would
demand a refund m federal taxes since 19M if
it were made a cemmMiw eattk instead cf a state.
If the territories were made commonwealths,
they would operate under a plan similar to that
of Puerto Eico, which has a self-governing status
to fit its DUois. Congress could provide for a
tninimpTn of federal control and define the
manner in which it sVflfl be administered.
Other advantages of statehood, such as federal
tax exemption, could be granted.
This session of Congress no doubt wlQ take up
the issue again, but it looks as though it will
be a long time before the American flag will
have more than 48 stars.
The Nebraskan
nSTTZCOKD TEAS .
ln3m Associated Cc&Seglato Press
iaiercttgegate Press
nifmmtstfm KatimaJ Advertastsj Service,
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EDITORIAL STAFF
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UTTIE MAN ON CAMPUS
by Dick Elbler
'Don't let th' housemother know we have any beer I enly
brought enough for the four el us."
Globetrotting
Mud In Public Eye,
Inscrutable Yanks
By CHARLES GOM0N
"You can't make any sense out
of what the Russians do; nobody
understands the Russian mind ex
cept a Russian. Besides, what
is the State Department for?"
With this casual observation
most Americans are apt to dismiss
the "Russian Question" to some
omniscient, if fancied, committee
in striped pants hidden in Wash
ington's Old State Department
Building.
Such statements on the part of
American voters are not only re
diculous, but the misinformation
these words betray may invite dis
aster. Westerners are prone to forget
that Soviet policies are nearly as
explicit as were Hitler's. The economic-political
bases of Commun
ism are defined by Karl Marx's
"Das Kapital and "Value, Price
and Profit." Marx and Er.gels
drafted the "Manifesto of the Com
munist Party." The party line
interpretations of these gospels of
Communism were expressed by
Lenin in "The State and Revolu
tion" and by Stalin in "The
Strategy and Tactics of World
Communism."
The thoughtful Communists even
made rigid ideological discipline
a part of their creed. To obtain
a single definition of current Sov
iet policy one need only read a
translation of the dullest newspa
per in the world: Pravda.
It is ironic that "pravda" means
truth." but as Jar as conformity
with the Communist party line is
concerned that is exactly what it
is Our problem of understand
ing and interpreting Russian events
is simplified to a study of one
line of statements the Russian
leader's.
Consider the problem of interpre
tation of world events from a Krem
lin's eye view, however. One of
the important advantages of Ameri
can democracy is that it permits
151 million different points of view.
Unfortunately for the conduct
of foreign affairs this principle
sometimes asserts itself at the top,
and the Russians are not the only
ones confused. In fact, conflicting
statements by various members
of the executive and legislative de
partments of the V. government
too often blanket Washington like
a political smog.
The classic example, of course,
was Korea. Secretary of State Dean
Acheson declared emphatically ear
ly in 1850 that Korea played no part
ia our Pacific defense concept.
That one cost us 137,000 casualties
when the Communists misjudged
American intentions and invaded
South Korea.
A recent example concerns the
proposed cease-fire in the Formos
an Straits. On .April 23 Under
secretary of State Herbert Hoov
er Jr., after consultation with Pres
ident Eisenhower, issued a state
ment imposing certain conditions
on U.S. participation in cease-fire
talks, including an insistence that
the Nationalist government be rep
resented. By April 27 Secretary of State
Dulles had returned from duck
hunting to concur with several con
gressional leaders in saying that
the U. S. would not insist that the
tnrmosan government be repre
sented at the suggested cease-fire
talks.
The present argument over wheth
er this country is or is not com
mitted to defend Quemoy and Mat
su is damaging our relations with
our allies.
The competition of loyalty review
boards and executive agencies over
Wolf Ladijensky and Edward Corsi
is a disgrace to American tra
ditions of justice.
If the confusion resulting from
American political indiscretions
produced bald heads and ulcers
only in the Kremlin we would have
no cause for concern. When our
allies begin to refer to us scorn
fully as "unpredictable" and "in
scrutable" it is time for immedi
ate rectification.
. This writer would not wish to
curtail the right of criticism in
America, yet neither can we af
ford to create the impression that
U. S. foreign policy is determined
by the latest r largest headline.
Quick
Quips
Three turtles decided to have a
cup of coffee. Just as they went
into the cafe, it started to rain.
So the biggest turtle said to the
smallest turtle, "Go borne and
get the umbrella."
So the little turtle said, "I will
if you dont drink my coffee."
"We wont," promised the other
two.
Two years later the biggest
turtle said to the middle turtle,
"Well, I guess he isnt coming
back, so we might as well drink
his coffee."
Just then a little voice called
from outside the door: "If you do,
I wont go."
USE NEBRASKAN
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Givin' 'Em Ell
vajav
Education Woes Lie
In Teachers College
By ELLIE ELLIOTT
The dubious state of affairs in
our public school system is always
a subject of controversy We have
made greater strides in getting
more people through school with
less personal cost than, possibly,
any other nation.
At the same time, however, we
must face the fact that the stand
ards of public education have not
kept pace with the enrollment. In
stead of expecting our students to
aim for a high standard, to try to
become educated, we have lowered
demands in order to accommodate
that vast, vague organism known
as "the average."
We eliminate subjects and sub
ject matter from our schools un
der the pretense that it is obsolete
nr that it contributes no practical
information to this so-called aver
age student. The classics go, the
foreign languages go, higher math
ematics go; they are replaced by
business English, driver education
and fudge-making. The practical
value of these latter activities is
undeniable, in terms of future pay
checks. But the aesthetic value, the
value to the mind and to the soul,
is questionable.
Is it possible fhat we as edu
cators and educators-to-be under
estimate this average mind which
we are so determined to "educate?
Are we possibly mistaken in trying
t teach young people how to earn
a living? Might we not try to teach
them, instead, how to live?
Much of the problem lies right in
our own Teachers College. The situ
ation 'is becoming a vicious cycle.
Students who are poorly prepared
enter the University in order to
learn how to teach, and they leave
again, only to send more students
to the University, and into life,
just as poorly prepared.
The number of professional hours
required by Teachers College is
adequate, and should be main,
tained, but- the content of much of
the material in the basic profes
sional courses is not only repeti
tious, but also of little value front
any point of view. Most Teachers
College courses are famous for
two qualities: "snap" and "busy
work." This does not need to be,
but it is.
The academic requirements in
Teachers College are not equal to
those of the College of Arts and
Sciences; yet a teacher, of all
people, should have a broad, liberal
education. Some of the best stu
dents in the University, some of
the best potential teaching mater
ial, avoid Teachers College simply
because they are not willing to sac
rifice their, minds, their time or
their dignity to useless busy work.
The situation could be improved
ia several ways. The first is to
make the entrance requirements
foi Teachers College the same as
the requirements for Arts and
Sciences ... or more. The second
is to make the academic require
ments equal to those of Arts and
Sciences, to include, for instance,
a language and philosophy. A third
and more immediately possible so
lution is to make the process of
dual registration less painful and
humiliating to those Arts and
Sciences students who desire to
improve the educational situation
by teaching, but who also desire a
liberal education and the straight
arts or science degree that signifies
this. It does not seem provident to
crucify one's potential allies. And,
ot course, the professional courses
need to be re-evaluated and re
vised. Then, perhaps, the shooting
across the Mall would cease, and
those of us who are caught in the
middle could spend our time doing
something more noble than dodging
the bullets.
Where There's Smoke
Noted Lawyer-To-Be
Expounds Theories
By JOHN GOURLAY
and
MIKE SBX'GRUE
A rare privilege today is an outlet."
exclusive interview with Gene Tell us about your 21st birthday.
S pence, noted law school fresh- "I arose early, went to the mirror,
man, upon winning his first moot found myself much more mature,
court case. Gene is a well-known That evening we had a champagne
political aspirant in the state. party at which I found out what
The questions and Spence's my friends looked like lying prone
answers follow: on the floor."
Have not the Thetas been posi- What da yea think ef Senator
tively indentified as participants McCarthy? "I believe as Mr.
in the riot? "I'd believe anything Knoll that be is a much-maligned
about the Thetas." gentlemaa who has bees done a
Was consideration made in their great injustice because ef his at-
case because of their campus repu- tempts to remedy the evils of com-
tation? "They ain't got no repu- monism."
tation." Are yon aa internationalist?
When will you be governor of "111 shake hands with any man."
Nebraska? "Fifteen years and Are you a rightist? "No, as a
twenty-five thousand dollars from matter ef fact, I'm left-handed."
now." Do yoa believe in specific
Where will you get the money? answers? "Ia general, yes."
"From happy supporters." What do you think of Nebraska
Why will yea ran for governor farmers? "The backbone of the
ef Nebraska? "I think my state country."
needs my services. I have a broad- What do you think of the Student
er base apoa which te build my Council? "The jellyfish of the Uni-
adnunistratioa." versity."
What Am ytn think of Governor What do you think about jocks?
Andersoe? "A true friend of the "I think they should be worn by
people." all athletes."
Does the fact that you are both Where do you expect to be al-
members of the RepuDlican Party lowed to go to school next year?
have anything to do with this? "Luther College."
"Only straight-thinking individuals Why Luther College? "I wish to
are Republicans." continue in the religious atmos-
Would you comment on the re- phere of the University."
cent penitentiary riot as compared What is your religious prefer
to the recent parity -raid? "Deplor- ence? "God."
able situations; they must b e i Who is the greatest living humanf
remedied." "Mr. Ozone (You'd never believe
Discuss for us briefly the dating I was 4)."
situation cm the campus. "A deplor- Who is the greatest person of a3
able situation; it must be remedied, time? "Give me twenty-five
Lincoln General provides my only years."
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