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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 12, 1948)
Friday, March 12, 1948 THE DAILY NEBRASKAN Page 3 V Dean Oldfather Encourages Study of History BY MILLIE HOOTWALKER. When it comes to history, the Greeks had a word ,for it: "It piles up experience for man," ac cording to Dean Charles H. Old father of the College of Arts and Sciences. As a scholar in history and Greek, he should know. "History," said Dean Oldfather, "is now being taught more and more through social and economic interpretation of events than through a dry compiling of dates. If you study in history the expe rience of all mankind, you don't have to make the same mistakes yourself. To quote a colleague, 'History puts old heads on young shoulders.' " In his leisure hours Dr. Old father is translating from Greek the history of the world written by Diodorus of Sicily. Four vol umes of this scholarly work have been published, another is on the press, and he is at work on his sixth and last volume. Born in Persia, having studied in Mnuich, Germany, and having taught in Beirut, Syria, Dean Oldfather has a broad interest in and understanding of world af fairs. He has made many walking trips, he said, through Syria and Palestine, and is strongly against partiton there. "That is the opin ion of almost all educators who are familiar with that area," he continued. I nhappy over 'Modern Art.' Dean Oldfather describes his taste's in art as classical. "I like art to be restful," he said. "Art has been very important in every civilization, and it is a very happy antidote for the utilitarian ten dency of our American civiliza tion. Even in a kitchen, don't you have a happier cook if the room and its furnishings have pleasing lines? Maybe you even get bet ter meals." "I am not very happy about modernistic painting," the dean admitted. Commenting on radio pro grams on the air today," Dean Oldfather said, "I like the free enterprise system on the radio even though it does give us a ter rible lot of tripe!" He continued that he felt radio's influence could be enormous in the field of edu cation and true appreciation of the better things. "One of the boys from radio asked me to fill out a questionnaire as to what programs I listened to. He said the radio people were afraid that y - f -J t I h flAr-wsl Jfcfc&l jx-'C if -wis:.w T -aw- , - A .V! (r '-Lr . N- ? " - ' i DEAN OLDFATHER people don't listen enough to se rious programs.' I told him that I always listen to 'Elmer Davis and the News,' and confess that Amos 'n Andy and Charlie Mc Carthy were also among my regu lars." People Always Interesting:. Dean Oldfather began his ca reer at the University as a pro fessor ancient history in 1926, was chairman of the history depart ment from 1929 to 1946 and be came dean of the college in 1932. He enjoys the administrative du ties of that office which now take up his time, because they deal with people, and "people are al ways interesting." The Arts and Science College was the first college of the uni versity, opening its doors the doors of University Hall, in 1871. Today this college gives 50 per cent of the instruction in credit hours on the two Lincoln camp uses, he said. Instruction in Eng lish and mathematics, for example, is taken by all students of the university through the Arts Col lege, rather than in separate de partments in college of their ma jor. "The Arts College has gen eral requirements wider than any of the professional colleges, to give a student background in the main bodies of knowledge. Its general aim is to develop a stu dent's mental powers, rather than to fit him for a specific profes sion," the dean said. "However, a number of our departments are quite professional in their ad vanred work, for example, geol- ogy, chemistry and bacteriology, and give the student a foundation for a professional career." The 16 departments of the col lege fall into four main divisions, corresponding to the four main bodies of knowledge; the formal sciences, the natural sciences, so cial studies, and humane letters. Fundamentals Stressed. "After all," said Dean Oldfather "the Arts College teaches sub jects which are still considered to be the fundamentals of knowl edge. The degree of fered by this college is still the prize under graduate degree in the minds of the public. Other colleges are al lowed to give degrees of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in a specific subject. Only the Arts and Science College confers the unspecialized degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science." In Dean Oldfather's opinion, La tin definitely has a place in mod ern education. "Its vocabulary is diffused through every other lan guage." I am one of these old fashioned people who believe that you learn your own language by studying another. Latin should be the first foreign language learned. In most other countries they start it in what we would call the seventh grade." are experimenting with very gen eral courses such as a course in ical science,' a course in social Dean Oldfather expressed his regret that in this age of speciali zation of knowledge, most people now cannot get even the elements of knowledge in all fields. "Edu cators are very greatly concerned about the problem," he said, "and sciences,' so that introductory courses at least in the basic fields of knowledge may be available to all college students. Campus News In Brief Simon's winning ad of the dis play ad contest cannot be pub lished this Friday as previously announced because of an unavoid able delay in judging and re production of the ad. The winning ad will appear in next week's Rag and winners will be notified next week. Entries are now being taken for the institutional ad contest. Palter by Pat And then there's the weather. Some like it hot, some like it cold but all agree they need a change. For instance, Freddie Ilcrzosr is praying for a spring thaw to fur ther his cause with Ruth Ann Finkle. When interviewed on the subject, Fred stated, "Just how long can things freeze up?" Although stormy weather caused a break in the Johnny Williams-Bobbie Sprow relation ship, Johnny is in pursuit of a silver lining and Thil Kone. If this doesn't pan out, Dauntless John has two other Tri Delth in view. Chills and Thrills. After going barefoot for one entire chill and icy semester, Ervie Evnen has prospects of a cozy spring due to the argyle socks Eileen Gotsdiner is knit ling for him. Complications have been clouding up George Bostwick's week-ends of late. He is sure, however, that Norma Spear could clear things up if she would only save her week-ends for him. The latest in vocal organiza tions, renowned as Krause's Kampus Krooners, are planning a spring concert as soon as the weather permits. The group in cludes Bud Krause, tenor, Dick OIney, alto, Van Bunger, soprano, and Gene Berg, plan to tour the sorority houses where they will all join hands and. sing something gay. Sandy Crawford allegedly pre fers a warm and torid climate. Maybe that's how he found out so much about the Zulu people. Kncaged : Bev StenherR-BIll Carlson. Probable: Elrtonna Swan-Bill Critchfield. Improbable: Rariy EwinR. Impossible: Carter ladings. That's that, Pat. St. Patrick Cards Have Fun! Send your bet friends a St. Pat Card thi year Goldenrod Stationery Store 215 North 14th Street 11 A Ik WJV Ms) v. Vf '-AS r V ' -i;v -J- creat record- (, 1 I s& ' J s ART MOONEY'S hot arrangement of "I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover IB (An MGM release) "Four leal clover" has turned into a real four leaf clover for ork-pilot, Art Mooney. His record is keeping jukes in clover. An experienced hand in the music biz Art follows that famous experience rule in the choice of a cigarette, too. "I've smoked many different brands and compared," says Art, "and Camels suit me best." Try Camels! Discover for yourself why, with smokers who have tried and compared, Camels are the "choice of experience"! R. J. Reynold. T"diir('(iCnrTiriiiT Winstoo-biU'iu, Nurili Carolina