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
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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
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-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
