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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (May 11, 1955)
i i -1 .5 -A Poqe 2 THE NEBRASKAN Wednesday, May 1 1, 1955 Nebraikan Editorials One Exhausting Week! A Faculty Senate action Tuesday' reducing examination periods to one week, effective next year, arouses doubt as to the wisdom in such a more. The proposal to reduce the exam period was passed without debate and with an ob vious split among the various colleges, some college representatives vehemently opposed to the proposal. As evidenced, those representa tives from the college of Arts and Sciences ex cluding the departments housed in Bessey Hall, especially objected to the proposal. While rep resentatives from Teachers College, the physical education department and others anxiously voted without debate and in support of the pro posal. This noted division in faculty opinion as to the desirability of the proposal bears out fund amental objections on the part of students. However, the decision was made by the fac ulty and student objections necessarily take the form of a prediction as to future attitudes toward and troubles in the reduced exam period. Included in the proposal is the re allotment of time for each exam an the consolidation of exams into a one week period. Exams next year will each be two and one-half hours long and three exams will be scheduled daily. One "refresher' day will be allowed before exams begin and one post-examination day will be allowed for registration and commencement, exercises. Students and faculty members hurt most by this proposal are those who attend or teach strictly lecture courses, I.e. political science, history, etc Also effected are language stu dents and those students who are enrolled in lecture courses which require excessive out side reading. Faculty members in charge of lecture and language courses seem to realize the need for time to review on the part of students. Outside reading material will prob ably not be readily available now that students have only one day of review and a concen trated examination schedule the rest cf the week, nor will it be within the average stu dent's ability to review outside reading ma terial throughly in so little time. And one must realize the fact that the student with three or four lecture courses in which outside material plays an important academic part will be at severe disadvantage. Of course, the proposal becomes doubly sin ister if it is placed into perspective with the present grading system and examination proc esses. Those instructors who give objective exams will be less effected with grading head aches "and their students less effected by the reduced review time. Multiple choice, true and false and short answer exams take little more than a factual knowledge of a subject to pass while essay examinations are graded on the basis of facts plus insight based on thorough ness of knowledge of the subject Grading an essay examination is difficult on the part of most instructors and cannot be merely checked against a master set of answers as can an objective exam.- The short time allot ed to In structors in which they must grade exams and turn in grade reports plus the reduction in examination periods gives to believe that either more objective exams or shorter essay exams will be given with more emphasis on facts than on insight The possibility that -some students may have exams scheduled during - every examination period exists and even if this is true for only one or two days out of the week's period, it is only logical and human that students under this pressure handicap will not do their best on the exams. Actually the concentrated exam period looms as a two-handed monster. Stu dents, according to traditional standards, are expected to express knowledge of an entire course in a short final examination, and they are graded to great degree on the results of that exam. Pressure, vague knowledge which can only be cleared up by study and review, difficulty of one course as opposed to the ease of another, all go up to form a picture of reduced student efficiency on final examina tions. Instructors should not, therefore, expect final exams to be indicative of a student's best work and a change in the grading evaluation tecomes necessary. The reduced exam schedule sounds discour aging on paper and visions of harassed stu dents and frustrated instructors seem quite realistic. However, the proposal must first be tried to be more justly criticized, but at pressnt the reduced examination period seems to prom ise more disadvantages to both students and faculty members than advantages. J. EL B. Seventh Rush Party Next fall, breathless coed rushees will be flattered, favored and feted at seven rush par ties instead of six. The additional party will be on Thursday, making three parties for that day. PanheHenic -Council was dubious about adding to the al ready hectic rush week schedule, and the de cision passed with only a 7 to 6 vote. Major objection from sororities has been the fear that both sorority members and rushees would become too tired. Another party might just make everyone even more confused and exhausted. The advantages of another party, however, outweighs such objections. The rushee will get a much better deal She win have a chance to take a good look at one more sorority. The more sororities with which she becomes ac quainted, the better. She can give courtesy parties and parties where she will not have a chance to pledge and still have alternatives to choose from. Open House impressions are brief, hazy and too often misleading. It is the "second look" .during the parties which really convinces a rushee which sorority will be her choice. Of coarse the system works both ways, too. Sororities will have another chance to impress a few more girls. And since more coeds will be coming back for parties, sororities too will have a firmer base for their judgements. The added party wiH not mean any more work in party planning. No rushee would be allowed to attend more than one party at a house daring a single day. Therefore, it would Just mean repeating a party already organized. Other campuses at colleges of comparable size have rush week systems which include far more parties than seven. Some have as many ss seven in one day shorter in length, however. University PanheHenic has received national recognition for its fine - organization, but fiie most frequent objection according to 2iss Snyder has bees the low number of parties. The aeven& party will be used next year, and if it proves too exhausting for coeds, it w2 be dropped. One more party wOl not make much difference Is sore feet and forced smiles. But it may saaka a difference in the number and satis f aetiaa-ef pieces. 3L H. ' Today's Crisis The large percentage of voters in Monday's Student Council election proved two things. First, Student Council activities this past year have impressed more people and stepped on more toes than ever before and, second, for the first time in many years, independent voters have presented a threat to Greeks. Obviously the increase in voters did not come entirely if at all from the independent group. Only one IFC -backed candidate (in pharmacy) lost the election. Greeks have been heaving a sigh of relief throughout the campus today, and independents are facing up to the fact that if they are to put men into office they are going to have to bring more of the independents to the poll come election time. The climax will come this afternoon when the Council elects its officers for the coming year. The present Council is in trouble; those who on the basis of past work are under con sideration for the job of president, are un available because of offices in and commitments to other campus organizations. Students elected a group of live-wires in Mon day's election. It will be a tragedy in student government if a group of officers capable of leading Council members does not result from today's meeting. K.N. Rare Break The Spring Event Committee, whose activ ities have long been shrouded in secrecy and thwarted by the early April riot, is finally about to launch the results of its months of planning and plotting into the University stream. The first annual Spring Dance will be held tonight in the Coliseum to the strains of Billy May's orchestra. The Spring Event group has been criticized in the past for their cloak-and-dagger secrecy and their smug tip-toeing about. The unexpected impact of the riot bushed up the criticism be cause it was realized that there was little reason for a Spring Event which was planned to take the place of riot which had already happened. The Committee, however, was cf sterner stuff. Or perhaps they had already contracted the band. At any rate, they arranged for a Spring Dance. This in itself is a very nice gesture on the part of the Committee. As naughty as the stu dent body might have been, they are still get ting treated, and very nicely. We almost don't deserve it And the Corn Cobs, who are ad mittedly wealthy, have agreed to underwrite the dance so that tickets may be sold for the very nominal sum of fifty cents. University students seldom get a break like this one. Whether or not the Spring Dance will be success depends on the ability of University students to take advantage of a good thing. It is doubtful that this campus will ever be able to dance to a top band like BiHy May on a Wednesday night ia informal dance for Only 50 cents. F. D. The Neb trsTtsscoisst te&z fission A9ffst4 CelefSaia Press Isstmsate&slii Press ' Isrwestaiim Katasal Aivertlsfeig Service Isrswffst Eh KAnakaa to pHiim ftr trtiM! tb tat twnrtif SeMM m4m ttw mmOmitlaHhm et tt dun sMw en Aftoin m mm m9mvm a ttoSraa e: - .. ?nirrMm ttw twHOtethm Suto- e. .- :..! em n'vitsrt fsbthwnss mbml 1m fn tram f . - . j cffiiMHMtW em tt part t (few tmUowmultJw, r r t rf urn rwmhor mt tbm tauwltr Untwa .. arr tim mt mi www uMSn th Cintasralty. mi -..- m m SrrMwkM Matt mr pmtmitt n . j.,,. Wb-t ttMsgr mo, r r cms fee fraM. t ., -wMr la. raskan EDITORIAL STAFF 4um rune mam .................. . Maaasmc fcattor ..................... BUrlma Bm Km fc.tlN iNck rui tmat Maa Ittmm Bmm Qan Bmtmi .............. THI Mi, feeder , 8 )wnn, Kmji ftttsctMH CMMar .......... W Uaaiti i www Tutcht tm Effitor .......Mmriiy MKclw-a asiMirtwM frty tt&K&tot wips. jRjttNs itiaarlMH. Imdtnmam ainar, Jmhi tn, r Mm imm btVfltRn, ftartmn MWna. iflMw tm. frma sMfm, m tCtutram, frfa bewwift, Jmto M, ttoa WarMMfei, UUmm HncrnHMm. Amro Mm, imm Htuist, Rathe iUwenoittM, i tU Brawn. Mrl Bnll, iamm nm . Jut UMt Safer KM BUSINESS STAFF Ami Hmtaem Mimn .... tm tMvnM. Barbara fa tM MMkwa, iwt Hmn ItTTl! MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Biblar V" "Where 0. yo9 buy yi.r leotardt, Miss Williams?" The Self-Governed 'Average Student' Is Modern Problem By LOUIS SCHOEN In last Friday's Nebraskan, an editorial referred to the paradox ical average University student. "He pays money to a professor to teach him, and then complains when the professor attempts to teach him too much. The 'snap courses are popular; the difficult ones dreaded or avoided. Class preparations are done as a favor to the professor in order th?t the student might be favored' by a high grade." These characteristics of the "av erage stadeatn are perhaps the most important "problem in mod- era education. They are the re salt of a lack of moUvatio for learning ia the student. I think the blame for this lack caa be placed definitely oa the primary and sec ondary school systems and per- haos a laree dejrree of It in the borne. It should be the responsibility of parents and of teachers in pri mary and secondary schools to de velop in the student a sincere m- Quick Quips In Hungary a commissar asked a peasant bow the new potato crop production plan was coming. "Under our glorious leader," answered the peasant, "our po tato crop has been miraculous! Why, if we were to put all the potatoes in a pile they would make a mountain reaching to the feet of God." "But you know there isn't any God!" said the commissar. "There arent any potatoes ei ther," replied the peasant "YouH have to hand it to Ve nus deMilo when it comes to eating." "Why?" "How else could she eat?" A young man took his city-bred gorl friend into a night club which was decorated elaborately in cow boy style. They were there a short time when the girl arose and excused herself to go and have her face made-up. She returned a moment later, her countenance a blushing red. "Ted," she said "youH have to help me- Am I a heifer or a steer?" A kindhearted old gentleman saw a little boy trying to reach a doorbell. He rang for him, then said, "What now, my little man?" "Run like hell," said the little boy. "That's what I'm going to do." ' Maybe It's a good thing men dont understand women. Women understand women and don't like them. A man needs a woman to take care of him so she can make him strong enough for her to lean on. Demonstrating a complicated educational toy to a customer, a toy-shop clerk said, "Of course the whole thing's very confusing only a child can understand it." terest in learning. Most often, in stead, they develop in him a nega tive attitude that the learning pro- the attitude that the learning pro cess is being forced upon him against his own will and perhaps even against his own best inter est. These are problems, of course, which must be solved first of all in the teachers colleges. Thus there has rightly been increasing empha sis in teachers colleges on psy chological aspects of teaching. But can a teacher who is well-schooled in psychology but has only a smat tering of general background know ledge ie., of a liberal arts train ing properly motivate the stu dent along a sincere and active scholastic career? This is, of course, the major contemporary ed ucational issue. Its solution de pends on a more moderate atti tude from both sides in the con troversy. Its solution at the earli est possible date is imperative if western civiliation and western morality are to survive this age of peril. AnoOier Nehraskaa editorial last week stated what It called the "case for senior hoaoraries." It apheld "the fact" that "a nni versal trait, and ae especially popular ia the United States," of human beings Is to crave secret fraternal organizations. "R. H. the writer, obriously did not con sider the hnge portion of the pops latkm persons who set only are not members of lodges, frater nities, etc., bat who abhor the very formaliitic secrecy which Is the foundation f these arganiations. I would suggest the vast majority of independent students at this Uni versity are among this anti-fraternal groap. Probably the editorial writer's statement would apply to virtually all members of fraternities and sororities.. These opposing atti tudes, of course, are one of the chief points of contention between Greeks and independents. It is the basic source for many of their dif ferences. For many of the anti fraternal independents consider the f ormalistic hodge podge of the se cret order to be a little more than an opiate for the lonely, confused masses. Lefierh Here's To Bermudas Dear Editor: Congratulations to you, Jan, for proving Monday that some people actually LOOK GOOD wearing Bermudas. We NUBS (Nebraska University BermuaVSociety) are a quiet group, interested in com fort rather than conversion; hence we do not campaign noisily for new members. Nevertheless, we are always happy to welcome any one who decides to join us. You are a credit to our organization, and we are proud to have you. F. Jay Pepper II I a-riiwif rnm.iii.i.iriii mini. i,iii.ijT-Tiiii-'.linwmiri.nMilii , .MEN'S WALKING SHORTS Machine Washable Butcher Weave Boxer and Belted ModcL 28-40 Prnnry't Street Floor 098 See MR & K for Grcisdfan Gifts BEFORE YOU PURCHASE A GIFT FOR A?nr OCCASION BE SURE TO VISIT RODIS KAUFMAN JEWELERS. THEY ARE Head quarter fort WATCHES FUi & PENCIL SETS COMPACTS livtt tocaJlr OwifH Vmttmuiy Nm-v- by law JUcluwt Khm Schneid Remarks- Wonder If He Knows Mrs. Calabash? By STAN SCHNEIDER Some people on this campus know practically everybody. 1 can't figure out how they do it Let me give you an example. I met a guy the other day and n o matter whoso Dame I mentioned this guy claimed he knew him. We talked about the new Inno cents and he knew every one of them. He also knew all the new Mor tar Boards and and could give me a ran down on most of the professors on campus. After a while I began to think that this individual, who we shall call Joe to be clever, was top candidate for varsity gasser. The conversation stemmed around ROTC and he knew everybody in the corps. Well, at that particu lar time the guy who carries the little flag in all the big parades walked in so I thought I would test him. I called the flag bearer over and sure enough old Joe knew him. He even knew the Colonel. I was a little surprised at the num ber of people this guy knew, We began to talk about politics and sure enough Joe knew about every one there is to know. To make sure, we flew to Washington and Joe knew them all. He walked right up to John Fost er Dulles and Joe said. "John, how's your old foreign policy?" .John turned around and said, "Oh, Que moy and Matsn." We could hardly stop laughing at that good one We went directly to the Presi dent's office and Joe didnt even knock- He went right in and slipped Ike the old grip and said, "Ike, how's your old bald head?" Ike clasped his hand warmly and said, "Fitch, Fitch " Another bit of quick humor. By this time I was a little sur prised. No one uses Fitch any more. Some guys you just cant trust. I decided to give him the supreme test. I said, "Joe, 111 bet you dont know the Pope." "We were kids together, he said. We used to fish in the same stream. By STAN SCHNEIDER Of course he always caught mora than I did." " This time I knew he was. kidding so to embarass him I thought we would go to Rome and let him prove it. When we got there It happened to be Easter Sunday morning and millions of people hail gathered at St. Peter's Square to see the Popo who was supposed to make a publio appearance on the balcony. When he came out on the balcony Joe told me he was going up on the balcony to prove that he knew the Pope. Sure enough, out on the balcony came. Joe. He shook hands with him. Milliions of people in the square screamed and yelled,. At that time a little guy standing beside me poked me in the ribs and said, "Hey, buddy. Who is that up there with Joe?" ! war v J Jokers ... A disk jockey, urging listeners to take advantage of a special of fer, announced, "Merely drop us a postcard and give the postman only $2.95 when he delivers your 48 unbearable children's records." Another radio announcer de scribed the advantages of owning a certain new car: "This is the automobile that is designed to give you years of travel-free care." Student A: "Where are you go ing in such a hurry?" Student B: "I just bought a new textbook and I'm trying to get to class before it goes out of date." Good Readers Always Use Nebraskan Want Ads For Results 1 lLmmm - Kith f Amf ftr f 8jf Bef ," e f SUMER IS ICU1IEN IN Sumer is ievmen ia; Lhude ting euecu! Thus, as every schoolboy knows, begins T. S. Eliot's immortal Hiawatha. And no wonder "The Boy Orator of the Platte (aa T. S. Eliot is commonly called) was moved to pen such light hearted lines! For summer (or the "vernal equinox as it is frequently referred to) is the happiest season of the year, mild and balmy and contented-making. Which brings us, of course, to Philip Morris Cigarettes. They, too, are mild and balmy and contented-making. But that is not alL They are also genial, placid, and amiable. But that is still not alL They are, moreover, smooth, pacific, and lenient But hold! There is more. They are, in addition, tranquillizing, clement, and dulcet. Indeed the list could go on and on, until every adjective ia exhausted that would describe the mildness of Philip Morris, the subtlety of their blending, the delicacy of their flavor. What more perfect companion could be found to a summer's day? What more apt complement to a summer's night ? If you have been pleased with Philip Morris through the win ter and spring as who has not who has a taste bud left in his head? you will find your pleasure compounded, your enjoyment trebled, when you smoke Philip Morris in the warm and joyous months before you. My own plans for the summer (except that I will smoke Philip Morris through all my waking hours) are still vague. I have been invited to attend a writers conference, but I don't think IH ac cept. I've been attending writers conferenn far vmra and I always have a perfectly rotten time. The trouble is that Alexin- J T w-v - . . ,. ore uumas ana Harriet ijeecner Stowe are always thaffe. Not that I have anything against these two swell kids ; it's just that it breaks my heart to see them. Thpv'r n in Inv an tm'h! Ho. voted and so hopelessly! Dumas will never divorce Jane Eyre while she is with Peary at the North Pole, and Miss Sfcowe has long since despaired of getting her release from the Pittsburgh rirates, so nana in nana, brave and forlorn, they go from writers conference to writers conference while Duma y 4 VU UiO M umental Stiver at Yale. No, thank you. Ill do without writers I think instead I'll try to imnrove IHV fishinc Aa TvaaV W1tn once said, "No man is born an artist or an angler." I often turn to the works of Walton (or "The Fordham Flash" as he is fa miliarly called) when I am searching for a choice aphorism- In fact, I told him so when we met mm vn f . if,M conference. Walton was accompanied, as always, by Henrik Ibsen (or "The Pearl of the Pacific" as he is known as) . They -RsenJ-The Pearl of the Pacific") and Walton ("The Fordham Flash") -were collaborating on Mister Robert at the time, but they fell to quarreling and abandoned the project and the world, as a consequence, was deprived of a truly robust and entertain- nig mureuj. It is not uncommon, I must say, for writers to fall into dispute. They are, after all, a sensitive and high-strung lot 111 never forget what illiam Makepeace Thackeray (or "The Body" as ha was universally called! once ad n -v.. .. writer," said Thackeray, "and I'll steal his wife." Wel as I was saying, I think 111 give writers conferences a miss this summer, and I recommend that you do the same. Why don t you just take it easy? Swim and fish and sail and smoke and read and slaen and tan vnnr i;tv, for you because-if I may get a little misty in this, my final column of the year-I think yon should know that it's been real ;u.r ueuvenng tms nonsense to you each week, w intw-Sin let.me tate what Jaae Austen (or "Old m"Nothr? " iS the rld over) once said to me. .Nothing is so precious as fn"pncv; .x. :J j .v. ..Wc - .v ... .. WJ't one saia, nu wig richest man in the world ia the one with the most money." CaUs Statea. lsi .... . re a like to have your ouintont on this troe cam iMrm j , . - Mgr. Phdtp Morn, College D,pl., 100 Park Avenue, A. York, N. 1 . t