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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (May 23, 1956)
Poge 2 Wednesday, May 23, 1953 THE NEBRASKAN Nebraskr.ii Editorials: tiTTti Man on Campus by Dick Bibler !! ! t . 1 v - V J i , i : : 1 v '. . I i ; - i . .' ! r: 1 i i . ... ,.,,(. ,. 2 r That They Might Appear For some time The Nebraskan has been edi torially discussing the contributing factor to and resulting conditions of the demotion of Clyde Mitchell as chairman of the department of agricultural economics. In its editorials The Nebraskan has consid ered the oblique reflection which such a demo tion casts upon the reputation and professional competence of its victims and, more important, the damaging effects which such administrative action produces in faculty morale, the occupa tional stature of its institution and the princi ples of academic freedom. In its news columns today The Nebraskan places six specific charges made by Mitchell alongside those which have been printed in re cent weeks by University professors and faculty members who have recently left the institution. The Mitchell Charges: 1. Repeated attempts were made to "tone down", modify and even to censor my publi cations. 2. 1 was advised to curtail my speaking and writing activities. 5. I was advised to resign my position and move elsewhere, assured that I would never get a salary Increase at the University, and that I was on the Regents' "blacklist." 4. I was notified in February, 1955, that be cause of continuing controversy over my views, including strong objection from the legislative groups responsible for University funds, I was going to be relieved of my chair manship, and that, furthermore, if such con troversy,, continued, I would probably be dis charged, notwithstanding my academic tenure. 5. 1 was notified in September, 1955, that the change would be made while I was out of the United States on my Fulbright Fellowship, and that If any "reasons" would be demanded, aa official statement would be made that I had performed my professional duties inade quately. 6. My annual contract of appointment to the position of department chairman ends on June 30, 1956. From 5000 miles away, I can not be certain on the legal point, but it ap pears that the University has violated a con tract in removing me as of May 1, 1956. In view of the fact that abrogations of freedom have occurred constantly, contract violation is perhaps a minor matter. The statements which Clyde Mitchell has courageously placed before the faculty, students and citizens of the state of Nebraska assume such proportions of gravity that they can no longer by tossed off as "ridiculous," "mere opinion" or with the hypocritical transparency of a "strictly administrative matter." The question which these statements raise are of such seriousness that they threaten the very principles upon which this University and every university have been founded. Is this the sort of support which a faculty member can expect at the University? Is this the kind of cooperation which a pro fessor can expect from his administrative superiors? Is this the nature of defense which a Uni versity employee can expect when his speeches, his publications, his very views come under attack? Is this the kind of confidence which the Institu tion has in the standards of academic independ ence, the fundaments of intellectual freedom and the right of every man to "think what he likes and say what he thinks?" Is this the sort of assurance we have that our University puts its faith in the American ideals of freedom and higher education? If our cherished freedoms are In danger, it is not because their opponents are too strong; it is because their supporters are too weak. If our basic liberties are jeopardized it mat ters not who is against these principles; it matters who is for them. If our constitutional rights are impaired, it makes little difference by whom they are put under attack; it makes all the difference by whom they are defended. If the spirit of academic freedom is en dangered at the University, it has little effect who has exerted or yielded to the pressures, but it does make all the effect in the world who is not afraid to stand forth and resist them. In short, let us trust that those who have im periled the independence of the University of Nebraska can be solidly reinforced with men who have the resource, the vision and the cour age to oppose the trend. B.B. SQUGQ- Infesfs S By FRED DALY Editorial Page Editor . A favorite target of student editors after the failure of some school function or an other is "student apathy," a rather vague attitude cover ing lack of interest, lack of ambition and the startling ability of college students to be uninformed. Whenever a school event falls delicately flat, the fail ure -of the occasion is either traced back to the group who organized it in the first place, or to the students who failed to contribute by just being there. After the function is over, and the monetary deficit to taled and sent with quavering hand to presidents of sponsor ing groups and the college comptroller, a slow dirge is played and those most in volved in putting the thing on gather together and try' to fig ure out just what happened. These dirges are becoming more prevalent at the Uni versity. The reasons why University functions don't come off as they did "in the good old days" are not the kind that can be rapidly deduced and set down on paper. ophistication tudent Body UfrZJ There are no really concrete factors available; instead, there seems to be a general feeling running through the student body that might very well indicate that the students just don't care what happens. Is this, then, apathy? It would appear so. But why general student lack of interest on a campus that in past years fairly reeked with "collegiate" spirit? School functions were well-attended, athletic con tests drew large numbers of the student body as well as fans from out in the state and there was a genuine Corn husker attitude that made students want to attend these events. Lately, however, a feeling of pseudo-sophistication can sometimes be seen to prevail, when it is considered square to get excited over anything, and even more odd to show this excitement with anything more than a polite shrug. Many people blame the re cent and vigorous administra tion attitude on drinking, which has put an iron hand on most house functions. Students have the idea they can't possibly have a good time without a bottle under Courteay Lincoln Journal the table. This may be true, in an F. Scott Fitzgerald sort of way, but it is rather frightening. It is quite foolish to say that college life nurtures a society of budding bottle cases, but the glass crutch under "social awareness" at informal stu dent gatherings has become established. Naturally, you don't haye to drink to have a good time or to be accepted by others, but a growing number circulating in the extra-curricular campus social orbit do it anyway. Also, many people firmly believe that campus functions don't offer the kind of recrea tion and facilities that stu dents want. The University honestly of fers some pretty good things for the student body. This group, however, would rather overlook this fact. We are too interested in sitting around doing nothing and complain ing about nothing to do to realize what is going on. This realization, however, would take a little effort. And we are college students, and are too busy to waste this effort of pulling our heads out of the sand. 'Liberal' Nebraska? ifwM MiHulu to,'ZhMr'n H did not- apparently, com- "pressures" from "vocal and I;" iT J!" DL"' ?'.. ""i" municate his ambitious pro- hidebound elements" who ho headline of Liberal' h raaka?) gram to the administration or have apparently objected to We are sorry to note that at regents with sufficient per- Dr. Swindler's insistence upon the University of Nebraska, suasiveness to overcome their examining "both news media Dr. William F. Swindler has ignorance of the subject or to and issues in the news." resigned as director of jour- make journalism really com- ' That does not sound like the nalism, stepping down to a petitive with other university great liberal state of Ne- professorship at no reduction offerings. braska. But time and circum- in salary. , In a wholesomely candid stances change, even in Ne- Bill Swindler had some statement announcing his res- braska. ideas about education for ignation, Dr. Swindler ex- Perhaps the Cornhuskers newspaper work which were pressed regret that the re- are not yet ready to approach worthy and timely. He visual- gents had reduced the school the teaching of journalism ized Journalism a3 a profes- of journalism to the status of with the same intellectual in sional school for which stu- a department from its former tensity or professional thor denta were to be selected, ex- autonomous position as a pro- oughness as Columbia, Mis posed to learning-ln-depth, and fessional school. souri or Minnesota Universi givea transfusions of special The one ominous note in an ties. In which case Dr. knowledge in preparation for otherwise mannerly agree- Swindler does not belong at a life of extraordinary intel- ment to disagree appeared in the head of the school. But kctual endeavor. the director's reference to Nebraska is losing a bet. The Nebraskan FIFTY -FIVE YEARS OLD Enttnl m Meond elaaa mattrr at mm pott efflfe la Member: Associated Collegiate Press Unta' Kbk- "ndeT ,f 4uru,, ' ml' Intercollegiate Press EDITORIAL STAFF ilewesentativej National Advertising Service, rum ratmnu w ,. Editorial Fan Editor rml Daly ,. .. , ItCOrP"tl , . , . Cdito, San, iemrn Published at: Room 20, Student Unlot New, M B(Mrt 14th & R ".porta editor Max Krrttmaa , . . . Copy Editor. .. .Bob Cook, Arfrno Hrbek, Barb Sharp, University of Nebraska iMnm swiur. Lincoln, Nebraska ( Editor wiifne . Tfco Jtahrajakao t puMtahrd Tanadar, Wwjn radar and Night Neva Editor l.urljrate ftwllur rrlda dartn Uio aehool r, i"!?! rfohraakan Staff Wrtfrr. Clndr Zarbao. Walt Blora, nod oKam rto, and an. J"L J". WUt H, " Mart. Auguat, M atnarata of tfco Utdwrttj of Notoroafea kadrt Hirtrrt: ancr lrlxn. Mariano Thyon, C aorta Hi auOioratloo of the CommitU on "" "Jr Moycr, Boh VVIra, Dirk ralnooar Julia owll. a ma rrl! of atudr-rt opinion. fnMlratlnna oiidrr JiirliHllf!ii Of tho Hnheommlttr no Ktiii-n l-nhll- ftnrVr ST A VI? tim ahall oa frw from editorial wnanrahm on (ha BUlt5S SlAl'r oart of tha Kubrommlttwa, or on too part of anr annbr -...moaa Manarnr , Gaorra Mad ten of tho farair of tha I nWwnlty, or on tho oart of anr . . . Manaaara Mirk Mr mil fwdii .r. oniaid tha tnl.wity. Tha irwmbcra of I ho a" Bnalneaa nana (era J"' .J " rhrnakan ataff am (vr.or.-UT rranMialW. fnr what thay - " " r. eauao to M arlatod. aoruur la. .... Circulation Maaafer Blehard Hendrta C if imj "7G'.. Campus Issue Talked Over I hope my readers will pardon this tear-stained sheet, but this is my last column for the Nebraskan and I feel that I have a right to be misty-eyed. After all, a two-year string of cliches is no small accomplish ment. However, I admit that the prospect of having a full-t i m e drinking schedule is some conso lation, and makes things much easier for me. I notice that Roger Henkle, the raffish ragamuffin of Rathbone Road, also wrote his last column this week, an event which caused such loud cheering that it nearly The Challenge Ave Our Teachers At raid To Teach? By ROBERT M. HUTCHINS Former Chancellor of University of Chicago Competence or professional skill will not protect the teacher.In the investigations that have gone on around the country, I do not re call one in which it was charged that the teacher was not a good teacher. I do not remember more than one or two in which it was sug gested that the teacher attempted to get his pupils to adopt his al leged political views or even that they knew what those views were. When a school board conducts an investigation, it will fire a teacher for insubordination if he refuses to answer a question. The constitu tional protection open to the Amer ican citizen in criminal trials or Congressional investigations will not save a teacher's job. In most colleges and universities In the country, a professor who refuses to answer the questions of any governmental authority will be compelled to resign. Harvard is an exception. And look what happened to Harvard. Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy has warned mothers and fathers against our oldest university, call ing it a sanctuary for Communist? and a "smelly mess." The senator's objection to Harv ard is that it has refused to dis charge a professor who stood on his rights under the Constitution that the Senator is sworn to de fend. Harvard is the richest univer sity in the world; it has a strong tradition, sanctified by time. Yet, even an ancient and wealthy seat of learning can hardly welcome the repeated public attacks of a senator of the United States. These are times when nobody wants to be criticized by anybody for anything, and Harvard is not immune to the spirit of the times. The professors at Harvard have now been notified that the inquisi tor's eye is upon them. They are human: They will watch their step. They will speak less freely. They will write on guard. They may decide that, on many issues, the safest course is not to speak or write at all. The attack on Harvard will not be lost on other, weaker institu tions. If this can happen to Harv ard, think what can happen to them. And so professors everywhere will hesitate before they express opinions contrary to those of Sen ator McCarthy, or before they say anything that can be twisted somehow, sometime, by someone into an unpopular statement. The full, frank, free discussion upon which education depends must therefore disappear. The freemarket in ideas may well be strangled by fear. I have seen the efiects of legislative investigations on a university I had the duty of administering. They were paralyzing. The fac ulty came to feel that saying any thing to which the more benighted members of the Illinois Legida ture might take exception could embarrass the institution. Yet, the legislative investigations turned up nothing discreditable to the uni versity. The view is growing that we must avoid "controversial issues in the classroom. But issues can not be omitted from education, ex cept through falsity, distortion or concealment. If an issue is pre sented as thoueh it were not one that is, as though there were only one side to it this is not educa tion; it is indoctrination. This is precisely what the Rus sians do. And those who pass through a similar process in the United States are being trained to become passive subjects of a police state. They cannot think and act as independent citizens in a democra cy. They will not know what are the issues with which, as citizens, they must cope; they will not know how to go about facing those issues. Depending on the political at mosphere at any given time, some issues are hotter than others. To day, the issues about which people feel most strongly lie in the realm of international affairs or concern the political and economic life of the country. The realm of the political is pe culiarly the realm of opinion, and hence of proper controversy. It is absurd to suggest that, on these issues, teachers should present only "facts;" the selection of the facts to be presented always in volves a judgment. And thoueh the facts may be accepted, the conclusions to be. drawn from them may De iar apart. A teacher Is supposed to teach, not echo. A teacher is an intelli gence, not a phonograph. The greatest absurdity of all would be to forbid the very considera tion of issues in the educational Eds. note: Today's "Chal lenge" article was reprinted in the March 9, 1954 edition of Look magazine and was written by Robert Maynard Hutchins, for mer Chancellor of the University of Chicago and presently affiliat ed with the Ford Foundation. The article was entitled, "Are Our Teachers Afraid To Teach?" system; for that would mean that the rising generation of Ameri cans would be both unequipped and unprepared to meet the hfe-and-death problems that confront it. What can we ask of our teach ers. We can demand the fairest possible presentation of a problem of all sides of a problem. We must demand for our children the freest exploration of ideas. That is not what vocal pressure groups are yammering about. They want only their side presented, and any- Plan Proposed Exam System Said Outmoded, Illogical By JACK FLYNN With the final exam season ap proaching I think it is a proper time to evaluate our outmoded exam system. I am amazed that the progressive educators in our progressive university have not legislated a change in the method and manner of final exams. What is the purpose of the final exam? If we are to take our pres ent exam system as a measure of purpose we would determine that grading of the student is the primary end purpose of testing. Grading of the student is most necessary if we are to be demand ing and selective. However, it would seem that this purpose is secondary to another and should be relegated to a secondary posi tion of consideration. The other purpose I have men tioned also falls in the field of eval uation the evaluation by in structor and student of their work so that they may determine their strength and weaknesses in the different areas of teaching and study. They can then better them selves by making use of their find ings in follow-up work. Experiments have shown that the value of examinations dimin ishes in a direct ratio to the time it takes to return them to the student in their corrected form and it is also known that the val ue of examinations increases in a direct ratio to the amount of time spent in post-exam student-teacher discussion. Then why the present final exam system with late-returned papers and no student-teacher discussion? What logical justification is there for the present system? I suggest a system of early fi nals given at least two weeks be fore the last period. These exams could be administered during reg ularly scheduled class periods, thus eliminating the time-consuming exam period. Exercise of expediency in correct ing the exams would allow a mini mum of one week for student teacher discussion, also during reg ularly scheduled class periods. This system may not be the final answer, but it is a step in the right direction. I would caution the parties re sponsible for perpetuation of the present system that if they do not see fit to renovate I may circu late a PETTTTniM body who suggests that there is another side is likely to lose his livelihood and his reputation. Those who oppose free inquiry can be neither Americans nor free. They do not believe in democracy. They do not understand our Con stitution. They have no faith in the democratic process. If we really want education in this country, we will have to pay teachers decent salaries, give them the status that their import ance to society justifies and in sure them the freedom that their work and their calling demand. No country ever needed educa tion more than ours does today. drowned out the sobbing and wail ing which accompanied the an nouncement that this would be my final effort. At least the paper won't be handicapped from the start next year. (Actually, Henkle has done a good job, but I couldn't resist the temptation to fling the final in sult.) Before I leave you, though, I feel that it is my duty to pass on a little advice. If my college ex periences have been neither happy nor profitable, at least they may be of some benefit to you. When I came to the University, I was a brash, healthy, youngster, with twinkling eyes and a roguish smile which fairly melted the ladies' hearts. Since then I have been beset by more worries and plagued by more ills than this solid flesh could bear. They have left their marks on me, to be sure, but through it all I have managed to retain my life Jess Jestin' and my sanity. I achieved this by wrapping myself in a mantle of cold indifference. And that is my advice to you. If you wish to come successfully through college, remain indifferent. Once you allow yourself to be moved to enthusiasm by anything, you're caught. Merely put your trust in God and the efficiency of the degree mill, do as little work as possible, and you will be rea sonably safe. Well, it's time for me to be on my way. I don't know where most of you are going, to the Dsvil probably, but I think that I'll just slip into the nearest bar for a long, long rest. I deserve it. Distrust, Suspicion Russians Outmaneuver U.S. Foreign Policies By JOHN HEECKT The recent Russian announce ment that she would cut her mili tary manpower by 1,200,000 has placed the United States once more behind the international eight ball. Russia has again managed to win a skirmish by a clever re treat. The United States failure to find any agreement with the Russians on disarmament and the result ing Russian proclamation will have a tremendous propaganda affect on the rest of the world. They The Portfolio have managed to make it appear that they, not we, are indeed the real champions of peace. Russia has been able to do this because of her proximity to the trouble centers of Europe and Asia. As she can mobilize and move overland to any of these areas with much more speed than we can move overseas with a full army, it has become unnecessary for her to maintain an army of the former size and she can easily turn this manpower to work in her lagging industry, where it will be of much more value. The United States is unwilling to make a similar cut at this time for a comparable reason. If we were to drastically reduce our forces have to reduce our forc es in Germany, Asia and other areas, leaving us vulnerable to an attack without sufficient manpow er to hold a front until our lines of supply and reserve become ade quate. The possibility that the Russian government may be on the level and seriously in favor of relieving tension by cutting armaments seems not to have entered the mind of the American diplomats. Our experience has been one of distrust and suspicion, and con sequently we are not going to gamble that the Russian move is on the level even thought we are losing a battle in the cold war. Unfortunately, the rest of the world is apt to view the Russian move with joy and turn a cold eye on us in the future. Perhaps the United States should beware that her suspicions do not cause her to follow those policies that serve to defeat her interests rather than promote them. Nebraskan Letterip Outstanding Nebraskans To the Editor: I would like to congratulate The Nebraskan staff and esDeciallv its editor for their presentation of the Mitchell case, and fading academic freedom on this campus. Although some will tell vou to ease up on the justified criticism, it is only because of the truth of the old adage: "the Truth hurts." If this Universitv is eoincr in ho run by an administration of small minds, let them admit it in words as they have in deeds. The wish y-washv. statement of Chancellor Hardin will do nothing to calm the situa- tion; in fact, such a statement which is contrary to the actions of the administration only invites ridicule. No one denies the leeal rizht ol the administration in demoting anyone. But, as tryanny usually begins, they have been able to vin. lat the spirit of academic freedom under a cloak of leial Dower and flowery words. Of the several Drofessors T h talked to, all have felt that while a case could not be made out ho. fore a faculty committee, since the administration acted within its legal right, the administration has definitely violated the snirit nf nr. ademic freedom, and felt that the administration yielded to outside forces. If the reasons were true wVnVv. were given for Mitchell's demo tion, then why doesn't the admin. istration demote other equally "in competent" department heads? Since the Nebraskan is asking for nominations for Outstanding Nebraskans, I would like to nom inate Regent Welsh and Chan cellor Hardin, the former for Jead ing the conservative forces, and the latter for yielding to those forces and then covering up by words. Gold medals should be given to these men for outstanding work in spreading the reputation of the University in influential educa tional circles in the United States, and even abroad. (I wonder what the international scholars studying under Dr. Mitchell think of Ne braska.) They have done more to spread Nebraska's reputation than any of our famous, illustrious panty-raids ever did or will. Keep up the good work, and let's impress upon our administration that such acts as they have done their statments notwithstanding, since the two don't agree will not be tolerated by a student body interested in a search for truth. Since, if the administration knew my name, they could link it with the professors to whom I have talked, in order to prevent any possible reprisals against them and what academic freedom is left on the campus, I am requesting that my name not be published. A Graduate Student The Duty Of Newspapers courageous stand. One would hope that not all of them are subservient To the Editor: As an alumnus wIm f... long been deeply concerned aSmi intellectual freedom at the Univer sity, i nave followed your recent news stories and editorials with great interest. I have been proud of The k. braskan and its editor who have consistently exemplified responsi ble journalism. Your Integrity of purpose has been evident nnA should n o t be subject to question, nor to aspersions. I have been dismayed to find no editorial voice among the news paper of the state supporting your to pressure groups. Your stand has been brave, and you have kept the discussions digni fied. You have shown journalistic leadership which is encouraging to al who believe that it is the duty of newspapers to help preserve freedom, academic and otherwise. In the present controversy, it is my opinion that the adminis tration has come off second, and the newspapers of the state, a very poor third. An Alumnus
