-UWtVEftSlTV OF Nfitft.
U1RARY
Jc?d?eg,e
EDITOR'S NOTE
the second o
m uy 'Si'
or ilal
lie Morris concerning the con
cept of total education and its
application on the University
campus.
"What did ya' learn in
school today?" the folk song
queries.
"I learned that soldiers nev
er die, I learned our presi
dents are all great men, that's
why we 'lect them again and
again," the response goes.
Foolish, yes, but many col
lege students feel -that they
are being "spoon-fed" mater
ial almost as ridiculous as
this in some of their courses.
Material that is handed down
by the professor and that stu
dents are "expected to regur
gitate on the hour exams," as
one coed put it.
University students have
criticized the educations they
are receiving, characterizing
much of it as "training" or
"busy work."
Training Vs. Education
Dr. John Davidson, associ
ate professor of botany, said
Monday, December 5,
Tbft
f n fniir-nrtrtis
1 or Sla Wri er .
CCFU Drafts Goals, Structure
For Nebraska Free University
By Cheryl Tritt
Junior Staff Writer
The Coordinating Committe
for a Free University, CCFU,
has edited a statement of pur
pose to inform University stu
dents of the goals and struc
ture of the Nebraska Free Uni
versity.
The statement is "directed
not only to the N e b r a s k a
academic community but also
to the people of Nebraska,"
Gene Pokorny, a CCFU mem
ber, said.
A meeting for persons inter
Big 8 Convention Approves
Spring Presidents' Meeting
The convention of the Big
Eight Student Government
Association, (BESGA) held at
the University last weekend,
passed several pieces of leg
islaiton designed to improve
the communication of ideas
among the schools.
Bill Hansmire, University
student and president of the
BESGA, said that he felt the
convention "went off fairly
well. An important factor was
that this is the first year that
all Big 8 schools have been
SEAN Vote
Recommend
Salary Base
The Student Education As
sociation of Nebraska
(SEAN) Saturday passed a
resolution advising SEAN
members not to accept teach
ing positions in Nebraska with
starting salaries of less than
$5,400.
Gordon Sellin, state presi
dent from Kearney State Col
lege, said that, through the
resolution, SEAN is "hoping
to show people there Is a need
for change" in the salaries
offered teachers in Nebraska.
The average starting teach
ing salary for the state, Sel
lin saivl, is $4,900 and the
highest starting salary offered
is $5,300. He said Nebraska
ranks 42nd among the states
in salary offered teachers.
Sellin said the $5,400 figure
will give beginning teachers
"something to aim for, a
guideline for a student going
out to teach.
The resolution states in part
that "the members of the
Student Education Asso
ciation of Nebraska should
not sign teaching contracts in
any Nebraska school district
offering a minimum starting
salary of less than $5,400 for
a teacher hold a baccalaure
ate degree."
The resolution was passed
almost unanimously by t h e
200 delegates attending the'
meeting at Nebraska Wesley
an University. Sellin said
there are 2,700 SEAN mem
bers in the stats.
Students Feel 'Spoon-Fed
the difference between train
ing and education is that "one
is a cramming process, the
other is a drawing out proc
ess." "Education, from the ento
mology of the word, means
drawing out. You start at the
level of the student and you
' draw out until the student is
satisfied. The important thing
here is what the student says
to the guy who is doing the
drawing out."
In a training process, Dav
idson said, "A trainer sets up
standards and he requires the
human response, if the re
sponse is not forthcoming, the
stimulus is repeated and re
peated until the response is
forthcoming. The trainee
must satisfy the instructor."
Training in skills, such as
languages, "cannot be
avoided," Davidson said, but
training should not be what
a college students receives
during his entire curriculum.
Students interviewed
agreed with Davidson. Dick
Schulze said training is neces
1966
ested in attending or leading
courses in t h e NFU will be
held Thursday at 7 p.m. in the
Nebraska Union. Pokorny
noted that questions persons
have concerning the CCFU's
statement of purpose will be
discussed at the meeting.
The CCFU statement asserts
that the University is not
realizing its goal for total ed
ucation. Total education is defined
by the University as an "ac-'
quisiion of a pattern or
knowledge, skills, attitudes
represented at the conven
tion." Those in attendance at the
convention approved an
amendment to the BESGA
constitution setting up a Pres
ident's Conference in the
spring.
Hansmire applauded the
move, saying that it would al
low the new presidents and
past-presidents of the eight
schools to get together with
the executive of BESGA to
discuss the purposes, actions
and programs of the associa
tion. "This will aid in maintain
ing the continuity from ad
ministration to administration
in regard to BESGA. Pro
grams could be continued
throughout the spring rather
than waiting for the Fall con
vention," he said.
An amendment was also
approved which would pro
vide for a "Big 8 Newsletter"
to be sent monthly to t h e
schools containing informa
tion on what presently in hap
pening in the various student
governments.
A resolution was passed
asking each government to
approach their athletic de
partments on the advisability
of reducing the.price of visit
ing school student tickets to
$1.00 in the Big 8 conference
football games, presently the
rate is $5.00.
A proposal was approved
directing the vice-president of
BESGA to obtain information
from all the schools in the
conference that have summer
flight programs and compile
this information and distri
bute it to the schools.
A final proposal enacted by
the convention was to organ
ize a committee to study the
possibility of coordinating
speakers at the school's con
vocations so that somewhat
of a tour could be devised.
Election of officers was
held with Paul Peterson, from
Oklahoma University, elected
president and Al Gebauer,
from Colorado, elected vice
president. Discussion groups were
held among convention dele
gates Friday afternoon. Top
ics for discussion were con
vocations and speakers, Eur
opean flight plans, student
rights, and faculty evaluation
books.
sary because "we have to be
realistic. The goal of most
students is to get training, to
prepare themselves for a ca
reer." Depends On Teachers
Educational quality may
be dependent upon teachers,
G. Robert Ross, Vice Chan
cellor and Dean of Student
Affairs, said "In general, ed
ucational quality, whether
right or wrong, is probably
measured by the faculty."
Ross said if teachers are
competent in their fields and
keep abreast of developments,
incorporating these things
into their classroom lectures,
quality will be high and the
teaching better.
Schulze said a good yard
stick for measuring teachers
is "the ability to affect stu
dents as opposed to the abili
ty to convey facts."
Students' comments in the
ASUN Faculty Evaluation
Book echoed these senti
ments. One student criticized
a teacher because he "stym
ied independent thinking
and values that will result in
increasingly responsible and
protective behavior," accord
ing to the CCFU statement.
However, because the Uni
versity curriculum lacks
courses relevant to the "de
sires and needs of-a signif
icant segment of the student
body" and courses which ad
dress themselves to the
"serious concerns of stu
dents," the University is not
fulfilling its goal for total ed
ucation the statement notes.
Hansmire said that one of
the problems faced by t h e
BESGA is "that the schools
are trying to justify BESGA.
They expect too much out of
it. Oftentimes they expect to
be handed what they want
without having to work to get
it."
"However, the future looks
good. Even if the conventions
are held only to develop good
will among the schools once
a year, they will be serving
a worthwhile purpose. I think
the new president, Peterson,
will do an excellent job and
possibly will be able to over
come the problems of com
munication and cooperation,"
he added.
Polly Rhynalds Lauded
For A WS Reform Role
The first letter of nomination for "Outstanding Ne
braskan" has named Polly Rhynalds for the award be
cause of her "often unnoticed but significant contributions
to the University."
Letters will be accepted in the Daily Nebraskan of
fice until noon Dec. 15. Two "Outstanding Nebraskans",
one student and one faculty member, will be named in
the Dec. 19 issue of the paper.
Miss Rhynalds, the letter continues, has served the
University in many aspects, but "most specifically in the
areas of AWS reform and service to her sorority."
"As a constant gadfly of AWS, she was one of the fore
most instigators In the movement that resulted in struc
tual and regulatory changes in AWS last year," the letter
continued.
Freshmen women with 10 p.m. hours and sophomores
with 11 p.m. week night hours as well as all women who
stay out until midnight on Sundays "should thank Polly
for spearheading the drive that made the change possible,"
the nomination added.
Miss Rhynalds "still is involved with AWS her senior
year", the letter notes, through work on the senior key
committee.
Diversifications of interests and activities "is also a
notable entry on Polly's record," the letter adds. She has
worked as a copy editor on both the Daily Nebraskan and '
the Nebraska Blueprint and was a member of the ASUN
public relations committee.
Although Involved in campus activities and maintain
ing over a B average, Miss Rhynalds "contributions to
her sorority Sigma Kappa are too great to be over
looked," the nomination stated.
"As pledge trainer and later as president, she pro
vided leadership that can only be described as outstand
ing and truly great," the letter said.
The nomination concluded that "outstanding does not
always mean being continually in the spotlight but ac
complishing much and this describes Polly Rhynalds for
her accomplishments are outstanding and for that rea
son, she is an Outstanding Nebraskan."
somewhat by constantly re
asserting his opinions." An
other teacher was praised be
cause he "encouraged inde
pendent thought and self-education."
Dr. Ernest R. Hilgard, pro
fessor of psychology at Stan
ford University, wrote in the
National Education Associa
tion Journal, "It is surprising
that, after all these years of
classroom experience and re
search, we know so little
about what makes for effec
tive teaching. Studies of class
size, of discussion versus lec
ture methods . . . point to few
differences in the effective
ness of teaching."
Size as a factor in high or
low quality education is one
that has been debated in
many circles. Davidson said
that class size after a certain
point doesn't affect his teach
ing because contact has al
ready been lost in the first
increase.
"With 60 students I've lost
personal contact. I'd as soon
The Daily Nebraskan
Rather than instructing
course work in a way where
it "becomes a creative
learning experience" the
University teaches an "ac
ademic rote game" leaving
student participation and in
volvement undeveloped, the
statement claims.
The committee, (CCFU) is
not so naive to think the
NFU is a complete answer
to this problem," Pokorny
said, but it is a means for a
partial answer to the prob
lem. NFU will seek a "partial
answer" by offering learn
ing opportunities not found
in the established Univer
sity curriculum and offer
learning experiences where
"creativity, discovery and
critical inquiry is promoted"
the CCFU statement ex
plains. To achieve these goals the
NFU will provide a struc
ture where any interested
persons or organization may
lead courses on any subject.
Pokorny added that at
present a group of ten fac
ulty members, graduate
students and campus organ
izations have committed
themselves to lead NFU
courses.
"Each course will have to
justify itself and keep itself
going solely on its own mer
its," the CCFU statement
stresses, as the NFU partic
ipants, not the CCFU, will
determine .the .courses of
fered and the method by
which they are taught.
have 12,000 as 160 students,"
he said.
500 Or 50?
"What is the injury to soul
or spirit if 500 rather than 50
other students are exposed to
Hegel at the same time?"
Nicholas Katzenbach, U.S.
Attorney General, said in an
address to the American
Council on Education in Octo
ber of 1965.
"Fact and truth do not ex
ist in finite amounts, like a
pot of mashed potatoes in the
dining hall, to be pro-rated
according to the number of
students," Katzenbach said.
An editorial in Moderator
magazine in November 1965
stated that "Size is not the
factor controlling quality.
Rather the combination of at
titudes, people, and facilities
on a particular campus at a
particular time, and a stu
dent's interaction with them,
are crucial in determining the
nature of available education
al opportunity."
"Not a few American un
dergraduates have becoma
Vol. 90, No. 44
9Jllilll)llllJ jJltlliiilillllitllilllliill4illillllllilllllillllillllllljlliii:illilillllllllillllllllllllll31f 11 MliiIiilIlllJllltllllilllillillltjilllJllllllitllllllilItilllimi31)lli liil I tttlttllll
I Tree Lighting Ceremony
DECK THE HALLS . .
The official tree lighting ceremony
of the East Campus Union will be held
at 6:30 p.m. west of the C. Y. Thompson
library, according to Marvin Schluntz,
night supervisor of the East Union.
This is the second year for the cere
mony which is supposed to become an
annual event.
Only one tree will be lighted, a cedar
tree just west of the library.
Everybody on campus is invited to
Housing Regulations To Stiffen
For Men, Moderate For Women
University housing regu
lations for male students will
not necessarily be increased
in number but there will pos
sibly be a stricter adherence
to the present regulations,
according to Russ Brown, as
sistant to the Dean of Student
Affairs.
Brown had said Thursday
at a student housing forum
sponsored by ASUN that in
the immediate future,
stricter regulations will be in
corporated for male students
while regulations "will be
modified downward for co
eds." "Along with this stricter
adherence of rules for men,
it is my feeling that there will
be a modification of rules for
women, especially pertaining
to living in on-campus res
idences," Brown explained.
Brown foresees a trend to
ward equalizing the disparity
between regulations for men
and women.
"In actuality, the Re
gents by-laws set the s a m e
regulations for men and wo
men, but due to a shortage of
housing for men, these reg
ulations have not been
strictly enforced," he said.
The requirement for a stu
dent to live in University ap
proved housing is one of the
regulations that Brown be
lieves will be more closely
followed.
"Presently, due to a lim
ited staff, we are only able to
approve the housing for
freshman and sophomore
men. With an added staff,
the approving of housing will
be expanded to include all
University students," Brown
said.
Not Educated
convinced that they are being
shortchanged. Feeling
cheated on the educational
end, particularly at the larg
er institutions . . ." Andrew
Hacker of the department of
government at Cornell wrote
in the New York Times Mag
azine in June 1965.
Hacker said that as college
enrollment expands, beau
cracy sprouts and professors
become more and more de
tached from students as they
work instead for the favors
of juicy research and travel
grants.
"The mere mummuring of
the sacred incantation 're
search' is sufficient excuse to
bow out of the introductory
courses, to confine one's of
ferings to graduate seminars,
to depart for another institu
tion where more grandiose
projects will be more gen
erously underwritten," Hack
er said.
Ballooning Enrollment
University enrollment has
ballooned in recent years,
. Gary McCord, Sherry Kahles and Georgia Stevens ornament
their tree on East Campus.
attend. -Christmas carols will be sung.
The singing will be led by the East
Campus Choraliers under the direction of
Mrs. Adelaide Spirgin.
Schluntz said he expects about 100
students to attend. He says he does not
know whether Monday night meetings by
East Campus fraternities will cut down on
attendance.
The main purpose of the tree lighting
is to stir up Christmas spirit, he said.
Recently there have been
rumors that with the comple
tion of new dormitories, that
if vacancies should develop
within these residences, men
students m a y be forced to
live on campus.
Brown said that this pos
sibly could occur.
"But in essence it is al
ready enforced now. It is a
question of determining what
is approved housing. Conceiv
ably, dormitories could be clc-
MB Applications
Are Due Dec. 14
Unaffiliated junior wom
en who live in Lincoln may
pick up applications for
Mortar Board, seniors
women's honorary, this
week in the Student Activi
ties Office. Applications are
being distributed to wom
en's campus living units
also this week.
Junior standing, at least
a 3.0 accumulative average,
participation in extracurric
ular activities and service
to the University are among
. the requirements for Mor
tar Board membership.
However, members re
quest that all junior women
submit applications so that
they may form an overall
picture of junior women's
activities and may select
the most deserving mem
bers of the Ivy Day Court.
Applications must be com
pleted and returned to
Diana Focht, Peggy Wagner
or to the Mortar Board box
in the Union not later than
Wednesday, Dec. 14.
soaring from 8,000 in 1959 to
17,053 this fall. To handle th
influx of students, class sizei
have shot up. Beginning lev
el courses in the social and
natural sciences often include
upwards of 100 students.
Large enrollments also
caused a budget deficit this
year for the University.
One student said many stu
dents "are not getting classes
they want" because of the en
rollment problems. Ross said
the administration is faced
with the problem of denying
students entrance to courses
they need or increasing class
size to include all students
who want the course.
Many speakers and writers,
like Katzenbach, have con
cluded that size does not af
fect teaching quality to a
great degree. A teacher's en
thusiasm can affect students
in a large group as well as a
small, and size is and will
continue to be a fact of life
for modern universities, these
observers agree.
V X-i A
- WS 35k C. ...... .
tcrmined to be the only University-approved
housing."
"However, in the past there
has always been the problem
of more on-campus housing
requested than is available.
Consequently our present
problem is usually finding ad
equate off-campus housing
for the student who can't get
in on-campus housing," ha
stressed.
"I see no radical changes in
policy in the future, but then
there is always the chance.
The question is being able to
work with existing regula
tions and by-laws," he contin
ued. "The changes will probably
come in the area of disparity
that exists between men and
women. It will result in more
equal rules and regulations."
Regulations and actions
concerning liquor will prob
ably remain the same. Pres
ently there is a state law
which forbids alcohol on state
property.
Brown said that there is no
effort to enforce this law in
respect to University res
idences by s e a r c h i n g for
liquor. The same policy is fol
lowed in other on-campus
housing.
"We respond to problems or
the r e p o r t g of possible prob
lems in this area but we make
no effort to search for the liq
or," he emphasized.
Concerning of f-c ampui
problems with liquor, Brown
said that the University could
potentially take action, which
would probably consist of talk
ing with the student involved.
"If we get a complaint from
a neighbor about any prob
lems, we refer them to t h t
civil authorities," he noted.
1
