Wednesday, May 8, 1968
The Daily Nebraskan
Page 7
Volgyes prods student involvement
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by Jim Pedersen
Junior Staff Writer
This semester's faculty se
lection may be the only truly
"revolutionary" Outstanding
Nebraskan on the Universi
ty's peaceful campus. He is
Dr. Ivan Volgyes, professor
of political science.
Born in Budagpest, Hun
gary, in 1936, Volgyes served
as European correspondent
for a Hungarian wire service
for two years, and was at
tending the University of Bu
dapest law school when the
Hungarian Revolution broke
out.
Volgyes actively partici
pated in the student demon
stratlonswhldhtooK place dur
ing the revolution. Although
he favored the extension of
political liberalization in Hun
gary, he was not forced to
leave after the revolution had
been crushed, but did so any.
way, arriving in the United
States in January, 1957.
Volgyes uses discussion
The students who nominat
ed Volgyes stated that he
"turns a normally stale class
room situation into a discussion-type
interchange and has
a rare concern for students
outside the classroom."
"I believe in bringing out
side talent to the University
and to my classes. For this
reason, the three most im
portant people in the field of
Soviet studies came here to
lecture and talk with several
classes, Volgyes said.
There must also be as much
contact between professor and
student outside of the class
room as possible, Volgyes
said. He stressed, however,
that this contact can only be
maintained with those str
dents who desire it.
Volgyes holds a seminar ev
ery Tuesday in his home to
discuss various topics related
to courses he teaches. It at
tracts what he calls "the most
talented and interested students."
Students lead class
Volgyes nominator also
commended the professor for
his varied teaching methods.
"I believe there should be
an infusion of lecturing and
discussion to challenge the
student," Volgyes said. He
added, "I often appoint a stu
dent to take over the class,
and in this manner create a
panel discussion between stu
dent and student."
Volgyes emphasized that
there should be more com
munication between profes
sors and students, but that
the student should take more
initiative in establishing this
communication.
Volgyes, who graduated
from the School of Interna
tional Service in Washington,
DC., holds a Bachelor of
Arts degree in international
relations, Masters degree in
Soviet and Eastern European
studies, and a Doctorate in
international relations with
several sub-fields, most of
them concerned with Soviet
politics,
lecture classes are an educa
tional need at the present,
This necessity stems from a
lack of teachers and the forc
ing of teachers to publish or
perish by the administrations
Volgyes said. Teachers thus
have less time to teach there
fore making it necessary to
put more students in fewer
classes, Volgyes added.
Volgyes nevertheless stated
that publishing is the only
sound criteria to judge a
teacher.
Volgyes is also active off the
campus, and he is presently
working in the Kennedy for
President organization. Volgyes-
feels that Kennedy is
qualified asd has the ability
to be president, and listed
several reasons.
"I worked with John Ken
nedy in 1960, and found RFK
to be very efficient and some
one who succeeded in choos
ing exceptional advisers,"
Volgyes said.
Volgyes feels that Ken
nedy's Senate record is am
ple proof of his qualifications.
According to Volgyes, Ken
nedy has consistently been on
the side of major issues which
require responsibility and will
bring about a new day in
America."
Supports Kennedy
Finally, Volgyes thinks that
the Kennedy program gener
ates a feeling of hope in
America. The two greatest is
sues in America today are
the Vietnam war and the Ne
gro problem; on both issues
Kennedy has taken a more
active stand than his contem
pory Democrats, ben. Mc
Carthy and Vice president
Humphrey, Volgyes said.
Volgyes has published three
major scholarly articles and
ten book reviews. This year,
Volgyes expects the three
books he has written will be
nublished. Thev are: Hun
gary in Revolution, Commun
ism Comes to Hungary, and
The Hungarian Soviet Repub
lic: An Evaluation and a
Bibliography.
Voleves has definite -ideas
about what the role of the stu
dent should be in the educa
tional process.
I believe in siuaeni pow
er. The administration treats
students like children. They
should give the students as
much power as possible over
their affairs," Volgyes said.
The University population
fails to realize the responsib
ility involved by both groups,
according to Volgyes. Stu
dents do not become adults
just when they turn 21 or
graduate, but rather when
they become students, he
added.
The ASUN has the power
and is in the po'sition to lead
the students at the Univer
sity, Volgyes said.
"If it fails to lead effective
ly it will wither away. It
must take definite and vig
orous action," according to
Volgyes.
Students should act
and nation. Students should
have a voice in the Vietnam
matter, Volgyes said.
Volgyes also holds emphatic
views on the purpose and the
iuture of the University.
"The University should not
be a training institution but
rather a learning institution,"
volgyes said. "I want stu
dents to learn as human be
ings, broaden themselves, and
have the intellectual courage
to say "I don t know ," he
added.
According to Volgyes, many
students fail in this respect
because it demands respon
sibiltfy they do not want
"Students should never ex
pect to know everything, but
they should know a little bit
about everything and every
thing about a little bit," Vol
gyes said.
Volgyes, who has held
teaching positions at other in
stitutions, feels that the facul
ty at the University of Ne
braska grades ten times ea
sier than anywhere else.
The biggest reason for low
grade averages and a high
percentage of freshmen on
probation at the University,
according to Volgyes, is an
inferior primary and second
ary education in the state of
Nebraska. The resiilt is stu
dents who are actually educa
tionally underpriveldged, Vol
gyes said.
Grading change no solutios
The University's grading
change will not solve the
problem, Volgyes feels, how
ever, it will make it possible
tor more students to remain
in school.
"The sad truth is that there
are many students who should
not even be at the Univer
sity," Volgyes said.
Volgyes sees the problems
of inequalities in salary be
tween departments, the in
ability to attract and hold tal
ented young teachers, and a
lack of graduate assistants to
aid teachers as basic stumbl
ing blocks to a better Univer
sity of Nebraska.
To create a better Univer
sity of the future with truly
equal opportunities in educa
tion, Volgyes feels that all
forms of tuition must be abolished.
To replace this loss of funds.
the state and federal govern
ments should subsidize high
er education, Volgyes said.
We are not perpetuating
equality, we are perpetuating
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Outstanding Ne
braskan, Dr. Ivan
Volgyes, profes
sor of political
science, "turns a
normally stale
classroom situa
tion into a discus
sion-type inter
change . ."
inequality, and for this rea
son higher education should
be subsidized to provide the
opportunity for everyone to at
tain a college education," Vol
gyes said.
Education extends inequality
"The white, upper-middle
class children are the people
who go to colleges. The more
white and the more upper
middle class they are, the
more likely they are to go to
college while many other peo
ple do not have that oppor
tunity," Volgyes stated.
Teachers becoming less im
personal, co-educational liv
ing units, a three level grad
ing system of graduate shcool
material, pass, and fail,
smaller classes, an improved
library with a sufficient bud
get with which to operate, and
less emphasis on grades and
more on learning, are all
changes Volgyes would like
to see in a future University
of Nebraska.
"All this will take monev.
Nebraska needs a responsible
state legislature which will
alocate those funds," Vol-said.
Unfortunately, most state
legislatures want to see an in
stitution that will "turn out
educated young people," ac
cording to Volgyes.
The result is more of a vo
cational training school with
certificates than an educa
tional institution Volgyes
said.
Nebraska should be proud
of having a good educational
institution rather than just
having one, Volgyes noted.
If the improvement is han
dled as a case of need, rath
er than a political issue, and
if students want to become
more active in their Univer
sity, the University will im
prove, Volgyes said.
Workpower For McCarthy
Wealth may win a primary election, but not
if you do your part.
work for McCarthy
very evening
1126'i P Street
EXAMS ARE
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plaivj yjdjmv cempJls tngift
TJ Brass
to perform
Friday
Herb Alpert, backed by the
Tijuana Brass, will be per
forming at the Coliseum on
Friday at 9 p.m.
Alpert has gained acclaim
as a performer-originator of
a new sound in music that
reflects Western society.
In the few years since Al
pert introduced his mariachi
music, with jazz influences,
he has become one of the
leading, musical attractions in
the world, giving concerts to
standing room only audiences.
Alpert and his seven mu
sicianas began their career
with a single called "The
Lonely Bull." Since then his
recores have had sales in
the multi-millions.
Tickets for the concert are
$3.25 and are on sale in the
Union.
! Volgyes believes it is also .
! important for students to be-1
come intereste.l and active in
According to Volgyes, large I the affairs of the community
'Teachers must publish'
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fW1
'he trick to a TWA 5050 Club Card is'
knowing when to olav it. For instance some
holidays are out... you have to forget 5050 and
make reservations like regular old people. But any"
other time, everyone under twenty-two, can split
to any scene in the US for only half fare.
(You still get full fare service, however, which is nice.)
And you can use the card on a whole
bunch of other airlines too. If you
really want to be clever, fly late at
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JJroaden your horizons this year.
Take m a few away frames.
Fly to a demonstration (like a Pacific sunserV
Surprise Mom on Ground Hog's Day.
Visit a quiet little island (Coney, Catalina,
Fire, Manhattan, Long).
Go to the Beach during Whale Watchinf? Week.
Don't miss the Tom Sawyer Fence Painting Contest
this summer.
all your local card shark:
Fritz Shoemaker, your TWA
Campus Rep. at 402 488-0154
Or your travel agent.
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