OCR Text |
Show Page 2 SIGNPOST May 1, 1964 EDITORIAL Students Politic Under (in) Effective Codes? At the end of the school year, as in all progressive institutions, some time should be taken out for evaluation. In this regard something should be said for and in speculation of our present student government. In talking on this subject with those who are concerned with the function of our studentbody the opinion is that there are some very definite needs. The needs center on adequacy, conciseness and definition. It seems that while we continue to evolve into a full four year college we find the workings of student government becoming broader in scope. There are things that arise which are new and must be covered by our rules and student laws. There are weaknesses in wording and legislation of duties. In fact as we evaluate, it seems an easy thing to say our student government is inadequate and in need of amendment. One thing must be said about our government this year is that it has been so much more effective than last year. With progress in mind we can say we've been successful to some extent. However, it is easily seen that we have a long way yet to go. There are two things which contribute sizably to the problem of inadequacy of student constitution and functions. One is the same thing that has been talked about before, lack of student interest. Indicative of this is the student participation in, the student nominating assemblies which have been held this year. In both there were not enough candidates nominated to allow competition in some offices. Students are going into offices unopposed and thus, perhaps unchallenged in their ideas about effective student government. The lack of opposition sometimes leads a person to become complacent. Certainly we don't want nor need this in our student government. As we organize to become an even greater institution we need leaders who are also great in their views of how to further Weber State. Can such a thing happen best under conditions as they are? I'm doubtful about emergence of great student leaders without the students demanding efficient, diligent and conscientious government. Our leaders need our support in changing where changes are needed, acting where action is needed, and standing for what we aspire to be. There are many areas of our present constitution that need to be defined, updated and acted upon. Things have been legislated as duties which have not been carried out. We have to legislate and define our constitution to meet our possible problems as well as our present problems. In the next few issues of the Signpost the attempt shall be made to make us all more aware of the functions of each branch of our student government as now constituted. This will be done for the purpose of pointing up our success and our future challenges in this area. It shall also be hoped that we can become more patriotic to our student democracy and way of life as we become aware of the principles upon which we have founded our written law. LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS f (si ef v S fro Yeu-, 6oKetfAN,THi$ zzpoizT emero inpicat? we Re NOT 3&TTINq MUCH JUl Uf cjuk. vccuvc omjkk:?." Track of the Cat This week's guest writer for Track of the Cat a column of diverse impressions on the Weber State campus is Mrs. LaVon B. Carroll, instructor of English. Presented here is an excerpt from her paper, "What Can the Humanities Guarantee?" It was edited to space by the Signpost staff, and we offer our apologies now for errors and erroneous impressions which we may have caused. The more man has learned about his physical nature, the more baffling and vexatious have become the problems of his spiritual life. One reason, of course, may be that he has more time and attention to pay to them, but this is not the whole of his dilemma. He is aware that there is a disproportion in his life, a distortion, some important miscalculation.During the 18th and 19th century, he was increasingly confident that all his problems were rooted in the environment, the social structure, the external world. He was supremely hopeful that controlling this world would guarantee him just those things that he demanded. However, time and the intense pursuit of this supposition have forced him to the realization that more of, and perhaps the most crucial of, his problems are within man himself. Man is more, as he indisputably recognizes even though he is very hard put to "prove" it by the standards of science, than a physical being. He is more than a physical phenomenon; he is more than an animal; he is more than a statistic or a typical member of a typical group. He is persistently ui'ged to seek the' meaning of himself and of his life by inexplicable forces and emotions. Only those studies which fall within the area designated "humanities" can help him to deal with these problems inadequately perhaps, inconclusively often, and imperma-nently always. For the concern of these studies is with that part of man's nature which does not fit into the pattern of physical phenomena, which does not resemble animal and plant life, which does not fit the herd image that arises in all times to thwart the individ ual. In other words the major concern of the humanities is with the uniqueness of man and of the individual.It is then the responsibility of the humanities to give meaning and dignity to life, to give 'expression to man himself as an individual, to define his relationships to other men and to the world in terms of his emotions, his sympathies and empathies, his obligations to i make moral judgments and to establish patterns of human behavior. When one accuses the humanities of failing this responsibility, of lagging far behind science in their impact on modern life, one hits upon a sad and embarrassing truth. The humanities in their creative aspect have failed to keep pace and vigor with the sciences and the reason is that they resigned or were forced out of their principle role that of giving meaning to life. Considering the overwhelming adoration that has been paid to science during the past immediate centuries, it is not hard to understand why the arts and humanitarian studies gradually became convinced that theirs was a minor, if not obsolete role. All hope for the Golden Age of Mankind had been transferred to the scientist. What had the artist and student of impractical disciplines to do but one of two things supply the novelty of antiquity or become the handmaiden, syncophant, and reflector of the new savior of mankind? The arts were literally seduced by science. Painters, writers, musicians, all concerned with this area of study and expression felt inadequate and inferior to the scientist, and gradually came to feel that their only (Continued on Page 6) SIGNPOST STAFF Editor .A. Brent Pulsipher Associate Editor Jack Suttlemyre Business Manager '. Mark Zeller Managing Editor Camille Ramnarace Staff Editor Gene Patterson Sports Editor : Society Editor Bobbi Dabling Feature Writer Steve Larsen Staff Photographer Reporters Neil Adams, Gene Carlson, Lynn Meadowcroft, Andrea Rees, Winslow Hurst, Ardella Mitton Advisor Reed H. Blake Letters to the Editor Dear Editor: This year in the Signpost the John Birch Society has been a very "hot" issue, with various opinions given. The article in last week's Signpost by a member of our studentbody is far from being objective, rather it is grossly subjective with attempts to cover up the un-American activities of the Birch Society. I seriously doubt that Mi-. Birch would want this Communist type organization named after him. Mr. Patterson generalizes the Birch Society's organization as being in the interest of the people of America, but any organization that is set up with complete secrecy in a monolithic type body that dictates policy and doesn't accept anything contrary to their own beliefs, is a complete detriment to democracy. When the leadei-ship calls our three past presidents of the United States Communists, they are simply sick. As for Mr. Patterson, if he wants to live in a country of freedom and democracy the Birch Society is a complete contradiction of our democratic goals. The Society is a detriment to freedom, just look at the facts. Ross Robson Dear Editor: Evidently Mr. Robson has drawn his own conclusions concerning the John Birch Society. I envy his clear thinking and firm convictions.I intended my article for those of us less fortunate, who are still a bit unconvinced as to the ulterior motives of this organization. I for one am not thoroughly convinced by mere biased accusations, that it is a "detriment to freedom." I attempted only to enlighten those who have not drawn their conclusions as yet, as to the goals and aims of the Society as put forth in their own literature. I use their own literature because I believe it is the best source to obtain this information. If Mr. Robson has more accurate and truthful information concerning the Society's designs for this country-, I would be most happy to see it. Gene Patterson Dear Editor: One of the most disgusting practices at Weber State College is the fact that in some classes, particu-larly upper division, attendance is a criteria for grading. This not only reflects upon the maturity of the students but places the college on the same level as the public high school. In respect to this ruling it is also interesting to note that it is perpetrated by "teachers", who are so boring and incompetent in their knowledge and presentation that the only way they can have attendance is to obtain a captive audience. I sometimes wonder if it isn't a carryover from the torture of the early Chinese, and serves to placate the sadistic impulse of these, mediocre minds. It is very unlikely that this small epistle will initiate a, change in these ossified miinds, but it may serve to let them know that their victims are very aware that they need compulsive attendance in order to have anyone in class. It would be interesting to. see the resulting conditions if these people had the courage to compete on an open market. Neville Bateman |