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Show Letters To The Editor Guest Editorial Power And, Knowledge self-protectio- n, es facts. I have implied a need for realizing the relationship between knowledge and power. Power can be in the hands of destructive knowledge. Knowledge is not equivalent to power. If the power is to survive it must be knowledgable about its situation. There are at least ethical rules established to protect society from blind power if they are respected. Democracy is basically a system for the expression of the total and not a select minority. If this is not understood and accepted by those who exercise positions of control or influence then may I suggest careful study of a contrary view Machiavellis The Prince. Larry J. Reynolds THE PARSON STAFF Editor ' Kathy Schwertz Barbara Smith, Jerry Dodd Feature Editor Sports Editor Rand Murray Louie Campbell Marty Bernstein Photographers Stan Clark, Stan Jennings Business Manager John Tornqulst Contributors: Larry Hollis, Stan Clark, Larry J. Reynolds, Parke Miller, Jim Leap, Kay McBride, Ron Shelly. Adviser Mrs. Jay Lees Editor, Parson: Saddle-ucolumn The taxation, populaconcerning tion and Big Brother in the last Parson, was written perhaps to raise some questions in the minds of its readers. If so, it has succeeded, and heres my question: WHAT WAS IT WRITTEN p Recently my attention was drawn to the phrase Sir "knowledge is power. This often quoted phraseto of mean Frances Bacon has frequently been interpreted that knowledge equals power and power equals knowledge. The equation obviously does not hold. However, there are ramifications from this phrase which exceed the context of which I speak. Perhaps it would be valuable to discuss power and knowledge in an attempt to place a light on central issues in our situation. inIgnorant power is not uncommon. It usually one volves a person well educated in a field outside the in which he is working, but is significantly ignorant about his place of power. At times, through that ignorthe power becomes ance and a desire for destructive. When one power overthrows another, an historian once said, he usually eliminates potential trouble-maker- s usually first is the historian. I suppose ignoring that person is simular occation. The person in power surrounds himself with people who support his opinion and thus maintains his power. Parkinson (Parkinsons Law) once described quite clearly the result of this type of situation. Knowledge in and of itself is illusive of a power label. If it is to be meaningful it must be comprehensive. If a power is to endure it must use factual assumptions. An incomplete picture can only lead to the destruction of that power. Closed mindedness in the presently fast moving world has led to many a downfall. It is clear a "good power is an informed and thus wise power. A wide power is one which is aware, at an optimum level, of the true situation. To be sure, destructive power need not exist and does not always exist. Society has evolved many social structures to protect itself from such a situation. Words like freedom and ethics are central to any such structure. It is necessary to state a categorical imperative (apologies to Kant) concerning freedom. Within a community, responsibility cannot exist without freedom. The price for responsibility is obvious, and this must be understood before we can proceed. Ethical behavior works hand in hand in this context. If only citing J. S. Mill would be adequate. It is a fact all views must be heard, and for true wisdom, knowledge must be sought from all sources. The sources are not only to be tolerated but protected. Name calling and stereotyping are fuel for the most destructive forces. If knowledge is to be meaningful it must have expression. May I illustrate what I mean with examples from history the major source of that necessary knowledge. There are two lessons to be learned from history. Simply, what should be done and what should not be done. For example, there are lessons concerning what should not be done: The number of liberal arts colleges are on the decline. So called rah-ra- h colleges are out. On what should be done: Colleges survive by distinguishing them-selvfrom others (e.g. Lewis and Clark, Read, Dartmouth, etc.). Harvard began) from an excellent library. Johns Hopkins success was due to foregoing new buildings for an emphasis on high quality faculty. These are Managerial Staff News Editor March 20, 1964 The PARSON Page 2 FOR? ' It appears to be a series of facts (as the columnist interprets them), followed by a prediction and concluded by a projected consequence of that prediction. Summarily he says that nations historically have used taxation and other economic stimuli to encourage marriage and consequently procreation. He then indicates the thinking on the part of some sociologists that taxation on the number of children beyond a set number might curtail the inunchecked population crease. His final paragraph stated that the U. N. demographers earlier projections of population increase were revaluated and found to be The grossly underestimated. concluding sentence, which may also have been the key, introduced the Orwellian or tyrant into Brother Big the picture. In trying to decipher this the reader finds column more than a vagueness of purpose i.e., is he trying to inform or persuade? The reader also becomes entangled in misleading selectivity of detail, overgeneralization, and perhaps the recognition that possibly the columnist didnt understand the essence of the problem he was trying to present. As a history 101 student could tell him the columnist failed to mention (or realize) the specific peculiarities of the Spartan culture which made the reference to it weak if not irrelevant illustration. In suggesting the historical tendency for taxation, he has so to speak taken the fact out of context by failure to Off And Running suggest both the need for large families and the balancing effects of infant and adult disease, plague, famine, and war. Today the balancing effects have been significantly reduced universally. Not only does the average infant have a greater chance to live through his first five years, but also he cdn expect to live substantially longer than his parents will barring the unsolved balancing effect of war. The universality of this longivity increase is clear although its net effect varies with cultural development. , The advo- taxation-contro- l cates apply their concept only to those cultures which have sufficiently sophisticated citizenry to know what to do to avoid the tax. Western culture to whom this could apply have tended to reduce family size naturally through shifts in economic patterns and other factors. The problem is not acute here although someday it might be. The implied and stated of the columnist about loss of freedom is questioned from the point of his definition which the reader infers from context. He is writing about a quantative loss when some control is set. The probable consequent of such a control would be a qualitative gain. This gain of course would be environmental and include both the economic release of the family and the culture from the problems of quantity and enable both to redirect their activities toward the opporThis tunity of quantity. would be specifically reflected in shifts of emphasis in approaches to education, ocfood cupations, sanitation, and fresh water supply, goods and services, and others which might most easily be summarized in per capita income and Gross National Product. Stan Clark concerns fer their voters a choice. Where does Johnson stand anyway right, left, in the middle, or everywhere at once? Will Johnson go to his Lethargy In the Lounge The first week in March a directive was issued by the administration to the effect that the Student Lounge would be closed during required assemblies and Convocation. This directive was supported on the basis that, (1)- ) The administration pays for the cost of certain public utilities used in the operation of the facility and thereby exercises control of a purely student social center. The S. G. A. President concurred with the directive. I believe that this blatant action undermining the democratic process should not stand. A Student Lounge, Student Union, or Student Coffee Shop traditionally is a facility controlled, managed, and operated by student personnel or their appointed representatives, for student enjoyment. It is a facility that belongs to the students, and it is for the students to determine operating policy. A Student Lounge should not be within the relm of centralized body of college administrators governing power. As I See it the statement in the Student Handbook regarding this matter should be declared null and void (insofar as the Student Lounge is concerned) for two primary reasons. (1) As stated before such a facility belongs to the students and as such no major policy decisions should be made without a student referendum. (2) Policy matters should be expressly stated in the S.G. A.C. Constitution or in the College catalog. The second support of the directives, I believe, is a proper exercise of pmver on the grounds that the Student Lounge could not operate without certain public utilities. However, such utilities could be purchased from the . administration thereby negating any means of control over the facility. Until this is accomplished such a directive is in the realm of administrative authority. I strongly recommend that the S.G.A.C. adopt a motion purchasing all public utilities concerned with the. operation of the Student Lounge from the College at the appropriate rate. Only if this is accomplished will such a lounge be a student facility, and only then, in my opinion, can we countermand decision like the one of March second. James Leap Senior Class by Ron Shelly Over 82,000 voters invaded the polls March 10th to exercise their franchise in the years first presidential primary. Though the Republicans did not place all eight horses in the race (Scranton and Romney did not enter), from beginning to end political race fans got their moneys worth. convention and really try to stand on an All Things To Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge finished ahead of the field, but hats go off to the hard running conservative from Arizona, Barry Goldwa-te- r and the liberal from New York, Nelson Rockefeller. (EDITORS NOTE: This section will be a regular feature of the Parson. To any one we failed to mention , we apologize and congratulate you collectively. If you know of an individual or group who deserves commendation, please notify a Parson staff member) BUSINESS CONCERNS Several business con- cerns assisted in Mardi Gras activities by donating door prizes to Hogle Hall. The girls of Hogle Hall want to thank King & Page Drugs, South East Furniture, Zoes Gifts, Skaggs Drugs, and South East Bowling Alley for their generous contributions. These two gentlemen, who saddle up at opposite poles of the political spectrum, pulled no punches, laid the issues on the line, refused to compromise principle for the sake of the vote and ran to the finish. When the dust cleared it was the Wests Barry Goldwater by a length. It will be interesting to see if the Democrats dare to of-- AJ1 Men platform? Congratulations . . And Kudos Go To MARDI GRAS COMMITTEE AND . . . PARTICI- PANTS Their careful planning and elaborate preparations made this an enjoyable as well as profitable event for the entire college community. WOMENS BOARD They completely renovated Ferry Hall Lounge, making a pleasant place for meetings and parties,. |