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Page Two

THE COLLEGE NEWS —



THE COLLEGE NEWS

FOUNDED IN 1914

Published weekly bag be the College Year” (except during Thankegtving;
Christmas and Easter holidays, and during examination weeks) in the
interest of Bryn Mawr College at the Ardmore Printing Company, Ardmore,
Pa.,.and B Mawr Gores.

The College News is fully protected by copyright. Nothing that appears
in it may be reprinted either wholly or in part without permission of the
Editor-in-Chief.

EDITORIAL BOARD

EINE bcc iodo cece beceeaerevievecenetsosuaey’ Marcia Case, ‘57
TSS po OU Ee ri rere re Renee Epsey Cooke, ‘57
DRM RIPE bo cies ccc assedccveenieccesiocdueends Carol Hansen, ‘57
hcnan, Le LOR or ee ee Yi oeeeeee Ruth Rasch, ‘57

Chief Dissenter Molly Epstein, ‘56

ee ee ee ee ey

EDITORIAL STAFF

Paula Dunaway, ‘58; Marcia Goldstone, ‘56; Anna Kisselgoff, ‘58; Joan
Park ‘59 (A.A. Representative; Helen Sagmaster, ‘58; Leah Shanks, ‘56;
Catharine on, ‘58; Harriette Solow, ‘56; Elizabeth Warren, ‘55 (Alliance
Representative); Joan Havens, ‘56.

Staff Photographers .................: Sue Myers, ‘58 — Amy Heinel, ‘56
Business Manager Gloria Strohbeck, ‘57
Associate Business Manager Virginia Gavian, ‘57
Business Staff: Annanelle Williams, ‘56; Rachel Epstein, ‘57, Christine Wallace,
“87.
Subscription Manager .........../ aw Swi erin: Lucille Lindner, ‘57
Subscription Board: Norma Sedgewick, ‘56; Polly Lothman, ‘56; Micky Nus-
baum, ‘57; Christa-Luuise Vollmer, ‘56; Ann Anderson, ‘57; Leone Edricks,

‘57; Jennie Hagen, ‘57; Betsy Miller, ‘57; Nancy Starr, ‘57.
Subscription, $3.50. Mailing price, $4. 00. Subscriptions may begin at

ee

any time. Entered as second class matter at the Ardmore, Pa., Sa Office, -

under the Aet of March 3, 1379.



Universal Suffrage

“They aré entirely responsible for the Freshman Week
program “and we think it goes very well,” said-Miss-McBride

-in«substance in her speech on Parents Day. Students ‘who

read each year with interest and complete surprise the “elec-
tion” of the head of Freshman Week are a little confused as
to how far this responsibility extends. The fact is that the
student who heads this very important committee that gives

incoming freshmen their first glimpse of Bryn Mawr is elect-.

ed by quite devious means. Undergraduate board brings up
and discusses the names of likely candidates and narrows
them to four. These four, who have been evaluated by the
administration, are then voted on by Undergraduate Council
—that is by part of Undergraduate Council, the heads of the
Big Five organizations. This means that four, or sometimes
three, students can determine who is going to head the Fresh-
man Week Committee.

We believe this official should be a representative of the
whole student body. We realize*the importance of this posi-
tion, and the fact that it is necessary that the student work
well with the incoming freshmen, parents, and the admin-
istration. At the same time, we believe that a student body
capable of electing the President of Self-Government ought
to be capable of electing a person for this office.

We feel that the election for the head of Freshman Week

Committee ought to be included in class elections in the

spring, with nominating, narrowing, and electing carried on
in the same manner as for all other class officials. Not only
is this the only democratic way to choose a person for a job
that is held to belong primarily to the students, but it would
help to arouse interest in that somewhat vague and uncertain

period which covers the first few days before upperclassmen
return.

This is not only a problem in itself, but it raises the ques-
tion as to the election of other of the lesser-publicized but
vitally important jobs on campus. How many other elections,
we wonder, are held by a few students in important offices,
and then announced to the college as a democratic decision
by the student body?



Dramatic Reading s
Are Well Received

Judging by the size and enthusi-

asm of the audiences, the three? The eleven Russian student edi-

dramatic readings from Milton’s;
Paradise Lost were definitely suc-
cessful. The reading, taken from

‘several books of the work, is

known as “The Fall of Man.”

_ The part of Adam was played
by Ken Geist; Eve, by Erica Lann,
and Satan, by Bill Tyson. Mr.
Frank Quinn, professor Sf English
at Haverford, directed the group.

_For_ the first performance — at

ee

” ‘Haverford, on March 13, Mr. Quinn

acted as narrator. At the follow-
ing presentations, April 12 and 14,
at Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore,
the narrator was Larry Hartmann.

Because of the interest shown in| Michigar

this type of dramatic production,
the reading will be re-

ape re sien te A Oe



Russians Decline

Digit-Prints, Visit

tors who were to have visited the
United States this spring have
cancelled their trip. They refused
to be fingerprinted, a requirement
for a visa to enter the United
States.

Bryn Mawr was not among the
schools which would have been vis-

ited by the editors. These schools
were: Columbia University, Ford-,

jham University and Hunter~Cot-
lege in New York City; Tuskegee
Institute. in Tuskegee, Alabama;
the University of New Mexico in
Albuquerque; Stanford University
in California; the University of
‘Chicago; and the University of

Wednesday, April 20, 1955



I am enclosing some of the re-
sults from the recent question-
naire on the election system. Al-
though I apologize for any statis-
tical incompetence in correlating
them, I think they will be of in-
terest to the campus. The total
response was 49% of the campus
(figured on finding list~figures),
somewhat less than what we hop-
ed for; particularly in the fresh-
man class. The 49% breaks down
per class as follows:

Seniors 46.2%
Juniors 55.7%
Sophomores 51.9%
Freshmen 40.4%

Committee Formed By

Helen-Louise Simpson and Kit
Masella are heading a committee
to correlate the suggestions given
in the questionnaire. Anyone in-
terested in working on revising
the election system should see
them this week. The results of
this work will be presented to Un-
dergrad Board and Council in May.

Sincerely,
Sarah Stifler

Yes
1. Are Reports nec-
essary? 60.7% 39.3%
Are they fair
and adequate? 346% 65.38%
2. Are answers by the
girl helpful?
Are they adequate
and fair?
8. Would you like to
see reports and/or
ansWers cut out?

No

78.5% 21.3%

83.7% 66.2%

Both 23.4%
Neither 45.8%
Answers 6.2%
Reports 24.4%

4, Would you like class

“to narrow? 89.7% 10.2%
5. Do you favor pref-

erential order? 22.5% 77.4%
All of these statistics were done
against the number of people ans-
wering particular questions.

To the question, “On what basis
did you vote in general in the,col-
lege elections?”, the following ans-
wers were received:

Reports. about. girl 22.0%

Answers by girl 28.7%

Advice from other students 6.6%



Personal knowledge of girl 42.6



Io the Editor:

We feel that it is time for those
opposed to wholesale class discus-
sion, particularly in introductory
courses, to present their objections.
It is here especially, because of the
size of such classes, that discussion
becomes undesirable, as the major-
ity of students can neither partici-
pate in nor profit from them. There
is an unquestionable tendency for
a very few individuals to dominate
these discussions, often with points
irrelevant to the aims of the course
or pertinent only to personal in-
terests. ' Consequently much time
which might otherwise be devoted
to valuable lecture is wasted.

Although discussion may prove
extremely worthwhile in stimulat-
ing constructive thought, this is
rarely the case except in small and
advanced groups. In introductory
courses, where only a few have
more than superficial knowledge of
the material, it should be the task
of the professor exclusively to en-
lighten the students (with all due



‘ |
respect to our contemporaries).

Students Say Discussion In Survey Courses
Is Often Irrelevant, Wastes Lecture Time

Relevant questions—whether posed
by professors or students—are val-
uable, but the professor should not
be reduced to a mere arbitrator
against his wishes.

As the Current Events panel on
The Value of Bryn Mawr’s Educa-
tion revealed, there is widespread
desire for increased class discus-
sion. We hope that these ideas will
not materialize to the extent that
the purpose of the meeting of the
class and the role of the professor
will become meaningless.

Sincerely,

Mimi Bayer, ’56
Ginny Thomas, ’56
Joyce Kettaneh, ’56.



The News wishes to correct
an error that appeared in last
week’s issue. Samuel Johnson’s
Dictionary was published on
April 15, 1755, not 1775 as re-
ported.









A panel discussion on “A Criti-

cation” proved the basis for an

Room.
Mr. Bachrach attacked the issue
from the standpoint of good and

tem. Among the former he num-
bered academic freedom in prac-
tice as well as in thought, intellec-
tual atmosphere and small classes.
He saw as the principal weakness-
es the passive role which the stu-
dent plays, and an over-emphasis
of the weight of authority which
is not conducive to individual
thought.

He felt a number of students
leave Bryn Mawr “intellectually
passive and submissive.” To avoid
this, he advocated emphasis on
training for critical thought and a
‘willingness to experiment; even-at
the expense of the quantity of
knowledge absorbed.

Two signal points were iacensain
out by Mr. Leblanc. He first “de-
plored the tragic gap between the



| sciences and the humanities,” feel-
-| ing that exclusive training in eith-| 0
er field cannot lead to a real edu-,,

cation.
Commenting upon the insistence
of students gaint vail ba tang,






cal Analysis of Bryn Mawr’s Edu-

original Current Events session on!
Monday evening in the Common!

bad aspects of the Bryn Mawr sys-|



Letters to the Editor —

Undergrad President S. Stifler Announces
Campus Answers To Election Questionnaire

: se
Actors Describe Work

In Experimental Drama
To the Editor:

In last week’s College News
Linda Levitt echoed the plea for
“a drama workshop, a class in
which techniques of acting or. di-
recting could be learned as taught
by people with background in the
theater.”

We are happy to tell Miss Levitt
and her readers that such a group
is now in existence on an experi-
mental basis. Since last month a
small group of students from both
colleges have been meeting Tues-
day nights in Skinner to work on
technique. This year’s efforts have
been of a trial nature, in prepara-
tion for more extensive operations
in the fall. We hope that interest-
ed students will get in touch with
the undersigned, so they may share
in our plans for the future.

Unfortunately, neither of us has
a very extensive “background in
the theater,” although we have
both been associated with the Col-
lege Theater for years. Still, there
are the books by Russian authors
to look to, as well as help from
outsiders who are connected more
intimately with the stage. In par-
ticular, we would mention Miss
Claudia Franck, a drama consult-
ant from New York, who will b
visiting this spring and whose re-
marks connecting training in act-
ing with undergraduate life should
prove both enlightening and sur-

prising. The time of her visit will ~

be published shortly with an invi-
tation to the whole college com-
munity to attend. i
Yours truly, ~
Liz Gordon
Gerald Goodman.

“Menagerie” Cast
Begins Rehearsals

The cast for Tennessee Williams’
Glass Menagerie, to be given by
the Bryn Mawr College Theatre
and the Haverford College Drama
Club on May 5 and 6, has been
selected.

Tom Wingfield, the son in the
play, will be played by Berkely
Harris; Jim O’Connor, the gentle-
man caller, will be played by Sam
Bishop; Laura Wingfield, tlie



daughter, by Caryl Sharlow; and
Linda Levitt will play the part of
Amanda) Wingfield, the mother.



“practical things” in college, Mr.

Leblane said one must distinguish~

between large-scale and_ small-
scale practicalities. The small-scale
ones should be learned before en-
tering college; large-scale practi-
calities should be our concern while
at Bryn Mawr.

Whereas Mr. Leblanc suggested
a five-course plan of study after

_ the freshman year as a possible so-

lution to bridging the science-hu-
manities gap, junior Gail Ames ad-
vocated taking five courses during
the first two years. She felt this
would be profitable during the be-
ginning survey courses. Noting
that one can’t disagree with a pro-
fessor if one doesn’t have a con>
siderable foundation of knowledge,
she suggested abolishing.some re-
quirements, taking more courses
allied with one’s major, and there-

by preparing to reach some real |:
in required courses stressing facts

conclusions, especially during the
last two years. |
Senior Charlotte Busse noted
that one is very liable at some
times to, become dissatisfied with
the c set-up, and overwhelm-
ed Ay the amount of knowledge
feels one lacks. Granting that
cannot learn everything, she
defended the present requiréments
and did not favor a_ five-course
freshman years. at a period when



Professors And Students On Current Events Panel

Evaluate Many Aspects Of Bryn Mawr’s Education ,

one needs to become acclimated to
the college community and activi-
ties. She felt dissatisfaction with
our college years might be allevi-
ated by making better use of the
college community and nearby
Philadelphia, Admittirig that we
perhaps lack contemporary cours-
es, she felt we shouldn’t “split the
field” so as to take part in more,
and generally appeared optimistic
about the Bryn Mawr system.
Sarah Stifler proceeded to “de-
fend the requirements, but from a
radical ‘viewpoint.” She wanted

during the first two years, with in-
creased experimentation. For ex-
ample, she criticized the first year
philosophy course as putting too
much emphasis on the individual
philosophers rather than the his-
tory and development of ideas. -

She saw much value being lost

and figures rather than the devel-
opment of the thinking process,

a

broader . background preparation |

and felt the danger of a student’

graduating without a real method-

ology. to be a socal of the.

Bryn Mawr system.

Miss McBride nalesded the ma-
jor field as developing much more.
than methodology, and as giving
insight into one field which no
number of first year courses could

eaves aaa





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