THE MICHIGAN DAILY
.
A Forward Step
T HE NEW and long-awaited curriculum
requirements in they literary college
should provoke plenty of thought and dis-
cussion.
The plan is the result of several years'
Work, and it proposed to do much the same
thing here as has been done at a number
of other colleges:
"Ensure a common intellectual experi-
ence" by making distribution requirements
more specific, and allow more freedom in
choosing a field of concentration.
. In Harvard usage, the literary college is
exerting more control over students' gen-
eral education and giving them more
control over their own specialized educa-
tion.
But, while its purposes are the same, this
plan doesn't represent nearly as much of a
departure from traditional arrangements'as
the new Harvard set-up. At Harvard the
faculty instituted several courses in general
education that cut across many depart-
mental lines-a year course in human rela-
tions, for instance, which includes psychol-
ogy, sociology, anthropology, political science
and economics.
The new distribution requirements here
are set up on a departmental basis. Pos-
sibly later there will be a few freshman
courses that disregard departmental boun-
daries. But initially our new curriculum
is going to be worked out, for general
education purposes, within the individual
departments, relying on the existing de-
partmental organization.
Editorials published in The Michigan Daily
are written by members of The Daily staff
and represent the views of the writers only.
NIGHT EDITOR: MARY STEIN
The success of this procedure, of course,
depends almost entirely on what the depart-
ments do. -If they continue to offer the same
courses for general education as they did for
the group requirements, the new curriculum
will hardly differ from the old. By leaving
the wirking out of the plan to the depart-
ments, the faculty have voted to rely heavily
on individual initiative. This decentralized
administration will lead to "a common intel-
lectual experience" if the appropriate indi-
viduals have enough initiative.
To watch over the new interdepartmental
specialization programs, the faculty have
set up a Standing Committtee on Curricu-
lum. This committee will also recommend
changes or innovations in general curricu-
lum requirements.
The new concentration programs them-
selves are not all worked out yet. Their
purpose is to allow students interested in
biophysics, for instance, to elect the
courses they need without having to meet
the 30-hour requirement by taking a num-
ber of irrelevant courses. Individual stu-
dents will also be able to map out their
own programs and, if the curriculum
committee approves, follow them.
The new curriculum will not only en-
courage interdepartmental specialization; it
will require departmental concentrators to
take six hours in a related field. Everyone
knows you can't be an economist, for ex-
ample, without being to some extent a po-
litical scientist. It's well to have that fact
recognized in a general requirement.
The curriculum requirements as a whole
don't represent much actual change as yet.
But, in order to give effect to the principles
in it, many specific - and welcome -
changes will be made. The big step has
been taken on the road to a better college.
--Phil Dawson.
V
IT SO HAPPENS
*Academic and Otherwise
D
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Relatively amusing items
for this column will be effusively welcomed
by all concerned. Please address all contribu-
tions to the editorial director, The Daily.)
Cuts and Bolts . .
OUR HISTORY professor spent the first
ten minutes of the class hour yesterday
commenting on Sunday's story on the
chances of the University cracking down on
class cuts.
His objection lay in the old Michigan
tradition, as he called it, that every class
missed is a BOLT and not a c-u-t (he did
not deign to pronounce the word.) Be-
cause of its inexcusable breach of tradition
in using "CUTS" he compared The Daily
to the Chicago Tribune, the Rocky Moun-
tain News or the St. Louis Post Dispatch,
claiming that you couldn't tell the differ-
ence.
Students take BOLTS and Professors give
BOLTS, he emphasized, and called the use
of the word CUT an importation from some
foreign school like Harvard, or California.
He finished with a fervent plea that The
Daily print a retraction and promise never
again to use the word "C-u-t." After en-
thusiastic applause, he returned to history.
Daily editors will bring up the problem
at the next policy meeting.
Informal Seminar?.. .
WE ALMOST DIDN'T believe this one our-
selves, but the unimpeachability of our
source persuades us. A graduating senior
signed up for a course listed in the cata-
logue as meeting in "202 Hill" (Auditorium).
The morning of the first class, she turned
up promptly at 202 Hill Street.
Chcuc'erian Coquette .. .
ONE OF OUR favorite professors is among
other things, the father of two rather
precocious children. Seems that the young-
est-three years old-plays with a slightly
backward five year old, and while the two
were immersed in their prattle, the other
day, the six year old daughter approached
and informed their guest: "You don't talk
very good." "My mother is teaching me Eng-
lish," the five year old defended himself.
"Early English?" haughtily asked our hero-
ine.
Practice Preaching .
THE DAILY REPORTER who wrote Sun-
day's story on the possibilities of the
University stiffening its policy, on class
cutting missed his Friday 3 o'clock to dig
up some of the facts.
* * * * ** ***
Obvious*. . and . . er. . uh ..
A FEW OF OUR more statistical-minded
students have compiled 660 reasons why
two well-liked facultymen should take a
basic course in speech with particular em-
phasis on expanding one's vocabulary.
First move in this direction was made by
a confused Economics student, who thought
something was escaping him when the in-
structor said so many conclusions were ob-
vious. During one recitation, the student
tabulated 20 "obvious's," 5 "very apparent's"
and four "apparents."
Another student went through a speech
instructor's purgatory, when he went to
English class with a clean sheet of paper
and came out with 633 marks, each repre-
senting a vocalized pause in the lecturer's
46-minute speech.
Labor Law Conflict
CONTROVERSY over repeal or amend-
ment of the Taft-Hartley Law is rapidly
becoming a political football.
The Democratic Congress and the Tru-
man Administration have just drawn fire
from CIO president Philip Murray for not
carrying out their campaign promises
which called for outright repeal of the
labor law. Murray calls the Thomas Bill,
which would replace the Taft-Hartley
Act, the "keystone" of the Truman pro-
gram, and he lments the fact that the
first 50 days of the 81st Congress have
failed to bring about approval of any
substantial portion of the program.
At the same time, the National Grange,
a farmers' organization, has spoken up in
support of the present labor relations law,
It claims that the farm vote was as impor-
tant in re-electing President Truman as was
the labor vote; conesquently, it is trying to
exert political pressure to uphold its posi-
tion regarding labor legislation.
Most experts seem to agree that the
Taft-Hartley Act could be improved by
intelligent amendment. The requirement
of non-Communist affidavits from Union
leaders could well be scrapped, the closed
shop prohibition is of doubtful merit at
best, and many of the ambiguities of the
law's phraseology could stand a thorough
clarification. Sen. Taft himself realizes
that the law has its weak spots, and has
indicated that he would be willing to
accept certain amendments to the act.
However, many experts feel that certain
provisions of the law are definitely desirable,
if not necessary, under mode i economic
conditions. Unsettled labor conditions in
general warrant some sort of provision
which is at least similar to the 80-day in-
junction which now may be used to forestall
strikes which would affect the public in-
terest in a vital manner.
The provisions which prohibit secondary
boycotts and jurisdictional disputes seem
economically sound, as does the provisions
outlawing "featherbedding," or the payment
for services which are not performed. Word-
ing of this provision definitely needs clarifi-
cation, however; as the present law could
possibly be construed to prohibit paid vaca-
tions.
President Truman and other Demo-
cratic leaders have backed down some-
what from their original views which fa-
vored a complete repeal of the Taft Act,
with simultaneous reenactment of the
original Wagner Act. They now appear to
agree that the Wagner Act does need
some amendments.
A look at the current controversy over the
labor act seems to indicate that Congress is
likely to repeal the Taft-Hartley Act, but
that this repeal will be a repeal in name
only. The substitute measure may be called
the Thomas Act or even the Morse Act, but
it is sure to contain some of the provisions
of the Taft-Hartley Law.
Such action will be politically wise, in
that it will serve to pacify labor groups
to whom the name "Taft-Hartley" is of-
fensive, and it will still cater to the
wishes of the supporters of the Taft Act,
to a limited extent.
The present situation definitely calls for
some change in our labor legislation; let us
hope that the 81st Congress meets the chal-
lenge and does provide us with a sound,
workable labor law.
-Paul Brentlinger.
Something More
AFTER MAKING our contributions to the
WSSF most of us feel that we have
done our share in aiding our students of the
rest of the world. But there is something
more that we can and should do.
Because of the present political condi-
tion of China most of the Chinese stu-
dents in this country have been stranded,
without funds. There are about 3,000 such
students. Some colleges have offered sub-
sidization and others have given loans.
But such aid is only temporary and is not
available everywhere. More inclusive and
permanent aid is needed.
The ECA has in its possession $77 million
originally appropriated for China but which
at present are frozen. If but a small fraction
of this were apportioned to provide the
needed funds for these students their finan-
cial plight would be solved.
The original proposal to this effect was
started at Columbia University and since
has gained widespread support on other
campuses. ECA authorities, including ad-
ministrator Paul Hoffman, have expressed
approval. With enough support the idea
should succeed.
To this end the campus Wallace Pro-
gressives have drawn a petition and are dis-
tributing it to all student and faculty or-
ganizations in hope of their endorsement.
It is a humanitarian project free from par-
tisan politics.
But benefits of such aid in good will
aroused should not be considered secondary.
And in the long run it is only good will
which will prevent a third world conflag-
ration. Although the proposal has no imme-
diate aim other than giving aid to those
Chinese students so desperately in need, this
other aspect should not be overlooked.
-Jack Barence.
(Continued from Page 2)
-:
CONNT
rY
DAILY OFFICIAL BULLETIN
Ar n utr o ni:Ms
ductors will also participate-the
Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene
Ormandy, conductor, Alexander
Hilsberg, Associate conductor;
University Choral Union, Thor
Johnson, guest conductor and Les-
ter McCoy, associate conductor;
Festival Youth Chorus, Marguerite
Hood, conductor.
Season tickets are now avail-
able over the counter.
Tickets for individual concerts
will be on sale beginning April 4,
at the offices of the University
Musical Society, Burton Memo-
rial Tower.
Complete announcements con-
taining programs, etc., will be
available about March 1.
Student Recital: Patricia Pen-
man, Pianist, will present a pro-
gram in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of
Bachelor of Music, at 8 p.m.,
Wed., Feb. 23, Lydia Mendelssohn
Theatre. It will include composi-
tions by Mozart, Weber, Beeth-
oven, Debussy and Schumann, and
will be open to the public. Miss
Penman is a pupil of Maud Okkel-
berg.
Student Recital: Norma Swin-
ney Heyde, Soprano, will present
a program at 8 p.m., Thurs., Feb.
24, Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre,
in partial fulfillment of the re-
quirements for the degree of
Bachelor of Music. Mrs. Heyde is
a pupil of Arthur Hackett, and
her recital is open to the general
public.
Events Today
Student Legislature: 7:30 pm.,
Grand Rapids Room, Michigan
League.
AGENDA
I. Cabinet Report:
1) Centennial Symposium on
Student Government; at Madison,
Wisconsin, March 23-26.
2) Report on "Meet Your Re-
gents."
3) Vice-President's Committee
report.
4) Proposed Elections Commit-
tee.
5) World Government Week.
6) S.A.C. report.
II. Committee Reports:
1) N.S.A.
2) Campus Action
3) Culture and Education.
4) Varsity.
5) Publicity.
III. Old Business:
1) Report on Men's Judiciary.
2) Report on Election Proce-
dures.
IV. New Business:
Motion Pictures. auspices of the
Audio-Visual Education Center.
"Problems of World Peace"; Pat-
tern for Peace; Where Will You
Hide? 4:10 p.m., Kellogg Audito-
rium.
Institute of The Aeronautical
Sciences: Speaker: Dr. Nichols.
Topic: Explanation and Demon-
stration of the Analog Computer,
7:30 p.m., 1042 E. Engineering
Bldg. Open meeting.
Varsity Debate: Meeting, 7:30
p.m., 4203 Angell Hall. Debaters
wishing to participate in the In-
tercollegiate Tournament must
be present at this meeting for as-
signments.
"Onily A Fewv 1Monthsi Ago Kintson Was Sitting There"
Letters to the Editor,
k
IArt and Culture of India: Mrs.
Betsan Coats, who has recently
returned from India, will give an
informal talk on the art and cul-
ture of India at 4:15 p.m., Inter-
national Center. Informal tea.
Hostess: Mrs. Manu Mehta.
A.I.M. (Association of Inde-
pendent Men): Organizational
meeting for the "pilot district,"
Room 3C, Michigan Union. All
nen living in rooming houses
within the following area, includ-
ing houses on both sides of the
streets mentioned (North Univer-
sity, State, Forest, and Dewey
Streets), are invited to attend.
Student Branch of the Ameri-
can Pharmaceutical Association:
Meeting, 7:45 p.m., 1300 Chemis-
try Bldg. Speech Contest. Re-
freshments. Everyone interested
is invited.
Modern Poetry Club: 7:30 p.m.,
Cave room, Michigan League.
Topic, A Defenise of Modern Po-
etry. Bring Oscar Williams' An-
thology.
West Quad Radio Club: Meeting,
clubroom, fifth floor, Williams
House. Any West Quad residents
interested in amateur radio are
invited.
Delta Sigma Pi, Professional
business administration frater-
nity; Business meeting and For-
mal Pledging, 7:30 p.m., Chapter
House, 1212 Hill.
Ullr Ski Club: Meeting, 7:30
p.m., Rm. 3RS, Michigan Union.
Movie on Yosemite.
Westminster Guild, of the First
Presbyterian Church: Wednesday
afternoon tea party, 4 to 6 p.m.,
Russel parlor.
Michigan Christian Fellowship:
Bible Study, Book of Acts, Chapter
2, 7:30 p.m., Upper Room, Lane
Hall.
Roger Williams Guild: Weekly
"chat" and tea, 4:30-6 p.m., Guild
House.
Coed Folk and Square Dance
Club: 7:30 p.m., W.A.B. Everyone
invited.
U. of M. Dames Child Study
Group: Meet at the home of Mrs.
Warren Chase, 8 p.m., 500 Hunt-
ington prive, Mr. Richard Hurley,
Assistant Professor in the Dept. of
Library Science will discuss chil-
dren's books. Mrs. Gilkeson, phone
2-2046, will handle transportation
problems.
Women of the University Fac-
ulty: Tea, 4 to 6 p.m., Club room,
Room D. Michigan League.
I.Z.F.A.: Song and dance group
will meet '7:45 p.m., Michigan
League. Everybody welcome.
Coming Events
Political Science Round Table:
7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 24, West
Conference Room, Rackham Bldg.
All Political Science graduate stu-
dents are expected to attend;
wives are invited.
The Water Safety Instructor's
Course will be conducted by the
The Daily accords Its readers the
privilege of submitting letters for
publication in this column. Subject
to space limitations, the general pol-
icy is to publish in the order in which
they are received all letters bearing
the writer's signature and address.
Letters exceeding 300 words, repeti-
tious letters and letters of a defama-
tory character or such letters which
for any other reason are not in good
taste will not be published. The
editors reserve the privilege of con-
densing letters.
Disc Data
To the Editor:
SOME ARE FAST, some are slow,
some are large, some are
small. If this is true of a group
of people, it is becoming true of
the recently developed long play-
ing records with the advent of the
large holed 45 RPM Victorgroove.
This makes three speeds and two
spindle sizes to date which must
be accommodated by those who
would play all.
One may envision the record
player of three years from now
which the user must read just
for each new record according to
the data magnanimously printed
thereon for his convenience by the
manufacturer. Spindle size 2.237
inches; Speed 41% revolutions per
minute; stylus radius .002 inches;
pressure 3 to 4 grams; Tone Com-
pensation: position 3 on Trutone
system, control wide open on "You
Are There" system, Laboratory
models, use bass boost 412 db per
octave below 473 cycles, treble
attenuation 2.9 db per octave
above 5250 cycles: Other systems,
adjust to suit individual taste.
In refusing to comply with the
standard speed and spindle diame-
ter set by Columbia for the New
Discs, the RCA Victor Company
have shown lack of foresight. In-
stead of increasing sales on their
new records and turntables, the
consumer has been antagonized,1
and the industry including Victor
(themselves, has been jeopardized.
An apprehensive public is hanging
back to watch the pattern develop
so they will know how versatile
their new player must be.
If it is the purpose of Victor
to serve the public, they would
haverdone well to accept the
standard set by Columbia for this
more satisfactory reproduction of
sound. For the person who con-
siders that I am making a moun-
tain out of a hole size, let him
consider the evolution of the hole
in the razor blade.
-Lyman W. Orr.
Red Cross between April 18 and
29 at the Intramural Pool. First
meeting, 7:30 p.m., Mon., April
18; subsequent meetings will be
announced then. The course is
open to both men and women.
Anyone interested should sign up
in Office 15, Barbour Gymnasium.
Michigan Crib, Pre-Law Socie-
ty: Meeting, 7:45 p.m., Architec-
ture Auditorium. Mr. Edmund Le-
vine, Assistant Prosecuting Attor-
ney, Washtenaw County, will
speak on "A Prosecuting Attor-
ney at Work."
Gilbert and Sullivan Society:
Rehearsals for all chorus mem-
bers and principals for "Patience,"
women at 7 p.m., Thurs., Feb. 24,
Michigan League; men at 8 p.m.,
Thurs., Feb. 24, Michigan League.
Stage construction workers are
especially needed, and are request-
ed to attend the 7 p.m. rehearsal.
Please bring eligibility cards.
International Center weekly tea
for all foreign students and Amer-
ican .friends, 4:30-6 p.m., Thurs.,
Feb. 24, International Center.
Hostesses: Mrs. Ruth Buck and
Mrs. Arthur Hackett.
Pershing Rifles Meeting: 7 p.m.,
Thurs., Feb. 24, R.O.T.C., State
Street. Matters of organization
and administration will be dealt
with. Be in uniform.
U. of M. Theater Guild: Organi-
zational meeting, Thurs., Feb. 24,
Michigan League. Bring certifi-
cates of eligibility.
American Chemical Society Stu-
dent Affiliate: Organizational'
meeting, Thurs., Feb. 24, 1300
Chemistry Bldg.
Sigma Delta Chi: Business
meeting, 7:30 p.m., Thurs., Feb.
24, 211 Haven Hall.
U. of M. Rifle Club: firing, 7-
9:30 p.m., Thurs., Feb. 24, ROTC
range. DCM Qualification match
at 8.
Retort"!
To the Editor:
AM in the custom of reading a
of the letters to the editor, i
order to get the' opinions of m
fellow students on current sub
jects. But, of late, I have bee:
irked at the presence of variou
contributions by one Hy Bershad
I am not a friend of the gentle
man in question, but I would cer
tainly like to be. He has, beyon
a doubt, one of the finest mind
in this area (if not this country)
In his most recent letter he ha
exposed fallacies under whic.
great men of this country an
other countries have been labor
ing. Rather than wasting time i
school, he should be intWashing
ton. D.C., or advising the Unite(
Nations Assembly. In short,
mean the case of Cardinal Minds
zenty. Without mentioning point
in Bershad's letter in which h
goes along with the Commies i:
accusing Mindszenty of being
Fascist and an anti-Semite,
shall quote an article which ap
peared in the Detroit News o
Feb. 6. 1949. This article was writ
ten by Dr. Bela Fabian, a Jewis
member of the Hungarian Parlia
ment for 17 years andpreside
of the Hungarian Independe
Democratic Party. Dr. Fabian wa
a prisoner of war in Russia i
World War I and in four differ
ent Nazi concentration camps dur
ing World War II. I shall quot
one paragraph in this article:"
would be prepared to testify-
such a thing as free testimon
were possible before a Communi
Court-that far from supportin
anti-Semitic propaganda, Cardi
nal Mindszenty was in the fore
front of the struggle again
Nazism and anti-Semitism an
that he more than once riske
his life to save Jews from th
Nazis."
Dr. Fabian goes on to explai
his reasons for his position. H'
closing paragraph is quoted: "H
(Cardinal Mindszenty) made
stirring speech against anti-Semi
tism which received wide public
ity throughout the country. Fro
then on, the Arron Cross (th
Native Hungarian Nazi Party
made him its principle target. H
became the spiritual leader of th
Hungarian anti-Nazi movement.
I believe that these quotations wi
answer any of your accusation
Mr. Bershad, and I would like t
close with a quote from your let
ter: "I sincerely hope that in fu
ture columns we'll 'have less in
flammatory and discriminato
articles and more logical and fac
tual material."
-Kenneth D. Cummins
t C4t wn
iDaiIy
MATTER OF1 FACT:
Engineer Klimov Case
By STEWART ALSOP
T NOW SEEMS probable that at long last
something will be done to correct an in-
sane situation. One way to suggest just how
insane the situation has been is to quote
from a letter recently received from one
Gregory Klimov, a Russian who was chief
engineer in Soviet headquarters in Berlin
until he escaped into the American zone of
Germany early in 1947.
Engineer Klimov is apparently a man
with a slavic sense of drama. "I cane,"'
he writes, as translated from the Russian,
"because of my anti-Communistic convic-
tions. My first words were: 'The world
has been broken into two camps. I have
come where I belong'." Evidently Klimov
expected a warm welcome, not only be-
cause of his ideological convictions but
also because he could obviously be of
practical use to the Americans. lie was
mistaken.
"If an American with sch ialifications
came over to 0t Soviet, Kliinov writes,
"Moscow woud i'O8inder 11himt worth his
weightin gt old -~.. and lurethe.1ise t-Wot) ea~
special skills. Instead, these people live mis-
erably on their wits, and on such aid as pri-
vate organizations like the International
Rescue and Relief Committee can spare.
There are many reasons, of which the
C.I.C.'s approach to the problem, as re-
flected in the Klimov letter, is one. But it
is at least encouraging that, on the initia-
tive of the planners in the State Depart-
ment, two important steps are now con-
templated to bring this nonsense to an
end.
The first objective is to find about half a
dozen really qualified men, with a thorough
knowledge both of the Soviet Union and the
Russian language. If the money can be
found and the endless red tape slashed
through, these men will be sent to Germany.
There they will gather the invaluable stra-
tegic and political intelligence which the
thousands of neglected Soviet refugees cer-
tainly possess.
The second objective is not directly related
to intelligence. It is to establish in this
country au "Institute of Russian Studies,"
Young Democrats:
meeting, Thurs., Feb. 24,
Michigan Union.
Business
7:30 p.m.,
BA RNABY
-N""-"-"
EHow can one work withovf thai