TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1949
1
PAGE FoLT
n9f 7/h4d
CORNERo...
ONE OF the startling facts about the Uni-
versity, when you stop to think about it,
is that there is a well-organized orientation
program for entering students but no appar-
ent attempt, organized or disorganized, to
orient the faculty.
And this is even more surprising when
you consider how badly disoriented some
of the faculty are.
Most of them, to be sure, are at least
competent in presenting the facts they have
to teach. Some of them, in fact, are extreme-
ly gifted, not only in handing out informa-
tion but also in communicating the impor-
tance and significance of their subject.
But very few seem to know or care how
their subject relates to other subjects, or
what the student is supposed to get out of
it that will mean something to him 50 years
later.
JT'S NOT SURPRISING that this should be
so, because college teaching seems to be
the only one of all the professions that does-
n't require special preparation.
The average faculty man at a good-sized
university has gone through an under-
graduate course; he's acquired a detailed,
specialized knowledge of his field, passed
a number of rigorous examinations, and
written a thesis or two. Perhaps he has
done some original research.
But nowhere in his training, unless he has
gone to education school, has anyone tried
to tell him what the function of a teacher
is. His teaching ability, if any, has been de-
veloped by the hit-or-miss, rule-of-thumb
methods which were outmoded in the other
professions decades ago.
DON'T MEAN to suggest that all college
teachers are terrible, or that most of
them should be packed off to schools of
education.
But perhaps a modest attempt could be
made to set faculty members thinking.agin
about their aims and assumptions, in the
same way that attempts are being made to
stimulate student thought about the pur-
poses and problems of higher education.
There is a great deal to ponder, for ex-
ample, in the report of the Harvard students
on their education; most of it is applicable
equally to any large university, and some of
it is especially applicable to Michigan.
There are other opportunities for criti-
cal thought about higher education; one
of them is the revision of the literary col-
lege curriculum now in progress. But this
opportunity is not being seized by any
large number of faculty mem1lers
.In fact it is fair to turn Dean Keniston's
remark about students around and say it is
extremely puzzling that so few of the faculty
show any interest in the one thing that
should have brought them to Ann Arbor.
-Philip Dawson
Editorials published in The Michigan Daily
are written by members of The Daily staff
and represent the views of the writers only.
NIGHT EDITOR: PETER HOTTON
THE MICHIGAN DAILM
_ _ _
_ .... .
r
Students' Phoenix Drive
DAILY OFFICIAL BULLETIN
WITH THE launching of the st'udents'
Phoenix Drive, Michigan men and wom-
en will have a chance to take part in a
project which President Alexander G. Ruth-
ven called "bigger than the University it-
self."
As one camp.ign leader stated, it
represents the greatest responsibility
ever given to the students.
The student goal for the research center
in peacetime uses of atomic energy, which is
also a war memorial for those who died in
World War II, will be between $100,000 and
$200,000, out of a total campaign goal of
$6,500,000.
The fund soliciting army will eventually
consist of 1,500 students, who will contact,
individually, every student on campus.
There are other reasons besides al-
truism for students to participate in the
drive.
It is an opportunity to pay tribute to the
college students of not so long ago who gave
their lives in World War 11.
It will be an honored student activity. Be-
ing chairman of the Phoenix features com-
mittee, for instance, will make one quite a
wheel.
And finally, students should want to work
in the student drive in order to have the
grand satisfaction of knowing they're part
of a research program whose conception is
unique and whose range is so broad that it
may strongly affect every
history.
thread of human
-John Davies
I-_________ ____-__________________________________________ - --1.
ccURRI iT
MOV IES
1i
At The Michigan .
ADAM'S RIB, with Spencer Tracy,
Katharine Hepburn, and some able assis-
tance from Broadway.
THE SLICKLY sophisticated comedy team
Tracy and Hepburn have again joined
hands, for this combination courtroom-bed-
room comedy, and acquitted themselves quite
well with the material with which they had
to work.
The basic situation is rather asinine:
Tracy and wife Hepburn are lawyers op-
posing each other in the trial of Judy
Holliday who has shot her husband in a
fit of passion when she found he was play-
ing house with another woman.
The conflict in the court room, which
Miss Hepburn builds up to a question of
Women's Rights, soon carries over into the
home and Tracy moves out. By some hook
or crook, Wifey wins her case with the jury,
but Hubby wins his case with Wifey.
The whole phrenetic proceedings
amounts to nothing, but does so in an
amusing fashion. It is a case where the
actors save the show, the show itself being
foolish and the dialogue wordy. Fortunate-
ly, Tracy and Miss Hepburn can get away
with it, and have done a lot to smooth over
the insipid portrayal of domestic bliss pre-
sented them in the script.
Adding more than their share of enter-
tainment are Miss Holliday and wounded
husband Tom Ewell, both doing beautiful
jobs of portraying a couple who methodically
married and came to the realization eight
years later that they shouldn't have done it.
Both are convincingly common and ignoble.
Rounding out the cast is David Wayne,
the song-writer who is out for a good time
and keeps the laughter coming with his care-
free attitude toward life, love, law, and other
men's wives.
-Fran Ivick
At The State . ***
ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD
ture-length Disney cartoon
. . Fea-
DON'T BELIEVE the billing. "Mr. Toad" is
first on the bill, first in quality, and in
fact, the first good Disney since way back
to "Fantasia."
Taken from a beloved English fantasy
"The Wind in The Willows," by Kenneth
Grahame, "Mr. Toad," is delightful stuff.
Skillfully narrated by Basil Rathbone,
the story of Mr. Toad and his friends is a
frolic that seems to be over way too soon.
But the story of "Ichabod Crane" is not so
well done. It might have been, and it does
have a number of hilarious sequences, but
instead of an obtrusive narration, like Rath-
bone's, we get the unmistakable personality
of Bing Crosby superimposed on the scrawny
back of poor Ichabod.
I yield to no man in my admiration of
Crosby, but there is a place for everything
and everything in its place. Crosby and
his breezy, modern-coloquial speech re-
minds us that we are looking back at
Washington Irving's legend from the 20th
century, and it is almost impossible to get
into the spirit of things.
In addition Ichabod suffers from several
uninspiring songs. But in spite of its flaws
it is not at all hard to take.
Also on the bill is Walt Disney's academy
winning "Seal Island," a photographic rec-
ord of the annual summer spawning activi-
ties of the seals. Narrated with intelligence
this wonderful short is worth the price of
admission all by itself.
However, the wise movie-goer will arrange
to miss the first two shorts on the bill, a
mess of drivel about a small boy archer and
his wild animal friends, and a "Joe Mc-
Doakes," "comedy," which is annoying to
the eye, and offensive to the ear.
-Kirk R. Hampton
THIS Way, YouFools!'
ette-M TO THE EDITOR
The Daily welcomes communications from its readers on matters of
general interest, and will publish all letters which are signed by the writer
and in good taste. Letters exceeding 300 words In length, defamatory or
libelous letters, and letters which for any reason are not in good taste will
be condensed, edited, or withheld from publication at the discretion of the
editors.
ON THE
Washington Merry-Go-Round
WITH DRtEW PEASON
ART
THE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM at Alumni
Memorial Hall is now showing a series
of original lithographs by Marc Chagall, the
Russian-born artist who has lived most of
his life in France. The show is scheduled
to run until December 31st.
.As with the Stanley Hayter exhibition
the Museum lets us examine the printing
process by which the various colors are
combined to produce the ultimate effects.
But these effects are so superior to the
muddled Hayter prints that it is impossible
to compare them without being unkind.
Of course, Chagall is a great artist. More-
over, he understands the media he works
in. Here, as each new color is added: the
plates grow in interest, not confusion.
Moreover, the printing itself, which was
supervised by Chagall when he was in this
country, is probably the finest example of
color reproduction yet to appear in Amer-
ica. It is certainly encouraging to discover
one more area of craftsmanship where we
do not have to turn to Europe to find
products of quality. As recently as 1925,
America refused to participate in the Paris
Exposition of Recorative Arts, because, as
President Coolidge said, the United States
had "nothing to contribute."
In the compositions themselves, the shy
whimsey and delicate beauty, by which
Chagall is known, are here at' their height.
Those of us who occasionally feel that the
rush and clang of modern life is a bit too
much-something like running up an esca-
lator that is going down-will welcome the
chance to spend a few moments in Chagall's
universe where everything is softened and
dream-like and quite outside of time. Here
no one will laugh if a child rides alone with
his child lover on a guardian pony that flies
through the blue night; or if Julnar the Sea-
Born, and her son, King Badr Bassim of
Persia, look down from their aial dance to
discover the great blue rooster is flying up-
side down. This is the Never-Never Kingdom
[ASHINGTON - Young Representative
Mel Price of Illinois and Gen. Vassily
Chuikov, Soviet commander in Berlin, had a
long conversation at a Berlin reception at
which the Illinoisan did some half-humorous
but blunt talking. To his surprise, the tough
Soviet soldier displayed a quaint sense of
humor, if not a knowledge of American geog-
raphy.
On a tour of inspection for the House
Armed Services Committee, Congressman,
Price was introduced to Chuikov at a re-
ception for U.S. Secretary of State Dean
Acheson. Talking through an interpreter,
the Russian general inquired what state he
came from. When Price told him, Chuikov
commented:
"Illinois - oh, that's close to Colorado,
isn't it?"
"No, it's about a thousand miles away,',
replied Price.
"I guess you can see that I'm not very
good at American geography," admitted the
Russian. "But I know a lot about German
geography."
"I hope you're not making a study of
American geography now, general," ob-
served the Illinois Congressman dryly.
With a smile, Chuikov replied that he was
not.
"I know only one phrase In Russian, "Za
vache zdorovye" (a Russian toast), declared
Congressman Price.
"The only English I know," volunteered
General Chuikov, "is "okay'."
"It's a shame," suggested Price, "that the
general doesn't teach Mr. Vishinsky how to
say that one word."
KICKBACK PARNELL
UE TO LEGAL technicalities, the Justice
Department hasn't been able to show all
the salary kickbacks and other tawdry oper-
ations of Congressman Parnell Thomas, for-
mer grandstanding chairman of the House
Un-American Activities Committee.
In addition to the kickbacks with which
Thomas is charged in the grand jury in-
dictment, he also put his wife's aged aunt,
f:n n '. umi- _n" i n:- -n valfa .9110 nn
roll for $3,000. She also "kicked back" to
the Congressman. Later Mrs. Hill was
transferred from Thomas's office payroll
to the payroll of the Un-American Activi-
ties Committee, though she lived in Allen-
dale and did nothing there to expose Un-
American activities.
In addition, Thomas required two other
secretaries, Helen Campbell and Mildred
Kraemer, to contribute $12.50 and $7.50 each
month to pay for his re-election campaigns.
In brief, the gentleman from New Jersey
had his hand in the payroll till of almost all
his office staff most of the time he served
in Congress.
* * *
MERRY-GO-ROUND
SENATOR TAFT, who is supposed to be
labor enemy No. 1, still won't do business
with any firm whose workers aren't union-
ized. His office was alarmed the other day
when some printing was delivered without
the unon stamp, and a hurried check was
made with the printers-Western Newspaper
Union of Baltimore-who explained it was
an oversight. The union stamp had been
left off the proofs, but was to be added to
the finished copy ...
North Carolina's Gordon Gray impresses
everyone as doing an increasingly good job
as Secretary of the Army ...
Despite Russian ballyhoo about withdraw-
ing from North Korea, enough Soviet troops
were left behind to police the pro-Commun-
ist government. The Soviet "military mis-
sion," still in Korea, is reported at the fol-
lowing strength: 2,000 army, 1,500 navy, and
500 air . .
There's a method behind the Department
of Agriculture's publication of a new cook
book of dried-milk recipes. The department
has 200,000,000 pounds of dried milk on its
hands (because of price supports) which
Secretary Brannan would like to divert into
commercial markets. However, the cook-
book has some pretty good ideas and is free
to housewives who write in.
-CAPITAL NEWS CAPSULES-
If I Were dean...
To the Editor:
IF I WERE able to make one
change in this university it
would be to eliminate the grading
system. This is one of the neces-
sary steps that should be taken to
make our university a better place
in which to receive an education.
In suggesting this change I have
tried to answer two questions: (1)
Why do we have a system of grad-
ing? (2) What would be the ad-
vantages incurred by eliminating
the grading system.
The only logical explanation to
the first question is that the grad-
ing system is supposed to motivate
the student in his quest for an
education. Why does the student
need this motivation? If a student
chooses to come to the U of M
then why not treat him like an
adult. We come here seeking a
higher education. We know what
we are after and that certainly
shtuld suffice as a motive. The
University realizes this, but by
having a grading system they
openly imply that this is not the
reason we came here.
The advantages incurred by this
change would be numerous. Main-
ly, the University would be treat-
inig the student as an adult. The
prcess of cramming before exams
tvould be eliminated and the stu-
dent could learn for the sake of
learning. He would come out a
much better student and would
have retained a great deal more
knowledge. Students would alter
their reasons for choosing certain
courses. No longer would they be
afraid to take a course they wanted
because of the treat of failure
hanging over them. Pipe courses
would no longer be the vogua (n
campus as they now are. Petty
jealousies and countless other ir-
ritativg by-products of grading
would be eliminated.
Although this short letter can-
no succesfully cover this problem
I feel that you have a fair idea
of what I would do if I were dean.
Eliminate grades and take a gi-
gantic step forward in the process
of education.
-Martin Packard
To the Editor:
REGARDING improvements in
the literary college, I believe
education would be facilitated if
lectures were shortened to allow
for student discussion of the sub-
ject at hand. The class could be
broken up into groups of six. Dis-
cussion would center on questions
posed by the professor concerning
his completed lecture. At the end
of ten minutes or so, the professor
would call for the points of view.
reached in each group. The class
would end as the points of view
are compared and discussed. Var-
iation as to time and number ofI
discussions must depend on prag-
matic experiment. Such an inno-
vation would in my opinion:
1. Cut down the number of facts
delivered but increase student con-
sciousness of subject.
2. Increase the professor's en-
joyment and efficiency in his role
as he becomes more and more
aware of the minds of the in-
dividuals in his class.
3. Increase the students' edu-
cation through knowing and un-
derstanding the people in his class.
4. Increase the students' ability
to get along with other people and
expressing himself to others.
This plan known as the "Phil-
lips 66 method rests on the sound
principle that what we express
ourselves in our own language
tends to penetrate deeper into our
own consciousness. I assume pene-
tration is what the educators are
worrying about.
-Allen Hurd
276 Words-Worth . .
To the Editor:
An Open Letter to Pres Holmes:
Wha' hoppen?? I dragged you
over the coals, both verbally and
publicly earlier this semester, due
to your completely illogical sports
column. Last Friday, to my con-
sternation, you went and wrote
another one that is full of COM-
MON SENSE and LOGIC. A col-
umn that was written such as
only a writer with a high degree
of intelligence and a great degree
of fair-mindedness COULD write.
. Now, Pres, if your excellent col-
umn in last Friday's paper was a
result of your undying determina-
tion to stop all these cranks from
writing in to the "Letters to the
Editor" column, then I shall have
to admit you have succeeded in
your purpose. But think of all the
fun that will no longer be ours!
If, on the other hand, you wrote
your sports column referring only
to your own opinion, with no ul-
terior motive in mind, then I
must confess you deserve an apol-
ogy and a pat on the back from
me. And a f t e r considerable
thought on the matter, I have
demided you definitely DO deserve
the apology and the pat!
Now-I have considered the pos-
sibility that my stinging rebuke
to your column earlier this se-
mester might have been one of
the factors responsible in bring-
ing about your sudden "reform".
If you will allow me to go on hop-
ing that this is true, then I shall
be happy with this one small con-
solation. Thanks.
So go tell the boys in the back
room to set the type and roll them
thar' presses, Pres; "Holmes rites
again"!!
With the best of intentions, and
wishing you a "Merry Christmas",
-Stan Challis
Continued from Page 2
tory, University of California at
Berkeley. "High Energy Nuclear
Reactions." 4:07 p.m., Tuesday,
Nov. 29, 13000 Chemistry.
University Lectures in Journal-
ism: "The Trouble with Newspa-
pers." Nathaniel R. Howard, Edi-
tor of the Cleveland News; aus-
pices of the Department of Jour-
nalism, 3 p.m., Wed., Nov. 39,
Room C, Haven Hall.
Academic Notices
Speech 35: Classes will not meet
Wed., Nov. 30. Open House at the
University of Michigan Speech
Clinic will be held from 7:30-9
p.m., Wed., Nov. 30, for all Speech
35 students.
School of Education Testing
Program results may be picked up
Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 29
and 30 between the hours of 8 and
12 in 1437 U.E.S.
AE. 160 Seminar: 4 p.m., Wed.,
Nov. 30, 1504 E. Engineering. Mr.
James Murphy, from the Univer-
sity of Michigan Supersonic Wind
Tunnel, will speak "On Condensa-
tion in High-Speed Tunnels." Re-
freshfnents. Visitors welcome.
Botanical Seminar: 4 p.m.,
Wed., Nov. 30, 1139 Natural Sci-
ence. Prof. A. H. Smith will speak
on Speciation in the Genus Psa-
thyrella.
Engineering Mechanics Semi-
nar: 4 p.m., Wed., Nov. 30, 101 W.
Engineering.
Mr. Paul M. Naghdi will speak
on "Contact Stresses." All inter-
ested persons welcome.
Physical-Inorganic Chemistry
Seminar: 4:07 p.m., Wed., Nov. 30,
2308 Chemistry. Mr. W. B. Hillig,
"Electronic Structure of Cerium
Metal Modifications." Mr. H. W.
Habgood, "Atomic Polarization."
Concerts
Rise Stevens will be heard in the
Choral Union Series Mon., Dec.
12, at 8:30, instead of on the date
previously announced. The post-
ponement has been necessitated
because of a reshuffling of the
Metropolitan Opera performances.
It will be appreciated if concert-
goers will pass the word along,
particularly to out-of-town musi-
cal friends and acquaintances.
Orgab Recital: Final program in
the current series of organ recitals
by Robert Noehren, University Or-
ganist, 4:15 p.m., Wed., Nov. 30,
Hill Auditorium. Compositions by
Couperin, Bach, Franck, Vierne,
Maleingreau, Honegger, Karg -
Elert. Open to the public without
charge.
Student Recital: Shirley Fry-
man Goldfarb, student of piano
with Joseph Brinkman, will pre-
sent a program at 8:30 p.m., Wed.,
Nov. 30, Rackham Assembly Hall,
in partial fulfillment of the re-
quirements for the degree of Mas-
ter of Music. Compositions by
Haydn, Prokofieff, Bach, ard
Samuel Barber. Open to the pub-
lic.
Events Today
Canterbury Club: 7:30-9:30
p.m., Chaplain's Seminar, con-
ducted by Rev. Burt, on the basic
principles of the Christian faith.
Christian Science Organization:
Testimonial meeting, 7:30 p.m.
Upper Room, Lane Hall. All are
welcome.
Sigma Rho Tau, Engineering
speech society, general meeting, 7
p.m., East Eng. Bldg.
Circle debates and discussion of
oral reports by- Prof. Brackett.
Hillel-I.Z.F.A.: Hebrew class, 8
p.m., League. Everybody welcome.
N.S.A.: Committee meeting, 4
p.m., Union. New legislators and
others interested students invited.
Square Dance Group: 7-10 p.m.,
Lane Hall.
Intercultural Department Meet-
ing: 7 p.m., Lane Hall.
Quarterdeck Society: Regular
meeting, 7:30 p.m., Rm. 3D, Un-
ion.
Wolverine Club: 7:30 p.m., Mich-
igan Union.
Coming Events
Canterbury Club: 7:15 a.m.,
Wed., Nov. 30, Holy Communion
followed by Student Breakfast.
Chess Club: Regular meeting,
Wed., Nov.- 30, Room 3D3, Union.
Election of officers. A rapid tran-
sit tournament will also be held.
ASME, Student Branch: Open
meeting, Nov. 30, Architectural
Auditorium. Movies: "Styling the
Motor Car," "Quality in the Mak-
ing," and "Zinc Diecasting."
American Pharmaceutical Asso-
ciation, Student Branch: Meeting,
Wed., Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m., 1400
Chemistry. Dr. George Valley will
speak on "Antibiotics, Past, Pres-
ent, and Future." Refreshments.
I.A.S.: Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Wed.,
Nov. 30, Rm. 3A, Union. Wright
Aero. Corp. Film, "Powerhouse of
Aviation." 'Ensian picture will be
taken at 7 p.m.
Acolytes Meeting: Prof. Palmer
Throop.
"Historical Causation and Value
Systems." 7:30 p.m., Wed., Nov. 30,
East Conference Room, Rackham
Bldg. Open to public.
Dr. Ordway Tead, president of
the Board of Higher Education of
New York City, "College Curricu-
lum-For What?" 8 p.m., Wed.,
Nov. 30, Martha Cook Bldg. Fac-
ulty members are invited to attend
this meeting and other sessions of
the Third Annual Conference on
Higher Education.
ULLR Ski Club: Organizational
meeting, 7:30 p.m., Wed., Nov. 30,
Union; new members welcome.
Skiing movies.
U. of M. Rifle Club: Postal match
with Mich. Tech. College, 8- p.m.,
Wed, Nov. 30, ROTC rifle range.
Practice from 7-9:30 p.m.
Phi Lambda Upsilon: Wed., Nov.
30, East Conference Room, Rack-
hiam Bldg. Business meeting, 7:30
p.m. Speaker at 8 p.m. Prof.
James M. Plumer will discuss Jap-
anese Art and the American Occu-
pation.
Hiawatha Club: Meeting, 7:30
p.m., Wed., Nov. 30, Grand Rapids
Room, League.
Anthropology Club: Meeting,
7:30 p.m., Wed., Nov. 30; in
3024 Museums Bldg. Entrance to
building by rear door. Prof. George
G. Cameron. "Racial Contacts in
the Near East." Refreshments.
Young Progressives of America:
Membership meeting 7:30 p.m.,
Wed., Nov. 30, changed to League.
Report of 2nd National Convention
by Michigan delegation. Plans for
further action on existence of
quota system will be formulated.
Women's Intramural Basketball
Touimament:
Practice space will be available
on Tuesday and Thursday at 7:15
and 8 p.m. Sign up for space on
reservation sheet in Barbour Gym-
nasium.
3t1 rt& n IEIZUI
_1
9
I
Fifty-Ninth Year
Edited and managed by students of
the University of Michigan under the
authority of the Board in Control of
Student Publications.
Editorial Staf
Leon Jaroff............Managing Editor
Al Blumrosen............City Editor
Philip Dawson.......Editorial 'Director
Mary Stein.............Associate Editor
Jo Misner...........Associate Editor
George Walker.......Associate Editor
Don McNeil.~... ...Associate Editor
Alex Lmanian.....Photography Editor
Pres Holmes......... Sports Co-Editor
Merle Levin..........Sports Co-Editor
Roger Goelz..... Associate Sports Editor
TdIriam Cady...,....... Women's Editor
Lee Kaltenbach.. Associate Women's Ed.
Joan King....................Librarian
Allan Clamage......Assistant Librarian
Business Staff
Roger Wellington....Business Manager
Dee Nelson..Associate Business Manager
Jim Dang......Advertising Manger
Bernie Aidinoff... Finance Manager
Ralph Ziegler......Circulation Manager
Telephone 23-24-1
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mne Associated Press is exclusively
entitled to the use for republication
of all news dispatches credited to it or
otherwise credited to this newspape
All rights of republication of all other,
matters hereintare also reserved.
Entered at the Post Office at~ Ann
Arbor, Michigan, as second-class mail
matter.
Subscription during the regular school
year by co*rier. *5.00. by mail. $6.00
i
+
BARNABY
Somebody turned the rerierto
| ||Yes. That's JUST what youdid! \ I
Barnaby, tell your mother your imaginary 1
I