Friday. October 23. “764 SCARLET AND BLACK Baron Retounts Year In Moscow Final Impression less Favorable By Ann Showalter After spending eight months in Moscow last year as part of a US-USSR cultural exchange program, h i s t o r y professor Samuel H. Baron reports that most Americans who live in the USSR for several months have less favorable impressions when they leave than when they lar- rive. in his informal address “An American in Moscow,” last Friday afternoon in Roberts Theatre, Baron discussed the favorable and unfavorable as- pects of Soviet life from the basis of his personal experi- ences. Baron noted the ever present book reading, “You see people reading everywhere— in sub- ways, restaurants, and parks." Often they are studying techni- cal books, classical novels and selected modern works. "For people of poor means the opportunity to get higher education is probably better than here," he stated. At the University of Moscow he knew many students only two or three generations removed from serf- dom. . Baron noted that general con- ditions have improved since Stalin's death. “The people are better dressed, there are no forced labor camps, and west- erners are much freer to trav- el within the country. One is a good deal safer walking in the streets of Moscow after dark than in New York or Chica- go," he said. In spite of these improve- ments there remains a great deal in Soviet life that is re- pugnant to anyone from our world," he asserted. The Soviet “humanistic” philosophy of life has created a system in which “the man exists for the system instead of the system for the man." This results in the re~ striction of many personal free- doms. Baron found that this lack of personal freedom permeates Soviet life even to the extent of everyday conversation. “I might be talking to a person who was being fairly open. Then someone else would ap< proach us and the open con- versation would suddenly stop. It is widely believed that in every classroom, every office, and each department in a fac- tory, there is a professional spy." he said. Freedom of knowledge is greatly curtailed by the com- plete governmental control of all communications No foreign newspapers are available to the public except for the Commu- nist Party organs of other countries Soviet citizens, in- cluding students, must have Enioy Husking Bees ‘ and Quilting Parties? Then join the Green Mountain Community Club For men information contact 5. COBB SHIPTON, Head Mountaineer. Ext. 519 special permission in order to check many categories of books and magazines out of the li- brary. “The Iron Curtain is indis- pensible to the continued exist— ence of the regime,” Baron de- SAMUEL BARON clared. “The official picture of the outside world is so far from the truth it cannot stand the light of day.” Soviet citi- zens are free to travel to other Communist countries and fre- quently do so in groups. For the average man, however, traveling to a western country is “about as likely as a trip to the moon,” According to Baron, the So- viet system will change slowly if at all. “If you ask an intelli— gent citizen to explain why his freedoms are restricted, he will > isn't fit to run the Country ' make reply. ‘When you allow diverse opinions, people get confused and this leads to anarchy.’ They can't seem to see \that there may be alternatives inbetween dictatorship and anarchyl" He continued, “When you ask why the mass of people don’t have a voice in government, there is a snobbery in the answer. They say ‘The ordinary working man Among young people he found - cynicism toward the Commu< nist ideals and a desire for per- sonal advancement. He he- lieves this cynicism may lead to a “crisis of faith” in the USSR. At present there is relative economic equality. A Skilled laborer, doctor, teacher all from $80 to $100 per month Although housing, edu- cation and medical care are usually free, food and cloth« ing are extremely expensive in relation to wages. To make ends meet it is the general practice for wives to work. In addition many people confided to Baron, stealing is a wide- spread and accepted practice, Each steals “according to his fashion." This means the fac- tory worker may take home the factory's product with him while the newspaper writer does freelance work on his newspaper time. Baron said the reluctance to make sacrifices for the regime and the desire for individual gain may lead to a greater use of the reward system, but he was reluctant to draw definite conclusions as to where the USSR is headed. 10-9-8 It's not or pop, it's a puff TASTY PASTRY SHOP Page Rm Clark Hall Wins Trophy for Floal The men of Clark have done it again! Steve Chand- ler is shown receiving the first place trophy for their Homecoming float, ”Lawrinse.” The Alumni Trophy is given each year to the hall whom a panel of judges feels has the best idea and the best method of carrying it out Clark has won the trophy for three consecutive years and this year retired it permanently for their hall. NOW OPEN GRINNELL’S NEWEST! COMPLETE LADIES HEADQUARTERS Free Delivery Join Deno's Si 0F PIIZA Free Delivery ent Service Order Your Submarine Sandwich 'Monday or Wednesday Only from EEG'S' PIZZA 6 6334 Free Delivery SAUSAGI IEEI PEPPERONI noon SPECIAL GREEN rlPPil MMSHRDOM SHRIMP ANCHDVY CHEESE. ONION. FUNK Free Delivery