Page Two Letters . . . client Defends Gredit-Fails Blasts Logic of Editorial , To the Editor: The editor last week accused the newly adopted credit-fail pro» posal or being a “half-way” meas- ure and implied that a couiplete pass~fail system would have been preicrable. 1 disagree, There are several cogent objec- tions to a complete passsfail sys tem. For one thing, oi itselt, a complete passsfail system tails to provide a means tor distinguish- ing excellence and makes selfras~ sessment ot performance on the part ot the student diiticult, it not impossible. in sure many Grinnell students would find the complete removal ot all measures of relative achievement to be 0177 iectiooable. in addition, students' grade points are a mayor consid- eration ct employers and gradu- ate schools. To abolish them com- pletely might seriously hamper the chances oi a Grinnell graduate obtaining employment or admis- sion to graduate study according to his or her merits Perhaps someday it will be post lible to eliminate letter grades completely and to replace them with a system of short, individual essays oi evaluation and with let ters or recommendation suiticient- ly influential with graduate schools as to insure our students’ acceptance at merimd places or study. Until the time when such a system can he successfully in- stituted at Grinnell, or at any li eral arts college tor that matter I see no alternative to the reten- tion oi a system of letter grades, at least in part. : However, while i feel that a to» ' tal pass~fail system would be both unicasible and undesirable tor Grinnell now and in the foresee» able future, 1 also believe that there are limitations inherent inl a grading system based complete-f ly on letter grades oi sufficient' import to justify the laculty's‘ adopiion of the limited, voluntary, one course per semester “credit- iail" measure. Within particular courses the stress on grades too otten encourages students to work for the wrong reasons or in tlicl wrong manner. The emphasis is placed on the grade achieved rather than on the knowledgei gained or the intellectual skills‘ developed. The importance at-l taclicd both at (rl'innell and aitcr‘; Grillnell to a single number. lhe‘ cumulative grade point, relleclingi grades in courses that vary cont snlcrahly in signiticancc and in' difficulty, can lend to grave dis es and to the punishment o i intellectually adventurous.‘ This cmpliasis on the cumulati c grade point has frequently led stu: l dents to select courses in whichi they can get the best grades iath- l er than those best suited to tliei educational needs or most satis ‘ ' g to their intellectual curios ll- lsy removing this emphasis oi gra s to a limited extent. the faculty has permitted the studentsi, greater trccdoui or choice in thei NY— selection oi courses. At the same time, by retaining letter grades in part, or entirely if the student so desires, the taculty has provided both the students and themselves with adequate means to gauge the individuals overall academic prog» ms and has insured that Grinnell students will not be illrlrented at the hands of graduate schools and employers. As to the rest at last week's editorial, I shall only comment brietly, though probably more than it deserves. Perhaps some students will let their work slide in their elected pass-fail course. Not a tew let work slide in one or more courses now Still, it the student is properly motivated and has elected to study a subject which intrigues him, 1 see no reason to tear “sloppy, halfrway work.” The average semester workload is well within the capac- ity oi almost all Grinnell students. it the student is insutticiently mo tivatcd, whether he takes a course on a “creditrfail” basis or not will make little ditterence. The logic of the editorial as a whole appears to me to be inju- dicious as well as unsound. The rather peculiar position taken by the editor was hardly calculated to cioate the impression ot a ma. ture student body among an al- ready skeptical taculty and admin» istration. steve Kent Music Lover Chides Exuberant Cheers To the Editor: Gl'innell has had the great tor- tunc to enioy some oi the best musical talent in the world, not simply in the classical field but in rag: and folk music as well. Through this process as well as by more common mediums ire» curds. radio and TV) many Grill» nellians have developed a tine sense of Judgment and appreclat tion or musical talent. crinncll is developing this type oi reputation outside the campus. with this in mind, it is interesting to note that we would continue to mitigate this by the plcbcian prac- tice or giving evci-y visiting artist a standing ovation, one or the highest tributes We have Witt ncsscd some excellent pertornr ances, some iustitiably rating the standing ovation. Let us make this s n oi appreciation something that ting artists will strive to altzun. Hank Ralilmv SCARLET AND BLACK Friday. January 28. I956 Kirsehner Reveals Disenclmntment Wit/l Facts of Grinnell Existence To the Editor: Over in past tew years i have become v y adept at browsing through college catalogs and try- ing to siphon out those institu— tions at which i would he hap» piest in this, my treshman, year. Among the many bulletins and handbooks i read was one in par ticular which i would like to quote at some length, because it embodies everything i always droamcd of in a college: “The policy at [this college] is to impose as tew rules as possible. Our students are considered to be responsible adults and are treated in this manner. “The college will interfere as little as possible in the personal lives ot students, but all members at the college community are ex. pected to maintain its excellent reputation, civic as well as acar demic. both on and oi: the caur pus." "ltesidcnce of students in col» logo is needed to create a sense of community to emancipate litu~ dents irorn adolescent interests, to free them iroin prejudices. to foster independence, and to pro vidc new experiences. persper tives, and aspirations." “In such an [independent] at- mosphere all members oi the com- munity have the opportunityiand the responsibility * to test the merit of ideas in the light oi ll'uth. assured of I'Especi for their honest inquiry irom all other members of the community." I went on to read the objective: at the college: _ "[This college] exists tor the purpose oi shaping the character oi each ot its students 7 to make each student a ditiorent and a better human being.” ~ Does anyone recognize this haven of intellectual and personal liberty? I don't blame you, fellow Pioneers, but I would like to point out that the aforementioned se- lections come from the Grinnell College Bulletin, and the Student Handbook, 196566. The atmosphere that pervades this campus is one oi general dis~ trust by the administration toward the students. The only reason this attitude is allowed, possibly even encouraged, to exist is that the corresponding attitude of the slur dents here is one of extreme apathy. is it that Grinnellions would rather switch than iight » that is, stibiugate their personal goals to the apparently over-rid ing authority ot the administra» tion — or is it that the college's “excellent reputation, civic as well as academic” attracts a cer— tain caliber oi person __ perhaps a superior student. but a medi» one individual? However, all is not lost, it only the administra- tion would assume that perhaps the student is not too far gone ior salvation and that it is the admin» isirction's duty to take the tirst steps Onl- College rorum was recent- ly cited in two magazines as a landmark in the correlation be» tween architectural design and iunction. In College and Univer~ sity business, Merritt c. Ludwig, Vice-Fresidem ot Grinnell, stressed that the design is condu- cive to iniormal activity. Mr. Lud< wig wrote, .. . a prime consid- eration in design was to achieve a place that would be especially hospitable to good conversa- tion . . I have not as yet found any areas for “good conversation" in the Forum. The television room (labeled “Parlor“ on the iloor plan) permits of no “good conv versation" and is obviously used tor what its colloquial name sug gests, it it can be heard at all above the din oi the adiaccnt juke box. Skipping the Grill for the mo- ment. we tind ourselves in the South Lounge. It looks harmless enough: grand piano, comiortable. looking chairs and hassccks, and a plush carpet _ all conducive to intoimal talk and relaxation. But. Heaven help the misguided soul who thinks that the piano is there to be played, or that the loungesefleet is to encourage con. versation. because anyone who talks above a whisper or so much as plays an arpeggio is booed out by the people who have taken over the South Lounge as a study center. Oddly enough, it is in the Music Listening hoom that one may talk in peace, where everyone is on livious ot respect tor the _music and for the people attempting to inltill the supposed tunotion of the room. Beethoven would prob. ably do more than roll over in his grave it he thought that he had written music to talk by. . Getting back to the Griu, it is the area that comes closest to ful- tilling the great need at this col» lege tor a place to gather and talk, but even it is far trom per. leot. My idea 01 a place to relax and meet with my ii-iends is not a restaurant. sutticc it to say. Walter A. Netsch, Jr., partner. incharge oi desi n for the Forum, states in Progressive Architecture: "It [the predominance. of bay~ window construcu'onl is a noun KIRSCHNE R— tContiaued on Page 7) North Campus To the Editor: Sue Taylor’s article, “Leggett Talks About Hall System , . iii the January 21 issue of 8&3 is evidence of the continued serious thought being given the “North Campus Problem” by President Leggett and others. The residence hall system, says Dr. Leggett, "ought to be flexible enough to provide for various kinds of slu~ dents " Agreed. However. it seems that by the time any male reaches senior status he has iallen into one of two “distinct kinds," those "seriously interested in prepar- iiig tor graduate school and those who are devoted to the residence hall system " I can’t tail to be just a little skeptical, (i know a few seniors ntysell). If what Din Leggctt says is actually so, it must surely be a sociological discovery of para» Oversimplified mount magnitude. 1 would never have guessed that Gl'ilmell seniors could be so simply explained. OI cnul‘se. such a tidy diagnosis 01' [he problem, leads us to the selfsevitlent tidy solution. We need only put all those seniors, “seriously preparing tor graduate, school” in one hall. and those “who are devoted to the residence hall system” ln another. I would recommend the following criteria, to those junlors who are unsure as to which residence to request: ' Grade points of 3.5 or better—— grad school group. Grade points at 25 or loss 7 devoted group. Others 7 have you considered: the iourth ycar abroad program? (You're not really a Grillncll type. you know!) Craig w. Allin PHOTO CREDITS snow Quocn Dullmlls. suivgis sitireis iioniurnc Pdr- Scarlet a GRINNELl on low- a wccxly u . Hue year by n nuns ‘icv'uxelltctl tor national advertising by \‘atimial Ad. xcrtismg Service inc, Course l’ilbllsllars no is cost outh reci. lit, N s MANAtrEK on is EDITOR , lAM‘il’. EDITOR UllLl- or LlllL’ALrD nu Assistant CIRCULATION MANAG ADVLRHSING sairsaianl l‘ilDlOGkAl‘HERS n EI'OII‘I [MS may pcanu x. New ank 22, but Srcond class nuslv are paid at 5-month town school veil trod said subscriptions. Alan AxL-Irud, suc haurner. hick c -niv uni hownev. Ann harm. Mary Mlalu) one romcrancr, hclahimi nice. Jill": w nd Black COLLEG! » iiuhiishrd each i- lay or die col- on (minimum. on , ttdrni laubtica soniaiive, subscription "rile isttc ncr nob llodieroe lenla boson sieve Casey haul HfildlLy . silo l‘ll'lm w. Chandler alonimau or Will . . Mike imler Scott vanish, .hin st his hlttrllin Bt- Art Has No Meaning: Dagan — Dagan Must 60' Monmouth Monmouth's art department has removed an art exhibit by Ed- wardo hogan otter an interview with him was published in the Col» lege paper. Oil his views towards art Dagnl’l Snid, “Art has no meaning. it is nothing. Artists go to school and learn what to paint li-oin others .; the only person who was aliglnal was the iirsi one who thought of art. We like cei'c tain paintings because we've been told to like them.” He also thought that the pleasure from a painting is derived [min its creation, “When I add a COlUl‘ to [he canvas 1 do it spontaneously because I tcel that the color is right in relation to the other colors. The pleasure comcs not born looking at the painting utter it's tinished. but from the act 0' creating the pal!"- ing." As to his attitude to hie in general Dagan said, “We should run naked through lite. when they (the sexes) would be ready to move ahead to a more reiiiied consideration. . a homosexual re. lationshlp." occause or these and other views held by Dagan the Monmouth art department removed his dis» play on the grounds that its view 01 art contlicted with Dagan's. The Draft The Amheist student paper has put out an issue pertaining to the chair and its eilect upon their sin- EXCHANGE— (Contiuued on Page 5) Seniors In Two Camps? 5To the Editor: We were pleased to read in the last issue of the such that next year (when we become seniors) no will be “seriously preparing tor graduate school" or “devoted to the residence hall bystem." HOW interesting! Chuck Mischke - Boll Rohnelt Jones Letter Asks Intelligent Question To the Editor: Questions: What is the dittercnce. ii any, between intellectualism and intel- llgencc? is it more important to be mere- ly intellectual or to be intelligent— ly intellectual or is there any dll» lerence? Detine “intellectual," Now, (lee tine “anti-intellectual”. Should the iacnlty or adminis tration have any part in making as intellectual and/or intelligent? who should take the initiative? is it really a North or South campus problem or a colmllunily problem? raul IL .loiieii Students SeekingsSilenn Face Plight, Says Letter To the Editor: I submit th limerick to you in hopes that it will be published in the Scarlet & mack. Its explana- tion should be self-evident, on Where Are the "Sounds ot Silence‘lv There once was a rugitive iron. West in s arch of a quiet studying “nest". Taking a companion's advice That the library would suitice, He soon could reply: "Surely you jest!" Erik Rasmussen