Tuesday. October Iil l9“) SCARLET AND BLACK Page Three guidance. in Man for l-ilmseli, Erich romm ouggests that, “Virtue is responsibiity toward his own existence. Evil constitutes the crippling of man‘s powers; vice iii lrresponsihillty toward himself.” challenge of Freedom Students are then faced with the most demanding challenge —- the nnibitious task of improving our total ovlronmont and redefining student positions and actions within it. The freedom gained by a proposal for un- restricted women’s hours would not be an easy freedom. The construction of personal standards is a difficult but creative and worthwhile activity. it will require not only the receptivity of student government leaders and ad- ministration to creative innovations but the commitment of the entire com- munity, particularly the student ele- ment, to the search for the immense potenflal berlele to be found in the de- mands or student responsibility. ) Senate (Continued irom Page i) dependence, we can discover by our« selves new methods to release student energy and creativity. an that is re. quired is a dedication to the idea that students can leach themselves and each other. A commitment to this idea will open new paths to the en. richntent of our student culture through me development of intellec- tual activity outside the classroom. Two specific Iorms which student in- tcllectual activity can take are inde- pendent, interdisciplinary seminars and a voluntary, student organized interim period devoted to independent study. Student seminars can meaningiully ex- plore in a scholarly iasbion subjects that are now ignored by or insuliicienily han- died within the present curriculumr Several students have already suggest- ed a number of imaginative topics on which the interdisciplinary approach could be used. They include the 101- lowing: The effect of the development of science on the role and tone oi religion. Euthanasia. Studies in current non - fiction. Urban studies. The Darw' an Revolution. The genetic control of human life. The effect of language, per se, on the divergent. inteuectual develop- ments between linguistic groups. Birth control. Studies in the problems of moderni- zation of underdeveloped areas This is certainly not exhaustive, but suggests instead the abundance oi possible suba jects around which student seminars can be organized. Overall Perspective interdisciplinary studies not only pro- vide a useful approach to special sub- jects of scholarly concern but also offer a means by which students can gain a sense oi the relationship between their discipline and other disciplines. Con- Sequently, this approach is a step in achieving the liberal arts objective oi giving students an overall perspective on the World. These seminars are most Valuable as a learning exerience ii the major iorcs behind them is Student motivation to gain an understanding oi subjects be- yond those covered in the classroom. At student organized seminars, faculty members would play only a minimal role that would not extend beyond an ad— visory capacity. The demands on the facuily would not exceed the contribu- lion that a member of the iaculiy would wishvm make because oi his or re: scholarly interest in the subject treated by a seminar. Voluntary interim The goals of an enlivened student cul- ture and the creation of an intellectual community would also be served it we students organized a voluntary interim session during, perhaps, the last week oi Christmas vacation. Such a period would allow time for students, who ap- plied for the session, to pursue indepen- dent study and reading. A number at student programs could occur during the period. It would be a valuable time for the organization of independent student seminars for second semester. Special fine arts workshops, a student art show, and small concerts given by Grinnelilans would be worthy and creative activities for the session. Students could present papers, possi- bly irom work done in previous inde- pendent projects, to student discussion groups. Discussions on a significant and controversial hook, assigned (or the in- terim session, would provide an ac- tivity tor all participants. Oii - campus weliare projects in Grinneli or Des Moines could be organized during the interim period. Most importantly, the session would provide a time free of curricular pressures wh en students could actively and creatively contribute to the transformation of the College into a community, Independent seminars and a student organized interim session are but two of several possibilities for student intellectual activities. Scholarly clubs and discussion groups could prolifer- ate on campus. Student soap ~ box debates would be lively outlets for student. ideas. All these activities would improve our student culture and would deepen the intellectual experi- ence involved in a Grinneil education. The success of such activities is con- tingent, however, on the acceptance by students of the challenge implicit in the realization that we can learn on our own and that we can learn, in a cooperative manner, from each other. Declare Independence it we students declared our independ- ence from the established curriculum by developing independent intellectual e deavors, we could indicate to those i voived in the revision of the curriculum the potentialities of allOWlng S t Ll d en t energies freer rein. The positive nature of providing more room in the cur- Ticuium lor greater individual develop ment and innovation in scholarly eliorts could be illustrated by student contribu— tions to the intellectual liie of this col» lege. More specifically, student inter- disctplinary seminars could point to the inclusion in the curriculum of these types of studies. In the weeks ahead, the Academic Life Committee oi the Senate will be exploring innovations that might help change Grinneli irom a college into an intellectual community. The committee Will be concerned with both Curricular revision and intellectual activities aut- slde the classroom. )CofHP (Continued from Page 1) limits. Those limits are to be determined by a necessary consideration and con- cern ior others. But freedom is recipro- cal and also involves respect for the freedom of others. Discussion in the future Should not be- gin with the idea oi 24 hour restriction but with an ideal of Z4 hour (readout of movement. Open dorms should not be conceived as a privilege, but as due and natural. Beginning with an assumption of 24 hour opens or natural, alld that is the assumption made by home-owners and aparimeni dwellers beyond the cam- pus. we must then determine what re- Strictions al'e necessitated by considera- , lion for others. Some limitations are considered neces- sary in our dormitory situation. Weekday evening, which are times oi study for most, can probably be legitimately dis- tinguished tram weekend evenings in which substantial numbers engage in so- cial activiiies. Late evening and morning hours are times when undue traffic in the hallways is most disturbing and in- considerate. Given these conditions it is probably both practical and desirable to set specific limits to the times at which visitors of the opposite sex might roam freely in the residence halls. The follow- ing suggested open rooms policy per- mits reasonable freedom for those who wish to invtte guests to their rooms while yet conceding privacy and sexual seclu- sion to those who desire it. Vi ting privileges: Monday through Thursday — 11 A.M. to 7 PM. Friday through Saturday — 11 AM. i0 11 PM. Sunday ~— 1 RM. to 7 RM. By maintaining the right or individual residence halls to restrict the hours oi visitation further when deemed necessary by a majority of the membership, this appears to be a workable and reason- able open dorms policy. Those whu oppose any change in the open dorms policy should look at the con- siderable benefit that an expanded pro- gram would have both to the indiVldual and the community. Those, on the other hand, who quickly accept any expanded open dorms proposal should be aware of the implications of this proposal for the much wider problem at improvmg the community as a whole. Informal Contact One reason for proposing this exten- sion is to attempt to establish greater informal social contact. Some progress has been made in this area. Forum jam sessions were organized to appeal to a wider range of students than the usual dates-only crowd. This year’s Homecom— ing is iollowing the same principle. Other solutions must be sought in this field. The Creation of this kind of an atmos- phere in which mixed groups oi students may interact on an informal basis will surely have implications beyond the so- cial sphere. It will also benefit the aca- demic environment. The general lack of participation in classroom discussions at Grinneli is appalling, especially when one looks at the favorable student-facul- by ratio. A primary reason for this is that the students are unused to Verbaliz- ing ideas, to reacting to the opinions of others, to discussing matter with adults, and to revealing any port of themselves to others than a very limited Circle of friends. This interchange ol ideas would be re- ilected not only in the classroom but also in the general intellectual tone or the campus. Programs such as inter- disciplinary seminars, voluntary interim sessions, and faculty-student discussion groups would assume real significance. A community oi scholars would become something more than a handbook slogan. Consideration for Others A third contribution that an extension or open dorms would make, outside or the strictly social or intellectual areas, is in creating a better relationship be< tween the sexes. Hopeiuily, under a more liberal policy, the dorms will more closely approximate normal living con- diiions in which one must show Consid— eration for the convenience and privacy of others as well as one’s own inclina- tions. The introduction of both sexes into dormitory living should be reflected in the dress and speech habits of the students and probably in a reduction of prankish behavior. Given the op- portunity to be socially mature, we believe that the students will respond appropriately. The courteous and ap- preciative reception which North Campus gave to a recent serenade irorn South Campus is an indication that the students are capable of such A response. In the past, discussions of open dorms have always gotten bogged down with the sex issue. Lester Kirkendali, writing for the Journal of the Nauonai Associa- tion of Women‘s Deans and Counselors, believes that, "we need to develop an approach in which the focus is on de- velopment of relationships which will enhance a sense of integrity and trust in relationships. Obsession with sex, as the only, or even the major, moral issue, should give way to a concern for the so- cial use of all our capacities.” There are certain things a college can and can’t do. It can’t, even through a highly-structured rules system. im- pose a set of values upon the student. by late adolescence, behavior is most strongly influenced by the peer-group. According to Kirkentlaii, external authority, whether parental oi- institu< tionai, “can, at the most, hamper and inconvenience rather than prevent." Negative Response The negative results or this excessive control can be seen in the attitude of the students. Resentment is built up against an irrational system which cur- taiis individual responsibility and stu- dents adhEl‘e to their personal values even it it means going outside of the system. Eventually, this can only weak- en the community On the other hand, the college can, and should, aid the student in develop~ ing his own sense of personal respon- sibility and integrity and encourage him to relate it to his life outside the classroom. Isn‘t this the real purpose of education? And isn’t this what Grin- nell has failed to do? introspection Needed Finally, lhere must be not only exami- nation, but also introspection. As stu- dents, we should certainly look carelul- ly at college policies concerning opens, hours, off-campus living and resident ad- visors. There is the further obligation, however, to look at ourselves. We mllst recognize the weaknesses in our society and attempt to remedy ihcm. Water fights, spring riots, and certain aspects of our prepping pro- grams fall into this category. Only when we can see a single issue, like open dorms, as a part oi this much larg— er program, only then can we begin a constructive reiormation oi our environ- merit. } Soc‘ l (Continued lrom Page i) Room, King or the Rocket Man, The Blues project, Forum Film Series. The administration must recognize the drain on lhe student activities fee due to buildings and Grounds costs tor con- certs and dances at which the entire College community is invited. In 1965-66 the amount oi money that was paid to E 8: G for [our of these events could have gone toward one major concert, or eight io iiiiecn movies in A R, H. or as many as iorty Forum jam ses- sions. An increase in the activities fee would not be as helpful as eliminating wasteful B a <3 expenditures. There is a great need for more in- lol'mal recreational lacilities and more flexibility in those iacililies already pre» sent. A campus of Grinnell's size should have more than two pool tables and more than two ping pong tables and they should be available for student use more than a few hours each day. Flex tilty Needed The scheduling or weekend events as if every student will attend them one at a time must be eliminated, All students will not attend a Lenox Quartet cun— cert or an A.R.H. film. More competi- tion between events is not necessary—— more flexibility is. Finaiiy Grime" students must lake more initiative in their social life. They must not count on the events of a monthly activities calendar to keep them socially engaged. They must learn to augment it _ build around it — build on ll.