Page Two Editoral . . . ’— Siimulu-s for Creativity- There is some radical thinking going on in our midst. The Faculty Committee on Educational Policy and Curriculum dares this community to challenge its very foundations. The Committee is saying that we must be concerned with "the inability of the liberal arts college to come to terms with the contemporary world." The Committee asks whether the academic environment at Grinnell — pspecially present course requirements — produces an adverse "disciplinary introversion.” To this we respond with an unqualified yes, and hasten to add —— it is stifling. For instance, how many exceptionally native people can Grin- nell credit to its name. We knew one a few years ago who went on to a top position in an experimental branch of the communications field, but then he never graduated from Grinnell; he "dropped out.” Originators at Grinnell — people with minds of their own who go far independently — often do not succeed at Grinnell. The narrow academic rigors force conformity. (It is interesting how, at Grinnell. everyone looks, thinks and acts pretty much the same.) The situation of student publications on campus is a case in point. Those students motivated to contribute to the yearbook, to Nous or to the 5&5 do so outside the system of acceptable credits for graduation; thus, often at the expense of their college career. The problem has wider ramifications to the college as a Whole. Publications suffer in quality, few students elect to work on them: they easily die out. Where does the student at Grinnell find support for creative energies? The art department offers no independent credit for non- majors. Grinnell's English department used to offer writing sem- inars in many literary forms; it does so no longer. We think Grinnell‘s theater department is an exception, though, and indi- cates a good trend for the rest of the campus to follow. Right now one student is developing her ability at film-making under the auspices of this department. Grinnell needs to encourage the special abilities of more stu- dents. Extracurricular activities (Le. student government work), like any valuable learning process, also deserve credit. A commu- nication arts department ~ including offerings in broadcasting, photography and creative writing — should possibly replace the present Englishrjournalism discipline. Further, the limitations on independent credit should be dropped. independent study, being the only study which will continue beyond our college years, act- uaily deserves priority in our academic program. Grinnell should be in the business of producing vital people. if it is, its students will be immersed in the process of creative personal development and Will be capable “of coming to terms with the contemporary world." —K. . ______4 Allin Endorsed — A student government president’s perspective must be broad, his judgment sophisticated. he must be capable of commanding respect. We feel SGA candidate Craig Allin is well in tune with student aims, best fulfills the criteria for mature leadership, and )5 prepared to carry on progressive and constructive government. Cybernaiion Weekend A symposium on “Cybernae iiun — Technology and Society” is scheduled for the second Grinnell Weekend Thursday-Sat- urday, Feb. 2325. Cybemation is a new field of study concerned with the inter action between automation and computers. The name is derived from cybemetics, a study of the processes of communication and control in man and machines. Thursday and “The Computer as Thinker — Some Funda- mental Notions and Problems and a Prediction” at 2 pm. Friday. A philosopher, mathematician, and political historian in addi- tion to being an accomplished musician, or. Bauer-Mengelberg has been associated with New York University, Hunter Col- lege, Harvard University. C0- lumbia University, Sarah Law- SCARLH AND BLACK Friday. February ’7. I“! An introduction to the Modern Revolution Cybernatioii: Topic of Broad Scone By Arnold Adelberg (Mathematics) in light of the forthcoming Cybernetion Week— end, it seems relevant to consider some of the terms used and look at a few publications that examine the subject from different vantage points. “Cybernetics" is a word coined by the mathe- matician Norbert Wiener (in a book of the same name published in 1948) to denote the science of control and communication processes in both ani- mals and machines. it is derived from the Greek word for “steersman.” Cybernetics underlies all systematic analyses of automation and com- puters. The field deals with Such diverse sys- tems as nerve networks in animals, electronic computing machines, servo systems for automatic control of machinery and other information proc- essing systems. It overlaps the fields of neuro« physiology. computing machines, information theory and automation, and seeks to find common features for these. Just as the 15th century is commonly identi- fied with the Industrial Revolution, in which men harnessed machines to replace a considerable amount of hand labor, the 20th century is often called the time of Cybernetic Revolution. it is also known as the second industrial Revolution and is characterized by the use of machines to control other machines. The burgeoning technol- ogy of electronics has been instrumental to these developments, and in particular, the electronic computer has been an lndispensible aid. The high degree of automation of many in. dustries and the increasing automation of others is apparent, as is the utilization of computers in scientific research. In fact, as Daniel Bell, pro< lessor of sociology at Columbia University, points out in his book The Reforming of General Educas tion, “The use of these new ‘intellectual technol- ogies’ gives mathematics as a subject — and the computer as a tool — an essential role in re- search (in the social sciences as well as the name Ial sciences) and a crucial place in the curricu- lum. . r 4 All future work in social science will require a high degree of mathematical training and sophistication.” A good introduction to the impact oi Cybernet- ics on society, present and ruture, is a pamphlet prepared for the Center for die Study of Demo~ cratic Institutions entitled Cybemaiion: The Si~ lent Conquest, by Donald N, Michael it is here that the term “cybernalion” was invented. This refers both to automation and Computers, the former consisting of devices that automatically perlorm sensing and motor tasks; the second, of devices that perform routine or complex logical and decisionmaking tasks with great speed. Cy- bernetics is more commonly used to cover the entire fieldI and in fact, the distinction between the classes of devices disappears at the many points where they converge, The pamphlet explores the effects of Cyberna- tion on “Employment and Unemployment," ‘ d— ditional Leisure,” “Decisions and Public Op - ion." lt Studies methods to control Cybemation, which apparently creates as many problems til it solves. it is far from optimistic about the ef- fects of the eventual and lneluctable Cybernetic takeover. information is a paperback consisting of articles from the September, 1966 issue of the Scientific American devoted to the subject of in formation theory. The book covers computer log- ic, memory, input and output; systems analyses and programming it discusses the use of com- puters in science, technology, organization and education. There are also chapters on "informa- tion Storage and Retrieval,” and on “Artificial lu- telligence." A bibliography is provided for more detailed study of each area. The Scientific American book is far more san- guine about the effects of the new technology than the Cybernation pamphlet. it is not concerned with such problems as unemployment. or the cre- ation of a new technological elite, but rather with the manifold possibilities of electronic information processing. Among the most striking is the possi- bility of computers available to the general pub lie at all times through telephone link-ups, pro- viding instantaneous information and data proo- essing. Another possibility is the utilization of com- puters in education. Thus, in an experimental pro- gram at a California elementary school. an lBM l500 computer is being used to teach mathematics to first-graders. The point here is not one of eo- richment, but rather of providing the student with individual attention and a carefully controlled Way for him to proceed at the pace best suited to his needs. The results are remarkable, but of course at this stage of development, formidably expen- sive. (See the article “The Computer as Tutor” in the Jan. 27 issue of Life Magazine.) Furthermore, it seems clear that computers will not only be a valuable tool in science, management, etc, but will in many respects alter nur approaches to these areas, as they redetermine what is possible and what is not. Finally, we have the intriguing possibilities of the computer “selfreducation.” Basically the in- formation processing done by electronic com- puters consists of three operations — input by which data is lead into the machine, internal processing of the data, and output. These opera- tions are of course not independent because the kind of data processing that is dune and the out- put are determined by the input. 0n the other hand, there is a kind of feedback or self»correct- ing feature whereby the computer — deciding on a course of action # can refer to its oWn enors mous memory plus the data available to it at any given instant. This memory feature enables it to learn from its past experience. it is conceivable that the properly programmed computer will not only perform the tasks assigned to it by its pro- grammer, but also consider and solve problems not envisioned by him. The intent of this article has been to give some indication of the scope of Cybernetics. *The pur- pose of the coming Weekend is to provide an op- portunity to learn more about the subject. by the powers that be; in this bring almost instantaneous, it: The symposium will be head— lined by Dr. Stefan Bauer-Men- gelberg, president of Marines College of Music in New York City, and Dr. Emmanuel G. Mesthene, executive director of the Harvard University Pity gram on Technology and So- ciety. Each will deliver two lec- tures in Herrick chapeL Dr. Bauer - Mengelberg will discuss Technology and the De- velopment of Musical Culture in the United States" at a pro. Scarlet and Blue rence College, and International Business Machines Corporation. Dr. Mesthene will lecture on "Man and His Tools — l” at it pm Friday and "Man and His Tools —— H" at 10 BJIL Sat- urday. A member of the Harvard faculty since 1964. Dr. Mesthene was previously associated with the Rand Corporation and Ban- tam Books, Inc. He has also been a faculty member at Adel- phi College. oniNNm COLLEGE Grim-ell. lowu A weekly newspaper published Friday of the collego year by (Erin- nell Committee on Student Publications. Represented tor national adver- Using by NJtiona| Advei‘tlslus Service, inc., Collage Publishers chre- sentuttve, Ill East 5pm Street, New voik, 22, my. Second class postage paid at Gr subscriptio l ASSOCIATE rolroa , icii, lows. subscription rate $5.00 per school yeiir. lsoo paid _ Krys|ynl Neuriiin Susan Will Summit» crihcr Letters . . . Mariiucinu To The Editor: The college community should attend very closely to the deans commentary on the punitive consequences of mrrb juana usage. As someone who has gone through the agony of being arrested and charged with felonious possession of marijuana, i can say trom ex. perience that apprehension is not only expensive and un- pleasant, but also leads to pro. found emotional problems of a personal nature. The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 which led to my unpleas- ant experience with the law was the result of misinforma- iicn, vested interests, and hasty judgment by the powers that were. 1 feel an obligation to publicly correct the dissemiiia~ tions or inaccurate inforinalion instance, the Deans’ Commit— tee. item ' . . as even many habitual users will agree, marijuana has no therapeutic value for those who suffer from depressions or anxieties . , The professional litera ture has reported marijuana to be or substantial therapeutic value not only in the treat merit of neurotic depression (1, a), but also or anxiety states, reactive and hysterical depressions, obsessional tits- orders, (a) anorexia (1,2), nl~ coholic and drug withdrawal conditions, and dysphcria (1,4). The works from which these references are drawn are rcpr utable and extensively ref- erenced. item 2: i . Dependency with the use of mariiuaiia comes about when one is led, perhaps while under its efa facts, to use a more dangerous drug (herein, for example. can revocable dependency) . . . Regardless or the ambiguity ct this statement, there is an ex- tremely large amount or evi- dence which indicates that marijuana usage is not addict ing (1, 2, a, 4, 5, 7), and does not tend to lead to the usage of dangerous drugs which are themselves addicting (1, 5, 6, 7); only a few of these sources are tootnuted. it should be noted that when such infre- quent progressions occur, they usually take place in lower so- cioeconomic strata, where in- dividuals obtain mariiunna from criminal elcinents who al- so scll addicting drugs and who stand to profit from cre~ ating addicts (a); legalization of marijuana would inlitimlle this phenomenon Tile deans are to be com» mended for their attempt to present reasonable informi- (See LETTER on Page 3)