Friday. October ll. ma SCARLET AND BLACK FORUM APPRAISAL SHOWS GOOD THAN BAD IT MORE By JONATHAN JENKINS The College Forum, Grin- nell's social and recreational center. was designed by the architects Skidmore, Owings. and Merril of Chicago. A two level building. the dimensions are 210 feet by 70 feet. Con- struction was begun in the spring of 1963 and was com- pleted late in 1964, The total cost of the project was soroboo It was financed entirely trim the Ford Foundation Matching Fund of 1961494. According to the folder handed out in mailboxes earlier in the semester. the Forum “exists to provide services and facilities which help to fulfill the needs of the campus com- munity. lt . . . serves as a so- cial, Cultural. and recreational center for all students. faculty. stall. and guests of the college.” It also serves. one hopes. as a place where students can con- verse. not only with themselves. but also with the laculty. But how well does it actually serve these purposes? Several students told me that they believed that the Forum was a good place to meet people and that they had Cyclone Photo An eastern view from the college Forum. eral bridge players expressed the hope that part of it might be used as a card room. be- cause the noise of the jukebox in the nearby North Lounge alien disturbed bridge players in present card room. I was unable to determine Whether pool players. located in the same room. are also disturbed. The Grill is undoubtedly one The Coffee house whlch separates the Grill and the South Lounge. learned something train the people they had met. one said that he believed that the Forum was “not bad” as a meeting place but expressed the wish that more faculty members would Come. One at my iricnds, who has become somewhat of a permanenL fixture of the Forum. said. in the Grill, that “the faculty segregate them- selves at lunch.” Is it possible that students tend to segregate themselves, too? One person who was inter- viewed said that the South Lounge, although originally in tended for conversation among students. was used for study- ing with or without necking. The South Lounge does serve. however. as a place for read- ing. studying, watching T.v., as well as for coffee hours. 'receptions, lectures, and the like. Unless there is a special occasion during the day. stu- dents seem to use it mainly at night; Several people expressed their - disappointment at the ’faiJure of the coffee house. Sev- ot the most popular areas in the Forum. The people with whom i talked were in agree ment that the food served there was good. The pool room is used continually during the day. The North Lounge clearly is also successful as a place for informal recreation and parties. The music room, near ‘ ettes, the South Lounge. according to the people who work at the Forum desk, is used rather sporadically. The private din- ing rooms. on the lower level of the building. which may be used by groups of students. fac- ulty, or staff, for either social or organizational events, are quite popular, and several groups usually make use of them every day. The kitchen- adjoining the dining rooms are also quite popular. according to the Forum direc- tor. Mrs. Hawk. The rooms which are set aside for study- ing are, however, not used too frequently Although not all persons in- terviewed agreed that the For- ilm always served its purpose as a place where students could converse with themselves [or faculty members. it seems evi- dent that most people agreed that it is successful as a social and recreational center for the Campus. While many agreed that it otters a good change of pace, some felt that it was also an excuse to avoid studying. One student, who must remain unnamed. for obvious reasons, said that although it was “not as good as an l-V.” he liked it. Another stated: “It's more use- lul than the reception center.” 0n the whole, it appears that after almost four years of oper- ation. the Forum is quite slic- cessflll and that it is One of the most intensively used buildings on campus. Several’lmdents. play pool In the Genie Page Thirteen Viewpoint Home Rule: Freedom or Anarchy By SUSAN KAESER Recent events have once again made the question of rules in the residence halls of concern to the college community. The iu< elliciency, undesirability, and irrelevance ot the present nlle struc- , ture has been voiced by many factions of the community. faculty and administration. and has led to,the proposal of an alternative structure. home rule. However. in considering this Viable alterna- tive many students are not aware of the concept involved, and are unable to accept home rule as a possible structure The problem seems to stem from the traditional nation or rules. Previously, administrative policy has provided a set at preventative rules as guidelines to limit student behavior. The regi- ulations on hours, student use of the lounges and residence halls have defined what the student cannot do. The student is expected to cflmply and follow the authority. The idea of home rule is frightening to many because it doesn't tell the student what he cannot do. Horne rule to many is under- stood as being anarchy and rampant “freedom." Without pre- ventive rules, [here is tear of law and order being thrown out the window. if authority is removed and is not making rules, there is no rule. This is a gross misconception of home rule. Home rule can be a viable structure if those exercising it realize its meaning. Home rule is a positive form of rules. lt is not a denial of rules or of a rule. but a posing of positive “do’s” to replace the traditional “cannot” form ol rule. The arbitrary authority set up for the student to follow is replaced by students’ thinking about their actions. The present rule system only gives the student n choice of breaking or not breaking a rule. He is not considering his actions beyond the fact of a rule violation. Home rule demands of the student 3 consideration of the actual implications of his actions as they atlect others as well as himself. The granting of home rule is a recognition and challenge to the student not in his ability to lollow authority, but to develop his own decision making ability. it is not a safeguard against some undesirable action, but a stimulant to positive action. It is not rulelessness, bllt a freedom with responsibility beyond oneself. This greater awareness and this desire to develop as thinking in- dividuals is the ultimate demand of home rule Educators and students in a liberal arts institution should see this as being Very consistent with their educational aspirations and should willingly accept the challenge or home rule. Grinneil Resident, College Students Support Uncle Sam Club for Kids Noisy and restless bands ol children tear around Uncle Sam’s Club every weekday att- emoon and a few nights during the week. Uncle Sam's Club is a town-sponsored club run by an adult advisor and manager. Mrs. Robert ThomaZin. and some 25 Grinnell College stu- dents. A 15 member board of towns people, oversees the use or United Fund money for the club. Most at the grade school. jun ior high. and high school kids are from the south side of town, where the club is lo- cated. Many oi the town's low- er-income families li\e in [his neighborhood. Mrs. Thomazin has super- vised the club for 17 years. and says that Uncle Sam's has “done a lot for the cummua nity." Both she and William Shaul. a college senior and stir dent director oi the club. main tain that Uncle Sam’s exists mainly for lhe children lo “let on steam” alter school. No pro fnnity, drinking, or lighting is permitted in the clubhouse, says Mrs. Thomazin. who sees one of her duties as teaching the children “right and Wrong.” Many youngsters go to her with problems they cannot dis cuss elsewhere. she says. and explains that she “loves every one at tile children. dirty or clean." ‘ William Shaul Calls the pro gram “unstructured" and be- ‘lieves that Uncle Sam’s Club is most important asa gathering place (or students who have nothing else to do atter school. The grade school group, which meets every afternoon alter school. often has “crafts," The junior high and high school groups meet at night to wrestle, play basketball. and engage in other Sports. Attempts have been made to merge Uncle Sam's Club with the Youth Club, which meets in the Community Center. Mrs. Thomazin considers the plans to merge an attempt to close down club. One lamily whose children have gone to Uncle Sam’s Club told the 58:]! that any move to join the two clubs would be “ter- rlble.” Mrs. Thdmaziu's work with the children, both parents said. is “wonderful.” and that her charts are sulllcient to keep the club running. Parental support is lacking. shy volunteers. Letters were sent last year to parents invit- ing thcm to express opinions about Uncle Sam’s. Of the I75 families who received letters. one mother came to one of the evening discussions set up by the college students. Several c o l l e ge volunteers have complained that they are “baby sitting" at club sessions which they Consider ”useless." Lack ol money for supplies and the unwillingness of the super- visor to approve some proiects have discouraged attempts to try new ideas, says one student Volunteer. . ‘Shaul plans to hold meetings once a month to discuss prob- _lems'the volunteers have Elk countered. .