The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 52, No. 23, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 18, 1965 Page: 2 of 8
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The Rice Thresher
SCIENCE
mwm
1 THRESHING-IT-OUT!
John Durham, Acting Editor
Jim Zumwalt, News Editor
Penny Kitchen, Managing Editor
Susan Bridges, Copy Editor
Dowden, Read Rap Protest Timing
"Dc&ccfiCifte: a deefrei UCttete
The letter from President Pitzer (see
p. 3) is welcome not only because it lists
certain avenues of appeal open to Hugh
Rice Kelly, but because it also invites
"proposals for the improvement of poli-
cies with respect to student discipline or
other aspects of student life" and reaf-
firms the freedom of the student press at
Rice.
With one end, then, of effecting neces-
sary and desirable changes in the present
framework of administrative disciplinary
action, it seems imperative that the Uni-
versity take a long and detailed look at
its present administrative-student, rela-
tionships.
We contend that if the University has
a right to concern itself with authority
over student actions, then it has an even
greater responsibility to concern itself
with student welfare and needs—both in-
tellectual and emotional.
The University, it seems, spends entirely
too much time worrying about discipline
and rules, while it neglects the areas in
which it could make a genuine positive
contribution to student life.
It can only be classified as a double
tragedy that official channels of admin-
istrative authority and responsibility in
the areas of serious student problems are
equally as foggy and undelineated as they
are in the field of student discipline. The
University makes, within its carefully
trimmed hedges and its scrupulously
brushed sidewalks, no regularly available
source of guidance and counselling save
that which the student seeks out on his
own from interested faculty members.
The psychiatric services which are now
STUDENT RIGHTS
available to the students, while they un-
doubtedly represent a significant advance
in interest in real student problems, must
still be sought off-campus. In contrast
there any number of groups and individu-
als on campus that are empowered to dis-
cipline a student.
We are gravely concerned that the arbi-
trary and random exercise of discipline on
the part of the University is merely
symptomatic of a deeper disease which
afflicts the University—a disease which
expresses itself in a fetish for clean side-
walks and trimmed hedges, and at the
same time allows dust to collect on the
windows of the rooms of the colleges and
problems to build up in the lives of the
college members JWD
watt
President Pitzer, Jones College, and Dr.
Trenton Wann are all to be congratulated
on Dr. Wann's appointment as Master of
Jones College. From the standpoints of
interest in students, concern for education
in its broadest sense, and a happy refusal
to succumb to the "publish or perish"
syndrome, Dr. Wann exhibits qualities
which we feel would certainly suit a man
for the job of college master.
Being master of one of Rice's residen-
tial colleges is certainly no easy task. But
choosing a man to serve who has the en-
thusiasm and vitality to consistently care
about the welfare and development of the
college and its members is certainly a
step in the right direction.
That step has been taken. JWD
The Right To Make Mistakes
By SUSAN BRIDGES
Thresher Editorial Staff
"Tlie student .unrest evident
nil college campuses today is not
:iall out of proportion to the
social unrest throughout the na-
tion."
This remark by Dr. Fred
Spies, Professor of Law at the
University of Arkansas, set the
tone for a discussion of Social
Issues and Student Rights at
this week's meeting of the
Southwestern Association of
Student Personnel Administra-
tors.
The liberal stand taken by the
panel which included Dr. Spies,
Dr. Val Woodward, Rice Profes-
sor of Biology, and Dr. Ban-
croft Henderson, UH political
science professor, met with
strong opposition from many
members of the audience.
Universities today are sig-
nificantly different than they
were in 1700, explained Dr.
Woodward, but they are still
laboring under rules established
during the colonial era.
'Symbol of Mistrust'
"Rules are a symbol of mis-
trust, established by people to
protect themselves from minor-
ities," said Woodward. "I would
advocate a system of rules
based on mutual trust."
''It is not the changing of
rules which produces anarchy,
but rather the enforcement of a
system of had rules. Bad rules
make lawbreakers of us all."
The speakers all emphasized
the changing nature of the
world today. The average col-
lege freshman today has been
reared in a permissive environ-
ment in which he has had more
freedom and more responsibil-
ities than did any previous gen-
eration.
"Pai-ents expect universities
to impose restrictions which
they would not dare to suggest
when the students are home for
the holidays," charged Spies.
"And university administrators
are too eager to accept these re-
sponsibilities."
Accept Consequences
A second panel of student
leaders questioned how they
could learn responsibility if
they were not allowed to make
mistakes.
Answering a charge that stu-
dents were not willing to accept
the consequences of their ac-
tions, Rice SA President Bill
Timme retorted that university
administrators, by limiting stu-
dent action, do not allow them
to take on responsibility.
"I will defend my right to
make mistakes," said Tom Fow-
ler, Student Body President at
U. of H. "Administration offi-
cials want everything quiet.
Don't rock the boat."
"Where would the world be
today if the great men in his-
tory had been afraid to upset
the status quo?"
The panel of educators also
expressed concern over univer-
sities' preoccupation with order.
Tolerate Activities
"The general university atti-
tude is that any activity by fac-
ulty or students is to be de-
plored," said Spies. "The at-
tempt to suppress such things
as invitation to controversial
speakers compromises the pur-
pose of a university."
Henderson added that the uni-
versity must do more than tol-
erate student activities. "We
must make the university a
comfortable place in which to
rebel."
He quoted Macauley, saying,
"A man who is sometimes free
does not know how to use his
freedom."
Sir:—On Sunday, March 14,
1965, two mass meetings were
held in Houston. Following the
example set by other cities
throughout the nation, a num-
ber of pur citizens met at City
Hall in support of the civil
rights demonstrations in Selma,
Alabama, and conducted a me-
morial service for the Reverend
James Reeb, who was murdered
in Selma last week.
The other meeting was held
by a group of approximately
500 students on the Rice Uni-
versity campus to discuss the
question of disciplinary proba-
tion placed upon Mr. Hugh Rice
Kelly, the Editor of the Rice
Thresher. There could be no
better demonstration of social
immaturity than the scheduling
of the Rice student meeting to
coincide with the event taking
place in front of City Hall.
At a time when citizens of
this and other cities throughout
the United States were demon-
strating against a great injus-
tice in our nation, and Univer-
sity of Houston students were
exhibiting their concern by or-
ganizing a march from their
campus to City Hall, Rice stu-
dents were preoccupied with a
discussion of the disciplinary
probation of one of their class-
mates.
It cannot be argued that the
Sunday afternoon meeting on
the Rice campus was necessary
because of the speed at which
events occurred. If the Rice
student body had shown at the
outset the mature social con-
sciousness which should char-
acterize the action of students,
the time chosen for their cam-
pus meeting would have been
preempted by a well-organized
demonstration on behalf of the
Negroes who are seeking their
voting rights. Thus, the meet-
ing on Sunday afternoon would
of necessity have been held at
another time.
We do not mean to imply that
the Rice students had no right
to meet. Indeed we have signed
a petition requesting that the
discipline imposed be reviewed.
But we deplore the lack of so-
cial insight exhibited on Sunday
afternoon; nothing the students
or their leaders can do or say
now can excuse this demonstra-
tion of social immaturity.
W. S. DOWDEN
English Dept.
CLA&K P. READ
Biology Dept.
Plapp Criticizes
Thresher Headlines
Sir:—As a regular reader of
the Thresher for nearly four-
teen years, I should like to com-
pliment you and your staff on
the extra edition of yesterday.
Although undoubtedly prepared
under rather trying circum-
stances, I think its presentation
of significant facts concerning
the recent turbulence on the
campus was very commendable.
I should like also to add a
suggestion regarding this issue.
Two captions appearing in it
and referring to the same mat-
ter were entitled "Faculty
Petitions President Pitzer for
Reconsideration in Kelly Case"
and "Faculty Backs Freedom
of Press."
The implication of using the
word "faculty" in this manner
is that the entire faculty, or at
least the faculty as an essential-
ly homogeneous group, was in
accord with the petition.
Being a member of the faculty
and not having had the petition
presented to me for considera-
tion, I cannot agree that such
wording of the captions was
appropriate.
A more precise presentation
of the news in the future will be
appreciated by me and, I am
sure, by others who read not
to receive opinions to which
they can lend assent, but rather
to obtain facts upon which they
can base their own conclusions.
JOHN E. PLAPP
Mech. Eng. Dept.
Haag Suggests
Benches On Campus
Sir:—Two things, the Houston
weather, and the general at-
mosphere and feeling of the
Rice campus, seem to me some-
how to be wedded to one an-
other. Beautiful days may be
none-too-common in Houston,
but when they do come they are
gorgeous, and should be en-
joyed by one and all on campus.
How can we do this ? Certain-
ly not by continuing to keep
the campus as it now is, that
is to say, a prestigious kind of
formal garden that almost to-
tally ignores human needs.
What the Rice campus needs
is clear enough. We could all
benefit from park benches;
they would serve to spread hu-
man beings over the landscape.
Park benches are one sign of
a human and humane society,
and one might also note, add to
the pleasure of the various sit-
ters.
If Bernard Baruch has his one
bench, why can't we have a
score of them ? They would cer-
tainly help to combat our com-
mon enemy, that old Fondren
pallor.
JOHN HAAG
History Dept.
Corbin Advocates
Architectural Master Plan
Sir:—Regarding your editorial
on Rice University's campus ar-
chitecture, I agree with your
sentiments. While digging
through the plans of RU the
other day I came across a 53-
year-old termite-eaten, stained,
and ragged linen drawing de-
picting the Rice campus as it
could have been.
If this plan, or merely its vis-
ual concepts, had been adhered
to, Rice could be proud of its
campus today. I personally can
find but three examples of good
architecture on campus, all of
varying types: Lovett Hall, Rice
Stadium, and the Vandegraff
Generator Tower.
As it is, our campus is "beau-
tiful" primarily to 65 year-old
ladies in blue polka-dot dresses
riding tfie sightseeing bus that
visits us daily.
As an architect I can only
plead again that a master plan
be studied and developed for our
campus. Perhaps in 53 more
years these drawings wil also
be torn and ragged, but I would
hope from use, not from ter-
mites.
JEFF CORBIN
Baker '67
THE RICE THRESHER, student newspaper of Rice University is published
weekly (except during holidays ar.d exam periods) by the students
of Rice University, P. O. Box 1892, Houston Texas 77001. Phone
JA 8-4141, ext. 221.
EDITORIAL BOARD: John Durham, Editor; Penny Kitchen, Managing Editor;
Jim Zumwalt, News Editor; Susan Bridges, Copy Editor.
Dr. Walter W. Isle, Faculty Advisor.
BUSINESS STAFF: Mike Carter, Business Manager; Dave Wilhelmsen, Assist-
ant Business Manager; Brandon Jones, Ad Manager; Carolyn Zintgraff,
Special Promotions; Marvin Pung, Circulation.
THE RICE THRESHER, MARCH 18, 1>6 5—P AGE 2
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Durham, John. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 52, No. 23, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 18, 1965, newspaper, March 18, 1965; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth244941/m1/2/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.