The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 2, 1971 Page: 13 of 14
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Herschel enjoyed the exhibit, maybe you would have too
I
By SUSIE BIELSTEIN
Herschel, a rather smallish
seven year old whose mind I
have attempted to thoroughly
pervert, lived down the street
from me this summer in a state
of perpetual neglect. His par-
ents were always visiting rela-
tives in Wisconsin, and his baby-
sitter was a sherry-chugging
old frump who hated kids.
Therefore, since I did not be-
lieve in cruelty to children or
any other damp-nosed creature,
I spent most of my vacation
dragging Herschel around
Houston.
One Sunday afternoon, we
were cruising around town in
my neat little car, desperately
hoping that some excitement
would aatch up with us. To my
disappointment, I found myself
suddenly driving thi-ough ivy-
c-overed gates of Rice Univer-
sity. We puttered around for a
few minutes, then decided to
leave one state of boredom for
the refuge of another. We were
driving toward the University
Blvd. exit, when, to our horror,
a monstrous jack (as in the
kiddy game that is) loomed up
before us. We hopped out of
the car to examine it and found
that it was quite harmless; we
also discovered that it was part
of an exhibit at the Rice Mu-
seum, "For Children Only."
Having nothing else to do, we
hurried inside for a quick look.
We ended up spending the en-
tire afternoon there.
On the left, as we went in,
were nice little windows that I
had to' climb up a ladder to see
through. On the other side of
the glass were small treasures:
Indian figurines, African war
mask, religious paintings, etc.
Further on was a large maze
through which I chased Hers-
chel and, instead, ended up
tripping over a human shaped The Exhibit consisted of stimulate his aesthetic sensitiv-
bird cage and running into sun-
dry sketches and statues. On
emerging from the maee, I
looked around to find Herschel;
J found him feverishly dressing
himself in a woman's dress and
watching himself in a closed-
circuit tv. Tasting triumph in
this blatant display of perver-
sion, I rushed forward victoi*-
iously, only to have my sus-
picions dashed by a chubby
housewife watching her daugh-
ter engaged in the same activ-
ity. "It gives them a chance for
creative self-expression, you
know," she said pleasantly.
I looked around for some
more adventure and soon found
it: a giant bean-bag. Calling
to Herschel, I ripped my shoes
off and threw myself on it, only .
to land on two very nervous
three-year-olds. I apologized to
them while continuing my
romp.
many more activities, includ-
ing a huge sand box, block
printing, a kids' library, and a
do-it-yourself studio, in which
kids wei;e drawing pictures,
eating paste, etc.
Scattered throughout the ex-
hibit were several choice works
by such artists as William
Copley, Saul Steinberg and
Renee Magritte. These were
subtly displayed among the
various activities.
For Children Only accom-
plished its purpose with a sub-
stantial measure of success;
that is, it isolated the child
from the harsh realities of the
outside world, and placed him
in an environment that would
ity. It gave him a chance to be
creative, and, at the same time,
to be exposed to the fresh
creations of others, whether the
artist was a small brat or a
master, such as Calder.
I believe that the parents and
older chaperones were a bit un-
comfortable in this environment.
The exhibit created a feeling
of wistful nostalgia and a sub-
tle desire to return to the sim-
plistic innocence of childhood.
At one point, I was busily pour-
ing- sand out of my shoes when
one middle-aged woman walked
up to me, and, after a little
patter, remarked, "You know,
I'm really glad 1 came. This
exhibit makes me very sad in
a sort oT happy way."
Hackerman on fees, speakers
i«
In an interview last week,
Dr. Norman Hackerman con-
firmed that President Nixon's
wage-price freeze will not roll
back the $300 per year tuition
increase which went into effect
this year. "One of the things I
wanted was to hold this year's
tuition without change," lie
said, but the $1800 to $2100
jump was apparently budgeted
several years ago.
Faculty and staff raises are
similarly immune, as they went
into effect at the beginning of
the fiscal year, July 1, before
the freeze was instituted.
Also discussed was the state-
* ment formulated this summer
concerning use of university fa-
cilities and scheduling of events
on campus by on- and off-cam-
pus students, faculty, and staff.
"The policy has some com-
plications in terms of proce-
dure," said Hackerman, "but the
basic policy is that if the fa-
cility is available and it's clear
that there is no safety problem,
then the speaker is welcome.
"I would be pretty upset if we
got all one kind (of speakers),
or all of another — T would
•prefer that we had a spectrum."
Reading- from the four-page
Get started now
Students who are interested
in applying for Rhodes, Wat-
son, Marshall, or Fulbright
grants for study abroad are ad-
vised to contact Dr. John E.
Parish, 104 Lovett Hall, as soon
as possible. The deadline for
filing the rather vast applica-
tions which are required is
Monday, October 11.
The Rhodes Scholarship is
awarded for two and occasion-
ally three years' study at Ox-
ford University in England and
is open to unmarried male
United States citizens between
the ages of eighteen and twen-
ty-four.
The Marshall Scholarships
were established in Britain in
1953 for young American citi-
zens as a national gesture of
thanks to the United States for
Marshall Aid.
* The Watson Fellowship gives
students with unusual promise
in virtually any field the
chance for an initial year of
study abroad.
Foreign and US government
grants under the Fulbright-
Hays Act, are offered through
the Fulbright Program.
Dr. Parish urges interested
c juniors and seniors to initiate
the application process imme-
diately.
document, Hackerman said, "I
think the key to the thing is
this:
'Rice University encourages
the orderly use of its facili-
ties by its students, faculty,
staff, and organizations to
further the educational proc-
ess. The use of university fa-
cilities is limited primarily
by the necessity to accommo-
date the needs of the uni-
versity and to insure its
safety and that of its mem-
bers.'
"That rally could have said
also 'the safety of the speaker',"
continued Hackerman. "I can
recall an occasion in Austin
when we were concerned about
the safety of the speaker.
"Last year I guess it didn't
ever really become a problem
anywhere, or at least it wasn't
noticeable. But the year before
it was very noticeable.
"T don't really believe that
hearing what a man has to say
can do any harm if the people
who listen minimize their emo-
tions and listen with as much of
their thought processes as pos-
sible. In fact, I believe that ir-
rational statements made by
persons who have causes often
tend to immunize those who
hear them, if, as I say, the lis-
teners are reasonably rational.
"Take the case of Converse
(head of the Texas United
Klans of America), who might
have been a source of irritation
to some of the people on cam-
pus. As I recall, there was a
certain amount of debate or
at least discussion. There were
no boiling over emotions. J
kind of doubt that he convinced
anyone to his point of view.
"On the other hand, take the
case of (Yale chaplain William
Sloane) Coffin who also prob-
ably didn't convert anybody,
but clearly titillated a large con-
tingent of the Rice family. His,
by the way, was a .very emo-
tional speech —- almost a hell-
fire and damnation preach-
ment. I had a great time lis-
tening to the iellow.
"Former attorney general
Ramsey Clark's was a much
more rational approach — he
made a few calls on the emo-
tions. — He may have con-
vinced a few people toward his
point of view, but he probably
also unconvinced a few . . .
"But that's what the univer-
sity ought to be able to do. The
community ought to be able to
listen to these various points
of view and make up its own
mind. I don't think many peo-
ple are swayed by any one of
them, but the opportunity to
hear them and to be convinced
is the important thing.
The churches
are full of
hypocrites"
— and iiars, cheats, and gossips. Jesus
said, "Those who are well have no need
of a physician, but those who are sick."
If you're less than perfect, visit in church
next Sunday.
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST 9:30 A.M.
$he University Group
SOUTH MAIN BAPTIST CHURCH
4100 South Main (Across from Sear's) 622-6444
UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND INTERNATIONALS.
SPECIAL SALE 0S BAYS ONLY
SALE—$27.50
Largest Display of Frames in Houston
Sizes
Jumbo
King-
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Double
Single
Chairs
Couches
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The
serious
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bed.
PHONE 529 8471
201714 S. SHEPHERD • HOUSTON, TEXAS
TREND HOUSE
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\ ou can look through any newspaper
and see water bed ads everywhere. With
prices from $18.00 on up. AndjJ's got to
be a little confusing. But the simple facl
is that there are too many things that
can go wrong with a cheap fly-by-night-
mare water bed. And too many things
that can happen with a good one. One
that you won't have to lie awake worry-
ing about.
Because a true water bed is a serious
piece of furniture, without any hazards
or hang-ups. A bed that is meant to be
functional, satisfying, and fun.
And that's the kind of water bed we
sell. Because we know the difference
between a good piece of merchandise and
bad. And we've learned that customers
don't like to be fooled or mishandled. So
we'll sell you a. serious water bed. A
complete water bed. Not in hits and
pieces. We'll quote you a real price, in-
cluding installation or free delivery out
of that area. And we'll sell you whatever
size water bed you want, single, queen,
or king. And we'll guarantee it for life.
If you're serious about a water bed,
come talk to the people who know about
things to sleep on. People, who will sell
you a serious water bed.
the rice thresher, September 2, 1971—page 13
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Freed, DeBow. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 2, 1971, newspaper, September 2, 1971; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245108/m1/13/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.