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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1959)
7k* Ortf* Petty EMERALD Thoughts on Wanclering Thoughts Making the classroom scene : Scene one: “Ohh! Excuse me—I guess I wasn’t following very closely. (Nervous giggle.) What page are we on?" Scene two: (another class and another student, equally embarrassed) "I know, I know, but I just don't understand it. Could you go over that just one more time?” (He hadn’t bothered to read "it” before class.) Scene three: (A professor reading a term paper to himself) "Other books by Shakes peare include 4A Tale of Mid-Winter’ and ‘Hamlett’, which everybody agrees is his best play. I agree too." (Exit prof, whim pering, to his wine cellar.) These are some vignettes taken “from life” at the University of Oregon. They were selected to illustrate what is probably one of the most damaging hindrances to effect ive college education. Lack of concentration is this hindrance, and the scenes above are some of its symtoms. You think you can concentrate? Maybe you have this invaluable ability (most folks do), but ask yourself this: in how many classes this term have you been able to ab sorb yourself completely in the subject at hand? There always seems to be something distracting conveniently nearby: the lesson not completed for the next class-hour, the brunette two seats left, tomorrow’s house dance, the professors halting lecture-style. Concentration in school is something like having your teeth filled: it's immediately more convenient not to. But the three examples above show pretty clearly what lack of concentration in school means: wasted time for both student and his academic partner, the professor. For a student to come into a class, say, of French, and lose his place and/or stutter and hedge around a question he should be able to reason out, is a waste of time. So is a term-paper that shows no more “concen trated" effort than a hasty reading of a few scources, and no personal examination to speak .of. Why can't these (us!) “distracted” stu dents come to closer grips with their class subjects? As we’ve already suggested, part of the answer is no further than the near est distraction, whether it’s an open window or the professor’s “startling” tie. But part of the problem may well lie in an academic system that requires most stu dents to attend six hour-long classes two or three times per week, with as many as five in a row in one day. To spend just fifty minutes on History of Philosophy and then to rush on to Math 101 for a similar period requires some furious mental gear-shifting. Most students, in fact, can't make such a full-range shift in topics and approaches fast enough to get up much "mental speed” before the next class arrives. They either strip their gears, or stay in low throughout the whole trip. This might be impartial solution: students and professors who have had connection with seminars and other two-hour-and longer courses are pretty well agreed that they can concentrate on and go much deeper into the subject in such "jumbo” classes, than they can ever do in the traditional class-hour. By the same token, perhaps the tradi tional five- or six-class class term’s schedule could be replaced (particularly in non-pro fessional areas) with fewer classes, of two hour or more duration, and of course more general and “surveying” in approach. Yogi mystics advise their disciples that Nirvana can be approached by concentrat ing on one’s navel. Oregon's students might well replace that mystical object with the classes on their schedule. Footnotes There was much talk at last week’s Sen ate meeting about previous Senate attempts to stir, and to depend on, interest in student government: “We’ve had our hands burned trying this kind of thing before.” Comment: how can you get burned in a region where there literally is “no fire?” In line with this, Senate faculty member Prof. Howard Dean had one of the best quips in ASUO annals: “Will the Senate rove, while hands burn?” LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Emerald Editor: To William W. Quesinberry, In my judgment, the book re view of “Doctor Zhivago” of fered by Miss Treece in Friday's Emerald was an excellent piece of writing. It reflected sound organization and analysis. It’s excellent also that you challenge her opinion, but your rude manner of so doing left much to be desired. You recognized, I hope, that Miss Treece was careful to label her review as "opinion.” We all have a right to our opinions, and mine is that Miss Treece should be commended for a job well done and that you, Mr. Quesinberry, should learn how to disagree without being dis agreeable. Graduate in Journalism Ronald Abell Emerald Editor: Although Mr. Quesinberry is entitled to his opinion on what the function of literary reviews should be, his rather personal attack on the review of “Dr. Zhivago” was far enough be yond the bounds of good taste and good sense to call for a reply. The review was written in a tone of humility and modesty as that of a student reading the book for the first time. It wasn’t offered as “sterling critical analysis.” Whether or not it was ac curate in its most headlineable conclusion, the review was well written and penetrating. It would do credit to any college newspaper or student reviewer. Mr. Quesinberry didn’t men tion his own opinion of the book. What the Nobel judges say is good enough for him. If he was living in Russia, he could with a conscience equally at peace accept the position of estab lished authority there that it is a poor book and not worth read ing. It isn’t the function of a re viewer, or any journalist simply to bow to authority. The first duty of the reviewer was to her judgement. Mr. Quesinberry was entitled to disagree with the evaluation, after reading the book itself. He accomplished little by pointing to the glaring "heresy.” Ken Robison Graduate in Journalism Emerald Editor: It is highly gratifying to learn that the campus is pos sessed of at least one fearless critic who is unafraid to loose his thunderbolts and let the chips fall where they may. I have reference, of course, to Willy Quesinberry’s cour ageous attack on the shocking book review that brazen Pat Treece had the audacity to write for Friday’s Emerald. It is equally gratifying to have one’s faith in the infallibility of tlje Nobel Prize Committee restored after it had been shaken to its very roots by a mere wisp of a (gasp) girl. Let's face it Willy, it’s just remotely possible that Pat didn’t mean to subvert the lit erary taste of the campus, al though on face value that seems to be the case. Maybe we-should take a milder tack and give poor presumptuous Pattie the benefit of some of the vast wis dom of the ages that we gradu ate students have stored up during the course of our endless search for knowledge. The first thing for you to learn, Pat, is never to express your opinion unless you’re sure it will find favor with the Mob. No matter how 'well thought out and honest your opinion may be, and how tastefully it is pre sented, you’re a heretic if you don’t conform. The very idea of a girl reading such a book is bad enough, but that she should have the impudence to hold opinions contrary to those of the omniscient majority (who doubtless haven't bothered to read the book )is intolerable. By the way, Pat, thanks for the best piece of critical writing to appear in the paper this year. Speaking of tending to your knitting, Willy, why don’t you read the book instead of writing nasty letters? Arthur P. MoIIermott Graduate in Journalism More Class Distractions (8EE LEFT) "/ don't know why it's so hard to turn." Prediction: Senate Ransomed For Indian, Pioneer Retired Here is a roundup of predic tions (in capsule form), for the next year. Technically predic tions for the new year should be made at the beginning of the year. However, we didn't think of it. But here they are. who knows, this prediction idea might catch on. The ASl'O Senate will put the show on the road with one night stands stated in Itt major I'.S. cities and 53 foreign countries. The University will take 40 per cent of the gross with the re maining profits ticketed for Kwama. They (Kwama) in turn will build a memorial to the now defunct bunion derby. The statue (a ten-story life-like rep lica of a bunion), will bo erected on top of Friendly Hall. The co-op and Student Union will switch buildings. The li brary will be converted to a student activity center (the Or der of the O will bum all the books). The new swimming pool will be closed to the student body. Instead it will serve as a health spa for honorary members. This is planned to serve as an in centive "to^et more kids in ac tivities.” The roving' Senate will miss its plane connection at Guam and will cancel its appearance in Beirut). The Pioneer Father will retire on pension. A statute of Frank Sinatra (holding a scotch on the rocks), with Dean Martin will lie substituted in its place. The pioneer mother will la; replaced by an abstract of Bess Tru man. Tommy Manville will turn down a Dad s Weekend invita tion.! Chris Conner will "come back to Serrento.” More and more English soldiers will “go you back to Mandalay.” With the Senate on the road a vigilante student judiciary board will be set up. Its first action will be to expell three students on grounds that “they are intellectuals!” The Senate will spend the summer on the Riviera. Univer sity accountants will eye this move suspiciously. Ford will rcval plana for a sports car that will Beat 11 six footers. The Co-op will mfrec with the Kugene Water and Klectric Board, General Motors, and U S. Steel. Relative-* Weekend will take the place of Homecoming. The student with the most relatives bivouaced on the campus for the weekend is the winner. The winner will be treated to a round of applause on Friday at Four. A newly elected queen will say, "this is not a great honor — but I'd like to thank all the people who voted for me just the same." Boris Pasternak’s "Doctor Zhi vago" will be concensed to one page by Reader's Digest. "Hurricane” Jackson, Art Ar gon, and Fiddle Fisher will con duct a coaches' clinic on the Oregon campus come late August. The Senate will wind up its world tour next December with a whistle stop campaign through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. Through a lack of planning they will wander into the Great Salt Lake Desert. Weakened by starvation, they will be captured by a remote tribe of Nez Perce indinns. They will be held for ransom until the University returns Chief Joseph. OKEftON DAILY EMERALD The Oregon Daily Emerald is published four time* in September ami five day# a wek during the school year, except during examination and vacation period#, hy the Student Publications Board of the Univer sity of Oregon. Entered a# second clan* matter at the post office, Eugene, Ore gem. Subscription rate#: $5 per year, $2 per term. Opinion# expressed on the editorial page are those of The Emerald and do not pretend to represent the opinion of the ASUO or the University. JERRY RAMSEY, Editor BIEL BRYANT, Busings Manager I'll I L HAGER, Managing Editor CHAR LI E SWI FT, Advertising Mgr. MIKE FORRESTER. News Editor BILL BEBOUT. BEN TROW BRIDGE. JOHN LENGEL. MIKE HOLLISTER, DAVE LORTJE, Associate Editors dick McKinney, larry kurtz, Sports Editors. MARY JO STEWART. Feature Editor PEPPER ALLEN. Women'.. Editor TOM CHAPMAN, FACETS Managing Editor DON JEPSEN, Entertainment Editor LOUIS PARKER, Photo Editor
