CORNELL CHRONICLE Vol. 8 No. 25 Thursday, March 31, 1977 Higher Education Series Page 3 Worst Music Performed Page 3 Readers Comment Page 4 Computer Tampering Solved.... Page 5 Women Fence in Nationals Page 6 Cornell Researchers Find Rings Around Uranus Rings orbiting the planet Uranus Cornell University researchers flying the outer solar system. It is almost — the first major structures in the aboard the NASA-Ames Research 1 6 billion kilometers (a billion miles) solar system to be found since the Center Kuiper Airborne Observatory, beyond Saturn, until now the only discovery of the planet Pluto in Uranus is the seventh planet out ringed planet, and is unique in "lying 1930 — have been identified by from the Sun, one of the giants of on its side" with its rotation axis almost in its orbit plane. James Elliot, senior research as- Kauber to Investigate sociate at Cornell's Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, assisted by graduate student Wriston Incident Edward Dunham and computer programmer Douglas Mink, made the discovery on March 10 while Judicial Administrator Barbara M. Wriston cut short the session dur- they were observing the temporary Kauber confirmed yesterday that her ing what would have been the se- disappearance (occultation) of a office is investigating possible viola- cond to last question he was to faint star behind Uranus. The ex- tions in connection with incidents at answer. He was interrupted on pedition was carried out by the the end of a hour-long public numerous occasions with outbursts Ames Center's Kuiper Observatory question-and-answer session March from members of the audience who project team, headed by Carl 22 with Citibank chairman Walter were there protesting Citibank's Gillespie. expedition manager. The Wriston at the Graduate School of business operations and invest- observations were made at 12,300 Business and Public Administration ments in South Africa. He was also meters (41,000 feet) altitude. 2,000 (B&PA). The investigation is being interrupted by the presentation of a km (1,200 miles) southwest of conducted at the request of H. mock award for "outstanding ser- Australia over the southern Indian Justin Davidson, dean of B&PA, she vice to white supremacy," made by Ocean. said (also, see letter to editor on two persons in white-hooded KKK Elliot and his associates have in- page 4) robes. Continued on Page 2 Campus Council Elections Petitioning Begins April 11 The basics of small animal care, including what occurs during a routine Petitions for persons interested in employe members of the 2 1 - and employe candidates must have exam such as this one, will be explained by Cornell veterinary students running for the newly established member council. There will also be 100 employe signatures. during the College of Veterinary Medicine's annual open house. Cornell Campus Council and seven faculty members on the Coun- Gurowitz said copies of the employe and student positions on cil elected by the faculty and five ex- Campus Council Charter, which is Veterinary College the University Board of Trustees will officio members of the CouncH. Two still being drafted, will be available be available Monday, April 11. will be executive staff members ap- starting April 11. through Wednesday. April 20, at the pointed by the president and one Plans Open House Insecticidesmain desks of the three campus un- student, one employe and one ions and in the Dean of Students Of- faculty member of the Cornell fice at 103 Barnes Hall. University Board of Trustees. Cats and dogs, dairy and beef are films on the birth of a foal and William D. Gurowitz, vice presi- Petitions must be filed in 133 In Food Bugcattle, other livestock — even zoo puppies, a demonstration of how a dent for campus affairs, urged Day Hall not later than 5 p.m. animals — are reaping the benefits veterinarian examines a dog, and members of the Cornell Community Wednesday, April 20. Students Entomologists°f veterinary science, which today opportunities to watch chicks hatch, to consider running for the Council must have at least 50 student includes such specialities as surgery, 'nternal medicine, pathology and cardiology. The State College of Veterinary Medicine invites the public to dis- listen to heartbeats through a and Board of Trustees. stethescope and observe surgical The m a i l - b a l l o t e l e c t i o n , procedures. Exhibits are also being scheduled to start the end of this planned on zoo animals, animal month, will fill seats for five un- behavior and pet obedience. dergraduate, two graduate, and two signatures and employes must have 25 employe signatures in order to Ten to 20 per cent additional inqualify as candidates for the Council secticide is used on fruits and Petitions for student trustees vegetables to meet new federal must have 200 student signatures standards for external appearance, and to reduce the incidence of in- cover the diversity in veterinary Most exhibits are designed for sects on food. Medicine during its 11th annual °Pen house from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Take Faculty or StaffSaturday, April 16. Of special interest to the farm To Dinner, New Plananimal owner will be a cow outfitted with a special window that allows v'sitors to look into its rumen (stomach), a demonstration of the instruments used to deliver calves and a discussion of lameness, nutritional needs and general dairy a " d beef herd health. adults and children over 10 Younger children and large groups of children should be adequately chaperoned. The open house, organized by the Cornell student chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association, attracts more than 7.000 people from throughout the U.S. and Canada each year. Veterinary students will be available during the open house to answer questions about animal health and about the If a student at Cornell suspects a certain faculty or staff member has been unusually nice lately, it may be because that person is looking for a free meal. Word is getting around that Cornell Dining is sponsoring a bring- will be the 5th. The guests will receive their meals free through the student's guest bonus on their meal contract. Guests will not be asked to sing for their suppers but only talk. The idea is to increase the interaction And for these questionable benefits, we are risking more food contamination with pesticides, increased food costs and continued environmental problems. There is a choice between evils, and it is not clear the government has selected a strategy that deals with the most threatening problem. This is a conclusion of a study by David Pimentel, professor of entomology, and Elinor Terhune, a Visitors can tour the college's many careers in veterinary medicine. a-faculty-or-staff-member-to-dinner between students, faculty, teaching former post-doctoral associate Equine Research Park, where ^searchers are studying reproduction, nutrition and locomotion using Visitors are requested to park in night on the first Thursday of each assistants, staff and administrators. the " B " lot adjacent to the college. month this semester. Because of the In this vein, coffee and snacks will Veterinary students and signs will spring recess, the dinner in April is be provided in designated areas for published in the March issue o BioScienc*. William Dritschilo David Gallahan, Nancy Kinner a new training track. Other features direct visitors to the exhibits. scheduled for the 14th. In May it after-dinner discussions. Continued on Page 2 CORNELL CHRONICLE Insecticides Riskier Than Bugs Continued from Page 1 Donald Nafus. Randall Peterson, Nasser Zareh, Jim Misiti and Oren Haber-Schaim, all students at the State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, are co-authors. Pimental said that insects and insect parts, all non-pathogenic to Power to be Shut Off Electric power to the endowed campus of Cornell University is scheduled to be shut off for about four hours from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 2. The shutdown is needed in order to complete work on the new Kite Hill Substation. The shutoff will affect telephone service on the entire campus. There will be no WATSBOX service and, although it will be possible to use phones for on-and off-campus calls, there will be no lights or ringing to signal incoming calls on phones with extensions. man, are often present in foods. If Pimentel suggested that the zero tolerances were established, dominant consideration of the FDA many foods, such as raspberries and in determining these standards was strawberries, would be totally the s t a t e of i n s e c t c o n t r o l eliminated because of the impos- technology and not because eating sibility of producing these products insects is harmful. without insects. "No one has demonstrated that "As a result, everyone consumes eating small plant-feeding insects, unseen insects," he said. "But in dead or alive, poses any health most cases it would require a hazard," said Pimental. "On the con- microscope and a scrupulous search trary, because insects have a high to detect them. This is especially protein content, they may actually true for ground products such as ap- contribute to the nutritional value of ple butter, apple sauce, peanut but- foods." ter and tomato sauce. Evening Bus"Because a strong prejudice ex- ists in the United States against the Discontinuedpresence of any insect or insect parts in our foods, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set For Recessstandards to keep them at a minimum," Pimentel said. Evening bus service on campus He added that the limitations will be discontinued during spring have become progressively more recess at the University. stringent because of this prejudice. David Brown, director of tran- For example, during the 1930's, "a sportation, said bus service will end guide to repulsiveness" was 40 leaf the evening of Thursday, March 3 1 , miners per 100 grams of spinach. In and resume Monday night, April 11. 1956, the level dropped to nine per Present plans are to continue the 100 grams, and in 1974 it was service to the end of classes on May reduced to eight. 6. Occultation Reveals Rings Continued from Page 1 Africa agree with the interpretation which the observations were made, ferred the presence of five rings or- of at least five rings surrounding is a highly modified C-141 aircraft, biting Uranus, all of them in a Uranus. and is a national facility available to narrow belt 7,000 km (4.400 miles) The rings are considerably astronomers. Named for pioneer wide, lying 18,000 km (11,000 smaller than those encircling Saturn. planetary astronomer Gerard P. miles) out from the cloud tops of the Elliot's data indicate that they are Kuiper. who discovered Uranus' fifth planet. The five rings appear to con- probably made up of fragments moon, it carries the world's largest sist of four thin inner rings, perhaps smaller than two kilometers (one airborne telescope, and has made 10 km (6 miles) across, that follow nearly circular orbits around the planet, and one thick outer ring, about 100 km (60 miles) wide, whose orbit may not be exactly circular. mile) in diameter. They have never various discoveries. before been observed because the For the Uranus flight, because of light reflected from the planet is suf- its mobility, the C-141 provided the ficiently bright to obscure the lesser best solution. Flying far out over the reflections from the rings under nor- southern oceans, it flew far enough mal viewing conditions, Elliot said. south to be well within the shadow Observations of the Uranus oc- Elliot has named the rings for the of Uranus and far enough into the cultation made independently at first five letters of the Greek Earth's night hemisphere to see oc- Perth, Australia by Robert Millis of alphabet — alpha, beta, gamma, cultations of the rings on both sides, L o w e l l O b s e r v a t o r y and by delta and epsilon. as well as to be above any clouds. astronomers at Capetown, South Ames' Kuiper Observatory, from This combination of factors was not possible from any single ground- BRIEF DISAPPEARANCES OF STAR OBSERVED HERE STAR based observatory, and in fact several ground observatories were clouded out. Viewing of the second ringed planet was done through the Kuiper Observatory's 91 cm. (36 inch) telescope, stabilized by gyroscopes and a tracking system that compen- sates for change in altitude of the plane during flight. The C-141 flew above 75 per cent of the Earth's at- mosphere. Data were displayed for the Cornell observers on a television screen, and variations in intensity of the light were recorded on magnetic tape and plotted automatically on graph paper. Elliot and his associates observed the occultation of the star SAO 158687 by Uranus to learn the planet's precise diameter and to study the composition and temperature of its atmosphere by recording changes in the light intensity from the star as it passed near and then behind the planet. The discovery of the planet's rings was an unexpected benefit. 10.000 KM Approximately 40 minutes before the star was scheduled to pass Continued on Page 7 Thursday, March 31, 197 Job Opportunities At Cornell University The following are regular continuing full-time positions unless otherwise specified. For information about these positions, contact the Personnel Department, B-12 Ives Hall. Please do not inquire at individual departments until you have contacted Personnel. An Equal Opportunity Employer. Individuals in lay-off status will be given preference referrals •indicates new jobs in this week (sh) indicates shorthand required POSITION (DEPARTMENT) CLERICAL POSITIONS Administrative Aide. A-20 (Music) Executive Secretary. A-19 (Univ. Dev ( N Y C Regional Office) (sh)) •Administrative Aide I, A-18 (Africana Stud. & Research Ctr.) Sr Admin Secretary, A-17 (Arch/Art/Plann (sh)) Sr. Admin. Secretary, A-17 (Personnel (sh)) Research Aide, A-16 (University Development) •Admin. Clerk. A-16 (Law School) •Administrative Secretary, A-15 (Law School) Administrative Secretary, A-15 (Personnel Services (sh)) Administrative Secretary, A-15 (Applied & Engr. Physics) •Library Supervisor, A-15 (Univ. Libraries (Law)) Multilith Operator II, A-15 (Graphic Arts Services) Searcher I, A-13 (Univ. Libraries/Acquisitions/Olin) Department Secretary, A-13 (Graphic Arts Services) Sr. Account Clerk, A-13 (Office of the Bursar) •Xerox Operator. A-11 (Registrar) Records Clerk, A-11 (Personnel Services) Secretary/Steno, NP-10 (Avian & Aquatic Animal Med (Eastport. L.I.)) Steno II. NP-6 (Equine Drug Testing—Vet. Diagnostic Lab.) •Steno II. NP-6 (Vegetable Crops) Steno. II, NP-6 (NYSSILR) •Steno II. NP-6 (Education (sh)) Account Clerk, NP-6 (Natural Resources) •Account Clerk, NP-6 (Finance & Business) Steno I, NP-5 (Extension Administration) ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS Director of Lab Operations I, CP08 (Diagnostic Lab.—Equine Drug Testing (Vernon Downs)) Assistant Univ. Counsel (University Counsel) Budget Administrator, CP08 (Budget Office) Director of Employee Relations, CP06 (Personnel Services) Producer/Director, CP05 (Comm. Spec. (Media Services/ETV Center)) Systems Analyst III. CP05 (MSA—Adm. Computing) Professional'Chef. CP05 (Dining Services) Graphic Designer—Visual Spec. Ill, CP05 (University Publications) Personnel Associate II, CP04 (N.Y.S. Agri. Experiment Station (Geneva)) Business Manager, CP05 (Dining Services) Catering Manager. CP04 (Dining Services) Development Officer I. CP04 (Univ. Development (NYC. Regional Office)) •Design Engineer II, CP04 (Building & Properties (Geneva)) Computer Staff Specialist I, CP05 (Computer Services) •Systems Programmer III, CP05 (Office of Computer Services) Assistant Director, CP04 (Academic Funding) Executive Staff Assist. (Financial & Planning Services) • Maintenance Supervisor, CP03 (University Unions—WSH) Accountant II, CP03 (Finance & Business Office) Residential Area Director/Assist. Dean of Students. CP06 (Department of Residence Life) Housing Assignment Coordinator/Off Campus Housing Advisor, CP04 (Department of Residence Life) Coordinator of Small Residences. CP04 (Department of Residence Life) •Residence Coordinator/Risley, CP03 (Department of Residence Life) •Residence Coordinator (Balch/Comstock) CP03 (Department of Residence Life) • Residence Coordinator/Clara Dickson, CP03 (Department of Residence Life) •Resident Director of International Living Center, CP02 (Residence LifeDean of Students Office) TECHNICAL POSITIONS Sr. Electronic Tech. A-21 (Chemistry) Control Mechanic (Physical Plant Operations (Union job)) Compositor—Job Expediter, A-20 (Graphic Arts Services) Synch. Operating Tech., A-19 (Lab. of Nuclear Studies) •Computer Operator I, A-17 (2) (Computer Services) • Boiler Operator Assist. A-16 (Central Heating Plant) Copy Preparation Spec. A-15 (Graphic Arts Services) •Custodian, A-13 (Student Housing) Assist. Dairy Cattle Supt. NP-12 (Animal Science) Experimentalist I, NP-11 (Pomology & Viticulture (Geneva)) Lab. Tech. II. NP-11 (James A. Baker Institute for Animal Health) I Lab. Tech. II. NP-11 (Food Science) •Tech. Aide I. NP-9 (Diagnostic Lab.) Tech. Aide I. NP-9 (Food Science & Tech. (Geneva)) •Lab. Tech. I, NP-8 (Veterinary Pathology) Lab. Tech. I, NP-8 (Equine Drug Testing & Research (Vernon Downs)) Program Aide I, NP-5 (Coop. Extension (NYC Programs)) Researcher Support Spec. II. CP04 (Animal Science) Research Support Spec. II, CP04 (Vet. Pathology) Research Support Spec. II, CP04 (Food Science) Continued on Page 6 Thursday, March 31, 1977 CORNELL CHRONICLE 'True Specialization Is Humanistic The current discussion concerning general education raises the question of what exactly general education is and where it fits in an "era of specialization." In this article in the Chronicle series on problems in high education, Ciriaco M. Arroyo, the Emerson Hinchliff Professor of Spanish Literture, argues that though a certain degree of specialization is possible without arriving at general education, it is impossible to achieve general education without the most intensive level of specialization. For Arroyo, general education is only reached when specialized knowledge is pushed to the point where a kind of decision is required that demands the widest possible frame of reference, far exceeding that of the line of specialized knowledge that posed the dilemma. At this point all knowledge is humanistic, that is the humanities, whether it concerns an understanding of Shakespeare or the con- tinuance of recombinant DNA research, says Arroyo, who expanded on his theses with the following observations: "It is dangerous to distinguish between professional and general — or liberal, humanistic — education, especially if We downgrade one in favor of the other. "Professional work takes the prime time of our lives, and if we find it alienating, it is idle to expect satisfaction from a coating of other disciplines supposedly provided by socalled general education. If the purpose of general education is to enlighten us for a personal fulfillment, this fulfillment cannot take place outside of the profession in which We meet our social responsibilities. We avoid alienation by responding to our personal mission, doing in full freedom what has to be done. "Nobody gives us a recipe for what has to be done, so our existence is a search within the three realms of our World: nature, society, language. Professional and specialized research at the university intends only to achieve better levels of knowledge in order to enlighten the human search At this point we encounter the humanistic side of all specialized research and knowledge "This humanistic and general side of all specialization helps us to circumscribe the space in which a philosophy of values can be rooted. We cannot imagine two parallel lines; one of intellectual discovery or "hard facts." and another of soft values." Both lines meet at the root, in the idea of vocation, and in the project and mission that define human existence from the outset. In this sense the university is not only teaching, it is preaching moral values. We tell the students that they must be careful in checking facts, faithful in Sporting them, fair in the criticism of others. When we teach these values for the intellectual praxis, we are developing a habit for all personal and social activities. Where we probably fail is in the teaching of the philosophy Ciriaco M. Arroyo of values, and of a philosophical anthropology that describes the very origin of the concept of value. "From this perspective I must say that the humanistic — liberal or general — side of every science becomes visible only after the highest degree of specialized knowledge is reached. How the human mind works in physics or sociology can only be decided by specialists in physics and sociology, and only a competent geneticist is able to see the social implications of working with recombinant DNA. At the same time these specialists do not meet their responsibility as specialists if they do not push their research toward those ultimate questions. "The narrow-minded individual who pursues knowledge in human and intellectual isolation is not a specialist, he is just a narrow-minded individual, and chances are he will not produce any breakthrough in his field. All knowledge is dialectical, and we know our field by seeing its limits in relation to others. For that we must know something of the others, too. "However, here we must be cautious. The only universal man is the university. Today, disciplines such as physics or literature are immense fields which are not mastered by any individual. Division of labor is necessary. If we encompass a broad space we will not know the details with the precision achieved by another with less extension. The specialist who spends ten years preparing a critical edition of "Hamlet" will probably not produce its best interpretation; yet breakthroughs in interpretation may come from a footnote provided by the editor. Both have a legitimate place at the university. The editor who conveys to the students the intellectual intricacies of preparing a text and the human honesty involved in taking a plane in order to verify a quotation at the Folger library, is teaching both intellectual and moral values. Again, what is important is the awareness of where the professional and human side meet. In the last instance, words mean little: the best specialist is the best generalist; what matters is the awareness of our range and limits. "What is valid in theory and with regard to the professor may, of course, not be valid from the point of view of the student The student must get a general education; this means that he must be exposed to what is known about the three realms of our world: nature, society and language. At the same time the years in college are for the student a rite of passage: he has left the home where everything was done for him, and after college he will play an active role in; society. The quintessence of this transition is precisely the professional choice, and together with it, the student's personal view of the world, and his attitudes toward religion and love. College education is the means to meet wise decisions in these four problems that are with us 24 hours a day for the rest of our life. We see again the profession in its humanistic side, and the fusion of intellectual and value judgments. "The exposure of the student to nature, society and language cannot take the form of watered down courses in physics or mathematics; it would be detrimental to leave the student with the impression that there are secrets reserved only for the chosen minority. The student must be given the most rigorous knowledge that he is able to assimilate, and he must also be challenged to enlarge his receptive capacity in order to assimilate more and more. General education at the college level cannot be a report of results, hiding the methods that lead to those results. This is legitimate for the newspaper, not for the university. How to communicate this rigorous knowledge to students who may not command the language we are using, is a matter of constant struggle; but we must work on it, by trying to be clear, systematic, explaining technical terms, and referring all abstract propositions to the human experience in which they first emerged. "In speaking of education we surreptitiously associate with it the right to talk on certain subjects. I consider this an illusion. General education enables us and gives us the right to listen, it enlarges our interests, and our capacity to understand when experts talk about things. "However, if a mechanistic distinction between professional and liberal education is wrong, one between listening and reading on one side, and talking or writing on the other, is equally wrong. They are two faces of the same commitment to search: questioning and admiring are, after all, forms of listening disguised under the form of talking. What we must avoid at any rate is the widespread idea that we must study a little of everything in order to be good conversationalists. The university is not a training school for court jesters. We educate for listening, for search and research. The most universal man is the one who has more questions in his mind. Glancing at this campus, from music to veterinary medicine, from water resources to comparative literature, we learn ultimately one thing: humility; and humility, says Teresa de Avila, is truth." Correction The word "deifies" was mis- 'Worst of Cornell'Concert Dissonantspelled as "defies" two of three times in the fourth article (March 16) of the Chronicle's series on higher education. The typographical "Conflagration," The Darkness Worst of Cornell" and it featured ment throughout. the concert was perhaps intended error resulted in a meaning opposite of Sickness" and "The Beautiful seven mercifully short "regrettable Christopher Rousen a music com- also to make the Cornell audience t o the one the author, David Lyons, Frog Pond Waltz" were among the compositions by Cornell student position graduate student who more appreciative of two concerts '"tended. works performed Tuesday after- composers." helped organize the concert and coming up in April, which will noon, March 29, in Barnes Hall by Only about 40 people showed up whose The Darkness of Sickness" feature more serious (and hopefully ROTC Dinner their composers — all Cornell music for the event (owing to the un- for piano was one of the bigger hits better) works by the same comstudents — in an hour-long concert seasonably warm weather Tuesday, (he wrote it when he was seven), posers, as well as by several other Army Brigadier General Charles that was. alas, reminiscent of televi- it seems that most people were out- said the concert was intended more Cornell music composition students. Gorden, oommander of the Third sion's "The Gong Show." side enjoying the best of Cornell) but to e n t e r t a i n t h a n to e d i f y . The first of these. "New Music from c o r p s A r t i l l e r y at Fort Sill, Fortunately, the resemblance was those 40 snickered, tittered and, on Somewhat uncharitably labeling the Cornell," will be performed at 8:15 Oklahoma, was the guest speaker more or less intentional. Unfor- several occasions, actually guffawed pieces "incompetent juvenalia," p.m. Monday, April 11 in the Barnes Tuesday. March 22, at the Cornell tunately, there was no gong present as the concert progressed from the Rouse said he and his fellow com- Hall auditorium. Army ROTC detachment's annual to bang when the music passed first piece, a piano sonata, to the posers had made a concerted search formal Dining-ln. Gordon spoke to tolerable levels of discordance. The somewhat less-than-grand finale. through the files of their own com- 85 Army ROTC cadets and guests in concert, arranged by the students "Conflagration." for four instru- positions to come up with pieces >• the Statler Inn on his personal themselves (most of whom are ments. Two junior members of the "that were as close to garbage as Philosophy that "leaders should not graduate students studying musical audience, confined to strollers, we had ever written." °e afraid to make honest mistakes." composition), was entitled' "The provided uninhibited accompani- Although Rouse did not say so. CORNELL CHRONICLE Thursday, March 31, 1977 Chronicle Comment Council Review Position Clarified Editor: Commission Report, have been terested groups and individuals for Chronicle Comment is a forum of opinion for the Cornell community. I would like to clarify my position reviewed and discussed extensively their reaction and advice regarding Address comments to Elizabeth Helmer, Managing Editor, Chronicle, regarding a campus review of the by the campus community over the the new items. Furthermore there is 110 Day Hall. Letters submitted for publication must be typed, dou- specifics of the Campus Council. A last several months. opportunity for change and adjust- ble space, no more than 600 words in length. The Chronicle must adhere to this limit because of space and financial restrictions. The deadline is Monday noon. Letters addressed to someone other than the editor, personal attacks against individuals or unsigned letters will not be printed. report in last Thursday's Sun (March President Corson will report the ments built into the new system. 24) and a subsequent editorial on specifics of the Campus Council to In summary, most of the Campus Friday implied that I would not allow the Executive Committee of the Council's specifics have been disthe specifics of the Campus Council Board of Trustees at its April 12th cussed extensively in the comsystem to be reviewed by the meeting. The institution of the munity over the last several months. campus community. While the Campus Council will follow the In order to report to the Board of Students Recommend statements attributed to me were timetable suggested for the As- Trustees on April 12 and have elecaccurate, not all of my remarks were sembly by the Chester Commission. tions this April, the specifics of the reported and the conclusions drawn Therefore elections to the Council, Campus Council are being drawn up Preregistration Change were misleading. and elections for employe and stu- in the slightly more than three I did point out that, where possi- dent trustees must be accomplished weeks between the March and April ble, the specifics of the Campus during April. Time is thus very meetings of the Board of Trustees. Council would follow the Chester limited, especially since the first To delay beyond April really means Editor- weaknesses and there are alter- Commission recommendations. week of April is spring vacation. delaying until sometime next fall. Now that students have settled natives. Where this was not possible. I There is therefore insufficient time This would create a many-month into this semester's routine, how Harvard, for instance, operates on stated that the spirit and essence of to await a considered response by gap with no means for participation much thought have they given to the "instant registration" system. the Chester Commission recommen- the Campus community to the few by the campus in policy making. I do preregistration for the fall? There is no preregistration, but dations would be retained. I es- items about the Campus Council not believe this would be a wise Preregistration often seems rather, a two week "shopping timated that this would encompass which were not part of the Chester course to follow. useless because of the rescheduling around" period at the beginning of more than 90 per cent of the Commission recommendations which results. each semester. A complete course specifics of the Campus Council. since this would take several weeks. William D. Gurowitz What exactly is the rationale for preregistration. and how can Cornell guide is issued, which includes times, rooms, and final exam dates. These specifics, since they are However, I did say I would try to derived firectly from the Chester check with knowledgeable and in- Vice President For Campus Affairs improve its procedure? A subcom- By the end of the second week mittee of the University Academic students submit study cards and B&PA Dean Apologizes to WristonRecords and Instruction Committee schedules are confirmed. has determined two basic goals of Changes are possible through the preregistration. fifth week, but a fine is charged. Editor: First, it should facilitate planning for the next semester, and second, it is supposed to provide a degree of security to students by assuring them a place in their desired courses. Margery Clauson, Director of Records and Scheduling for the College of Arts and Sciences, and member of this subcommittee, terms Cornell's present system "antiquated," "cumbersome," and largely unsuccessful in fulfilling its aims. While the Harvard system has been praised for its efficiency, several minor complaints are typical. Serious class work is likely to get off to a late start, room changes are often necessary, and sudden jumps in course enrollment may cause book shortages. Interestingly, Cornell's preregistration policy has not eliminated some of these problems. Yale's registration procedure is similar to Harvard's, but Princeton uses a system more nearly like Cornell's. Princeton, however, The following letter was sent March 24 to Mr. Walter B. Wriston, Chairman of the Board, Citicorp, 399 Park Avenue. New York, New York 10022. Dear Walter: You have my personal apology and my apology on behalf of Cornell for the incivility which you encountered during your visit to the School on Tuesday. I regret the need to make this apology. The great majority of members of the Cornell community believe in civilized dis- course as the best means of reaching either agreement on facts and opinions or understanding of where disagreement exists. Within the Cornell community— and most other university communities—a small number of true-believers and Yahoos unfortunately exist. They suffer from a peculiar arrest in moral development which leaves them full of truth, righteousness and total disrespect for the opinions of others. They deserve your contempt. They have mine. deems appropriate, to explore the advantages and disadvantages of establishing guidelines for conduct of public meetings that will, in the future, foster civilized debate at Cornell. You have my compliments for your own behavior during the open meeting in Bache. You answered questions candidly, humorously, and with grace. Our students at the School learned from your good example. For that alone, you have my best thanks. You will be invited to speak at As Ms. Clauson explains, it now avoids many of Cornell's problems Yahoos in today's universities are. Cornell again. While realizing that takes close to nine weeks to process since it is a smaller school, and its Telecopiercourse requests, thus professors still policy on course change after in my opinion, too often tolerated. you may have mixed emotions at But we can ill-afford to tolerate that time, I hope and believe that do not receive early enrollment preregistration is less flexible. behavior antithetical to the root con- you will accept. figures. A surprisingly large amount Students too often drop a course, of the work must be done by hand. add it again, and then drop it once AvailableAgain, during the add/drop period, more before the deadline. Clauson cept of a university—the mutual and uncoerced search for truth and understanding. Accordingly. I have Justin Davidson Dean, Graduate School Business and Public each change must be manually noted long lines at the Grand Course The University now has in service asked President Corson, as he A dministra tion recorded. Exchange might be reduced if a Xerox Model 400 Telecopier In one semester 4,000 courses changes were limited to courses, not which is available for use by faculty Foreignwere dropped and almost as many sections. Section and time changes and staff for sending or receiving were added in the Arts College might be more easily arranged with 814x11 copies of materials. This Students Find alone. This slow process is further the individual department. equipment is located in General Ser- complicated by the negotiations Despite its failure to fulfill both of vices, 161 Day Hall. Momentbetween colleges for student spaces its goals, preregistration does have For receiving copies at Cornell, of Awakening in out-of-college courses and for merit in the security it provides. the sender should call 607-256- Editor: cope with this situation is a mystery. room assignments. Once the roster has been reviewed 7116 for access to our receiving I read with interest the FSO's But life goes on. Although Clauson spoke in favor and that card finally turned in, most equipment. As incoming material is (Foreign Student Office) concern for Cornell is undoubtedly one un- of the Harvard system, she added students stop thinking about "next received, the recipient will be con- the foreign student in the university. iversity representative of American that Cornell presently lacks the semester" and worry about passing tacted by phone and the message Their effort to cushion the so called democratic life. It provides a rich funds and room facilities to imple- this one. may either be picked up or delivered "culture shock" is certainly com- social and educational environment ment a similar program. Harvard /lisa Hurowitz, Arts '78 by Messenger Service. There is no mendable. required for a total and meaningful uses a complex computer system. Marlene Weiss, Arts '78 charge for incoming messages. While a majority of foreign stu- education. It projects a realistic im- Cornell hopes by 1978 to move For sending copies to points dents share one characteristic in age identifiable with the nature of its toward a computerized procedure. which also have a Xerox Telecopier common — each with a problem, society. How a foreign student can Cornell's preregistration policy clearly needs revision. Until the school can speed up the process CORNELL '