~Wtt&1 - - Hoover Library

WON EARTHNo melllO'/) of Alma Materolder- than a year- or sois likely to bear much. resemblanceto today's college or university.Which, in our fast-moving society,is precisely as it should be,if higher education is . . .To Keep Pacewith Americais going on, there?Across the land, alumni and alumnae are askingthat question about their alma maters. Most ofAmerica's colleges and universities are changingrapidly, and some of them drastically. Alumni andalumnae, taught for years to be loyal to good OLDSiwash and to be sentimental about its history andtraditions, are puzzled or outraged.And they are not the only DOCS making anguishedresponses to the new developments on the nation'scampuses.From a student in Texas: "The professors care lessand lessabout teaching. They don't grade our papersor exams any more, and they turn over the discussionsections of their classes to graduate students.Why can't we have mind-to-mind combat?"From a university administrator in Michigan:"The faculty and students treat this place more likea bus terminal every year. They come and go as theynever did before."From a professor at a college in Pennsylvania:"The present crop of students? They're the brightestever. They're also the most arrogant, cynical, disrespectful,ungrateful, and intense group I've taughtin 30 years."From a student in Ohio: "The whole bit on thiscampus now is about 'the needs of society,' 'theneeds of the international situation,' 'the needs ofthe lB~t system.' What about my needs?"From the dean of a college in Massachusetts:"Everything historic and sacred, everything built by2,000 years of civilization, suddenly seems old hat.Wisdom now consists in being up-to-the-minute."From a professor in New Jersey: "So help me, Ionly have time to read about 10 books a year, now.I'm always behind."From a professor at a college for women inVirginia: "What's happening to good manners?And good taste? And decent dress? Are we enteringa new age of the slob?"From a trustee of a university in Rhode Island:"They all want us to care for and support our institution,when they themselves don't give a hoot."From an alumnus of a college in California: "Noone seems to have time for friendship, good humor,and fun, now. The students don't even sing, anymore. Why, most of them don't know the collegesongs."What is happening at America's colleges anduniversities to cause such comments?