~Wtt&1 - - Hoover Library

Somewhat despairingly, Professor Jacques Barzunrecently wrote:"Nowadays the only true believers in the liberalarts tradition are the men of business. They rfallyprefer general intelligence, literacy, and adaptability.They know, in the first place, that the conditionsof their work change so rapidly that no collegecourses can prepare for them. And they alsoknow how often men in mid-career suddenly feelthat their work is not enough to sustain theirspirits."Many college and university teachers readily admitthat they may have neglected, more than theyshould, the main job of educating the young. Butthey just as readily point out that their role ischanging, that the rate of accumulation of knowledgeis accelerating madly, and that they are extremelybusy and divided individuals. They alsonote that it is through research that more money,glory, prestige, and promotions are best attainedin their profession.For some scholars, research is also where thehighest excitement and promise in education are tobe found. "With knowledge increasing so rapidly,research is the only way to assure a teacher thathe is keeping ahead, that he is aware of the reallynew and important things in his field, that he can bean effective teacher of the next generation," says oneadvocate of research-cum-instruction. And, for some,research is the best way they know to serve thenation. "Aren't new ideas, more information, andnew discoveries most important to the United Statesif we are to remain free and prosperous?" asks a professorin the Southwest. "We're in a protracted warwith nations that have sworn to bury us."TSTUDENTS, of course, are perplexed bythe new academic scene.They arrive at college having read the cataloguesand brochures with their decade-old paragraphsabout "the importance of each individual" and"the many student-faculty relationships" c-and hav,ing heard from alumni some rosy stories about theleisurely, friendly, pre-war days at Quadrangle U.On some campuses, the reality almost lives up tothe expectations. But on others, the students are