University of South Carolina Libraries
Degrading the class The next time you're in class, watch what happens when the professor begins his lecture. Notebooks pop open and students write furiously, struggling to record every phrase which might appear on the next test. It all seems efficient and educational, but how many students are really listening? How many students are concentrating on the words, not the note-taking? How many are weighing the instructor's comments? How many are thinking? The answer, in many classes, is very few. Too concerned with grades and quizzes, students are afraid to relax, listen and learn. There must be a better way. Cramming facts into your brain before tests is no inspiration. The concept of grading should yield to the concept of learning. Students should forget note-taking and strive to think and learn. We propose that Carolina consider replacing its system of grading and testing with one requiring written papers and class participation. The modified "pass-fail" system has been a step forward. The second step should come now. A rote system of testing and letter grading is not stimulating. It places the student on the defensive. What the student should concern himself with is lear ning--digesting the information in a lecture, mulling it over, THINKING about it. We would like to see students listening to their professor's words rather than writing them down. We think writing essays and defending ideas in class is the best way to learn, much better than fearsome, trivial multiple-choice quizzes. We think classes should be thought forums, discussion seminars, not mere practice in speedwriting. Replacing the present grading system would be a needed second step. Peaceful protest The term peaceful protest probably sounds incongrous to most of us. We are used to the ones which erupt into clashes between and among protestors and their establish ment counterpart -- the police. The plans for the October 15 moratorium on the war in Vietnam are for a protest to demonstrate the peoples' desire for peace, so it is aptly planned to be peaceful itself. Chances are strong it will remain peaceful, at least among its real supporters. The plan is not to wreck, destroy and provoke, but to calmly and deliberately. prove to the administration that the desire of the American people is for peace. To abhor war is indeed admirable, but to prove it peacefully is noble. Letter Class distinction Dear Mr. Stepp: Tuesday. at 8 p.m. in the Assembly The following letter is addressed Flail of the Business Ad to all sophomores: ministration Building. 1969 is the year of the Rooster Guest speakers are the leader of and the year of the sophomore the University of South Carolina class. As your officers. we would Fightina Coach Paul like to make this a most successful Dezl r-esnAlAeia We have chosen as one of our dfnieedLnHde p)rojec*ts to campaign for more Thmetnwilbifoal school and class spirit. Although anweugalsohmrst Cahrolina students have great ated spirit, it could become even Lgreater. Let the sophomores lead Bl mt the way. Jlan tl With this in mind, we haveJenieih decided tuesavay,class8meetingnth (Assebl i-"ii'l*~ In li 5~A it Roer ElittGunes s ekerst aedtore ledro I.l't(li i pblshdh' an orte tuen fthe University of South Carolina 'IIupunon- lsp(-sis hrei d nt e zerl: rec-s e s o f th-Aerad to r~i iilii-faiti o te tuen phi ck who e dy Zier an ac ainum. 'tone ae 77129 Etr*n*~ def en7-20 sies nd Ly eisnHo ad Til-:1.~~1K(it Kis epesnt-d a Thnel b mtinledtionail Adertingom l u- liiTh ;iblcaio u ammbr ssa ed Cle giae Psa nd toho es to CarlaneSttil Me rchAlny JckoPcget A und MANAGING EDRIThRS.Eho..G.zaEs ashen Firedor.nk STrSkydrn teleya EDITOS pt..dur.Scot Doedays,an examinatoons. AST. EWSn xrEDTOrm.d.no.ncSsarnl roflecttMvie skofthead FAULTYho hEDIcuT OR...he ...uden..body.Sherrywhoee. CHIEFs PhoTOG rAPH149iER..n-.h.ef...C77-22ucBskes adKdertiinean ASSCAETIING MANAER NESS...MAobbGERt CIRCUAIN MANAGETR......................minakero ASST. N ES E DITO............ Susn Rs tty cCske F A CU Stanle DDO......................Se rrhe TOHADAUTO '6IREXHARRXUIUSN inth DEAR SIR, TAI E Cot-ft W)TR >YoVA ' No boundari Reaci the st By PEPE ALVARINO Columnist The Age of Aquarius, when "peace will guide the planets.and love will steer the stars," may seem to be turning into reality to some people. Yet on a broader perspective we could not at this moment be much further away from its "dawning." The ideas behind this concept of Aquarius illustrate the continuous necessity for man to formulate certain concepts of apparently transcendental importance and to channel much vital thought and action into them, thus avoiding the basic needs of the day. These thoughts and actions in turn acquire certain necessary aspects which give them a touch of credibility, thus limiting, although in many cases augmenting, the hidden potentialities of the human spirit. The comings of political and religious messiahs, world cataclysms and feelings of "manifest destiny" are but a few examples. We as human beings have in ourselves latent potentialities which if channelled in a more humanistically inclined manner could produce brilliant results. Yet we dwell in the common pettiness of low aspirations, so undignified of our human stature such as the control of basic freedoms in Czechoslovakia, the manipulation of peoples' destinies in Viet nam and even the fight over censorship in our own University. I believe it is time that we realized our potentialities as Homo-Sapiens-.human beings of a higher intelligence than other a nimalIs. There is much to be done: much inhumanity, much spiritual and material poverty and much in difference that must be conquered in our world, instead of the petty pace that presently occupies our time. Let us all elevate the caliber of our aspirations by raising the Join the Vette Set Phone 253-8633 or 787-5172 PIPE LOOK ,SMOKERS * FINE PIPES * IMPORTED TOBACCO * PIPE REPAIR * CLEANING SERVICE CAROLI NA CAMERA SHOP, Inc. COL UM BIA, S.C. 1405 MAIN ST. Ph. 256.6264 T4 Ag Djff. A ifJsrAgVe R A DE 5 AAb7o . Is ifor ars standards of human respect closer each time to the point of the herioc. Then perhaps "harmony and understanding, sympathy and trust" will actually abound and a true Age of Aquarius will become a reality. Please refer contributions to this column to this writer in care of The Gamecock. Names? The Gamecock received an unsigned letter this week threatening us if we did not apologize for "staging" a demonstration "to frame a police officer." We know nothing about an effort to frame an of ficer. However, if. the authors of the letter do, we urge them to identify themselves and come to us with proof. Then we will gladly make any apologies necessary. BUTCH CASSIDY AN[ THE SUNDANCE KID A 6EOR6E ROY HILL PAUL MONASH PRODUCTION STROTHER MARTIN JEFF COREY HI I eatures 1;25-3;25 5; 25-7;25-9;25I 2024 DEViNE STREI TELEPHONE A COLUMBIA, SC Last Weekend JON VOHT "MUONIGHT COWBOY " (C)ID)b, 1)'l,uxe No One Under 18 Admitted 1: 10-3-5-7-9 at the... FOX Beat The "Bull" Letters Rally i Dear Mr. Stepp: It cannot have escaped your notice, nor that of your readers, that the American flag is being debauched. This is clearly discernible in the rear window of any police car. By the actions of these "flagbearers," one can divine what they flag means to them. Black men have been heard to say, "When I see that flag in the window, I know that man is not my friend." And those who use the flag that way have said, "It means I'm against those long-haired commies and niggers." Clearly the flag is being abused. I dare say Mrs. Ross is turning ,over in her grave. In the words of that "great American" Marshall Parker, "Something's got to be done." My suggestion is this: Every man who loves his country (regardless of how he feels about the police, racism, war, bigotry, graft, and the other ills that bureaucratic flesh is heir to) should fly a flag decal. No expense is involved. Blow your service station man's mind----ask him for a decal. Especially if you are black or have lots of hair--or both. Then ignore the insidiously subtle message of the oil company: "Place in right rear window." Instead, put it on the left side of the window. Just to the left of center, or on the far left. The possibilities are as*infinite as the colors of the political spectrum. In this way, the extremists of the right can be deprived of a symbol which they have no right to arrogate in the first place. They can be told, to paraphrase Bible scholar J.B. Phillips, "Your flag is too small." JIM TURNER Crusty matter Dear Mr. Stepp: Another semester has started and Slater is up to its old tricks. A lot of students thought that after the "December Revolution" of last year, Slater was going to give decent food, competitive prices and, at least non-committal in stead of antagonistic service. We got it, too, for sixteen weeks. Well, prices are up, food quality is down, and the help is down-right bellicose. Witness: The scene is M&N cafeteria. Close-up of two students eating (?). Student A speaks. :NRY JONES Lm. T AT FIVE POINTS Lpine 2-3161 UTH CAHOUINA HE=LL'S1'9 Sot 11 m. L L .f oult of the "Does" round t Student A: What's that? Chicken? Student B: I guess so. What have you got? Student A: Well, I asked for egg salad sandwiches so I guess that's what it is. Student B: I have news for you. Egg salad isn't all you have on that bread. Student A: What do you mean? Student B: Take a look at that bread crust. Isn't that a mosquito baked into it? Student B: By golly you're right! I guess they missed it at the cash 'register 'cause they didn't charge 'me for it. Student B: That's not the point! That's an insect; they carry disease... Student A: So does Slater. No, I'm going to go complain at the counter. Student A moves to the counter and overhears another student complaining of something in his Coke. The student moves away; Student A speaks. Student A: Look at this sand wich. That's a mosquito in the bread crust. . Slater attendent: Don' show me no bread, boy Student A stumbles back to his seat. Student B: What did she say? Student A: She said, Don't show me no bread, boy! I think it's time the students at Carolina demand $49 worth of food for $49. I think that it's time Slater pretended students had someplace ,else to eat...'cause they do. I have a theory. Slater charges so much for food first semester, that no one eats at Slater second COPELAND Co. Traditional Suits & Slacks BY KINGS RIDGE AND PALM BEACH 14.09 MAIN * FATIGt * KHAKIL S* PEA CC * DINGO or most 1300 Assembly-l Asse Graysi INVITES AL '1 Visit our sto new fall British Walker Sho Enro Shirts PBM Suits London Davi 1307 M ie flag semester, which is why they charge so much first semester (to break even). Maybe if Slater were to become a com_petitive-oriented organization, students would eat there second semester and prices would be lower. But then again, maybe not. ROB BIGALKE "4 4'4 The Blossom Shop F LO RIST S Devine and Saluda FIVE POINTS [E PANTS s-CPO's ATS BOOTS anything Corner Lady & mbly SMen's 911 S store L STUDENTS re for all the fashions & Sport Coats Fog d Chadwick Sweaten~ ain Street