The Rock, April, 1966 (Vol
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Whittier College Poet Commons The Rock Archives and Special Collections 4-1966 The Rock, April, 1966 (vol. 22, no. 1) Whittier College Follow this and additional works at: https://poetcommons.whittier.edu/rock The Alumni Magazine of Whittier College / Volume XXII Number 1 April, 1966 liiiIS WHITTIER COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS Thomas V. Deihl '47, Whittier, President; Eugene M. Marrs '50, Whittier, President-elect; Kenneth L. Ball '34, Whittier, Immediate Past President; and John R. Cauffman '45, Whittier, Past President. MEMBERS AT LARGE Stephen A. Gardner '40, Los Angeles; Ray S. Dezember '53, Bakersfield; Stanley G. Alexander '48, Santa Ana; Dr. John D. Kegler '38, North Palos Verdes Estates; and Gale R. Brandon '50, Fullerton. CLASS REPRESENTATIVES Mrs. Jerry D. Cederstrom '63, La Habra; Judith Ann Shuler '64, Santa Ana; and Kenneth Hunt '65, Yucaipa. COMMISSION CHAIRMEN John A. Arcadi, M.D. '46e, Whittier, Alumni Fund; Mrs. Kenneth Deitz '60, Whittier and Mrs. R. Bradley Schartz '60, La Habra, Activities co- chairmen; Stephen A. Gardner '40, Los Angeles, Publications, and Richard Joe College Speaks H. Thomson '34, Whittier, Student-Alumni Relations; Dean E. Triggs '33, Ventura, Education. 3 ASSOCIATES PRESIDENT Round Pegs for Round Holes William F. Krueger '33, Bell. CLUB PRESIDENTS 6 Arvle B. Dedmon '42, Whittier, 1195 Club; Mrs. Larry M. Krogh '63, Whittier, Cap and Gown Alumnae; Alice C. Lembke '40, South Pasadena, The Green Arrow Broadoaks Alumnae. SOCIETY PRESIDENTS 8 Mrs. John Baker '57, Whittier, Athenians; Mrs. Ronald Rogers '57, La Habra, Ionians; Mrs. Hollis Griffin '60, Costa Mesa, Metaphonians; Mrs. After 38 Years Kendall Bowlin '55, Whittier, Palmers; Miss Lela Martin '64, Whittier, Thalians. John W. Brink '56, Whittier, Franklins; Stuart Gothold '56, 9 Whittier, Lancers; Elwyn B. Dyer '50, Los Alamitos, Orthogonians; Robert Davis '62, Los Angeles, William Penns; and Jack W. Baker '59, San Old Acquaintances Gabriel, Sachsens. EX-OFFICIO 11 Dr. Paul S. Smith, President, Whittier College; Geoff Shepard '66, Presi- dent, Associated Students; Dr. Robert W. O'Brien, and Dr. W. Roy New- Poet Promenade som '34, Faculty Representatives. ALUMNI REPRESENTATIVE TO THE ATHLETIC BOARD OF CON- 17 TROL Thomas V. Deihl '47, Whittier. ROCK STAFF Donald C. Bishop '61, Editor; Milt Stark '58, Sports Editor; and Paul Lewis '66, Designer. Member of the American Alumni Council THE ROCK is published quarterly during the months of September, December, March, and July by Whittier College in the interests of the Whittier College Alumni Association. Second class postage paid at Whittier, California. Send changes of address to the Whittier College Alumni Association, Whittier, California, 90602. In recent weeks several students from Whittier, Scripps, and Occidental Colleges participated in a series of three College Report Programs designed to give them the opportunity to air their views on matters impor- tant to them. The discussions were spontaneous and centered on the problems of campus living and studying, current off-campus activities of students, and morals today and tomorrow. As each discussion went on a panel, consisting of the deans of students at Scripps and Occidental and myself, listened in and during the last few minutes of the half-hour commented on what we had heard. The programs were well received and provoked favorable comments along regular viewers, friends, and neighbors. doe college speaks Several observations could be made about these televised bull sessions but I would like to restrict my remarks to some matters which were not evident to the viewer. Behind-the-scenes events including the breakdown of Camera No. 1 on one occasion, the rise in tension in one group causing them to drop voice level below the sensitivity of the lapel microphones— necessitating a fresh "take"—and other incidents usual in such situations are not our concern here. Rather, I. the attitudes, values and feelings of the participants not obvious to the viewer shall be discussed. First is the fact that several of the students who discussed the student demonstrations now receiving widespread publicity are themselves quite active in the civil rights movement, but in ways somewhat different from the behavior of their more notorious fellow students on other campuses. For example, one Whittier student has worked many hours organizing fund-raising activities, collecting school texts, and recruiting teachers to constructively build a better system of education in the south. Another has patiently organized discussion groups on campus for the purpose of probing into current social issues with student-faculty participation. Other instances could be cited but the Educators in the field of higher learning agree that an increasing point is clear: Many college students today are actively concerned with number of college students are taking an evaluative position regarding the "outside world" in constructive and reflective ways that go beyond the educational processes they are participating in. In the larger colleges marching, shouting and civil disobedience. and universities where the mass features of much higher education are pronounced students have shown signs of deep and widespread frustra- In general, as one panelist put it, today's students don't seem to have tion with what is going on in these institutions. Discontent, in varying as much "fun" as the now stereotyped racoon-coat-wearing, flask-toting, degrees, is more or less universal, however. Rating of instructors, criti- rah-rah collegiates of the past. It is true, of course, that for some going to cism of course contents and methods, demands for more student partici- college is essentially a protracted mating process; for others it is primar- pation in curriculum designing, and other student activities are part of ily a necessary step in status achievement; and still others find it prefer- what could be a revolution in higher education. Such a revolution is long able to some of the jungle-like characteristics of "living in the modern overdue and student agitation is symptomatic of this lag. world." On the other hand, the increasing rate of suicide attempts and successes among college students points up the occasional overwhelming The students in the College Report discussions are representative of effects of the seemingly cloistered college life which nevertheless remains the larger reflective-active group we have been describing. Listening continuous with the stresses of contemporary living. In between are to the three sessions, one went away with the definite feeling that many an increasing proportion of students who welcome the opportunities students are dealing directly with the ambiguities and conflicts of con- afforded by college living to analyze and to understand the proliferation tempotary life which extend beyond academia. These students have of complexity that characterizes the personal and social adjustments of inherited ill-defined roles, roles which they are expected to fulfill with a our time. These students are not having less "fun," they are more sophis- minimum of cues from those already in these roles. For example, what ticated in their tastes and values. They illustrate well that history and does it mean to be a woman? A citizen? A parent? Each generation faces psychology are inseparable; that human nature is not fixed but in and such questions, but has there ever been before such a paucity of straight- of the historical process; that "history" does not act upon people, but forward, culturally universal answers? In other words, students today rather, that developing human beings are history. This truth, discovered not only have the task of developing personal definitions—as has always by the more reflective student, catches him up in the processes of reality; been true but they must also define standards for their generation in a he knows that going from being in contemplation to becoming in action, world undergoing social changes unprecedented in rate and extensity. and vice versa constitute the basic rhythm of significant living. This No wonder they seem more introspective and less extraverted than natural desire to live significantly, once awakened, manifests itself in most of their predecessors! the thoughts and actions of human beings wherever they may be. In the college student it is evident in his efforts to live significantly as a stu- Turning inward for answers and away from their elders is not new dent. The emerging pattern of attitudes and values constitutive of this among young persons; the need for new values characterizes this stage striving is worth commenting upon. in development. Yet it must be observed that there is more in current conditions to accentuate this inward-turning and rejection of the older generation than has often been the case in more stable societies. Look- ing within is necessary and, in an important sense, it has always been Dr. Harry G. Schrickel is Chairman one of the functions of higher education to cultivate and to refine such of the Department of Psychology and Professor processes. Unfortunately, when it becomes preoccupying over protracted of Psychology. Dr. Schrickel was appointed to the Whittier faculty in periods of time the introspectionist might come to prefer his fantasies to September, 1962 coming from the State College reality and then schizophrenic withdrawal becomes the way of life. of North Adams, Massachusetts. He holds a BA.. M.A. and Ph.D. degrees There must be outward-turning and active participation in life to achieve from the University of Cincinnati. He also has the dynamic equilibrium and psychological health of significant living. taught at the University of Nebraska, It becomes then the responsibility of the elders—or rather, of the pow- University of Cincinnati, and the Carnegie Institute of Technology. He is author, and co- er-wielding middle-aged with their tendencies toward maintaining the author of several books and journals. status quo—to provide opportunities for the young to actively partici- Editor pate in the determination of their lives.