MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE My Fears That My Previous Training Might Not Be up to Oxford Standards Have Long Since Dissipated
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SPARTAN ALUM N I M A G A Z IN E THE ^r APRIL 1954 RALPH YOUNG TAKES HIS LEAVE MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE My fears that my previous training might not be up to Oxford standards have long since dissipated. My most A LETTER FROM — traumatic educational experience was my initiation to the weekly essays which are expected to be original, polished, and John Wilson - Rhodes Scholar incisive analyses of unfamiliar and diffi cult books. Since my early stumbling, I have become quite apt on this particular score. Thousands of Spartan football fans remember John Wilson whose flashy defensive play at left halfback from 1949-'52 earned him a niche as one of I hope I am not giving you the impres M.S.C.'s all-time gridiron greats. But Johnny was more than "just a foot sion that all work and no play is making ball player." While he was making a record on the field, he was also making Johnny a dull boy. There is an extra- a)i unprecedented record for a football player—a record in the classroom curricula side of life here at Oxford that helped him win a prized Rhodes scholarship. John is now studying and the Americans are well accepted. under his scholarship at Oxford University in Eyigland. In the letter below, For my own part, I have earned a half he tells of his activities and adventures in a refreshing and frank account blue letter competing on the basketball of life in Europe. team, which is a minor sport here. Early in March we defeated Cambridge 39-30, which is like M.S.C. beating U. of M. Dear Editor: English tutor, who proved to be an Received, your letter of the 10th and affable person named Newell Coghill. I appreciated all the information about Incidentally, Professor Coghill will be M.S.C. It brought back such a flood distinguished visiting professor on the of pleasant memories that I could almost M.S.C. campus this spring term. hear the bells ringing in Beaumont I soon found that the tutorial system Tower. Naturally, I am flattered by your is an ideal educational device. Work is request for an article on my impression conducted on an adult basis with the of Oxford and life in England. tutor making assignments which allow Frankly, it seems like I have been the student to progress as rapidly as he here for years. Yet, it was only six can absorb the subject matter. The out months ago that I arrived at Oxford to standing feature of this system, of take up residence on my two-year schol course, is the master-pupil relationship. arship. The first three months seemed In comparison with our lecture method, like an intellectual nightmare. It was there is an intellectual intimacy between not unusual to be assigned one half the the two people involved, with the mature library for morning reading, and the mind setting the challenge and guiding other half for the afternoon. I was not the progress. All in all, it is a stimulat unlike another American who sought out ing and wonderful experience. his tutor before the term had begun and Studies, under the tutorial system, asked what book he could read to help imposed limitations on my in-term him with his studies. "Why all the books, travel, and the first three months I was of course," replied the tutor, returning known as "the prisoner of Oxford," or to his manuscript and shaking his head "The Man in the Iron Book." No com as if the answer were self-evident. plaints, mind you, as Oxford reeks with Since the first term is over now, and I was delightfully surprised with my charm and tradition, but after three I have had an opportunity to do a little months, I was glad to escape to the traveling, I am amazed at the confidence delights of Paris. in the future of both the French and THE RECORD But before this break in the intellectual the English. Rationing in England has Vol. 59—No. 3 April, 1954 life, Prof. Coghill said: "Let me see, been cut on almost everything, optimism you will probably spend three days prevails, and life is almost as pleasant DEAN BROWN, Editor coming and going with perhaps a week's as one could expect. The country is T A. W ESTLEY ROWLAND, rest at Christmas time. This leaves four marvelously interesting and the food here Editorial Advisor weeks of solid work! Excellent!!!" is not nearly so bad as I was led to STARR H. KEESLER, '41, Director of Alumni After a short sojourn on the continent, believe. The rooms aren't terribly cold, Relations; GLADYS FRANKS. '27, Recorder; where I noted that the Follies were still and I have survived my first rugged FRED W. STABLEY, Sports Editor; TED English winter. EMEBY, Assistant Sports Editor; JOHN drawing the American tourists, and the MCGOFF, '50, Assistant Director of Alumni French were as gay as I had been led The students here are a congenial lot Relations; MADISON KUHN and JOSEPH G. to believe, I was back in England fulfill with most of them coming from average DUNCAN, Historians; EARL C. RICHARDSON, ing my obligation to the long-departed Agricultural Editor; BARBARA BROWN, Art income homes. This fact surprised me ist; W. LOWELL TREASTER, Director of In Chaucer. as I had originally thought that only formation Services. Campus pictures by The school year is divided into three the wealthy were educated at Oxford. WILBUR M. NELSON, BOB BROWN, WALTER E. eight-week terms, separated, very con I hope that you can distill this letter THUBN. Member of the American Alumni Council, veniently, by so-called vacation periods and write a sensible article for me. Con THE RECORD is published seven times a and what is known as "collections." This vey my warmest regards to all those who year by THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION is a session with your tutor whereby we have made it possible for me to enjoy SERVICES, Michigan State College. receive our vacation study program and this opportunity. THE RECORD is entered as second class matter at East Lansing. Michigan, under the are examined on our previous term's Yours truly, Act of Congress. August 24, 1912. work. John D. Wilson state—are scheduled to attend the clinics this summer. Assisting the M.S.C. staff will be five experienced counselors from high schools in Michigan. They are Bill Counseling Clinics Give Clark, Birmingham; Joe Ropele, St. Jo seph; Mrs. Margaret May, Grand Rapids; Frank Reed, Ann Arbor, and Marjorie Shepard, Grand Rapids. a Helping Hand to Frosh Each student will be assigned a coun selor with whom he will work closely throughout the clinic. During individual interviews, test results ai'e interpreted Hundreds of high school students will receive a helping hand this summer so that the student can use there esti when they participate in one of M.S.C.'s counseling clinics. Each student mates of his strengths and weaknesses receives counseling and advice designed to bridge the gap between high as a basis for planning his program. school and college. In addition to these tests and inter views, further information may be gathered from further testing of inter DO YOU REMEMBER your freshmen with counselors, testing, campus tour, ests and aptitudes or from exploration week with its experience of being left luncheon and evening activities. The of vocational requirements and oppor alone as your parents drove away? Can evening session features Michigan State tunities. you recall your lost feeling the first days College songs, discussion of factors in Applications for the clinics can be on the campus? volved in Knowing Yourself, movies, and accepted only from those who have re Michigan State College has become a social hour. ceived notice of tentative admission to increasingly aware of the problems of The second day is devoted to such M.S.C. Also, the application should be entering students. As a result, it in orientation activities as knowing your accompanied by the $8 clinic fee and the augurated, in the summer of 1949, a college, swimming tests, counseling in student's choice of dates. Housing and three day pre-college program to ease terviews, and meeting with school and meals will be provided in a college resi the transition of incoming freshmen department representatives. The second dence hall. Costs of the clinic include from high school to college. evening features informal discussions on the $8 clinic fee; $3 for room for one Recent studies show that those who dormitory living, campus organizations, night; $2 for each additional night, and attend Counseling Clinics have made a procedures for registration (illustrated $3.25 for meals, per day. better initial adjustment to college and by slides) and recreational activities. Clinic dates for the summer of 1954 have been less likely to drop out of are as follows: June 22-24, June 29- On the third day the clinic program school during their freshman year. July 1, July 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, 27-29, concludes with speech and hearing tests, August 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26 and Au The program has developed in size and medical examinations, counseling inter scope. In 1949, three clinics were offered. gust 31-September 2. For further infor view's and filling out evaluation question mation write to Thomas A. Goodrich, The number has expanded to nine in naires. 1950, ten in 1951 and eleven in 1952, 1953, Coordinator of Counseling Clinics, Coun and 1954. Similarly the number of par Approximately 1,500 high school stu seling Center, Michigan State College, ticipants has increased each year—225 dents—including about 300 from out of East Lansing, Michigan.