The North Texas Daily (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 63, No. 46, Ed. 1 Tuesday, November 20, 1979 Page: 2 of 8
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Commentary
The North Texas Daily
Page 2 Tuesday, November 20,1979
Great Books highlight School
Literature fulfills college expectations
The death of the liberal arts education
is receiving much attention among
educators and in the press. The talk
sometimes sounds like a eulogy,
sometimes like a straightforward
obituary, sometimes like an autopsy
report.
AS A COLLEGE student, I cannot
help but have some concern, because I
have felt the death throes in my own col-
lege career. With one semester to go, I
look back on my education and
sometimes think I’ve been to trade
JacobsmeyerJj^
school instead of a university. Except for
the prerequisites, which are hardly a
mental challenge, my course work has
been aimed at that unavoidable goal:
getting a job after I graduate. Little is
said about the goal I used to hear so
much about, getting an education.
In fact, those who major in something
“impractical” are despised. “W’hat kind
of job can you get w ith that degree,” fel-
low students ask scornfully. We have
even less respect for the so-called profes-
sional student. Instead of seeing him as
someone who is motivated by the sheer
desire to know, we suspect that he is
lazy, that he is avoiding the “real
world ”
THIS FALL, with my major course
work behind me, I thought college had
done its best to prepare me for the job
market. I also felt hopelessly ignorant
and uneducated.
So hoping for the best, but expecting
the worst, I enrolled in Great Books of
the Western World, a course which re-
quires its students to enroll in three
hours of English, three of history and
three of philosophy. Three days a week
this small group of students and three
professors sit around a table for three
hours and discuss the assigned readings.
I BEGAN with an altitude of com-
plete skepticism, but sdon I found this
course embodied what I had expected
college to be: students, with the guidance
of excellent professors, dealing with the
important questions and concepts of
civilization.
This is one of the few seminar classes I
have attended that actually works. The
integration of English, history and
philosophy enriches all three disciplines
rather than detracting, perhaps because
oL the si/e of the class, but more likely
because of the skill of the three profes-
sors w ho commit their time to the course
for a year.
The Great Books course at NT was
started five years ago by Dr. Hank
Eaton of the History Faculty who
modeled it on the program at the
University of Chicago. Originally, it was
intended for the freshman-sophomore
level to serve as necessary background at
the beginning of students' education.
The interest and enrollment, however,
came mostly Irom seniors and graduate
students. Although any student may
enroll, the course is now aimed more at
upper-level students.
It may be another symptom of the
death of liberal arts that a course in-
tended to serve as background has now
become the culmination. But the fact re-
mains the Great Books class is alone in
trying to fill a huge gap left by today's
curricula.
UNFORTUNATELY, each semester
the Great Books course must fight for its
survival as it is threatened by low enrol!
ment. The fall semester covers the begin-
nings of civilization to the Renaissance,
the spring begins with Cervantes and
ends with Brecht. Students are not re-
quired to take both semesters. No doubt
the massive reading list frightens many
potential students away. Others may
snort at the thought of covering so much
in such a short time.
It is true the reading is sometimes
overhwelming, at times the speed neces-
sary in covering the material leaves stu-
dents frustrated. But the thought that
you are attempting to read all these ma-
jor works, to read, study and understand
what the great minds of the western
world have to say more than compen-
sates.
IF NOTHING else, you are doing
something totally for your own growth,
instead of doing something to put on
your resume or to impress some future
employer.
For myself, this small beginning will
only be a departure point. I made it
through the books once with the help of
Dr Robert Stevens, Dr. Richard Owsley
and Edward Coomes. I will have to go
back many nines, but pciiiaps the
darkness will not be quite so pervasive.
Editorials
Reshaping the future
Nuclear power demonstrators who occupy the
Comanche Peak nuclear power plant under con-
struction in Glen Rose next week may take
satisfaction in knowing that the nation may finally
be ready to listen.
The protesters’ goal of stopping the Comanche
Peak plant from going on line may not be reached,
but their argument is being heard. Ever so slowly,
the public and the government are questioning the
safety of nuclear energy and may even realize that
nuclear energy, once hailed as clean and cheap, is
not a panacea for America’s energy problems.
Activists and environmentalists have long
pointed to problems with nuclear energy, and its
dangers were dramatized on the motion picture
screen.
But actions speak louder than words, and it was
not until the accident at Three Mile Island that the
nation began to listen to nuclear protester’s warn-
ings. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is
listening, the President is listening and even the
nuclear industry is listening.
The Three Mile Island accident prompted Texas
Utilities Co., owners of the Comanche Peak plant,
to form a committee to review the plant’s design.
The company recently said that as a result of the
study, emergency procedures at the Comanche
Peak plant will be increased. The committee
recommended upgrading plant operator training
and emergency prepardness and improving safety
valves and controls.
The report said the changes in procedures would
reduce the possibility of a Three Mile Island type
accident but said the plant does not contain some
of the safeguards necessary to prevent such an ac-
cident.
But Texas Utilities promises of upgraded safety
techniques have come too late to effectively assure
the public that nuclear energy is safe. It is discom-
forting that the review of the Comanche Peak
plant design came after the accident at Three Mile
Island.
Discomforting, too, is the Kemeny report by a
12-member commission that studied the Three
Mile Island accident and the NRC. The industry
awaits President Carter’s response to the report
which calls for improvements in nuclear power
safety.
The Kemeny report and the report on
Comanche Peak show that the nation has staked
its energy future on an industry that has not per-
formed at optimum safety.
But it is not too late to reshape the future.
Indeed it has already been reshaped. In 1974 the
federal government predicted that 1,200 reactors
would be on line by the year 2000. That figure in
1979 has dropped to 200.
It is important that government and industry of-
ficals carefully balance future sources of energy.
Every effort should be made to develop solar
energy and keep the use of nuclear energy to a
minimum. Certainly the nation’s energy future
should not be based on a single source so poten-
tially dangerous as nuclear energy.
Khomeini’s new strategy
After 14 days of captivity, blacks and the
women held in the U.S. Embassy in Iran were
given hope that they may soon be on their way
back to the United States.
In a move whose motives are not yet fully un-
derstood, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ordered
students occupying the embassy to free blacks and
women judged innocent of what he alleges is spy-
ing.
Initial administration reaction was
characteristically and justifiably cautious.
Estimated at about a dozen, the fortunate hostages
if released will still leave more than 50 white males
in the embassy.
It would seem that Khomeini is attempting to
swing what we in this country call public opinion
to his favor. It may be that his action, however
cloaked in compassion and mercy, is no more than
a hasty attempt at winning support for the ir-
responsibility of the “students” involved in the
embassy takeover.
His command to release women and blacks
because they have suffered oppression and tyranny
at the hands of white males in the United States
and have “probably been ordered” to go to Iran
reveals an ignorance of the extent of the problem
in the United States.
Uncharacteristically, the Iranian government,
recently bought an advertisement in the New York
Times in an attempt to explain the embassy
takeover to Americans.
It has also asked leaders of other Arab questions
why they haven't actively supported the takeover.
Apparently, the invasion of the embassy and the
dramatic demand for the shah's return did not rate
as high in international politics as the Iranians had
hoped. In an attempt to perhaps boost those
ratings, Khomeini ordered the release of select
hostages, perhaps attempting to reassure observers
that Iranians weren't really bad guys afterall, just
somewhat misunderstood.
Whatever the reasons, the basic facts remain the
same: Iranians are holding American hostages in
an embassy in Iran. There has been no change.
The Iranians cannot win. Even if the United
States did return the shah to Iran, which is essen-
tially impossible (one political reason being that
such capitulation would instantly endanger other
American diplomats in unstable countries), the
Iranians have lost much of their pro-Iranian sup-
port in this country and have swung the apathetic
and unknow ing against them.
As often happens when people act out of pas-
sion. the Iranians failed to think their invasion all
the way through. As a result, they have had to
resort to such Westernisms as newspaper ads in an
after-the-fact attempt to explain their actions.
Although the takeover was by some measures ter-
roristic. the Iranians clearly do not see themselves
as terrorists, nor do they want to be seen as such.
Unfortunately, il is late for image-building.
Whatever actions are taken to appease the con-
cern in this country for the safety of the hostages
should nut be taken us more than tiiui. uu attempt
at appeasement. The issue will not resolve until all
the Americans are safety home.
The North Texas Daily
63rd Year North Texas State University Denton, Texas
Printed b\ the North Texas State l 'Diversity Printin'.: Office
ALL-AMERICAN and PACEMAKER
ALLAN COOK, editor
MARY HOGAN, advertising manager
Sara Jacobsmeyer. managing editor
Janan Cull, news
Sandra Guerra, news
Dianne King. Editorials
Javier Rodrigue; editorials
Louis Marroquin, entertainments
Denise Morris, entertainments
Susan Collinsworth. news ass'stant
Donna Richter, news assistant
Rebecca Hirschhorn. news assistant
Waiter Sharpiess. sports
Vito Zavoina sports
Cheryl Taylor, stall reporter
Sharon Ware, stall reporter
Doug Milner, photographer
Terry Hasher, photog’apher
Eddy Morris photographer
Frederick Welk, photographer
Dan Barker, ad representative
Becki Jameson, ad representative
Lisa Lowe ad representative
The North Texas Daily, student newspaper of North Texas State University, is published daily,
Tuesday through Friday, during the long terms, September through May and weokly (every
Thursday) during the summer session of June through August except during review and ex-
amination periods and school vacations.
SUBSCRIPTION RATE—$12 annually or $6 per long semester and $2 per summer.
Represented by Communications & Advertising Services to Students
Editorial statements of The North Texas Daily are the product of an editorials board and
therefore represent The Daily’s opinion These opinions, however, do not necessarily reflect
the opinion of The Daily adviser or the North Texas State University Administration. Signed
commentaries and reader s letters reflect the opinion of the individual writer and should not be
confused as representing The Daily, Its adviser or the North Texas State University Ad-
ministration
Box 5297. NT Station. Danton. Texas 76203 Telephone 788 2353 or 788-2406
Advertising office telephone 788-2240
Southwestern Journalism Congress
PACEMAKER 6 TIMES ALL-AMFRICAN 68 TIMES
Letter Policy
The North Texas Daily welcomes and will print letters from readers.
ALL letters must be signed and must include the writer’s address and
telephone number Because of limited space, letters should not exceed
300 words. The Daily retains the right to edit. Mail letters to Box 5297,
NT Station.
Letters
Readers defend athletic grants
To the Editor:
We are writing in regard to Put
Reeder's letter who wrote against the
“Scholarship” program offered to
NTSU athletes.
Our quarrel with Pat Reeder is that
Mark Smith's so called “gift” was
achieved through hours of strenuous
work which must be maintained in order
for him to retain his so called "gift.”
Financial help can be found in many
different forms such as grants or even
loans from banks. Scholarships are not
the only source of financial aid offered
to students.
Reeder’s letter stereotyped all athletes
as having an equivalency of a junior high
school level. We could list athletes who
have maintained a GPA of 3.0 and
above, but we feel we do not have to
prove those high GPA’s. It is true that
some athletes carry low GPA’s, yet there
are non-uthletic students who also carry
those low averages also.
The athletic programs have success-
fully maintained a way of recording
each athletes’ grades two or three times a
semester. This system requires the
athlete to make more of an effort in class
in order to perform on the field.
Did Reeder know that all scholarship
freshman arc required to attend study
hall for two hours, three nights a week,
all year long?
Did Reeder realize that the “stagger-
ing annual debt caused by the athletic
department" may he because of a lack of
attendance by the NTSU student body
to athletic endeavors?
In order to make "amends" to Pat
Reeder, we suggest if you are in such
financial need, why not solve your
problems by trying out for an NTSU
athletic team and obtain yourself one of
these “gifts?" Then see how long vour
3.87 last.. .
Lisa Cline
P.O. Box 7992
Rave Anne Sutton
P.O. Box 7263
Denton
Praise for Carter
To the Editor:
President Carter deserves great praise
in taking action to demonstrate that the
United States will not be controlled by
the irresponsible actions of the govern-
ment and citizens of Iran
I firmly believe the Immigration and
Naturalization Service will show Presi-
dent Carter's intent to maintain order in
the United States regardless of uncalled
for actions by Ayatollah Ruhollah
Khomeini and his revolutionary council
government.
Furthermore, by his declaration to
halt all oil purchases from Iran, Carter is
showing our ability to act independently
of the wishes of revolutionary govern-
ments.
It must be understood that Carter’s
goal is not to harass Iranian students at
public universities in this country.
However, by acting expeditiously,
Carter has emphasized the fact that our
primary concern must be for the protec-
tion of our citizens living within the
boundaries of foreign powers. By acting
with a commendable degree of tact and
diplomacy, he has maintained the open-
door policy this country was founded
on.
Dutid Eaton
Box 5831
NT Station
International insult
To the Editor:
By now everyone is fairly familiar
with the situation in Iran as well as the
arguments being raised on both sides
concerning where the deposed shah
should be.
The Iranians feel that a bloody dic-
tator, when overthrown, should be
forced to stand before his countrymen
and luce the consequences of his actions.
I hey led the United States is wrong for
accepting the shah and should return
him to Iran to face trial. To emphasize
their point, they have taken 60
Americans hostage.
But the focal point of Jan Vovk's let-
ter which appeared in the Nov. 15 issu^
ol 1 he Daily is the very point which the
Iranians holding our countrymen are
trying to make, and it is fundamentally
wrong. To insist that the Iranians do not
hate Americans and are simply opposed
to the American government is a self-
contradictory statement. Because, unlike
the dictatorial government of the
Ayatollah, the goverment of our country
is its people. An infringement upon the
integrity of the United States is an in-
fringement upon the integrity of every
American.
I do not hate Iranians. I feel it is the
right of every country to determine how
and by whom it shall be run But I. for
one. car,not tolerate the insult which I
have been dealt by the people of Iran.
I he actions of the militant students can
harvest nothing but blind hatred and
misunderstanding betwen our countries.
Mike Brophy
2220 WHickory
Denton
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Cook. Allan. The North Texas Daily (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 63, No. 46, Ed. 1 Tuesday, November 20, 1979, newspaper, November 20, 1979; Denton, TX. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1004005/m1/2/: accessed May 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.