University of Rhode Island - Renaissance / Grist Yearbook (Kingston, RI)

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University “Self-Study” At the moment the entire University Community is involved in a process of self-study. This in itself is important since it points out a dissatisfaction with the status quo and seeks a change. Teaching, research, tenure, curriculum revision, student participation, student housing and medical care, campus po- lice power . . . ; what a bewildering array of questions to ponder! I hope that during this process we do not loose sight of the fundamental role of the University to impart education and training to students. By education I mean a liberation of mind so that a student trained in, say, physics, is also enough educated to comprehend and confront social or communal problems. It is alleged that Science and Engineering teachers treat this human aspect at best with benign neglect. The humanities seem to fare no better. Some letters published in the BEACON convey the impression that in humanities the students are exposed to an abundant supply of platitudes and trivia. Then there is a general indictment that occasionally tenure serves as a blanket to protect incompetence and, worse yet, a lack of interest. In many quarters it is felt that not only teaching but the moral trust of the University is sacri- ficed by overemphasizing research even when it is classified or defense oriented. This is further encouraged by the un- written law of publish or perish. All of these questions have cogent arguments ' on both sides and should be decided by the involvement of the entire aca- demic body; and this includes the students which form the foundation of the University. They should take part not only in protests but also in cooperative and less volatile forms of activities. A close cooperation and mutual trust between the students and faculty would go a long way to solve the problems. A. Choudry Physics 23