Brown University - Liber Brunensis Yearbook (Providence, RI)

Page 9 text:

SYMPOSIA are usually esoteric meetings of unknown scholars who have their dry discussions perpetuated by publication in an obscure book or journal. But when a university enters its 201st year, symposia become spe- cial, and surprisingly interesting. Brown held three such meetings or one symposium with three ses- sions, as the program had it. Future Directions of the University was the first topic. A panel of university presidents, moderated by the President Emeritus of Brown, Henry M. Wriston, considered problems facing today's universities and col- leges: the tremendous growth of knowledge in recent years, the superficialities of a liberal education, and the resulting problems connected with too narrow a spe- cialization. Robert W. Morse, former Dean of the Col- lege, was chairman of the second symposium. He, v.f along with noted scientists in physics, mathematics, and the life sciences, discussed the increasing difficulty which teachers of science face - noting that with the ever increasing amount of scientific knowledge to be learned, there are problems with both a general and a specific method of instruction. The final symposium saw a discussion of the humanities. Noted Brown language professor Juan Lopez-Morillas chaired this panel, whose topic was the Future Directions of the Humane Studies and which was again concerned with the knowledge explosion. President Keeney concluded this session: Knowledge is a very difficult worm to hold on to; and when some one chops part of it off, the rest goes running away'' a comment aptly uniting the themes of Brown's bicentennial symposia.

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HUMAN DEVELOPMENT has been the key phrase in Brown's expansion during the last ten years and continues to be the guiding slogan for future growth. The increase in the University's physical plant, faculty, graduate school, salaries, and general services has not been haphazard. On the contrary, the planning for the educational and social development of the Brown community has been extensive, and future expansion will exhibit the same concern for order and the needs of people. This concentration on ordered planning was signalled by the organization in 1963 of the University Development Council, consisting of 150 alumni, alumnae, and friends of the University. The im- portance of the council is indicated by its two distinguished alumni leaders: Charles C. Tillinghast, Jr. '32, chairman, and Henry D. Sharpe, Jr. '45, vice-chairman. All of the buildings built and all of the expansion of services have been directed toward enabling the students to take better advantage of their years at Brown and the professors to continue their scholarly development. The University's concern for increasing the opportunities for development of its community extends to every area. Evi- dence for this is the new physics and engineering building nearing completion on Hope Street between Waterman and George. To be known as the Carl Barus and Alexander Lyman Holley Building, it is seven stories high and will house virtually all of Brown's Department of Physics and Division of Engineering. The new building will allow con- siderable expansion of the University's teaching and re- search functions in the areas of physics and engineering. These buildings are now part of the campus. The future concern of the Administration is seen in the plans for a new art center. The building will provide four or five times the space now available to the art department and will include, among other facilities, a gallery, a library, and student study rooms. There will also be ample studio and storage space. With classroom and office space for pro- fessors provided, the center will enable the art department to concentrate its activities and to expand its offerings in art education. Professors will be able to pursue their studies in modern and well-equipped surroundings, while students will benefit from the expanded facilities, especially the increased studio space. President Keeney notes that the increases in faculty salaries and expanded scholarly facilities at Brown have probably contributed a great deal to holding instructors and toward acquiring good new ones. Buildings planned, such as the art center, the earth sciences building, the medi- cal center, and the medical connection now under construc- tion, will contribute not only to Brown's advancement in research but in teaching as well.