Gonzaga University - Spires Yearbook (Spokane, WA)

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What is Really Happening? The only thing that baffles me at times is whether young people would come together in this way for any other reason or reward system, other than College? Students come here to endure a lot of work and undergo a lot of strain with the eventual reward of their degree and the personal satisfaction of growing in knowledge as their constant main reinforcement. At times l can't help wonder what the goal of our U. is? The official goal is the spreading of knowledge yet there's a strong informal goal fto use a sociological terml among the students that has to do with getting one's head together, being part of things, being accepted as oneself and finding one's way to that life with these freedoms, qualities and joys. At times l wonder if academic excellence is our most momentous pursuit. It rather seems that during the four year hitch, there's a lot of maturing going ong some people are forging ahead to new horizons, others are re-assembling themselves after early awakenings. Many people are perhaps learning to live a life style that reinstates freedom of choice and action with roots in human dignity and in Christianity-lf they've come to observe or know that segment of campus life - and at the same time are becoming acquainted with some of the great ideas. The role of Academics is however, central to keeping us here, and in giving us food for thought as well as food for life later on, maintains our development. We must be ever-vigilant though that the academic experience be liberating not stifling, open-ended and not patronizing and that it be appropriate to the student and not merely an ongoing structure. After Graduation Down comes the curtain at Graduation and forward go the grads into a new experience-what do they want to do? What are they going to do? Whenever l lay out that question especially if near the Business Department a highly common response is make money. Could we say that the average Zag looks for the hallmarks of social and economic approval in his or her career choice? Many zags seek to incorporate some aspects of material comfort, a desire for security and to be of service into a personally satisfying career. How are they going about it? The number of campus interviews for jobs

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n 2 Wi twat Q TER :fr H .,,-ff' i A u' it Al , T, VIVAV S H has fallen sharply, there's less solicitation of applications in both Education and Business. Also on the downswing is the numbers going on to Grad School. Reasons for this include more selectivity by Grad. Schools because of less funds, too many people already in the field and also more hesitancy on the part of students towards continued study. Law School's on the upswing and we'll see a large number of our grads. go there '72-73. Self or Service ? Very few people here it seems, are ignorant of the message that there is a lot to be done in this country and world and many wish to respond. If they choose to ignore the cry for help they know it, so many grads seek to do a little something of service and at the same time look after themselves. This makes for a rough passage, so Law School is an obvious place to go because it's a rewarded vocation with elements of service. I just wonder if it's going to work, there's certainly some truth in the adage- you cannot serve two masters. W '21, ll