Hampden Sydney College - Kaleidoscope Yearbook (Hampden Sydney, VA)

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s THE UNIVERSITY AND THE tZOWlMl'WlTl DI' Cttltie Nitpiclting While the World Burns As a young auistata professor of philosophy in the secluded. rnmfortttttle arttl ttttrat-tt --:- academic community ol' Hampden-Sydney, t am fat-ed diateetiettlly with a vw.-tttitttttttlt pur- tinent question: Ant I an institutionalized cop-out ? Travels through Asia have etdted memorize of human suffering that can never be crust-t.i. The pathetic enqsttnes-t in the eyes oftltose human bap-of-bono awaiting dt-atlt bestdt- the Ganges without the hope or strength to even beg: the dit-trestrd anxit-ty tit' tln- yttttng girl, who bag you to buy their bodies for a dimeg and the futilitariun hopett-t-nt-it of the mother who wasps as she exposes the limbs of her child the hai distorted in urdrr tu beg tnurr ellfeotivelyt these are persistent human tnsagn representing for me the million+ of yttttnl--. pos-sons. humans. God's creatures who are suffering and being tletttoyetl by injttttice tttnt callous indllhrenee. And ln class we struggle to tlimtslatt- our exittenet- hy rontt-tnpltating whether angels an dance on the point ofa needle or vthrther tht-re is t-autality in Nature, As disorder and chaos challenge our civilization wt- product- toeio-economir ttnolyset thot are botnoted, neatly typed tdouble-spaced no les-el and that may rt-en hr clinically correct. We listen from a safe dist:-ance at freedom it proclaimed by extrcntitts on tht- It-it ttntt the right and by moderates sitting on the fence in the middle and we judgt- with t-tltiuttl Qlldblll that it is all an exercise ofthe Nietstscht-tin will-to-pnwrr. The poor in their chains Btltllllldl lo stir. from I comfortable distance we watch the force-rt of pltili-tinisnt and cynicism undermine our culture. With amastement we wttttxh the power plays of those wtttt-v :redo ls- Social Darwinism and. in a second-hantl way feel tht-m nudging u- to the brink ul' oblivion. And we enjoy the Spring dogwood-ond the hast-bull game. what is the point of being socially concerned in this beautiful ivory tower locked away in the secluded hills of Southside Virginia? It not the spoken or written manifestation of ttnr GDIIQHI merely a pious ego trip to alleviate our consciences by dt-ludintt ourtelvet thttt wt- are doing something worthwhile? Arr we not engaged in cultic nitpit-king while our world burnt? Nietzsche wrote: Ctlrloully enough. not even the most obvious question occurs to our scholar-: what - benefit their labor, their haste. their painful ecstasiea ran possibly how? , . . what it ltl hmm! bf! culture oondemrlvd to await the hour ofits birth and ttt -alvtttion umidtt thin Oldled, lsrcathlesa. aimlets, Hdgeting inftttuatiott with science' and learning? Elgels eolnplainetzl that t:obweh-spinning eclectic llea crackers had taken posit-ttiott nf the chairs of philosophy. For the student this question of social concern is perhaps even more dramatic. The lini- verslty experience is altin to the ancient rites of pastttgt- melt at puberty ritual-. The reeeptive young mind is opened to the plight of man and a vital righteous anger uttrtte tn express itself in tangible actions rather than contained emotions. The demand for relevancy is afht-ttsetl. But you face the funetionslitrd impo-sit-rout ofthe traditional in. slittllon' with its primary stresses on grade-point averages and win margin- in ttthlt-tif contents. When thousands are dying from war. diwcrimination and hunger the compassionate wlty? is so pertinent. Unfortunately. it it not inevitable. This period has been called the post-radical agen: a designation which carries the more tinitttrr element of cynicism and cannot he compared to the pre-t-adiul age with it, characteristic ittsttnities ofgoldlislt swallowing, panty raiding. and telephone booth packing. Thr mood of apathy is pt-rhapi the most common by-product. A member ofthe Strasbourg Univrreily Madrigal tlhoir told me that young people in France have become totally disillusioned with the tot-in-political slrtsdtu-es and refuse to involve themselves in the tiemocratit- proet-is. His judgment woe substantiated a few days later hy the pathetic voter participation in n referentlum of llllitlltll significance. ll is to he hoped that apathy and institutional indiifrrrtttx dn not vlttate the eonoern ofthe student who :ski why 2 in this land. The mntelttion of Karl Mant is appropriate. He correctly charged: The philosopht-rf have only interpreted the world dilferentlyq the point. however. is to change it. A responsible philosopher who lives and raise, hit children in society docs wasnt to be itlvolved ln the preeesr of bettering the life-style. But how? Any answer that nn be given to this question must be prefttred by understanding. which can only be achieved by a thorough going analyst- of tlte saluei. inttitutions. hiitori. processes and conventions of our civilization. This purely it the responsibility of at liberal education: to rationally analyze and then reflertively and existentially interpret the factual data and belief ru-uetttres of our civilization. Then with educated insight, with greater self- lmderltanding and with sharpened intellect the concerned citizen should be better able to distinguish between Helional. symptomatic and actual problem: and to act with realistic strategy. Carl Becker said of his discipline: the value of history is. indeed. not scientific. but nsoralt it prepares us to live more humanly in the present. and to met-t rather than to isretell. the future. Thus the University which is to prepare competent, concerned. and courageous intellec- tuals is dusty bound to foster free inquiry that is orderly and preferably dialogical. No view: should be prohibited and no sacred cows whether liberal. conservative. reactionary. radical og moderate should be sheltered from impartial evaluation. With all the intellectual rqourcas available students should he encouraged to question established values. challeng- 'ldbologiea and intetvopte traditional instittliom. The Socratic virtues of ontological humil- ity. openness, honesty and integrity should guide. and the spirit oftolerance. respect and restraint should hulnaniae this quest for understanding. Sllth I possibility is only open to I university that ir free from politittizatinn. Demon- strations, strikes. slt-int und guerilla welfare blatantly tleny the validity ofa community itt search for rational understanding. Universities that depend un govt-mmrnt funding of Research Grants run a considerable rink oftainting their neutrality by the sanctions of the C.l.A. Clark Karr the former President ofthe University of Olifornia at Berkeley is alleged to have reported that 1592 ofthe Research Funds came from tlte government. More tmldiously. non-aeatlemie political polieiet that are submitted in the name ofthe etttirr University violate the rights ofthe minority who do not surcribe but who also contribute vitally In the growth process. These policies demand. encourage or susgett orthodoxy and ootssequently may stiie the efeative individualism that generates at-ademie exeellenee. Thu. faculty members should wholeheartedly value and respect the autonomy of the individual mind. lfthe institutional neutrality is jeopardized by politiciatttion then the university- may beeomeia political instrument as it has under Nazi. Fascist, and Gxmmunist regimes. Then the ultimate obscenity is made- manifest : students learning while persons burn in the nearby ovens ofa gas chamber. On a purely practical level there is a strong possibility that a polit- ical stand taken as an ollicial position would alter the legal and tax status of the tmlversltiea. Polllidaation ln the past has compromised the function ofthe University and -aa. -, , . - itasgsfwr ---,..-'- 1.-.-it LA- tltrrrfort- tltr nottutcudumtr t-rtltml -tttttrr Lul.--tt tn tltt- ttatnt nl tltt- rtttttw- lttttrt-nt. tnnot-t-ttt at it may appear, and itttttwtttttti tltnttgh the te-nv nt.tx lr sltttttltl ht- .tx-tttll-tl tlhrn I wa- ztppnitttt-ti tu Hzttttptlrtt-Nstittt-t 1.ttllt-we .,,ttt v-ts ttr Xttggt'-t--tl tlt.t1 l tt vfttte-ring tht- lust bit-lttttt nt' nttttt.t-tit-t-nt tt- ttt-n.tnn.t tthtttttt-lt the ren-tt-n --Kf lnttl -nttrt -uxttul that ,ptritttal twtttttolutttttt-. ttf cttttr-r tht- lztrlt of tttitvittrttttntt -r.tt t'-- lt ltt.ttlvx- -.tts 'nttrr rv-ottrcefttl ltrrtltr--tt. llttt.,-tt-t ttt tltt- itttrrrst- t-I .tttxtttttttg Ihr gttxtl --l .tt.ttltttt:t evtrrllrltct- perltap- tht- tnnttestsf goal nl ttttrllt-rtttttl tint-tit-t-ttt tltttttlti lu- rt--.tllittttv-tl ltr attttin tht- It-vel nl' prt-pttrntitttt Gtt rttnttitt- t-ttift-tt-.ltttt tltt- ,tt-t-ttt tt ---A tl t- tn -litttttltttr .ttttt protect at tli-rtpltn--tl tltfttstitttt lu tuttttlt tntnttt-tl ttnuljwt-. l-'tn tltt- tltt- yrttl -'N- ttf t- tl--I-rntl--nl upon tltt- like ntintlttl contmittnt-ttt .ttttl tlt-ttit-uttntt nt' tltt- tttttl--nt ln .t pltttult-ttt' -t-rtttt ttht-re 'wtnythtntt gnu- tltt- tttttttt tlntt ,tt-to tlt-- bt-tt tt tltr t-tttttttnttttllx t-lt.trt- ti -lttgttrt nl tit-- pnpttlarizer than protitlrr at lrttnftrttt xltuvk tulttt-, lhtf- fcttititittt tttttttfl- got-tl, tt t nttn tt.tl it tltot-Lf, lltt-rt-tin-tr it i. rtgltl. an the t-tfttnttg rltt-tttttr ot' tttt- -ttplttd ttlttrlt prtttvtlr- .tn t.. . it-r :tniwer and u tnnrt' fttttstttittttlly .tppt-.tltttg lift- -tt-lr it tt.ttttr.tlIt ttrt-lt-t-rt-tl to tltt grttelling tnrthndolugit-gil tltwtpltttt- ufltsgtrul attittttt- livrelttlt I rt' t'-' tyt-tl .t rrjrrtfrt nntttu- ,cript from at ptthli-hrr. Ns' t'lt:intt-el it nits .t unrtltulttlt- .tt-.ttit-ttttt prttJt't'I hut ttttt' wltttl. at tltie time watt not .tppt-ttltng to tht- r--.ttltng ttuhlit l'rttft--.-ttt'- nttttt pttltIi--h nr In-tt-lt ' He thv -vyimt sm'-V 50 lv llllllllrll mu-t wt- ht- taztttlt-lt. rtitmtrtttttty tt, tlt-- to-te ttlthtr trttml - lf tht- -eriottt -tudy ttftltt- Hntttttnttit-t t- ltt ltr prtttt-rti-tl tt tttttl tttttgttit-ttw t-tttbtgt-ttt--ttt tty tht- wtttdcntt ir nrt-te-ttary. Thr tort ttertint-nt imtt- of -tttdt-ttt lttvtilvt-tttt-nt nt pnlttit-ul ttrntr-.t .tml tot-ntl ttfttttn .t- t-x-rnrrirulttr at-tit-tttt-5 mutt he fztrt-tl. tjrittrtttn- nf -tttclt ltottt-tttt-t .tw with-wptt-tttl .ind mu-t he noted. lt i- :tllt-grd that they ttrtt ftttlriitlt ln-t-.ttttr tht-t .tlrttpltt ,tllet tltr altring, .tntl tlt.tt they nrt- mvrt-li :upt-rfirial altvtnpt- tn prttvt- att .thi-tt.tt-t t-uttt'-'rtt ftu oth:-tt vthnttt tint- ttt-t. tltet kttout nur can-t tn rt-.tlly ltttnty pt-r--ott.tIly. 'l ltr p.trttt-vpttttt ut- lmttttl-fd .st tntrt-nrr, mtisu, thrill evoking cgglteztd- cxpt-rtt'ltt'ltl1: tht trrt--ptttt-tltlt' fir-I hltt-ht-e nl' tttrlrttt-tttlt'ttt't'. lt would he tliflirttlt lt- tlt-tt-rtttinr vtltrtltt-r or not tltvrt- 1- t-.tlttltty tn tlttwt- t-hunt---. lint tt can be -ind it should bv prow.-ti thot thri .trv tttwlttl grit:-tulthttttittx lltt- tnultl lit' acliirt-ed hx t-ttuatting ttt rt'-pon-ihlr strtttstt- tttut rlnv- tltt- tt-tttitlf-:ttf gzip t-.tn-ttl lu inllantrd rhetoric und by reftuining l't-nm tt-ing abrotivt- .intl tt-lt'-rtghtt-nut lttttguztgt- that alienntrf, Participating in ttrtgltbttrltnuti pt'ujt-tl- that hrtng lltt- tltxrirttt itttn .t vttttcrtttt-al and crative rvlutinnahip with tht let- lttrtttttalt' rail 1't' rtzttrtlt prtttttlr .t ntuet nit-untngful rx- prriettoe. lion'-ver. lltt- ttnt ittcott-tder.tttl.- ,ter-ottttl -utitfot-tton that rr-ttllt -ltnttltl not bt- demeaned hy the -t-orth fm funlart- rttttl ptthltvitt Nttr -hnttlri tht- rt-.tltyultttn ln- comprutntfed that this to .tn :tt-tittn ttf nttntntal -tttttiliruttrr ltltrti tht- ytttttt-nt ttttlk- .tent ntlte-ra in their thottsartdt ro-tnctitt Su grtterul tpruktttp vtltt-ttt-wt thru- 1- .t rttrttltrt 4-fltvttv. ttretttt-r con-idt'-rattintt -houltt bt- git--tt In tttttlit-t. tt t- tltt--t- olttt-lt --ttuttlr ont- lit prtttttlt' ftttttrr lradereltip in tht' cuntnittnity and the-rrbt Iv t-ut.llwr t-nttt-r-rtt :tttd .trtttttt nn .t rttttrt' wirleeprt-ati, more profound .ind mort- mt-.atttngfttl lrtt'l. Su to rrtttrn to tltt- initial qttr-ttnn Am l .tn itttttttntunultr--d mp--tttt . ' tht- .tttmt-t ir net-t-ssarili tit-pt-nrlrnt ttpttn mx ze-al for tht- prttrt--.tw nf tht- -ttttt-rittr t-tlttt-.ttintt uht-'lt int-estigzttr tltr fouttdutinn- nfrix-ilizutttttt atntl which will not herontt- tttfatuutt-tl ln tl- fattt- .tnd fniblt-Q. Uccaeionalli the dt-ntattti nl'ttrttli-,tit-ttttlt-ttt nt.tt littrrr tnt- tu nttptrlt ttttlt lrtt. ia. but tltr re-ponttlsility of rlrtt-lttptng mind- ttf futttrt- rittren- t-tntr:-rttt-tl with tht- ut-Il, being of our civilization make- it .t ltttrtlt-rt tlt.tt te rttxtt-r In ht-nr. 'l'ht- tt-ttttttl ltr- tn tht- neu citiicn who if nt-itltt-r tht- ubvrltrnt litnrttttttary t-t-lttttntt llt rttttttlri rtttltt nr mnttg' nor the ttnditt-iplittt-tl I-inttttttttic drrutting tgtto-tttztllt nt' -ttntr ltttpizt, R.tIplt Nntlt-r lt.t- prnt-en that .4 tnung man r.tn truttttitutt the -5-tt-ntg that jntnittg ttr rrtt-rtittg tt ttrt' rtttt Ili-- ottly alternative-. As pet-tonal ht-tiff I count it it rtfsptnt-ittittty In prttvt- tn -tttttwnxi thot int lit'--.ttttr ie not limited lu at cla-iroum-dt'-lined Sucrztttt- ntitivttft-rt. M intiitttittul- wt- httvt- at right. tl' not .t duty, tn take :t -land and prntifle .tt-tive moral Ir.tdt'r-hip t.tthct th.tn in-ltl ln tht- trmptattott of cultivating uttr ettrtlrn- brhtntl the Epit-ttrt-att 9i.tll til' -ttrtatl ttttltlTrrt-nt---. tn example for tts i- the recent It-ttrr fignt-tl ln :natty pr'--ttlt-:th nf tht- lit I.t-.tgnr -t-ltttnl- lrightly or orongltl ugainet tltt- ht-tttttm Vl.tr, l-'or tht- ttltilotnttht tt'ztt'lr--r lltrrr art- tltt- great herttt--1 Sorratf--, Pluto, tri-tutlt-. t.ttltlt-tt, 5ttittnz.t. lolt.ttr--. lltll .intl !.trtrt. wit- all deeply involved tn t-nmmttntty :tfhit-, John Hittrhclill '94 , It . U Q 5 if f , if, t tm fi-rl 'V J t - in rj,-ty, t , t A , . , fl -f,.'., - 1 'tx'-,t 1 ' s j'-I' ft' t I ' Ng .I ' N. - N -t ' if .a -A '.x1 x 'A , 1 ki . ll X X K 'ii-' f - l ' - , .A 1 . , .sit ii f i ' , mg N up X filjirylv -2

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