University of Pittsburgh - Owl Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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Robert L. Donaldson Political Science Of late it has become increasingly apparent that the American university is farhhom being politicalbf sacred' for several years this has been demonstrated in other sec- tions ofthe country, and it has now been brought home to us. Thefuture of the University of Pittsburgh may de- pend, in part, on the recognition of and the reaction to this loss ofprivilege - but it has to be emphasized that we know little concerning the magnitude or nature ofthe problem at present. The 1970 response o the University community should not serve as a mode. The behavior of many individuals and sectors in the University rangedfrom undirectedpanic to focused paranoia. The problem was compounded by the fact that students, faculty, and administrators re- vealed a rather low level of acquaintance with political institutions and ractices in their own state, and we cannot a ora' to regarfthis as nothing more than a comment on t e machinations of some power elite. We were, most of us, patheticalbf baffled and unaware and, what is far more serious, not much ingenuity was evident in our search for remedies. This commentarv is a plea for an effort on the part ofthe University community to ser- iousbf ponder our relationship with our politica environ- ment - the 1970 effort cannot be regarded as a serious one. situation, and if so where does the future of the University lic-:'?,, 21

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Dr. Harry J. Werner Earth and Planetary Sciences Since I don't know much about the details of the Uni- versitys fnancial problems, I suppose that I 'm qualnfied to speak as an expert. It seems to me that many of our present day experts, on both sides of the so-called genera- tion gap, who speak with a great deal of authority on various subjects realbi don't have much frst-hand experi- ence in matters in which they prifess to be experts. lim better qualifed to talk about roc s than about fnancial crises. Nevertheless, I suspect that the Universigi is here to stay, and I suspect until the day of a complete tax- payers revolt the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will continue to help defray the expenses of the University. University education is becoming more and more on a par with high school education - probabhi in more ways than one, but Iill attempt to stick to the subject. Every- body, or almost everybody, goes to high school. We are at the age where evgybody, or almost everybody, will be go- ing to college, an the responsibility ofpaying rests on the State, or more precisebf on the taxpayer. However, it seems to me that the run-of-the-mill taxpayer who is putting the money into the pot is becoming more and more unhappy with the manner in which that money is being spilled out of the pot. Education is one of the better financial investments that we, as taxpayers, can make. The return on educational dollars comes back many fold by way of uture taxes and the development of a greater number o responsible citi- zens. The real crisis is not financial, but rather the need of development of a greater percentage of responsible citizens. Question: Hthe University and its past financial crisis . . . will this be a recurring 20

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Dr. James H. Hartsock Petroleum Engineering It would take an extreme optimist to believe that the past fiancial crisis will be other than a recurring event. The problem will arise continualbf until both the public and their legislative representatives recognize the need for a long-term planning and budgeting system for higher ed- ucation in the state. The impact of these recurring crises on the future of the University will depend on their jiequency. If they occur yearbf the adverse publicity will discourage the better high school students from attending Pitt. These are the students whom we are currently seeking to attract. I can also envision a continual turnover of junior faculgf members or lack of research support. U the crisis occur every our years, each graduating class will experience the problem onbf once and the adverse publicity would discourage fewer students. In either case the University could not implement new programs and existing programs could be drasticalbf curtailed. Either alternative is undesirable and I am hoping that the state will soon improve itspolicy toward higher education. Question: tithe University and its past financial crisis . . . will this be a recurring 22