Wagner College - Kallista Yearbook (New York, NY)

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To fhe Wagner Communify: . Y , , A c cle of fension peculiar fo fhe presenf generahon - has developed wlfhin our univgrsifies, which Wagner has had experience of for fwo sucpessive years. The reason for 'rhis -oufbreak of fension each academic year? I dOI'll' IIGVG 'Ihe enhfe answer buf believe if fo be linked wifh fhe phenomenon of change known as fhe culfural revolufion, a change encompassing new values for youfh, held wlfhln a sysfem confrolled by people of differing ideas. The Wagner sfudenfs of Spring I969 were involved in a.s'rruggle for freedoms fhey fhoughf basic and for posifions fhey needed for developing change - a volice on key commiHees. This efforf was mel' wifh some resisfance from fhe Wagner es- fablishmenf , buf finally accepfed wifh smiling faces, possibly because fhose accep- 'rors realized we could speak freely, buf when decisions were fo be made, fhose sfudenfs inferesfed in direcfion would have no vofing influence. The mechanism of fhis change was a resfricfed dialogue. This year has proved more ominous. Some sfudenfs have affempfed fo exfend fheir' ideas info change fhrough so-called proper channels while ofhers have nof. However, bofh groups have nofice a conspicuous lack of aufhorifafive inifiafive fo lisfen and undersfand fhe voices. Thus, we have de- veloping, insfead of a sfruggle for posifion, an ideological sfruggleg fhe idealisfic progressiveness of fhe one group againsf fhe fradifionalism of fhe confrolling group. We have one asking for new spending priorifies, new guidelines, in effecf a new in- sfifufional philosophy, while fhe ofher refuses 'ro give up fhe old. Unlike fhe former sifuafion in Spring I969, we fhus have one group feeling infimidafed by fhe ofher, fo fhe poinf where mufual coercion becomes more popular fhan progressive fhoughf and change. Bofh secfors of fhe communify have resorfed fo a polifical game-playing, clouding fhe frufh. An oufsider would quife undersfandably be puzzled: so much more fhe reason for infelligenf, infernal solufions. lf, looking upon fhis Spring, one asks whaf good came of if, I cannof give im- mediafely gained changes wifhin fhe Wagner sysfemg however, I can fell fhem of fhe individual good which some involved people received. I know people wh-o underwenf profound personal, ideological change, broughf abouf I believe, by fhe experience of a fofally new sifuafion wifh which fhey had fo cope -- a crisis of decision. The only drawback of fhis good is 'rhaf if had fo be accompanied by coercion. The es- sence of fhis good should be a subsfanfial parf of our yearly educafi-on. lI s included wifhin fhe 'rerm academic freedom - freedom fo be exposed 'ro enfirely sfrange and unique sifuafions, sifuafions which iusf mighf give one an insighf info some new and worfhwhile ideas. This is whaf educafion acfually means - fo develop fhe pofen- fial wifhin each person, fo allow him fo realize if himself. Whaf we know ferm educa- fion is only a processing of people by providing securify fhrough fhe knowledge fhaf one need nof deparf from 'lhe fradifional. Liffle change need be expecfed, sim- ply fulfill fhe requiremenfs of grading and cour'ses, fhrough whafver means, and re- ceive fhe reward. If is a fofally safe sifuafion. Sfudenfs are beginning fo rebel againsf fhe lack of versafilify and challenge in American educafion. If asked for a predicfion, I would give an opfimisfic one. Some sfudenfs, ad- minisfrafors and faculfy are 'raking fhe fask upon fhemselves for change. Experimenfal colleges and courses of sfudy are becoming more commonplace. Af Wagner, 'sfudenfs have underfaken a mefhod of obfaining money for fhose who cannof afford college - niofably black sfudenfs. Alfhough pafferned affer parenfal models, a frusf, I believe if confains fhe necessary measure of precious idealism. The coercion will decrease when. fhe unchanging rigidness, fhe endless barrage of argumenfal excuses, all wrap- ped in fhe superficially liberal smiles and speech of our elders, ceases fo be a qualify of fhose in confrol of colleges and universifies.

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