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i Page Four - The SKYSCRAPER - February 21, 1969 MSC sounds call: who will answer? At the risk of sounding like apocalyptic prophcts-of doom, we would suggest that Mundelein stands at a crisis point in its history, for faculty, students, the Senate and the MSC. Aca demically, the curriculum and the grading system are being seriously questioned and evaluated. The problems of where we are going, of educational facilities available, and of cooperation with surrounding colleges are being debated. Politically, both students and faculty are seeking a larger voice in determining the policy and the direction of the college. The answers to the questions of whether and in what form Mundelein will continue to function hinge on the decisions of the present. These decisions must not and will not be made solely by the administration or the faculty. That students will play an active part in the decision making is obvious. It is for this reason that this year's MSC elections are important. No longer can we be satisfied with the cute little ditties that pass as nomination speeches. Nor can we be satis fied that expert shorthand and typing ability qualifies one for MSC secretary, that an A in math is sufficient cause to elect one a treasurer, that a mere willingness to represent and act as liaison qualifies anyone to serve on the MSC. This is not to denigrate our present MSC representatives, for it is largely through their efforts that the MSC has moved from a service organization to a vital political base for student activity. We hope that this trend will continue and that this year's campaign will be built on issues, not on personalities, and that we students will be subjected to honest debate about ideas which vitally concern us. Campuses boil with discontent Society and institutions are undergoing a reevaluation by the thinking population and the university, the center of intellectual growth, is no exception. Student unrest on college campuses is not an aimless violence, although the means used on some occasions should be questioned. Rather it is a reaction to a confining system. At a meeting of college editors last week, Ralph Nader, lawyer and consumer expert, explained, At universities students generally have the world in utter moral retreat . . . they have the world questioning its ethics and values. And he concluded, We must integrate issues into the area of ethics and values and systems of action. But students meet a brick wall on so many campuses when ethics and values come into question and as a result their systems of action often seem to be undirected chaos. The University of Chicago's right to deny the renewal of Mrs. Marlene Dixon's contract is just such a question. Students feel the need to influence the direction of their courses and their institution. The sophisticated students of today know what consti tutes a good teacher and a meaningful curriculum because they are the ones directly involved. While complete control over decisions concerning faculty and curriculum by university administrators is absurd, so would be complete control by students. But a student voice and participa tion in decision making is a real and meaningful alternative to the present process. The potential for this communal decision making exists at Mundelein and the parallel structure of the MSC and Faculty Senate provides legal channels to exercise this power. However, other universities are not so fortunate and it is not until these institutions keep pace with student concerns that a real learning process can take place. skyscraper Vol. XXXIX February 21, 1969 No. 11 The SkyicropBr is published weakly, October to May inclusive, except during exam and vacation periods, by the students of Mundelein College, 6363 N. Sheridan Road. Chicago. III. 60626. Opinions expressed are those of the Skyscraper staff. Editor . . . Sheila McCarthy Staff: Sharon Breitenbeck, Sharon Cahill, Rori Callanan, Mary Kate Cooney, Kathy Costanzo, Kathleen Cummins. Pat Devine, Theresa Ebenhoe. Kathleen Flynn, Marianne Fusillo, Marylin Hallagan, Carrie Hedges, Zoe Hillenmeyer, Barbara Hips man, Eileen Jack, Alex Jaiowka. Diane Karkiewicz, Cassie McDade. Lynne McKenna, Cathy McLeod, Vera Milenkovich, Mary Beth Mundt, Gail Norris, Mary Ann Novak, Mamie Ramker, Joann Rebster, Willette Romious, Janet Sass, Linda Sullivan and Nancy Zak. Two poems happen Poet in residence charms campus with large emotions by Jean Potyen Mundelein's first poet-in-res- idence delivered in her poetry reading Feb. 13 a message of large emotions: birth, life, death, love, hate, fear. The impact on the audience at the conclusion persisted as one of large emotion: a soul-stilling quiet and awe, to be expected when one woman can control and collect the minds of 150 people to one wave length that wraps itself around all emotions. packaged emotion Taking aside the poetry that stunned Thursday's audience, and viewing the poetess Ruth Lisa Schechter herself as seen in many classes, poetry sit-ins and workshops on campus this month, it is understanda ble how she can control the words that express the feel ings. Ruth is a little bundle of large emotions. She can be found complete with sparkle, blond hair, slight limp, and Ruth Lisa Schechter (Skyscraper photo bv Kathleen Flynnl New Yawk accent in the Tea Room, East Room, classroom, and her own room at 1034 W. Sheridan for private poetry consultations and just - get ting - to - know - what - these - people - called - poets - are - all - about. The result of an I encounter with Ruth is usual ly productive. At a poetry happening last week, the pro duction was two collabora tion poems, with one line written by each attending per son. fertile poetess As she breeds fertility of ideas, so is Ruth poetically fertile. Her first book, Near the Wall of Lion Shadows is on sale in the English office. Her second, Contract of Sa cred Names is presently going to press. Her third is in prog ress, and her stay at Munde lein has resulted in more po etry. One poem, entitled Vis it deals specifically with Mundelein. Her poetry has been widely published, anthol ogized, and put to dance off- Broadway. Meet her. She brings enthu siasm, life and verve to those who have. And those who have may wonder what the campus will be like when she leaves in March; more Ruth less for her presence in Feb ruary. Skyscrapings If I had it to do all over again? I'd register under the name Pozzo Goldberg, thereby forfeiting the necessity of tak ing academia's mental novo- caine, Theology. I have to write fast when the subject is Theology classes, for a built- in amnesia clock attempts to save my mind from wander ing all the way back to Scrip ture and Sacraments. It was then that 45 minutes of class time were spent lamenting the fact that I was indeed hum- manae vitae. Sometimes I'd devise games for staying conscious. After I found that stabbing the tip of my fountain pen up into my soft palate didn't keep me from sleep, I decided that if I could manage the miracle of tongues I'd probably be ex empted from Theology. I com menced my study of Espanol In the library (it being as well-lighted as London during an air-raid, I felt this would move the Lord to help me. One day when answering a ques tion I felt the gift coming and spread my arms high and wide a la Nixon, and cried Vaya con Dios. Having flubbed the gift of tongues, I decided to assert myself in the two later Theol ogy courses. I took notes that I could later incorporate into my And you call yourself a Christian shower speech. This is the speech I'm going to deliver one day to all who have wronged me. So biting and vitriolic is this speech that I've as yet only the nerve to deliver it while in a cappella seclusion with the noise of the shower beating out some Scarlett O'Hara back ground music. Discussion groups helped me to bear the last two The ology courses. Everybody waits to see where the teach er is going to sit, then forms a semicircle five or six lines deep directly behind her. The discussions ran erratically along a point somewhere to the left or right of nothing at all, settling rather emphatical ly on Mary Jane's personal faith crisis as it took place In Okeefenokee Valley one wild and mysterious summer night when she looked up at the stars and cried, Oh God, there is no God. Whence af ter, she added rather incon clusively, her Granny fell off a high mountain road into a deep ravine. My faux pas mentality made me applaud, as I surmised that would be the last we'd hear from Gran ny, whose theological beliefs had had more airing than Paul Tillich's. Once during a discussion I had just finished counting the 47th speck on the window that fulfilled the condition of ap pearing to be a bug if one looked fast enough, when I was asked my thoughts on the discussion matter. Grasping at any straw to feign my at- tentiveness I said, Well, as you all probably know, I'm Sal Mineo's mistress ... From then on I amused my self trying to find a punch line for a joke I've only half completed. In case you have any more Theology courses the straight line is Did you hear about the Pope that went to Heaven? Pozzo O'Toole SKYSCRAPER Mundelein College C3 3 Sheridan Rd., Chicago, 111., 80C2I
title:
1969-02-21 (4)
publisher:
Women and Leadership Archives http://www.luc.edu/wla
creator:
Mundelein College
description:
Student newspaper for Mundelein College
subject:
Newspapers
subject:
Religious communities--Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
subject:
Students
subject:
Universities and colleges
subject:
Women's education
relation:
Mundelein College Records
type:
Text
language:
English
rights:
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coverage:
Chicago, Illinois
coverage:
Mundelein College