description:
Page Two THE SKYSCRAPER Dec. 5,1962 Theater, Opera, Dance Illuminate City Scene THEATER Mary, Mary, Blackstone Theater. Carnival, Shubert Theater. Hay Fever, Drury Lane Theater, until Dec. 23. Comedy of Errors, Goodman Theater, until Dec. 18. CINEMA Tosca and 'The Barber of Seville, film version, World Playhouse. Alakazan the Great, cartoon, Monroe Thea ter. OPERA The Mikado, D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, Civic Opera House, Dec. 18-22. DANCE American Ballet Theater, Civic Opera House, Dec. 26-30. SPECIAL Betty Hutton, Sahara Inn. Eagle and Man, comedy team, The College Inn, until Dec. 10. Big Sister Selection Poses Major Problem; Suggest Cure To Alleviate Present State Halloween has passed. But all family skeletons have not yet been put to rest. Swing open the Mundelein closet and its depths will reveal the bones of the Big Sis ter selection system. At first glance the system seems healthily alive. The SAC vice president in charge of the Big Sisters, describes the proceedings as such: The faculty and student officers nominate from a list of incoming juniors and seniors the girls they feel would be good Big Sisters because they would be representa tive of the school and because in the past years they have fulfilled the responsibilities they have assumed. The votes for each girl are compiled and the Big Sisters are chosen from the girls with the most votes. Upon closer examination vital flaws are discovered. Nomination is based on the ex- Institutional Analysis: College on the Couch tra or co-curricular activities that a student should have engaged herself in since fresh man year. It is supposed that contribution of time and effort makes students relatively well-known. Yet officers themselves admit they cannot remember girls who served on every committee in one year alone. So what of the unsung heroes whose names are never mentioned? And how many freshmen think of becoming Big Sisters when they are chal lenged by so many new adjustments? The reality of becoming a Big Sister is rarely realized before the latter part of sophomore year when it is too late. Those students who have fulfilled the re sponsibility they have taken on are, in many cases, already class or organization of ficers and do not have the time to devote to another project. Also, seniors have much less time to devote to little sisters because of the preparation for comps and the extra burden of their last year. Feel Obligation Of greatest significance is the fact that some girls feel an obligation to become a member of the Big Sister organization when asked to do so. A misguided sense of duty is worse than no sense of duty at all. Stu dents who do not want to be Big Sisters do not make good Big Sisters. The body of the Big Sisters program needs more than a physical examination. To exist it must be given life. The remedy of a vol unteer program was suggested to a steering committee of five members during the sum mer and was presented at a Big Sister meet ing during orientation week as a rejected plan. Arguments against this proposed plan were as follows. The people who volunteer won't realize what the project involves. Do those se lected by the present system know what the project involves? It seems slightly unbe- An American Epoch Anniversary Recalls Goals of Atomic Energy Sunday, Dec. 2, marked the 20th anni versary of the beginning of an epoch an epoch in the history of man's production of energy. The power of atomic energy has been tamed for man's destruction or for his benefit all because 20 years ago in the Racquets Courts under the Stagg Field Sta dium at the University of Chicago, the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction took place. But Dec. 2 marked not merely the incep tion of nuclear warfare. It meant the pos sibility of bending nuclear power to man's service for the production of electricity, for the preservation of foods, for the powering of space ships. In short, the momentous afternoon in the lives of 41 men and a woman led by the late Enrico Fermi meant the possibility of Atoms for Peace. Event Significant to Man The event does not belong solely to the realm of incomprehensible scientific accom plishment, as if it were simply to be re garded with awe before one returns to the understandable world of burnt-out fuses and late L's, nor does it merely deserve a place among problems of the Defense Department. Fermi's accomplishment, first and foremost, is an achievement of higher learning. Glenn T. Seaborg, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission said: Capacity for in tellectual achievement is a national resource of the first magnitude. This capacity can be realized for the benefit of our whole na tion only if the spirit of scientific inquiry is encouraged through education. For this reason the Atomic Energy Com mission (AEC) has been fostering the imagination and independence of thought necessary for the fruitful uses of nuclear resources. Through loans of money, ma terials and tools, through courses, fellow ships and grants, it has been trying to fur ther the intellectual development of America in an atomic age. Mundelein has not stagnated in this en ergy-minded civilization. It has not only adapted its curricula to the atomic age, but has also made use of AEC grants for nu clear equipment equipment that is being used to continue the work of Enrico Fermi, if only through diffusing nuclear technology and appreciating its potentialities. Why? Because an atmosphere of live learning is necessary if our nation is to utilize its scien tific talents. Materials must be provided for concrete study. AEC Aids Research However, scientific materials in an atomic age are not always easily acquired, not only because of high cost and relative scarcity, but also because of hazards arising from their destructive nature. Moreover, since America hopes to benefit from the work of its scientists, it shares the responsibility to support education and research in scientific fields, as in all fields of learning. For these reasons the nation has formed such an or ganization as the AEC, whose concern with higher education involves a special emphasis on nuclear science and engineering. Schools Receive Assistance In assisting schools, teachers, students, the Commission has stressed, as it must, the practical and the theoretical, for from what quarter the next scientific advance will come is always unpredictable. Therefore, the hand of encouragement has reached down even to the secondary school level to stimu late potential scientists at a time when they are first planning a career. The AEC has reached down to this level, too, as the source from which information most readily dis- fuses into the home. Thus, the general pub lic may come to understand and respect the power of atomic energy. Understanding and respect as well as ma terial support can help create an atmosphere conducive to scientific study and research. Then, to use Nathaniel H. Frank's simile, such research, like the breeder reactor (a descendant of Fermi's reactor at Chicago U.), can generate the heat and power of new knowledge and develop a new generation of scientists. University Research Purchased In this task the AEC depends upon the universities, the foundation upon which our nation's atomic energy program is built. Only with their cooperation can the AEC continue to purchase the millions of dollars of research necessary for the fulfillment of its mission. In 1961 the AEC purchased some 200 million worth. The mission itself transends even national interests: ... the development, use and control of atomic energy shall be directed . . . , subject at all times to the paramount objective of making the maximum contribu tion to the common defense and security . . . so as to promote world peace, improve the general welfare, increase the standard of living and strengthen free competition in private enterprise. Years Show Achievement This goal entered the realm of possible being at 3:25 p.m. Dec. 2, 1942. In the 20 years since then scientific progress has equaled that of all previous history. Yet, all such achievement was possible only be cause through the ages the academic com munity has fostered a spirit of inquiry. With the continued support of this spirit, the atom can be as John F. Kennedy envisions it a challenge to man to use its great powers for his benefit, not for his destruction. Irene Skala lievable that college students would not have the mentality to understand any plainly written or spoken word. Furthermore, vol unteers who actually want to belong to the organization would find out what it involves. Question Volunteers It has also been stated by the organization chairman that students would volunteer with the attitude of doing us (the Big Sisters) a favor. If every Big Sister is not doing a favor by helping with the orientation of new students, then the organization itself must not be accomplishing the goal for which it was established. The work of the Big Sisters is an invaluable service not only to the college but to the freshmen and should be appreciated as such. A third argument is that a Big Sister must have a warm, if not an outgoing per sonality. Since a cold person would not care to take a confused freshman under her wing, an introvert would not bother to vol unteer for such a program. Again, the final selection by the officers and administration would guard against the improbable becom ing the possible. Will Hurt Feelings The very best argument to cherry the sundae is that the girls who volunteer and are rejected will feel hurt. Not to mention that the present system has caused more dissatisfaction than the volunteer system ever could, there remains the fact that the persons being dealt with are adults. From what else shall the naive, innocent 20 and 21-year-old children be protected? Perhaps a law should be passed that all Santa Clauses should grow real beards during the holidays. Prescribe Remedy The evidently too bitter prescription that was rejected is this: 1) all qualifications and obligations should be published in detail; 2) those who feel they qualify and wish to take on the responsibilities inherent to the title should volunteer; 3) the faculty and student officers should then select those volunteers whom they feel would make the best Big Sisters. Yes, Halloween has passed. But as long as such skeletons are allowed to dangle from the eaves, the Big Sisters can hardly fulfill the progressive program they began by split ting the vice presidency of the SAC to give the organization a full-time chairman. Broom the rest of the bones from that closet. Pat Krochmal Ed. Note: Because of the interest of this sub ject to most students, we suggest any opin ions be submitted to the Big Sister or ganization or the Skyscraper office where they will be referred to the proper sources. Jhe Kudcruper Vol. XXXIII Dec. 5, 1962 No. 5 All-Catholic The Skyscraper is published semimonthly. October to May inclusive, except during vacations and semes ter examinations by the students of Mundelein College. 6363 Sheridan Rd.. Chicago 26. III. Subscription rate is 2 Der year. Entered as second-class matter Nov. 30, 1932, at the U.S. Post Office. Chicago, III., under the act of March 3. 1807. The Skyscraper is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Catholic School Press As sociation. Editor in Chief Mary Jo Murray Managing Editor Barbara Brzezinski News Editor Mary Etta Talarico Assistant Maureen Racine Editorial Editor Eileen Schaefer Feature Editor Janice Jearas Layout Editors Pat Krochmal, Dianne Arturi Photo Editors Rae Paul, Elynore Deutsch Columnist Carlotta Serritella Artist Diane Mazza Staff Assistants Kathleen Sweeney, Pat Collins, Joanne Infantino, Louise Nunziato, Elaine Casello, Carol Jankow- ski, Tina DeRosa, Maxine Tyma
title:
1962-12-05 (2)
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