I believe that some comments
are in order concerning two articles
which appeared in the Friday, 22
October 1971, issue of The Cavalier
Daily.
In his editorial, Stuart Pape
intimated that "the faculty [is] still
uninvolved" in the question of the
growth of the University and its
attendant problems. This
description might-be reasonable, if a
grand average were taken over all
faculty members; but such a
composite "average" person does
not exist, for each faculty member
is a unique individual. Many of
these individuals are interested and
involved in the future of the
University, and quite a few are hard
at work trying to solve the
problems of growth. Diligent labor,
and not irresponsible monologues
nor fruitless confrontations, is
necessary to make this a great and
livable University.
Jim Beebe's letter to the editor,
which stresses that population
growth is the fundamental cause of
our expansion problems, is
completely apropos. Some may
quibble that this explanation is
simplistic, for it neglects migration,
rising expectation, and "progress";
but in the final analysis, zero
population growth is the only true
solution to our problems. Given
finite resources, limitless growth is
a physical impossibility. Until we
recognize this fact, we will continue
to "waster out energies" attempting
to keep up with boundless
expansion.
Kenneth C. Jacobs
Assistant Professor of Astronomy
