University of Virginia Library

Letters To The Editor

First-Yearman Risks Degree
For Freedom Of Knowledge

I am a petty first year man who
hopes to declare his major in
English at the end of the approaching
semester. I should like to relate
to you and my fellow students a
decision that I have made concerning
curriculum regulations for the
undergraduate degree in the College
of Arts and Sciences. I have come
to my conclusions not in intolerant
reaction against intolerance, but
rather in hope that my little effort,
and more that might follow in kind,
might result in constructive development
of our academical village.

The intolerance which presently
frustrates me is an intellectual one.
The regulations of the University
now require that I study a Math or
a Science and obtain six credit
hours in that area. I was burdened
with an even more encumbering
curriculum last semester and yet I
do not feel relieved in the least. As
a matter of fact, I am more
frustrated than ever because I now
realize how possible it is that I
could be entirely satisfied with all
my courses. Specifically, the problem
is this: I can drop Math I and
take my three hours, but I cannot
drop Geology I and take my four
hours time which I have been
serving, add them to the Math
hours and pass the area requirement.
Geology is a hyphenated
course - all or nothing. In order to
graduate from our academical village
I am constrained to sign up for
that silly course and listen to a
professor talk seventy-five minutes
twice a week about rocks. Not only
that, approximately once a month I
must regurgitate onto a computer
sheet what the course has taught,
attend lab once a week, all this for
nothing but permission to take
something I like. Dear sir, I have
dreams at night in which our
academical village transfigures into
a giant fraternity house, all the
members of which scurry from
room to room, trying to fulfill the
requirements for initiation. And,
sir, I am beginning to believe my
dreams.

I would merely like to learn
what I would like to learn. Really,
no one can make me learn what I
don't want to. All that a department
chairman can do is tell me
what I may not learn. Anyone,
therefore, who is responsible for
my ignorance when I have desired
to learn and have been prohibited
from it? I would like to take
English, History, Language, Anthropology,
Philosophy, or any in the
huge selection of humanity courses.
And I shall, right now. I am
dropping Geology I despite the fact
that I will not be permitted to
graduate here without it. I intend
to remain here after my sentence of
deficiency is passed, and if the
Unicops come to extrude me from
our academical village, I shall defy
them even them, reading my book
as they drag me out.

Some will chide, and tell me
that Geology is not that big a deal,
that I am only hurting myself.
Others will dismiss me as being
afflicted with a martyrdom complex.
First, if Geology is not that
big a deal, why should I hesitate to
drop it in favor of something
is? And if I am risking a B.A. degree
for mere freedom, what is a B.A.
degree, slavery? Secondly, if I am
suffering now by taking such an
unclear course and this ga
demanded of me by the B.A. degree
requirements, what is a UVa B.A.
degree representing? Besides, I can
always find another academical
village.

In all honesty, I would like to
stay here. I am hoping for no
sympathy, no extra consideration. I
only want what the University has
the power to grant: the freedom of
knowledge.

Who's Serious?

Though I have little interest in
or knowledge of the current dispute
concerning comprehensive examinations,
I was nonetheless struck by
your editorial of January 8 "Cutting
Down Comps." I have encountered
some disagreement about
this editorial and would appreciate
your help. Was this editorial sincere
or was it a parody of the more
ludicrous arguments against comprehensive
examinations? If the
latter, will you provide "equal
time" for opponents of comps?

David C. Dickey
Law 3

—ed.

Bah, Humbug!

In your editorial "An Awkward
Time," you said that the Christmas
Holidays are the natural end of the
first semester. But, I ask you, what
is natural about Christmas holidays?
Should we build our school
calendar around an old-fashioned
religious holiday? If the students
are annoyed by this "awkward
time" between Christmas and the
semester break, let's simply do
away with Christmas vacation. This
University can lead the way with a
new and progressive solution to this
old problem.