AN EAR TO THE GROUND

For the action of the Faculty Council in revising distribution requirements and for its decision to make the new requirements retroactive the College offers hearty thanks. Throughout this year the Council has followed a liberal and consistent policy in regard to the academic welfare of the undergraduate. New freedom in choice of courses, a more reasonable system for the passing off of language requirements, and the promise of reorganized elementary courses are all beneficial and highly appreciated changes which prophesy a more enjoyable and at the same time more valuable undergraduate program for study.

But the good work is little better than begun. Coming up for consideration and decision next year are three varying and immensely important problems. First, the Latin requirement and its prostitution as the basis of distinction between the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees must be weighed in the balance and thoroughly modified definitions for the two degrees established. The present preposterous situation in which a concentrator in Bio-Chemistry may receive the B.A. and a concentrator in English the B.S. must be conclusively abolished.

Second, a problem which is not within the province of the Council because it is not a matter of policy; the improvement of the system of Freshman advisers. Not only are many of the men now serving as advisers unacquainted with the workings of the various courses and hence incompetent to lend counsel to incoming Freshmen, but they are often completely indifferent toward their jobs. The fault lies chiefly with the system, not with the men. A better selection, on the grounds of interest and knowledge should be made, and greater incentive in the way of financial reimbursement offered. In matters pertaining so directly to the academic fate of undergraduates the University can ill afford to economize.

Third, the inefficiency which is undermining the whole structure of President Lowell's worthy innovation, the tutorial system. Roughly the same difficulties are apparent among the tutors as among the advisers, but here they have a far more pernicious and injurious effect. A man can after all reserve the right to his own judgment in accepting or rejecting the counsel of the Freshman adviser, but if he is cursed with an indifferent or incompetent tutor, he misses a serious proportion of the good which the College has to offer him. Limitation not amplification of the number of tutees is a necessary means to insure success for the system. Definite regulation of the kind and amount of work which tutors must do is a vital prerequisite. This regulation, as well as greater care in the selection of men who are to become tutors is to a great extent the responsibility of the various departments. Reorganization costs money, more conscientious attention to the needs of undergraduates under the tutorial system may be increasingly expensive. Here again, to reiterate, is not the place for strict economy.

With these three reforms a prospect for the coming academic year, and the solid beginnings which the Faculty Council has made already history, students in the College may hope for a beneficent and progressive continuance of the policies so happily inaugurated.