Skidmore News VOL. 7 NO. 13 WED., FEBRUARY 3, ’32 Curriculum Committee Suggests Forum Discussion Plan DR. THURBER ADDRESSES COLLEGE New Colgate Program Interests Members of Skidmore Dr. Clarence H. Thurber, Dean of Faculty and director of Educational Programme at Colgate University, has accepted the invitation of Dr. Moore to speak at assembly on February 4th. The faculty of (Skidmore have been interested in Dr. Thurber’s work with the University freshmen, and Dr. Moore and Miss Starbuck felt that an address on the innovations that Dr. Thurber has introduced at Colgate would be especially pertinent to the work Skidmore is now doing in that field. Dean Thurber was former head of Education at Syracuse University and was assistant for six years to the President of Buffalo University. On June 7, 1930, the Board of Trustees of Colgate University summoned him to be Dean of Faculty and head of the Educational Programme there. At assembly, February 4, Dean Clarence H. Thurber of Colgate University will address the student body on “Tasks of the Present Age.” Following this address, he will be the guest of honor at a luncheon given by the Curriculum Committee. Last fall this committee arranged the program by Professor Donald P. Cottrell, of Columbia Teachers College, who is also an authority on curriculum changes. The Curriculum Committee at (Skidmore is composed of eighteen members from various departments: Dr. Moore, Miss Starbuck and Miss (Bridgman, “ex-officio”; Dr. Hyde, Miss Moshier and Miss Reed, from the faculty; Senior student Representatives from each department, Pat Brownrigg, Monica Fenwick, Elizabeth Reed, Marjorie Gewecke, Marjorie Hyde Miller, Helen Saylor, Elizabeth Allen; and five Junior representatives. For discussion in the open forum in the afternoon, the committee has drawn up a tentative outline of subjects about which they would like to have the advice of Dean Thurber. The Music Department is especially anxious to procure for the graduates of Music the degree of Bachelor of Music as now they are able only to confer the degree of Bachelor of Science. Suggested Topics for Discussion at Forum I—Purpose and function of a college. II—Adaptation of Curriculum to Purpose of college. A—Freshman and Sophomore year 1. Orientation a. Freshman Week b. Orientation courses c. Professional training. d. Concentration on field of major interest 2. Contents of freshman and Sophomore year courses. B—Junior and (Senior year 1. Field of concentration a. How far should it go? b. Who should help student in his choice? 2. Study of examples of forms of advanced courses. a. Honoris courses b. Independent courses c. Tutorial courses d. Divisional examinations III—General Problems A—Survey courses 1. Purpose 2. Content 3. Required or elective 4. Relation to other courses 5. Examination of other courses in use Contemporary civilization Syllab (Continued On Page Two) Skidmore News Staff Adopts New System At noon on February 2 a meeting of the Editorial Board and the feature writers of the Skidmore “News” took place in the “News” office. A new system has been established (by which several departments have been placed under the control of special editors who are responsible for getting in weekly articles from their staff of reporters. The editorial board! is under the supervision of Dorothy Wallace and the feature editors are responsible to Elizabeth Wilson. The editors now include: in the Art department, Helen Crilly; in the Music department, Thelma Johnson; in the Secretarial Science, Charlotte Dean; in Physical Education, Jane Sutherland; in Nursing, Ruth Smith; in Home Economics, Eleanor Dickerson; in Languages, Constance Wilmot; in Sciences, Henrietta Schneider; in Social Sciences, Florence Ketchum; and in the Miscellaneous items, Dorothy Beaver. The feature writers are Dorothy Blair, Helen Cole, Harriet Gilchrist, Virginia Gramley, Edith Heilman, Laura Allen, Carolyn Kennedy, Dorothy Latham, Marion Lee, Josephine Meyer, Helen Nulty, Leon-ore Silverman, and Harriet Welden. The meeting was presided over by Patricia Brownrigg, the Editor-in-chief of the paper. A discussion on several of the best articles and features written this year took place. An announcement of the number of inches written by members of the staff, and their subsequent changes in staff positions was made. The question of scholarship fund which the “News” is building up though its profits was discussed. A fair sum has accumulated during the last few years, and the present profits will be added to that sum. Watercolor Exhibit Now Shown At Studio An outstanding group of watercolor paintings by American artists will be the next exhibit to be hung in the exhibition room at the studio. This is one of the groups sent out by the College Ant Association, and will be at the studio from February first to the twentieth. The collection will include, among others, some works of such famous painters as John Marin, Gifford Beal, Preston Dickenson, William Zorach, Charles Burchfield, Bertram Hartman, Henry Schnakenburg, and Ernest Fiene who has lately exhibited at the Whitney Museum in New York. These paintings are representative works of the foremost contemporary American watercolorists, many of whom are internationally known as artists of great merit. Miss Moshier considers that this will be one of the best known and finest exhibits to be shown here this year. We are anticipating this exhibition with much interest, for it is the first watercolor group to be shown this year, and those who saw the exhibition last year will appreciate the opportunity to compare them with these paintings. Art Department Will Sponsor New Course A course in “Medieval Cathedrals" will be given this semester by Professor Louis Edgar Johns, under the auspices of the Art Department. It will consist of weekly lectures illustrated by lantern slides and other material. Beginning with the Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals of England, the class will proceed to those of France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Attention will be also given to the sculpture, (Continued On Page Two) New Trustee Elected For Skidmore College By Board Of Trustees OTHER APPOINTMENTS MADE January 29, 1932. Miss Susan Dannat Griffith, prominent resident of (Saratoga Springs and New York City, was elected to the Board of Trustees of Skidmore College at its regular quarterly meeting this afternoon. Miss Griffith was thorn in New York City, her father, Griffith William Griffith coming to this country from Wales. She received her education in private schools, and early in her life, began to take an active interest in art and music. Her cousin, William Turner Dannat, whose name Miss Griffith bears, was the well-known American artist whose painting, “The Spanish Quartet,” hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. In 1909 Miss Griffith and her sister, Miss Margarette E. Griffith, began to come to Saratoga Springs for the cummer season, and in 1916 they built the attractive home on North Broadway, which is still the summer residence of Miss Griffith. They have shown a keen interest in the various civic activities of the city, supporting local educational, charitable and religious organizations. The Daniel Jones Griffith Choir of Bethesda Episcopal Church is one of their benefactions and is named in honor of a brother. Both Miss Susan Dannat Griffith and her deceased sister, Miss Margarette E. Griffith, have always been greatly interested in the work of Skidmore College. They have been generous contributors to the various phases of the college work. Besides donating to the Endowment Fund of the College, the Library, and the Organ Fund, Miss Griffith financed the remodelling of Griffith Hall which house the Home Economic laboratories, and the laboratories of the department of chemistry, physics and biology. At today’s meeting the appointment, as of September 1, 1931, of Miss Mary Elizabeth Finch of 'Saratoga Springs as Assistant Secretary to the President, was approved by the Board of Trustees as was also the extension of the part-time appointment of Miss Evelyn C. Niemann, as instructor in mathematics and physics for the second semester of the present year. A resolution was passed, expressing the regret of the Board of Trustees at the recent death of Mr. Stuart M. Don of Saratoga Springs, who was a member of the Board. Resolution on the Death of Mr. Stuart M. Don In the death of Mr. Stuart M. Don the Trustees of Skidmore College have lost an esteemed friend and a member whose services have been of great value to Skidmore College in the most critical days of its growth. During the important endowment drive in the years beginning in 1924 Mr. Don gave unstintingly in time and effort to make possible what will always remain one of the outstanding accomplishments of this College. His services were invaluable in this and every succeeding emergency, and he leaves the perpetual friendship of all who are friends of Skidmore. The Board of Trustees records this tribute of respect and gratitude in this minute and requests that a copy of the minute be transmitted to Mrs. Don, together with an expression of sincere sympathy with her in her loss, which is also ours. (signed) HENRY T. MOORE, President For the Board of Trustees Eminent Men To Speak Under Auspices of L.I.D. A series of lectures under the auspices of the L. I. D. are going on in Troy, Albany, and Schenectady. The same program will be presented in each of these cities. In Albany they take place Sunday evenings, in Troy Tuesday evenings, and in Schenectady, Wednesday evenings. They started January 19 and are to continue through February and March. Some of the eminent men who will speak are: Paul Blanshard, Director of the City Affairs Committee of New York City, and his topic will be “How America Lives”; William L. Nunn, a contributor to such magazines as “Labor Age,” “The Nation,” “The New Republic,” will discuss “Need for a New Political Alignment”; Theresa Walfson, who has had a variety of positions in the educational field of the labor movement, will discuss “Trends in the Labor Movement”; B. C. Vladeck, who has been active in the liberal and labor movement of the country, and also a contributor to the “Nation” and “World Tomorrow” magazines, will discuss “Breaking the Breadlines”; McAlister Coleman, whose book “A Biography of Eugene V. Debs” is here in our library, will discus “What Price Power”; and Reinhold Niebuhr, an editor of the magazine “Unemployed,” will speak on “Building a New Society.” We are hoping to get some of these well known men to speak at Skidmore while they are in this vicinity. But this is, yet, very uncertain. Students may attend these lectures. It is probable, however, that tickets for the lectures in Schenectady are nearly sold out, but tickets are still available for the lecture in Troy and Albany. This series is, without doubt, well worthwhile, and it would be worth the effort to take advantage of his fine opportunity. Kneisel Quartet Opens Program Here Sunday The Vesper service Sunday night will mark the initial appearance of the Marianne Kneisel String Quartet this year. The service will open with a group of numbers by the quartet. This will be followed by “Lamb of God” by Gaul with Mrs. Ethel King Comstock as soloist, accompanied by the quartet and the College Choir. Another group of numbers 'by the quartet will bring the service to a close. Professor Elmer M. Hintz has arranged an unusually interesting program for -the assembly on the following Thursday. The “Unfinished Symphony” by Schubert will be given by the Quartet, the College String Ensemble and two pianists, Miss Helen Novatny and Stanley E. Saxton. In addition to these two outstanding programs, the quartet will give a short, informal program each day, which will be open to the public and students. An unusual opportunity to become familiar with chamber music of this type is afforded students during the engagement of this prominent quartet at Skidmore. Each morning, the rehearsal is open to visitors. During this hour, Marianne Kneisel gives program notes of the numbers played and points out in an interesting way, the development of these numbers. Home Economics Club Entertains Freshmen On Tuesday afternoon, February 9, the Home Economics Club are planning to give a tea in the Home Economic’s House for the members of the Faculty and the students of the class of 1935. This is primarily to introduce the Freshmen to the House and make them acquainted with the girls of the department. Ten Eastern Colleges Represented At Smith Conclave SKIDMORE SENDS DELEGATES Outing Club Meeting Discusses Aspects of Outdoor Life The 6th annual Intercollegiate Outing Club Conference was held at Smith College on January 15, 16, and 17, 1932. Delegates from the following colleges attended: Bates College, 3; Barnard College, 1; Connecticut College, 2; Mt. Holyoke. College, 4; New Hampshire University, 1; Massachusetts State College, 2; Pembroke College, 1; Simmons College, 2; Skid more College, 5; and Smith College, 6. The Faculty advisor, Miss Vivian Osborn, President Laura C. Allen, Arlene Magaw, Marjorie Dempsey, and Christine Diemand represented Skidmore Outing Club. The first, event was a banquet of all delegates at the Hotel Northampton on Friday evening. The guest speaker, Mr. Fred Harris, Treasurer of the International Ski Association of America, is the founder of Dartmouth Outing Club, and winter sports expert and enthusiasm Mr. Harris introduced his speech with a story of his early skiing experience; when a boy, he made his own skiis and some thirty other pairs for his neighbors; these skiis were 9 feet long and 6 inches wide! In later life, Mr. Harris became the first man to descend Mt. Washington on skiis. As a representative of the United States at the International Skii Conference held in Norway, Mr. Harris Was privileged to vote on a question which has effected skiing as an event in the Olympics; Is downhill skiing to be considered a competitive event? Mr. Harris said that Norway considered it below their dignity to even consider “sliding downhill” as an event. As a result of the voting, however, all ski technique is to be recognized. Outing Clubs can help to create greater interest in skiing in the United States. Lack of snow conditions should not be a factor which is allowed to hinder the progress, in fact —The Great Britain Ski Club practices in Switzerland! Referring to Dartmouth Outing Club, its beginning and present organization, Mr. Harris said that the building up of the prestige is the first objective of such an organization. Although Outing Club membership is generally not exclusive, nor guarded by severe entrance requirements, such a club gives opportunities of which few other dubs can boast. Dartmouth Outing Club now has a membership of 1800 men and seven leaders. Each of the seven is responsible for membership, instruction, etc. In such a large club, decentralized responsibility is not only possible, but necessary. In the opinion of Mr. Harris, the balancing of responsibilities among several girls, rather than a few, is a progressive step toward active membership, and a fine point toward which Outing Clubs should strive. Affiliating the interest of Riding and Gun Clubs with the Outing Club at Hanover has contributed to its success. Enjoying outdoor life is seldom realized by an individual except when he is assisted by an organized group. Some students never will find their interests except through Outing Club; —a successful florist of Northampton first became interested in his present vocation through organized hiking. The place which this type of organization holds in the curriculums of various colleges is important. Hours spent in wholesome recreation are considered credit hours; Geology and Botany students go to greater fields for study; Art students find outdoor photography a help in their study of lights and shadows; students of cooking can put their knowledge to practice under (Continued On Page Two)