Rotunda vol 62, no 7 oct 19, 1982

Page 1

THE ROTUNDA VOL. LVII1

lX)NGWOOD COLLEGE, FARMVILLE, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19,1982

NO. 7

If its Monday ^hismustbeLongwood "I know when I was a student I would have given anything for an opportunity like this, also when I was a faculty member; now the opportunity is real or appears to be real (for the student or faculty member) and we've got to do some creative thinking on how we can achieve it," said Dr. Greenwood about a possible exchange of Ixmgwood students and faculty with the students and faculty of foreign universities. An exchange program may be just one of the results of Dr. Greenwood's recent trip to Europe. "The Mission to France" sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) with excursions to Holland and Spain ended last Sunday, October 10. While in France, Dr. Greenwood visited four major universities — The University of Nice (located on the southeast coast of France, near the Mediterranean, "a magnificently beautiful area" ), two universities in Paris — Paris-Dauphine and Paris Nanterre and the University of Lyon located in Lyon, France. "France is on a different system of higher education than we are," said Dr. Greenwood. Anyone who wants to go to college can go — there is a minimal fee of about the equivalent of $100.00 in the U.S.

for anyone wanting to attend (not including room and board). In high school they study what we might study as general education requirements in college. In college they immediately become more specific: their first cycle (cycles are the equivalent of about two years in college) is like our last two years with intense concentrations in their majors. The second cycle is the equivalent of a master's degree and the third cycle is equal to a doctorate (this cycle tends to be longer than two years). However, she pointed out, there are definite drawbacks. Higher education is highly centralized everything is controlled by the ministry (French government). This type of socialism insures security (teaching is a guaranteed life-time job) but there is no incentive — which is bad. There is no concept of higher mobility — a lot of inbreeding results which leads to stagnation in what is being taught and what is being learned. A number of the univerities were interested in Longwood's teacher education program (particularly Nice University) because it is an area which they are just beginning to get involved in. Their other interests are concentrated in business and high technology. "They took us on a tour of the

Renault factory in France, first thing. They are extremely interested in the area of high technology and training in this field", and with good reason. "What I saw (at Renault) was a factory where 85 per cent of the work was done by robots and 15 per cent was done by humans, and they still employed 18,000 workers watching the machines, and pulling maintenance." They feel America is dropping far behind in high technology and believe in the future there will be only five major auto industries. Renault is planning on being one of those. How? By high technology training in the universities and colleges — computer literacy and familiarity with terms and concepts dealing with automated plants and factories. A number of the French universities showed interest in possible collaborative research between faculty and students from the different universities. The University of Nice offered a particularly flexible program of a student or students going there in September to take a concentrated language course and then, depending on the student!s)' wishes, staying on for a year or a semester, taking courses at Nice. In Spain, at the University of Salamanca, interest is also being

shown in student and faculty exchanges. Doctor del Greco, whom Dr. Greenwood met during her visit to Madrid, Spain, discussed the possibility of such a program. However, the politial unrest in Spain at this time is a drawback to such an idea. Dr. Greenwood said that the country seems to be anticipating a military coup sometime prior to the national election. That point was brought home to her when sitting in a restaurant next to the table of the President of Indonesia (who was visiting Spain then), she found herself amidst a number of bodyguards bearing machine guns. Surprisingly Holland may be even more difficult to arrange an exchange program with. Unlike the other European universities, Holland allows only a certain number of students to enter higher education, and this is not based on money (it'stree) or merit. Rather, it is based on Lady Luck. "They (Holland) have a lottery system that decides who gets into college," which is a shame because there are a lot of advantages to studying in Holland. They speak English, and have one of the highest standards of living of any European country (minimum wage, $15,000 per year) and "the country is phenomenally clean, even riding through the lowest class areas you don't see low class houses with junked cars. There is unemployment — but those people are taken care of by the government. You can sit and do nothing and still be well-to-do | by our standards). Dr. Greenwood did say that a faculty exchange in Holland may be possible. Her visit with Clemens and Neeltje van de Ven who live in Holland near Amsterdam proved

to be pleasant and productive. "They (the van der Vens) have agreed to serve on the Fine Arts board atLongwood.'The van der Vens, who own and have restored Snowden, a James River plantation in Goochland County, are owners of an extensive collection of porcelain vases. Mrs. van der Ven, adepi at restoration, "would have the skills to help restore the old high school" (which is under consideration as a possible location for the fine arts center)" said Dr. Greenwood. While with the van der Vens Dr. Greenwood toured the Palace Loo (William and Mary's Palace). "I was able to see, firsthand, the outcome of his restoration — beautiful." Yes, Dr. Greenwood did get a chance to visit the I^ouvre during her trip but didn't seem to enjoy the "cram-packed conditions." Apparently the day she visited was the day the museum allows free passes (they generally charge a fee). The only other incident which bothered her was a very large dachshund ("they take their dogs with them everywhere!") that got air sick on one of her flights, " the stewardesses took care of it though ... they . seemed experienced in such matters." In January the van der Vens, including two of Mr. van der Ven's brothers, hope to visit the college. The younger Drotner Steven would like to give a presentation for students of his political journalism. Next August the President and Vice President of the Paris-Nanterre University will be here for the opening of school. During the last two weeks of April or the following fall the other Presidents of the French and Spanish universities may also visit Ixmgwood.

From Yale To Longwood

Workers finish demolishing remains of condemned house opposite the high rise dorms.

office on 1st flooi West Ruffner. It By LIZ D'SURNEY "I liked the new administration is decorated simply. A few chairs team, especially the president and a loveseat are arranged close who was a big attraction...the together forming a conversation size of the college, and its ,area. A German coca-cola label, traditions... also, the enthusiasm hanging on the wall across from of the people I met and that of the his desk is one of the few German student body." These are a few of mementos from his Berlin tne reasons Dr. Haltzel, days. He graduated with a B.A. Longwood's new Chief Academic from Yale, and A.M. in Soviet Officer decided to come to Studies from Harvard, and a Ph.D. in history from Harvard. Longwood. Dr. Haltzel's office is He has studied abroad in Berlin, located in the Vice Presidents (Continued on Page 3)


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Rotunda vol 62, no 7 oct 19, 1982 by Greenwood Library - Issuu