Dee. 651977 0 Pi |Democr Dear Sir: Your publication of Dr. Porter’s opinion concerning the work load of convenors of the History/Political Science discipline compels us to ask you, for the sake of fairness, also to publish our reply. Dear Don: Our discipline has in the past carried its democratic convictions into practice as far as circumstances have permitted by, among other matters, rotating the office of convenor between its mem- bers during the past seven years. We undersigned have been among those privileged to serve as convenors of the History/Political Science di- scipline. Thus we know from - personal experience that the duties of convenorship, in addition to the teaching load of three courses, involve a heavier work load that the letters it that el a regular teaching load of four courses. However, our discipline realized and ap- preciated the usefulness of convenorship for the work of its members and, conse- quently, for their students.. The ange of the tasks per- formed by the convenors of the various disciplines of the Liberal Arts Division was thoroughly researched by our divisional faculty last summer and a copy of the report sent to you - we do not recall receiving either an acknowledgement or a com- ment. j We are disturbed by your remarks concerning the work of the convenors of our discipline which appeared in the ‘‘Other Press’’ on Nov- ember 22. They lead us to conclude one of the fol- lowing: 1. Either you consider the acy in practice past convenors of our disci- pline idlers who used their office as an excuse to reduce their work load at the tax payers’ expense, 2. Oryou are unaware of the work performed by our disci- pline during the past seven years, and have not taken the trouble of studying the above mentioned report either. Instinct inclines us to- wards the second view. We fail to find any hard facts in your statement to support your opinion. This approach stands in diametrical opposi- tion to the historical method by which the faculty of our discipline conducts its pro- fessional tasks. Roger Elmes George Porges John Reed Petition successful Dear Sir: Iam writing in regards toa recent problem brought as a request of a lack of com- munication between the ad- ministration, faculty and a class of English 319 stu- dents. These students were told in September that the course they were taking (Eng. 319), could not be combined with Eng. 316-317, which are compulsory courses for ho- noured and English major students, in order to achieve second year equivalent at UBC and SFU. These stu- dents were told that they had to combine with either of English 312-315 to achieve this equivalent and that the courses they needed would not be offered next semester. Consequently, they sent in a request to Bob Lowe, direc- tor of English and communi- cations, for one of these courses. A month later they found out that the course would not be offered as it took the whole month for the request to reach Bob Lowe and in this time next seme- ster’s curriculum had been set up. Once the class found out their position, they spent a great deal of time and effort talking to people and trying to get one of these courses offered. They talked to diffe- rent administrators and fa- culty members in trying to solve their problem. Conse- quently now even more time and effort was being spent on this problem. Through information coming in from different courses (a lot of wrong information at times I might add), a great deal of confusion was brought about. A large communica- tion gap arose creating even greater problems. Finally, after many mixed emotions, a problem that at one point during the pro- ceedings was found not to be there at all, was solved. The students found out that they could combine their 319 course with English 316-317. However, their request was still being denied and the students concerned felt short changed. After a little more added pressure, the English Department granted the class’s request and will be offering English 313, a study of major writers, next seme- ster or Thursday nights from 7-10p.m. This does answer their immediate problem, but ideally it is no good. This is because it is an unwritten policy of the college that when a course is offered the sequal to that course is to be offered in the same time slot the following semester. The English department states that they will comply to this next year with. these and ‘other courses. Let’s hope they do. A good lesson was learned by all this. If you ever experience this as a similar problem in the future follow this class’s example by im- mediately submitting a re- quest. However do not wait around and expect things to be done on their own, as a great number of things can go wrong and you will end up in the same, or an even worse position than the stu- dents in the afore mentioned class. Follow it up and don’t stop until you have achieved your goal. Yours truly, Doug Coates on behalf of the English 319 class Wootton replies to article To the editor, It is quite a sobering sight .to see one’s face staring back from every copy of the Other Press around the campus. I’m not sure that I'll ever recover. I found some of the dood- ling that a number of stu- dents had done on the cover picture in answer to the caption, ‘‘Why is this man smiling?’’ to be quite hu- morous. Glad to see there still is a ‘‘sense of humour’’ alive and active among the students this near to exam time. Thank you for your kind treatment of me in your “interview report’’. It was even kind enough that I coulc send a copy to my parents! I do have one point of clarification regarding the “slip of the lip’’ you referred to in the ‘‘perspective’’ sec- tion. My comment was that I'd like to be principal of the Rory writes home Howse all the O. Pressers? I ain’t made it here yet but . one never knows. Up at a place called Cameron High- lands lookin’ for the one eyed butterfly. It was monsoonin’ out today. The streets are flooded. Rory © New Westminster Campus -- not the downtown campus or the Queens Park campus -- but the New Westminster campus. In other words, no - the decision has not yet been made. Thanks again and a very Merry Christmas to all the “‘Other Press’’ staffers, all students, faculty, staff, ad- ministration and the College Council members. Dr. George Wootton Douglas College principal The Other Press would like to add a note of correction concerning an error which appeared in last week's in- terview with George. The term ‘‘summer_ sche- dule’’, used to describe the faculty wage scale should have read ‘‘salary sche- dule’’, |That makes more sense now, right?| by Cal Chambers The commercialized Christmas is well under way with the promise of greater rossness to come. I wonder if we are courageous enough to face the true Christ of Christmas. He is not what the advertisers have made Him, nor the poets or the ainters. When the artist has inished painting the manger scene there is absolutely nothing unattractive about it. It is a sweet, lovely scene speaking to us of middle class gentility. The words of the Italian painter Papini are disturbing to those who want to preserve the sentimental Christ of our almost Post Christian age. ‘‘Jesus was born into a stable, a. real stable, not the bright, airy portico which Christian pain- ters have painted for the Son of David, as if ashamed that their God should have laid down in poverty and dirt. And not the modern Christ- mas Eve ‘‘Holy Stable’’ ei- ther, made of plaster of Paris, with little candy like statues, the Holy stable clean and painted prettily, with a neat tidy manger, an ecstatic ass, a contrite ox, and the angels flutterin winter wreathes on the roof. This is not the stable in which Jesus was born. A real stable -this- a prison for the animals who work for man. The poor old stable of Christ’s poor old country is only four rough walls, a dirty pavement, a roof of beams and slate. It is dark and reeking. The only clean thing in it is the manger where the owner piles the hay and fodder. This is the real stable where Jesus was born. The filthiest place in the world is the first room of the only pure Man ever born of woman. Admittedly, it is hard’ to get beyond all of the tradi- tional and national senti- ments which have grown up around this event which is celebrated by the Western world whether they believe it or not. It is tragic that the traditions which once held meaning are now like a cut flower - cut off from the root, where there is life. The ever- green tree of Germany, the holly of England, the yule log of Scandinavia, the fire- crackers of China, the bélls and electric lights of the USA, are often symbolism which hide the revolutionary message of authentic Chris- a are approac tian belief and experience. e hristmas commercialized Page7 > birth of a ‘‘Savior’’ made sense in the first century, because the word salvation) had not degenerated into something spiritual and de. tached from real life. Sal vation meant deliverance freedom, liberation, the things which men of the las |. century longed for, dreamec of, fought for whenever pos: sible. It was a world in which men were enslaved not only| |. by the powers of Rome, but by fears, lusts, agonies, which robbed life of any sense of meaning and direc- tion. For Christians to an- nounce that God had come]. among them ip Joins Christ in order to identify with} them, in order to release them from the plight of their meaningless existence was almost too good to be true. Many refused to believe it. But many did, and found it to that the inner release of God’s revolutionary love into their lives enabled them to live a new kind of life which was totally transforming. There are plenty of people telling us what we should do! about our lives today - the temptation is to turn them all off, regardless of what they] are saying. But if there is anything that 20th century modern man needs is to discover a power which sets him free from the apathy, the search for personal peace and affluence by ignoring the needs of others, the tempta- tion to accept the authority of an elite group of intellectuals controlling us through mani- pulation, as long as our materialistic needs are met. Many people have dis- covered that this power is released into their lives when they realize the Jesus is Emmanuel - God with us. One of the most revolu- tionary religions today is “ommunism. The _ radical teachings of Marx and Lenin have swept over the conti- nents. These men wanted to change the world and they, as well as their followers. have done ‘more than any other power to change the life of modern man. If the philosophy of Communism is studied it is not difficult to see that the roots of Marxism are strangely present in the Christian faith. Bishop Ste phen Neale of India has written, ‘‘In a Study of the works of Marx and Engels their manuscripts reveal tha point after point what wa written was a recognizabl Christian phrase drawn fro -cont’d page 15 [this page. Page seven of the Other Press is reserved solely tor the purpose of correspondence and opinion. The views expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of this newspaper. Allletters and opinions must be typed at a 60 stroke line, double spaced and bear the name of the writer for reasons of validity. Submissions which are not signed will not be published. Letters should be no more than 200 words in length, and opinion pieces should either be 450 or 900 words in length due to space and layout requirements. We reserve the right to edit all letters and opinions for clarity and libel. Letters and opinions longer than specified will be edited to size. Deadline for submissions is 4 p.m. Fridays. The Other Corner, which is usually on this page, is,an opinion poll conducted by the Other Press in the hopes of Securing views on varying topics from members of the college commer who would not ordinarily come forth. If ed by a member of our staff toting a camera, please be receptive--it’s only their job.