"Can You Spare A Dime"

To the Editor of the CRIMSON:

Sir: I read in today's CRIMSON the adverse editorial on the proposed public oral divisional examinations of the concentrators in History and Literature. It is the most stupid thing I have ever heard of, and utterly lacking a bass is in reason--the editorial, with a bit of foresight, anybody can see how truly admirable the plan is. To line the greatest shame of all is that we must thank a Yale man for it. There is no possible reason why knowledge accumulated at the expense of the University should not be offered back, at least partially, and how better than by the oral examination of students in front of the large bodies of their sympathetic fellow students, who will have come to share in the expose of wisdom.

I do think, however, admission should be charged, if only a nominal sum, say a thin dime. The proceeds could then be used for large departmental teas, which would do much to promote the esprit de corps, to use a French expression.

I dislike to come forward with suggestions at so early a stage in the plan, but I would like to offer some constructive criticism. Why could not a series of contests be organized between departments--contests not only for the tutees, but also for the tutors? There could be, say, four departmental examinations taking place on the stage at the same time. To prevent collusion, the tutors instead of questioning their own tutees would examine each other's: thus a Chemistry tutor would question a concentrator in History, a Mathematics tutor, a tutee in Govt, etc. After their own examinations the tutees could be allowed to question a Fine Arts tutor in Bio-Chemistry, etc. Thus there would be a delightful complicity which would provide lots of merriment.

The winners of these round-robins, both tutors and tutees could then meet at a gala carnival of erudition for the Championship of the University! The final Champions, after receiving the Cup, which I have no doubt someone would donate, could then offer to answer any questions on any field that anybody in the audience could posit. You can easily see how intense the friendly rivalry between departments would become--the white heat of enthusiasm during the Finals, and the excusable pride of the winning departments.

So, if you are willing to be fair, I think you will admit that in a short time the examinations will be looked forward to with great eagerness--men will compete hotly for the honor of representing their departments, and what is now regarded with a bit of mal de mer, will be looked on, to use Dwight Fiske's immortal word, as FUN.

I forgot to say that we could send the winning tutor and tutee away to Oxford or Cambridge or both. R. C.