Salzburg Seminar Ends 4th Summer

The Salzburg Seminar, a unique organization designed to help Europeans understand the United States, completed its fourth, and most successful session this summer, according to William F. Gleason '50, one of the administrators of the program.

Participants from thirteen European countries attended the six-week session. Nations represented included most of the Western European countries; three Czech refugees also were able to attend.

Professors from American Universities conduct discussions at the Seminar, thus assuring the participating students of top-level information on the United States and its culture.

Picked primarily for a common interest in America, the participants at the Seminar included journalists, students, teachers, civil servants, and even businessmen.

Twin Goal

With the common interest as a starting point, the Seminar then strives toward a double goal. First, the Seminar tries to counter the effects of such poor sources of information as the movies, it tries to help the participants to understand America as it really is.

Secondly, through their common desire to study America the students find themselves drawn together in such a way that tends to break down so-call national barriers. In working together to understand America, they are better able to understand each other.

The Seminar carefully selects approximately 100 European young men and women between the ages of 25 and 35. They are picked primarily on the basis of their preparedness for the Seminar.

Primary prerequisite is an interest in America. The desire to learn about and to understand the United-States is vitality necessary.

Position of the prospective participant in the Seminar is also important. People whole jobs are such that they can influence others are particularly desirable.

The Seminar was held in Leopolskron, a 210-year-old castle. Instruction was carried on in an informal manner, with the European students meeting the American professors around a table. (see cut).

Among Seminar students doing graduate work here are: Geffrey Caston, England, School of Public Administration; Franz Stanzel, Austria, Dept. of English; and Nicola d'Agostino, Italy, Dept. of English.

Harvard students who attended the session as administrators: William F. Gleason '50; John B. Jones, Jr. '50; Ray W. Karras '51; Frazier Meade '51; C. Leonard Gordon '51. Herbert Gleason '50 is now Assistant to the European director.