The Good Earth

With the death of Professor Derwent Whittlesey in 1956, the once-flourishing program of geographical studies at the University ended completely. The Geographical Institute stood empty for two years until it was finally taken over by the Department of Mathematics, another symbol of the demise of geographical studies.

Dean Bundy has now rejected a suggestion by a special Faculty committee which would re-establish the department. Calling for a staff with three permanent appointees plus several graduate assistants and cartographers, the committee's report asked for too much too soon. It has been estimated that establishment of a new chair costs $400,000--and the proposal for three permanent appointments, in addition to a staff, is impossibly expensive. Until the cost problem can be solved, any plans for geography should be shelved.

The committee rightly emphasized, however, that the historical method of teaching geography should be instituted here. Although used extensively in Europe, this method of teaching has never won favor in the United States. It does provide a logical connection with the Department of History--and a possible means of lessening the cost problems.

A chair in geography could be set up and financed in part by the Department of History. There is precedent for such an arrangement. Henry C. Darby, noted English geographer, taught a course at the University last year stressing the interrelation of geography and English historical development.

Such an interdisciplinary approach in teaching geography would benefit the University. Historical geography, geopolitics, or economic geography all provide fruitful approaches which should be explored. It does little good, however, to advance grandoise plans for a completely new department without a concrete plan for achieving them.

By necessity, any rejuvenation of geography must start on a small scale. Arthur A. Maass, chairman of the Faculty group, points out the difficulty of attracting any outstanding geographer to the University without providing him sufficient staff. The attempt should be made, however, to re-institute some sort of geographical instruction. Something would be far preferable to nothing at all.