History Department Will Weigh Proposal to Ease Requirements

The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC) of the History Department will debate a proposal next week that would change departmental requirements by allowing concentrators to take the one-and-a-half-course minor part of their program in any area of history other than their major.

The present requirements for history majors, formulated last year, stipulate that concentrators take two and a half courses in one field--their major--and one and a half courses in another specific area of history--their minor.

Dabble in the Department

Vernon Proctor '76, who will present the proposal to the committee, said yesterday that allowing students to "dabble in different fields" to fulfill the minor portion of their requirement would "bring flexibility" to the department.

Proctor said he expects his proposal to stimulate debate--in part because the requirement was changed so recently-- he added that faculty members he has spoken to appear receptive to the idea.

Robert L. Wolff, Coolidge Professor of History and a member of the UCC, said yesterday that he "didn't have any idea" whether the proposal would pass, adding that he could neither predict the outcome of the committee's deliberations nor make a decision himself until "all the arguments are heard, pro and con."

New Head Tutor

In another History Department development, John Womack '59, professor of History, confirmed yesterday that he has "agreed informally" to accept the department's offer to succeed Patrice Higonnet '58, professor of History, as head tutor next year.

A spokesman for Myron P. Gilmore '33, acting chairman of the History Department, said yesterday that the appointment has not yet been made official.

Higonnet, whose two-year term ends in June, said last week that the head tutorship should be "a three- or four-year thing." "It takes a long time to get to know everyone," he said.

Satisfied Sophomores

In other History Department news, Higgonnet said that although only 30 of 165 students in the department's sophomore tutorial completed questionnaires concerning the course, the results were "very favorable" and most students seemed satisfied with the sophomore tutorial program.

Robert L. Wolff, Coolidge Professor of History and a member of the UCC, said yesterday that he "didn't have any idea" whether the proposal would pass, adding that he could neither predict the outcome of the committee's deliberations nor make a decision himself until "all the arguments are heard, pro and con."

New Head Tutor

In another History Department development, John Womack '59, professor of History, confirmed yesterday that he has "agreed informally" to accept the department's offer to succeed Patrice Higonnet '58, professor of History, as head tutor next year.

A spokesman for Myron P. Gilmore '33, acting chairman of the History Department, said yesterday that the appointment has not yet been made official.

Higonnet, whose two-year term ends in June, said last week that the head tutorship should be "a three- or four-year thing." "It takes a long time to get to know everyone," he said.

Satisfied Sophomores

In other History Department news, Higgonnet said that although only 30 of 165 students in the department's sophomore tutorial completed questionnaires concerning the course, the results were "very favorable" and most students seemed satisfied with the sophomore tutorial program.