June 7, 1973
On Being Controlled
In his already famous book,
"Beyond Freedom and Dignity,"
B.F. Skinner attacks the
establishment's assumptions
concerning the solution to the
world's problems with a radical
and challenging plan based on a
technology of behavior.
Skinner' declares," What we
need is a technology of behavior.
We could solve our problems
quickly enough if we could
adjust the growth of the world's
population as precisely as we
adjust the course of a spaceship,
or improved agriculture and
industry with some of the
confidence with which we
accelerate high-energy particles
or move towards a peaceful
world with something like the
steady progress with which
physics has approached absolute
zero."
This, however, is not
Skinner's first attempt to
introduce his stunning plan for
altering human behavior. Those
of us who have read rWalden
Two" are slightly aware of the
type of manipulation he is
talking about. In this book, as
well as in "Walden TWo", he
attempts to demonstrate that
scientific manipulation of
human behavior can made a
valuable contribution to
personal happiness and world
peace.
It is evident in both books
that his plan involves challenging
many of our most sacred ideals
and personal freedoms. It is
therefore not surprising, that the
book has already created
nationwide debate due to force
and shock of its ideas. Already
some of his own colleagues are
calling_ him_ radical. There is
undoubtly a great deal that can
be said for an against his plan for
solving the world's problems.
However, I am going to
confine this article to a
.few of
It is hardly surprising that
my own personal opinions
people are shocked and outraged
concerning several of his ideas.
The ideas expreeted in "Beyond after reading this book. The
Freedom and Dignity", are quite
essential characteristics of his
consistent with those expressed
plan appears to be the error of
earlier in "ThP Science of
turning persons into things.
Scientific investigations are
Humeri Behavior." Therefore my
comments will focus mainly on
usually conducted on objects,
the ideas expressed in this in this things, or patterns of relations
earlier: book, since I feel that between things, events, etc.
those ideas are the foundation for People are distinguished from
his plan to alter human behavior. things in that they experience
the world, whereasthings do
In his book, "The Science of
Human Behavior" Skinner not.
presents a very good argument It we accept the belief that
for a science of human behavior. we are
different from an object
His theory appears to be based or thing in this respect then the
on the belief that what a man question remains, Is a
does is the result of specifiable technology of human , behavior
conditions and that once these possible? I doubt it, but maybe
conditions have been discovered,
we can anticipate and to some
HAND NAMED CAMPUS
STATE AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS HEAD
Irving Hand, associate
professor of state and regional
planning at Capitol Campus, has
been appointed director of the
Institute of State and Regional
Affairs at the campus.
Mr. Hand's additional duties
were approved at the weekend
meeting of the University Board
of Trustees in Hershey,
The institute was established
at Capitol Campus earlier this
year as an interdisciplinary
research effort. It is concerned
with developing resesa.ch
activities in various disciplines,
including regional planning, and
utilizing them in terms of broad
public service.
Specific activities will include
contract research; policy,
planning and program advice to
public officials and industry;
training programs, conferences,
seminars and workshops.
Mr. Hand joined the Capitol
Campus faculty last September
after serving seven years as
executive, director of the
Pennsylvania State Planning
Board. He had been teaching on
a part-time bads in the campus
master's 'idEgree program in
regional planning since it was
established in 1987.
A native of Neer York City,
Helen Brown
extent determine his behavior.
He argues that although
human behavior is complex, it
presents no grave problem. He
further asserts that our study of
behavior is not limited to the
laboratory. There are, he states,
considerable degrees of control
over many relevant conditions
that affect our lives, such as
contol in industry in the form of
wages, in schools in the forms of
grades, etc.
There is, I believe, much to
be said in favor of his argument,
however, I doubt that these and
other such arguments are
sufficient to use as evidence for
extending the results of a
laboratory science to the
interpretation of human
behavior.
The type of environment that
he would need for the successful
operation of such a method as
the one described in "Beyond
Freedom and Dignity" would be
one similar to that in "Walden
Two" in my opinion, our
western world is not ready for
that type of control. I do not
believe that behavior can be
accounted for adequately by
considering any one stimulus
factor. I'm convinced that both
internal and external factors
play an equally important part
in determining behavior.
If we are to apply such a
method as Skinner has suggested
to controlling behavior, we are
admitting that there is a general
type of behavior that can be
attributed to all. This is, then, in
direct contradiction to the belief
that we are all unique individuals
and that it is this difference that
makes us complex and difficult
to study as we would some
unchangeable object.
Mr. Hand was graduated from
City College of New York. He
received his master's degree in
city planning at the
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology and studied for his
doctorate in public
administration at New York
University.
Prior to his appointment as
executive director of the State
Planning Board in 1964, he
served for 11 years as a planning
director of the Metropolitan
Planning Commission in
Nashville, Tennessee. He had
held a similar post in Tulsa,
Oklahoma, for four years and
previously served on the staff of
the Westchester County, New
York, Department of Planning.
He has been guest lecturer
and conducted seminars at
universities in Tennessee,
Oklahoma and Pennsylvania and
at Fels Institute of the
University of. Pennsylvania.
A nationally known planning
official, Mr. Hand is active in a
number of . professional
. groups
and served as national president
of the American Institute of
Planners in'l966-1968.
* * *
The Capitolist
RICHARDS
SEES DECLINE OF
MATH PROGRAM
by
R.W. Bonaker
Dr. Winston A. Richards,
Asst. Prof. of Mathematics and
Statistics, is an outspoken
individual deeply involved in
many areas of university
activities. In addition to being an
advisor to the Black Student
Union, he has, in the past year,
preseited two papers at
prominent conferences involving
mathematics.
He is also a Capitol
representative on the University
Faculty Senate, serving on the
Intra-University Relations
Committee. Richards, in a recent
interview, discussed many
topics, ranging from the degree
of "autonomy" Capitol enjoys
from main campus to a situation
regarding the decline of the
Math-Science Program since the
inception of the division
structure.
Richards said the
Intra-University Relations
Committee has passed guidelines
for faculty organizations
throughout the Penn State
systems. "Once organizations
comply with those regulations,
then responsibility can be
delegated, such as has been done
with Capitol's autonomy," he
related. "Before the autonomy
measure was passed last year,
undergraduates course had to be
approved by the Capitol Campus
Committee of the Senate. Now,
the courses received approval by
the Academic Affairs Committee
of our Faculty Council. Other
areas of autonomy are not
clearly defined, but I am certain
that the faculty does have more
freedom then the
administration." He said the
autonomy has meant different
things for the Capitol
Community, maintaining a belief
that autonomy can be
effectively utilized by how well
the campus provost can fight for
his programs at main campus.
Richards displayed genuine
concern over the plight of
Math-Science Program. He said
that in 1971, "without prior
consultation," the Math group
was placed into the Division of
Engineering and Technology,
humiliating the program
chairman, which resulted in a
"loss of energy and a crisir, in
lea dership." He said that
previously, the program was
stressing a series of Actuarial
exams, the development of a
graduate degree emphasis and a
brochure to recruit students into
the undergraduate Math-
Program. But since the division
structure was implemented,
those goals are not in sight, he
said.
Richards, who contends that
the Math-Science Program is
"not robbing other programs of
true Math students,"
recommends that faculty who
teach mathematics here should
remain in one cohesive program.
He said that all the math taught
in, other programs, such as
engineering and business are
interrelated.
"It would make sense to have
bigger sections of Introductory
Statisitics and then break into
smaller sections for the more
advanced sections. It would save
money and free faculty to teach
a wider variety of courses,
enabling specialization.".
** * *
Thank You
To the Members of the
Youghiogheny River Invasion:
I would like to take this time
to thank all the people who
participated in the White-water
trip for their cooperation in
what turned out to be a great
experience.
Also with your help we made
a clean getaway from Fayette
Campus and have been invited
back next year. Thanks again.
Bob (Hubie) Brannan
P.B. When in doubt --
Back Paddle!
BLACK EXPRESSION
UELEZO
As students we will have
occasion to someday look back
upon our schooling and
remember the good times, the
problems and the notable events.
• It is not often, however, that
students can recall, with both
pride and gratefulness an
Instructor. Proud because they
had the benefit of his dedicated
manner of teaching, proud
because they knew him and
grateful because he chose to
instruct at their school, grateful
for his kindness and
humanitarian interest in all
people.
We, the Black students of Caps ..odinpus are _
grateful that we had the benefit of an educational and personal
association with Dr. Winston A. Richards.
For the past four years, Dr. Winston A. Richards has been a
bulwark to the Black students. His guidance and services to them
will never be forgotten.
As the Advisor to the Black Student Union, he guided and
accomplished the establishment of the Black Student Union Choir.
A Capitol Campus first. Under Dr. Richards' , capable hands the Ch oir
attained notability through singing engagements at various schools
such as the Mansfield State College, Lebanon Valley College, etc. Dr.
Richards saw to the establishment of the Black Student Union
Scholarship Fund. Through this fund a Revolving Loan Fund and a
Tutorial Fund was initiated. These loans were granted without the
requirement of collateral. Dr. Richards suggested that these loans be
granted on the basis of trust in your fellow man.
Educational trips have .been accomplished through the undying
efforts of Dr. Richards. One of the most outstanding of the many
outstanding trips was the Cross Cultural Conferences trip to Canada.
An interracial group of students were chosen to participate in this
event by Dr. Richards. The trip entailed a display of cultures
throughout the world. The purpose of the trip was to establish the
feasibility of starting a C.C.C. at Capitol Campus. As Treasurer of
the Conference on Black Higher Education, Dr. Richards has many
times brought students and faculty to the conferences.
He attended such a conference in Pittsburgh this fall. He
contacted students for attendance at this conference. The Honorable
K. Leroy Irvis presided.
During the 1973 Black Arts Festival, Dr. Richards' guidance was
invaluable. Because of Dr. Richards, we were honored by the
presence of such notables as Dr. Donald Henderson, Associate
Provost of the University of Pittsburgh and Dr. Lloyd Bell also of
the University of Pittsburgh. Without his invaluable assistance, many
of the fine things accomplished at this festival would not have been
accomplished.
Dr. Richards, realizing the present difficulties many of the
students are having in obtaining employment, aided the Black
students by contacting individuals directly involved in this area.
Two such people were Mr. Robert L. Alberts, Executive Director of
the Affirmative Action Council, Mr. John P. Tunson, Claims
Supervisor for Aetna Insurance Company. Applications and
interviews were obtained from these fine gentlemen and will mean
summer employment for many students. Some students have and
will soon have permanent jobs through Dr. Richards' outstanding
and tireless efforts.
We are grateful also for the personal counseling and
understanding that Dr. Richards has given us. He has on many
occasions . disregarded his own personal life to give of his time to
students. Dr. Richards has taken students for job interviews,
Graduate School interviews, choir rehearsals and tutored those who
needed academic help.
With all of these involvement, Dr. Richards is a most amazing
man. He manages, and quite capably, to perform his duties as a
Faculty member, a member of the University Faculty Senate,
Intra-University Committee, a member of the Academic Affairs
Committee and a leader in the fight for Autonomy at Capitol
Campus.
Many individuals were polled as to their thoughts concerning Dr.
Winston A. Richards. Here are a few of the many fine comments:
"To me Dr. Richards is the Martin Luther King of Capitol
Campus. He was a light in 'the storm for me. I owe him more than I
can ever repay."
Mrs. Twyla J. Brown
"He looks out for your better interest. He's always there when
you need him."
"Dr. Richards is a "Hip Dude." He treats students as people and
talks to people on their level, not like "Hey look, I got a Ph.D., I
Know you haven't so therefore you don't know. He helps students
immensely."
He is loved and respected by students and Faculty. The Black
students at Capitol Campus soon learn that they have a very special
friend in "Doc." We all agree that Doe's O.K.
Dr. Richards, we thank you and we are most grateful that you
chose to come to Capitol Campus. But most of all we say thank you
to your lovely and •gracious wife Kathy. Mrs. Richards is quite a
lady. Thank you Kathy. We love you both.
WA WATU
Doc's OKAY'
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WEUSI
Miss Joyce Akins
Francis Riley
Elitsibetkpubey