PAGE FOUR • 0p.% Lontinues' Active Learning Philosophy By KATHY McCORMICK staff hopes to achieve a "common goal...the ' Collegian Staff Writer enrichment of our academic environment." "Mini-Colloquy" carries on the spirit of the Such an academic environment, Beckwith said, A casual remark was made Colloquy philosophy this summer. Colloquy, goes far beyond learning in the classroom. at the winter meeting of the meaning "a conversation, especially a "Living is an education. Students shouldn't State College Chamber of somewhat formal one." is a student initiated think walking into a classroom is the best way Commerce in 1966. "Let's have educational program with a philosophy that to get their education because a great deal of an arts festival," someone strives for "the continual interaction of minds learning can take place out of the class." said. and ideas," according to Edward Beckwith, co- Rather, Colloquy strives to make students This week, July 19-27, orings chairman of the summer Colloquy. "aware that education is a self-motivating pro- to State College the results of goes t said " Beckwithcess.that a student who o This philosophy first took form Springthat casual remark—the third Term in a week long Colloquy called "The panel discussions does so on his own initiative. Central Pennsylvania Festival American Dream... Conflict "69". Featured Colloquy is therefore "self-motivating and out of the Arts. Keynote speakers Ralph Nader. Muhammad of the clasroom." he said. A progress report of Colloquy called the As described by David A. Ali and Al Capp each drew audiences between Leherr. Public Information 01 . - 3.000 and 5.000. The residence-based program program a new learning experience. By dif ficer for the festival, it will be included panels and discussions n ith invited fcrent groups of people working and learning a "unique blend of town be panelists who were specialists on the topics of together, it should "lessen the communication gown for the third straight discussion. The response to Colloquy was so barriers between students, faculty and ad- year in a presentation of art. favorable that a staff was retained for the sum- rninistrators as well as striving toward realistic music, theatre and dance. mer Beckwith said. curricular reform." Beckwith said the purpose of the mini- The summer staff feels it is part of a con- The greatest change in the Colloquy is to expose freshmen to Colloquy tinning program and as such is projecting its festival from past years is 'he through three panel discussions to be held plans for next year. Fall Colloquy will con- emphasis on children. This August 5,6, 7. Topics of the discussions are emirate on American higher education. year's festival will offer many "Drugs. Escape or Imprisonment." ..A Beckwith said invitations would soon go out to inure attractions for children National Crisis' Black or White." and "The educators all over the country for the than ever before. Paograms University: Is There a Place for Students?" In- conclave to he held Nov. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Both the for the children will induct a vitations have been sent to prominent students, fall and winter Colloquy wil ]be based on the film f estival, an art, show. creative dramatics, an art faculty members and administrators to par- first coring Colloquy. although Beckwith said, workshop, poetry and the ticipate on the panels. ''W e strive to present a unique experience with Williamson Puppet Siso w, In discussing Colloquy and its initial sue- every Program." according to Leherr. cess. Beckwith often used the words "corn- Amidst such ambitious goals, the staff has munay" and "cooperation." He said "Colloquy several projects for the summer. including the Leherr explained that the was the first time students, faculty, ad- planning of the August panels. They have also main reason for such an mmistrators and townspeople worked toward distributed 2000 questionaires to facility mem- emphasis on children is to get one community objective." He explained that hers to find their areas of interest and aug- adults to come to sue me money for the activities came from deans of gestions for the future. festival. He said there must be the various colleges. student organization., the John Montone. assistant professor of exhibits which are en:cresting Undergraduate Student Government and (loan. Human Development. is Colloquy's advisor. and attractive to aluldren so toss n merchants. Administrators and students Terry Jablonski USG Congresswoman, is co- the parents feel free to look offered their services while members of the chairman. Don Schall is also working with Col- around while their chadren are faculty took part on the panels and advised the loquy this summer. Schall originated the basic attending a program designed student oreanizers. idea of Colloquy early Winter Term when he on their own level. Through such cooperation, the Colloquy was Academic Affairs Commissioner of USG. "That isn't to say that atbaits Stitched Cloth Map Shows Him the Way Blind Prof Proves Efficiency of He's never even seen it. yet he probably knows the Penn State campus better than most people who have lived there all their lives. He knows every tree, every bump in the road, every crack in the sidewalk. Even the wind tk histling by a telephone pole or a puddle along the curb can have special meaning for Abraham Nemeth, visiting professor from the University of Detroit. Nemeth. you see. is blind. And although sightless since birth, his life has become a series of feats that even those who can see would have a hard time rivaling. Visiting Penn State as part of a special nine-v, eek study Institute, Nemeth, who already nuns degrees in psychology and mathematics, is fast becoming an expert in the field of computer science and even goes to theatre, enjoys the movies and ''watches" television. "I have to say though, I don't care much for 'Mission Impossible,' " he laughs, refer ring to one of today's top TV spy thrillers. "There's just too much tiptoeing around. For 15 minutes at a time all you hear are footsteps, car horns, doors opening and closing and a lot of clicking noises. For guys like me, you know, it gets kind of tough figuring out what's going on." To Nemeth. an associate professor of mathematics at the "U of D" as he likes to call it, life is simply a matter of paying attention. "People today really only operate at about 40 per cent ef ficiency." he explains with the calculating mind of th e mathematician he's always been. "And that's not bad, because the moment anything goes wrong, you ha v e something in reserve. If people worked at 100 per cent efficien cy, then they'd have nothing to fall back on." The map on his wall at Penn State is living proof of what he It's no ordinary map. but rather a piece of cloth. six by three feet, hanging f r o m several thin strips of masking tape. The map is a lame scale TIM lives this summer Downtown housing or legal problems 865-6851 or 238-9043 OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING AVAILABLE (ALL STUDENTS - UNDERGRADUATES AND GRADUATES INVITED) WHITEHALL PLAZA APARTMENTS 424 Waupelani Drive (Phone 238-2600) FURNISHED APTS: Efficiencies and One & Two Bedrooms FREE: Direct Private Bus Transportation To & From Campus—Tennis Courts-- Ai r Conditioning—Gas For Cooking. Fully Equipped Kitchens • Walk-in Closets • Laundry Rooms • Individual Thermostat Controls • Ample Off• Street Parking. 'RENTING NOW FOR FALL TERM OCCUPANCY BEAT THE DORM INCREASES—visit our Renting Office in Building H and see for yourself the accom modations offered. of the regular campus map printed by the University, Only in this case, the roads have been sewn on the cloth in 7ig-zag stitch and the buildings numbered in Braille to corres pond to a special Braille card key. Both were prepared by Alrs. Ruth Peters, a volunteer Braille transcriber in the Detroit area. Simply by "letting hi s fingers do his walking," Nemeth can find his way just about anywhere, using his hands first to trace the way. then transferring this knowledge to his other senses. The feeling of the cracks in the sidewalk beneath his feet become the directional signs which tell him whether he's on the right path or whether he's beginning to veer off to the right or left. Familiar noises of traffic, honking horns and purling motors reveal that he's ap proaching an intersection. And the sounds of nature in the trees, the voices of youngsters hard at play. even the crevices in the cement become impor tant landmarks for his jour neys. Small wonder, then, with this! type of system, that one of the, Instructors in the Computer: Science Institute which 1 brought Nemeth to Penn State, in the first place, remarked: "He - knows the campus better, than I do, and I teach here." ! "I use a white cane of I course," Dr. Nemeth points. out. "But it's not really for me. 1 I don't use it to find my way or' anything like that. It's really something to let the other guy know about me." A member of the faculty at the University of Detroit since 1955, Nemeth actually started his academic career in the field of psychology because "way back in m y un dergraduate days, they told me math was too hard for a blind man, and unlike students today. I listened." He received his bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Brooklyn College and his master's degree in psychology from Columbia. But no one seemed to be hir ing blind psychologists in those days, and so Abraham Nemeth found himself working as a THE DAILY COLLEGIAN, UNIVERSITY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA shipping clerk during the day and playing the piano in the back rooms of bars at night. "Finally, one day, my wife said to me, 'wouldn't you rather be an unemployed mathematician than an unemployed psychologist?" he recalls. "That's all I needed." And so in 1946. Nemeth went hack to school to start all over again. Actually it meant start ing from scratch, because to, achieve his doctorate in math, he had to make up a large' number o f undergraduate courses first. It also meant devising thej country's first mathematical system in Braille providing a, means for the blind to read and interpret the complex mathematician. from t h e, simple two plus two to thel complicated expressions of I algebra and calculus. The results of his work were published in 1965 as "The; Nemeth Code of 13 rail le GRAHAM'S chocolate 59c a lb, Reeds twists peppermint cinnamon arise root beer butterscotch 69c a lb. around the corner from the A Store on Allen Street Third Festival Begins Mathematics and Scientific Notation." But the real payoff came in 1964 when he ‘‘ as awarded his doctor of philosophy degree from Wayne State University-18 years after he started. For relaxation, Nemeth plays the piano..."mostly the popular stuff. yon' ::now. music F FRIDAY U ale BILL FOX U QUINTET Mood music for your dancing pleasure lowest take-out prices in town This Year's Emphasis On Children won't enjoy some of the children's shows. It is that the children can enjoy the festival, too, and without gett.ing bored," he said. One major criticism of past festivals, according to Leheir. is that there has not been enough outside talent. This year's festival has changed that, too. Included in the list of outside talent are the Walt Harper Jazz Quintet; The American Brass Quintet; Salvadore Guida, mime and Josef Smiley, magician. Local talent will be well represented, also, to include the Alard String Quartet: Earl Wild, classical pianist and Alma and Jack Bassett, a dance team. Also included in the agenda for the festival are Helen McGeehee, da n c e lecturer. Eunice Norton. pianist and Samuel Hazo, poet. There will be a variety of in door and outdoor theatre pro ductions including "The Mar i iage Proposal." "The Bore," and "Babes in Arms." Some of them will be performed by North Catholic High School of Pittsburgh. winners of the 1969 Pennsylvania High Sch o o l Drama competition, and the State College High School. The art. photography. crafts and experimental film con tests, which have dracVn en tries from around the state, Man to steal hubcaps by and thine like that. ' "Sometimes I play classical music too. but then I buy sheet music in Braille." But if there's one thing outstanding about Abraham Nemeth. it's his sense of humor. It's always there. whether he's talking about his work, his fun or his handicap. will be judged by professionals Housing some of the pro- Festival of the Arts i s in each field and prizes w ill b e grams for the festival will be sponsored by the State College the honeycomb buildings being awarded. Area Chamber of Commerce constructed on campus. They A clothesline art show will be are an experiment of the and the University College the Arts and Architecture with presented on the fences which architecture students of the have been erected on College University to detcr m i n e support of the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts. There is no whether the structures can Avenue and around the mall on admission fee to the festival,- withstand the weather. If the campus. Paintings will be hung the finances for the program experiment is successful, the on the fence for exhibition and coming from a 53500 grant structures might provide a new sale and should be reminiscentfrom the Pennsylvania Council and cheaper building material of Greenwich Village and San . of the Arts and from thousands for homes and officebuildings. Francisco, accor d i n g to of dollars worth of gifts, Leherr. The Central Pennsylvania Leherr said.—Rß NO, NOT REALLY. The fence along the wall on College Shades of Ave. and up the mall was set up for the Central Pennsyl vania Festival of the Arts, July 19-27. The fence will be Berkeley? used for the Festival's "Clothesline Art Show" where paintings will be exhibited and sold. -Yal/1 cAeOi Sho 4 Days Only TODAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY FURTHER REDUCTIONS 40 % OFF ON ALL SUMMER MERCHANDISE INCLUDING: DRESSES BRA-DRESSES PANT DRESSES SPORTSWEAR CULOTTES SKIRTS SLACKS SNORTS KNIT TOPS BLOUSES SWEATER ROBES LINGERIE SWIM SUITSBRAS G raiiDLES 40% OFF 1 / 2 PRICE OPEN TODAY 2)re.1.4 & f lop 8:30 A.M. - 5 P.M. 130 SOUTH ALLEN STREET STATE COLLEGE, PA. METZGE iw .r.r 4. , ince MOVED TO 434 E. COLLEGE AVE. Sword & Shield Bottle Shop Complete Line of Student Supplies and Sporting Goods • • • 0 • SWORD & SHIELD BOTTLE SH • P OPEN: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.-4:00 -1:00 a.m. Wed. & Sat. - Noon - 1:00 a.m. THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1969 Next To —Collegian Photo by Roger Greenawalt
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers