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Page 3 THE POLEMIC January 29, 1971 IS A COLLEGE EDUCATION REALLY NECESSARY? 'Far too maf)y students are in college who essentially have no business being there' With the increase of changing customs and attitudes among the student popula- tion today there are more ever-expanding paths leading to one's ultimate goal, and college, in no way, is the right path for everyone . The question is whether or not the struggle is really necessary, or better yet is this . your struggle? Are you pulling out hairs in search of answers to questions you have no interest in? Are you involved in projects or campaigns that are of your choosing only because you wish to impress someone else? Are you habitually depressed be- cause you are not doing what you would most like to do? If you can relate to any- one of those questions, then chances are you're putting in time at college for some- one else and not for yourself. Some curious reasons given for attending college, as revealed by a survey con- ducted by the University of Michigan, were "to get away from home, family pressures, social status and draft deferment." Seventy percent of the girls interviewed rep I ied they were there "to meet the man for me." In an article appearing in the December 1970 issue of the V.F.W . (Veterans of Foreign Wars) mag~ William GormtyL author of th~ article_,,_,,_Qoiri!s_QuUhaL _ "!~~ding educalors now are saying without reservation that too many people are in college. As a result the value of a degree has declined, student disorientation is pro- ducing campus disorder and class sizes are virtually unmanageable." Also included in the article was a quote from Dr. Bruno Bettelheim, professor of psychiatry at the University of Chicago, who stated that "far too many students are in college who essentially have no business being there." He also added that "many go to college because they do not know whc:1t better to do and because it is expected of them." In close agreement with him is Dr. Lincoln Gordon, president of Johns Hopkins University. "Higher education," he observes, "seems to be moving from a privilege to a right to an obligation for every young man or woman ." Because of this incessant obligation which many students feel compelled to adhere to there is an additional burden to bear along with the mandatory one of maintain- ing a passing average. Why such strife and confusion should be prevalent among so many students is not impossible to comprehend under such conditions. But what is hard to believe is that so many students subject themselves callously to this type of existence. It's not as if there were no alternatives. As William Gromly observes, there are "several career fields offering excellent salaries, prestige, stability and social mobility yet do not require a degree . The federal government, the aviation industry, broad- casting, electronics, utility & eonstruction firms have many job categories open to the non-college applicant. If you feel a strong compulsion towards some field and hesitate because of loyalty to someone other than yourself you may only be insuring an unhappy future for you and your family and nothing else. "The young man or woman who attends college for a brief period and drops out or flunks out often finds himself in a worse predica- ment than if he never attended at all," says Gromly. "Feelings of guilt or inadequacy are coupled with the embarrassment of confronting disappointed parents." If frustration and confusion seem to be the dominant characteristics in your per- sonality and you continually find yourself walking down desolate and un,ighted roads, then it's time to dig deep for something real. For only answers from within can quiet the ever mounting anxiety which builds inside us. James E. Coulston, Jr. 7 / PICKETT'S PHARMACY FAST EFFICIENT SERVICE and EXPERT PHARMACEUTICAL ATTENTION Alpena Planned Parent,.ood Association In the fall of this year, a Planned Parenthood Association was formed in Alpena. The Association is affil- iated with the Northern Michigan Planned Parenthood Association, which in turn is a member of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. The purpose of the Alpena organi- zation is "to provide leadership for the universal acceptance of family planning as an essential element of responsible parenthood, stable family life and social harmony--through edu- cation for family planning; the pro- vision of the necessary services, and the promotion of research in the field of human reproduction." Eight functions were developed to realize the above purpose: 1. Provide general and technical education on the value of Planned Parenthood and by helping to create public opin- ion favorable to it: 2. Provide medically approved birth control information in conformity with the laws of the State of Michigan. 3. Encourage the development of education for marriage programs: 4. Provide means, through referral or otherwise, for childless couples to obtain specialized medical advice on fertility pro- blems : 5. Serve as teaching and demOJl- stration centers for medical stu- dents, nurses, and members of other professional disciplines: 6 . Support research in human re- production: 7. Encourage and support the teaching of Family Life and Population courses in the schools: 8. Encourage and support child adaption programs. Although the Alpena Planned Parenthood Association is relatively sma 11, it is sti 11 in the growing stages and is increasing in size rapidly. It has recently been approved by Alpena's Interfaith Organization. Its membership consists of con- cerned individuals who would like to do something about overpopulation and family planning. Heading the Alpena Association is Mrs. William Zeller, chairman. Mr. John McGill, instructor of Biology and Nancy Dohn, student, are members from the college. The Association is presently dis- tributing literature in community pub- lished by Planned Parenthood Federa- tion, Inc. In the near future members will be speaking on over population Planned Parenthood to clubs and organizations who so desire these ser- vices. The Alpena Planned Parenthood Association hopes to attract interested Alpena Community College students who are aware of the detrimental effects of overpopulation and are wi \l- ing to do something about it. by Nancy Dohn Overpopulation. Its your problem, too. SUPPORT PLANNED PARENTHOOD