Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1959-11-19
Md. U. Defended

internationally recognized
leaders of intellectual thought
such as Tobias Danzig in the
field of English, Fred Singer as
a space physicist and many
others have been among the
scholars who have served the
University of Maryland for
many years. The quality of the
faculty at Maryland is not a
new development and while
these are best kown to philos-
ophers and educators, their pro.
grams have attracted the favor
able attention of newspapermen
in other cities. For example,
more than a decade ago, Will
liam Cunningham, noted Boston
columnist, referring to the Uni
versity's courses, wrote, "If you
are looking for a good place to
have your children given a
sane, well-balanced and thor
oughly A m eric a n education,
write for the catalog of the Uni
versity of Maryland"
Maryland, despite tremendous
growth to serve the needs of the
people of the State and with its
football prowess, has been one
of the distinguished universities
of the United States for many
years. Men from many nations
seek out the University as its
capabilities are internationally
recognized. Alumni include men
such as Gallo Plaza, former
President of the Republic of
Ecuador, who serve the entire
free world assisted by their
sound educational background.
The implications of some
newspaper stories of library ia.
cilities ignore the plain fact that
the prior University administra-
ton, during the period of rapid
growth of the University, pre-.
scented requests to the Maryland
Legislature for funds for a new
library building and that ar.
rangements for the present Ii.
brary were completed under DR..
Byrd's administration. Most inn
portant, not satisfied to wait for
a new building, specialized Ii
braries were developed within
the colleges to supplement the
facilities of the Universty's out
grown library building.
The attack on DR.. Elkins for
a disposition to, bend under
pressure, compromise on AGA
demic Standards" taking a,
cavalier attitude on issues in
volving academic freedom" or
for behaving, "like politician"
is ridiculous. 1t is true that the
Alumni Council of the Univer-
sity of Maryland took a strong
position against the "F Rule"
and that the University changed
the rule. This rule provided
that a student who received a
grade of "F" could not have the
"F" removed from either his
record or his average even by
taking the course over and re-
ceiving the highest possible
grade in the subject. The Coun.
Gil was concerned about t IN e
effect of this rule upon students
who found the transition from
high school TO the University
difficult or in other instances,
where students of University
calibre were willing to devote
their efforts to correcting
earlier mistakes. The change in
this rule obviously had no
effect or the quality of instruc-
ton. To those few who believe
that too many people are receiv-
ing higher education and that a
larger number should be ex-
PEELED, changing the "F Rule"
has been called bending to
pressure; but full investigation
would convince most rational
people that the University was
wise in modifying the rule.
To develop proper perspective
and understanding OF the posi-.
ton of the Alumni Council re.
lating to enlarging the Board of