Evening star., 1961-01-29

our Stebe university, suddenly
announced when she came
home for the Christmas holi-
days that she is pinned. She
wants to get married during
the Easter holidays! Her hus-
band-to-be is a senior at State.
and plans to go into law. That
means three more years Of COL
lege. We've tried arguing with
our daughter, urging her to
wait until she finishes college.
but her answer Is, Don't be
so old fashioned. Everybody
gets married young these days" :"
She insists she will complete
her education. Is it likely?
What do you advise?
ANSWER: I don't want to
infringe on the advice to the
loyelorn" columns, but your
question is timely. I have re-
ceived a number of similar
ones in recent weeks. Should
my son get married while in
college?" anxious parents ask.
MY daughter is only Is, she
wants to get married" worried
mothers write.
The trend today is toward
early marriages; 1t also is
toward ca mpus marriages.
Some colleges report as many
as 40 per cent of their student
body already married. When I
went to college, most deans
would have frowned upon a
campus marriage. Indeed.
some colleges dismissed stu
dents who married before COM
pleting their courses.
Early marriages can succeed.
Much depends on the young
couple. And much will depend
upon the financial resources
available to the couple. viii
your son -in-law be able to sup
port his wife, or will you have
to support both Of them? This
Is q practical question that
will need a bread-and-butter
answer.
Many college students get
married and remain in school
to complete their work, But
what happens If a baby comes
along? I've known college girls
who vowed they would remain
to get their degrees--only to
drop out when they started to
raise a family.
Even though many campus
marriages are successful. !
would prefer to see my own
daughters wait until they COM
plete their college careers: At
81 a girl is not an old maid.
But many now thirik that is an
"old" age. So they get pinned"
we called it engaged" in our
day--and step DIP to the altar.
You ask what do ! advise? Sim
ply this: Postpone marriage
until your daughter is a senior.
and her fiance is about to put
out his shingle. Will she ac-
cept this advice? I don't think
so. Girls today seem to have
minds of their own. But that
is not serious. either. I have
seen many happy campus mar
riages.. And ! have seen girls
complete their college educa-
tions even after they have had
a child or two. Happy wedding
bells!
@. Can you tell me If it is
better to attend an evening col
lege while holding down a full
time job. or to join the service
and save enough money to meet
college expenses? Please give
this problem full consideration
because a large number of
American youth are facing this
decision.
A. Many young men have
attended evening college while
working full time, and have
succeeded in getting their de-
greeS. OF course, it will take
will power and stick-to-itive-
ness! Instead Of four years. you
may have to go seven or eight.
You'll be dead tired many an
evening and struggle to keep
your eyes open during the dull
part of the lectures. But you
will feel it was worth it once
you accomplish your goal.
But what Is the alternative
that you suggest? BY joining
the service, do you mean volun-
teering in order to get your
stint completed2 If so, that
might be q good idea. Two
years In the Army would prove
valuable, but whether you
could save enough money to 60
to- college later is another ques-
ton. I don't know the present
rate or Army pay, but I doubt
If it Is enough to give you much
of a college nest egg. The GI
Bill of Rights. which enabled
so many young men to go to
college after World War II and
the Korean conflict. no longer
is in effect.
! don't think the alterna-
tives should be service versus
evening college. Have you ap-
piled for a student loan? The
Federal Government sponsors
a liberal loan policy. Scholar
ships are available in many
colleges. The banks loan
money to college students.
What I'm suggesting is this:
See If you can get enough
money, through scholarships or
loans. to enable you to attend
full time. as that evidently is
, your wish. Whether you want
to join the service now or at
a later date is personal mat
ter. Much will depend upon