News Release (February 14, 1968)

PAGE 1

,.--NEWS RELEASE NEw CoLLEGE SARASOTA, FLORIDA 33578 813 / 355-7131 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Climate and architecture may make for superficial differences on a college campus, but students are pretty much the same anywhere in the United States. That was the conclusion of Chris Hoffman, a junior history major at Yale University, who was a recent visitor to the New College campus. Hoffman said that Yale, being a much larger school, probably has a wider cross section of students than New College, but noted this cross section includes students similar to those at the local institution. "Probably a higher percentage of Yale students are involved in politics," Hoffman said, "especially in relation to urban problems. This is largely because Yale itself is in the midst of an urban problem in the city of New Haven." "Of course, we have radicals of all persuasions," he continued, "from the far left to the far right." Hoffman noted the Yale image is changing. "Although some students still go to Yale because of its name and because of football, more and more attend for purely educational reasons." "Yale is becoming more innovative educationally, too, a fact that leads many alumni to complain." Hoffman explained that Yale has abolished its 0-100 grading system on a trial basis, and has substituted for it a system of grading by designations of honors, high pass, pass and fail. And he noted there is pressure to reduce even further the number of "grades" given. more

PAGE 2

NEW COLLEGE Page 2 "We've been trying other experimental programs,11 Hoffman said. 11Like a five-year bachelor of arts program. Between the sophomore and junior years, about 12 students are given an opportunity to study in Europe. The college pays for transportation and passports and so on." While at New College, the Yale student attended several classes. When asked how New College classes differ from those at Yale, he stated: 11I understand most New College classesare taught on a seminar basis --at least those I attended were. It's generally not possible to do this at Yale, because of its far greater size.11 "Courses at Yale are usually on a lecture basis, but they often break up into smaller groups for discussion. So it's a combination of the two approaches." Students at Yale have virtually no student government organizations, Hoffman noted. "There's the Senior Advisory Board, but that's mostly a study group." The main student force is the Yale Daily News. It's entirely run by students, and can exert a great amount of pressure on the faculty and administration." And what about those superficial differences? "It's certainly warmer here. And the dorms are quieter --there's a sense of seclusion, and a sense of community, too. I don't really know what atmosphere I'd prefer to study in." 30