| Summary: | Page S THE CONCORDIAN May 18, 1962 Editorials Adventures of the Mind TO THINK is a continuous adventure of the mind, an adven-ture intriguing and perplexing that interprets a world of history and unwinds a world yet uncreated. It might be termed a safari or space shot, the exploring of the unknown or a sight-seeing lour, the review or analysis of the known and established. Bogged down in sluff courses, pseudo-intellectualism, and ex-tra- curricular activities, many Cobbers never set out on this adven-ture of the mind and utilize the questioning intellect to ask the simple questions: what do you mean and how do you know? Mud that bogs us down is mainly of our own making. We mix it when we refuse to set a challenging pace or demanding goal to our professors; when we let ourselves be fed spoonsful of classroom cod liver oil without examining its source; when we swallow without chewing the daily chapel diet. TO THINK: if we can learn this one paramount facet of our education; if classes, professors and editorials can trigger this pro-cess; if we can constructively criticize, accept what is legitimate and discard the remainder; then it is not idealistic to think that we can change the facts of campuses, communities and nations. But thinking is a painful process and students will some-times travel far out of their way to avoid the unpleasantness of creating and drawing out. Thus there are few who attempt independent study, who do more than the required amount. TO THINK encompasses yet another phase in the educational complex. Although only the individual can push the "think" but-ton, outside encouragement is needed to light the fuse. But here is also a deficit. For we need more teachers who encourage and yes, even force, students to think and criticize their ideas and offer suggestions of their own making. When this is not done and professors are predisposed toward mem-orization of details and lecturing instead of toward creative endeavor, openness to experience and class discussion, then the adventure of the mind is inhibited. In this adventure is determined our future—whether we will be society's drones or workers, its parasites or creators, its followers or leaders. To think, perchance to learn. C. P. 'To Tell the Truth' Ends Carlos' Year 'Be Ye Separate "Dare we invite an atheist to Concordia College?" Last week, President Knutson raised this question in chapel, a question which points to bi-polar analysis. Should we adhere to a "be ye separate" doctrine or an "in the world" one? Would such a professor be an animal in a showcase, to gawk at in wonderment or ridicule; such a professor could even lead students "astray" with "every wind of doctrine." It is doubtful that such abstract questions can be concretely answered, but a few observations could be made. If, as an educational institution, we attempt to isolate ourselves from all outside influences, then maybe something is wrong. If such a person were to become a museum piece instead of an educator, then maybe something is wrong. If such a person is able to shake the very foundations of Con-cordia, then something is wrong. The practicality of our doctrines lies in their application. What better place to apply them than within the context of our education? Here, questions are raised as well as answered; and these in turn, as they are answered, lead to more, ad infinilum. The application of Christianity demands that the individual, once he has committed himself, daily resolve the portions of his activities into a unity, a total outlook. Decisions are necessary. In deciding what is profitable, purposeful or productive in Christian living, our standard hits brackish waters, out of which must flow the continuum of committed Christianity. An atheist on Concordia's campus could just help crystalize the specific points of decision, could just prove the catalyst for resolu-tion of "either/or" situations. Pedantic squabbles over conflicting theories could become a living reality, a reality which could do much to destroy campus "lukewarmness." It would take a rugged individual to meet the challenge of Concordia; it would take a rugged Concordia College to hold her own in such an endeavor, but if we don't meet the call to "worldliness" with an equally fervid affirmation of faith, then maybe we don't have any purpose for existence. To wit: "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." beg (Ed Note: Under the guise of sundry purposes, these comments and commentaries have been col-lected through the semester for this feature. Carl will not have seen this until it appears in print. BEG) "I, Carlos von Carlos, am a senior at Concordia College, which I have gotten through in three years, and am fast becom-ing a legend. "This is my story, the story of my psychoanalysis! Give me an MMPI, just to see what makes up a sound (all sound) newspaper editor. The only question I remember from the MMPI is: 'do you think some-one is following you?' Good grief, this paper's been follow-ing me around all year! "I have a very large circle of friends—two or three. My first book will be coming out shortly; 'How I Attained my Humility;' it will have 10 life-size fold-out portraits — I've been work-ing on it since my days at LBI. "I don't go home much (Camrose, Alberta, Canada) because I can only get in cer-tain times of the year; I have to lake ancient trains, a stage-coach and a dog sled. There, I live in an igloo which my father has ingeniously plas-tered on the inside so that it can be used all year around, I work in the Arctic Circle, whaling in the summer. "I am a connoisseur of fine honey sandwiches (that's what makes people think I'm stuck up) and Chinese hangings; I en-joy doing handstands on chairs any time of day or night. I am also an artist at heart, and en-tered a 7th and 8th grade Mon-damin art contest. "At LBI, I had many re-warding experiences. I did push-ups over the Dean of Men's apartment one night. When he came up to see what was going on, I told him I was doing spiritual exercises, but * * by Bruce E. Gronbeck m Carl Pedersen -Constructing a Personality he didn't eat that up. "I am also a concert pianist, although I have never given any concerts. I guess I'll give it up, and sell dog sleds, Ramblers and Volkswagens with Dad. Or else, maybe I could become the Can-adian Carl Sandburg, what with my senior class poem." • * * The preceeding, of course, has been a fabricated mono-l o g u e , fashioned by Wes Mathre and myself, though we must admit that the most of the facts are true but dis-torted. The picture seen is quite a different one than is usually viewed of Carl Peder-sen, serious-minded editor of this paper, honor student and diversified talent-lode. "Carlos von Carlos," as he is often called, is really from Can-ada, really went to LBI (along with seven schools in Camrose) and actually did all of and said most of the things that have been previously written. His activity list would in-clude theatre. Cobber work. Carlos VOn Carlos —Concocting a Parody. The Concordian Published weekly during the school year except during vacation, holiday and examination periods by the students of Concordia College, Moorhead. Second class postage paid at Moorhead, Minnesota. Printed by Kaye's Inc., Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.A. SUBSCRIPTION RATE: $4 Per School Year TWENTY TIMES ALL-AMERICAN Member: ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS Office: Cobber Commons Buildinc — Phone CE 3-5124. EDITOR — CARL PEDERSEN Associate Editor BONITA GJERSVTG Academic Editor BRUCE GRONBECK Photo Editor GEORGE SPRINGER Business Manager JIM GOULD Advertising Manager . . . . RON GILSRUD Columnists PHYLLIS HOLMQUIST, PAT OVERGAARD Political Columnist MARC BORG Circulation Manager LINDA PAULSON Copy Editors KAREN STIBBE and FERN CHENOWETH Feature Editors MERV THOMPSON, JOANNE GUCCIONE Sports Editors LEE HAGEN, PETE HASTINGS Head Typists PATSY NORMAN, BARBARA HEXOM Layout Editor JUDY JO JOHNSON Contributing Editors JOYCE MONSON, NANCY LARUM Staff Members: Mary Jean Aarthun, Jean Bartz. Del Bye, Roger Haglund, Dorothy Haugen, Mary Margaret Larson, Rachel Larson, Bcv Melin, Carol Schnell, Lynn Sherwood, Aklko Sudo, Marlyne Troseth, Marian Wambhelm, Sherry Zerr, Steve Nelson, George Grlmsrud, Cynthia Thorpe, Sandra Jensen, Sylva Twedt. LSA, PEW (as a Canadian senator he took a lot of snide remarks), student - faculty forum. Beta Tau society, chapel choir, the musical (he edited the program this year), and is a member of Alpha Psi, Psi Sigma, Psi Chi and the Alpha societies (check your catalog to see the scope of these organizations). Two questions I once asked him should demonstrate some of his seriousness (more of it can be seen in the editorial across the page). What have you gotten from Concordia? "One thing I would say is a firmer application of Chris-tianity to social life and life in a community. I've learned (particularly from two profes-sors) how to think—I'm still learning that—how to ana-lyze, how to approach prob-lems, how to construct ideas, in the light of a Christian at-titude. "Another thing that's been driven home, through action more than words, is that the idealism often wished for is not possible . . . the realism of campus life is what we are often forced to accept, even in light of what we would like to be the case. "It's been the reconstructing of a personality in some fac-ets, development, because of the liberal arts. I'm really ap-preciative of the many areas we can enter in a school this size—for example, I would never had been editor of a newspaper in a larger school." The second question, more difficult to answer objectively: what have you contributed to Concordia? "I would like to feel that I h a v e contributed something through the newspaper. I've tried to create my own ideas, integrate the ideas of others and present them, not necessarily to have them accepted, but to have them thought about. Some bear criticism; some, I hope, have been beneficial. "There's more than one way of contributing to a college. Extra-curricular work is one thing, but "merely" being a student is even stronger. This is Concordia College — the student. Anyone who has been a student has contribut-ed as much if not more than those who have taken part in dozens of activities." Bound for the U of Chicago for study in international rela-tions, Carl should be able to look forward to an unlimited horizon, filled with challenges, challenges to be met with all t h e seriousness and lighter moods which have characterized his past performances. Vive la Carlos!
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