MARCH 15, 1968
Committees Begin Selecting Students, for Six Seminars
From a modest proposal to get a few students and administrators together, the program has snowballed into a massive project involving more than 700 students.
Mr. Coburn added, "I think it's one of the best things that's happened at West since I've been here. Here is, for the first time, a real opportunity for students to work beside the administration."
The only problem with the enthusiastic student support is culling out the 10 participants for each of the six seminars. Two students and an administrator from each of the groups have been working since Wednesday, March 6, to select their respective students.
At a meeting of interested students, which took place during homeroom and first period on March 1, Mr. Herman Rider, principal, stated that the purpose of the seminars would be to establish "clear lines of communication" between administrators and students.
Mr. Coburn later added, "What else results from them is of secondary nature." At the meeting Mr. Coburn presented the potential applicants with four methods of choosing the student members of the selection committees.
"We'd like a variety of opinions," emphasized Mr. Coburn - about the composition of the seminars. To insure objectivity, the applications had detachable identification slips whose numbers correspond to the numbers on the main part of the applications. Each committee member has an equal vote.
The question has arisen among some students whether or not the seminars are a sincere effort on the part of the administration to solve student problems or a political ploy to appease the hunger for change. However it may be, the answer will become apparent in the next few weeks when the seminars are well under way.
Administrative directors for the various seminars, which will meet at least once per week, are Mr. Coburn, Mr. A. K. H. Cochrane, assistant principal, and Mr. Wayne Rosenquist, director of guidance.
Other advisors are Mr. Fred Bencriscutto, dean of students, Mr. Eldon Burk, dean of boys, and Miss Jean Engen, dean of girls. The seminars should be ready with fully written reports of their findings by May 1, according to Mr. Coburn.