EDITORIAL: Learn from the Past

We urge Chodorow to considerWe urge Chodorow to considerthe many commissions andWe urge Chodorow to considerthe many commissions andcommittees, churned out by hisWe urge Chodorow to considerthe many commissions andcommittees, churned out by hispredecessors before implementingWe urge Chodorow to considerthe many commissions andcommittees, churned out by hispredecessors before implementingany kind of a college house systemWe urge Chodorow to considerthe many commissions andcommittees, churned out by hispredecessors before implementingany kind of a college house system___________________________________ Under the plan, students sharing common academic interests will live together. The residences will then be able to organize programs and activities reflecting those interests. We are glad that Chodorow continues to make undergraduate education a priority, just as he promised. But we are a little perplexed by his course of action, which seems to raise more questions than it answers. What will happen to all the commissions and committees, all the reports and recommendations churned out by his predecessors to improve the University? Will they be summarily ignored? Are all those hours of research, interviews and meetings destined for the recycling bin? What will become of ideas such as randomized housing which -- on the surface at least -- appear to be in direct conflict with the system Chodorow proposes? It is understandable that any new administrator would want to make a clean break with the past, but we hope Chodorow will stop short of throwing out the last two years' work and discussion in the name of change and progress. We reserve judgment on Chodorow's plan, which is still vague. But we urge him to look at the past, to read the reams of paperwork his predecessors produced, to understand exactly what makes this University unique and to know what will work here before making a final decision.