Last-Minute Shopping

It has never been much of a secret: Harvard is swarming with dilletantes. For these people the University created Gen Ed coursse, in which academic tablehopping prevents any student from suffering any one type of boredom for too long. When these students grow out of Gen Ed, they don't want courses, they want divertissements; and, like the dilletantes they are, they hate to be left out of a good thing. With only hours away till study cards can be handed in without enlarging the University's already bloated endowment, the Crimson offers a last minute shopping guide.

Long the course shopper's Via Condotti, the Fine Arts Department is offering at least two bargains this autumn. The first is Fine Arts 152a (Tu. Th. at 11), billed in the catalogue as Prof. Ackerman's course, but placed at the last moment in the worthy hands of young, brilliant Everett Fahy. Fahy teaches Fifteenth Century Italian Art with a sympathy for both his subject and his students. For Low Country fans, there is Prof. van Regteran Altena, who wowed his first class by delivering a forty-minute lecture in verse (on Seventeenth Century Dutch Art). The rest of the lectures in Fine Arts 158 (M. W. F. at 11) will be prose efforts.

In History, it's the last time ever that Crane Brinton will teach. Enough said. People who miss out on Brinton should remember that Near Eastern Languages 190 will be given again next Fall. Not yet a brand name in guts, NEL 190, which counts for history credit, nevertheless gave Brinton a run for his audience last year. Non-Gentiles were most pleased with the grading. Seniors should seriously consider the five History 90 seminars.

Lift the lid off an Anthro course and you'll find it squirming with dilletantes. The most exotic course this term is Anthro 112 (M. W. F. at 11). Introduction to Archaeology, which sets you up with everything but the invitation to a dig.

Ec majors have long suffered from the wonk image, but all this time they have been quietly laughing the last laugh and taking Ec 101 (Tu. Th. 2:30-4:00), The Economy of the United States, and Ec 108 (M. W. F. at 9, Spring Term), Economic Development and Underdevelopment. Both courses are taught by charming, interesting lecturers who have the courtesy not to lean too hard on the red pencil.

In Gov there's no doubt about it: It's fashionable to be rigorous. With this sad fact in mind, there are two especially intriguing courses to look at. Michael Walzer's Gov 104 (M. W. F. at 10) will anguish over one's obligation to one's government, and potential CO's will find good company and good ideas there. Prof. McCloskey's Gov 107 (Tu. Th. S. at 10), American Political Thought, allows students to make their own reading lists.

The grass looks several shades greener in the Spring Term. There are a few courses for which it might be wise to save room. History 160c sounds like the course which brilliant, tough-minded Bernard Bailyn has always wanted to teach. It concerns the Emergence of the Liberal State. James Thomson will be teaching History 171b which treats American-Far Eastern Relations and will hit Vietnam. Thomson is a good talker who worked in the National Security Council on the Far East. And no Harvard Education is complete without a little James Joyce. Reuben Brower will discuss him and other English authors in English 162.