To the editor:

Your editorial of October 24 raises a number of problems.

One, the problem of quotations when quoting rather freely from conversation in committee meetings, personal engagements in the coffee shop, or in a professor's office.  The people cited, including myself, would have appreciated the privilege of reviews of the quotations before press release.  Conversations will become much more guarded if it is felt that you or a member of your staff are quoting without care or responsibility.  Whenever a person writes or speaks in public, he should realize that he is vulnerable to criticism.  However, private conversation is quite another matter.  If I had known that our table talk conversation was going to be printed, I would have at least appreciated checking the proper sequence of ideas.

Two, the problem of inner-school communications.  If you or any other campus group did not obtain signals from departments, teachers, administration, students, etc., is the editorial column the place to hoist the flag of communication failure?  Telephone, inter-office memos, coffee cup conversations are still open channels for communication and the building of bridges for understanding.

Three, the problem of image.  In that we know only in part, it is questionable that any one segment of the community can be sure of the "true image."  We need to relate to each other if we are to see how Bethel looks.  We need to hear from outside constituencies if we are going to approximate the "true image."

It is easy to distort an image if only part of the picture is revealed.  From your editorial, the reader cannot get the part of the image of Mr. Whitinger and Dr. Berglund as conscientious, dedicated, well-trained and disciplined musicians.  In their specialties, these men carry the respect of their peers in the musical world.  I, for one, am prepared to listen carefully to these men.  I may not always agree with them, but fully support them in their right to fulfill their commitments to the best of their abilities and professional training.

Sincerely,
Virgil A. Olson
Vice President and Dean