To the editor:
Re: "UBC rakes in big money within education racket," March 21.
Mark Hasiuk speaks of the bloated UBC administration. He would have liked the 1950s when Dr. G.M. Shrum spent six hours a week running the physics department (7-9 a.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday). He was also head of housing and several other things. UBC does produce useful, professional graduates. It also preserves and extends knowledge, as a university should. (Why does Hasiuk oppose the study of Sanskrit-a language of great historical importance?) However, it also turns out a large number of half-educated people who are not readily employable. Some of them should instead take a vocational course in a college or technical institute. Those with a serious interest in arts or science should be given a better program. One might abolish the four-year BA and BSc degrees and replace them by six-year MA and MSc. There is, of course, no chance UBC would accept this, unless imposed by a determined government.
Peter Rastall, Vancouver
