Vistas ... perplexities by Arlene Wilson An honors class at Weber lives up to the title of the course, “Exciting Vistas and Moral Perplexities.”’ Subjects range from the conflict between science and religion to cloning and many intriquing subjects in between. Interdisciplinary, the class is moderated by Dr. Levi Peterson, professor of English and director of the honors program. Three professors in the sciences participate and give the standard, accepted background in life sciences. They are Dr. Eugene Bozniak, botanist, Dr. Lee Jackson, microbiologist, and Dr. J. Neil Jensen, zoologist. “The uniqueness of the class is the attempt to integrate knowledge,”’ said Dr. Peterson. “‘The honors course, 151, is taught each spring quarter and attempts to make honor students aware of the fundamentality of the life sciences, of the relationship between the various life science disciplines and of the social and moral implications of these disciplines,’’ said Dr. Peterson. Texts are ‘‘The Selfish Gene,”’ which looks at life from a genetic point of view, and ‘‘Who Should Play God?,’’ dealing with the perlexities of test tube babies. ‘It is part of the students duty to help work out answers to the questions,”’ said Dr. Peterson, ‘‘and of course in many cases there isn’t one. It’s an exploration of ideas and theories.”’ “There has been a revolution in knowledge with DNA. We constantly revert back to this in our discussions. It is the chemical, mechanics of life. “Authorities together in one class make it exciting." wai a stud of an honors class taught by Dr. Eugene Bozniak, Dr. Levi Peterson, Dr. Lee Jackson and Dr. J. Neil Jensen. Dr. Peterson serves as moderator for the class. In addition to the three professors, students are exposed to the expertise of guest lecturers and laboratory visits. Dr. James Megivern of North Carolina led a discussion on the conflicts between science and religion and pointed out that both are intensely personal experiences and he cannot deny what he has experienced in either the lab or in religion. Many scientists feel the solution to cloning for humans is almost known. The only real impediment to clonal humanity is a proper method for inserting the nucleus to take charge of the cell, according to ‘“Who Should Play God? Questions, answers and some cloning of historical figures, social experimentation, medical possibilities and the Methuselah clone, agreeing that many problems would have to be solved if cloning speculation bounced about the room, with students and professors picking up on the ideas almost like a game of catch. The same experience occurred again in a discussion of cloning. Dr. Bozniak, botanist, cited the fact that houseplants are clones. They have given up on “‘sex.”’ Many fruits are also clones. In cloning, the reproduction has characteristics of onlv one parent. “They actually know what we'te talking ‘about!”’ she said. Sophomore Linda Hicks feels the chance to talk about scientific ' subjects briefly eluded to in other 9 classes, but not explored, is the main strength. Other students offer H variety as well, she said. I “The best feature of the class is the wide range of life sciences, concluded Cheri Johnson, senior. §‘‘T personally have found the class one of the most exciting I’ve F ever been involved in either asa — The honors class discussed were to become a reality. student or a professor. It deals with} The discussion generated a high level of interest and participation. Carolyn Gentry, a senior, said ‘having people who are authorities on different subjects together in one class is the most exciting _ aspect.” absolutely vital issues because there about life and we have the flexibility to explore the spontaneous insights of both | professors and students,” said Dr. Peterson. | Four ‘Aspects of love” There are four different ‘‘aspects of love’ according to Rex R. Ashdown, assistant professor of social work at Weber State College and a licensed marriage and family counselor. People can experience one or a blending of the fours aspects of love. They are altruistic, romantic, companionate and sexual, he said. Altruistic love is an unselfish regard for, or devotion to, the welfare of the loved one. In romantic love the loved one is idealized and seen as being ““perfect,’’ or ‘‘one who can do no— wrong.” Johnson. Sex became a ‘‘physical exercise’’ where there was a great deal of interest in the mechanics, ‘‘how to,’’ etc. It was discovered, however, that simply knowing better mechanics of sexual behavior does not solve marital problems. “We are moving away from a mechanistic to humanistic aspect . putting back Love. Companionate love is when two people simply want to be with one another - sometimes they need not even converse. They are companionable even in silence it feels good just to be together. Sexual love is what is currently making the movies and is big business now. “Society has moved through interesting aspects of sexual love,”’ said Professor Ashdown. ‘‘Once it was a taboo subject shrouded in theology, mores, and myth. Then it was looked at scientifically with _ studies by Kinsey and Masters and ‘We are moving away from a mechanistic to humanistic aspect, trying to put “‘love’’ back into the sex scene... . feelings, commitment, and responsibility,” said Professor Ashdown. “It is unfortunate we lost sight of altruistic, romantic and companionate love. How often are these aspects left out of movies?”’ he asked. People too often don’t find these three aspects of love very stimulating and have decided the sexual aspect is the whole thing. Actually it is a minor part of love and short-lived. ‘‘Companionate love is the most common and probably meets the most basic needs of an individual . . Sharing of silence, holding hands and a sense of ‘belonging.”’ Professor Ashdown pointed out that it has been discovered even premature babies need more than “oxygen and nourishment.”’ They thrive and do better when they are touched and cuddled. In the 20’s a famous doctor advocated that children should be treated as though they were ‘“‘young adults’’. They should never be kissed or hugged and should be treated ‘‘objectively.”’ Mother love is a dangerous weapon, he claimed. Fortunately his claims have since been proven erroneous. When altruistic love is in a marriage and both partners concentrate on the needs of the other, couples can move into a state of bliss. When only one partner is doing it, however, it can get pretty “tacky.” If a husband is ‘giving and sees to a wife's comfort’”’ it takes maturity for a person not to become just a ‘‘taker.”’ Maturity on the part of both partners is the key to give and take in an altruistic love. . Romantic love has more or less" developed, said Professor Ashdowny, citing chivalry and the knights a carrying the handkerchief of an — idealized woman into battle... an idealized woman they could never. have, usually the Queen. It wast sexual. 4 Again, it takes mature people to handle romantic love. A woman — who thinks her husband is 3 ‘‘perfect’’ isn’t seeing reality and ~ vice versa. It is difficult for the on romanticized, to live up to, and function, at the level expected. We need romantic love, said ~ — Professor Ashdown. It is a part of cultural expectations. When youg : out for the evening your “withth best.”’ a Time, place and intensity are variables that effect the four aspects of love. There are “‘times” when a couple enjoys being apart” for instance. There are ‘‘times” — when a couple enjoys being apa for instance. They really don'ty to be together. ‘= “The four aspects of love do not run on ‘high’ all the time and they” do not meet a high at once and ~ stay there. A couple must a anticipate the ‘swings,’’’ Professor Ashdown said. '