Maass Indicates Lack of Plans For Future Geography Courses

"There is no assurance that any geography courses will be offered in the fall," Arthur A. Maass, associate professor of Government, disclosed yesterday. H. C. Darby, visiting professor of Geography, who is teaching two half-courses this term, will leave the University at the end of the Summer School session.

The College has not had a permanent professor of Geography since the death of Derwent S. Whittlesey in November, 1956. At that time Maass was made chairman of a five-member Faculty committee to study the place of geography in the University.

"Our committee is not in a position to do anything right now," Maass said. "Even if we decide there should be a geography department or a permanent professorship, there is no guarantee that the necessary funds will be forthcoming," he explained.

Need Endowments

President Pusey agreed with Maass that endowments must precede formation of a department or a chair. It was also pointed out that the University gives a great deal more attention to geography than many people considering the problem seem to realize.

Although Maass said he was aware that "several departments offer courses that deal with subjects related to geography," he asserted that a well-trained and well-balanced geography department would make an important contribution to the University community.

In 1950, another Faculty committee, of which Maass was also a member, recommended the establishment of a four-chair department, which it said "could do a distinguished and well-rounded job." The proposal was rejected by the Committee on Educational Policy, which considered the needs of other departments more important than the need for geography, according to Maass.

The current committee plans to meet with Darby, who heads the geography department at University College, London, and discuss with him possibilities for a program at Harvard.