Visitors: Sociobiology and Texas Funk

Never let it be said that Dartmouth's calendar of events lacks diversity. "Last month, within a three-day span, the College was visited by two distinguished persons: the noted scientist Edmund O. Wilson, of Harvard University, and "Texas Funk" performer Jerry Jeff Walker, of the College of Hard Knocks.

Professor Wilson, in Hanover to deliver a pair of lectures, is an expert on entomology. His recent contributions to the controversial new science of sociobiology have made him something of a celebrity. Sociobiology, to be a bit unfair, is not really a new idea. Attacking the notion of man's "uniqueness," its proponents argue that much of our behavior is conditioned by inherited genetic traits. These traits set up a sort of "developmental landscape" that can be changed only with great effort - if at all.

If, as Wilson suggests, such a large part of what we do and think is indeed dictated by these internal mechanisms, society must face up to some disagreeable dilemmas. For example, in the world of sociobiology there can be no goals external to our biological nature and no evolution to a higher intelligence. The notion of man's perfectibility, said Wilson, "grows dimmer each year." (Wilson was invited to Dartmouth by the Religion Department, which indicates tolerance on the part of the Religion Department. "If this stuff is true," said one professor, "then we are out of business.")

Wilson acknowledged that the insights of sociobiology are likely to cause much confusion and despair at the loss of treasured beliefs. But there are advantages to "facing reality." Instead of accepting inbred behavioral patterns, we might rationally analyze our traits and "automatic restrictors." Through a heightened awareness of biology, we could more successfully adapt ourselves to our environment. Some secondary traits might even be rejected. Wilson did not elaborate on this but gave as an example the trait of "territorial aggression." Useful to early man, he said, such behavior would be global suicide today.

If Professor Wilson's hypothesis is correct, something unusual must have happened to the genetic code in Texas over the past few generations. There is no other way properly to describe "Texas Funk, whose leading practitioner is one Jerry Jeff Walker. The author of such classics as "London Homesick Blues" (better known as "I Want To Go Home With The Armadillo") and "Redneck Mothers," Walker has a large following in Hanover. His two Thursday night shows packed Spaulding Auditorium. RowdinesS is a standard theme in Walker's music, and his fans responded in kind. They came in Stetsons, cowboy boots, and ranch jackets stuffed with packs of Red Man chewing tobacco and bottles. The campus police felt helpless: "We took the liquor, but what can you do about tobacco juice?"

About five minutes before the warm up act finished its set, a husky voiced man approached the ticket desk at Spaulding. "Is this the Jerry Jeff Walker concert?" he asked. Informed that it was, the man smiled with apparent relief. "Well, I'm Jerry Jeff Walker," he said, "could you tell me how to get backstage?"

About the only thing that got a rise out of Jerry Jeff Walker was the bottle of Wild Turkey bestowed upon him by the brothers of Theta Delta Chi at the close of the first show. Walker later paid a visit to Theta Delt for a chat with the boys and a few social drinks. Unlike sociobiology, Texas Funk doesn't seem to worry very much about man's perfectibility.