-
editorial
Evaluation
deserves
handbook
support
It has been called the longest running debate at the
University. The issue is whether or not students should have
access to course evaluation forms filled out in class at the
end of each term. The forms would then be used to supply
data for the creation of a course/instructor evaluation hand
book to assist students in choosing classes.
The controversy started in 1966, when University Pres.
Arthur Flemming announced that course/instructor evalua
tion forms drawn up by a student committee would be given
a “trial run.” When the ASUO published the results of the
evaluations in an attempt to assist students in their selection
of classes, some disgruntled professors threatened to sue for
libel. Course/instructor evaluations were then discontinued.
In 1975, the Oregon State Legislature passed a law re
quiring evaluation forms for all instructors teaching courses
from 001 through 499. The ASUO again tried to gain student
access to the forms in order to create a course/instructor
evaluation handbook, but once more they were refused per
mission and were unable to carry through with plans for the
handbook. Since 1975, the ASUO and the Student Universi
ty Affairs Board (SUAB) have repeatedly pushed for a
course/instructor evaluation handbook, but they have been
systematically denied access to the evaluations needed to
create one. The main opposition to ASUO and SUAB efforts
has come from the University Assembly and the State Educa
tion Committee. In November, SUAB brought the issue up
again.
In our opinion such a handbook would be an important
resource for students, and we commend SUAB and the
ASUO for continuing the struggle to publish a
course/instructor evaluation handbook. Harvard University
has been publishing such a handbook since 1924. The
University of California also uses one, as does the University
of Washington, Johns Hopkins University, Princeton
University, and many others.
The University Assembly has opposed the creation of
such a handbook on grounds that, among other things, it
would turn teaching into a popularity contest, that it would
encourage faculty competition, and that the student evalua
tions would furnish inadequate or misleading information.
When looked at in light of the success of course/instruc
tor evaluation handbooks at other Universities, such
criticisms are groundless. On the contrary, course/instructor
evaluation handbooks have not only assisted students in
choosing classes, but they have also assisted faculty
members in strengthening their teaching skills. Further
more, far from the creation of faculty popularity contests, a
course/instructor evaluation handbook may have a salutary
impact upon professional arrogance and pomposity. And
finally, in the mature environment of a University and with
the creation of valid questionnaires (such as those used at
Harvard), a course/instructor evaluation handbook would
create an important resource for students, while also
creating an important system of accountability for
professors.
As the new SUAB proposal to gain student access to
course evaluations gets under way, we hope that the Univer
sity Assembly and University Pres. Paul Olum will support
SUAB’s effort. Some of the best schools in this country have
used course/instructor evaluation handbooks for decades,
and the results have been positive for both faculty and
students. We encourage members of the University faculty
and staff to support students in what they have been striving
to attain for 19 years.
letters__
I
Quite simple
In its editorial “Anti
abortionists give conflicting
messages" (ODE, Jan. 16) the
Emerald, after rightfully con
demning the bombing of clinics
by militant anti-abortionists,
and after insinuating that pro
lifers like President Reagan and
the Rev. Jerry Falwell are really
hypocrites, says that it hopes
that pro-lifers "will see abortion
for what it is: a complex social
issue...”
Ah, yes, the old “It’s a com
plex issue” argument. We know
it well. But, actually, the issue
is quite simple; unborn babies
are being tom limb from limb,
burned alive by saline injec
tions or are ripped from their
mothers’ wombs by
hysterotomy (C-section) abor
tions and tossed into garbage
cans to die. These "operations”
are performed on 1.5 million
unborn victims every year.
And where is all this killing
happening? In El Salvador? In
South Africa? In the far reaches
of Outer Oogie Boogie? No. It’s
happening right here in the
good old USA.
And guess what? You folks
have cast your vote in favor of
all this killing. Now I know that
you don’t support violence or
killing or even abortion. No,
you support "Choice” (with a
capital "C”). Yes, Choice! The
Choice of a mother in cahoots
with her abortionist to
dismember or bum alive her un
born child, for her peace of
mind and his profit. (Abortion
is Big Business!)
But what the heck. I know
that you pious folks are so busy
with your worldwide crusade
Oregon daily
m era Id
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for human rights that you can't
afford to expend any of your
precious righteous indignation
over such a little thing.
Tom Visoky
Journalism
Watch out
1 have had it! I’m tired of fly
ing off my bicycle because peo
ple are too ignorant to look
before they cross the street.
Imagine college students
who can’t remember the first
thing their parents taught them.
Twice in the last 2 months I
have literally flown off my bike,
sacrificing myself because these
ignorant people don’t look.
To you, the kid on the
skateboard who came shooting
out from Chapman Hall across
13th St. with your head turned
away: thanks for stopping on a
dime so you could jump off and
allow me to ride up onto your
skateboard and flip over my
handlebars in front of a thou
sand people. Fortunately, the
pavement felt soft today and I
didn’t break my arm. Hope you
learned something.
And you, the woman who
stepped out into the bike path at
Alder and 14th St. without even
looking, you’re lucky I swerved
into the oncoming traffic
sliding down onto the wet, leafy
road and laying there so you
could continue to walk across
the street.
People, be aware! Please, for
your safety as well as us bike
riders, look both ways before
crossing the street. H's really
quite simple and it might save
someone’s teeth.
Lauri Neely
Telecommunications
Throwing mud
Emerald trashed Jerry Falwell
for being against fetuscide but
for nuclear bombs (ODE, Jan.
16), while the Emerald, under
the guise of ‘‘choice,” allowed
for the option of fetuscide and
denounced the bombs. Such
spurious logic typifies the posi
tion you advocate.
To make that choice must you
also resort to: "Tu quoque”
Falwel! can’t be right about
abortion because he’s wrong
about strategic defense, and “ad
hominum" if all else fails,
caricature the advocates of life
as Bible-toting, bomb-throwing
Ayatollahs (Emerald cartoon). I
agree with the Emerald, we
need a dialogue: but I regret that
the Emerald began its dialogue
by throwing mud.
Timothy Smith
Music
Bike theft
Well, you’ve managed to do it
again. You have taken an other
wise calm collected University
student and transformed him
into an irate uncontrollable
beast. Surely you must know
what I’m referring to here. Front
wheels of parked bicycles just
don’t suddenly pop off and
walk (roll) away. They are
assisted by irresponsible in
dividuals) like yourself.
You probably have no idea
what it is like to be crippled.
Crippled in the sense that I, like
many other college students,
depend on my bicycle for
transportation to and from cam
pus. It is the only set of wheels
that 1 own (or did own). I should
have known that you would be
back on campus again this year
after cutting my cable and
riding off with my bicycle last
year. Although you only
managed to get away with my
front wheel this time. I can only
reinforce that old cliche, “crime
doesn’t pay’’.
Sooner or later I will catch up
to you and resolve my frustra
tions in a calm and collected
manner. But until then, I ask
you this: Why must you make
life hard for me and other col
lege students with similar pro
blems? Do you want the Univer
sity campus to be overtaken by
irate uncontrollable beasts
waiting to get their claws in
you? Think about it before it’s
too late!
John Falconer
Architecture
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