Editorial
New requirements
improve standings
With the highest Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores
of any class in six years, the Freshman class that entered
Oregon universities this year nearly doubled the nationwide
rate of improvement.
While the massive improvement may be due to luck, a
closer look at the situation reveals the real answer. The im
proved SAT scores have a direct correlation to tough, new
high school requirements for Freshmen entering any of
Oregon's public universities.
SAT math scores improved by 12 points and verbal
scores rose by nine points compared to last year, according
to a report by the Oregon State System of Higher Education.
Because test scores improved the same year that new admis
sion requirements were instituted, it is clear the re
quirements are the source of the large jump. State officials
should be commended.
* The new requirements include stipulations that high
school students who wish to enter an Oregon university
must complete four years of English, three years of math and
social science, and two years of science. Each of these stan
dards, which should have been enacted a long time ago. will
work toward giving incoming students a well-rounded,
college-preparatory education.
In addition, the higher standards will improve the
reputation of Oregon universities as well as boost the morale
and academic standing of many incoming students. Pro
fessors will be free to concentrate on more in-depth issues
without having to cover material that should have been
covered at the high school level, new students should be
able to finish their lower division requirements sooner, and
the need for remedial courses will decrease. Tougher re
quirements challenge students to improve and work toward
perfection.
The standards also could boost the Freshman retention
rate and decrease the amount of other students who flunk
out each year. The pressures of college academia can be too
much to handle for many new students. Integrated English
and math classes coupled with proper counseling in high
school could make students feel more comfortable with
lower-division college material, and could lower their
chances of dropping out or transferring to other universities.
The new admission standards were implemented
despite criticism from some who said the requirements
would limit access to higher education and spark a
downward spiral in enrollment. In reality, enrollment in
creased substantially. Oregon schools averaged a 2.2 percent
enrollment increase compared to last year, and the Universi
ty realized an impressive 3.6 percent increase.
Also, even with the increased admission standards,
most students are still meeting the basic admission re
quirements. Jim Buch director of admissions and records,
said that of 4,511 students who applied for admission to the
University, only 796 were denied admission.
High school students serious about attending college
had an ample amount of time to complete the required
courses before the new requirements were approved two
years ago. In addition, the University made a substantial ef
fort to inform high school students of what the new stan
dards would include and when they would be instituted.
For students unable to meet the standards, basic re
quirements can be met through other options, such as com
munity colleges.
The requirements are not intended to be elitist, or to ex
clude anyone from a college education. They are simply
designed to raise the standards, and ultimately the quality of
education, for those attending an Oregon university.
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Letters
No irrationality
This letter is in reponse to
Robin Stalcup's criticism of a
previous letter of mine which
had suggested that there is an Ir
rational element in the
methodology of science. Unfor
tunately. his criticism was not
directed at the content of my
position, but rather was an
argumentum ad hominem — an
argument directed against me
personally. Apparently. Stalcup
has not seriously thought about
the meaning of science as a
cultural accomplishment and
instead has uncritically ac
cepted the taken-for-granted
views of science as the highest
form of human rationality dr as
the embodiment of the ideal of
progress. He ignores the
presuppositions at work in
science which prevent it from
being a truly universal system
of rationality, including its im
plicit dualism of subject and ob
ject (the Cartesian heritage), its
manipulative experimental
method (the victory of artifice
and technique over observation
and insight), as well as its
idealization of the sensible life
world through its abstract
mathematizing of nature. The
"limitations of space" which I
referred to in my previous letter
concerned the 250 word limita
tion on letters to the editor. Pro
fessor Marrocco. whose com
mentary my letter was in
response to, had an entire page
to develop his arguments while
I had to settle for a paragraph. If
Stalcup actually wishes to learn
more about the evidence for my
position he can contact me by
phone. Given the perversely
emotional tone of his letter
though. I doubt that he has any
genuine interest in hearing me
out.
Clyde Davenport
U of O
Look again
1 have always respected David
Herman and his creative film
programs, particularly the Reel
Changes Cinema which is
responsible for unearthing a
number of fine features
overlooked by the modem film
going community, so I was a lit
tle more than upset at the reac
tionary tone of his letter (QDK.
Oct. 21). His claim that
American westerns are "trash”
and have nothing to do with the
"renaissance" of American film
is simply a blind attack on ar.
undervalued genre of film that
is central not only to the history
of cinema, but to our very na
tional identity.
Had Mr. Herman taken the
time to attend a few of the
Forum’s western offerings, and
made up his own mind, he
would have found a truly
subversive Marxist allegory in
"The Naked Dawn,” a tender
study of individualism, friend
ship and the drive to escape the
prison of wage labor in "The
Lusty Men,” and an analysis of
the greed, hate and racism that
drove one man from "civilized”
America to the Sioux nation to
build a new life.
If these values need some ex
cuse in the eyes of Mr. Herman,
then I suggest he look again. If
he feels that the violence in
herent in the genre defeats these
values, then I ask him what
makes the explicit dismember
ment of a Samurai warrior in
"Sanjuro” and the brutal knif
ing of a nude Janet Leigh in
"Psycho” more acceptable por
trayals of violence.
Sean Axmaker
Film Coordinator
Cultural Forum
Letters Policy
The Emerald will attempt to print all letters containing
fair comment on topics of interest to the University
community.
letters to the editor must be limited to 250 words, typed,
signed and the identification of the writer must be verified
when the letter is turned in. The Emerald reserves the right to
edit any letter for length or style, letters to the editor should
be turned into the Emerald office, Suite 300, EMU.
U.S. violations
I would like* lo correct the
most substantive of two changes
in my commentary (ODE. Oct.
23) on the civil war In El
Salvador My reference to the
aerial bombardment of
Salvadoran civilians' as.an "air
war made and. directed- in the
United States," was changed to.
".. .air war.ajd.ed by the United
States." I strongly question the
editors' arrogance and right to
change the tone, of my article,
but they are presumably not the
only people who think my case
overstated.
Twenty percent of El
Salvador's population have fled
their homes — driven out of the
countryside to deprive the guer
rilla forces of their support.
Sweeps by the army were
limited in effectiveness and left
behind all too visible evidence
of massacres, so the Pentagon
expanded the Salvadoran air
force as rapidly as it could push
the appropriations by and
around Congress.
Obviously the Reagan ad
ministration and the Pentagon
are not going to admit they
direct the deliberate bombing of
Salvadoran civilians. But it is
fact timi the United States train
ed the Salvadoran air force, con
tinues to keep advisers at all its
planning levels, and carries out
its own extensive recon
naissance of the countryside.
Congressional prohibition of
passing on this intelligence is
violated by simply broadcasting
the information to the United
States, while the Salvadoran air
force listens in "of its own voli
tion." These and countless
other cynical violations take
place openly, on top of all the
deliberate misinformation of
Congress documented in the
Hatfield Report on U.S. Aid in
El Salvador.
Ken Summers
Committee in Solidarity
with the People of El Salvador