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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 3, 1987)
Editorial The quarter system shouldn't be abolished Although the wheels already have been set in motion to convert Oregon’s public four-year institutions to the semester system, some legislators are voicing concern about the wisdom of such a plan. We agree with these lawmakers and reiterate our position that the change is not only un necessary. but it may do more harm than good. Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Portland, has reintroduced a bill (MB 2913) that would retain the current quarter system. We support this bill, and we hope that it is given serious consideration when it goes into hearing April 14. The State Board of Higher Education enthusiastically supports the conversion. It maintains that students would benefit academically from the two 15-week semesters because teachers could provide more depth to their courses. This argument is moot, however, when it is remembered many courses are offered sequentially, and course depth can be achieved by taking three terms of a certain subject. Moreover, the quarter system preserves scholastic flex ibility. Students now are offered a broad range of courses — if they want to specialize, again, they can take sequential courses. Similarly, students can enter and exit universities more frequently under the current system. This is especially important for non-traditional students who appreciate the extra enrollment opportunity. Supporters of the semester conversion have failed to adequately address other concerns as well. One of these is the effect converting to the semester system would have on student enrollment patterns. For example, a study published by the director of institutional research at the University of Central Florida in Orlando cited that out of nine universities that switched to the semester system, all but one faced an in crease in students withdrawing from classes. Supporters also gaffe when they say the conversion will not cost anything. This is patently false. Although it may be true no new personnel will have to be hired to ease the tran sition. instuctors will have to devote time to reshaping course curriculums. The old adage “time is money” applies here. While no dollar figure can be fixed to the final cost of the conversion, evidence proves that it will, indeed, be cost ly. The University of Tennessee recorded a cost of $326,000 for converting to the semester system. Closer to home. Washington State University’s conversion totaled $170,000. Oregon's switch to the semester system conceivably would be much greater because the conversion would apply to all public, four-year colleges and universities, except the Oregon Health Sciences University. This is bad news considering the budget-cutting mood permeating the state. The legislature has ordered the State Hoard to cut $10 million from its budget. It is odd that the State Hoard would attempt to implement a costly program in light of this budget-slashing mandate. The State Hoard also has voiced objections to legislators interfering with educational affairs. This is nothing more than shrill tirading. If legislators did not raise these valid concerns, then who would? Frankly, it is comforting to know that a few in state government care enough to question an unwise program when they see it. r TWtnxESKTCiirrr. BLLi^?nu.MMVE-ro AIMETHE TOOMOTION TO * TDmevjpjcaujine Letters Pure bunk Whore does the irrespon sibility of the so-called Chris tian letter writers end? In the Friday, March 13 issue of the Emerald there were two more letters of pure hunk. In Lloyd Lovell’s letter "Without religion." the all-too common arrogance of the self righteous factions of moral and religious judges has once again shown that the addiction of egotistical desires is greater than humble virtues of true spiritual, religious behavior. Mr. Lovell ended his letter by writing, “He (Professor Rousseve) is now a post agnostic atheist." 1 guess this kind behavior by Mr. Lovell is just his way of showing us all how the love of Jesus has in spired him. Then the laughable defense of the “Reverend” (not in Webster’s definition) Oral Roberts added insanity to the letters page. In Dan Goulet's letter “Oral defense," he compared Oral Roberts with Hob Geldof. This comparison recklessly overlooks the fact that Roberts’ methods of getting his money in Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co , at the University ol Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 97403 The Emerald operates independently of the University with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and is a member of the Associated Press. The Emerald is private property The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law General Staff Advertising Director Susan Thelen Production Manager Wayne Michael Lottinville Classified Advertising Alyson Simmons Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales: Peter LaFleur / Sales Manager Teresa Acosta. Brent Collins, Beryl Israel, Janelle Heit mann, Laura Goldstein, Catherine Lilja, Rick Marti, Joseph Menzel, Peter Miller, Joan Wildermuth News and Editorial 686 5511 Display Advertising and Business 686 3712 Classified Advertising 686-4343 Letter Perfect Graphics 686-5511 Production 686 4381 Circulation 686-5511 Page 2 Editor Managing Editor News Editor Spectrum Editor Spectrum Assistant Editor Editorial Page Editors Sports Editor Photo Editor Spectrum Photo Editor Graphics Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Community Politics Higher Education / Administrator University Affairs Student Government Student Activities General Assignment General Assignment General Assignment Michelle Brence Lucinda Dillon Michael Rivers Stephen Maher Stanley Nelson Michael Drummond Angie Muniz Capi Lynn Michael Wilhelm John Giustina Lorraine Rath Lucinda Dillon Jolayne Houtz Nick Reed Chris Norred B J Thomsen Carolyn Lamberson Sarah Kitchen Karen Creiflhton Dennis Fernandes Scott Maben Reporters: Sean Axmaker, Mary Courtis. Gary Henley. Janet Paulson Photographers: Sherlyn Biorkgren, Shu-Shmg Chen, Maria Corvallis. Derrel Hewitt, Bobbie Lo, Dan Wheeler Production: Michele Ross / Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandre. Elizabeth Asher, Ronwm Nicole Ashton, Virginia Bamaga, Sandra Bevans, Sara Briscoe, Shu shing Chen, Janet Emery, Lisa Haggerty, Donna Leslie. Curtis Lott, Kelli Mason. Mike McGraw. Rob Miles, Angelina Muntz, Julie Paul. Ingrid White, X. Kang Xie effect make him an extortionist. And the sad part is, his naive followers suck it all up and believe anything this financial ly gluttonous man tells them. Roberts, like the rest of his con stituents. is a liability to the Christian faith. Geldof, on the other hand, is in the truest sense of the word a sincerely humble person. He does not claim to speak with God and certainly doesn’t live the disgustingly gluttonous lifestyle that Roberts lives. Patrick Clancy Eugene What you want We wish to correct any misconceptions about the Counseling Center that may have been caused by the article ‘‘Counselors’ lack of perspec tive hurts minorities.. . ” (ODE, Mar. 16). It is true that our center would be greatly enriched by having more minority counselors — to this end we work hard to recruit qualified minority candidates. However, it would be a mistake to assume that our staff is not striving to meet minority students’ needs for counseling. Several of our staff have ex tensive training and experience in working with minority students. All of those who inter view for our positions are ques tioned about their training, ex perience and sensitivity to minority students’ needs. Further, good counseling is characterized by a counselors’ willipgness to form a relation ship with a student that is based on openness and readiness to explore that student’s world. .Sensitivity is always required when the counselors’ world dif fers from that of the student's — this is also true in the case of other populations such as students who are physically im paired, who have a different sexual orientation from that of their counselors, or drug and alcohol problems, or bulimia, for example. J Two variables may add to satisfaction with counseling: 1) having a counselor who can understand because he or she has experienced the student’s own situation, and 2) having a counselor who can understand because of sensitivity to the feelings being expressed as well as training and experience in the area. In the case of minority students’ needs, we shall con tinue our efforts on both counts. Suzanne Gascoyne Marc Taylor Mark Evans Saul Toobert Counseling Center Back up 1 find it unbelievable that Patrick Clancy would resort to the tactics used in his latest let ter (ODE, Mar. 13). Since he listed no source to substantiate his claim about Victor Perevedentsev (contained in his last paragraph) I suspect it wasn’t accurate in the least. But if it wasn’t just a com plete fabrication (designed to unfairly discredit a source) then 1 challenge Mr. Clancy to prove what he said. It’s one thing to attack a per son’s point of view with sound reasoning. It’s another thing to substitute reason with. . .well, let’s just say it’s best to back up your arguments, Mr. Clancy. I’ll just leave it at that. Also, I’m so sorry that Victor Perevedentsev’s name sounds so exotic to you. But it would be rather difficult to quote a Soviet source on demographics without finding a Russian name attached to it. By the way, what’s wrong with quoting such a gentleman? I hope you’re not being ethnocentric or xenophobic. After all. sometimes we can learn valuable lessons from other cultures, Mr. Clancy. Michael Cross Political science, history
