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Show Movement Gains Support from Major Colleges and Universities Anti-SA- T The anti-SA(Scholastic Achievement Test) movement gained more steam Jan. 24 as the leaders of almost 50 national education groups called on schools to stop giving students standardized, multiple choice tests. The groups, organized by FairTest, a critic of the SAT, Cambridge, Mass.-base- d schools to create urged performance portfolios to replace standardized tests as measures of studentseducational progress. Such a change, of course, would' drastically alter the way colleges decide who to admit. It would change things quite a bit, said Gretchen Young, assistant dean of admissions at Georgia State University. Young, who says SAT and ACT scores help make fair judgments on potential students success, predicts GSU would put more emphasis on students high school (CPS) courses, T grade-poin- t averages and extracurricular activities iftest scores were abolished. Monty Neill ofFairTestcontended that, by relying on multiple choice test scores, schools, hoping to prove themselves by amassing high scores, have switched to teaching students how to pass memory tests instead of teaching them how to think. Many high schools hire coaches (to the tests), and there is growing with help pressure in English and math classes to teach only what is on the tests, he charged. Neill, along with groups such as the American Federation of Teachers, Council for Basic Education and the Institute for Learning and Teaching, proposed that schools do away with worksheets and drills, and instead, have more hands-o- n projects. ' In public education, daily work is controlled by multiple choices. We believe . it is more important that students understand things such as the scientific method rather than to memorize facts, Neill said. Hoping to diminish the importance of test scores that, in turn, could deter some students from applying to certain campuses, 44 colleges announced in October they would stop reporting the average SAT scores of their new freshmen. They agreed to report only the range of scores. Babson, Hampshire, Lewis and Clark, and Simmons colleges, Carnegie Mellon, Harvard, Syracuse and Texas Christian universities, as well as the universities of . Tulsa and Washington were among the schools that Rochester, Michigan, agreed to report ranges of scores. That is better, butits still an extremely small step, Neill said. Its more fair to report a range, but thats not the solution. - Chinese Students Worried President Bush Will Send Them Back to China (CPS) Leaders of Chinese students studying in the United States say they are disappointed that Congress failed to override President Bushs veto of a bill that would have let them stay in the U.S., and are really worried the president might break his promise to send them home. On Jan. 25, the U.S. Senate fell four votes short of overturning Bushs veto of a bill that wouldhave ensured that the40, 000 Chinese students and scholars on U.S. campuses this year could stay here even after their visas expire. China, of course, has executed or uprooted thousands of students who in Beijing. Many of the students who marched in front of Chinese government offices in the U.S. had their pictures taken by diplomatic officials, and fear they will have to stand trial if they are sent home. Two of Chinas most wanted prodemocracy activists Pei Min Xin and Wuer Kaixi are now studying in the U.S., at Harvard University and another, unnamed. Boston-are- a campus. contact with the Chinese government, however, President Bush in December vetoed a bill that would have let Chinese nationals stay in the U.S. indefinitely. At the same time, he issued an participated in the movement there. Chinese students here executive order saying that, while he didnt vigorously protested the June massacre of want to sign the bill, he would not force activists an estimated 3,000 pro-democra- Hoping to cy anyone to leave the U.S. No student, as long as I am president, will be sent back, Bush said. Nevertheless, Chinese students are fearful that, without a law on the books, Bush might find i t diplomatically necessary to sent them home. We feel very disappointed, said Xu Guanghan of the Association of Chinese Students and Scholars at Stanford University. Were really worried that President Bush might revoke his executive order. His understanding differs from our understan ding ofwhat i s a normal si tuati on in China. Under Chinese law, students whose visas expire must return to China for two years before they can apply for a new visa. pro-democra- cy . Tlic Cathedral The Cathedral oj the Madeleine is recruiting students who would like experience in social ministry. The Cathedral's Community Ministries Program has openings for volunteer receptionists to work in the rectory answering the phone and door and giving direct aid to individuals seeking assistance. Shifts are three hours per week. Training is provided for all volunteers. or Contact Joan at 328-894- 1 487-205- 8 Margaret (after 6:00 p.m.) at if you are interested in applying. 331 East South Temple Street Salt Lake City, Utah 841 1 1 -- (801)328-894- 1 Issue 16 February 13, 1990 ' magazine rightly called the best hamburgers in Utah." Imagine Jour choice of seventeen flame-broile- delicious, varieties... d Imagine The Training Tables fresh, crisp salads, hot soups and tasty Imagine the possibilities! OPEN FOR LURCH them. Robb also maintained that, when it comes to combating illegal drugs, all too often, universities are looking the other way. Yet Bennett and Bush, who on Jan. 25 proposed putting another $1.1 billion in the effort, both believe the drug war is successful. The momentum is shifting, Bennett said. The scourge is beginning to end. Recent studies suggest that the scourge has been diminishing for several years. Researchers at the University of Michigan, who annually report on drug use among high school seniors, found that the number of college students usingillicit drugs has been steadily declining. In 1986, 40.9 percent of collegians said theyd used marijuana during the prior year. In 1988, the figure was down to 34.6 percent. For cocaine, 17.1 percent said in 1986 theyd used it in the past year. In 1988, 10 percent reported cocaine use in the last year. Crack use among college stents is relatively rare. In 1986, 1.3 percent said theyd tried the drug in the previous year. In 1988, 1.4 percent had used it the year before, Michigan researchers found. When he was secretary of education two years ago, Bennett said he was shocked to Mar campus officials complain about enforcing anti-dru- g use policies, Robb related. Universities were redressing past economic wrongs and ridding society of moral wrongs, yet when it came to getting tough on drug use they were sort of Robb said. Were starting, he added, to see the beginning ofthe endofthatkind ofthinking. Universities are starting to see that drugs are not consistent with a healthy mind. Yet Bennett, a frequent critic of the way colleges and universities are run, still had harsh words for higher education during a Dec. 11 speech at Harvard, where he accused scholars notably Princeton researcher Ethan Nadelmann University of undermining his efforts by suggesting the best way to win the war is to legalize drugs. In the great public-polic- y , debate over the academic and intellectual drugs, communities have, by and large, had little . to contribute, and little of that has been genuinely useful or for that matter mentally distinguished, Bennett said. Academic officials reply that Bennetts plan simply cant work because it requires ' that educators and aid unlikely people administrators act like a national drug wishy-wash- Holiday sandwiches. And dont forget our great fries and onion rings... College Campus Officials Refuse to Sell Out Students Continued from Page 4 aid David Robb. If people are going to sign something and not comply, thats up to the Madeleine what Utah Experience y, OIHMER I 7 OAYS A WEEK ' SALT LAKE DOWNTOWN 809 East Fourth South - 355-752- 3 HOLLADAY 4828 Highland Drive MIOVfiLE 6957 South State 566-191- 1 PROVO 2230 No. at Univ. Pkwy . police force. We may feel better because weve required (students to sign a pledge,) Martin said, but that doesnt mean the mechanism 272-739- 8 377-393- 9 you are interested in establishing or reactivating a club on campus, please stop by and pick up a packet in the ASWC office. If Its never too LATE TO GET INVOLVED. is working. Forum Page5 |