OCR Text |
Show 4 Signpost Tuesday, May 31, 1983 EdiTomAl Changes improve option for English majors by Lisa Wright Editor-in-Chief Last week the Faculty Senate approved two degree changes in the English department: a bachelor of science degree and an associate of applied science. Upon first hearing of the proposal, primarily the bachelor of science degree, I was quite upset that the department was "down-grading" the program by allowing English majors the option of graduating with a bachelor of science instead of the bachelor of arts which is currently the requirement.After investigating the new degrees and the reasons behind them, I have since changed by mind. According to Dr. Nikki Hansen, associate dean of the school of arts and humanities, approximately half of the English majors are graduating with bachelor of science degrees in other words their foreign language requirements are being waved with no substituted class work. The new B.S. degree offers English majors that same option to graduate without a bachelor of arts, however, 15 hours of class work will be substituted for the foreign language credit in the areas of math, philosophy, computer information systems, etc. for graduation. The primary agrument against the change was that students would not take a foreign language if another option was available, thus making the English degree watered-down. In a time when Weber State is tightening admission re quirements and high schools are encouraged to toughen up their re-quirments, it almost seems like a contradiction of goals. However, with 50 percent of the English majors currently being allowed to wave foreign language credits, the proposal passed in Faculty Senate is actually making the English degree more difficult for many of the English major. It is even conceivable that many students would opt to go the route of the B.A. instead of taking the math, statistics and computer classes that will be required of the students working towards the B.S. Weber State is not the only school in the area offering a B.S. in English. Utah State University offers one, and in the past Weber's English department has lost students to other schools because of there was no alternative to the B.A. The number of English majors has dropped from 100 a few years ago to 40 majors now in English. The additional associates of applied science degree is one that is very practical for students who would like to be English majors, but don't feel they want to be in school the four years or more it would take to get a bachelor's. There has been a need to meet the needs of these students, y and the associates degree offers a viable alternative to the traditional English bachelor of arts degree. The faculty of the English department should be commended for their willingness to realize the need for change, researching and developing the new programs and then seeing themimplemented. Letters to the Editor Policy The Signpost welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters should be typed, double spaced and not exceed 250 words. The Signpost reserves the right to edit for reasons of space and libel and the right to refuse to print any letter deemed inappropriate. Each letter must include the name and address of the writer. Letters may be submitted at the Signpost office, UB 267. 'Hf'jffUSUI'S tcust me; rve BSStl DOMG THIS FOr ronr teas: hi mim il n "ii - li ii I ui i " '' '" GREAT SC0T.JHEEB4 IS RIPCLEP WITH CORRUPTION THE SUPER-FUHP ISA SHAM &NP1HE EHYIRONMENTS INPANGER; 1 - (jji ''L Letters... Richeson suggests involvement in all issues To the Editor: I would like to start this letter by thanking those students who have written to the Signpost or stopped the student body officers to ask questions regarding the Landers Sisters and the Crystal Crest Awards. It is refreshing to have student input on these matters. While some questions and concerns that have been raised are legitimate, many of the criticisms stem from gross misinformation and are totally invalid. It is a shame to see a very worthwhile program totally discounted because a single component is controversial. There have been mistakes made, not only with the Crystal Crest Awards, but with other programs throughout the year. It must be remembered though that none of the officers are perfect, nor do they claim to be. The student officers have the best of intentions and have used their talents to fulfill difficult responsibilities. Overall, they have done a good job. When mistakes were made it was not intentional, but usually due to inexperience and lack of knowledge. I am concerned though, about the areas in which students become upset or alarmed. It has been my experience over the past several years, that it is very easy to get students worked up over the seating policy for basketball games, the Miss Weber State Pageant, Crystal Crest Awards or the use of college vehicles for individuals or organizations. Granted, these are important decisions which affect the students of Weber State and they do necessitate student input. I'm' wondering though if areas such as tuition increases levied by the state, a linear tutuion schedule or the construction of a new Allied Health Building, just to name a few, ought to demand as much or more attention from students. Last October I announced through several Signpost editions and posters placed around campus that students were needed to attend the Board of Regents meeting in Logan, Utah to assist in the fight against an excessive tuition increase. I was contacted by only six students. We were very fortunate to have secured a tuition increase of only 6.5 percent. The decisions in this area are worth $10-15 per student vs. the approximate 33 cents per student that Crystal Crest will cost, and it was a very real demonstration of ASWSC effectiveness. Doesn't this effect each student? Also in 1981-82, while serving as executive vice president, the student officers were involved in a struggle against linear tuition. Linear tuition is a system where a student pays incrementally for each additional hour of credit. As an example of the impact this would have on the amount of tuition paid by a student, were this system functioning this next year a student taking 15 credit hours would be paying $67 a quarter more than they will be paying (another example of an effective student government). Even though this decision had a great impact on all the students of Weber State College, when we as officers held two forums in the Union Building to inform students of the pending decision and to get input from students, no one took the time to stop and talk. As a side note, this issue was proposed again this year, and once again, through the efforts of your officers a full linear tuition scale was not implemented. We as officers want input from students. Don't stop getting involved in topics such as ticket policies or the Crystal Crest Awards because we need this information. Also, please call or drop by and seek to be informed on all sides of an issue before condemning a program such as Crystal Crest. - I feel it is time though for you, the students to reconsider the areas where you do become involved. The officers need student input in all areas. So please take the time to help out and speak out on issues such as tuition increases, the construction of new buildings on campus, or the lack of pay increases for faculty and staff in the higher educational system throughout Utah. We as officers simply want to do the best job we can and we use all the talents and resources available to us. But, each student has the responsibility to help by giving the officers input and attempting to gain information from both sides on all issues, not just a select few. Bruce Richeson ASWSC President Landers sisters are an excellent choice To the Editor: I have read with much amusement the letters attacking the selection of the Landers sisters as Crystal Crest awards emcees on June 4. Such naive and self-rightous people deserve an opionion from ' someone of the many who agree with the selection. Cindee Leavitt showed herself to be one of the shrewdest studentbody officers on campus. Single-handedly, she saved what would have been a money-losing, non-attended, boring, typical awards ceremony. I mean, who would pay $3 to see someone like Governor Matheson or President Brady emcee a show? Any red-blooded American male would rather see the Landers sisters and they'll pay also. The Landers will provide excitement, beauty and class to the the evening. Spending $10,000 is not a waste of student funds if they want to see an audience in attendance. If they didn't get an attractive speaker, the only people present would be the nominees, their families and transients seeking to get out the summer heat. At a college the size of Weber State, only the faculty and a few See Landers pg. 5 |