OCR Text |
Show Thursday, February 19, 1987 n udgef hacked ji S7 Dollars ana cams Science solves problems JaNae Barlow Managing Editor The same principles scientists use in the laboratory can be used in everyday interpersonal life, said Dr. Dennis M. Travis, dean of the School of Natural Sciences. Travis said that while scientists and other professionals are trained to use such principles in research or in their jobs, they often forget to use them in solving their everyday functions with associates and family. He believes that if people were to approach life more scientifically, some of the pain and turmoil of everyday problems would be eliminated. 6 While other professionals and scientists have talked about solving problems in such ways, Travis believes he is the first to articulate the techniques into six scientific attitudes. These attitudes are: Practice a sensitivity to problems. This attitude involves avoiding crisis management. Travis suggests developing the habit of an inquiring mind. "Every great scholar has developed a mind that continually asks questions," he said. Don't wait for a crisis to begin asking questions.Practice the attitude of intellectual honesty. Intellectual honesty involves admitting when one is wrong. It is a willingness to listen to everyone, even those of lesser rank, and then assessing which is correct. Many times people don't seek all the facts, said Travis, only the ones they hope are correct. "People who say they have all the answers aren't intellectually honpf " Practice open-mindedness. An open mind is one which makes an objective rather than a subjective approach to problems. An open mind is receptive to new ideas and argument. Travis suggested that leaders who succumb to the suggestion of the most vocal person in the group are not practicing this attitude. "Open-mindedness involves a willingness to consider all possible evidence on a matter, even to the extent of searching for opposing evidence. Practice accuracy in every phase of the investigation of the problem. "Inaccurate conclusions can be drawn if you don't listen to both sides," he said. Practice the habit of suspended judgement. Waiting until all available evidence has been collected on a question before drawing a conclusion takes patience. Travis said he often writes himself a letter when he has a serious problem. In the letter he states what he plans to do. He then puts the letter away and reads it a day later before taking the action. "A lot of people jump in head first and make a decision before they think it Out," said Travis. (Jjee sC ILNCK on page 6) Weber administrators are preparing to cut the college budget by another 2 percent this academic year. The State Tax Commission announced yesterday that the state should prepare for an additional current year budget shortfall of $27 million. "As a result, we (WSC) anticipate a mininum additional current year budget cut of 2 percent," said a memo from WSC President Stephen D. Nadauld to the faculty and staff today. This could translate into approximately $610,000, according to sources from the administration, if the full 2 percent were assessed to the college. In an effort to meet the budget shortfall, college administrators are exploring a range of institutional alternatives including funds saved because of the mild winter, unanticipated enrollment retention, deferred maintenance, etc., says the memo. Administrators are advising operating units campus wide to begin immediately to reduce expenditures by 2 percent of the original 1896-87 budget. Winter enrollment up Six hundred and seventy-two more students are taking classes this quarter at Weber State College than were this same time last year, and registration officials predict enrollments will increase by more than 4,000 by 1994 or 1995. The latest enrollment figures show 10,958 students taking classes at WSC an increase of 6.5 percent over winter quarter of last year. Emil Hanson, assistant vice president for administrative services, said, "It appears as though many students who actually applied for admissions fall quarter delayed entrance until now, possibly accounting for the increase.""The local economy is down somewhat as well," he said, "and when that happens more students enroll in college." According to Hanson, projections show that starting in 1989 enrollments are expected to begin a rapid ascent through 1994 or 1995. "By that time," he said,"we could have 14,000 of 15,000 students one -third ekst tlmj we have now." "The questions we wrestle with, said Hanson, "are 'can weHhandle that increase? Or, can we turn some of. them away?'" Weber State is a state-supported school and operates under an open admissions policy for state residents. The school has faced numerous budget cuts in the past years and is looking forward, along with the other Utah schools, to more lean years. Scholarships and waivers Students compete for funds Karen J. Leonardi Staff Reporter Roughly 800 tuition waivers will be awarded for the 1987-88 school year, and there are waiting lists for any waiver that might possibly become available, said Dr. Winslow Hurst, director of admissions and registration. "Tuition waivers are highly sought after, and none go unused," Hurst said. Scholarship waivers are awarded based on enrollment, and enrollment at WSC is up 6 percent from last year at this time. In addition to waivers, private scholarships are available to students who meet the criteria specified by the donor of the scholarship. Information regarding private scholarships is available in the Miller Administration Building at the scholarship and admissions office. March 1st is the deadline for students to submit applications for scholarships next year. All students presently on scholarships must reapply, except for those students on the Presidential Scholarship. Thousands of scholarships come in, Hurst said, but students will be notified by mid-April whether they will be awarded a scholarship or not. Hurst said that only five or six scholarships go unused because a match is not made between the student and what the donor specifies. "Activity areas have allocated some tuition waivers, but the majority go to academics based on grade point average," Hurst said. A minimum GPA of 3.5 is required to maintain academic scholarships, but to be awarded an academic scholarship a student's GPA must be closer to 3.8. "The competition is stiff," Hurst said. InSidO ... what road do you Weber WAR take fQ tne college? (see page 10) (see page 2) |