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Show Wednesday, May 29, 199 1 LOANS (continued from page 1) dial math director John Thaeler. "Students should feel they have a decent chance to pass if they have they have the prerequisites and are willing to spend a decent amount of time," he said. Math department chair Dick Rogers said the article, which appeared on the front page of The Signpost Wednesday May, 22, was accurate, but he was "bothered a little bit" by the reference to the failing rate. He said the math department professors knew the figure was not correct when they first talked to The SignfKist, but they were caught off guard without any data to refute it. After the article appeared last Wednesday, Thaeler compiled the final grades of all math 105 students during the past seven quarters. According to his figures, over 58 percent of students listed on class roles three weeks into the quarter received a final grade of C or higher, thereby automatically filling their math competency requirements. Nearly 77 percent received a D-minus or higher. Though a C grade or better is required for automatic math competency, Thaeler said many students who fail math 105 are still able to pass the math competency test, which is the math portion of the ACT. Black Student Senator Henry Rudolph, who has been involved in reforming math competency requirements since fall quarter, said Thaeler' s figures are "very selective," only taking into account students who do not drop out in the first three weeks of the course. The figures also do not show what percentage of students were retaking the course for the second or third time. The article quoted student Julie Mitton and Native American Student Senator Paula Hornell as saying that the failure rate for Math 105 is 70 percent. The 70-percent figure was also used in a student-produced flyer that encouraged students to demand math competency reform. Mitton said she first heard the figure from in a class taught by Maria Parrilla, counselor in the Women's Educational Resource Center. Parrilla said she had heard the figure a couple of years ago when she began working at the Multi-Cultural Educational Resource Center. Parrilla had understood the figure was based on a report issued by Don Jensen of Educational Support Services and conformed by English professor Merlin Cheney. She said she had repeated the figure only as an off-hand comment in class. Both Cheney and Jensen said they had never conducted reports or operated in any official capacity concerning the math department. "I don't even know how my name got involved," Jensen said. Rudolph said that no matter what the figures are, "the failure and repeat rate is unacceptable." "Our (math requirement) is equal to or better than Harvard," he said. Rudolph said the math department should spend less energy defending their old position and more energy solving current problems.Rogers said he has only been approached once concerning math competency in a short phone call from Rudolph. Rudolph expressed his plans to write a bill waiving the mi: sicni'ost math competency requirement, and Rogers believed he answered all of Rudolph's questions. Rogers said he has talked to no one since. "Nobody has ever been over here to say What are you doing to change (math competency),'" Rogers said. Rudolph stood by llornell's comment that the math department is not approachable. In the above conversation he felt Rogers did all the talking and expected him to do all the listening. "The first I knew they were negotiating and being flexible was in the article in the newspaper," he said. 'They don't know all (the data) I have because they never took the time to talk to me," Rudolph said. "Had they been approachable there would have been no need for the petition." "Any way we can make things better, we want to do it," Rogers said. "1 don't think confrontation solves problems, I think working together solves problems. Co to people instead of spreading things that aren't true." At some universities, college algebra, or math 107, is the most basic math course taught, Thaeler said. He said math 105 is an intermediate course taught in high schools. Students should have math competency early in their college careers, Thaeler said, because many courses arc much more meaningful when students are able to learn mathematical aspects of the subject. "If anything, the standard (at WSU) should be raised, not lowered," he said. "We need to make students competent in math from the beginning, and able to use math without dragging (courses) down to make them worthless." Thaeler said the department is discussing with the administration many options in revising math competency, including the suggestion to extend the course to two quarters. Rudolph feels he has accomplished his goal. "Already I figure we've won," he said, " because (the math department) is talking and listening ... (and) being a little more flexible in its stance." Va lb Cheeseburger COMBO MEAL $lo00 OFF Va lb Cheeseburger Large Fries Large Soft Drink Lim"1 Please present tra coupon before ordering One coupon per customer, per visrt. please Customer must pay any sales lax due Coupon not good m comtxnaiion with any other otters Cash Value 1 XX) ol 1c Ofler good al participating Hardee s Restaurants a her regular breakfast hours CONSIDER IT A GRADUATION GIFT! $500.00, PLUS PRE-APPROVED CREDIT Toward the purchase or lease of any new 1990, 1991, or 1992 model Ford car or light truck. 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