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Show Automation Problems Back in the old days, universities used to arrange students' class schedules through the wearisome process of doing it by hand. But in this new society, scheduling has been simplifieda simpli-fieda computer does it all. Ah, computers, nice, clean, quick computers. However, as has been pointed out time after time, computers are in the end only human. The latest and perhaps most symbolic example occurred this fall at the University of California at Berkeley. It seems a few practical jokers got hold of an IBM key punch and initiated a process which led to some rather dubious people being enrolled in classes. One student enrolled in a chemistry class, listed under "V" was Vote Yes on Proposition 15. In a Freshman Fresh-man English class, one student was listed as "English 1-A is No Good." Also thrown into various classes were a few obscenities. ob-scenities. Now, the Berkeley campus contains well over 20,000 students, and it's a little hard to get to know that many people personally. But somehow, within this mass of humanity, the student would appreciate at least having the university know that he's' there even if it's only because of a punched card. This is no longer the case at Berkeley. An inquiring reporter for the student newspaper, the Daily Calif ornian, noticed that there was a Hyde Park listed as being enrolled in a sophomore French class. She asked the registrar's office if any such person did exist. The office said yes, he was a freshman in arts and sciences. At least that's what they thought they couldn't be sure. -COLORADO DAILY |