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Show 10 - Wednesday, March 29, 1995 The Daily Utah Chronicle Viewpomt registration system needs to be improved U. Chronicle Editorial to-si- may be an institution dedicated to and learning, but you would never know it by our registration system. True, phone registration has been a vast improvement over the old method of waiting in lines, and the system continues to be refined. This year's use of code numbers to drop or add classes during the first week of school is an example. But each year we continue to see the same obvious problems. How about the rule which This heavy financial penalty and requires an instructor's signature to drop a class after the first week of school? Students who have been around for a while will imposes they don't want and trying t in on others. "Shotgunning," as some call the practice, is indeed a problem, but Taylor's idea isn't the solution. The technique works well enough for classes that meet daily, but anyone who has ever tried to sit in on a class which meets only twice a week knows that since someone is able to hold on to your seat until the first Friday, it takes at least until the middle of the second week to find out if you can add the class. Meanwhile, you postpone buying the textbooks and miss a substantial part, of the course. You also don't know if you should drop one of the other classes you are registered for, which of course, is exactly what the other guy is thinking, and so the situation continues. The problem is compounded by teachers who use inconsistent methods for dropping students who don't show up. Teachers who think they are being generous by showing mercy are actually contributing to the whole a remember that we have been cursed with this rule since Tamara Taylor successfully ran for ASUU president with it as her platform. If students don't have that extra week to hold on to classes, she reasoned, then it will discourage them from signing up for classes problem. If the U. is to continue the policy of allowing students to sit in on classes, then they should devise and strictly enforce a method which requires students to confirm their enrollment on the very first day of class. Otherwise, those who abuse the system will always be able to hurt other students. There is also the abhorrent policy of the U. e that allows faculty and their children to have priority registration. Tuition waivers are one thing, but since class overcrowding is such a serious problem on this university, there is simply no justification for giving any group an advantage. Many a graduate has a sad tale of delayed graduation and career plans because he or she could not get the right classes. Priority registration isn't just a harmless perk. The favoritism shown one group is haying a serious impact on the lives of all of us. The Chronicle is an independent student newspaper. Unsigned editorials reflect the majority view of the Editorial Board. full-tim- ChronicleLetters SIXTEEH Quit whining over past thirty-seve- Editor: I read iii The Chronicle about those poor Indian Nationals and how picked on they arc. It kind of reminds me of morbid personalities. They think of tilings that arc not beneficial to talk about. They say that they want to keep on saying tilings about the mistreatment that they or their ancestors received. Well, that is in die past. Wliat about my ancestors? What about me? Poor me. Boo Hoo. Everybody lias a hard time widi life. The minorities liavc more benefits dian a wliite person. They get jobs because they are of a different race. Companies get certain credits, and funding for education, for hiring disabled persons or persons of different races. If you diink that is a bunch of farce, well, maybe you have never experienced it, but I have. Maybe I should talk about all of the injustices that I have experienced. I think that all of these poor Boo Hoo's should stop complaining, get a life and stop thinking about the past Kristin Quistcnscn staff Chronicle Business Hours: Monday through Friday 1 240 Union BWg. I am to S r?svL i U PERSONAL WETSjWENTY-THRE-E n Workout FITNESS IWWNES VIDEOS LATER, aU Leonard hears the NEVIS... fc r.. I..-..- .. r k r i REfowMT4- - pm 51-704- T 8rs' rzQ Oscars contribute to the stupidity of American culture Dret Angsll as Best Actor (again). I almost saw this show, but too many people fell in love with it too many people who think "Full House" offers exquisite, critical programming. If I wanted art to give me warm fuzzics, I'd volunteer for cam- Jesse Helms' - Chronicle Editorial Editor Once To often people, like the again, the public has the absurd antics of the circus called the Academy Awards. Monday night, the world watched greedy Hollywood insiders pat themselves on the back for dumbing down the cultural integrity of America. The big winner, of course, was "Forrest Gump". Certainly, life is - ml a the corporate box of chocolates mcdiamongers who invested in "Forrest Gump" knew exactly what they'd get by exploiting the simplicity of American moviegoers: over $316 million. This sentimental cheeseburger stole six awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Tom I Links Academy of Arts and Sciences, inspire higher learning and stim- - Documentary Feature. "Pulp Fiction" a successful departure from the . Hollywood tradition that also received great reviews, only won for Best Original Screenplay. It's no secret that only the most 00 often the Academy and SctenCCS igflOfCS only support the same lousy flicks that cater to our primal need for mental masturbation. True, there is a time and a place for every type of movie. AH films should not be realistic or depressing Variety is a virtue, and sometimes the of Arts Jovaceabrefeal! the Slg" Motion pictures Can Stimulate from taking life, culture, and art Sciences rarely finds times or P,ac" for quality films, and ulate thought, yet so often Vet USeS would rather celebrate the tri- Hollywood uses films to cater to ItlOSt tO OUT W Cater StMr our most simple, unrealistic sen- JllmS umpn 0f lchmaltz like "The timcnts or prurient interests. SCIttimentS Of Lion King." is it that serious, or Foreign nations watch the Why infprpits often candid and tragic portray- Oscars and laugh, though they often envy the I lollywood indus- als of American problems go and can't come up with anything unnoticcd by studio executives and fluffy and uplifting flicks will provide try the Academy so often? "Hoop audiences with die escape they crave, bctier themselves. America has earned Dreams" explained the realistic dikrm-- It's difficult to put out movies that a reputation of selling out, and glorify-ma- s of urban black youths, and challenge our thinking when so many ing the superficial when it comes to received widespread critical acclaim, folks like films where they don't hair popular culture. It b unfortunate that Yd k wasn't even nominated for Best to think. As a result, Hollywood can our society doesn't care enough about thought, Hollywood unrealistic piUrteni - our reputation to support more artsy or intellectual films as well as the blockbusters. Ultimately, I suppose it comes down to the individual moviegoer. Movie fans are consumers whose collective choices determine the kinds of shows that become available. If every consumer were to carefully consider the content of films, and spend money on more intelligent ones, we would see more quality movies available. Sure, pretensions abound in the world of supposedly "art-house- " films. Many of them are long, boring, oblique, and complicated. Some of them even suck. But at the same time, mairy of diem reveal new perspectives on life and provide the opportunity o learn more about relationships or society m general. In any case, we should at least hope diat the Academy of Arts and Sciences will one day honor more substantial films in the hopes that true art will go rewarded. |