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Show Tuesday, February 4, 1992 . Volume XXXIV Issue XVI Westminster College of Salt Lake City Adjusting To The Common Problem Of Overcrowding V which have experienced an increase in class size. Some majors such as psychology, English, accounting and education have seen a recent increase in enrollment, which has caused upper division classes to grow. Prerequisite courses in the nursing program arc also accommodating more students. According to Baar, several factors contribute to overcrowding. The first, which accounts for a feeling of overcrowding, is the larger writing surface of the new desks in buildings such as Converse Hall. While these classrooms used to seat 25-3- 0 students comfortably, the same number now feels more crowded. The second issue is Westminsters liberal registration policies. Students may reserve space in a class months before the beginning of the semester, without paying any part of their tuition. . by Temmie K. Fleming Forum staff writer , Class overcrowding has been a recent object of concern among administration, faculty and students at Westminster. The problem is most serious in liberal education classes which are offered at prime times, although certain other classes are affected as well. Academic Vice President Stephen Baar recognizes that certain classes have problems with overcrowding, but said that across the college, the average class size is 1 7 students. Even the Liberal Education Program, which generally has the worst problems with overcrowding, has an average of 18 students per class. This is the lowest average since 1985. Of 101 L.E. classes offered in fall 1 99 1 , only 1 8 had more than 25 students. Besides popular liberal education classes, Baar pointed out other courses Generally, about 10-2- 0 percent of these students drop the class or simply do not attend. A certain number of extra students are allowed to register to make up for those who do not show up. Recently, fewer of the preregistered students have been dropping the classes, accounting for a higher total number en- rolled. A third problem, also having to do with registration, results from the fact that students can add classes up to a week after the semester begins. For example, if 25 students are enrolled and five do not show up, five more students are allowed to add the class. If those five no shows decide to attend the class, the class size becomes 30, instead of the original 25. Another cause of overcrowding is faculty who allow students to add classes beyond their intended size, based on students needy stories. A final cause of class overcrowding is the physical limitation on the number of courses offered at prime times. Even if faculty could be found to teach the courses, classrooms would not be available. , Tonya Garreaud, arts and sciences senator, has received complaints from her constituents about class size, and has experienced overcrowding in her own classes. Her upper-divisio- n English and history classes are above average size. Garreaud met with Baar Jan. 16 to discuss the problem and its possible solutions. In regard to plans to reduce class sizes, Garreaud said, I think its needed in upper division classes because its not so much lecture as discussion. With 30 people in the class, no one has time to elaborate on anything theyve read. ASWC President Matt Beard agreed. I dont thinkstudents have a legitimate gripe in L.E. classes, because every single student on campus has to take these classes. Its more important to have low class sizes in upper division classes. He also said that in order to justify the amount of money students pay to Westminster, class size must remain small. Susan Gunter, assistant professor of English, has been concerned for two years about the size of classes in her department. Finally because of student complaints, the administration is responding. Its important to have discussions in writing and literature classes, and smaller classes make this possible, Gunter said. The English department is grateful. Beginning next fall, nine or 10 composition sections will be offered, with a class limit of 20 instead of 25. Intro to literature classes will be reduced from 30 to 25. Some solutions to the problem of class overcrowding are being considered by the Council of Deans, Baar said. One sol ulion is scheduling more classes on afternoons and weekends. Another is revising the registration and add policies to end the confusion concerning how many students are actually enrolled in the class. This could involve requiring students to pay a part of their tuition when they register to indicate commitment and allowing instructors to drop no shows after the first or second day. Finally, if classes are clearly over enrolled during the registration period, and provided that there is available classroom space, another section may be opened. According to Baar, when Converse was remodeled, and Gore built, the classes were . intentionally designed to hold a limited number of students. This was done to preserve the small college atmosphere on the campus, Baar said. Dean of Students Gary Fitzer said enrollment has reached a plateau, and that the school is ultimately restricted by the physical structure of the classrooms. Fitzer said that in order to solve the problem of overcrowding, Westminster must have faculty who arc willing to be creative and innovative in regards to scheduling, possibly including Sunday classes. But creative scheduling will not help alleviate the problem unless students are willing to cooperate and take classes at times. We are in the brainstorming stages, Fitzer said. The solutions will entail creativity and innovation on the part of the administration, and the participation of students and faculty. The administration is on top of the problem, Baar said. We will not lose Westminsters small class atmosphere. non-pri- me Prof. Tripp Wirtes Series of "Mole" Books Inspired By Nietzsche - by Ruth Catron Forum staff writer In a series of four books about a mole, Chuck Tripp, associate professor of political science and psychology strives to provide an entertaining as well as a thought-provokin- g tale of depicting the progression of life. Tripp said his purpose in writing the Mole series was to phrase a variety of viewpoints taken from psychology, sociology, anthropology and political science and create a philosophy out of them. Each chapter is an allegorical statement of a particular theory. Young Mole, his first book, covers the stage in Moles life from birth to late adolescence. Tripps knowledge of how pygmies raise children and how Martin Luther King Jr. was brought up is incorporated into Young Mole. Just Mole is his second book, and the only one currently published. In it we see Mole as a young adult. Tripp said, using Joseph Campbells terms. Mole partakes in a heros quest. In Moles case, the quest starts with a search for greater meaning in his life and ends with the discovery that he alone creates meaning for his life, Tripp said. Mole is a mature adult in the third book, Restless Mole, and he is much like a person, trying to establish direction in his life. He encounters on Pago 9 life-threateni- ng situ-Continu- ed Two women state their opinion against Utah's controversial and "deadly abortion law ice along with 3000 other people who showed up at the rally at the Utah State 25. on Jan. Heather Bush Capitol pro-cho- |