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Show Page 4 The Thunderbird Monday November 25 , 1985 Otfmvkm sr nv S Switch to semester plan will benefit students COMPARISON SYSrev Last week The Thunderbird editorialized encouraging students to let ASSUSC leaders and college administrators know if they believe the college should stay with the current quarter class system or switch to the semester system. This week were putting our money where our mouth is, so to speak. In short, we believe Utahs system of higher education should make a rapid, albeit orderly, changeover to the semester system. We believe the reasons for making this change are compelling and convincing. One of the most telling factors weighing in favor of the change is that the semester system is the one favored by, and utilized bv, most colleges and universities in the nation. It may not make administrators very happy, but the fact is that some SUSC students for good reasons or bad decide to transfer to other colleges. Making that transition is rough enough, but it becomes nearly impossible if the other institution is on the semester system. Tranferring grades then becomes a massive nightmare. Another very good reason to switch is that the semester system allows for a longer summer break. We do not imply this is good because it gives students more time to play, but rather because it gives students more time to earn enough money to put themselves through college the rest of the year. The Thunderbird believes most courses would be improved if the students were able to spend more time studying the subject. There are, of course, exceptions to this, but often students find themselves just beginning to learn the subject of the class when the quarter ends. Adding substance to this argument is the fact that most college-levtextbooks are written with the semester system in mind. Another factor, and one that cannot be easily ignored, is that reducing the number of grading cycles from three each year to two would result in a parallel decrease in the amount of stress faced by students and faculty members. There are enough difficulties inherent in college life if we can eliminate stress, even in a small way, we should. The Thunderbird encourages President Gerald R. Sherratt and the other administrators weighing this matter to press the Utah State Board of Regents for a change. Of course, students should still make sure their voices are heard. The ASSUSC has scheduled a second survey designed to poll student opinion, and The Thunderbird hopes students take the time to participate in this one. Moreover, students should write letters, either favoring the change or opposing it. This is a crucial issue. Students who think they wont be affected by it are deluding themselves. If we are to have impact on our own futures, we must make the effort. Now. Access Attacks on ASSUSC are unwarranted Mark M orman, a senior majoring in communications, of student affairs for the ASSUSC. is director el TlPW Che Cbunderbird nil SMTH'NV MIAVS ASP VIEWS Mb SOl'TIU KN ITAII STATE COU W.l VOLUME 80, NUMBER 9 Editor Doug Christenson Copy Editor Ken Roberts Photo Editors Jnmos Howells Derek Miller Sports Editor Stan Kontogiannis Entertainment Editor Tyler Jensen Assistant to the Editors Annette Grooms Senior Staff Writers Kris Johnson Kon Kontogiannis Production Manager Kelli Foy Advertising Designer Gavin McNeil Advertising Representatives Kellie Jensen Faculty Adviser Larry Baker Laura Wearing The ThimJeWnrd is published each Monday of the academic year by and for the student hixiy of Southern Utah State College and is not affiliated in any manner whatsoever with the Colleges department of communication. The views and opinions expressed in The Thunderbird are the opinions of the publication's individual vi iters ar.d do tv.: necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the institution, faculty, staff or student I'odv in general. The unsigned editorial directly above is the opinion of The Thuntlerhird as a single entity. Letters to the editor must be typed and include the name, student number (if from a student) and phone number. Only the name will be printed. Names will not be withheld under any circumstances and the editor reserves the right to edit letters for length and to preclude libel. Letters must be submitted by noon Friday for inclusion in the following weeks edition. The Tiuniierbird: editorial and advertising offices at 529 West 200 South, Cedar City, UT 84720. Mail at SUSC Box 9384, Cedar City, UT 84720 (801) 7758. We students at SUSC are faced with a serious decision about the future of our school. The decision to stay on the quarter system or change to the semester system is one that cannot and must not be taken lightly. However, when we, the ASSUSC, provided an opportunity for the students to give their opinions on the issue, only 17 students took the time to respond. Now suddenly, three weeks after the opinion poll, several students and The Thunderbird decide to finally speak up and voice their concerns, not about the semester quarter system change, but concerning the way the survey was conducted. I feel it is my duty to respond to Kenneth Roberts Access column from last week and the way The Thunderbird has handled the story. First of all, let me say that I too was very disappointed in the survey results. I had hoped for a much larger response. However, I also recognize that we are not in the Soviet Union and the opinions of the students are requested, not demanded. Yes, only 17 people responded to the survey, and yes, this is not a very fair or reflective picture of the student body. But we never claimed that it was. Then to say that the survey is inaccurate and false, is simply wrong. Anyone with a calculator can figure out the percentages. The survey is not reflective, but it is accurate. We did everything that we normally do when conducting an opinion poll. We placed an ad in The Thunderbird, asked for opinions, printed flyers and made posters on the issue. We set up the yellow box at the main entrance to the student center, in full view of everyone. The only thing we did not do was, as Roberts suggested, conduct an survey. However, we just felt that if students wanted to voice their opinions, they would. Plus, this was not an election, it was an opinion poll. To go from class to class and ask students to only voice their opinions as to which system they prefered was not the intention of the survey. We asked for student opinion on the proposed change, not for a simple yes no vote, which is all time would allow in a classroom survey. Then as far as the 17 peoples responses are concerned, again, I had hoped for a larger turnout. However, I also recognize that the A.C. Nielson Company determines television ratings for television programs on the basis of an even smaller percentage. They usually poll around 500 to 1,000 people, out of 220 million Americans, to determine the ratings for a single program. These ratings determine whether a show lives or dies, involving millions of dollars. The fact that only 17 people responded to our survey concerns me, but it does not mean that the survey is inaccurate, and more than low ratings mean a show is bad and should be cancelled. Cagney and Lacy proved that. Another point that needs to be cleared up is that the survey was just that a survey. It was in no way intended to determine the actual recommendation from the college. It was only a single recommendation from the student body to the committee, and thats - ss The Thunderbird editors were unethical and unfair to the ASSUSC. all. The committee wanted to know how the student body felt, and that was the reason for the survey, nothing more. The final issue is the way The Thunderbird handled Roberts Access column. The Thunderbird printed an editorial column from an SUSC student on an issue that had not yet even been publicly announced. In fact, the editorial column was placed three pages before the actual news article that officially announced the results of the survey. Not only do I feel that this was completely unethical on the part of The Thunderbird editors, I believe it was also very unfair to the ASSUSC. Roberts is the copy editor for The Thunderbird, and thus had an inside scoop on the announcement in the article. However, I cannot believe that The Thunderbird would publish an editorial column on the results of a survey that the students at large had not yet even been informed of. The ASSUSC wants and needs the opinions of the student body. But we cannot, nor will not, force the students to give their opinions. We are open for suggestions, but not unwarranted attacks. |