Show &frafrememts I The Utah StatesmanWednfsday1Octobfr21 1081 iort Religion credit proposal no reason for controversy The news is out In less than two weeks LSI s faculty senate mav change the university's policy for accepting In the past L religion credits to apply toward a SL degree the Logan credit at 12 of hours to earn could a student up LDS Institute of Religion or at the Logan School of the proposal Theology If the faculty senate approves it no credit would be awarded tor such religion now-befor- courses s The proposal has all of the ingredients to become a — if people let it controversy The Utah Statesman cautions USU students and faculty not to overreact to the situation It is emotional and potentially controversial topics like this one which can often lead to harmful misunderstancontroversy and the USU sex dings (The filmstrip controversy were two instances last spring where hastv reactions may have led to more confusion than good) The Utah Statesman does not endorse nor oppose the passage of the motion before the faculty senate It simply urges senate members to consider the issue carefully as they make the decision And for senate members and the L’SL’ student body The Statesman gives the following viewpoints to consider: The Utah Statesman agrees with rationale that USL’ is to determine if a religion course is presendy it comes to accepting the course when or not appropriate for credit USL’ has no faculty members who have been thoroughly trained in religion or who have the background necessary to make such important decisions Credit for religion courses is not awarded at all universities The University of Utah has always survived well without offering it If passed the proposal would only affect students who enter the university next quarter Students who have enrolled at L’SU previously will not be affected and will not have to alter their courses of study due to the ruling Religion courses are as most of the area clergy would agree designed to supplement a student's experience at a university The primary goal of those who choose to take the courses should be aimed at enhancing their education and their lives through religious training Such a goal should be pursued regardless of the university’s willingness to accept the credit for the time spent in such first-clas- Pepsi-Cok- e studies Although the makings of a controversy are present The Ltah Statesman believes that a controversy can and should be avoided University officials are not threatening to take away a student’s right to take religion classes Students already enrolled at USU will not be inconvenienced by any change The action is simply another of many proposals the faculty senate considers as it tries to ensure quality education for USU students IheT Jtah Statesman ISPS 532-64- 0 John Vard editor Catherine ZaJk managing editor Larry Baker facuJtv adviser The Ltah Statesman is written and edited bv students of Utah State University Editorial opinions are solely those of the editorial board and those writers with signed articles Thev do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Utah State U ntversitv or ASUSU The Utah Statesman is published thnee-weekl- y during the school year except dunng finals and school holidays EDITORIAL OFFICES are in Room 315 Taiwan Student Center Business office is in SC Room 317 phone 9 Mail is received ai UMC 01 P O Bo 1249 Logan 84322 SECOND CLASS mailing paid in Logan L'tah 84321 Limbong article is protested To the editor: sent How awful would that be if everybody was the same! Upon reading the article on “past” chairman of the Inter- national Student Council J Limbong in the Oct 14 edition of The Statesman certain things shall be clarified and exposed to and the Logan community more generally the American people as a whole We foreign students myself a Brazilian are a very much and heterogenous group Our perception over the diverse world’s development is different and above all “peculiar" since our environmental social and political systems are to a great extent part of our wav of being However from Paula Smilanich’s points in her article on Mr Limbong’s office time it is my understanding that the simple gathering of Mr Limbong’s peculiarities could express what we the foreign community on this campus repre The main concern of what just outlined stems from the facts that (1) the simple act of joining a specific religion and associate it to a “better family n life” is in a sense a was miscon-sideratio- of others’ philosophies (2) it was not only his 1 chairpersons that should be credited the “success" of the last International Week (others to be considered were ASUSU 1 staff’s contribution and definitely Cache Valley’s citizens’ warmth and friendly search for what we had to say through our cultural festival) And finally (3) it is necessary to comment on the fact that Mr Limbong is no longer chairman of the International Student Council due to his resignation Maria de Upon elections Lourdes Del Rosario from the Phillipines is now Chairman of ISC Summing up other than presenting a collection of cliches of a specific person and furthermore relating it to the success of our mam year event that is the foreign student week efforts should be directed toward the understanding of the way the ISC functions its purpose its members coantributors and the ttitude of participation Fernando B DaSilva Editor 's note The Statesman story about John Limbong uas intended to be a Jeature of an interesting person on the USU campus It was not n attempt to portray a typual foreign student Referring to Limbong ts president of the International Student Council was an error which The Statesman regrets due to being unaware of the ISC’s recent election A story about the ISC and its netc officers appeared in The Statesman’s Monday Oct issue Iran s colleges ‘are operating’ To the editor In response to Farshid Ratn-z- i I would like to mention that contrary to his comment the Iranian universities are operating today in Iran Of course not in an American sense but extensive research is being conducted to establish the basic fundamentals for Islamic universities which will include scientific and technological fields Most of the Iranian students who are attending schools in the US came here before the Islamic revolution and due to the Shah’s policies After the revolution those of us with un- finished studies continue to be committed to our people back home and thus we feel we must continue with our learning in order to return and help our country It should be clarified that although are students we Muslim for thirsty knowledge we are also strongly adhered to our Islamic way of life therefore we try our best to see that our learning is in accordant e with our Islamic beliefs It is unfortunate that some fail to understand that any revolution be it American French Spanish etc occurs for the purpose of "changing isting societal mixles and si education is a facet of Islamic revolution Iran is t ing careful steps towi creating the best possi educational system and in complishing this the IranT goverment needs time cannot be accomplished os night I must add that if there interested parties who wish ask questions I or other nian Muslims would be m that glad to answer them to best of our knowledge Hosscin Ghorei 19 |