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Show u N I I T y TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1998 SUU finally comes to terms After months of anticipation, a new semester calendar has taken effect here By VERONICA GARNER SENIOR STAff \VRITER Welcome back to SUU, the place where change always seems to be the theme. First it was the construction of the Sharwan Smith Center, last year we had a new president to adjust to, and this year we have an even more tremendous adjustment to make-semester conversion. As much as people complain, feel unprepared, or even jump for joy, SUU has officially converted to a semester system schedule of two 15-weck semesters. Are we ready for this tremendous change? Ready or not, the reconstruction of suu·s scheduling system is officially in place for the '98·99 school year. The effort to be compatible with the curriculum of other colleges and universities in Utah bas resulted in changes in the organization of everything on campus. According to Associate Vice President for Student Services Georgia Beth Thompson, students who are on target with their academic careers have nothing to fear. However, many students are experiencing problems and difficulty with this conversion. "Obviously there is going co be some discomfort, change always causes that ," said D. Mark Barton, assistant vice president for student services. "But we have been committed to making sure that there won't be a student harmed by this conversion," he said. Some of the changes that will take place are a new numbering system on classes, only two registrations a . year, some classes have been removed while Others wen; combined or refocused, requirements for the general education program, and of course, finances. "What we don't want to see is a bleak picture being palmed abotlt the conversion," said Dean of Education Bmce Darker. Barker, who is new to SUU this year, comes from a unive.rsity which operated under the semester system. "This conversion is a great thing for SUU," he sai<l, "Utah was one of the few states whose colleges wcren 't on semesters. There will be more depth in studies, inc reased oppo rtunities. and professors will be able to focus mo re o n the subjects at hand. " The conversion will allow students to be more compatible w ith o ther colleges when transferring, get better use out of their text books which are designed for semesters, and have more coverage of the materiaJ in class. ·'This will be the first year where the students will get ro attend all the home football games, and homecoming is sooner this year so we don't have to worry about cold we ather for the night game," said Barton. ·we w ill be able to enhance student activities, have a longer Christmas break, and have a mo nth more of summer weather when school starts .• Despite all of the positive reinforcement the semester conversion has received, there are several students who are experiencing problems. (contitlued on page 17) AfOvin1 and Shaking Frcslmum students (dock wise from top left) Aaron Miller, a political scie,?ce majorfrom Sandy; 01rls Crawford, a psychology major from Draper,· Eric Wightman, a communication major haillngfrom Sandy; Kelly Doyle, a pre-rned major from South Jordan; and AJ Gwil/iani, a pre-dental major from Sandy, retum from the hunt at Deseret Industries with their highly prized trophy couch for their new apartment. At the same time as theJivesome and their college cohorts get settled bzto schoo4 the Utah Shakespearean Festival's season continues, overlapping with theJail tenn ofdasses at SUUfor the first time. Students are invited to join the crowd at an evening Greenshow peifomiance near the Adams 11zeatre or take in a play for halfprice. Read more about SUU and the Bard's Festival on page 21. |