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Show CLOSE TO HOME: Soccer's rivalry game key in CLASSIC COUNT determining outcome of Deseret Duel » 6 'Dracula' returns to its roots in PTC's production » 4 , October 27, TAH CHRO www.dailyutahchronicle.com iversity of Utah's Independent Student Voice Since • 4k 190 E o1.120 No.34 _„illa C) Student evaluations debated Matthew Jensen STAFF WRITER Students are encouraged to give teacher evaluations following the end of the semester, but the feedback's effectiveness remains uncertain. Some students consider the quality of their instructors and make an effort to provide accurate responses—others find the evaluations worthless. Fewer than io questions are usually asked on the Campus Information System's website, including whether the teacher met goals based on the syllabus, clarity of assignments and the instructor's knowledge of the subject. However, class choices and majors are often chosen based on the quality of professors. "A major catalyst in choosing to be a biochemistry major was because of some incredibly inspiring professors that I had heard were great teachers before I took their classes," said Kara Arnold, a junior in biochemistry. Arnold said she talks to her advisers to see what professors will provide the learning experience she wants. Arnold said she cares more about obtaining an education than getting her money's worth for the classes and appreciates the opportunity to write a teacher evaluation. "I think it is a good way to give good feedback," she said. "A lot kids have something to say but don't know when to say it. I think it helps (professors) improve their teaching style." Some students don't find the evaluations helpful because there is an option to opt out of them. "I don't mind waiting for my grades and a lot of people don't even do (the evaluations) anyway," said Hannah Robins, an undecided sophomore. Student evaluations are said to play a large role in the process of assessing teachers, including who receives tenure. "For every course that someone teaches, I can pretty much know how it went," said Vincent Pecora, chairman of the English department. Pecora sees all evaluations administered to students in the department. "If I get a comment or e-mail from a student saying that there is a problem, then I try to get to the bottom of it—and if I think that there is something that the teacher needs to be aware of, I will sit down with that faculty member," he said. Evaluations are used not only for correction, but also for encouragement. "My favorite comment is the student who got a middle grade and loved the class, or when I get a comment or e-mail from a student years later and (he or she) tells me how my course has changed the way they approach learning," said David Temme, a biology professor. "That kind of evaluation keeps you going." However, Temme said he sometimes questions the value of students' evaluations because they are young and naive. His desire to provide a rewarding educational experience requires him to challenge students, which sometimes leads to poor evaluations. "(Those) evaluations should not put teachers down when they are trying to help their students learn," Temme said. Student evaluations are basic assessments of professors but not the only source of evaluation. Car collides with TRAX "What students have to realize is that the process of deciding that somebody is the right person for this faculty is not just dependent on the student evaluations—we actually look for ourselves," Pecora said. Teachers eligible for tenure are evaluated twice by a committee, which involves a senior faculty member observing the instructor in the classroom. Student advisory committees also review a professor's performance and provide feedback. mjensen@chronicle.utah.edu Muggles learn the magic of Quidditch Connor McCormick STAFF WRITER JEFF MCGRATH/The Daily Utah Chronicle A car collided with a TRAX train Tuesday morning, causing delays to commuters. A U student was driving northbound on Mario Capecchi Drive and started turning left into the annex parking lot, in front of the train. The impact caused the car to rotate nearly 180 degrees, blocking both northbound and southbound trains for 45 minutes. The accident occurred at approximately 8:30 a.m. No injuries were reported at the time. Yale prof calls terrorism policies unconstitutional Fernanda Ubatuba he said. "The world is looking to the United States. Let the global experience be a mirror STAFF WRITER to see what our commitments are here." The war on terror often causes a decrease Staci Visser, a law student who said she in constitutional freedoms, a law professor would like to deal with global issues, said from Yale University said during his "Law Fiss is "a smart guy." and Terrorism" speech at the U. "There are not many lawyers out there "Terrorism policies have been an assault that do constitutional law as (well as) proto the Constitution," said Owen Fiss, a ster- fessor Fiss," Visser said. "It was a very inling professor of law. teresting speech." Fiss listed constitutional infringements Hiram Chodosh, dean of the College of performed by former President Law, introduced Fiss by recalling the George W. Bush and President time when he was Fiss' student. Barack Obama in the policies they "Professor Fiss goes to the lihave adopted in the war against brary at 8:3o a.m. to get prepared terror. for a lecture he will give at 2 p.m.," The infringements have been Chodosh said. institutionalized and are now a Fiss is also the author of several product of ordinary life, which books including The Irony of Free result in a fear of which policies Speech, A Community of Equals, A will be permissible in the future, Way Out: America's Ghettos and Owen Fiss Fiss said. the Legacy of Racism, and The Law "Obama is betraying the ideas he pre- as it Could Be. sented during his election campaign by The "Law and Terrorism" lecture is part keeping Bush policies," Fiss said. "(Bush of the celebration of the 45th Annual Wiland Obama) made the entire world a batliam H. Leary Lecture series. The topics fotlefield." cus on current issues and are presented by For students willing to engage the global guest speakers. For more information, visit issue, Fiss advised starting close to home. www.law.utah.edu. "The first thing is to get America right," fubatuba@chronicle.utah.edu 111P14 Previously seen only in the wizarding world, the Utah Quidditch Organization is trying to bring the sport of Quidditch from fiction to fact at the U. A mixture of dodgeball and rugby, the sport was penned by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series. "Basically it's the exact same as the books," said Nick Burk, president of Utah Quidditch and Utah teams support specialist for the International Quidditch Association. "Only we don't fly." The sport is catching on quickly with Harry Potter fans. There are more than 500 teams worldwide. "When we're practicing at the park, people will watch us for a moment, trying to figure out what we're playing," Burk said. "As soon as it clicks that we're playing Quidditch, people want to come join—and more and more we're getting people who just want to play for the sport." Burk first saw Quidditch outside pages of Harry Potter when he found a YouTube video of students from other schools playing. After looking on the Quidditch Association's website, he noticed there were no teams in Utah. "First I thought, 'That's kind of a bummer. I would have to go to Las Vegas or Colorado to join a team,'" Burk said. "Then I thought, 'Well that's a problem, so I'll just start a community team." Burk's team started in February and he soon heard of a team that was being started at Judge Memorial Catholic High School. Burk contacted the other team, and together they formed the Utah Quidditch Organization. Westminster and BYU have attempted to start teams but didn't receive enough support to continue. Burk's group is trying to help those teams get back on their feet, as well as promote the sport to universities See QUIDDITCH Page 2 Capecchi on 'Today' show Nobel Prize-winning scientist discusses work on cancer Katie Pratt NEWS EDITOR Mario Capecchi is receiving more national spotlight and giving people a look into his personal life. Monday, NBC's "Today" show featured the Nobel Prize-winning scientist and professor at the School of Medicine. Capecchi described his upbringing in Italy during WWII, his subsequent homelessness as a child and his wife's bout with ovarian cancer during the past few years. "Now, his quest for a cure (for cancer) has become personal," said Bob Dotson, host of the "American Story" series, in the interview. Capecchi is a forerunner in the cure for cancer. Capecchi said he keeps his Nobel medal at the bottom of his dresser and said, "Well, I wish!" when Dotson likened his life story to Oliver Twist becoming Albert Einstein. FILE PHOTO/The Daily Utah Chronicle Mario Capecchi, the 2007 winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine, was featured on NBC's "Today" show Monday. NBC got in touch with Capecchi months ago, said Lee Siegel, science news specialist at the U. Capecchi received the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 2007 for his "work on the development of gene targeting in mouse embryo-derived stem cells," according to his website. k.pratt@chronicle.utah.edu |