• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Boise State University ScholarWorks Student Newspapers (UP 4.15) University Documents 2-25-2002 Arbiter, February 25 Students of Boise State University Although this file was scanned from the highest-quality microfilm held by Boise State University, it reveals the limitations of the source microfilm. It is possible to perform a text search of much of this material; however, there are sections where the source microfilm was too faint or unreadable to allow for text scanning. For assistance with this collection of student newspapers, please contact Special Collections and Archives at [email protected]. Vol. 15 Issue 42 First Copy Free February 25, 2002 Faculty Senate approves plus/minus grading on the measure. the Faculty Senate approved the new "Their actions say that they don't system before allowing ASBSU to care about what students have to Student leaders present the results of an online poll say," Chambers said. Should Boise State Acquire a +/- Grading System of students. ASBSU President Nate Peterson left in dark The poll, though not scientific, said the Faculty Senate had not com- 69.0% By Andy Benson indicates that the majority of stu- municated with the ASBSU Senate dents do not want the current grad- Tile Arbiter about the plans to approve the new ing system changed. 70.00 policy. The Faculty Senate voted to rec- Nate Chambers, ASBSU faculty "1 would have expected someone relations director, had planned to 60.00 ommend the adoption of <? from the Faculty Senate to come talk plus/minus grading policy last present the results of the poll to the to us about the plus/minUs grading Faculty Senate during the next sen- 50.00 week, but student leaders are upset system," Peterson said. and say they have been left out of the ate meeting this Tuesday but was 40.00 ASBSUis expected to hear a reso- decision-making process. surprised by the Feb. 12 decision to lution next Tuesday condemning the approve the plan. 30.00 The policy would change BSU's Faculty Senate's decision. grading system to allow professors Chambers said he had verbal The plus/minus grading system 20.00 to assign plus or minus grades and assurances from both Faculty Senate is controversial because a grade of C would allow for 13 possible grades President Alex Feldman and minus would not count as a passing 10.00 rather then the current four. Academic Standards' Committee grade for prerequisite or core class- The recommendation now goes to member Jack Hourcade that the sen- es, and maintaining a 4.0 grade point ate would wait until the student poll No Opinion Provost Daryl Jones and the Dean's see GRADEon pg. 2 Yes No Council for final approval. results were presented before voting Student leaders are upset because Capitol Bridge gets new legs with.reiIlforcement project By Erin Willis Tile Arbiter The Ada County Highway District completed work Thursday repairing erosion damage under the northbound Capitol Blvd. Bridge. Local scour created holes more than eight feet deep sur- rounding the north support pier, which would ultimately have led to structural damage of the historic bridge if left unchecked. "Scour is the biggest cause of bridge failure in the United States," said Kent Brown, engi- neering manager for the ACHD. The segmental arch bridge, near the Barnes Towers resi- dence hall, was built in the early 1930s. Built before contemporary building standards, the bridge rests on only eight-foot con- crete footings in the Boise River. Seven decades of water level fluctuations washed away the area gravel, lowering the riverbed roughly 10 feet and creating the deep depres- sions under the supports. Brown said holes, or areas of local scour, open during times of high water levels when the water flow carries away the gravel. When the water level declines, the holes fill with sand, which washes away again when the water level rises. In modem bridge design, Construction equipment braves the cold waters ofthe Boise River behind the Morrison Center. concrete pilings are driven Sand & Gravel Co., Inc., who After placing the concrete Brown said. "This was a fairly solution. blocks, which are staggered deep into the ground, which James Milligan, originally Construction began mid- designed and built 'ecology serve as bridge supports and down an additional six feet, determined the extent of the serious sihlation." January of this year on the blocks,' 2 feet by 2 feet by six protection from local scour. The department imple- feet concrete slabs, weighing workers filled the area with erosion was only eight feet approximately $250,000 pro- gravel to the original level of The ACHD discovered the mented an emergency repair 3,600pounds. deep. plan, which included tem- ject in which workers installed the riverbed. erosion problem at the Capitol The figure, however, numerous concrete slabs "We had 900 of these blocks Blvd Bridge two years ago and porarily placing riprap. a flat The concrete mattress also changed once construction around the affected pier. cast," Brown said. "We contracted with local consul- rock, in the spaces around the designed a mattress that went see CAPITOL on pg. 3 began. pier until funding became Brown said the ACHD con- tants HDR Engineering, who "The problem was actually tracted with Boise-based Idaho all around that pier." along with University of Idaho worse than we thought," available for a more reliable civil engineering professor JFACcuts Prontise Budget Committee Scholarship amount by $50 "I wish it would have been Ruch said the legislators felt results to go online py Matt Neznanskl left the way it was," Ruch said. the program could be trimmed Tile Arbiter The amount is significantly because the scholarships are less than Governor Dirk not based on financial need. The Idaho legislature's Joint dations also assume a 12 come under fire from some Kempthome asked for in his "1 think it is understandable By Matt Nezngnskl Finance and Appropriations budget. given their financial limits," percent increase in student faculty. The Arbiter Ruch said the university Committee allowed for fewer In his state of the state Ruch said. fees. dollars for Idaho Promise A public student fee has not killed the program, address, Kempthome said he He said the decision illus- Following the recommen- Scholarships Wednesd.ay hearing is scheduled for it was just decided to not wanted a $3 million incrt:ase in trates the inevitable realities of dations of tne Joint Finance fund it internally this year. when they forwarded their the program. political compromise. March 6 at 1 p.m. in the suggestions to the legislature. and Appropriations He said there are always "With over 5,000 students According to Ruch, the Committee, Boise State Barnwell Room of the SUB. two viewpoints on sabbati- The committee recorn- enrolled thus far, this program committee regularly receives The results of the hearing mended funding the program administrators will publish will also be linked to the cals: people outside the uni- is essential for higher educa- more requests than it has dol- the Executive Budget versity don't appreciate the at $1.6 million. tion and economic develop- lars. budget website. This lower number decreas- Committee findings on the "There is still lots of importance of the program, merit," he said. The committee is also lob- and insiders don't want to es the maximum scholarship The Idaho Promise bied to retain specific requests Internet. water to go down the river," award from $250 to $200. The recommendations jeopardize the program. Scholarship program offers throughout the process. will be available to students Ruch said. Ruch said the policy is Boise State President awards to high-rerfOrming "They try to find ways to Ruch said the university Charles Ruch said it was on line today. not opposed to sabbaticals. Idaho high schoo seniors in stretch what's available," Ruch plans to change its holiday He said he sees them as crit- encouraging the committee Information can be schedule next year, effec- order to entice them into said. accessed from the BSU web- ical to the university. retained the program. attending college in the state. tively shutting down the site via a link to the new campus in an effort to save Faculty members who receive outside grants will energy. The plan mirrors the be allowed to take them. "This is hopefully a very four-day summer schedule unusual year. I certainly approved last year by the have not been through the :~~ ~l:lG~~i~~{:~~?l~State Board of Education. "We're looking for as speed and magnitude of these budget cuts before," ·...'.'1.'heArbiter's newedi;~~:'ih1diIt: ,/.~/.\ merits. many plans as we can to Ruch said. iliY .•. :shs'~u1m~elsottrh:[te:g:fsiiu~.~;~illlimit expenses," said Ruch, ,'it;,i,,~f~~ ."" "', ......,." ,.j~¥f'~".':, The university decision ,y. c, t'c?p~~~,· .:,':',",,J)ly~t~~·.i.h" appropriate as JFAC has to. suspend sabbaticals as. a cost-cutting measure has " 'l1i~"'1~8/IninUS system, moM;' -:,I, '~~f~yill,;p~~i :,".;,;recR~ches~td~h~ ~~~~~~~~- . }us1:~age':",.,' . :ni" <or ""/«, .. fl--"'-'-;""':~'-"-"- ,....:!.:--....;.')i'_:?,_,j;_:._';:._~ .•,_.••,.,....;.ij_~:._:.._.. ,...::..",!:-:',t_'''....;. __·· ~ "·~/-',_',,_·M;_;i·::_\;·,~·,~.---·_··_b_·c_·:._~.2.:....,~:. '_,, __ --:----------- • ....;.1;,.;.._----------'-'...--..i""'=:.::;.!, _ \; :\,"v.' . j>' .~,. • GRADE from po. 2 Student Preceptions of +/- Grading System _.---------------------.1 CIStul!ents Surveyed ~ Will Will Will Not Decrease Increase Affect GPA GPA GPA average would become more Bair said. "I think the current difficult. system works and there's no The new system would not sense in complicating things." be universal, as it would allow Richard Pompain, profes- professors the option of " sor in the Department of Choosing the new system or Marketing and Finance and remaining with the old.

Load more

  11

Copy Link