Candidates' STUDIO^ Grad Photos gifcAJIHIB the Platforms J 1^ JLJ jOne Bxlo Two 5x7 Six 2x3 inside IWi $49,99 Cord Pose of your choice. No sitting fees wrth thfe ad. WEEKLY See page 12 2sMm 744 - 5553 Laurier's class struggle First year class sizes grow as enrollment increases stipend, rather than the wage they The lecture format, Lorimer received in previous years. explains, is a more authoritative "I would rather have them refi- style of learning. Students rely on nance than increase the sizes of the lecture and the text-book to give labs," Raptis said. "But the them what Lorimer calls "ready- University has to be careful how made answers." In classes where much it takes advantage of [the they can participate in discussions, Teaching Assistants]. It's unfortu- by contrast, students learn skills of nate the TAs have to pay the price." problem-solving and interpretation. "The authoritative view that Effect on Teaching Style there's some kind of truth out there Students and faculty alike are is simple-minded and naive. concerned about the repercussions Students must be participants in the oflarger classes. construction of their own knowl- "With larger classes it makes it a edge. lot easier just not to be there, said Ben Graham, now a second-year Variety of Classes student in Honours English. English, Beyond class size, however, he said, is lucky enough to have Lorimer expressed concerns about KATHY CAWSEY for the whole university has As this year's first-year class under 40 students in most of its the variety of classes offered. In Cord News remained relatively constant since moves through the system, the classes. "But in first-year psycholo- 1991, the total number of one-term Welcome to Lauricr: small, cozy 1991, moving from 33.97 students repercussions of expanded enroll- gy, for example, there's way over courses offered at Laurier was Friendly. Small classes, close contact per class to 33.78 in 1995-96, class ment will be compounded. If enroll- 100 students. Our prof used to say, 2,019.19. By 1995, that number fell with other students, accessible pro- sizes in the senior years may have ment levels stay the same, class when I had classes of forty or fifty to 1771.60 - a drop of 13 per cent. fessors. actually decreased. sizes at all levels, not just in first we could have seminars, discus- As chair of the History Things may be changing. At the This would fit with the patterns year, will see drastic increases. sions, and essay questions. Now it's Department, Lorimer said that he January 22 Senate meeting. Dr. of enrollment Smith describes. In "It's not a problem now, but we just me, you and multiple-choice had many students coming to him in Rowland Smith, Vice President 1992, full-time enrollment was at an need to think about what will hap- exams." September desperate to get into Academic, presented figures all-time high, with 5,464 students pen down the line," said George Professors, too, arc concerned classes because so many had demonstrating a trend towards larg- registering. Enrollment dropped to Raptis, Vice President: University about the way in which class size already filled up. The same thing er class sizes in first-year courses. 5,026 in 1995, increasing for the Affairs for Wilfrid Laurier affects teaching style. Dr. Tupper happened in November. While the average class size for (lie first time to 5,134 in 1996. As well, University's Students' Union. Cawsey, who teaches Management "Students are not getting the university as a whole has remained part-time enrollment across Ontario Size is one of the key criteria and Organizational Behaviour in the courses they want," Lorimer said. stable, first year section sizes have has dropped drastically. prospective students mention when School of Business, says that differ- "They're so desperate they would jumped on average from 60 4 stu- "We're still not at the total in deciding whether to choose Lauricr. ent modes of teaching fit different take anything they could get into. dents in 1992 to 78.7 students in numbers we were at in 1992," With potential deregulation of class sizes. Classes with under 20 They're being pushed to the mar- 1996. Smith said. "There's only an tuition and other changes the students, he said, tend to be student- gins ofthe curriculum just to get suf- Each faculty shared the increase increase at the first year level." Ministry of Education is proposing, driven in a seminar format. ficient credits." in first-year class size. Arts and The first-year increase is an Raptis said Laurier has to protect its Between 20-50 students is a good Originally, history was unlike Science increased from an average effort on the part ofthe University to strengths to be able to compete size for teaching case studies and many departments because it of 59.5 students in 1992 to 79.5 in compensate for both the drop in against other universities. holding discussions; over 50 stu- offered a wide variety of courses, 1996; the School of Business and part-time students and to maintain "What makes classes meaningful dents and the professor tends to lec- rather than one "History 100." Now, Economics moved from 108.4 to projected growth patterns for and beneficial is getting to know fel- ture. Each format, he said, is suit- however, because of a lack teaching 133.9; and the Faculty of Music Lauricr. Government statisticians low students and faculty, small able for different topics and subjects. resources, that variety Is threatened. went from 26.9 to 35.2. estimate that on average, the uni- group discussions, the ability for Lorimer echoed some of "Students need to have a mea- Smith said that the change in versity system in Ontario grows at profs to consult with students one- Cawsey's concerns. "Students get sure of choice and freedom," first year class sizes is in part a an average rate of 2.7 per cent a on-one," said Raptis. "If we increase into the habit of being passive learn- Lorimer said. "It shouldn't be decid- result of the jump in enrollment year. WLU aims to grow at the rate lecture sizes we have to make sure ers," he said. "That's a product of ed by a lottery whether they get in to laurier saw in 1996. "This is our ofthe system. that tutorials at least are protected." always being in a lecture. They a course they need or not." biggest first year class ever," he said. "Size is relative," Smith com- Last year's cut in funding for haven't had the experience of being The increase comes in part as a way mented. "Relative to other universi- leaching Assistants in Business 111 active learners - they want to simply See Class Struggles, page 5 Ifl compeasate for government cuts ties our size is still favourable." and 121, however, suggests that TAs listen." to funding for post-secondary insti- are an r 1 tutions. Concerns for the future expendable "The institution has to strive to Other people, however, disagree part of the balance books and to offer the kind with the estimation that size is rela- University's of student experience we think is tive. Once classes reach a certain budget. The appropriate," Smith said. "Any insti- size, they can no longer be called University tution that tries to carry on exactly "small" - no matter how big classes managed to the same way it has been [when are in other universities. maintain the government funding was high] is in "Whether you lecture in front of number of trouble." 50 or 100 people doesn't make labs for first- much of a difference," said Doug year business Changing Enrollment Figures Lorimer, Chair of the History students by The Registrar's Office was Department. "The question is, can providing TAs unable to provide statistics on aver- you get students in classes of 15-25 with academ- age class sizes for other years. where some discussion can take ic credit and However, since average class size place." a small News 3 • Opinion 8 • Student Life 10 • Election '97 12 • Sports 16 • Entertainment 21 • Brain Candy 26 • Classifieds 27 "The tie that binds since 1926" VOLUMH XXXVII • ISSUK 'IWlXlY -TWO • WliDNHSDA^ FhBKUAKY 5,1997 • WLU S TUDI-NT PUBLICATIONS Intel Pentium® Processor with MMX™ Technology * * : : 512KB Pipeline Cache 32 Meg RAM Memory * i * 2.1 Gb Hard Drive Lightning Fast 1 6X CD Rom j * * j Sound Blaster 32 Sound Card S3 Virge 2MB PCI 3D Video Card ; * i * 33.6 Kbs internal Win Fax Modem MS Phone pre-loaded (W/manuals) i * : MS Plus & Windows '95 pre-loaded (W/manuals) \ TREINID-IVIIVIX5 1 66 TREND-MMX5200 200 iviHz version MHz j Mfniririni'lliillliUJUiJa' maj BWffffHH TREND-MPC5166 IfjffWnlt * Intel Pentium® Processor * 256KB Pipeline Cache * 16 Meg RAM Memory * 1.7 Gb Hard Drive a * Ultra Fast 8X CD Rom * Sound Blaster 16 Sound Card I | 111' I * * +mJk& 1 MB PCI SVGA Video Card 33.6 Kbs internal Win Fax Modem 1 2|tC|flvl * * MS Phone pre-loaded MS Plus & Windows '95 pre-loaded J system not shown V|l\ Great deals await at a COMPU TREND entium B Gnt a FREE ropy c»# \ K a • * Comoton'a 37 Interactive Encyclopedia* flOOf ! 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