Faculty Cautious on Cable TV by Heather Dawson Taped Lectures to His Students
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Nice JMU graduate finds Long Relationships' pluses Cavaliers Virginia overcomes Niche success as manager, p. 9 Distance and minuses, p. 17 Conquer JMU lacrosse, p. 25 THURSDAY, APRIL 21,1988 JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY VOL. 65 NO. 52 Faculty cautious on cable TV By Heather Dawson taped lectures to his students. students together for three hours in the evening." news editor "I don't have any objection on principle to cable If students know they can watch taped lectures on Some JMU administrators and faculty members television," he said. "I think the system has television, many of them might choose to attend interviewed express caution about plans to install a potential. class less often, Facknitz said. "I think it would mean university-wide cable system. "But it has a lot to do with my views on teaching," that the students who need most badly to come to Although JMU Telecommunications has said the Facknitz said. "Making the teacher into a video lakes class would stop coming ..." system will have educational uses, about half of the away greatly from the educational process." Dr. James Dendingcr, associate professor of 11 faculty members contacted said they had no use for Personal contact between instructors and students is biology, said there would not be a problem with "the the programming that could be offered them. necessary for good teaching, he said. "Anything that good students" skipping classes because they could Some of the system's channels would be used to moves away from the classroom is a bad idea." watch the lectures on telcvison. broadcast taped lectures and other material at faculty Facknitz said he might use the system to show his "But we never have much trouble with the good members' request—v students films based on novels they study in class. students not attending classes. It's the other end of the Dr. Mark Facknitz, associate professor of English, "We might want to talk about what the movie docs, said he would "never" use the system to broadcast versus what the book docs. It's difficult to get See CABLE TV page 2 ► Group to look at how region impacts JMU would impact the university." By Martin Romjue editor The stale council is studying whether or not to select JMU as an alternative Since JMU might expand in the expansion sight to a proposed campus future, administrators want to in Manassas. If JMU is chosen, investigate how JMU and the local enrollment could reach 16,()(K) within economy will affect each other. the next 12 to 15 years. SCHEV will JMU's Board of Visitors Saturday make its decision by November 1989. approved forming a special commission "It (commission findings] is another that will "study the future of the thing the state council can look at," university along with factors of the Hilton said. "The state council will 21st century and how they would relate look at needs around the state." to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham By examining economic and social County area and the Shcnandoah factors on a regional scale, the Valley," University Spokesman Fred commission's work will be similar to Hilton said. the state council study, Hilton said. The Greater University Commission The 20-mcmbcr commission will will examine trends in regional research and compile information population changes, economic growth within the next year and report to the and social structures, Hilton said. "It Board of Visitors in 1989. (commission] will look at the impact of these changes on the university and Commission members will include the university's impact on these leaders from the community, business, changes. industry, students, faculty members, "The valley area is changing so alumni. Board of Visitors members and rapidly," he said. "Harrisonburg is the representatives from the Parents fastest-growing city in me western part Council. of Virginia." JMU President Ronald Carrier and his The commission's findings will assistant. Dr. Barbara Pass, will select "interface" with a study being conducted commission members based on by the State Council of Higher suggestions from colleagues, Hilton Staff photo by PHILIP HOLMAN Education in Virginia, Hilton said. said. "We're trying to get a good mix of Don't fall! leaders from the campus and external "The SCHEV study is looking at the Sophomore Ted Stiles practices a handstand in the groups related to JMU." future of higher education," Hilton said. Shenandoah River during a canoe trip Sunday. "We're looking at possible scenarios in terms of enrollment and how they See COMMISSION page 2 > V 9D?D Page 2,"The Breeze, Thursday, April 21, 1988 particular work," Hilton said. By Laura Hunt features editor Carrier, who is the chairman of the board and former president of the Center for Innovative To gain a better understanding of cultural and Technology in Northern Virginia, heads the educational exchanges, JMU President Ronald committee on science and technology. Carrier will travel to Israel Saturday with Governor Gerald Balilcs and other members of the "He will be visiting some scientific facilities Virginia-Israel Commission. there, along with some universities," Hilton said. The commission includes about 150 state leaders Carrier and others on his subcommittee will meet in the fields of business, industry, education and with Israeli scientists and educators to explore topics Carrier joins science and technology, said Fred Hilton, director of such as a joint research contract between CIT and a university relations. similar group in Israel. Balilcs formed the commission in May 1986 "to The group also will attend a reception at the home state leaders carry out initiatives with the government and people of Israeli President Chaim Hereog, and a dinner of Israel in terms of cultural exchange, educational hosted by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. programs and scientific and technological growth," As part of their tour, the group will travel through visiting Israel Hilton said. the Jordan Valley and to the war-torn Golan Heights, a disputed part of Israel since 1967. The group will meet with prominent Israeli Members will receive a geographic and political officials and visit several key scientific installations, briefing on the region. universities and tourist attractions, he said. Group members also will plan and investigate In addition, group members will tour museums, possibilities for trade, business and scientific memorials and other historical sights. Israel now is arrangements between Virginia and Israel. celebrating its 40th anniversary as a nation. The sub-groups of the commission "will be Carrier and his wife, Edith, will leave for Israel visiting institutions and sights relevant to their Saturday and return Sunday, April 30. Cable TV ► (Continued from page 1) "Many college students are isolated from current "I think if that occurred maybe we've made some scale I'm concerned about," Dcndinger said. events," Daniel said. They have few news sources — mistakes in the kinds of students we've accepted to Facknitz said he docs not oppose the idea of they don't read daily newspapers or watch local or the university," he said. educational programming for the system. "They could network news." The cable system would allow students who work use it to show repeats of shows like "Nova,' tapes of Daniel said he watches morning news shows while at the JMU television production center to "assume visiting scholars' lectures . .." gelling ready for work. JMU students also might be new roles," Whitman said. "We hope that we will be Tapes of university events should be shown much able to keep the television on in their rooms in the able to do a lot more production work in the center." later than the event dates so that attendance at the morning to "keep them up on what's happening." Eventually, the television production center could programs is not discouraged, he added. Thomas Nardi, the director of the Career Planning broadcast interactive TV shows across campus, he Dwight Layman of the mathematics department said. Calls relating to the show could be taken said he opposes the current proposal to provide the & Placement office, said CP&P might use the system to broadcast informational programming on from students during the programs' air times. same cable services throughout the campus. No details of the charges to students for the service "If I don't want HBO because of the types of resume preparation and other job-related topics to students. have been worked out yet, said Tom Bonadco, director material they broadcast, I still have to pay for it," he of JMU Telecommunications. said. "I'm sure a lot of people could argue the same "I'm always interested in any medium we can use to Since the system will be installed gradually in the thing against ESPN — some people have no interest communicate to students," Nardi said. dorms, a flat charge cannot be added to the cost of in sports." Dr. Richard Whitman, dean of the College of Fine some room contracts, Bonadeo said. "We will "A person should have the option of choosing Arts and Communication, said students probably gradually add to the cost of [all] rooms to cover the which of the entertainment channels they want," would not study less often after cable television is services that are provided." Layman said. made available in their dorm rooms. Students who have cable in their dorms before But Dr. Lacy Daniel, dean of students, said the Most JMU students are "self-disciplined," Whitman installation is complete in all dorms will not be cable system probably would help students keep up said. "MTV is not likely to detract them from their charged more than other students, he said. "We won't with current news events. course work. charge anyone a special fee." Commission ► (Continued from page 1) He predicted members will be selected ■MMW «with in the next few weeks.