80% Rule Not Worth Trouble It Causes, Says Omey by JOHN HARJO Quarters in a Row, He Is Put on Academic Certain Students, for Example, Part-Time Students, Probation
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western Vol. 67 No. 3 Ten Cents FRIDAY, October 11,1974 Recycle all paper Enrollment over 8800 by LEA WEBB Pleasantly shocked as student enrollment figures roll in, Associate Registrar Robert Thirsk yesterday gave what he called a "ballpark" estimate of 8,850 registered students at Western this fall quarter. Due to a delay in a student count from the continuing studies program, an exact figure yet is unavailable. The figure exceeds last fall quarter's enrollment by at least 700 students. It also clears the estimated 6,960 earlier projected by the state's Office of Program Planning and Fiscal Management (OPPFM) and the administration's hopeful 7,715. A detailed breakdown of the exact number of men and women students, the number of students in each class and department, and the number of transfer students is not available yet. Richard Riehl, assistant director of admissions, Tuesday estimated the number of freshmen enrolling this quarter would be similar to that of one year ago, but the number of transfer students has increased noticeably. The OPP&FM figure was used last year to estimate Western's budget MAIDEN FLIGHT - John Wulle, Fairhaven student, gets a helping hand from Dereck Looker to start the test flight of his home-built request for the upcoming biennium, single-propeller airplane at Bellingham Airport on Saturday. Wulle, who spent 17 months building the Volkswagen-engined plane, but may face drastic revision in light of the recent enrollment figures made a 40-minute test flight and landed to the cheers and congratulations of some 40 spectators, —photo by Allen. 80% rule not worth trouble it causes, says Omey by JOHN HARJO quarters in a row, he is put on academic certain students, for example, part-time students, probation. Failure to complete 80 per cent for "who can be below 80 per cent completion with Western's 80 per cent class completion rule three quarters in a row is grounds for dismissal. a single course drop." has not achieved what it was designed to do, Grades not considered to be successful are "F", The rule is hard-on foreign students, "who college Registrar Eugene Omey said this week. "NP", "U", "W" and, after a one-quarter grace must often reduce their loads, in spite of desire Primarily, the rule was designed to guard period, an unremoved "K". to maintain 'normal' progress, and upon students against students who took heavy loads and then While most students are aware of the ruling, with physical disabilities," who might have to dropped unwanted classes later in the quarter. they do not foresee the implications for reduce their load because of recurring ailments or This practice made it difficult for many other themselves, said Assistant Dean of Students Tim physical condition. students to get the classes they needed. Douglas, who handles the cases of students While the problems inherent in the 80 per After one year in operation, the rule has not affected by the rule. Douglas said the "W" now cent completion rule are many, the need for a significantly reduced the number of registration being given for withdrawal from classes is hard check on abuses of the registration system is changes, said Omey. Further, explained Omey, for other schools to evaluate, and students with needed. "the majority of course drops appears to be for long patterns of "Ws" probably will be viewed Douglas suggested to assist in choosing classes sound reasons, yet all students are penalized with disfavor. within the five-day limit, a course description under this rule because of the excesses of a few." Douglas also said while the rule may be good book would be useful to give students adequate Under the rule, a student—who might for students who are doing poorly by bringing information on the content and requirements of otherwise be doing well in school—could be them to the attention of the faculty, high grade a course before registration. dropped from enrollment and have to go through point average students may be dropped from Douglas also said a big complaint is 80 per the petitioning process to get reinstated. school or given "low scholarship" notices. cent is too high of a completion factor, maybe Last spring quarter, 225 students were Omey, who is an outspoken critic of the 80 80 per cent of classes signed up would be more dropped for failing to complete 80 per cent of per cent rule, cites several problems resulting realistic than 80 per cent of credits signed up. credits taken in the preceding year, while 154 from it. Omey has suggested broad changes in were put on academic probation, and 448 were He said, "the rule is complex and difficult for scholarship standards to bring about firm and given warnings. students to understand and for the college to equitable standards that are easily understood, The rule states any student who does not administer; it causes many more students to be including abandonment of the 80 per cent rule. complete 80 per cent of the credits for which he ineligible for student activities, including His and other proposals were presented in a has registered as of the sixth day of every forensics, athletics, music performance groups, meeting of the Council on Arts and Science quarter is given a warning. theater, journalism, etc." Curriculum held yesterday, details of which are If he fails to complete 80 per cent for two Omey also said the rule works hardships on not yet available. Inside- Ladies, gentlemen, Trent Row; Center9 The Front's Arts and Entertainment section may have a new name, but it still says where and what to do on campus and in Bellingham. See pgs. 7-10. Rival football teams to clash Western and Central, college equivalents of neighboring high school "Ife RAPE-WHISTLE- 15 e*oc! rivals, will play tomorrow at Civic Field. Western's championship hopes are pinned on this game. See pg. 14. 2 Western Front Friday, October 11,1974 shorts & sldelftes Women wary of assaults by LINDA COOLEY small town, it could happen here," she said While mysterious disappearances and murders referring to a recent rape in her southwestern j of college women have plagued college campuses Washington city with a population of less than throughout the state, Western is one of several 2,000. small colleges that has yet to be "hit." -..Another woman said, "that kinda stuff has Fellowships available for woolen, araas And, until a disaster does occur here, it seems always scared me," adding, "I won't even go out , women "won't be thinking too much of it." alone in the day time." Applications are now being I maximum of $6,000, must be Of more*than 12 women students interviewed, "The Women's Commission," she asserted, 1 accepted for several fellowships submitted by Jan. 15, 1975. all were aware and concerned, but none had "should offer a free clinic on self defense or, at for women and graduate Application information for really changed their lifestyles to guard against an least bring a speaker to lecture about karate for students. both fellowships may be abduction. one night. Even learning some karate stances The Danforth Graduate ' obtained from Mary Robinson, Degrees of fear and precautions among women might be enough to ward off an offender." Fellowship for Women is to associate dean of students. students varied enormously. One 19-year-old assist able women,- whose The National Science "I've started telling my roommates where I go academic careers have been Foundation Graduate sophomore told this story: and they always tell me where they are going interrupted, to undertake a Fellowship is intended for A large bulky envelope arrived this week. She and estimate when they'll be back. I've become master's or doctoral program in students at or near the felt a large lump inside and opened it to find a really skeptical about people I meet," the preparation for secondary or beginning of their graduate letter from Mom complete with a police whistle 21-year-old junior from Anacortes explained. college teaching. I study. and an article from the Seattle Times describing "I haven't been hitchhiking for more than a The award is for one year The fellowship is awarded precautions being taken by University of year," said another, who quit accepting rides last for $3,000 or $4,000. Complete for work leading to master's or Washington female students. winter quarter when a Western woman was applications are due Jan. 10, doctoral degrees in the Since its arrival, "the rape whistle," as it was mathematical, physical, medical, picked up and dropped off somewhere in Skagit 1975. nicknamed in grim humor, has accompanied four The object of the Kathryn biological, engineering and County, as a corpse. Sisson Phillips Fellowship is to social sciences. women in the house on all after dark outings. "I haven't thought of it much, but I used to aid women in the pursuit of The one-year award is for Additional women have received chain locks walk alone at night, now I take a friend," said a advanced degrees in such areas $3,600. Application deadline is ' in the mail from their parents and installed senior who lives in Birnam Wood apartments. as guidance counseling and Dec. 2, 1974. Additional better security systems on their apartments. Another woman, who lived a block from educational "administration. information may be obtained' Even though local police contend "the whole Georgann Hawkins, the University of Washington Applicants must hold a from the Fellowship Office, thing has more or less died down and campus bachelor's degree.