VOL, 51, NO. 11 FRIDAY, JANUARY 19,1979 Calendar Talks Begin Again bySueFius I . | jj After dealing with the immediate budget crisis of last fall, the college has again turned its efforts to evaluating the academic calen­ dar. Dr. John J. Millar, dean of the college and vice president of academic services, met with division chairpersons last week to propose a new calendar for 1979-80. JJ Two different variations of the;4-3-3 plan were suggested. Both would eliminate Intersession and increase the course load for fall term to four courses. r "It is not in the best interest of the college to move to the semester system right now," Millar said. "There is a lack of clear-cut support for intersession." * i "Intersession may be a high point for some students," he added, "but a bad experience for many and a burden on faculty.'' Both plans of the new calendar would begin with a 13 week fall term lasting until the middle of December. Two terms, each ten weeks in length, would follow after the new year. t The second plan, suggested by Millar, would call for longer classes during the last two terms, allowing the college to finish approximately two weeks earlier than the first. "Four courses could be disasterous for some people," Millar said. Winter Scene - The bare trees of the season and the gray sky give off an Erie effect. 1 'some students have never taken more than three per term." He added, "At the same time, it could provide an easier pace for those students attending college for the first time. The 4-3-3 calendar provides for experimentation and can be put into action with a minimum amount of effort and change. The present system is designed to deal with the ten-week term." Social The division heads will meet again with Millar on January 23 to discuss further plans. Recommendations will then go to the College Senate for action. Final recommendations will be given to the president and the Board of Trustees for final approval. I Study "If the concensus is to stay with the 3-1-3-3 calendar, we will," Millar With the support of the College In the pasi, social work was a stablishing the major is seen as assured. "The question is, 'What does the institution itself want to Senate and Dean John Millar, concentration within the sociol­ an essentia] step in the attempt to do?'" College President Marion 'L. ogy department. To some, gain accreditation by (he Council Shane approved that "social on Social Work Education work be recognized as a major (CSWE). program at Mercyhurst." Elementary Ed. Majors! "There a re some 31 social work According to Bea Weissman, majors at the college right now," assistant professor of social Weissman noted. "There were Start New Sorority work, the major program will be many more double majors and A chapter of the national who are required to carry a 3.0 or "generic in form - having no minors indicating the many who organization for elementary higher QPA, elected officers to particular emphasis. This will recognize the relationship bet­ education majors, -Lambda the sorority. Melanie Tompkins prepare students for working I ween their major fields and Epsilon Delta, has been started was elected president, Mariann with people in a variety of social social'work." •** at Mercyhurst. 1 Ruberto, vice president and agencies including counseling 1 Reportedly, the college will be I Sr. Patricia Whalen, associate Paula Pizzat, treasurer. and referral work." applying for accreditation with professor of education, cited the Also elected were secretary ?m&&. CSWE sometime next year. If organization's goal as one of Reportedly, the college will be 1 Ann DelMedico, historian Marge actively searching for a second approved, it will hold for majors "encouraging a high degree of Zimmerman and freshmen gratuating from this year on. intellectual ability among its fulltime faculty member to teach representative Mary Smith. within the department. members." " i Members of the organization Weissman told the Merciad, More than 20 people in­ will meet January 28, at which "1 hope the new instructor will "Accreditation^by CSWE is ex­ terested in joining the honorary be able to assist in creating a tremely important for keeping time they hope to begin the social work program at sorority met for the first time last organizing various programs and gerontology (study of the aged) 0 Sunday. <, concentration . and minor pro­ Mercyhurst competitive in this skills workshops for all education wmm Members of the new chapter, majors. I 1 § gram," Weissman stated. region." \ } Bea Weissman •Merciad Interview 1 Heller Hits On 'Hurst Highs And Lows "I think-it's about time I say increase student Involvement, "People shouldn'tlbe limited to colleges. something to the whole campus," Heller suggested to keep sear­ parties." MSG Meeting ,i MSG President Mike Heller told ching for "what the students I At last Monday's MSG the Merciad. want." . "College life is going out and meeting, reps divided into groups participating," he added.'"No­ in order to brainstorm ideas on Heller was voicing his cdncern ft "We have to find dur own body seems to want to try issues confronting the college. over the problems of student issues,"{he continued. "We just anything new." £i Some of the topics centered on apathy, involvement and action. have to find .something that Heller cited the fact that few in the committees are: alcohol on •Beginning with the idea.that ignites the students." 'Hurst jjeople^at tended concerts campus, teacher evaluation, (ihere is actually very little At an earlier MSG meeting, apathy on campus, Heller Heller stated that there was no "We have to find somethinglthat ignites proceeded to encourage student great social issue the students 9 involvement and participation in could unite under such as those of the students. ' I on-campus decisions, f thefvietnam War or the Civil or coffee house acts, but feels residence life, public relations, "Students have the power . that attendance is starting to layoff review and [..student 9 increase. opinion. i ; * . but nobody uses it ' "In the past, we've brought in i> Reps and officers feel that smaller committees within MSG ;—_ • good bands, but mainly outsiders "Because students don't go to came," he said. , * will enable the body to act on Rights issues of the 1960's. ? T Mike Heller [.. Heller did suggest that raising issues that will encourage activities doesn't mean they're "We don't need massive student involvement. £' apathetic," he said, noting that Heller also touched 4 on the the activity fee might increase numbers because we're a small the quantity and quality of the As one member;put it, "Now "not all activities interest all school," he emphasized. subjects of alcohol and tuition as that we've done this much, we [students." "Suggestions go on-campus problems. various activities and stressed "Students have the power but that the 'Hurst has one of the have to stop talking and begin to further than complaints." nobody gets together and uses When questioned on the former acL"lllI 1 When asked about ways to it." 1 II issuefine commented that lowest activity? fees among I I JANUARY 19,1979 »!l Editor f OpiniOII John Bruno ThePrez £ * . ._ « . College President Shane will retire next year; it s not too early to think about who should replace him. t Comments I've heard range from that of appointing someone already involved with the 'Hurst to choosing a successor from a nationwide search. Some even feel that the next college president should be someone from the Erie area. r' Shane has done a commendable job as president He has handled the "increasing pressures" of his position admirably. However, his replacement should come from a more assertive brand of administra­ tor. One who can deal more effectively with the community: from the Board of Trustees on up to the students. The next 'Hurst president should be someone already involved with this institution. The Other Prez MSG President Mike Heller must have been born-again after that trip he and fellow MSG officers took to Harrisburg. Pm glad he brought to our attention that the 'Hurst isn't as problem- ridden as some of the other schools in the state. Plain reassuring is what it is. Gives me the feeling of wanting to possess a whole new outlook on college life, Heller's discovery does; that and the fact that it's only six credits to graduation. 1 i J ' Like it or not, Heller's correct when he says there are no major issues for students to unite behind or against. Those days are gone. Revolution is out and hedonism is in. And it's a better world for it; so far. '1 •'**; : Maybe it's unfortunate, but somehow the World Hunger Problem and the Energy Crisis lack the necessary controversy to rally behind that made the Civil Rights issue and anti-war protest the fashion a decade ago. i t In the last Merciad issue, Heller stated something rather profound when he said "Because students aren't exactly what one wants them to be doesn't make them apathetic." This is true. It's a case of free will. Still, sometimes people have to be informed about'what programs, issues or organizations need help. And sometimes people have to be reassured before they will attempt anything new. I like what Heller is attempting; anything new can't be all that bad. Again With The Calendar Talks j Correspondence... The only thing I have to say about the resumed calendar talks is find a calendar that includes free Wednesdays and vote it on through the bureacuracy.