ACC looks at pass/fail, experimental courses By Kris Alexander stances. One occurs when stu­ BimmeximiM staff reporter dents transfer to other institutions ... The other occurs when courses The Academic Coordinating at (Western) require a specific Commission (ACC) made some letter grade in a prerequisite." small changes to Western's pass/ The ACC denied the request, fail and experimental course poli­ deciding that pass/fail grades cies at its meeting on Nov. 16. cannot be transformed to letter Departments are now permit­ grades because different profes­ ted to set a standard performance sors have different passing stan­ level required for a passing grade dards. But, some commissioners in pass/fail courses. Departments thought that there should be a are also restricted to offering ex­ standard A-F grade equivalent for perimental courses three times "F' (passing) grades. before submitting them as regular Currently, it is the responsi­ courses. bility of the instructor to decide Discussion of the pass/fail what level of work defines a pass­ policy was prompted by a memo ing grade in pass/fail courses. from Tjalling Ypma, math de­ According to the university gen­ partment chair. The main prob­ eral catalog, for courses that re­ lem is that students may want ceive letter grades, a "C" quali­ passing grades corresponded with fies as a "pass," but a "D" quali­ letter grades, he said. fies as a "low pass". So, for pass/ "Presently, no relationship is fail courses, "C-level" work could prescribed, and considerable be considered a passing grade to variation exists between instruc­ some instructors, whereas "D- tors," Ypma wrote. "This leads to difficulties in at least two in­ See ACC, page 3 Seattle Red Cross worker F^rmeiY^^ tells of Bosnian war zones iiiliilpPiiiiiiiiiiiiiiB that sparked the conflict that now By Guy Bergstrom American Red Cross. She fol­ Issues/Opinions editor lowed the food in truck convoys from the time it arrived from ships : To one Seattle woman, the to regional warehouses to the ::^^i^!P^: ipa^'; their 2-year-bld war in the former Yugoslavia isn't hands of those in need in the so far away. middle of war zones. "Everywhere I went, I saw "In my first naive view of children waving" at aid trucks, things, I thought, 'Isn't that won­ said Hope Tuttle, who spent April derful that when we drive by them daughteris ai reflection of Bosnia's in the war-torn European country they wave at us in thanks?' But on a Red Cross mission to distrib­ whatitis, they're begging. They're ute food to civilians. living on less than 900 calories a Tuttle's job was to document day, so they beg for whatever they the arrival of food donated by the country's conflict to an audience American government to the See Witness, page 5 l||||l|||||jlll||llp Bellingham housing problems include homelessness By Vanessa Blackburn Chris Chisholm, co-chair of the Rain­ emergency shelters and 26 visible in street regular and adequate nighttime residence. staff reporter bow Coalition's Housing Action Task Force, locations for the county. It is cautioned, Those who are homeless range from run­ This is the third in a four-part series on said homeless people are hard to count, but however, that the results are not and were away youth to substance abusers to the affordable housing in Bellingham. he estimates an approximate 1,000 in never intended to be a count of the total mentally ill to victims of domestic violence. Whatcom County, or one out of every 100 population of homeless persons, according According to the CHAS, the percentage The financial constraints of Whatcom people. to the city's Comprehensive Housing breakdown for the homeless population is: County's job and housing markets create an But John Harmon, executive director of Affordability Strategy (CHAS). single men - 30 percent; single women -10 environment where one misstep can lead to the Whatcom County Housing Authority, "Most homeless are not street people," percent; families - 40 percent and youth - 20 homelessness. said many people overstate the numbers, Chisholm said. "Some are doubling-up in percent. The local homeless population can be and "hundreds and hundreds (of homeless) houses with other families, staying with Karen Matson, Homeless Housing Fed­ difficult to numerate, however, because is overestimating the problem." friends or living in shelters." eration liason for the the Opportunity Coun- many do not live in shelters or on the The Federal 1990 Census of Population The CHAS defines "homeless indi­ streets, as is commonly misunderstood. and Housing quotes only 141 people in vidual" as a person who lacks a fixed, See Homeless, page 4 News: Forensic team ranked second in nation — page 6 Accent: Old Fairhaven plans Tour d'Art — page 8 WHAT'S INSIDE: Sports: Men's basketball promises success — page 11 2 The Western Front NEWS November 19,1993 Campus and Bellingham Western Briefs Campus and community events - College presents PBS video about race feature cored-fiberglass construction, aluminum masts and booms, wood blades and North sails. The man told police he and his roommate had received other late-night The Woodring College of Education Center for used boats are 11 years old. Educational Pluralism will present the video "Race: Bids must be submitted in sealed envelopes with The World's Most Dangerous Myth" at noon and the desired boat number written on them. They must 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 23, in Miller Hall 250. be received by 10 a.m., Nov. 30. The one-hour video is the sixth in the Public For forms and more information contact Cherly Broadcasting Company series "Diversity: Under­ Kamey in the Inventory Control and Surplus office, standing Multicultural Relations in the U.S.A." at ext 3566, or Jeff Davis at Lakewood at 650-2900. In this episode, the concept of race is examined from a scientific and cultural perspectives. City, county offer free branch chipping mail. Two separate calls were received but may have come firom the Panel discussion about education will The Bellingham and Whatcom County Public compare the ways children are taught Works departments are offering freebranch chipping to residents during the weekends of Nov. 20-21 and A program about performance standards and as­ Nov. 27-28. sessment in education will be presented at 2 p.m., Branches can be delivered for chipping to the Friday, Nov. 19, in Miller Hall 163. Community Compost Site, located at the intersec­ tonumerous similar incidents inBellingham. They haveno suspects. The program, called "The Oohs and Aahs of tion of Lakeway Avenue and Woburn Street from Teaching: A Changing Style/' will feature panelists 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and was organized by education student Linda Burt. It will focus on the way children and youths are taught Estrada named to state commission Nov. 17,12:02 p.m.: A woman reported an attemptedbreak-inather and evaluated. :; Larry Estrada, vice provost for diversity, was Lakewood to auction used sailboats named by Gov. MikeLowry to the state Commission on Hispanic Affairs. Lakewood will auction one new and 16 used 14- The commission advises the governor, the leg­ foot Alpha dinghy sailboats using closed-bids. islature and state agencies on issues relating to the The boats are self-rescuing, sloop-rigged, and Hispanic community. Clarification youths were visiting the woman's daughter against the mother's permission. Police said the woman was concerned about possible In its Oct. 16 issue at Faculty Senate President Kathleen gang activities of the visitors. The juveniles fled when police arrived Knutzen declared the Faculty Handbook dead. Knutzen referred to only pages 69 and 70 of the handbook, which addresses departmental contniiiencv plans tor budget cuts. when she said. "This document is not functional." The Front regrets the confusion or embarrassment this may have caused. WWU Official Announcements Deadline for announcements in this space is noon Friday for the Tuesday edition and noon Wednesday for the Friday edition. Announcements should be limited to 50 words, typewritten or legibly printed, and sent through campus mail to "Official Announcements,1' MS-9117, fax 7287, or taken in person to Com­ missary 113A. DO NOT ADDRESS ANNOUNCEMENTS DIRECTLY TO THE WESTERN FRONT. Phoned an­ nouncements will not be accepted. All announcements should be signed by originator. PLEASE POST • INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS & EXCHANGES ORIENTATIONS: An orientation meeting for all those attending the winter Nov. 16,9:30 ajn: A man CMI Morelia, Mexico, program is set for 3 p.m. Mon., Nov. 29, in OM355. • An orientation meeting for all those participating in werem the winter quarter European program is set for 3 p.m. Tues., Nov. 30, in OM355. • WINTER QUARTER DEGREE AND INITIAL CERTIFICATE CANDIDATES: All students who expect to graduate and/or re­ were ceive a teaching certificate at the close of winter quarter must have a senior/certification evaluation on file in the Registrar's Office in OM 230 by Dec. 3. Degree applications must be returned by Dec. 3. To pick up a degree application, go to OM 230. Deadline for spring graduates is March 11. • ATTENTION NDSL/FEDERAL PERKINS AND GSL/STAFFORD/FFELP LOAN BORROWERS: If you are not returning winter quarter or if you are graduating fall quarter, you are required to schedule an exit Interview. Stop by Student Fiscal Services, OM 265, or call X/3943 no later than Nov. 22 to schedule an interview. School records will be subject to withholding If you don not appear for the mandatory Interview. New KUGS manager says station will • THE FINAL DAY OF ADVANCE REGISTRATION for winter quarter is today (Nov. 19) in the Old Main Registration Center.