THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MERCYHURST COLLEGE SINCE 1929 CAMPUS LIVING A & E National celebrations “Twelfth Night” to you’ve missed open on Thursday, Jan. 18 at the Taylor Little Theatre Page 4 Page 8 Vol. 80 No. 12 Mercyhurst College 501 E. 38th St. Erie Pa. 16546 January 18, 2007 President announces 4x1x4 semester system address the problems of the trimester By Joshua Wilwohl system. Editor-in-chief Survey reveals opposition “I think 10-week terms are not the best way to provide a college educa- The 4x4 semester system is “off the tion,” he said. “Ten weeks is too short table,” says Mercyhurst College Presi- for creative pedagogy.” dent Dr. Thomas Gamble. Gamble also noted that 10 weeks Gamble, instead, proposes a new narrows the window for paper due- plan referred to as the 4x1x4 semester dates and exams. He also said that if a system, or the intersession semester student falls behind in a class during the system. 10 weeks, it is hard to catch up. This plan, Gamble says, is the “only Behan agreed. calendar on the table.” “We can use the 4x1x4 system to According to Gamble, either the continue some of the benefits of a term school votes for it or it doesn’t change system,” she said. “Students will have until the next constituent period in more time to rehearse material and use about three to five years. File photo critical thinking.” Gamble said the calendar vote would Dr. Thomas Gamble Gamble said the switch will “…change occur sometime in the summer and, if the pace of the institution and make it passed, would begin in the fall of 2008 and optional for juniors and seniors. He similar to other institutions.” or 2009. also noted the possibility that it could He said other schools such as Wash- Gamble also said he met with the Aca- be optional for all students. ington and Jefferson College and Mid- demic Affairs Committee of the Board Gamble could not give details on the dlebury College use the 4x1x4 system. of Trustees last week and discussed the May session except noting it would be Gamble said the switch to the inter- 4x1x4 system. similar to the January session. session semester system would be easy He also made a presentation to the According to Gamble, class times for because the amount of credits, classes, faculty senate on Wednesday. the 4x1x4 system are “commensurately and class time are the same as they are “The 4x1x4 is a compromise between shorter.” now. the current trimester system and the Vice President of Academic Affairs “Not much of a change has to oc- once-considered 4x4 semester system,” Dr. Barbara Behan gave an approxima- cur,” he said. said Gamble. tion of class times. Gamble also said that students will According to Gamble, the 4x1x4 According to Behan, during the long find the 4x1x4 system easier. would consist of two 14-and-a-half- terms, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday “I think students will see it easier week terms with a three-and-a-half- classes would be 50 minutes to an hour, to hold four classes in 14-and-a-half E-mail survey indicates students week intersession during January, and and Tuesday and Thursday classes weeks,” he said. the possibility of another three-and-a- would be 75 to 90 minutes. He said the 4x1x4 calendar will also want trimesters to stay half week term during May. Behan said that during the short ses- benefit athletics and align the athletic During each of the two long terms, sions, classes would meet four or five calendar with other schools. switching to semesters included wanting By Chelsea Boothe students would take four classes worth times a week for two-and-a-half to “Scheduling games will be easier,” more time in the classroom per class; Campus Living editor three credits each, said Gamble. three hours. said Gamble. they don’t like the break during the win- During the January term, students Gamble assured that this system Though not every detail of the system ter term; think pace of class is currently would take one class worth three would allow for graduation in four years is worked out, Gamble said the 4x1x4 The Merciad e-mailed all students on too fast; and it currently doesn’t align credits. because the number of credits does not system is his final calendar plan. the main campus to ask whether or with certain sports’ seasons. Gamble said there are still ideas being change, but he said not everything is “There are enough problems with the not the students were for or against The majority of those responding to developed for the January session. fully worked out. trimester system,” he said. “We need to switching from the trimester system to the e-mail want to keep the trimester He said the short term could be re- Gamble said the change to 4x1x4 is see if there’s an option for switching.” a 4x4 system. because they enjoy classes that last only quired for freshmen and sophomores not that dramatic, but needs to occur to The poll finished on Tuesday at 10 weeks; they like the longer Thanks- noon with 752 responses. Of those, giving and spring breaks; they are glad 563 opposed any change, preferring they have the opportunity to take more Trimesters versus semesters detailed the trimester system, and 189 favored classes in four years than most colleges the switch to the 4x4 system that was and university systems provide; and they Mercyhurst College is currently on the trimester system, but 4x1x4 semesters under discussion at the time the e-mail think the course work is lighter. was sent. To see more student response please President Thomas Gamble is now considering the change to a • Two 14-and-a-half week Students’ responses in favor of turn to Opinion on Page 6. 4x1x4 semester system. In the past, Gamble also considered terms the 4x4 semester system. Listed is a brief breakdown of each • One three-and-a-half week Campus news briefs different academic calendar. January term • Possibly a three-and-a-half Compiled by editorial staff/from mercyhurst.edu Trimesters 4x4 semesters week May term Mercyhurst North East the weekend of Jan. 26-28. They’ve • Three 10-week terms • Two 15-week terms • Four classes for long term to host identity theft chosen to set the play in the 1980s. • Three to four courses per • Four classes per term presentation Performances are scheduled Friday • One class for short term Become informed about one of and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday term • Four credits per course • Three credits per course today’s most rapidly growing crimes at 2:30 p.m. in the Mary D’Angelo • Three credits per course at “Information on and Prevention Performing Arts Center. of Identity Theft” on Wednesday, Jan. Tickets are $12.50 for adults, $10 for 24, at 7:30 p.m. at Mercyhurst North seniors and non-Mercyhurst students, East, Miller Hall, room 116. $6.50 for President’s Cardholders, $5 Admissions on way to exceed goals for 2007 Stephen Szwejbka, director of the for youths 15 and under, and $1 for criminal justice program at Mercy- Mercyhurst students with ID. Call the period is doing very well. entice prospective students to look at hurst North East, will explain what box office at 824-3000. By Nicole Cerilli This can be attributed, in part, to Mercyhurst. The top two applied-for identity theft is and how you can Contributing writer Open skate recent changes such as the college’s majors are intelligence studies and protect yourself from becoming a new president, Dr. Thomas Gamble, business. victim. The presentation is free and The Mercyhurst Ice Center will Mercyhurst College’s growing repu- and the resulting change in the college’s One aspect of Mercyhurst admission’s open to the public. Call 725-6371 for be open after the hockey game on tation, strategic planning, and early administration, but it is also the product str tegic planning is to advertise these more information. Saturday, Jan. 20 at 10 p.m. recruitment explain the increasing of ongoing planning. features by expanding their outreach Mascot name to be number of applicants for the 2007-2008 Admissions director J.P. Cooney said regionally. Cooney said, “Although the Mercyhurst students announced freshman class. that currently, “there is a very good college itself is not national, some of perform classic musical So far, the number of applicants for buzz, if you will, about Mercyhurst in the programs are.” Performers from the D’Angelo De- The name of the new Laker mascot next year has already surpassed last the community.” partment of Music and other students will be announced at the basketball year’s total of 2,650 and is expected to Mercyhurst’s location, medium sized Please see Admissions on page 2 from Mercyhurst College will stage game on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. exceed 3,000 by May 1, 2007. student body, academic programs, and the popular musical “Bye Bye Birdie” Right now, the Mercyhurst assessment faculty are among the top features that PAGE 2 THE MERCIAD January 18, 2007 NEWS To contact: [email protected] Hurst TV airs World Briefs ‘Digging for the International news Compiled by Spanish PM makes Truth’ Marathon Jessica Kocent “clear mistake” From BBC News Hurst TV, the student-run been called a “real-life Indiana Spain’s prime minister says he cable station of Mercyhurst Jones.” made a “clear mistake” by being College’s Department of Com- His show has been the high- too optimistic about the prospect munication, celebrates the de- est rated program on the His- of peace talks with the Basque but of the third season of the tory Channel and is provided separatist group Eta.