University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Associated Students of the University of Montana Montana Kaimin, 1898-present (ASUM) 10-8-2003 Montana Kaimin, October 8, 2003 Students of The niU versity of Montana, Missoula Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy . Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper Recommended Citation Students of The nivU ersity of Montana, Missoula, "Montana Kaimin, October 8, 2003" (2003). Montana Kaimin, 1898-present. 4735. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper/4735 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM) at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Montana Kaimin, 1898-present by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MONTANA KAIMIN W ednesday, October 8, 2003 V olume CVI, Issue 22 Students urged to change ID numbers Madeleine Creevy It was not until a month later that she ing students computer-generated ID num- according to the National Fraud Kaimin Reporter realized she had accumulated credit-card bers that start with 79 and are followed by Organization. debt from cards she had never used. seven random numbers. More than 50,000 cases of fraud have When University UM student “After I contacted the police, we real- ID numbers, which are printed on the been linked to Social Security number of Montana junior victim of fraud ized that whoever stole my Griz Card was front of every Griz Card, are the primary theft. Molley Hale discov- because of setting up these accounts because they had way to identify a UM student. Hale said she was an unsuspecting vic- ered her wallet was access to my Social Security number,” “We changed the policy because we felt tim. missing, she imme- past use of Hale said. pressure from students and the state to pro- “I did not realize how far someone can diately canceled her Social Security It took months to settle with the credit- tect individuals’ privacy — and ensure dig into your life with your Social Security credit cards and got numbers card companies, Hale said, and the thief against unauthorized usage,” Carlyon said. number,” she said. “I owed more money a new driver’s was never identified. Students who were issued Griz Cards than I had ever spent in my life.” license. UM issued students identification num- prior to 2002 can go online or to the Hale had to go through months of credit She never worried about losing her Griz bers identical to their Social Security num- Registrar’s Office for a new ID number. problems before her debt was finally Card. bers for years, said Laura Carlyon, associ- Everything from credit cards to maga- cleared. “I did not even think about the fact that ate registrar. zine subscriptions can be obtained over the “I have told all of my friends to change my Griz Card had my Social Security num- In 2002, UM changed this policy by giv- Internet with a Social Security number, ber on it,” she said. See SECURITY Page 8 The joys of being of age Faculty to debate pluses, minuses of UM grading Quinn Riedy onto students’ grades. For the Kaimin “If you’ve got a freakin’ minus, you could’ve just had a solid A or The Faculty Many B,” Lloyd said. “That sucks.” Senate will students ASUM President Aaron Flint vote Thursday skeptical of said he did not vote in favor of on whether to the new grading system because allow proposed there was not enough student University of plus/minus support. Montana pro- system “If you have three A’s and fessors to use three A minuses, what would the symbols + have been a 4.0 is now a 3.67,” or – when assigning letter grades. Flint said. “That’s a major The change, if approved, could change.” take effect next fall. The ASUM resolution says As of now, the University oper- most American universities use ates on a traditional grading plus/minus grades because it scale: A, B, C, D, F, and Pass/No “gives faculty the freedom to Pass. more accurately grade students.” The possibility of a grading Plus/minus grading was a “very renovation comes after ASUM controversial topic” on campus adopted a resolution last about eight years ago when it was February to support the voted down by ASUM and did plus/minus grading system. Nick Wolcott/Montana Kaimin not make it through the Faculty ASUM Sen. Robert Welsh Dustin Johnson gets carded at Diamond Jim’s Casino on East Broadway on Tuesday afternoon. Because Senate, said Bill Knowles, broad- Johnson is of legal age, he doesn’t need to worry about increased fines for underage drinking citations. wrote the resolution because it is cast journalism professor and unfair for students who do A- chairman of the Faculty Senate. work to get A’s, he said. But now, he said, opinions are “The resolution is a promotion starting to sway and fewer people Underage drinking fine rises of academic integrity within the are opposed to a plus/minus grad- University,” Welsh said. ing system. Two years ago, underage drinkers paid fraction of new $200 max Under the resolution, students Jacob Stephens, a 20-year-old would not earn an A+, but would English education major, said he receive “4 quality points for each supports plus/minus grading. He date Monday morning, she plead- Setterlund said she understands credit of A; 3.67 quality points is confident in his academic abili- Curtis Wackerle for each credit of A-; 3.33 quality For the Kaimin ed not guilty to the underage the need to keep underage ties, and a plus/minus system drinking charge. drinkers from overrunning down- points for each credit of B+,” etc. would better reflect the quality of The maximum fine for under- “I don’t know how it will affect town, but she wondered whether Students would receive “0.67 his work, he said. age drinking is more expensive me permanently,” Coble said. community service would be a quality points for each credit of “I’m in favor of it for obvious because of a law that took effect “But I’ll be taking it easy for a better solution. D-.” reasons,” he said. Although some UM students this month. while.” “I don’t think taking money Everyone on the Executive say they dread the day professors The fine for a first offense Missoula Municipal Court from college students is the Committee of the Senate appears have the power to add a tiny hov- jumped from $150 to $200 for Judge Donald Louden, who hands answer,” Setterlund said. to support the ASUM resolution, ering line to their grades, others people between ages 18 and 20 down most fines for underage The new law, authored by Sen. Knowles said. The faculty mem- say they are not worried at all. who are caught drinking. drinking citations issued in Duane Grimes, R-Clancy, and bers in ECOS represent the Plenty of students say they University of Montana sopho- Missoula, said he will continue to passed during the 2003 legislative departments of sociology, biolo- would prefer to keep the current more Ann Coble might be facing fine most offenders the minimum session, increases the maximum gy, drama, foreign languages and grading structure. that fine. of $100. However, Louden said fine for first and second offenses chemistry, as well as the College Sophomore Hannah Heimbuch, Police issued Coble a citation he might increase his standard to $200. After the third citation, of Technology and the School of an 18-year-old pre-journalism while she was tailgating before fine to $150 within the month. offenders could be fined $500 and Journalism. major, said she does not like the the Grizzly football game on Oct. “I need to think about it a could be required to complete an “We know of no strong opposi- idea of plus/minus grading 4. She was in possession of a while,” he said. alcohol information course. tion so far,” Knowles said. Camelbak beverage bag, which because it could damage her Underage drinking fines have Most affected by the law are “Nobody has told me (plus/minus officers suspected contained alco- GPA. not always been so expensive. those who are under the age of grading) is a terrible idea.” hol. Coble said the Camelbak was “We’ve gotten used to this After July 1, mandatory court sur- 18. Minors charged with their At last week’s ASUM meeting, empty when she was cited, but grading system,” Heimbuch said. charges for the city of Missoula first MIP must now complete 20 Knowles quoted UM President officers still wrote the ticket. “That little tiny increment were raised $25. Two years ago, hours of community service, their George Dennison as saying, “If “I didn’t even have a beer in between, say, a 3.0 and a 2.67, underage drinkers rarely had to drivers licenses will be suspended the students want it, I’m for it.” my hands,” Coble said. could potentially make a big dif- pay more than $50 for a first for 30 days, and they will be Knowles said he supports the This was Coble’s first citation ference.” offense. fined up to $300. The new law resolution, but it is difficult to for underage drinking. Phil Lloyd, a 21-year-old jun- “Mine probably cost $50 or also requires first offenders under predict how the Faculty Senate A friend warned Coble that ior and general studies major, $60,” said UM senior Joy age 18 and their parents to attend and the Board of Regents will fines for underage drinking had said he does not like the idea of Setterlund, who was cited for an alcohol class at their own recently gone up.