Registration creates confusion "Wflen I registered this especially those who did not was now larger than originally fall, I waited in line for four pre-register and had to get planned. hours just to have my picture their classes after every one '' I don't know all of the taken.'' else had registered. "I could circumstances,'' said Nursing If this comment sounds not get the classes I needed Dept. head Eileen Williams, familiar, it just might be. Tbis for my major," complained '' but the students were told was the response of many one student. '' Every class I ahead of time about the situa­ Mesa College students when had to have was filled. This tion." asked how tbey felt about the school does not seem to make Another similar problem fall registration. any kind of special consider­ was the scheduling of a gene­ Have· the changes brought ation for those students who tics class, which was dropped. about during pre-registration can.not pre_-reg ister ~' ' Many students were unaware for the spring semester helped I was never so confused in of the change. anything, or have they just all my life," said a new ''We can only schedule a made conditions worse? student. ''The fall registration class so many times," Sneed "No one agrees morn than I was bad enough, waiting in said. "If a new or returning do that the lines were ridicu­ line for so long, b4t for those student does not get register­ lously long,'' said Reigistrar who didn't know where all the_ ed like he wanted, he just Betsy Sneed. ' 'Them were buildings were- (ike the new hasn't done his homework." several reasons for this. Many people- it was very time-con­ ''One of the best changes students who did no1t need sum ing and really wasted a lot made th is semester was that pictures stood in line anyway of steps going from building to the students were allowed to and there was some confusion building." prepay their fees, either after as to who needs to get pictures ·" It seems that the student they pre-registered or by mail. taken.'' who needs the most help often This made it easier for stu­ When asked why so many is the one who gets the least,'' dents- not only because they changes were made in the Sneed said. "I don't know any didn't have to come back to registration procedure, Sneed answer to that problem.'' school as early- they could said, '' I feel that the answer is When asked if the student stay home and work a day or obvious. Any change w1e make could g.et any extra help two later. I would be lying to. is only to make the :system getting the classes he needed, you if I said that .this method better.'' she said, "I regret the fact / was without-its bugs. But is it really better? that the students have prob­ '' I would like to talk to "I got al I my classes in 20 lems, but he or she created his anyone who thought that re­ minutes. It was much better or her own problems by not gistration was a hassle,'' than fall registration," said a pre-registering.'' Sneed said. ''We are often Mesa sophomore. "Having Another problem faced by prone to criticize when we the students pick up their students was the rescheduling have nothing to.compare with. classes in the different build­ of classes. Several nursing Many of the larger schools Even after serious changes were made in the registration ings made things much easier students discovered that a have waiting lines that are system, several Mesa College students got lost in the shuffle and much more eff icii~nt for microbiology lab, meant for 34 blocks long. Also, students of paperwork. - me.'' students, was combined with stand in those lines until the Not everyone feels that way, another lab and that the class ·late hours of the morning." . Volume 44 No. 46 Me~a College Student Newspaper Grand Junctic>n, Colorado Friday, Jan. 19, 1979 16 Pages This Week Tomlinson ·sees positive side of socialism Impressed with _Cubas educational system by JOHN EBY if it does conie together: ''We in the . country that rest on Managing Editor just would not be able to 1,200 acres of land. The school provide much of the technolo­ Tomlinson visited had an or­ "I don't think you can go gy they need because so much ange grove where half of the and not come back impressed of , it is at the graduate and students would work while the with what they've accomplish­ doctorate levels,'' he explain­ other half attended classes. In ed in 20 years," said Mesa ed. the afternoon, the groups College President John Tom­ Tomlinson saw education in rotate. The work is not back­ i i nson in reference to his Cuba from all levels, starting - breaking labor. Most of the recent educational research with the day-school programs students he saw seemed to trip to Cuba. through the university sys­ enjoy what they were doing, Tomlinson was _among a tems. -He said one of the main Tomlinson said. delegation of college presi­ problems concerning their ed­ ''What they seem to be dents who were a~ked by the ucational system is that prior Cuban ministry of higher edu­ to the Cuban revolution of instilling in their youth is that wealth is only produced by cation to visit, study, and 1959 at least half of the labor and . that al I labor is observe the Cuban education­ professional people in Cuba al system. In return, the left. honorable and that they' re delegation made a presenta­ "They really almost had to ir,volved in meaningful la­ bor," Tomlinson said. He tion to Cuba for a proposed start higher education from pointed out that they would be exchange program in which scratch,'' he said. totally unable to understand Cuba and the United States Tomlinson said he was would exchange college pro­ "most impressed" by the very the situation Grand Junction faced last fall in which $2 fessors and students. Tomlin­ strong commitment Cuba has million in apples couldn't be son said the Cubans were made toward education. Edu­ picked. "very interested" in the pos­ cation on all levels in Cuba is sibility of an exchange pro­ free. He said almost everyone ''It would be just beyond gram and indicated their deci­ is involved in some type of their comprehension to under­ sion would be known within educational program. stand a system that would six weeks. · The delegation visited an Mesa College Presideint John Tomlinson recently returned ' allow that to happen," he Tomlinson said it was a adult education center, whtch from Cuba, where he w~s visiting with a group of educators. · said. '' new experience for both was one of several in Havana, Talking about other prob­ sides" because this was the where there were 3,000 people Tomlinson said Cubans for the school grounds for lem areas facing Cuba, Tom­ first group of American educa­ from ages 18 to 60 enrolled in have a popular saying that vegetable gardens. Higher I inson said the Cubans are at tors invited to Cuba. classes working toward high goes ''everyone is either a level students perform pro­ the beginning stages of indus­ Because of Cuba's urgent school diplomas. He said student-worker or a worker- ductive labor tasks. tralization and moving rapidly need for higher levels of ''There's a very strong feeling student." He satd even on the Tomlinson said the Cubans' into what has taken the United technology, Tomlinson said he that it's the obligation of elementary levels, all students pride and joy is what they call States more than 100 years to doubted that Mesa would be a everyone to know how to read work. Elementary students the "schools in the country­ do. continued on page 2 part of the exchange program and write.'' are involved in jobs liko caring side." These are·high schools Page 2 CRITERION Friday Jan. 19, 1979 Chang~ in fee payment pol icy explained by CHERYL HARDY "We knocked ourselves out Criteiron Staff Writer to allow for walking in and The administration says paying fees without having to that the policy of early pay- stand in line during re!Jular ment of tuition and fees was registration," said Sneed . She . instituted for multiple also said students could mail reasons . Students who pre- in their payments, which pre- registered have· complained viously had not been an option about the new rule requiring for paying fees . ~ payment of tuition and fees "In the past, the stU1dent before the semester actually had to show up on a certain begins. day to pay. This way they In the past, payment of fees didn't have to come back until was not required until the day classes started. Many sctiools of registration. This semester, have gone to this syste!m," students were required to pay she said. The business office fees between Dec. 18 and Jan. had to do "a lot of revamp- s, ten days before classes ing in their books,'' she started. Some have charged aetsy Sneed, Registrar added. that this system allowed the benefit of the students. The John Riccillo, vice president Administrative veep John Ricci/lo said one reason the policy college to hold several thou- charge that the college tias use for administrative affairs, is was changed was t~ prevent illegal use of federal funds. sands of dollars on deposit and of student fees for almost a responsible for.