Opinion
Kansan
Published daily since 1912
Lindsey Henry, Editor
Dave Morantz, Managing editor
Kritte Blast, Managing editor
Tom Eblen, General manager, news adviser
Marc Harrell, Business manager
Colleen Earl, Retail sales manager
Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser
Justin Knupp, Technology coordinator
Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998
Tina Connolly / KANSAN
Editorials
The biology department's policy cuts to the heart of effective instruction
Last Wednesday, Student Senate passed a resolution which, while good intentioned, is unnecessary. It would only serve to decrease the value of the class.
The resolution calls for a University of Kansas policy guaranteeing students the right to avoid animal dissection or vivisection (cutting into or operating on live animals). The resolution is intended to protect a student's right to an education that does not violate moral or religious beliefs.
Unfortunately, it will affect the quality of biology instruction at the University.
The resolution suggests alternative dissection labs in which computer programs and plastic models are used in place of dissection.
Dean Stetler, undergraduate biology chairman, thinks that these learning tools are ineffective and can't replace dissection. Dissection is vital to receiving a quality education in biology, he said.
Student Senate may mean well, but the biology department has the right idea about dissection
This proposed policy would grant biology degrees to students whose only experience with an animal's physiology comes from a point-and-click computer program. This will reflect poorly on the University's biology department and KU graduates.
The current undergraduate biology policy allows students alternatives to dissection if a student takes the initiative to explain a moral conflict. This way, the biology department can be assured that the student is really faced with an ethical dilemma and not just looking for a way out of anicky situation.
In the past, only one or two students a year have objected to dissection. Stetler said he tried to accommodate the needs of each student. But a Senate's blanket policy would most likely be abused.
When the policy was proposed last spring, Stetler explained that students could object to a mirid of things.
"One of my students even objected to dissecting flowers. It would be awfully hard for me to design a course that would satisfy everyone." Stetler said.
It is necessary for the University to be sensitive to students' moral and ethical codes. But the department's policy already allows alternatives for the few biology students whose morals do not permit them to dissect.
Creating a University wide policy and alternative labs would only make it easier for biology student to graduate unprepared and with a lower quality of education.
Susan Dunavan for the editorial board
Poor advising made worse by apathy
The University of Kansas' advising system is a wreck that deserves the criticism it receives. However, the university does offer some help that students can't ignore. Advising is an imperfect system made worse by apathetic students who shouldn't expect to have their hand held every step of the way.
Many students are frustrated by the lack of assistance that they are offered when they arrive. Others are frustrated by seemingly bad advice.
It isn't that the University is not willing to help, it's just that sometimes that help comes in bad forms. It *is* the student's responsibility to take care of
University system is flawed, but blame should be shared
his enrollment, and help does exist
For undergraduates, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Services, 109 Strong Hall, is open for advisement.
The flip side is that the University does a poor job of making available services known. An incoming freshman or transfer student knows almost nothing about where to go for advising. The University should more strongly publicize—if not require—that students use offices like the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Office. This would make it easier for students to get good advice early.
For students who have chosen a major, individual schools are willing to help. Pre-math majors should rely on math professors and the math department to advise them, but it is the responsibility of the student to seek that help on their own.
Advising is not rocket science. The University claims it's working on the problem but little has happened. The result has been frustration.
Things shouldn't be this muddled.
Kansan staff
Spencer Duncan for the editorial board
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"Reliving our ancestry, the frightful lack of harmony; our forefathers who led the way, their victims are still here today." —Bad Religion, from the album and song Recipe for Hate
Letters: Should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the author's signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and home-town if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions.
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All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Paul Eakins (eakins@kansan.com) or Andy O博mueller (andyo@kansan.com) at 864-4810. If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4810.
Feedback
First, the authors and publishers determine when and what constitute need for a new edition. The instructor then determines whether the new edition is justified in his or her class. I will admit that a new revised edition of The Complete Works of Shakespeare seems ludicrous, but the editor or publisher thinks the changes are justified. On the other hand, a revised edition of World History is essential every four or five years as politics, economics and computers affect life on this planet.
Tina Connolly's recent column is a blight to intelligent writing as well as editorial decision making.
One should never buy textbooks as an investment. They supplement learning. They were selected by the instructor to be part of the class. They are not a stock-market commodity. Connolly's economic lesson—the more you pay, the less you get, so don't pay for anything and keep 100 percent of the purchase price—is like saying don't buy clothes or food. Bank the money instead and become a rich, tattered-clothed corpse.
Connolly's column defies logic, editorial decision-making
Her statements associating textbooks as a planned obsolescence with the value of propping up a bed, and that a better investment would be to buy cinder blocks defies logic.
Bookstores do not have to buy back textbooks, but most will be the used book industry saves paper resources, costs stores less in capital outlay and saves students money. What other costs of your education can you cash in after a semester? Skipped classes? Boring instructors? Lousy meals? Hangover mornings?
Bookstores do not prey on student's poor feeble minds or run profitable little scams. We run competitive businesses to provide academic and product needs to students, faculty and the community.
If you can get a degree without buying books, more power to you. But books, lectures and discussion get you more of an education.
If Connolly wants to be a Carrie Nation against books, fine/ But like booze, books and bookstores will not disappear. As for those not wanting to buy books, we will learn the needs —be it decorative cinder blocks, soda, espresso, bar room darts, tattoos, body piercing or Millennium souvenirs [and we'll carry them].
And for what it's worth,
speech textbooks are among
the most popular text books to
be sold back by students.
In reply to the article on the Opinion page on Jan. 20 by Tina Connolly, I submit the following:
Bill Muggy Lawrence resident owner of Javahawk Bookstore
information turned in by professors, department, or GTA.
In the real world, bookstores help students, not scam them
Life Cycle of a Textbook in an Ideal World
4. Bookstores buy used books from students for up to 50 percent of new cost.
6. Students choose to buy used textbooks at 75 percent of cost of new books, or buys new books at publisher list prices.
1. Publishers sway professors to adopt book. 2. Professors notify bookstores which book to use and how many are needed 12 weeks before classes. 3. Bookstores contact wholesalers for any used copies and publishers for balance of order.
5 Class starts
7. Students ace classes
7. Students are classmates.
8. Professors tell bookstores they'll use the same book next semester.
9. Bockstores buy books during finals for up to 50 percent of new book price.
1. Publishers sway professors to adopt book or pitches bundles to kill used-book availability.
How it Really Works
2. Professors usually advise bookstores of books needed, when it's convenient...some times even after classes start.
3. Bookstores buy from students during finals based on
4. Bookstores pay competitive prices for books being reused and sells off titles not indicated as being needed.
6. Classes start: Students choose which store to patronize and whether or not to even buy a book.
5. Publishers determine price, edition changes, inventory levels and order-processing time. Bookstore managers control only how many books they think they will sell or are willing to gamble on.
7. Often new sections are opened, professors change mind, or remember to finally notify bookstores.
8. Bookstores scramble to find books needed.
9. Students finish class.
11. Bookstores begin cycle over again as professors submit book requests for next term.
10. Bookstores return or sell off overstock, if possible at the publisher's dictates or wholesale prices, midway through the term.
Incidentally, the Pepsi machine is in front of the Jayhawk Bookstore because the University of Kansas signed an exclusive contract with Coke and some students prefer Pepsi products. Students should have a choice.
Where is the scam?
Jenny Soukup
Jayhawk Bookstore employee
spoken with are fairly conservative, by no means financially troubled, and have never had to experience an unplanned pregnancy. Ironically, most of these same God-fearing people also admitted to supporting the death penalty. And, let us not forget doctors with families of their own who have been killed under the rallying cry of life.
Students should show they care by attending Lobby Day
Students in the past have not cared about their government. Whether it is campus, local, state or national, students have been too apathetic to stand up for what they believe in. There is an opportunity, though, for students to break that tradition. The University of Kansas Student Lobby Day will take place at the state capitol March 18. This event, sponsored by the Student Legislative Awareness Board, is the perfect opportunity for students to not only learn more about their government's relationship to the University of Kansas, but also to play an active role in shaping policy.
By spending just one day at the State Capitol on Lobby Day, you can send a message to the legislators in Topeka that fund our University.
If you are interested in learning about Lobby Day, or our other advocacy efforts at the State Capitol and elsewhere, please contact the Student Legislative Awareness Board office at 864-7337.
This message should be that students do care about what happens in government, that we are a viable constituency, and that we are paying attention to legislators' decisions.
The time that you volunteer could eventually lead to lowering tuition and improving technology. You can make a difference if you take advantage of this opportunity.
Samantha Bowman Wichita Senior Legislative Director
Korb Maxwell
Leawood sophomore
Lobvb Coordinator
spoken with are fairly conservative, by no means financially troubled, and have never had to experience an unplanned pregnancy. Ironically, most of these same God-fearing people also admitted to supporting the death penalty. And, let us not forget doctors with families of their own who have been killed under the rallying cry of life.
Clothes hangers in trees appropriate for anniversary
It's all a matter of perspective The Roe vs. Wade decision was not about a life being taken away, although it indirectly leads to such an event. Roe vs. Wade is about a choice and the right for a woman to decide what is going to happen to her body. I believe that putting coat hangers in trees is not an inappropriate display. At least, no more unbecoming to the campus than a yard full of white crosses, which is what the KU Students for Life were planning. Consequently, a graveyard would be just as pertinent for all of the women who have died during times when abortion was illegal. Some have said that the hanger act was "sick and twisted." For me, I find that the possibility of a government (made up of mostly middle-aged, upper class, white men) telling me what I can and can't do with my body also extremely sick and twisted.
Most pro-lifers that I have
Deidre Backs
Lenexa senior
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Terry's column missed facts Math Department does well
I was very disappointed with Tina Terry's article, "Math instructors need more than high test scores." I found it to be lacking proper facts, full of biased opinions and far from the actual goals of the Kansas Algebra Program.
As an employee of the Kansas Algebra Program, I think that I can accurately represent the facts regarding the math program. Not only have I tutored Math 002 and 101, but I have taught as well. I am, as Terry would like to call me, one of those overly apprehensive, undertrained students labeled as an undergraduate teaching assistant. Terry complains that there should be trained teachers instead of undergraduates like me. This idea holds some merit, but in our program it just won't work. Let's consider the money issue. A first-year math professor makes about $40,000. A first-year GTA makes about $10,500, and I make $5.50 per hour. I challenge Terry to find a person with a doctorate in math to come and teach Math 002 or 101. Even if you could find one person, there are 861 students enrolled in 002 and 1,100 enrolled in 101. I don't think anyone could learn math in a class so big, which means we need more fully trained professors to teach smaller classes in order to aid the students. This option is just not possible because of high costs. We need teaching assistants.
I also would like to challenge Terry to look at other Big XII school's math programs to see how they compare. Of the few schools that offer classed like 002, I bet our success rate is far superior. Most colleges do not even offer a class equivalent to Math 002 because they expect students to already know the material. The University of Kansas, however, offers students this class to better prepare them for college-level mathematics. Contrary to what Terry leads you to believe, our math program tries very hard to help students succeed. We offer free tutoring and the option to retake tests.
Terry failed to present the facts regarding fully trained teachers. I was trained as she said, in a two and one half day teaching seminar, but even full professors don't have to do this. To be a professor you only have to have a doctorate, and not even in the subject you are going to teach. These professors need no training in teaching, no education classes, no personal skills, just a degree. These professors are no different from me when it comes to the training they have received to be a teacher. This torment of not having a good teacher is what causes, as Terry states, 20 to 25 percent of all 002 and 101 students to fail. She failed to give you the rest of the facts from the student surveys. In those surveys, 72 percent of students thought that attending class was helpful in preparing for exams, 64 percent thought that the teacher effectively communicate the concepts of the course, and 89 percent thought that the retake test option helped them to score better on exams. The 20 percent that Terry states are failing are the 20 percent who didn't attend class, didn't like the teachers, and didn't put forth much effort to improve their grade.
Our failing students do not understand that this is college and no longer high school, and to succeed you must work hard outside of class. A student's success in our course depends on how hard the student works and not on how we can make it easier for them to pass the course.
Adam Seitz Manhattan junior