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Friday, January 15, 1988 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SenEx add-drop proposal would force hasty choices
What would be said about a student who attended a class once, or maybe even twice, and then decided to drop it?
He would likely be told that he acted hastily, that he didn't give the class a chance. But, a proposal passed recently by the University Senate Executive Committee seeks to force such uninformed, spur-of-the-moment decisions on students.
Under the proposal, the drop period would be shortened to two weeks, and the add period would be set at 17 days. But, altering the add-drop system in this way would go against its intent.
Add-drop is designed to allow students time to evaluate their classes to make sure they are enrolled in the proper courses. If a student decides that he does not like a class or does not belong there, he can drop it during add-drop without receiving a withdrawal notice on his transcript. He then can add a class that is better suited to his needs.
A two-week drop period, however, would rob students of valuable time needed to make informed decisions. And a 17-day add period would compound the problem by rushing students into picking replacement classes.
Under such a system, students with Tuesday-Thursday classes would meet a maximum of three times before the drop deadline loomed. Once-a-week classes would meet only twice. And when one considers the nature of most first-day meetings, which usually involve a pep talk and a syllabus, students could be dropping classes after only one legitimate session.
Alan Player for the editorial board
Thus, students would be forced to make hair-trigger decisions to drop classes, and hasty adds would be necessary to maintain adequate credit hours. Such an add-drop system would damage students' educations by increasing the likelihood of poor class choices.
Programs spread warmth
Enduring the blustery winter months is as easy as slipping on an extra sweater or turning the thermostat up a couple of notches.
But for the less fortunate who must endure the cold without heat or coats or, for some, even homes, the long winter months can result in sickness. depression and perhaps death.
The call to help these less-fortunate people is answered by local efforts to "share the warmth." And these efforts deserve hearty commendations and support for the aid they give in warming the lives and hearts of those who have nowhere to turn.
Scotch Industries recently ended a month-long Share the Warmth campaign that resulted in the collection and distribution of 1,300 coats in Lawrence and 4,500 in Topeka. Employees of the Scotch plant in Lawrence, who work six days a week, donated their evenings and weekends to clean the coats. That added up to 150 hours of volunteer work in Lawrence and 500 in Topeka.
Project officials reported that many coats still were available at the Salvation Army for those who need them.
Another winter help project still is going on and will provide continuing support to those who need help paying their heating bills. Warm Hearts, the utility bill assistance program, has extended the deadline of its donation drive from Jan. 15 to Feb. 1. Organizers hope that an extra $12,000 can be raised to ensure the program's existence through spring.
Few foresee needing help just to stay warm. Giving support to these and similar programs now will ensure their existence in the future.
Jody Dickson for the editorial board
Other Voices
Some UNL (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) students have been misled by an error in the Fall Schedule of Classes calendar. The calendar lists the first day of classes as Jan. 18 — one week after the Jan. 11 start.
Jan. states and the problem can't be attributed to just a single typographical error. The schedule states that general registration will be Jan. 14 and 15 and that Jan. 19 will be the first day to drop and add classes. The whole schedule was set an entire week behind.
Fortunately, someone in the administration office was sharp enough to catch the error and corrected it before the second-semester schedule was printed.
This mistake might not inconvenience too many students because many of them relied on the accurate second-semester guide.
Daily Nebraskan University of Nebraska-Lincoln
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Allison Young...Editor
Todd Cohen...Managing editor
Rob Knapp...News editor
Alan Player...Editorial editor
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Richard Stewart...Graphics editor
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Missile treaty creates problems
Now that President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev have signed the INF treaty, it seems the worst is over.
No quip.
The dirt thing about heads of state is they always let the dirty work to someone else. They sign their names on the dotted line — everyone applauds politely — and then they go on a vacation. They seem to forget that someone has to clean up the mess.
Enter top mess-cleaners, our Secretary of State George Shultz and their Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze.
"You know, George, this missile treaty is just the beginning of many problems for both our countries."
"Why do you say that, Shevy?"
"Well, we both get stuck with hundreds of leftover missiles that neither one of us can use anymore, and we don't have a clue what to do with them!"
Shultz scratched his head. "I don't think anyone gave that part of the treat么 thought ... that's a pretty serious problem. Any ideas?"
"Well, first we have to remove the warheads," Shevardnadze said thoughtfully. "Then maybe we can just dump the launchers on the side of the road when no one is looking."
"I don't think that would be a good idea, Shevy." "Perhaps, then, we could have a in yard, as you call it in America. I'm sure there are many countries that would love to have a few. Or better yet, we could put them on wheels and help eliminate the transportation shortage in the Soviet Union!"
Van
Jenerette
Staff Columnist
"That's quite an idea, Shevy. You Russians just might have more brushes than you've given credit for," Shultz replied. "But then again, I can't picture an ICBM with 'AMTRAK' stenciled on the side."
"How about a lottery, or a tax sale? Your share of the profits could be used to help balance your trade deficit with the Japanese." Shevardnadze suggested.
"Well, now we're smoking, Shev! Maybe you could turn Gorky Park into a Sony version or Disneyland called 'Leftover Missileiland.' The average Russian seems to love weapons — I've watched your parades on the news. Tanks, rockets, a million marching soldiers ... what a great idea!"
"Maybe you ought to sit down, George. I have to agree that the average Russian isn't exactly a Mardis Gras-type personality, but I have the feeling that 'Missileland' could be a little bit extreme."
excellent. Kitz rubbed his nose quickly. "Perhaps to keep things on the safe side, we could hire a 'THINK TANK' corporation to come up with the best solution."
"Do you honestly believe that they will come up with better ideas than us, George? After all, we are the best of the world's professional bureaucrats.
aren't we?" Shevardnadze implored
"Shevy, Shevy, Shevy — have you got a lot to learn. American bureaucrats hire think tanks to do their thinking for them! It's the American way. When in doubt — contract out! No taxpayer actually expects a politician to do any real thinking!"
"I don't get it, George. Why do you even bother to have elections for public officials then? Why don't you just elect the "THINK TANK" corporations and get rid of the middlemen?"
"In the first place, Shevy, politicians fill an important role in U.S. society. They make speeches, and they kiss lots of babies. And more importantly, they have a few scandals every once in a while, which keeps the newspapers very happy! Who really cares if an executive from a 'THINK TANK' spends a weekend frolicking into the Caribbean with a boat-load of young beauties?"
"You know George, this is getting more complicated than I thought. We have got some monumental problems. Just what are we supposed to do with all these missiles?"
"Don't worry, Iushy. Let's give it some time. Meanwhile, I just happen to know this guy with a real big ocean barge. I'm sure he'd be more than willing to take our missives and sail up and down the eastern seaboard for as long as it takes us to think of something."
Van Jenerette is a Lawrence graduate student majoring in journalism.
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Breathed
e 1998 Washington Post Co