Humanities students question requirements
Sharon Barris
Capital Times Staff
A recent humanities open forum
covered student concerns ranging from
book costs to poorly lit hallways.
The forum, sponsored by die Student
Government Association, attracted
program coordinators from commun
ications, secondary education, humanities/
business, literature, and general human
ities, as well as Humanities Division
Head, William Mahar.
Lori Gring, a junior humanities
senator, asked why so many books are
required for the western tradition classes
that humanities majors are required to
take. Gring said one professor required
eight or nine books for the class, but only
read one selection from two of the books.
Troy Thomas, general coordinator of
the humanities program, explained that
Time budgeting skills explained in seminar
Matt Hunt
Capital Times Staff
How to budget your time between
work, school, family and social activities
was the focus of a time management
seminar on March 3.
Felicia Brown-Haywood, coordinator of
the student support programs and minority
student affairs, led students and faculty
through exercises focusing on how they
spend their time. When she asked what
activities took up most of their time, the
answers included sleeping, working,
school, family, socializing, studying and
eating.
Brown-Haywood also gave participants
in the seminar a test to determine if they
are "pressed for time." The group discussed
the results and how they could alleviate
problems caused by poorly budgeted time.
The basis of the seminar was that
people should consider four things when
budgeting time: goal setting, organization,
listing tasks, and doing them.
Haywood-Brown said the combination
of the four equals the "G.0.L.D."
principles.
Computers, from page 1
students per computer." He explained there
are 75 computers in the public access areas
on the third floor of the Olmsted Building.
Viswanath said another 75 computers
are also located at PSH, but they aren't as
easily accessible to students. If they were,
the ratio would be more like 23 students
per computer.
He said he is aware of increased usage
of his facilities, and believes computer
availability depends on the time of day.
"Saturdays and Sundays are the best
times to come into the lab," he said.
Hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. Saturday, and noon to 10:30 p.m.
Sunday. Viswanath also suggested coming
in weekdays between 8 and 10 a.m.
Faculty council member Andy Lau,
representing the school of science,
engineering and technology, will meet
with computer committee members and
Viswanath to seek clarification of some of
the guidelines in the report.
many instructors require numerous books
because they want students to read primary
sources, not just bits and pieces.
Patricia Johnson, coordinator of the
literature program, had other reasons for
requiring numerous books.
"You’re buying the book, not just for
translation, but also for the input of
someone who is sensitive to the language
it was originally written in," she said.
Gring also asked why the three
semester class could not be consolidated
into one.
Theodora Graham, coordinator of the
secondary education/English program, said
a committee is considering revising the
western tradition series into two courses.
However, this is just a discussion topic,
and no plans have been made at this point,
Graham said.
One humanities student asked why
Taking them in order, Haywood-Brown
told the audience how to follow the
principles. For the first step of goal
setting, she said, is deciding what goals
need to be accomplished.
"You need to say, 'How should I
prioritize this?"’ she said. "Decide which is
the most important thing out of what you
need to get done."
For the second step of organizing,
Haywood-Brown recommended keeping a
log of activities. Audience members were
given blank time-log sheets as example of
how to log time. She also suggested
calendars as a way to organize time.
The important third step of listing
what needs to be done was also discussed.
Haywood-Brown said people who
procrastinate need to make more structured
lists than those who tend to do things in a
timely fashion.
And lastly, the final step, doing things.
Haywood-Brown said people must take
what they've learned in the first three steps
and use diem to do things.
She closed the seminar with a reminder
of the importance of budgeting time.
"It's important to continually analyze
Dishner said the problem is minimal,
but solutions are being looked at. He
referred to a potential computer scheduling
problem foreseen for next fall. He said
he'll ask the two people involved to sit
down and try to solve die situation.
Another issue discussed was a request
by a student group to acquire a location on
campus to sell used books. The proposal,
contained in a report by the bookstore
committee, met with mixed reaction.
One person said book resale "is a very
bad practice," because he believes students
should keep books for future reference. He
said the group wouldn't be encouraging
quality education practices if they endorsed
the proposal.
However, Blumberg said, "I couldn't
have gotten through college without
selling my books."
Hudson said it was really a "moot
point," since the council does not have
jurisdiction over how and where books are
sold. He said the report would be forwared
to the administration without comment on
the issue.
secondary education English students have
a British literature requirement.
"The requirement is standard among
most colleges," Graham said.
"Furthermore, English majors should have
a knowledge of both English and British
literature."
The students also asked why the class
is not offered in the fall as well as the
spring, since it is required for graduation.
Graham stated the class will be offered this
fall.
Angela West, a senior humanities
senator, asked if a specific grade point
average is required to qualify for an
internship position.
Communications Coordinator Peter
Parisi said the division looks for a strong
record and the basic required course work
for the major, but there is no specific
GPA requirement
what you're doing with your time," behavioral studies, said he found the
Haywood-Brown said. workshop very helpful.
Bill Stoner, a graduate student in "I’ve learned a lot," he said.
Dennis Buterbaugh, right, a reporter for 27 News, interviews Penn State
Harrisburg graduate student La-Verna Fountain during a live news broadcast
in front of the Olmsted Building on March 2. Buterbaugh was questioning
Fountain about the Pennsylvania State Police policy regarding high-speed
pursuit, after a death during a high-speed police pursuit in Cumberland
County raised questions. Fountain is the director of public information for the
Pennsylvania State Police, and attends night classes, working on her
master's degree in communications.
CAPITAL TIMES nCTJ XTITWQ/'*
March 30, 1992 f Oil Hr W /.3
"You are reflecting the institution, as
well as getting the experience," Parisi
said.
Graduate student William Stoner
questioned the process for selecting entries
that are printed in Penn State Harrisburg's
literary arts magazine, Tamhelm. He said
he has entered many of his own pieces,
but none have ever been printed.
"I see the same names all the time,"
Stoner said. "And they're often Tamhelm
staff."
Graham said Tarnhelm is a student
club, and the humanities faculty does not
select the pieces. A humanities secretary
receives the selections and gives them to
the Tarnhelm editors without any names
on them, she said. The magazine's staff
then rates them on a four-star system, and
only the secretary ever knows the name of
the writer.
Photo by Elin Marcel