December 3, 1997 — LION’S EYE — Page 5 Opinion & Review PE SE The Library Environment: I's Not What It Should Be By B Ray When it comes time to work, it is time to work, and the computer labs (which by the way I've earned a right to be in by that little thing I do for this school called paying my tuition) are not always conducive to getting work done. This is not to say that the situation is the fault of the library staff. I actually think this staff has an inordinate amount of ability and have been more than helpful when I needed it. This is to say, however, that there has to be a different way to meet the needs of the students, especially the ones there to read, type, talk, or research. Since it is the end of the semester and by nature I am a “last minute” kind of person, have spent a lot of time in the library recently. I have heard the roar and the fury of more than one student, and through a compilation of their (or is it your?) opinions, I offer the complaints that students have to offer, respectfully... and vehemently. : First, the computers, and especially the PRINTERS are as often out of order as they are functional. I'm not suggesting Gateways for everyone, but shouldn’t someone look in to making sure they work? Honest show of hands: how many of us have had a problem just once printing something? Thought so. : Second, when students are trying to do academic work, there are no computers available due to the number of people web surfing or checking e- mail. This is not a problem of mine as I don’t even have an e-mail account, but one of the most common complaints I've heard was that people just can’t get to a computer because someone is either checking their mail from a friend who was lucky enough to go to the University of Jibip, or printing everything available on the Hanson homepage. (I swear to God I watched that happen) For me, for us, if it looks crowded and you see someone frustrated and about to drop out of school, MMMBop yourself out of the seat and offer it to them. The South Park page isn’t going anywhere. Third, and I can not stress this enough, the library IS TOO LOUD! 1 was 18 years old once (for about a year) and I got a kick out of testing my sex 1.Q., recalling the case of Schaffer I drank the previous weekend, and visiting my good friends at smutking.com. But now that I am.... just a shade over 18, I need to work and I need relative quiet to do it. Why is it that the quiet zone (downstairs) has a grand total of zero computers in it, while the interactive zone, where all the Macintoshes are, is nicely hidden in the corner, away from the librarians, and has tables big enough for the Allman and Doobie Brothers to gather at? There has got to be a better way. I know that it will never be a noise-free library, but come on people, be considerate Fourth, when someone asks you to tone it down, just do it. Don’t harass | them, don’t call them names, just think about how it would feel if it was you trying to type a 10-page paper on the standard features of the Volkswagon Bug, two hours before it is due. Most of the students are either too afraid or too shy to say something. To the credit of the “interactive” students, I only once have only had to ask someone more than once. Then again, I go about 6'2",220. There are people half my size working twice as hard that won't say anything. Don’t make them. On a serious note, the library is plentiful and its assets are numerous. But something has to be done about these problems. It would take nothing more than rearrangement of work spaces, hightened supervision, and if necessary, a threat to relinquish the privileges of the perpetrators. This is my request along with a number of other students. We have the right and the reason to request a change. From the last count, we had almost three-thousand of them. Editorial Is Anybody Listening? When it comes to advising, students feel like they're getting the short end of the stick. They’ve got important questions about scheduling, requirements, procedures, and options that are going unanswered. There are approximately thirty-five advisers on campus, only two of which are full-time. The rest of the advising staff is composed of faculty who offer limited office hours and scheduled appointments. The number one complaint by students is their advisers are never around. Part of the problem is trying to find a time to sit down with an adviser that doesn’t conflict with either the students or adviser’s class time. If specific time slots aren’t set, another problem arises when one student's advising time runs into another student’s time. Some advisers use sign-up sheets on their doors to allocate a certain amount of time for each student. All of the advisers really should implement this practice to become more efficient and fair. Students are also concerned that they are not being taken seriously during the advising sessions, and some students are questioning the knowledge and the know how of the advisers with whom they are speaking, especially when scheduling errors occur. Word around campus also indicates that some advisers are making the students feel inferior by questioning the student's choice in major and trying to aggressively persuade them into another field. Some students have also commented that advisers sometimes take on a questionable, condescending tone. Though no campus faculty member must possess a certificate of accomplishment to be allowed to advise, information meetings are held on campus for all advisers each semester, but are poorly attended. Approximately seven advisers attended the last advising meeting offered. Students can’t require their advisers to attend the meetings, but perhaps the campus can. Nor can the Delco campus offer more full-time, certified advisers because of the small campus size. However, there are alternatives. At any time a student can request a change from their assigned adviser by submitting a form to the Office of Student Life. So, students should look around and if they have a certain professor they feel comfortable with, they should inquire about their advising procedures. Most faculty members will be more than happy to be of help, regardless of a student’s major. Comfort for both student and adviser is crucial for effective communication. The more an adviser knows about the student’s future plans and current status, the more effective an adviser can be when advising. Students who only visit their adviser once a semester (twice a year) to schedule classes get what one adviser describes as “generic, in a vacuum advising.” So building a relationship with an adviser is a good idea. : Students should also attend their college meetings to obtain pertinent information about required classes and meet with career counselors on current job market offerings. It’s the students future at stake, so students should not be afraid to raise questions and make changes. This is not the time to sit back and keep quiet. .- Do you have an issue or concern that hasn’t been addressed? Write a Letter to the Editor! THE LION’S EYE December 3, 1997 Vol. XXIX, No. 5 The Pennsylvania State University Delaware County CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Erin Lulevitch Christina Papa eell10@psu.edu cmplb9@psu.edu NEWS EDITOR FEATURE EDITOR OPINION EDITOR JoAnne Johnson Paul Basilio Bill Raymond Ryan Boldosser Elizabeth Dalziel Justin Hrebiniak Candace Meriano Kathryn Carroll Len Damico Paco Laborde Aaron Mixson James Conroy Rachael Fetterman Lea Anne McGoldrick Cynthia Moore Rob Coyle ADVISERS Barbara Daniel John Terrell The LION’S EYE is published monthly during the academic year by the : students of the Delaware County Campus. : Submissions are welcome from all students, faculty and staff. Material must be typed, double spaced, and submitted in the LION’S EYE mailbox located in the Lion’s Den. : Letters, articles and cartoons represent only the views of their authors. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect editorial opinion. THE LION’S EYE regrets it cannot guarantee the return of any material submitted. All submissions are subject to editing.
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