16—The Daily Collegian Tuesday, Dec. 15, 1981 Sports officials discuss Olympics By BRIAN E. BOWERS Daily Collegian Staff Writer The degree of professionalism in the Olympic Games is increasing despite attempts by the International Olympic Committee to keep professionalism out of the Games, a University sports histori an said last night. The Olympics are already profession al, but the lOC won’t accept it, said Ronald A. Smith, associate professor of physical education, during a Colloquy sponsored panel discussion titled “Pro fessionalism in the Olympics.” The degree of professionalism varies from sport to sport, since each of the 33 Marshall Avener and Ellen L. Perry Extra police patrol to prevent further theft of pine trees *e" •^e' ep sports federations has its own standards which the lOC has no control over, Smith said. Marshall Avener, the University’s as sistant women’s gymnastics coach, said every competitor in the two Olympic Games he participated in was, to some degree, a professional by a technical definition. The trend toward professionalism is increasing because of pressure ■ from other countries to “keep up with the Joneses.” This means having a more professionalized team, Avener said. Ellen L. Perry, a member of the U.S. Women’s Olympic Swimming Commit- Most of us can remember watching “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” on television during the Christmas season when we were young. We can remember how horrifying it felt to watch the mean, selfish Grinch stealing Christmas -trees from the people who had taken so much time and care to decorate them. Well, unfortunately, there appear to be a few live Grinches right here at the University. University Crime Prevention Specialist John Rideout said 31 pine trees have been chopped down and stolen from University grounds since the first week of December. The trees are valued at more than $6,000, University Police Services said. Prices of individual trees are determined by the size of the tree. The cost of an ordinary Christmas tree is about $3 a foot, while the cost of a research tree is about $3l a foot. Trees have been stolen in past years, but not to the extent that g Nino Cerruti 0 3 8 SUITS & SPORTCOATS § g MICHAEL’S CLOTHING CO. 3 BUSSES v* “strong er, higher, swifter,” and to further this motto, the elite of each sport should participate, he saidi True “all-star” tea ms composed of the best in each field, including professionals and nonprofes sionals, would increase the level of com petition. BELLS GREEK PIZZA 538 E. College Ave. Across from South Halls 237-8616 FREE 16 oz. Pepsi with each —by Cindy Orren Pizza Delivery starts at 4:30 p.m. Students quiz council members By ROSA EBERLY Daily Collegian Staff Writer About 25 freshmen and sophomores took advantage of a rare opportunity yesterday. Students were invited to indulge in direct communication with two members of the University’s Calendar Conversion Council and to ask questions about the planned switch to semesters. And, for the students who chose to attend, many ques tions were answered. "There is an acute unawareness of what will happen in September 1983,” said Chris Hopwood, president of the Undergraduate Student Government’s Academic Assembly. “Awareness is what we’re trying to create." . ■ Hopwood, the only undergradute stu dent member of the Calendar Conversion » Council, said most of the confusion about the semester switch is among students who are not aware of what is going on with calendar conversion. James Dungan, assistant to the direc tor of the Office of Planning and Budget, said the council has established a com munications committee to open channels of communication about the calendar change. 0 "Our (problem) is that we have yet to find a way to keep students informed as to what is going on (with the calendar change),” Dungan said. Dungan said all students are invited to become members of the communications committee. “There is no limit to the amount of students we would like to have on_that committee,” he said. Before the question-and-answer period began, Hopwood said the University is changing' its calendar as a means of “flushing the system.” Both the term system and the semester system have advantages and disadvan tages, Hopwood said. Changing cal endars gives faculty members and administrators a chance to re-evaluate the University's curriculum and schedul ing, he added. . However, both Dungan and Hopwood said this switch will affect students, and students-should become aware and in volved. “Because of the calendar switch,” Hopwood said. “Present freshmen and sophomores will be affected by that switch mid-course in your career.” Christmas Service Special Clean & Adjust TYPEWRITERS Portable (manual or electric) $23.00 IBM Selectric or Olivetti Electrics —535.00 Free estimates for major repairs Prices include PA State Tax Blair Office Equipment Co. 108 W. Beaver 2nd Floor Apt. 201 234-5076 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. In addition to questions about the pur pose of the switch, students voiced spe cific concerns about how the switch will affect them. One student asked if the semester switch would mean that she would have to attend the University longer than four years to complete the 154 credits re quired to complete her double major. Dungan said a student in such a-situa tion most has three alternatives: • Make a conscious effort to carry more credits each term;. • Take classes during Summer Term 1983, before the switch takes place; • Come back for an extra semester. Another student asked if it would be possible to allow students who started under the term system to finish under the same system ( while new students begin with the semester system. Dungan said that although students on off-campus practicums during their final terms may adhere to the term system, the two schedules would not be compati ble. “To run a term calendar and semester calendar on campus simultaneously bog gles the mind," he said. In response to a question about depart ments’ credit requirements, Dungan said University President John W. Oswald urged departments to review their pro posed semester credit requirements even before he made the initial decision to switch to semesters. And Dungan said that, to the best of his knowledge, no department has lowered its credit re quirement. Because of the switch, commencement ceremonies will be held at the end of spring semester and summer session only, Dungan said. “We just don’t believe a commence ment would draw much of a crowd if it was held on Dec. 29.” Asked about the possibility of a “read ing period” before finals, Dungan said the University’s semester calendar will not facilitate such a period. Reading periods are usually a few days between the end of classes and the begin ning of the finals period at the end of a semester. “Rather than start classes before La bor Day, we’ll forego a reading-period,” Dungan said.