opinions
editorial opinion
A commitment to minorities
Three years ago, Penn State was chal
lenged by the U.S. Supreme Court to in
crease its black student population to five
percent of the total student body in five
years, or lose precious federal funding. In
1982, the number of black students at the
University stood at 2.3 percent of the total
student body. -
So administrators embarked on a mission
to attract black students to the University,
and today, black student enrollment at
Penn State is up to 3.7 percent of the total
student population. A total of 53,726 white
students and 2,308 black students are cur
rently enrolled at the University, according
to University figures.
This year alone black student enrollment
went up 15 percent or 303 students over last
year and minority enrollment combining
Blacks, Asians, Hispanics and Native
Americans now make up 6.1 percent of
the total student population.
Based on these figures, it. appears the
University may indeed reach that goal, but
the battle to increase the number of minori
ty students particularly black students
through recruitment and retention should
not stop there.
University administrators should realize
that the hurdles they have overcome in the
area of recruitment may remain obstacles
in retaining black students who may not be
convinced of Penn State’s commitment to
minorities.
One of these obstacles is the competition
across the Northeast for minority students-,
which has become fierce with many schools
offering scholarships and student aid to
minority students. Because the University
receives much of its funding from the state,
it is an uphill fight to compete with Ivy
League schools which are able to pour
thousands of dollars into recruiting.
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Make teacher evaluations more useful to students
One day soon, all of your professors and
lecturers will fool you into thinking that
they are letting you go a few minutes early.
They will begin to summarize their notes
for the day, organize their briefcases and
check their watches. As the noise of shuf
fling papers, closing notebooks, and back
pack zippers muffles any last minute
remarks, the kind professors will roar, “It’s
not time to leave yet.”
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And then they will pass around teacher
evaluation forms. In the bigger rooms such
as those in the Forum, rebellious sons will
burst out of their seats and through the
door, evading the responsibility of express
ing any opinion toward their teachers.
A lot of other students will quickly pencil
in the circles, hand in the computer forms
and bolt toward home, ignoring those huge
blocks of space that are included on the
form for constructive criticism. Questions
are written across the top of the blocks such
as, “What did you like best about your
instructor?”, or “What did you like least
about your instructor?”, or “What would
you suggest to make the class better?”
I do fill out these forms, but I do so
grudgingly because I’m disappointed, it
But with the help of the Office pf Student
Aid, more scholarships and aid programs
have been set up to attract black students to
Penn State. Special steps have also been
taken to attract top quality black students.
Also, Penn State’s University Park cam
pus, often described as “equally inaccessi
ble from all sides,” simply isn’t attractive
to many black students and does not help
recruiting efforts. In fact, the number of
black freshmen at University Park de
creased by 13 students this fall.
But through the use of recruiting centers
in both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Penn
State has been able to bring more minority
students to some of its Commonwealth
campuses.
The label of “basically white university”
that has been attached to Penn State for
decades is another hindrance to the Univer
sity’s recruitment and retention efforts.
The only way to overcome this obstacle is to
exemplify through continued recruitment
and retention programs, that Penn State is
dedicated to creating and maintaining a
more interracially mixed student body.
One figure that points to this commitment
is a 15.7 percent increase in minority fac
ulty at the University since last fall.
Encouraging recruitment figures gives
reason to believe that the work of Universi
ty administrators, alumni and employees is
making a big difference in the look of Penn
State.
But the effort put forth to make the
University attractive to more black stu
dents should hot stop when the require
ments of a federal mandate are met.
• University officials must recognize the
possible obstacles to attaining and main
taining an interracially mixed student body
while at the same time realizing the value of
a diverse University community.
seems the University believes it holds ex
clusive rights to these forms.
The University uses these forms for two
purposes neither of which directly benefit
students. The results of these evaluations
are used as a partial basis for promotion
and tenure and are kept confidential be
tween the department head and the instruc
tor. In fact, a University secretary told me
that professors keep the results in their
possession.
What is actually a useful piece of informa
tion to students is tucked away in the
academic drawers of anonymity.
These evaluation forms should be readily
available for students to look through. Stu
dents could see how their peers judge in
structors of each course and use this
information when they consider taking cer
tain courses with certain professors.
I suppose that a student could ask the
professor to see his evaluations, but I doubt
that many students would take advantage of
this situation. It would be a little awkward,
don’t you think?
Not to mention the fact that such a situa
tion could cause offices to overflow as
hundreds of curious students attempted to
check out the results.
So what can be done?
Well there is good news, at least for
students of the College of Business Adminis
tration.
Karen Abel is the chairperson of the
Business Student Council’s Academics
Committee. She's putting together a report
of student responses and opinions on classes
taught by College of Business Administra
tion instructors.
The report will be available in January
Abel said that her committee’s report will
made up of two questionnaires.
The first questionnaire is distributed to
business course instructors. They are asked
in the questionnaire to answer some general
questions concerning the course(s) they will
be teaching.
The questions include: “Are any term
papers, projects or reports assigned?”
“What types of questions do you ask on
exams (i.e. essay, numerical problems,
multiple choice)?”
“How many midterm exams are given?”
Additionally, the instructors are asked to
briefly describe their objectives for the
course and topics to be discuss.
This form provides students with direct
information concerning a course’s content
and some insight into what the professor
will expect from students.
The second questionnaire is distributed to
students. They are asked to answer twenty
questions, most of which are almost identi
cal to the computerized forms we already
fill out, with responses ranging from
“strongly agree” to “strongly disagree.”
The committee, with the help of a comput
er, compiles the information and calculates
the results.
“We made these (questionnaires) for the
students,” Abel said, referring to the fact
that the computerized evaluations are for
administrative purposes only and not for
student use.
This project is a giant step in the right
direction. I applaude Abel and her commit
tee.
Unfortunately, ' this method does have
some stumbling blocks, which Abel recog-
“Well, Gorby, maybe we raised our hopes too high.”
reader opinion
Concern first
I would like to address the opinion of Mr. Ned Diehl,
Blue Band director, who, when voicing his disappoint
ment upon being notified that the pre-game and half-time
shows of the Blue Band and Notre Dame band that were to
take place during last Saturday’s game were cancelled
due to the rainy weather, said, "Too bad we didn’t have
Astroturf.”
All of the time, money, and energy that is put into the
field in Beaver Stadium is done so to create a solid,
healthy stand of turfgrass. This solid stand will improve
the footing of the football players even in adverse weath
er, thus decreasing the incidents of injury. The safety of
the players is the primary concern of those preparing the
field for a game.
Indeed, Astroturf in Beaver Stadium would have been
wonderful for the bands on Saturday because it would not
have been destroyed the way natural turf would have
First, because it is in the beginning
stqges, Abel-estimated that only half of the
professors she gave questionnaires to will
respond. This lack of instructor input and
feedback diminishes the usefulness of the
report since less courses will be evaluated.
The second problem is that many students
don’t bother to answer these queries be
cause there is some confusion about the
difference between the Business Student
Council’s questionnaire and the standard
ized questionnaire most have us are used to.
A solution to this problem would require
an organized and collective effort by three
participants: the University, all instruc
tors, and students.
There should be one, University-wide
instructor evaluation form; the results of
which would be published annually and
made available to the entire University
population.
Sound like a good idea? Sound like a new
idea?
Some universities do publish teacher
evaluation results and one that I know of
makes it very easy for students to view
these reports.
Carnegie-Mellon University publishes a
magazine-style booklet each semester con
taining the results of student responses. The
list is developed according to course num
ber with the professor’s name, course en
rollment and number of students
responding to the questionnaire also listed.
Next to this information, are the results of
each question as to how a professor faired in
each category.
Granted, C-MU is a much smaller school
with fewer professors to evaluate. And since
they also charge $lO,OOO per year in tuition,
they can afford to put out such a booklet.
The Daily Collegian
Monday, Nov. 25, 1985
been had the bands been permitted to perform on the
field. On the contrary, injury to the football players could
have been severe due to hydroplaning on the artificial
surface due to the extremely wet conditions.
Although the field in Beaver Stadium is not perfect
(there are, for instance, problems with the drainage
system), it is said to be one of the best natural fields in the
country. The Pennsylvania State University is known as a
leader in agriculture worldwide, and it would truly be a
disgrace for this university to have a football field made
of plastic grass. In addition, Astroturf costs more to
install and maintain than does a natural turf.
The weather on Saturday was a disappointment, and it
certainly is unfortunate that the bands could not perform
on the field. However, it must be remembered why the
84,000 people at Saturday’s game were there: to watch a
football game. Hence, where the field is concerned, the
football players come first.
Ellen Chcrchuck, junior-agronomy
Nov. 18
But hell, if I have to pay 50 cents every
semester for a schedule of courses, I would
pay another 50 cents to see the results of
instructor evaluations for courses I may be
taking. Maybe some quick-thinking soul in
the bell-tower building might even think of
combining them into one booklet. Wouldn’t
that be ingenious?
Students fill out these questionnaires and
yet the students are not allowed to see the
results. And the benefits of my proposal
would extend beyond the obvious ones.
Students would be more informed about
each professor and his teaching techniques.
The administration could continue using the
forms as a partial basis for promotion and
tenure.
But the most important result that this
plan would produce is that a teacher’s
skillfulness and effectiveness would be put
on public display. An instructor scoring
consistently low marks would be hard
pressed not to improve his/her skills.
I think this project is a worthy and achie
vable goal for us. Let’s get it off the ground
starting now.
When your instructor hands out his com
puterized questionnaire, write in the section
that asks for your comments, “PUBLISH
OUR RESULTS.”
If you have any other comments, put _
them in too. For now, the standardized
forms are the only way we have of commu
nicating likes and dislikes concerning a
professor.
And don’t forget your number-two pencil.
Michael Kutner is a senior majoring in
finance and a columnist for The Daily
Collegian. His column appears every Mon
day.
Penn State brothers ol Phi Gamma Delta accept Saturday’s game ball from head football coach Joe Paterno. Friday,
members of the Penn State chapter of Fiji ran the ball to Ebensburg, where they passed it over to Fiji brothers from
Pitt who delivered it to the game Saturday night in time for the kickoff.
PSU, Pitt run game ball across state
Olympics said the University community has played a
significant role in the rebuilding process of Special
Olympics in Centre County. The 110 athletes in the
Phi Gamma Delta fraternity kicked off a weekend of program participate in bowling, ice skating, downhill
fund raisers and events for the Centre County Special skiing, and track and field, Chambers said.
Olympics with the annual Pitt-Penn State Football Run Fifty-six Special Olympic participants bowled in the
Friday night. third annual Area-H Special Olympics held Saturday
University fraternity members ran the ball the first afternoon at the Rec Hall bowling lanes. Bowlers from
100 miles to Ebensburg, the halfway point between the the Clinton, Clearfield and Centre County region par-
University and Pittsburgh. Phi Gamma Delta mem- ticipated. The tournament was co-sponsored by River
bers from the University of Pittsburgh finished the last side Markets, Sigma Nu Fraternity and Circle K.
100 miles to the Pittsburgh campus. In another philanthropy held this weekend, Kappa
Nittany Lion head football coach Joe Paterno sig- Delta sorority sponsored a twelve hour Soak-A-Thon at
naled the start of the traditional run by handing the Nittany Hot Springs Sunday.
By VICTORIA PETTIES
Collegian Staff Writer
football to the first fraternity member. Panthers Coach Kappa Delta member Michelle Strong the event
Foge Fazio was presented with the football during pre- raised $BOO-$9OO for Special Olympics,
game ceremonies. Special Olympic people came to visit during the 12-
Fraternity member Mark Czekay said between $5,- hour event, Strong said.
000 and $lO,OOO was raised for the Centre County “Special Olympics is something we (Kappa Delta)
Special Olympics. Twenty-three fraternity members unanimously decided to support. Seeing the kids here,
from Penn State carried the football, Czekay said. makes its nice to see the result of the money,” Strong
Scott Chambers, manager for Centre County Special said.
Beginning December 16, those annoying clicks when
transferring calls will be gone. After a transferred call is
announced, pause for a second and then begin speaking.
For more information, call the Office of Telecommunications at 5-1940.
PSU defeats Pitt in blood drive
By DIANE WOZNICKI
Collegian Science Writer
Members of the Nittany Lion foot
ball team were not the only ones out
for blood against the Pittsburgh Pan
thers.
Over 7,000 Lion fans donated blood
to defeat the Pitt Panthers off the
field.
The Pitt/Penn State Blood Donor
Challenge brought in a record 12,667
donations this year, as Penn State
claimed victory with 7,097 donations
to Pitt’s 5,570, said Penn State blood
drive coordinator for the Johnstown
Regional Red Cross.
Connie Schroeder said, “Penn State
fans wanted to beat Pitt in blood as
well as on the football field.” She
added that donor turnout was the
highest in the drive’s three-year his
tory.
Rich Pirrotta, Penn State student
organizer for the blood drive, said fan
support was a major factor in the
record number of donations from the
University.
“Penn State spirit and enthusiasm
were the contributing factors that
enabled us to beat Pitt for a second
year in a row, and collect 2,500 pints
more than last year,” Pirrotta said.
The University’s 4,405 donations
last year defeated Pitt’s 3,594, he
said.
“Now that students are getting
used to the idea of the Pitt/Penn State
Blood Drive every fall, they seem to
be more willing to donate blood,”
Pirrotta added.
But for blood drive champions Tau
Phi Delta fraternity, coming out for
the blood drive is a customary proce
dure every year.
Tau Phi Delta contributed the high
est percentage of blood of any student
organization, taking fraternity hon
ors for the third consecutive year,
Schroeder said.
A Tau Phi Delta member Steve
Essig (senior-agricultural business
management) said, “we consider it a
social service obligation that helps
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Ginny Thornburgh, wife of Gov. Dick Thornburgh, presents a plaque to
University President Bryce Jordan at the Pitt game Saturday. The plaque was
awarded to Penn State for winning this year’s Pitt/Penn State Blood Donor
Challenge.
the community, and the guys all give donations will help save lives m
willingly because we feel it is a good Centre County,
cause.” 1° addition to Tau Phi Delta frater
. ' .. , nity, Greek honors went to the Delta
‘‘To us, raismg as much blood as we Th^a si and phi Mu De ita fra-
Can iS ZZ n T T f 'u P th3n ternities which pulled in the second
raising $20,000 for (a charitable orga- and third highest percentages of do
nization). You can t put a price on a na ß ons respectively, Pirrotta said.
p.iUof blood (that goes to) save a DeUa DeUa Delta< phi Mu and
le, ssig a e . Alpha Phi sororities placed first, sec-
Other enthusiastic donors, like ont j an d third respectively, Pirrotta
East Halls drive coordinator Jenifer sa jd.
Nedrow (freshman-marketing) said, Residence halls donating the high
“giving blood seems so gratifying est amounts were: Science, Technolo
when you’re sitting there looking at gy and Society House in West Halls in
the blood, and knowing that it’s really first p i ace; Kingston House in East
going to go to save a life.” Halls in second place; and Birch Hall
Schroeder said University Park in West Halls in third place.
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The Daily Collegian Monday, Nov. 25, 1985—9
237-7314
Expires 11/27/85