Miami Hurricane, September 09, 1983

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Volume 60
Number 3
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Friday, September 9, 1983
Casillo To Emphasize Research, Variety
By MARLENE J. EGUIZABAL
Hurricane Staff Writer
Professor Robert Casillo, the new director of undergraduate studies for thc department of English, wants
to give students more of what they take an English
class for.
Maximizing the benefits received by students taking any English course, he believes, can be accomplished by continuing to improve the overall quality of
the department's curriculum.
After graduating from Columbia University and receiving his master's and doctorate from Johns Hopkins
University, Casillo came to the University of Miami in
1979. Since then, he has taught a wide variety of
courses, their topics ranging from detective fiction to
Victorian poetry.
Such experience, Casillo believes, will aid him in
his ncw role.
When one is in a position that involves implementing policies or making decisions affecting a group of
students, Casillos says it then becomes important to become familiarized with those students.
Although admitting there is still much to leam, he
said that by teaching many students at different levels,
he has come to know better UM's diversified student
body and its academic needs.
For these students, Casillo wants to enrich the qual
ity of the English major's program, as well as that of
the department's curriculum as a whole. In order to approach that goal, he and others in the department have
already made some changes and revisions.
"First," Casillo said, "we are giving a more In-
depth treatment to the survey [of literature] courses."
Students will spend more time examining and discussing each work, rather than briefly reading over them,
he said.
In addition, the department is strongly recommending all literature students to take English 211 as background for all other courses.
The course is a survey of major British writers
from the Medieval period to the eighteenth century: a
course requirement for all English majors.
"We are emphasizing 211 because everything
[written| after that tends to be either a continuation,
rebellion or renewal of those works. The course Is the
core of the English major tradition," Casillo said.
Although a more in-depth treatment of survey
courses and the stronger emphasis on English 211 are
noticible changes, many other reforms are being made.
In order to attract students to the higher level
courses, the levels of two courses were lowered for
this fall semester. The two courses, previously listed as
"Shakespeare, English 511, 512" are now listed as
"English 430, 431."
"Higher class levels tend to intimidate students,"
explained Casillo. "We want to help bridge the gap between undergraduate and graduate level studies."
But according to Casillo, all the modifications and
changes can be traced to one source: the English department's commitment to excellence.
As part of the national movement towards greater
literacy, he said, the depatment is voluntarily committed to providing students with a superior program of
study that will reflect that commitment.
The increased emphasis on research also reflects
that orientation. In an effort to provide students with
an opportunity to sharpen their analytical and information-gathering skills, more professors are demanding
term papers from their students, said Casillo.
Similarly, others are now asking students to submit
several shorter research papers throughout the course
of the semester. Also, oral reports are occasionally assigned.
Students who choose to graduate with honors in
English will also note some revisions. To graduate with
honors in English, students will not only have to fulfill
their course requirements but also submit an undergraduate thesis. As a new program, Casillo said the
subject and length requirements have not yet been
firmly established.
"Right now, we're following an adjustable policy,"
he said. "Our main concern is that students be able to
show at least that they are able to synthesize and eval
uate subjects and also provide some indicators of analytical skills."
To provide more students with an oportunity to develop these skills, he added, the department is also continuing its efforts to create a more attractive curriculum by offering a greater variety of courses.
This semester, for example, they have attempted to
cover most major genres and periods of literature.
Courses in the literature of classical Greece and Rome
have been added, and a new course covering the literature of the enlightenment is being taught by Professor
John Paul Russo this fall.
In thc near future, Casillo said, students will be able
to select from an even greater variety of courses More
Renaissance literature as a whole (rather than just the
British version) will be offered. Literature from different cultures may be introduced.
In addition, Casillo said the department is considering offering courses examining popular culture and the
ralationship between literature and the media.
"With an emphasis on literature, the courses would
treat the problems related with the translation from
one media to the other," he said.
In this, as most other areas, critical courses wil play
an important role.
"We want students to get a true insight into the efforts that literature and the media may have on the
mind," he said.
Miami Hurricane/KEVIN VELLAKE
Closing of University Inn purchase is expected within a week
University Inn
Purchase will allow UM to expand
With an eye toward development and expansion, the University of Miami is acquiring thc
University Inn, said UM President Edward T. Foote II.
. The closing of the $4.5-million
deal is expected within a week.
UM first learned of the availability of the inn six to eight
months ago, Foote said.
Foote called the purchase
"part of our master planning
project to consolidate and preserve our options as we evaluate
the front of our campus."
The university, he added, also
owns property adjacent to the
inn which will make a total of
nine acres mi which to expand.
Added to this is a 32-acre vacant
lot on Ponce dp Leon Boulevard,
formerly the site of married students' apartments.
These two lots, Foote said,
will allow the university to expand the front of thc campus.
According to Foote, the income from the inn will pay back
the inn's cost in one to two
years.
"The income from the hotel
should allow us to carry it with
out a drain to the university," he
added. He did not elaborate on
the future of the inn except to
say, "We are not planning to go
into the hotel business on a long-
term basis."
The University Inn and adjacent lots are not the only property on which the university
may expand in the future.
Public Affairs Director Susan
Bonnett said UM purchased 106
acres of property adjacent to
Metrozoo in 1981. The property,
which UM had leased since
1946, will most likely be used
for research facilities, Bonnett
said.
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New repeat rule
effective in 1984
By LOURDES FERRER
Hurricane Associate News Editor
The Repeat Rule, which has been
the subject of much controversy
over the past two years, has finally
been clarified. University policy
now states that any student repeating a course first attempted prior to
May, 1982 may retake the course
this year and have the new grade
replace the old.
With the new Repeat Rule,
which applies in all other cases, the
two grades — old and new — are
averaged together.
According to Registrar Sidney
Weisburd, the Repeat Rule was extended because the students and administrators were "not adequately
notified" as to the status of the
Rule.
Effective first summer session
1984, if a student repeats a course
in which a grade of D or E was
earned, the repetition of the course
will not eliminate the previous
grade from the record.
If a course in which a grade of D
was earned is repeated and the repeat grade is a D or higher grade,
the number of semester hour credits
required for graduation will be increased by the number of credits repeated with passing grade.
Last fall the Faculty Senate, at
the request of the Undergraduate
Student Body Government (USBG),
passed legislation which extended
the use of the repeat rule by one
year (1982-83).
The decision of the Senate was
made last December, so it was not
possible to implement the action for
either the fall or spring semester of
1982-83.
Dr. William Lee, provost and executive vice president, authorized
the use of the repeat rule for the academic year 1983-84 in a memorandum dated June 9.
Repeat rule legislation will be
limited to undergraduate students
of the classes of 1983, 1984 and
1985 only.
All students subject to this action
will be permitted to exercise their
option to retake a course in either
the fall of spring registration of the
coming year.
The repeat rule will no longer be
in effect after the spring semester
1981.
Repeat rule was approved by
President Edward T. Foote last December.
However, the postponement applies only to courses with D or E
grades on record prior to May 15,
1982.
Undergraduate students who
have D or E grades on their record
prior to May 15, 1982 will be permitted to exercise their option of
repeating a course during thp
1983-84 academic year under the
old repeat rule.
The old rule states:
With prior written authorization
by the academic dean, an essential
course failed or completed with a 1)
may be repeated once.
However, a course in which a D
is received may not be repeated if a
subsequent course for which it's
prerequisite has heen completed
with a passing grade
Prior permission to repeat a
course in which a D or lower grade
has been earned is not required if
the identical course (same catalog
number and description) is repeated
in the next succeeding lerm of registration.
The quality points and credits at-
tpmptpd and earned for the second
attempt are counted in lieu of those
for the first attempt A letter grade
may not be removed under the repeat rule by using the CR/NC option.
Both attempts remain a part ol
thc permanent record. Prior work
taken elsewhere may not be offered
as a repeat course. Registrations
which involve repeating a course in
which a grade of A, B, or C has already been earned may not earn
quality points or credit hours, nor
count as credits attempted.
Carpool program
alternative idea
By LOURDES FERRER
Hurricane.* Associate Ntvei Editor
If you're a commuter student and
find parking at UM a big problem,
you have an alternative Carpooling
will entitle you to a discount decal
and special parking privileges.
"The idea is not only to eliminate
the parking problem, but it will
allow students to also save gas and
other kinds of expenses," said
USBG Treasurer Angie Vazquez.
The carpool program is being
sponsored by Roadrunners Commuter Club, Undergraduate Student
Body Government, and Public Safety. Each carpooling group — made
up of students living near pach
other — cannot be less than three
By joining the carpool program
each student will be able to buy his
own dpcal for S15. If a decal has already been purchased. Public Safety will refund the difference (the
purchase of a regular commuter
decal is $30). The carpool group
will receive a clip
Jane Gailey, Public Safety parking coordinator, said Public Safety
plans to designate special parking
areas, in blocks of five, behind the
Memorial Classroom Building to accommodate the carpoolers. if these
parking spots are taken, the carpool
group can still park in the commuter parking lots.
Rosanna Lucotti. Roadrunners
treasurer, said: "We need a good
turnout; we need a lot of people
That's why we have tablps in the
Breezeway "
If interested, students can sign up
for a carpool either today. Monday
or Tuesday in the Student Union
Brppzeuav between ll a.m. and l
p.m. or call 284-3082 or 284-2962.
Inside
USBG Vice President Graham sworn in
Hurricanes
Learn what do in case of a hurricane and the precautions
taken by the University of Miami. /PAGES 4-5
Sun Tan U.?
The image of a party school is quickly being shot down as
UM gains a reputation for research and excellence. /PAGE 6
When the jazz band conies inarching home
UM's Concert Jazz Band returns from a triumphant weekend in Detroit. /PAGE 8
An insider's look at UM football
Writer Steve Conn tells of the painful experience of being a
walk-on punter for the Hurricanes. /PAGE 11
By LOURDES FERRER
Hurricane Associate Sews Editor
Suzanne Graham was sworn in
as vice president of the Undergraduate Student Body Government
Wednesday at USBG's first official
Senate meeting of the year.
USBG President Mark Cheskin
had appointed Graham as vice president at the USBG Senate Workshop last Wednesday. As vice president, Graham's main responsibility
will be to supervise the Cabinet;
Graham says she wishes to form
"good Cabinet-Senate relations."
Cheskin said the USBG screening
committee found Graham "very
well prepared." The Senate ratified
her appointment by a unanimous
vote.
"I would like to use the Cabinet
to get active students involved —
not just those who put their names
down on paper," Graham said.
Graham, 19, is a junior chemistry
major and plans to attend medical
school. She is also president of Circle K service organization and the
director of the USBG University Information Service, which publishes
the USBG Encounter Newsletter
She is a member of the Honors Student Association, Student Union
Program Council, Student Orientation Service and the Organization
for Jamaican Unity.
Marilu Madrigal, former USBG
vice president, resigned her position
last week for personal reasons.
Joseph Pineda, director of Student Union, announced Brenda
Smith as the ncw interim assistant
director of student activities. She
was parliamentarian of the Senale
in 1981.
Two   new   Senate   seats   were    Richard   Kirschner  will   be  repn
filled. Faith Taylor was named to     tenting the Honors Student Associ-
the United Black Students seat, and    ation.
Magicard now available
By CYNTHIA HUDSON
Hurricane StaH Wrile r
University of Miami magic is now available to all students for the
I983-K4 academic year in the form of the Magicard
The Magicard is a new version of last year's Supercard. It is a discount card which, when used with a student ID, will give discounts and
special offers at designated local merchants.
The new orange and green card is "more representative to fit the
school image." says USBG Treasurer Angie Vazquez. The card can bp
uspd at 27 shops and restaurants, but must be presented belore merchandise is purchased.
There are 20,000 cards available at the USBG office in the Student
Union.