Miami Hurricane, November 11, 1983

              Ill STORY OF T ill-FST RIVALRY — PAGE 10
Volume 60 Number 22
Friday, November 11, 1983
Report Cards Out on 50 Departments
By RONNIE RAMOS
Hurricane Editor in Chief
Courses in the military science department were the ones to take in the fall of 1982 if you wanted an A According to a confidential report obtained by the Miumi Hurricane, the military science department had the highest departmental grade-point average. 3.733.
The grade-point average applies to the grades given out by the department for the fall 1982 semester
The report, prepared by the Faculty Senate Committee on Academic Standards and titled "Preliminary Report on Grade Inflation." said that "calculation of departmental and school GPAs provides a rough measure of grading strictness or laxity."
The report listed 50 departments in all schools in descending order of GPAs It also listed the five schools' and two colleges’ cumulative GPAs.
The school with the highest GPA was the School of Music. 3.283. The College of Engineering had the lowest. 2.552. The University of Miami as a whole averaged 2 722
The School of Music hud three departments in the top 10: applied music, music literature and private lessons.
At least 73 percent of the students who took a course in the military science department that semester received an A
Capt Michael Maskaleris of the military science department said that about 200 students took classes in the department that semester. That would mean that at least 145 students received As (assuming the rest received Bs It any Cs were given out. the number of As would have to be raised).
Maskaleris said that the high GPA does not indicate grading laxity "The reason is that people in ROTC have already demonstrated the aptitude of what we were teaching." he said
Maskaleris said that approximately 25 percent of the students were on full-tuition scholarships. He also said that all those enrolled in junior-and senior-level courses were under contract to ROTC. Freshmen- and sophomore-level courses are open to all students.
The department with the lowest GPA was physical science, 2.060 Physics, technically physical science's parent department, was ranked 47th with a 2.279.
Dr. James Nearing, associate chairman of the physics department, said the report "means we're giving honest grades: there is no grade inflation.”
Nearing said he does not think the courses in his department are too hard because "physics is one of the most difficult subjects.
“That’s because it’s problem solving, and subjects that involve problem solving are simply harder than others."
But Nearing said that there were many factors not reflected in the GPAs The report, written for faculty and administrators, also pointed out that many factors were left out
But. it said. “The GPA is a rough but useful measure whether applied to students or departments.
"This measure ignores many relevant factors such as type of subject matter, quality of students and quality of instruction," the report stated
Robert Zaller. chairman of the Faculty Senate, said it was impossible to say what the norm departmental GPA should be Of the results, he said. "I had no preconceived notion of what they should be. so I am not surprised either way."
Nearing said he would like to see other comparisons which would be more revealing. One possibility would be to compare grades received in courses and each student’s overall GPA
The report said the committee plans to make a fuller report next semester That report "will examine additional measures, study five-year trends and include data on grades given at the end of this semester "
	Depart	mental LI*Ys*		
1 Military science		3 713	?6 Architecture	2 m
2 App,ied music		3*12	27 Geology	7 750
3 AfroAmer studies		3 S46	28 Statistics	2 744
4 Honors		3 519	29 Sociology	7 730
5 Music literature		3 382	30 History	7 724
6 Education leadership		3 351	31 Geography	Î 690
7 Drama		3 301	32 Mechanical engineering	2 682
8 Private lessons		3 270	33 Business law	? 681
9 Art		3 237	34 Electrical engineering	? 664
10 Aerospace studies		3 213	35. Marine science	2 647
11 Nursing		3 708	36 Biochemistry	7*15
12 Health, edur & rec		3 166	37 English	7 607
13 Music education		3 167	38 Art history	2 606
14 Anthropology		3 122	39 Industrial engineering	? 59?
15 Elementary educ		3 046	40 Microbiology	? 56?
16 Educ psychology		7 912	41 Economics	? 513
17 Music theory		2 981	42 Biology	? 495
10 Communication		2 923	43 Management science	7 497
19 Religion		2 909	44 Accounting	7 475
20 Philosophy		7 825	45 Mathematics	? 431
21 General business		2 872	46 Politics & public aft	2 337
22 Finance		2 799	47 Physics	2 279
23 Marketing		7 7|7	48 Chemistry	7 199
24 Psychology		7 71?	49 Civil engineering	7 196
25. Foreign languages		? 781	50 Physical science	2 060
• GPAs are for the fall semester. 1982 Grades of ’W*. T, CR' and NC are ignored The grade X' is counted as an E' Departments with enrollments under 20 are omitted
Schools LI* Vs
1	School of Music	3 28)
2	School of Nursing	3 208
3	School of Education	3 H3
4	School of Architecture	2 m
5	University of Miami	2 77?
6	School of Business	2 607
7	College of Engineering	7 552
By LOURDES FERRER
Humcane Associate News Editor
Undergraduate Student Body Government President Mark Cheskin announced at Wednesday's senate meeting that the administration vetoed a USBG bill asking for the release of the university budget.
Cheskin learned of the veto from a copy of a memo sent to Dr William Butler, vice president for student affairs, by Vice Provost George Gilpin He feels the decision was "ridiculous and an insult to students."
What steps USBG will decide to take in the future is unsure at the moment No decision was taken
Cheskin said that the administration's veto indicated that they did not want students involved in the budget process.
Butler stood up and said that the administration was working on setting future dates to meet with students and faculty to gather ideas for the l	budget
Butler later told the Hurricane that a new calendar is being drawn up that will include sessions with student leaders and faculty. The original calendar did not have any such meetings planned.
The hill requested all pertinent l983-84 budget information from the i M Administration be given to USBG except for individual salaries of faculty. employees and administrators.
This budget information would have included any pertinent materials presented to the Board of Trustees Executive Committee including the budget presented to them in February of 1983
The honors program was also a subject of discussion at Wedneday's
USBG senate meeting
The prestige of the university and the cash value of a student's diploma is going to maximally serve students in the future who either will attend UM or have graduated, said Dr James Ash, associate provost for honors and undergraduate studies. All students, he said, are going to be maximally served because of the honors program, which will increase the academic standards of this university.
According to Ash. academic prestige depends on the grades and quality of the students attending the university. This attacts both good students
and faculty
As associate provost. Ash said he feels a responsibility to improve undergraduate academics campuswide — not just in honors
"It s in the interest of every student who graduates from here |UM| that we get the blue-chip students,” said Ash.
"The improvements we've seen in the honors program before very long will be realized campuswide," he added
"My full intention. President Foote's and Provost Lee's is to make this university the best university it can be for all students here "
Miami Humcane/AIXA MOST CKO
Pumping Iron
Instructor Ray Ganong (standing) teaches weight-training techniques to student Andy Switzer, using the new weight equipment at CSR, as part of Lifelines' HEART Week program
USBG bill
Ash talks to Senate
Students briefed on beautification plans
By PETER PERMLY
Hurricane Assistant News Editor
The tradition began with George Merrick, the founder of the city of Coral Gables, and it continues today. The University of Miami is continuously being built, added to or beautified.
Oliver Bonnert. associate vice president of Business Affairs, briefed interested students on the
recent campus beautification plans in a presentation sponsored by USBG Tuesday.
Merrick originated the building of UM during the 1920s. Coral Gables citizens voted on whether building should begin Their ballots were made of cardboard, hence UM's early nickname “cardboard campus."
Shortly after the building began, none other than a hurricane came
along and almost destroyed UM for good: but it lived on, and so plans were made to ensure its existence and provide for more academia
In 1946 UM began the construction of temporary buildings, designed to last about 30 years. That, of course would have made UM a merely ephemeral presence — undesirable
Enter the master plan. It's going on now and will continue into the
1990s. Like most things, it met with opponents and proponents. For students the issue was mainly concern over the cost involved and the elimination of parking spaces On the other hand, the administration is concerned with the distinct identity of UM and the general enhancement of the UM's surroundings
The master plan under way now was introduced in 1980 and consists of five phases
Sigma Chi hosts Derby Day for charity
By MARLENE J. EGL IZABAL
Hurricane Staff Writer
Much has been said about the differences between fraternities in the film Animal House and actual fraternity houses, and although UM fraternities generally keep a fairly low profile, one group of Greeks is nevertheless changing that around this weekend by stirring up some excitement around Fraternity Row
Derby Day Weekend, which kicked off yesterday and will finish tomorrow. is a three-day fund-raising bash featuring contests, races and a variety of other attractions designed to lure community business leaders, sororities and all others interested to participate and donate funds for a na-
Inside
Election results
Complete, seat-by-unconlested-seat results of the fall USBG
elections /Huge 3
■_ £ . *• :* ’ *
School Spirit
Cheerleader captain Todd Payne explains how football has sparked enthusiasm. In Opinion's Another Voice /Page 4 *
Trends of the ’80s	jr
Pulseseries on trends continues with a look at fashion / Pafie 9
£
The final hurdle
A preview of UM's season finale football game — the last hurdle on the road to the Orange Bowl /Pagtf 10
tional charity house.
Derby bay Chairman Rex Pompadur said funds collected by the three-day bash will be donated to Wallace House, a home for mentally retarded children in Colorado
Although competitive events are designed mainly for sorority participation. Pompadur said that non-Greeks may also attend Winners of the competitions, except for “Progressive Parties." will earn "Derby Points." The Greek house accumulating the most points will win the Derby Trophy, which will be awarded during the last day of the festivities
Following Is a list of the events:
Today:
"Kidnapping" from 9 a m to 4 p.m. Fraternity brothers will wear special T-shirts while on campus. The sorority spotting the greatest number of Sigma Chi brothers wins.
"Progressive Party" at 7 p.m Sorority houses will be given one hour to set up, host and then clean up after a party at the Sigma Chi house. Sigma Chi alumni will be on hand to select and award a special trophy to the Greek house sponsoring "the best all-around party ."
Tomorrow:
"Olympic Day Barbecue" at 1 p.m. Held at Crandon Park. Olympic Day will feature a variety of competitive events, such as figure and athletic competitions
"Derby Day Open Party" at 9 p.m First-, second- and third-place winners of Derby Day Weekend will be announced at this “blast of a party" where, according to Pompadur, a disc jockey will provide musical entertainment To top it off, he added, 20 cases of Coors beer will be available to guests free of charge Admission is free and open to the public
Pompadur said that Derby Day Weekend is a way for Sigma Chi members to enjoy a fun weekend while contributing to a cause. For the UM fraternity, however, the fund-raising event is not only fun, but a tradition
First held in 1967, Derby Day Weekend has been celebrated every year since The money, usually donated by sorority and community business leaders, is collected by Sigma Chi National and donated to Wallace Village
Write-in wins
with one vote
By LOURDES FERRER
Hurricane Associate News Editor
The STUDENT ticket won two of the three contested seats in Monda;. and Tuesday's USBG election, in which only four percent of the students voted and one student was elected to office because of one write-in vote Nikki Zeoli beat Frank Jimenez, 47-15, for the Mahoney-Pearson Sen ate seat. Rosanna Lucotti and Jody Brown edged independent Isidro Ruben Lezano for the two Off-campus North Senate seats
Robert Kaplan was the only independent to win. He defeated Andrew Fisher, the only STUDENT candidate to lose, 26-9. for Fraternity Sow senator.
Only one candidate. Eric Persily, filed lor the two vacant freshman senator seats But one freshman cast the only write-in vote — and Mai thew Anderson became a freshman senator
Anderson said Wednesday night that his roomate. Wade Mosely. was the one who voted for him Anderson said he will take the responsibiltv very seriously "It is an opportunity to serve my school." he said Anderson serves in the USBG cabinet as the director of the Bike and Boat I.oan and as treasurer of Parents Weekend
Xavier Cortada — the only candidate to file under the U-TURN ticket — won one of two uncontested Off-campus Central Senate seats.
The election did not spark much student interest Only 361 students voted The results were never in doubt Thirteen of the 16 STUDENT candidates were guaranteed seats before the voting even began
At the outset, the election showed promise But an opposing ticket comprised mostly of honor students dwindled to one candidate, Cortada The lack of opposition is nothing new. The low voter turnout, however. is. In last fall's USBG elections, there were also three contested seats, but 1.384 voters turned out. Part of the high voter turnout last fall could have been due to the the activity fee referendum
Candidates this year were not motivated to campaign "I would have loved a challenge to campaign, but it was unnecessary." Cortada said He said he was "disinchanted" with the elections, since he ran an unopposed campaign
"My constituency had no reason to vote." he said A student government official said the low voter turnout was because of poor organization "Last year, the UNITY ticket campaigned a lot more and told students to vote."
Cortada said. “If there would have been a larger competitive effort, perhaps more voters would have turned out "
The elected senators were sworn in en-masse at Wednesdav's Senate meeting
Complete election results on Page 3
Two students join Jewish delegation
By .SHERYL MIZRACHI
Special to the Hurricane
Four student delegates, representing the B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundations in South Florida, attended Washington Two, a national Jewish student conference on public policy issues
More than 200 students from across the nation met in Washington, D.C., for five days and dealt with all aspects of the political spectrum Issues such as Israel and its future, nuclear disarmament, world hunger, Soviet Jewry, the 1984 campaign and its effects on Jews were discussed throughout the political development program
Washington Two is headed by a student-run secretariat, which serves as a representative group of student activities throughout the United States The secretariat is composed of 12 students Two delegates and one alternate are selected from each of the four regions of the United States — the Northeast, Southeast. West and Midwest
The students representing South Florida were Sandy Curtis of Sheridan Vocational School. Annie Malka of Florida International University. and Wayne Firestone and Sheryl Mizrachi of the University of Miami
Firestone was chosen as one of the two student delegates who will represent the Southeast on the student secretariat for the 1983-84 year Several discussions within the conference dealt with organizing campus coalitions and fighting student apathy These were incorporated in the schedule of speakers, briefings and resolutions sessions
Washington Two also provides students with the opportunity to discuss political issues and current situations in the U S and abroad
Throughout the events, students were encouraged to ask questions and voice their opinions, to gain a broader understanding of current political events through a bond of commitment and education
Editor elections
The Board of Student Publications will be holding elections on Nov 22 for the spring Miami Hurricane editor in chief and business manager All those interested in running must complete an application beforehand and go through an interview process Applications may be obtained from Arlene Watts in the Hurricane office. Room 221 of the Student Union
Students must have a 2.5 grade point average to run Both the editor and business manager receive full tuition and a stipend The business manager will also serve the Ibis yearbook