Miami Hurricane, September 17, 1974

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Student	Activity
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Voi. 50 No. 5
Tuesday, September 17, 1974
Ph. 284-4401
Dr. Stanford Faculty To Honor Jewish Holiday
D• r riAi/irt Trniu'
By DAVID TEPPS
Hurrlcant Editor
tant dates.
But if a student thinks he “is getting a bad deal’’ in a class, there is a procedure he can follow to complain, Hively said.
President Henry King Stanford has asked University faculty to allow students to make up any classes missed because of the Jewish holidays without penalty.
Stanford said that while UM is non-secular, it recognizes that many Jewish students will be absent to attend services and observe Rosh Hoshanah, the Jewish New Year. The holiday began last night and continues until sunset tomorrow.
Some students have complained to the Hurricane that professors are scheduling tests and assignments despite the holidays.
Dr. Robert Hively, dean of the college of arts and science, doesn’t think there is a real problem.
“President Stanford’s memorandum asked the teachers to observe the student’s religious convictions and I think most professors will be sensitive to it,” Hively said.
Hively added that any scheduling of this sort is probably due to ignorance rather than
Although the student should always try to deal with the teacher directly, Hively said, the department chairman is the next person to consult. If that isn’t satisfactory, the student can visit the dean of his school and ultimately take his case to the grievance committee.
Hively warned however, that this procedure must be followed during the semester, not when classes are over to complain about grades.
He added that this same procedure can be used to solve other complaints about teachers or courses, i.e., too many tests or not following the syllabus.
Hively thinks that reaction to the problem may be premature, as most professors in the University are sensitive to the student’s needs. But anytime you have a faculty, he says, “you’re bound to have a few bad apples.”
I)r. Robert Hively
. . . arts ond science» ilcan
malice on the part of a professor.
For this reason, Hively said, all University personnel will soon receive calendars which denote religious holidays and other impor-
Bookstore Prices Moderate Even With High Inflation
By TERESA DAY
Hurricane Reporter
You probably feel like you spent a small fortune on books anti school supplies this semester. But believe it or not, if you shopped at the UM Bookstore, you got a bargain.
How does that figure? If you bought a notebook in the Bookstore this semester for $.95, the present list price is $1.29. If you bought "Scotch” brand tape at $.59, the going price is 76 rents. If you bought a “Flair" pen for $.49, anywhere else it would probably cost $.59. That's a savings of $.61 on three Items.
“In order to save students money, we are not changing old prices on merchandise even though new merchandise is coming in at higher prices,” Bookstore Manager George Mitchell said.
All paper, plastic and steel items have risen in price because of shortages and inflation. Because of shortage in petroleum, plastic pens that a few months ago were $.19 are now $.25, ones that were $.25 are now $.29 and $.49 ones are now
$.59. One type of pad paper was $.37 a few months back and is now $.60, he
said.
“Since we didn’t mark up the price of the old merchandise on plastic pens alone we saved the students $1,000. As we receive new stock, prices are increasing, therefore students will notice two different prices on the same merchandise," Mitchell said.
"I want to save the students money, and that's why 1 am not changing old prices on merchandise. I would feel guilty if we raised the old prices. This way we will have more customers.
"Sometimes I buy from warehouses or wholesalers which are having close out sales on a certain item.” The lamps bought from a wholesale close out sold at registration for $10 retails $19.95. All 165 of them were sold in two days with the Bookstore making a profit.
“The Bookstore tries to buy large quantities. One type of notebook has been $.69 for seven years. The new shipment coming in
will be at least $1. The present $.69 notebook is part of a two year supply,” Mitchell said.
“There is no reason for the price increases which are up the average of 30 per cent.” Because of shortages, the price of items made from chocolate and sugar have increased, “even though candy sales are just as high as last year,” Mitchell said.
Class. rings have increased in price because the price of gold has risen from $37 to $160 an ounce. “I remember when the average class ring was $55. Now the same ring is $110.” The Bookstore sells class rings as “a service to students” making $10 on each ring, Mitchell said.
“Students complain the most about the price of textbooks. We make the least profit on them (20)per cent plus we have to pay freight. Freight charges are very high. Only calculators have gone down in price,” Mitchell said.
All profits from the Bookstore go towards the Student Union operation.
’Canes Unpredictable Even For Experts,
The Miami Hurricane/JOSHUA SILLS
National Hurricane Center Forecasting Room
... /Jr. Neil Frank, (right) heath center
Center Tracks Storms
The precarious job of predicting a hurricane’s course is a matter of "waiting on Mother Nature to do something,” Dr. Neil L. Frank, of the National Hurricane Center of Coral Gables, said.
Located on the fifth floor of UM'* Computer center, the hurricane center has both national and international responsibilities.
On a year-round basis, the center is concerned with issuing advisories for all parts of North America, Central America, the Caribbean Islands and the greater Atlantic.
During the six-month period from June 1 to November 30, the center is mainly looking for storms and hurricanes.
Dr. Frank and his staff utilize satellite pictures to chart the progress and keep a watch on minor disturbances and depressions. “The key to my hurricane work is the satellite pictures which are taken every 30 minutes, both day and night,” Dr. Frank said.
“There are two weather satellites orbiting the equator. By rotating the same rate as the earth, the pictures are always taken from a fixed point to reveal North and South America, the Atlantic Ocean and part of Africa where most disturbances originate," Dr. Frank explained.
He said the first satellite was launched in 1967, is stationed at 70 degrees west. A new satellite was put into orbit last May equipped with a second camera system for night time pictures.
Over 12 hours of satellite shots can be condensed into a five-second movie loop, he said, so the cloud formation motions can be observed. Strong hurricane winds can ordinarily be seen “spinning like a top,” he said.
If the disturbance develops into a threat, Air Force and Navy reconnaissance planes are then flown into the area to investigate. There is also a coastal radar networks set up to give further warning.
"I don’t think a major storm will arrive unannounced,” Dr. Frank said, attributing
this to the satellites’ general view of the reconnaissance flight’s strength and the extensive radar coverage.
“Only 10 per cent of the disturbances v/e follow become tropical storms and hurricanes,” Dr. Frank said. ““When a disturbance appears, special communication lines are installed between here and Washington. Also, 1 am given priority with the weather reconnaissance planes.”
The National Hurricane Center is now in its tenth year on UM’s campus. “When we moved here in 1964, we used UM's computer facilities," Dr. Frank said. “However, now we have a direct link-up with a computer in Washington.”
One of the center’s duties is the preparation of weather forecasts for distribution to the local broadcast and print media.
"We now have our own VHF radio station where there are only weather reports,” Dr. Frank said. “This allows me to put out a new advisory almost immediately. “This radio station is a nice innovation to communicate directly with the people."
Dr. Frank gave the odds of a hurricane hitting Miami this year as being “one to seven.” “This means that over a period of 100 years, every seven years we are influenced by a storm," he said.
If a hurricane does hit Miami or the vicinity, Dr. Frank said students should be aware of certain precautions.
The first thing to do is to get in a building that is substantial enough to withstand strong winds and flooding. He said all the dormitories would fulfill this need.
“Water would undoubtedly get into the rooms,” he said. “Two main factors would be the wind and flying debris.”
He said there is “an excellent chance" of a power loss, so candles or other kinds of emergency lighting should he available.
Because of the electricity loss, battery-operated radios would be necessary to maintain a communication line with the outside world.
Sec page 3, col. I
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New Sociology Professor Stimulates Students
Dr. Lipman’s Travels Give Him Wealth Of Information
Bv EMILIO AI.ONSO-MENDOZA
Of Tha Hurrican* Staff
"There is a young man here who wants to ask you some questions about me as a teacher.”
He closes the door and leaves the room.
As soon as the door closes, several hands go up. They all had something to say about Dr. Aaron Lipman, professor of sociology.
“He is super stimulating and never talks down to us,” short-haired Debbie sitting in the front row said. "He's also humorous and very understanding.”
A guy in the back row became impatient and spoke without waiting for his turn.
“All I can say is that I have taken other sociology courses and this is the first time I haven’t
fallen asleep in class. In fact, I actually look forward to coming,” he said, as the whole class laughed with approval.
The room is filled with over 50 students. It is impossible to listen to every one of them, but they all agreed with Steve Kling's personality analysis of Lipman, the teacher — "intelligent, versatile and liberal.”
Is all this praise indicative of a teacher who cares more about his popularity than the teaching of his subject? Hardly.
“As a college undergraduate, I was impressed with the insights sociology gave to the student,” Dr. Lipman said. "My teaching philosophy is based on such insights. I try to give the student something he can relate to, and find
Dr. Aaron Lipman
. . . popular professor
meaning in, not just facts and figures.”
As far as sociology careers are concerned, Lipman said, “anyone who is concerned about society as a whole could benefit from the study of it.
“Most of our students
get jobs in the social field,” he said. “Some work for government agencies im the areas of public service, while others go on to law school or seek their doctorate in social work.”
A releaxed, yet knowledgeable style of speaking, is the major asset for this man, whose love for his work has earned him several Fullbright scholarships to Colombia, Argentina and Portugal.
“Portugal’s educational system is very different from the one here,” he said. The student is usually from the upper classes, and they are prohibited from smoking or chewing gum in class.”
Exams are more rigorous, since students must take both a written and an oral exam. Though the
students are usually older than tho average American college student, the relationship between teacher and student is more authoritarian.
“They all stood as soon as I stepped into class, and would only sit after I did,” he said. “In Latin America the same authority is evident, though it is slightly more relaxed.”
Dr. Lipman said that the countries were all “peak experiences” for him. “I was very reluctant to return to the States.”
He believes American colleges do not place such emphasis on the professor's teaching ability, but rather concentrate on the research and writing aspect.
"Maybe it’s because the only thing people
from outside the campus can judge one hy, is by what they see written,” he said.
Though not entirely in agreement with this policy, Dr. Lipman has made his contribution in the literary field. He is the author of a work on the role of the Colombian big businessman.
“I had a Fullbright scholarship and access to major figures in politics and business which made my work more comprehensive,” the professor of Sociology 207, 301, and 540 said.
He lived 18 months in Colombia, J>oth studying sociology, and discussing with executives, government officials, and social scientists the problems of the business commu-
See page 2, col. 3
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Committee Gripes About O’Connor
By GUS PUPO
Of Th« Hurricane Staff
Decreasing enrollment in upper level classes, budget cuts and dissatisfaction among faculty members Tiave prompted history professors to “actively” discuss removing their chairman Dr. Raymond O’Connor.
Reliable sources say O’Connor could be replaced with a faculty committee heading the department.
"I don’t see a bright future," said Dr. Christos C. Patsavos, history professor here since 1957. “The administration keeps cutting our funds and the department keeps shrinking. We need at least three more people,” Dr. Patsavos said.
A steady decrease in enrollment since 1972 has forced the department to review itself. Dr. O’Connor says a curriculum review committee was recently formed to make the courses more attractive to students.
Some professors have been at a disadvantage with the enrollment decrease. Dr. Duane W. Koenig, history professor for 30 years, said enrollment in specialty classes has declined as enrollment in basic courses increases. As a result, full professors teach basic courses instead of their specialties.
“It is like a brain surgeon removing warts. This is hardest on the people who
have been here for many years,” Koenig said. “Naturally you have tensions.”
Department sources said professors might go “somewhere else" if not given a chance to advance. History professor Dr. Whittington Johnson said professors want the opportunity to use all of their talents. “It is a perfçctly legitimate claim,” he said.
"Many professors walk into class and say what they remember. They are not pre-1 pared or in full command of their material. On the other hand, f write my lectures systematically and present them in a very interesting way,” Patsavos said. “A professor must present interesting lectures in order to interest his students."
Reliable sources indicated three younger professors were recommended for promotions last year. They were not promoted, although all are considered “scholars” by their colleagues and have had material published in recent months.
Chairman O'Connor says it was not the department’s fault. He blames budget cutbacks by the administration and “feels it is unfortunate that there weren’t any promotions."
Dr. Johnson agrees. “UM officials are reluctant to increase budgets. Professors have had more difficulties in obtaining tenure, hut it’s not O’Connor’s fault,” he said.
UM officials deny the association of promotions with budget cutbacks. Robert I. Fuerst, assistant dean of the faculties, says a committee selects professors to be promoted only when they meet the requirements in the faculty manual. Pointing to section five of the manual, Fuerst said, “The by-laws do not allow budgets to play a role in promotions,” he said. "A professor can also appeal if he feels the committee was in error.”
Other problems are af-
Dr. Duane Rociiig
. . . professor laments
fecting the structure of UM’s history department. Reliable sources say some faculty members want a more democratic form of "government.” A proposal to replace Dr. O'Connor with a committee of four or five faculty members is under “secret” discussion.
The previous chairman. Dr. Charlton W. Tebeau, occupied that position for 25 years. Dr. Frank C. Stuart, associate professor, says Dr. Tebeau's long tenure occurred at a time when the UM was young and growing. “Now I don’t think it's necessary to have such a long tenure in office,” Dr. Stuart said.
“I think the department is moving away from a situation that we had of 25 years in managerial control to a collegiate form of government,” said Dr. Koenig. But he feels the trend is not unique to the history department. “O’Connor is doing as well a job under the circumstances,"Koenig said.
Circustances mainly revolve around faculty gripes. O’Connor says he is still “learning of some sources of dissatisfaction.”
Some faculty members are not willing to discuss their gripes. Robert B. Kadin, an instructor, said, “Unlike other departments, we will maintain our confidentiality.” Another faculty member. Dr. Patsavos said he would prefer not to discuss the matter. “I think we can work it out between ourselves,” he said.
Reliable sources described Dr. O’Connor as a “military man,” for a military way of thinking sometimes creeps into his decisions.
“The current chairman runs a very tight ship,” said Dr. Stuart, but he quickly added, "O’Connor has supported me in every way in regards to my television program.”
Faculty members are split up in regard to faculty committee rul6. Dr. Stuart says the department could weaken as a result.
This is not the first time Dr. O’Connor has been the chairman of a history department. Some years ago. Dr. O’Connor was the chairman at Temple University in Philadelphia. “It was different then,” O’Connor said.
Chairman O’Connor does not think he will be replaced by a committee. “A committee chairmanship is not provided in the faculty charter," he said.
Insisting that he does not have direct knowledge about what some of the dissent involves, Dr. O’Connor claims to be somewhat puzzled about all the commotion.
“I cannot recall any incident when I have gone against the expressed will of the department,” O’Connor said.
Housing Available
The housing office announced yesterday that additional space is now available.
Students on the waiting list for housing
from number 1-50 should report to the residence halls office in Eaton Hall, housing director William Grimm said.
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