Daily Vanguard April 20, 2010

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Event of the day

TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2010 • PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY • VOLUME 64, ISSUE 93

Want to learn more about permaculture? Join the PSU Permaculture Guild for a hands-on learning experience as part of PSU Earth Week. No previous experience necessary. When: 1 p.m. Where: Student Rec Center

WWW.DAILYVANGUARD.COM • FREE

INSIDE OPINION Guest Opinion Coffee leaves big eco footprint PAGE 2 A few bad apples A few officers ruin the Portland police’s image PAGE 3 The first step The Portland Police Bureau needs to admit to its problems PAGE 3

NEWS Timely textbooks Federal timelines for the posting of textbook requirements PAGE 4

ARTS

Blur blur Sonic & Sega All-Star Racing is a great, if unoriginal, kart racer PAGE 6

Local film highlights New and classic films playing at local theaters this week PAGE 7

SPORTS

OUS studies semester switch Legislation suggests academic calendar changes Carrie Johnston Vanguard staff

Lawmakers are considering the merits of switching the Oregon University System from operating on a quarter-based academic calendar to one that is divided by semesters. Senate Bill 442 from the 2009 Oregon Legislative Session directs the Joint Boards of Education to conduct studies relating to the costs and benefits of converting the postsecondary academic calendar from quarters to semesters. The official report is due Oct. 1. Larry Galizio, the OUS director of strategic planning, is working with community colleges, faculty, students and administrators to help the higher education and state boards gather the research and organize a report so the boards can make a decision. The adjustment would take about three years to complete if the bill passed, converting the current quarters, which last 10 to 11 weeks, to semesters, lasting about 16 weeks. “We’re trying to find information about whether there is empirical evidence that proves the semester is superior to the quarter system,” Galizio said. Semesters mean two terms per year instead of four. Less terms can save time and money—“one less term to gear up for,” Galizio said. Roy Koch, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said, “Semesters mean one less

Preparation for graduation ceremony Student speakers considered, faculty participation encouraged Sharon Rhodes Vanguard staff

Running down the dream Track and field teams qualify more for the conference championship PAGE 9 Final lap The PSU Cycling Club enters its last week of competition PAGE 10

registration, one less fee collection, and fewer books to buy.” “There will be costs associated with the transition, and faculty will have to revise the curriculum. There is a lot of work involved,” he said. “But no one is really sure what is going to happen.” Even if the board decides in favor of semesters, “It will take about three years to transition,” Galizio said. The National Center for Education Statistics lists 89 percent of public four-year universities as following a semester calendar, whereas all Oregon public universities and community colleges follow the quarter system, making it complicated for students to transfer credits from out of state. One PSU senior studying Arts and Letters said, “I used to go to school in California. I like semesters. You get more time to process things. I’m very supportive of that idea.” The idea of converting Oregon public universities to a semester system was considered first by the Oregon State Board of Higher Education in 1972. But, according to the OUS Web site, in the 1980s the board changed its policy on criteria for a common academic calendar. The board stated that it would consider an institutional request for a different academic calendar if it were “cost-effective, pedagogically sound, and wouldn’t create transfer problems.” The OUS Web site lists arguments in favor of the semester system, including: - Improved quality of instruction by giving students longer exposure

In preparation for the upcoming commencement ceremony, which will take place on Sunday, June 13, Portland State’s Graduation Program Board is considering applicants for the ceremony’s student speakers. J.R. Tarabocchia, coordinator of commencement and student affairs outreach, said the board had received 28 applications by its deadline on Monday, April 12, “almost double from 2009.” According to Tarabocchia, the board usually selects two applicants. However, the number varies depending on the applicant pool. “[This year] we really want a story of PSU pride,” he said.

Before making a final decision at the end of April, Tarabocchia said the Graduation Program Board will select six or seven finalists to present their speeches before the board. Joan Jagodnik, assistant director of community college relations, said that once the board selects the student speakers, they are given practice sessions with teleprompters and coaching in order to prepare them for such an abnormally large venue. This year’s June commencement will take place in the Rose Garden Arena, a venue that holds approximately 20,000 people, according to Tarabocchia. In addition to reviewing applications for student speakers, the board is experimenting with new means to increase faculty participation. “[PSU has] like 800 full-time faculty and we have about 100 [or] 150 show up to commencement,” Tarabocchia said.

GRAD continued on page four

Liana Shewey/Portland State Vanguard

Roy Koch

to each subject; allowing time for reflection, to absorb new concepts and to learn facts and theories comprehensively. - Greater opportunities for collaborative research and for in-depth teaching and classroom projects. - Allowing underprepared students greater time to adjust to the rigors of university academic life. Weaker students have time to realize they have a problem midway through a course and enough time to work and improve their performance. - Student transfers and scholarly communications improved by bringing Oregon’s post-secondary institutions’ calendars into conformity with majority of other institutions in the U.S. Also, because most Oregon independent colleges are on a semester calendar, it would be easier for students to transfer to or take courses at those institutions. Longer terms allow faculty members to have more time for course prep between terms (a-week period) and for scholarship and research.

Administrative costs are reduced by the elimination of one whole registration, financial aid disbursement, examination, and grading cycle, allowing for possible reallocation of existing dollars. Arguments in favor of the quarter system include: - For some students, it may be easier to focus on a subject for a 10-week quarter than for a longer term. - More depth and breadth of majors due to larger variety of courses. - The later starting date in fall allows some students to keep working in agricultural and tourist jobs during September. The OUS is encouraging students, faculty, staff and administrators to evaluate the pros and cons of the respective systems and take a short survey on their Web site.

Pros and cons of semesters: http://www.ous.edu/state_board/ jointb/sem/res.php Take the survey: http://www. ous.edu/qapp/sb442surveys/

New pearly gates Adam Wickham/Portland State Vanguard

PSU grad students pitch proposal for gateway between downtown and Pearl Sharon Rhodes Vanguard staff

Eight Portland State graduate students spent their winter term designing a proposal for a new gateway between downtown Portland and the Pearl district. William Macht, a faculty member of the Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, said he advised the project as part of the 14th Development Planning Workshop. Macht has a J.D. and a background in property development. Atha Mansoory, Jared Hendricks, William Their, Brad Johnson, Ben Gates, Jon Winslow, Mike Shall and Tom Heinicke are the students involved with the project.

Gateway: Proposed site for project.

“I’m pursuing a graduate certificate in real estate development to learn development skills that will help me positively impact the built environment,” Gates said. Macht, who is also a commissioner for the Port of Hood River, said the Development Planning Workshop is an interdisciplinary course “focused on a specific new or adaptive reuse development project of regional significance.” According to Gates, the Development Planning Workshop also offers students an opportunity to work “on an ambitious and potentially real project.” “The workshop format is the kind of environment that stimulates professional development,” he said.

PEARL continued on page four


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