Friday,March18,1994 Vol.XL,No.19 CabriniCollege .,.,_Radnor, Pa. 19087 -~::::
~eachers attempt to make the grade
Lax swapssticksfor shovels
Tenure reviewed by Catherine Smotherman assistant news editor
The Cabrini board of trustees requested, in a Dec. 13, 1993 memo, that the faculty review the tenure system. Specifically, the memo said the faculty is to develop "policy and procedures for a formative, post-tenure evaluation system," examine the current system of annual evaluation oftenure-trackfaculty and "develop two proposals containing alternatives to the traditional tenure procedures." "Formative" means the purpose of the post-tenure evaluation is to facilitate faculty development, rather than to judge faculty performance for personnel reasons. Some faculty members said the board's request suggests there is a problem with the current tenure system. "Ithink it's reasonable to examine tenure if somebody can suggest why we would want to do that," Gerald Satlow, the tenured chair of computer information science, said. There is an implication that the board thinks something is wrong, he
said. "lithe board has concerns about how we're functioning, then share those concerns," Sallow said. Several other faculty had the same reaction. Most board members were unwilling to comment on the review request. One, who is not on the academic affairs committee, said it might be related to the fact that Cabrini has a higher percentage of tenured faculty than most schools. Currently, 75.6 percent of Cabrini's 41 full-time faculty have tenure, according to the Cabrini College Fact Book. Thiscomparestoanaverage of 53.8 percent at private fouryearcollegesacross the United States for the 1991-92 academic year, according to the Digest of Education Statistics for 1993. Dr. Donald Tomasello, chair of the board's academic affairs committee, would not say exactly what motivated the board's request. However, he did say, "Logic would tell you the review was begun because there is a perception that there may be a problem. We don't know yet.
The answer's not in. The request should be taken in a positive sense. This is a very common occurrence around the country today." Tomasello is right about this being a common occurrence. In 1982, the National Commission on Higher Education Issues said post-tenure evaluation of faculty was a pressing issue. Numerous schools have made changes to their tenure system. A high percentage of tenured faculty is not a problem in itself. Asked if the current system works well when a faculty member's performance is unsatisfactory, Provost and Academic Dean Thomas Boeke said, "Tenure is a property right. It's like owning a house: I own it, you can't take it away from me, except for cause." Tenure protects academic freedom, according to John Heiberger, tenured assistant professor of business administration and president of the faculty senate. "Academic freedom does not guarantee lifetime employment.
see more TENURE pg. 8
photo by Enc Barboscia
Sophomore Nate Carter, co-captian of the lacrosse team attempts to clear the snow off the field. The team has been shoveling during practice hoping that sometime soon they will be able to practice outdoors.
Bookstorepricesempty buyers'pockets by Brian Siatkowski assistant sports editor
photo by Kelly McDonald
Manager George Kobeissi takes the price tags off the textbooks before they are sent back to the publisher.
At the beginning of each semester, students complain about how much textbooks cost and cringe every time the register rings up a total. Prices of textbooks are non-negotiable, though, and the need for them is essential. The bookstore also contains clothing, cards and toiletries for the convenience of the students. But when can you get in? Junior Bryan Bell said, "It needs to be open more for the students." The Cabrini College bookstore's hours vary almost daily. Monday and Thursday, the store is open from 9-5. The hours on Tuesday and Wednesday are 9-6 and Friday from 9-2. But, on the weekends the bookstore is dark and vacant. Cabrini's bookstore is owned by thefollettcompany,acompanybased in Elm Hurst, Ill. The Follett company also owns other local college bookstores in the area including those at Rosemont College, Eastern College, St. Joseph's University, Beaver College and Gwynedd-Mercy. Last April, George Kobeissi was
hired as the new manager of Cabrini's bookstore. Kobeissisaid the hours are determined by the company and add up to a 40-hour week. Kobeissi also said, "When there are events held on the weekend at the college, the bookstore is open for the publicity and the business." Cornparedwithotherlocalbookstores, Cabrini did not fair well. Eastern College's bookstore is open Monday and Friday also for a total of 43 hours a week, and Villanova University's bookstore is open seven days a week, for a cumulative total of 531/2 hours. Caroline Smith, a junior, said, "The hours should be extended. It is an inconvenience to the students." First-year student Crystal Valentine said, "The amount of money you pay for books is ridiculous, and then when you go to sell them back, you get nothing." Most students return their books to the bookstore to receive some kind of cashforthenextsemesterand, usually, receive less than 20 percent of the original price. Charles Berry, assistant manager
Inside ... Week at a Glance ... DA&E pgs.6 & 7 Tum to A & E for a history of film and what Dr. Young says about the Oscars
Inside ...
□SPORTS
pg.12
How the winter storms have affected spring sports.
FRIQAY
SATURDAY SUNDAY
05 p.m. St. Patrick's Day social. WCGA
01 p.m. Threeon-three basketball tourney-gym
O9p.m. Comedian Mike SullivanIrwin. WCGA
07p.m.Sumo Wrestling/Human Bowling and Celebrity Auction. WCGA
of Cabrini'sbookstore,said thecompanyprovidesachartincludingthewholesale price from the distributor and price to sell the book for. "We buy books directly from the publisher," Berry said. "The books that come in with a pre-priced amount on them sell for the same price." Vincent Perkin, a clerk at Villanova's bookstore, said, "A lot ofstudentsthinkthatuniversitiesjack up prices, but there is no sales tax like Barnes & Noble, so usually it comes out to about the same." Perkins also said that there is usually a 20-25 percent price increase in the books when the bookstore sells the books to the students. The FollettCompany was notavailablefor comment when an inquiry was made about the price increases. Laurel Mallon, a manager of RosemontUniversity'sbookstore,said, "Mark-ups usually depend on the contracts,usuallythe minimalis20percent, and the maximum is about 40percent." Mallonalsoadded,"Studentsdogetvery upset about it, but publishers set price. Studentsdon'trealizetheexpensivecost in shipping the books."
March 18 to 24
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAYTHURSDAY O3p.m. "Haunted by God," the life of co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement. Red Cloud
011:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Spring makeovers. WCGA
09:45 p.m. Hypnosis Show (rescheduled). WCLH