Students React
To Proposed
Schedule Change
—page 7
Abolishment of Convocation Draws Mixed Reactions
By TINA WELSH
Loyolan Editor-In-Chief
®he Tuesday-Thursday ll-12noon
convocation period traditionally
provides a multi-pupose break for
members of the LMU community. It af¬
fords diverse groups (service organiza¬
tions, clubs, faculty) the occasion to con¬
verge for meetings. It offers a definite
time for some people to plan on a late
breakfast or early lunch. Or perhaps its
most utilized function is that of a brief
respite, a timely recess in the midst of a
hectic academic schedule.
But next semester will witness the aboli¬
tion of this customary convocation — at
least on a one-year, experimental basis.
The Fall 1985 scholastic schedule will
feature classes offered at 11:00 on
Tuesdays and Thursdays. This will push
the afternoon classes back fifteen
minutes; thus, 11:00 classes will conclude
at 12:15, the next class will begin at 12:25
and end to 1 :40, the one following this will
start at 1:50 and let out at 3:05, and the
3:15 class will run through 4:30.
Late last week, in an interview with The
Loyolan , Academic Vice President Albert
P. Koppes — who, although it has been
talked about for years, is “willing to take
most of the blame” for the addition of an
11:00 class — discussed the positive
ramifications that will come from the
omission of the Tuesday-Thursday pre¬
afternoon break.
“We have 14 potential slots for class
times,” Koppes explained. “But when
you block out a chunk of time in the mid¬
dle of the day, you lose that one-
fourteenth. Currently, we have eight
classes on Monday, Wednesday, Friday,
and five on Tuesday and Thursday. With
the 1 1:00 break, we’re missing the oppor¬
tunity for six class periods.”
In addition, the extra class time will
provide the Registrar with greater flex¬
ibility for:
— re-scheduling of both large and small
classes;
— adding or splitting of classes;
— separating classes into discussion
groups, etc.;
— scheduling of Continuing Education
courses;
•— scheduling of non-academic activities.
Koppes added that he feels 11:00 is a
“prime time for learning,” noting that on
Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 94 per¬
cent of the classrooms on campus are
utilized, with seven of the ten buildings,
employing 100 percent of the available
classrooms.
“The 1 1 :00 convocation time for facul¬
ty has — generally — been used minimal¬
ly,” Koppes stated. “As for how well the
students utilize the time, I couldn’t say,
but it won’t hurt the faculty to abolish the
11-12 period.
“Even when professors do hold
meetings during convocation, it doesn’t
provide much time. People drift in a little
after 1 1 and start to clear out at about ten
minutes to 12. That’s not even a full
hour.”
Although a 3: 15 class is listed as part of
the new schedule, Koppes would eventual¬
ly like to see that 3:15-4:25 period as the
new convocation. “It would be better for
meetings. Groups could meet for longer
periods of time and it wouldn’t disrupt the
academic flow of the day. Meetings could
last longer than 4:25, because no one
would have to clear out for the next
class.”
Despite what Koppes saw as the advan¬
tages to omitting the 11-12 break, many
students reacted negatively. Pat Hoed, a
junior Independent Studies major,
remarked, “It’s bad news. I like having a
little break in the day. It’s also the only
time concerts can play on campus and just
about anyone can go see them. Now, we
won’t be able to do that anymore. That’s
my beef.’?
Another student said, “I don’t like it at
all. The convocation is the one,
guaranteed free time for all students. It
provides a chance to re-group. 3:00 is too
late for that. The
1Ы2
break is perfect ~
a period of rejuvenation. An LMU school
day just won’t be the same without it.”
Among the faculty, Dr. Richard
Kocher, chairman of the English Depart¬
ment, did acknowledge the “need” for
more classrooms, but he also regretted the
loss of the 11:00 convocation period.
“We’re losing a perfect meeting time,” he
said. “Even if the convocation is eventual¬
ly changed to 3:15, that’s still too late.
People will go home. Cutting out the
11:00 break will minimize interaction on
this campus.”
On the other hand, Dr. John Wholihan,
Dean of the College of Business Ad¬
ministration, was completely in favor of
the change. “We’re adding good, educa¬
tional time, and that is our primary mis¬
sion,” he said. “The advantages outweigh
the disadvantages.”
Despite the negative response among
some students, Koppes claimed he spoke
with “many undergrads” who reacted
favorably to the 11:00 class addition.
“We should allow time for extracur¬
ricular meetings and events,” Koppesr
said. “But our first priority is, and should
be, academics.” ■
Construction Worsens On Campus Parking Situation
By JACK SNEDAKER
Loyolan News Writer
One of the most persistent problems
here at LMU over the past couple
of years revolves around the parking
situation, and this year is certainly no
exception.
О
jafe has but to walk around
the school and talk to its students to
realize that people are upset over the
trials and tribulations of parking on
campus.
This semester has brought with it a
new development which threatens to add
| fuel to the fire. Most commuters are
probably aware that a good portion of
the existing parking areas behind Pereira
Hall have been eliminated. A total of 22
parking spaces are no longer available to
students because the area has been
assimilated into the territory of Physical
Plant.
Harry Hueston, director of Campus
Public Safety, reports that the former
parking area is now being used by
Physical Plant for its much-needed new
storage warehouse. And, because of the
contents of the warehouse, a chain-link
fence was erected as a standard security
precaution, thereby fencing off the
parking spaces from student use.
This presents a new problem. Since
the lost parking spaces afforded greater
proximity to the classrooms, they were
popular with students. Now it seems as
if 22 more students per day will have to
park as far away as the Hannon lot (if
they want to park legally). This fact
could very well lead to further illegal
parking, since students, obviously, want
to park as close to th^ir classes as possi¬
ble.
Loyolan photo by Luis Mesa
Hannon Parking Lot is generally filled to capacity by 10:00am every day . Public
Safety Director Harry Hueston hopes to open up more parking spots soon .
Hueston, perhaps foreseeing pro¬
blems of this nature, is already propos¬
ing possible solutions. He is currently a
member of the newly formed Campus
Facilities and Environmental Commit¬
tee, which must deal with problems that
apse concerning campus parking.
Although the committee has not yet met
(his semester, Hueston plans to make
certain proposals which should help to
alleviate the problem of the lost spaces
behind Pereira.
One of his proposals is to open up to
student parking the road between
McKay Hall and the new Fritz Burns
Fine Arts complex. Up until now, it was
thought that the road was too narrow to
accommodate parking while avoiding
the violation of fire laws. However, a re¬
cent inspection by county fire officials
has put these fears to rest by declaring
that the road can be opened to parking.
Another of Hueston’s proposals is to
possibly open up 40 parking spaces to
students in the lot adjacent to the Alum¬
ni Gym. However, these and other ideas
are still in the formative stages, and will
have to go through a long process of
committee meetings before they are ac¬
tually put into action.
Until then, Hueston is tightening the
security procedures around campus in
order to decrease the amount of illegal
parking. The policy of towing vehicles
without parking decals that have three
or more unpaid citations is being strictly
enforced on a daily basis. Hueston
points out that a “hot sheet” is being us¬
ed to monitor those vehicles without
parking decals that are issued citations.
This “hot sheet” lists the make of the
car, the licence number, and the number
of past citations the vehicle has been
issued. When the third unpaid ticket is
accumulated, the vehicle is towed. It is
strict procedures such as these that have
led to the recent sale of approximately
4000 parking decals, the most in LMU
history.
Hueston admits that the campus park¬
ing rules and regulations need to be
publicized more effectively than they are
presently. He wants to emphasize the
fact that there is an appeals process any
time a student is issued a citation.
The student can first appeal directly to
the officer who issued the citation. If
this is unsuccessful, the next step is to
present a written appeal to the ASLMU
Traffic Commission, comprised of
members of the Student Senate.
'Hueston stresses the fact that this is a
fair and effective process which should
be utilized by all students, especially
those who would ordinarily disregard a
parking citation.
As far as the future of the parking
situation is concerned, Hueston ad¬
vocates an emphasis on “re-defining the
existing areas and making them work
better” as opposed to looking to areas
outside of campus for new parking
facilities. ■
