Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Wh.ate BY BRENDA EASTERLING Of The Gamecock staff Contrary to popular belief, Contemporary University , a program designed for the energetic student who wishes to get away from traditional courses, is alive and active. It has never been phased out at USC nor are there plans to do away with it. Contemporary University (C.U.) is. however, undergoing a period of transition. The name is being changed to Interdisciplinary In (ependent Study, a more (escriptive title of the program. 'he basic program will remain about the same with the exclusion of seminars and the addition of a 399 honors section. Also, ac ceptance into it has changed. Assistant Dean for special programs, Phyllis Fleishel is director of Interdisciplinary In dependent Study (I.S.). She was appointed last year by the late Vice President of Instruction Dr. Research N But Increa, BY MARION ELLIOTT News Editor No drastic cutbacks are ex pected in the amount of research carried on by USC's various research centers despite an nounced curtailment of University funds for such research, according to directors of the research in stitutes. - The Administration announced last week that University funds for research would be curtailed. Bernard Daetwyler, vice president of finance, said research institutes will not receive requested in creases for the coming year. Several institute directors in terviewed this week said their projects are heavily financed by grants outside the University. As such they do not expect any sub stantial decreases in the quantity or quality of research for their institutes. The Bureau of Business and Economic Research should be able to maintain the same level of research as in the past, according to Director Olin Pugh. "We have experienced some curtailment in our operating budget," Pugh said, "and it will affect travel, supplies and equipment." The Bureau won't be able to start any new programs, however the level of professional service offered to the community should not be affected, Pugh said. "State appropriations along with various grants help fund us," Pugh said, adding "I have no particular gripes with the University - concerning its actions. We're just sorry we couldn't do better." Tlhe University funds for the - Soc'ial Problemns Rlesearch In stitute are being cut abo)ut $10,000) according to Director Robert lI hckel. ''Curtailment will not affect us a lot since only about tWenfty per cent of noar fiEndS cOmn( I ONTEMP ver happeneI John Welch to begin revamping the program. When the Center for Cultural Development was disbanded last fall, C.U. was left hanging without a department to fall under. Dr. Jim Myers' term as director had ended July 1 but the program continued to function under its assistant director, Jerrie Bilsky. In November the program was placed under the division of in struction and moved into Dean Fleishel's office. The first director of C.U. was Dr. David Stenmark. Other directors were Dr. William Cauldwell, Dr. Richard Casshau and Dr. James Myers. All of these people were appointed by the administration as part-time directors. Vice President of Instruction, Dr. William Wesson said new directors were appointed each year in the original program. The reason for this turnover may have been the absence of permanency for C.U. at that time. Now both the ot Cut, ses Denied from the University," Heckel said. The institute's travel budget is' what will be affected the most, according to Heckel. "If this is our most lenient year, then we're in good shape," he said. The curtailment will cause primarily a personnel problem for the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, according to Director Robert Stephenson. Some staff positions that could be used will not be filled, Stephenson said. "We're getting nothing new we have asked for. Supplies will be cut some. We've been trying to operate in the most economical way possible and now we're going to have to do even better." Personnel problems will also be the major effect of the ad ministration's actions on the Bureau of Governmental Research, according to Director A Robert Stoudemire. "We won't be.3 able to fill certain vacancies," he .3 said. "We're not getting any major .3 increases and I will have to cut .3 down in various departments to .3 help those departments that .3 urgently need help," Stoudemire .3 said. "I can't really complain. .3 Outside help from grants and so .3 forth help us a lot." .3 The Traffic and Transportation Center is taking abouta 25per cent cut in funds, Director Robert .3 Roberts said. "We have not used .3 all of our allotted budget but only .3 about 60 per cent of it prior to this .3 year," Roberts said. "Most of our . research has been funded by . outside sources." . The Institute of International . Studies will experience some cuts n travel and supplies, accordi ng to Director Richard Walker. L ess' han 20 per cent of the Institute's unds comes from the University, Walker said. "We have had ninimal University funds and I Ion 't think the curtailment will ~ave mluc'h effect on ius." he said. ORARY U to C.U.? It program and Ahe position of director have been adopted by the administration. C.U. was originally set up at USC under the Jones administration in 1970 in conjunction with other colleges. It was instigated in the fall and was the only program of its kind to survive. The Dean of Arts and Sciences, Bruce Nelson, and several interested students nur tured the program. Some faculty members involved in the program at that time were Dr. Dick Rempel. Dr. Robert Heckel, and Dr. Don Weatherbee. In 1970 students enthusiastically grabbed up seminars which were required for C.U. credit. As the student population changed, however, the seminars became ill attended. Eventually it became difficult for students to obtain a meaningful experience from their C.U. projects. Therefore, stan dards for participation in C.U. were raised to help insure that students can undertake in dependent study successfully. By CHARLIE L _LON Di CALOU COUM' FRi CLAS0 NIVERSIT s got a new changing the name to In terdisciplinary Independent Study, the administration feels it can reestablish credibility of the program with both faculty menibers and students. When C.U. moved from Lieber College to the Humanities Office Building, many persons thought it had moved out of existence. There was no publicity and the number of participants in the program decreased. The program seemed to have been done away with all but legally. During this quiet time, the program was undergoing a facelifting. Dean Fleishel said they were holding back on publicity until the 399 honors section was approved. The ap proval did not come, however, until this past spring semester. Also, there was a question of clarification on how new publicity posters should read. Dean Fleishel directs a mature students program and a self-study seminar program in addition to Interdisciplinary Independent SIC COU1T MUSIC n the grand ole op DOUVIN ZO A ND OSU SHOT 9NNA DARLA TWINS FOWNSHIP AU DAY, JUNE 27 Tickets $500 BEER SERVED t******* ********* y name! Study. Her time is spent where it is most needed. Concerning I.S. she said, "It is a great experience for those students who are self disciplined enough and interested in their projects. It is easy to be interested for a month, but a student must maintain interest for a semester. If a project is rich enough, it will sustain involvement over a semester's time. This is why we must be careful on the selection process. It i. very disheartening for a student to attempt 15 hours of credit only to find out in the middle of the semester he is no longer interested in the project or can't complete it or he is more at home in a traditional classroom." Interdisciplinary Independent Study is a way for students to express themselves outside of class under the direction of faculty members for one semester. The project does not have to be in the student's chosen field, but must be approved by faculty advisors. [TRY JACKSON E'NE DITORIUM* th*