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Undeclared ma * may limit uppei By Rachel Watcrhottss , Upperclassmon may have a harder time as undeclared majors if a proposal for a new probation system passes the Faculty Senate in April. The wotv?i*ff ??rfit majors or start over at another school. "Undeclared majors are expected to qualify for their major by 45 credit hours (second semester of the sophomore year)," Lancaster said. "But many do so sooner." Many juniors and seniors are undeclared majors because they have been removed from their college for low grades, Lancaster said. ' [ CP : :vW:#M:-,::WWi^V:.:.;.MW?amount of time a student will be allowed 0 to declare a major, said Jim Lancaster, director of the Center for Undeclared Majors. An undeclared student is usually in the program three semesters, he said. Suspension is the only way a student now may be removed from the center. The proposed system has been under discussion for some time, Lancaster said, Tttie Faculty Senate Academic Forward Planning Committee approved the proposed probation system in /> *' v.-.v.'.vv.-.. - # iNovemoer, ana Lancaster said he hopes it wili be on the Faculty Senate agenda in April. The Center for Undeclared Majors is the largest "college" at USC, With %m undeclared students in February, the center is even larger than any of USC's regional campuses. MMany students keep hanging on " semester after semester, when in reality they will never graduate," Lancaster said. The center counsels these students and 49 (?:: ; encourages them to * Mtwr Commercial Plastic: & Supply Corp. ! 2348 Two Notch Road ' Columbia, SC 29204 (803) 254-0550 Plastics for all your School Projects acid Home Improvement Acrylic Rods, Tubes, D~ll~ CI v* DclllS, OIltttHS, eic... I Why Eat Junk Ft | Surf ir Tu ? Ribeye Steak wit] I Sauteed Shrimp I with Wild Rice, I Vegetable & Sala I only $4.S ! Dinner Served from 5 until I Closing Time <0 I Governor's Restaurant M 1901 Assembly St. S jor proposal rclassmen Often, their grades have never been high enough to be accepted by another college. Many students take courses required for a major they hope to declare, but low grades prevent them from declaring it, Lancaster said. "If they are disenroiled from undeclared majors, they are disenroiled from the university. "We are like the court of last resort, because there is nowhere else for them to go after they leave us." AHere are uiree categories of un- declared majors. The first and largest includes those students, usually freshmen and sophomores, who are undecided about their major. In February, 1,530 students were in tliis category. The sccond category is special students. This includes continuing education students, transient students from other schools and mature students. There were 591 special students enrolled in February. The general registration category includes students who have chosen a major but are academically ineligible. There were 741 of these students enrolled in February. "Our purpose is to advise freshmen to declare the right major for them and become successful in it,'' Lancaster said, Lancaster said 75 percent of college students nationwide chaise majors at least once. "This can result in a great deal of waste. Students can lose a substantial amount of credits and delay graduation by years." Lancaster said there is an advantage in being undeclared. An undeclared major can take courses in many fields and decide which he likes best and will do well in. Then he can declare a major. EE^jj * DIRECT FROM I * PAPA JOE* $ AND SUI ? i J W? now d?iiv?r to # ^ campus aroa, Browta J LOCATtD IN < J H-WAY 371 WIST O ,. iod? I 1175 I Seamc jj Tmntport Cori I internatior Forwai . I Customhou d I I ATA A 19 I 24 Vendue Rar I Charleston io pm Phone 803 ^ Andrew B. I District Mai ffiflSI SPECIALIZE *1*^ AND PERSON Group links stude By Rachel Waferhouse While students provide most of USC's campus life, alumni play an important role off campus, and the Student Alumni Association provides a link between the two, said the SAA president. Founded in 1978, SAA is a liaison between students and alumni, said SAA President Dean Livingston. "We let the alumni know what the students are doing and vice versa." This communication is accomplished through the 15-phone Telecenter provided by SAA. Each member is required to call alumni and give a report on USC. THE 77-MEMBER student association is sponsored and funded by the larger Alumni Association, which has more than 19,000 members. "Our sole purpose is to work with the Alumni Association to enrich studentalumni relations," Livingston said. SAA sponsors and participates in many programs and activities, and l-ivina?itnn said the organization's strong point is working with special priority high school acceptances. "I think working with high school seniors is very important," SAA member Lori Clos said. "They want to know more about what to expect rather than what the brochure says." SAA CONTACTS high school seniors who have been accepted early and answers their questions about USC. "This lets them know we care and hope they will come to the university in the fall," Livingston said. SAA sponsors Carolina Scholars Day, on which potential high school senior scholars and their parents tour the university. This Vear about. 2ftftspninrc rmrfini v ~ w |^V?A V1V1[/UWU. SAA is also host for various Homecoming events, such as the tea dance, the Gamecock orchestra ball, various reunions and the iipi mm mm iEW YORK! J s PIZZA i I 3 DELI * e downtown and USC J H -Mgr 921 k?or, and Park Ptaza. J "Our small R is as large m. m a as their large." ^ ^ /VI/3 ! h I I -OMN- J g|^ MON.-THUR. * UM 12'10 * H FRI. 8. SAT. if 12-12 * gj AISO I TAKE OUT SERVICE * PH. 796-7322 J M lAPITOi SOU AM J 8 t ILUMBIA (|.| ON MAP) X -aa 1.-1?A ? knHim fSSS^ (f BE IN TH BL I I FOREFRC i techno! ^a' i as a aoratlon | scientif iai Freight I enginee ders | j N Our scient se Brokers I nin? and, . I systems tod C)6ntS I and concept* I I state-of-the theories. 1 ii ige, Suite 107 I ducive to re? am 's second tc , SC 29401 dynamic tea gineering de< Training Sch 577 3742 we help yo engineering your Air For sogers lager ? | IC IN CARS vy AL EFFECTS V?? rots, alumni alumni breakfast before the Hnmprnminu game. "WE WORK the entire weekend, about 72 hours," Livingston said. "We work hard, but we also have fun and enjoy it." "Each class reunion is different. They have a lot of fun, and we have a great time working with them," Clos said. SAA distributes "Good Stuff" boxes, which include promotional gifts from various companies, and phone-number posters to welcome students back in the fall. SAA distributes "Nutshell" and "America" magazines on campus annually. These national magazines are studentrelated publications with campus-oriented stories. THE POSTER/BANNER contest is sponsored by SAA and funded through the Athlptif llonartmont Tt if o . a??M%>va%> Vll 1VIIV t It lO a V/UllllIlUIU^ contest for home football games and several basketball games. The contest is open to all campus organizations, and a prize is given to the winner and runner-up. "This gives organizations a chance to work together. I think they really get into it, thinking up slogans and all," Clos said. The SAA executive council will travel to Tampa, Fla. in April to represent USC at the Southeastern Alumni Conference. They will give a presentation of how SAA works, usine audio-visual aids, Livingston said. "This will be a learning experience for us and a chance to share our ideas with other associations," he said. EACH SPRING SAA joins USC President James Holderman as host of a reception for graduating seniors. SAA is nationally recognized, but each chapter is individually run. "It is an organization of student leaders from all facets of the Carolina community See "SAA," page 4 i ARCADE ) Main St. 254-4131 iRCH SPECIAL | Tuesdays j| m DiTrucoc ? EL/ ST S B s???- E~~B I | $1.75 | I \s Always No Cover! _ lesigning tomorrow's weapon ay. Many are seeing their ideas j ; materialize. They hfive the finest, art equipment to test their e working environment is con;earch. And Air Force experience > none. You can be part of this m if you have a scientific or enjree. Your first step will be Officer 100I. Help us shape our future as u start yours. Be a scientificofficer in the Air Force. Contact ce recruiter at BEN HAYDEN uw v>uiuniuia /ivi:. Lexington, SC 29072 A of eat way o< life.