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lime pressures hurt exam scores "Tis the season to be jolly . . . Not for the average college student, for this is the time of the year when the pressure really mounts. Suddenly one realizes the due dates are approaching for presentations to be made and professors are rushing through material to fulfill class objectives. But the phenomena that causes students i i V-\ rvi /-* ?-* 4- n 1 n /vi it nV% r* rt V-% r* ^ PlM ol nVOtVir Mini uiciiiai anguiMi aic mc uicautu niiai tAaina. It's not the actual test that causes the student so much grief, but rather the emphasis many professors put on the value of the final exam that pushes many people to the brink of a nervous breakdown. USC students have one more factor working against them: the amount of time the university allots for student exam preparation. If the university is really concerned about the student's well-being, there are two paths they could take that would be of great assistance. One is to extend the reading period from one day to two or three days. Many notable institutions give students seven days for preparation. USC flatters its students by thinking they can prepare for exams in only one day. This is a serious misconception by the university, for most students need at least two days to adequately prepare for one exam, much less five or six. With one reading day, the student must either start preparing for his final before the semester is over, thus neglecting his regular classwork which is probably backed up anyway, or he attends to his classwork and spends insufficient time preparing for his final exam. Either way the student is being robbed of the opportunity to perform at his highest potential. Granted, the purpose of finals is to show the professor that the student understands the material covered that semester. One's inability to do so supposedly reflects that the student has not been keeping ur? with the course material throughout the semester. This is yet another false impression because in + too many cases the professor does not simply want the student to demonstrate his mastery of the semester's major points, but also often wants minute details or descriptions. USC promotes itself as an institution whose goals include providing the best possible education in an atmosphere conducive to learning. The university should back up this claim by allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge oi me material ? not tneir ability to handle stress and cram the most into the shortest time. To have an atmosphere truly conducive to learning, one must have adequate time to prepare for finals. 1983 ^^fo^?^?i*nlinil field N?wtpapfr Syndic<le *ViE KNOW THE ATTACK, WA6 PLANNED &Y OUTS\DE FORCED BECAUSE THERE AREN'T AKW IN9DE ftORCES IN LEB&NOM." kj yniiui M Float building 'er o the Editor: As an alumnus of USC, I would like o express my embarrassment at the -lomecoming float-building activities )ct. 28. I am embarrassed that although the )urpose of the evening was to finish :onstruction of the floats for the homecoming Parade, all but about 10 Dercent of the crowd stood around and irank beer. 1 am embarrassed the nusic was so loud it was heard down he street. I am embarrassed that the Grenadians nee Ho the Frlitor' In the ninth paragraph of Curtis Gads' engthy and contradictory letter, he states, lemocracy in Grenada is not the right or re; Jnited States..." This may be so, however, the next sent Visitor thanks To the Editor: I'd like to make this an open letter addresssed to all at USC: students, staff, faculty, as well as the people of Columbia. The weekend of Oct. 28 marked my first visit to South Carolina and USC ...:n ? i~~ i lie uiciuuiy win iaM a ivjii^ unis Gctmecoc h Editor in Chief Johnny Boggs Copv Desk Chief Curt Cottle Copy Editor News Editor Chris Handal Copy Editor. . Asst. News Editor David Hill Copy Editor. Opinion Page Editor . . Ellen McCarthy Copy Editor Ent. Editor Julie Jameson Copy Editor Asst. Ent. Editor Joan Kirchner Sports Editor Jeff Rogers General Managi assi. sports tditor. Andrew Miller Ad Manager. . Wire Editor Leslie Dunson Business Manai Photo Editor Mary Ann Hollis Production Mgr Asst. Photo Editor Joe Jackson Graduate Asst. Graphics Editor Beth Harrison Adviser Newsroom 777 7181 Advertising Business Office 777 3888 Production The Gamecock welcomes letters and guest editorial: editorials must be typewritten, triple spaced on a 65 spa Letters should be no longer than 300 words and guest e to one newsworthy subject no longer than four typed ( editorials MUST be signed with the writer's name, telepl dress, class standing or faculty position and major. Pseud but the writer's name may be withheld upon request if thi We reserve the right to edit guest editorials and letter: Address letters and columns to: Qoinion Pann Fditnr fin I Columbia, S.C. 29208. sr Cml NEVERGETTO \ - "THE MDON. WT HE6URE MESSING UPOORAPT. . s& == ^ /fuY ic<& 1 i AH Letter.S nbarrassment,' gi Cayce police had to be called to break up a drunken, bloody brawl. I I am embarrassed the warehouse . had to be evacuated at 3 a.m. because of the drunkeness and fighting that resulted. I am embarrassed at the stench and filth of puddles of beer, broken glass and empty beer cans that greeted the workers who returned to the warehouse Saturday morning. ^ I am embarrassed my alma mater t would allow such behavior to come I under the name of a university function. id democracy, s citizens of Grenada mu on's nauseatingly government that suits th , "Restoration of Unless someone restc sponsibility of the citizens ever decide anyl :ence reads, "The USC fnr 'warm From a personal meeting with USC 1 head football coach Joe Morrison, to v an unbelievable four-hour tailgate par- 8 ty, to non-stop craziness with the v wildest bunch of USC football alumni ' imaginable, it was red carpet all the way. j But the part that will stand out long after the other memories fade is the en r~??j Mark Armstrong ELECT Beverly Simmons Leigh Jones L/i 0 V ' Mark Former (0 WA > 3r Rbn Emler """ /gpk ...... Linda S. Haines fl ger .. . Carolyn Griffin Js Mark McEwan Wanda M. Hite Jm .... Mark Ethridge Jr. I 777 4249 I 777 2833 ^-O 5. All letters and guest ra celine. ditorials should be limited BBBBL lages. Letters and guest "" None number, mailing adII I * lonyms are unacceptable, 9 circumstances warrant. I NEVER THOU mecock, Drawer A, USC, TME NATIONAL ________ , FRDfA SPECIAL' % \ "& 1 A? mj ' S * # & # # ? HA V\J r? raduate says The men and women who attend icr ...211 ~r : ? Will UC 111C ICaUCl 3 *J1 11115 1 letL1U11 'he standards of conduct and ichavior they develop while in college /ill influence our society when they raduate. The university has a responsibility to iphold standards and policies that will nfluence these men and women to be esponsible citizens. I will be very em>arrassed if the administration allows he same conduct to rule next year's lomecoming activities. Laura Brodnicki Media Arts: class of 1980 tudent says ist decide for themselves the type of le needs of the country." >res democracy, how in the hell can hing for themselves? Edward Cottingham Law student welcome' husiasm, the courtesy, the warm velcome extended by everyone I met md talked with. USC Homecoming vas the epitome of "Southern losptality" at its finest. Thank you, South Carolina! I'm 3etter for having met you. Pat Lahti University of Maryland: class of 1980 /3v USA ~ ZWUv/hL 1983 Th? Odindo S*"!'"*1 Field *(?w?p?p?' Syndic ?t? KbHT HEt> KNUCKLE UKIPER. TD AS50CIAT04 FOR WDEPetfP0*I IWERE5T GROUPS!"