The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 14, 1983, Page 6, Image 6
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!"