Page 68-Thursday, September 7, 1978-The Michigan Daily
ACADEMIC PRESSURE OFTEN OVERWHELMING
When the going gets tough
By RENE BECKER
The pressure to succeed at this
University, which all students must en-
dure, is real. But first-year students
tend to suffer from a distinct brand of
pressure which stems from fear of the
unknown, exaggerated tales of "cut-
throat competition" and an unrealistic
view of their limitations and goals.f
. . /
This is usually the situation: the first-
year student was an A student in high
school and enters the University with
the intention of attending law, medical
or business school. But the student has
heard tales of heated competition, the
sordid details of what it takes to survive
at the University and the number of
students who don't make it.
BY THE TIME the first-year student
arrives in Ann Arbor he already has a
load on his mind. First, the new student
isn't sure of his or her ability. They
knew they were sharper than most in
high school, but everyone at the
University was pretty sharp in high
school.
Second, they have heard a lot of
horror stories about the tough.
academic life at the Big 'U' and will
probably continue to hear them. To add
insult upon injury, the student receives
a distinct message from home: We're
making a big investment in you - do
well.
Finally, the student has a precon-
ceived idea of the kind of grades needed
to even think about applying to a good
law or medical school. By the time
classes begin, students are lost in what
could easily become an explosive
situation.
THIS IS THE basic picture most
counselors paint of the average first-
year student. And when asked what ad-
vice they would give these students, the
same counselors, along with professors
and other students say the same thing
- take it easy.
Terry Brown, a University counselor
and resident hall coordinator, says
freshpersons must be realistic in their
expectations. "Everyone's not going to
end up with a 4.0," says Brown, who
suggests students take it easy their first
year and "put their best foot forward."
Michigan Union Counseling Service
staffer Alice Brunner says it is most
important that students learn to use
their time effectively, which means
learn when you study best and for how
long.
"IT'S HELPFUL just to start talking
about pressure," adds Brunner.
According to Brunner, academic
pressure has a snowballing effect, She
says when the pressure starts affecting
your ability to function or your health,
come in for help. "Why wait until
you're overwhelmed," she says.
Clifford Sjogren, the University's top
Admissions Officer, says that. in their
first semester "a lot of students
question their decision to come here."
But if they can "hang in there" that fir-
st year, they usually go all four. The
fact is that less than five percent of the
University's first-year students are
"asked to leave."
But no matter how many all-nighters
students log or how many.Friday nights
are spent in the UGLI, there always
seems to be those students who-never
seem to study and still maintain an A or
B average. Most likely, they feel just
enough pressure to keep them on their
guard, but not so much that they can-
not work effectively - a delicate, yet
crucial balance to attain.
crucial balance to attain.
Sta yin
I
alive
0 . .
Life at the top,
Fleming guides
Doily Photo by PETER SERLING
he compulsion to succeed academically often leads students to late night
ramming sessions.
U of M Freshman Survey
1. School should be:
A. Q CHALLENGING
B. Q INTERESTING
C. Q ENJOYABLE
D. Q MEMORABLE
LAMBDA CHI ALPHA
FRATERNITY
"FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE"
1601 WASHTENAW
761-2373
(Continued from Page 7)
The closest Fleming comes to per-
forming publicly on a regular basis
(aside from his annual state of the
University speech in the fall) is during
the monthly Regents meetings. He
presides over the n'ieetings with the
utmost efficiency. In fact, he brings an
egg timer which sounds out a solid
ringing at the end of a public speaker's
alloted five minutes.
Fleming often appears unsure of the.
details of the programs his ad-
ministration presents to the Regents,
but it is clear that he closely monitors
all requests which come to the eight
elected officials.
FLEMING TYPICALLY begins his
day with a short walk to the Ad-
ministration Building from his South
University home, sometime before
9 a.n.' He says his job consists of
"seeing people, really all day long" in
his spacious, corner office. But despite
his lengthy list of daily appointments,
Fleming claims, "Any student who
really wants to see me can see me."
And since the president represents
the University, Fleming spends a great
deal of his time in Chicago, New York,
Washington or elsewhere working with
national education associations, fund
raising programs and government
agencies. It is not uncommon for
Fleming to travel to Chicago or New
York, complete his business, and return
to Ann Arbor between lunch and dinner.
AND NOT UNLIKE orientation
leaders or anxious parents, the Univer-
sity president also has his share of ad-
vice for incoming students.
"Don't be intimidated by the Univer-
sity's side," Fleming offers. "Remem-
ber, that in a big university you
shouldn't really expect to know
everybody and the important thing is
that you find yourself affiliated with
some group that interests you."
Over the years, Fleming has not.
cloistered himself in the Ad-
ministration Building and has compiled
his own observations on first-year
students.
"YOU FIND THAT suddenly you're
on your own," says Fleming of Univer-
sity newcomers. "You'll find lots of
alluring things to do." And although he
stresses students need a "number of
time-wasting things to do" he is quick to
add, "there also have to be some
productive things."
Of course, they are all well-worn
ideas, but Fleming is often able to raise
his suggestions somewhere above the
level of the platitude.
Surviving academically at the
University can often become a
battle of wits between students,
faculty and adminstrators. As
time goes by, however, most
students discover certain tricks
of the trade which make life
easier as they wade through
courses, finals and the University
bureacuracy. The important
thing to remember is that you're
paying a lot of money to be here
and, like any other consumer,
have every right to get the most
out of your education as you can.
So don't be afraid to ask for extra
help or take some unconvential
routes along the road to your
degree. Here are some hints in
the meantime which most
students discover after a few
months at the University:
SKIPPING
After the first week or so you'll
probably be able to tell which
classes you can skip and which
ones you can't. It's always better
to go, but if you have other
priorities like finishing a paper
that's due an hour later, it would
probably be to your advantage to
cut class. Lectures are usually
OK to miss especially if you know
someone who's reliable in the
class who will take notes for you.
It's riot such a good idea to miss
recitations and seminars since
these classes are usually a lot
smaller and the instructor is
likely to notice your absence and
take it to heart. Besides it's dif-
ficult to learn anything from
group discussion if you're not
there.
PAPERS
Find someone who has taken
the same course from your
professor to find out how many
pages he means by "a short
paper" and how many sources he
would like you to use. It's almost
always possible to turn in a late
paper, but it's a fgood idea to
check with the professor first.
PROFESSORS
Get to know your professors
and teaching fellows. They may
seem like aloof creatures when
you look at them from the back of
a huge lecture hall, but up close
they are actually quite human.
Soon you'll discover they don't
like peering over a sea of
nameless faces and would like to
now what's on your mind.
INCOMPLETES
Incompletes are perhaps the
best lifesaver the University of-
fers students who absolutely
can't finish a course on time.
You'll need a very, very good ex-
cuse but your professor will
usually agree that the extra time
you spend on that term paper or
project could teach you a lot. And
after all, that's why you're here.
after all, that's why you're here.
Regents hold the final authority
A Public Service of This Newspaper & The Advertising Council
Lie down and be countd
(Atn
(Continued from Page 7)
church groups, PTA, NAACP, ACLU
and so on. Like any collection of
politicians these days, they are
Democrats-six moderate Democrats
and two fairly moderate Republicans.
Even though there is time enough
during the public meetings for
discussion, occasional announcements
to the University community,
statements of "principle" and jovial
chit-chat, the monthly gatherings are
apparently only part of their com-
munication. The Ann Arbor News filed
suit a year ago as a result of a closed
meeting held in June, 1977, claiming it
should have been open under provisions
of the Michigan Open Meeting Act. Cir-
cuit Court is currently deciding which
meetings can be held privately without
violating the law. The Regents claim
that salaries and promotions of em-
ployees should not be discussed in
public.
The Regents, however, do discuss
money and control of the University in
public. They talk about inflation as
though it were about to stalk into their
meeting with a machine gun. They
bridle at any sign of outside interven-
tion, whether it's the preservation of
campus buildings by the National Park
Service or the strengthening of affir-
mative action by HEW, fearing it may
diminish their ability to guard Univer-
sity finances and autonomy.
DURING THE LAST year the rare
dissenting vote has come from Baker,
who is the president of his own con-
struction and real estate firm. Baker is
quick to speak his mind and is prone to
making general statements which are
usually conservative and always
frugal.
Regent Thomas Roach (D-Detroit)
was elected two years after Baker, in
1974. Roach, a lawyer, seems to arrive
at the meetings best prepared to
discuss the details of administration
requests. He often manages a com-
promise or convinces the group to take
a particular action.
Local Sarah Power, daughter-in-law
of a former Regent, speaks infrequently,
but with force. She has been on the
board since 1974, and seems quite
familiar with the" University and its
personnel. Despite a - progressive
reputation, she blasted an agreement
with HEW to improve affirmative ac-
tion, calling it an intrusion into Univer-
sity affairs, and supported a unanimous
decision to leave much of the Univer-
sity's investment pool in corporations
. doing business in South Africa.
GERALD DUNN (D-Livonia) and
Robert Nederlander (D-Detroit) both
made their first appearance in the
Regents Room as the newly-appointed
President Fleming came to Ann Arbor
in 1968. Fleming often consults with
these two when reporting a precedent
established by a past action. Nederlan-
der frequently joins Roach in
deciphering agenda items.
James Waters (D-Muskegon), the
only black Regent, has a University law
degree and joined the Regents in 1970.
He seldom speaks and votes with the
majority.
David Laro (R-Flint) was appointed
to the board by Gov. William Milliken in
June, 1975. The 36-year-old corporate.
tax lawyer is more soft-spoken than his
partisan colleague Baker, and is also
more likely to stay with the majority, or
administration opinion.
PAUL BROWN, whose term of office
expires this year, is a Democratic at-
torney from Petoskey. He received a
University law degree in 1961.
The differences between Regents
don't always appear during routine, of-
ten tedious, debate over issues presen-
ted by the administration. Fundamen-
tal distinctions, however, occasionally
surface.
During a presentation on- research
this year, Regent Baker stressed that
incentives for research are "a tremen-
dously high priority" for the Univer-,
sity.
A FEW MINUTES later though,
Regent Brown said, "By far the most
important thing is just how good the
teacher is . . . nine out of ten citizens
would put ability to teach at the top of
the priorities."
General differences of opinion like
this one can 'split the group over
questions ranging from tenure awards
to the allocation of state funds. And
although the Regents usually vote as a
block, conflicting opinions sometimes
play a key' role in working ,out com-
promises with the administration.
In 1975, and again this April, the
Regents rejected the possibility of a
nonvoting student on the board.
Only three of the Regents aren't
lawyers and their work is primarily
procedural, the final check on ad-
ministrative plans before they turn into
directives.
President Jimmy Carter signed up 51 times.
directives.
In America, 3% of the people give 100% of all the
blood that's freely donated.
Which means that if only 1 % more people-
maybe you-became donors, it would add
over thirty percent more blood to America's
voluntary bloodstream. Think of it!
But forget arithmetic. Just concentrate
on one word.
The word is Easy.
Giving blood is easy. You hardly feel it (in fact,
some people say they feel better physically after
a blood donation).
And, of course, everybody feels better emotional/v.
A JEWISH EXPERIENCE ...
Phone 99-LEARN
OR
763-6808
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN
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