L ursday,' September 4, 1975,

THE MICHIGAN DAILY

Page Seven

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THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Seven


Course Mart offers
he unique, differen
n liera e ucation
By BETH NISSEN
When Course Mart was born in 1968, it was described as
"stock market in courses" where students and faculty would
rade ideas for new courses that were not offered through
.stablished LSA departments.
"The Course Mart will stimulate a market in courses where
eachers and students may submit proposals for courses they
wish to teach or to have taught," stated the program's descrip-
:ion. In reality, most of the submitted proposals are initiated
,y prospective instructors wishing to teach a course, not by
;tudents requesting a course not offered elsewhere.
"BOTH faculty and students can propose courses," explained
Ernst Goldshmidt, member of the Course Mart Committee and
he Curriculum Committee. "Faculty members propose courses
)utside of their departments and students propose courses on a
iariety of subjects that interest them," he said.
For a course to be approved for University credit, it must be
ponsored by a faculty member of at least full professional
ank, and the course proposal and outline must be approved
irst by the Course Mart Committee, then the literary college
LSA) Curriculum Committee, and must receive the final ap-
roval of the Executive Committee.
Course Mart offerings add variety of both subject and for-
nat to the departmental semester course listings. Course Mart
s seen as an arena for experimental and innovative educa-
ional courses as well, and as a source of both traditional and
ransitional classes for credit.
COURSE Mart courses are non-grade oriented; excepting
" . . 1 ___- aL.. T«..n. n$+. a nm Cnlfn'

Tuition is like taxes-always rising

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By JEFF SORENSEN
If anything is as certain as
death and taxes, it's that the
University will face financial
problems every year. And ifE
anything is even more certain,
it's that these fiscal difficulties
will be solved through a mas-
sive tuition hike in the fall.
Although tuition rates at the
University are among the high-
est of any public school or col-
lege in thle nation, the financial
picture for the immediate fu-
ture looks even gloomier than
ever.
THE relative helplessness of j
students in matters of the bud-
get is well documented; in prac-
tice the administration can suc-
cessfully pass fee hikes of al-
most limitless dimensions. For
example, in 1973 the Board of
Regents approved a 24 per cent
hike despite some student pro-
test. A "tuition strike" was or-
ganized by a few students, but
a lack of co-ordination and un-
ity amoung those involved pre-
vented thestrike from being ef-
fective.
Meanwhile the University has
been the site for a great deal
of union and labor activity on
the part of almost every group
- except for students. With,
more and more organizations
forming unions (such as the
clericals, teaching assistants,
and the tradesworkers), the
University administration is ap-
parently finding it even easier
to take the needed funds from
students, who have no organiz-
ation to stand up for them, and
who pose no overt threat to the
University.
Despite constant denials by
the University's executive of-
ficers that tuition increases are
planned annually as almost a
matter of course, it seems that

a remarkably similar budget-
ary picture has emerged in
every year in recent memory.
This past year has been no ex-
ception.
E. .'
EVERY fall, administrators
deny flatly that any sort of fee
hike is likely. At most, offic-
ials will admit, as Robben
Fleming did last fall, that they
"do not rule out the possibility
of a tuition increase," although
such action would only be a
"last resort."
Later that term, the finan-
cial squabbles began in earnest
as the Committee on the Eco-
nomic Status of the Faculty:
(CESF) came before the Re-
gents and asked for salary in-
creases of nearly 20 per cent
"to keep up with our peer uni-
versities."
. The University's top offic-
ials politely listenedto the re-
quests, only to slash them to
bits in the following months.
IN EARLY winter of this
year, Governor William Milli-
ken made his recommendations
for state appropriations to the
University -- one of the school's
prime sources of income. In
January, Millikan told the Re-
gents that the University would
very likely face a jolting four;
per cent sash in state funds for
the 1975-76 fiscal year.
With that announcement hang-
ing over their heads, the ad-
ministration began to hint that
certain programs would have to
be cut, certain personnel would
have to be laid off, or that a
fee increase might indeed be
necessary.
The University's already
shaky budget was struck with
another blow from the State
Government during the winter
term. Milliken announced a re-
vised budget projection, which

included an additional two per
cent cut. He later cancelled the
two per cent slash, and then, is
a sudden reversal announced
that the twoper centcut was in-
deed effective for this'year. The
state budget appropriation pro-
jection finally totaled a six per.
cent cut.
IN spring, the governor's re-
commendations went before the
state legislature where the funds
are tradtiionally cut back even
further as legislators snarl at
the "fatcat University."
And, finally, in summer, when
most students are out of town,
the Regents actually approve
the fee increases, almost as an
anti-climax to the full year of
hassles surrounding the budget.
As a resut most student, par-
ticuary those from low income
groups, find themselves in a
tough financial bind every fall
since they receive very little
warning about the fee increases
until their own personal budgets
are long since planned.
This long tradition of moder-
ate to massive fee increases
suggests thatdthe well-prepared
student would do well ,to plan
on shelling out. an ever-increas-
ing number of green backs to
the big University for the next
few years - at the very least.
NEW TRENDS
FOR 1975
Trims-Shags
and Razor Cuts
-2 SHOPS-
Dascola Stylists
611 E.EUniversity
615 E. Liberty

Doily Photo by PAULINE LUBENS
STUDENTS CRAM around the computers used f or CRISP last winter. This scene portrays the
first, and so far only computer breakdown us ed in the new registration process. Most stu-
dents have only good things to say about CRISP, the one step means to getting classes.
CRISP: Crunch-free?,

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ourses taught by law students at tne University's Lawc , By JEFF RISTINE four CRISP schedule - printers I THE SECOND and third
-ourse Mart courses are pass-fail exclusively. Today we live in a world in- to pull data from their central steps - which can be taken at
"I like the absence. of competition for grades, said one creasingly dominated by com- information center on a line-by- one's leisure - involve approv-i
enior Journalism major. "I take as many Course Mart courses pters, the spawnof an im- line basis, rather than all at al and checking of course selec-
is I can. The subjects are far out and I relate to peer teachers mense technological explosion once, long lines formed at the tions..
>etter than I do to stand-up-and-lecture authority figures."over the last two decades. Com- terminals. Luckily, officials The. last step is the heart of
Who instructs Course Mart courses has been an issue of puters manage bank accounts, were able to fix the mistake CRISP - registration (at the
ontroversy among administrators and a source of both, praise send the all-too-frequent in- overnght, time on the appointment tic-
prdodu Anthe problem - the rela- ket) at 215 Old Architecture and
nd criticism from Course Mart students.j voices for mail-order pout Another polm-terl-kt t25OdAcietr n
Sandseven inform high school tive inexperience of the stu- Design Building. In the eventl
fseniors of their accetnceto dents operating the terminals- that courses or sections arer
A"97excted te m - 'heniversty. acorrected itself over time, as closed, students can changej
ourse Mart stated that instructors were "-practice made perfect. their schedules without leaving
ers of the LSA faculty on a regular or lecturer basis," and de- Now, computers have even But as every engineering their chairs. The greatest ad-
ated whether or not teaching fellows would be allowed to in- taken over much of the time- student knows, there are times vantage of CRISP is that stu-
truct classes. Yet many Course Mart courses have been or- consuming labor involved in an- when a computer system simply dents can have immediate con-
=anized and instructed by undergraduate University students. other bit of University business: I goes "down," or malfunctions, firmation of their selections. In
['he Executive Committee was concerned and dissatisfied with registration for classes, for minutes, even hours at a fact, students leave the build-
he large percentage of 1973 Course Mart courses taught by T H E SYSTEM. is called time. Then, the computer is to- ing with acomputer-printout of
dergraduates.CRISP ComuterRegist tally useless and anyone de- all selections.
mderradutes-CRISP - Computer Registra-
In a May 21, 1973 memo, LSA Dean Frank Rhodes, Chair- tiong Involving Student Partici- pending upon it must wait . . . LSA offers up-to-the-minute,
an of the Executive Committee, wrote: "no undergraduates n - and was designed to and wait . . . and wait. generalized information on
ould be used to teach courses for academic credit in e t pa he old, two-step (ad- CRISP procedures with re-
ourse Mart." This was later amended to allow exceptional rvance classification and early "WHAT YOU do is hope it's corded telephone messages by
dergraduate students to instruct classes. "But what's meant registration) process with afrshoirme,"he sM-
exceptional'?" asked Goldschmidt. "You can't define it; ex- shorter, one-step procedure. plementation Group, said last Taken as a whole, the new
eptional to what? You have to say that either undergraduates Instead of recording ;course April. He added, however, that computer registration system
an teach courses or that they can't" selections on pa er, traie w- Data Systems - CRISP's moth- thI seems somewhat preferable to
Undergraduate instruction has drawn less criticism from erators type the course and sec- er- goes down about once a ymnasiu, if for no otherran
tudents. "Peer teaching is a fulfilling experience for both stu- tion numbers directly into a month for a period longer than son than it actually can, at
lent and instructor," said a student enrolled in a science fic- computer. The computer term- 30 minutes, sometimes as long times, be quicker. Also, the sys-
ion course. "They're on the same wave-length; they come inal then iforms the student, as four hours. tem allows a freer use of the
am the same time warp. I related to the teacher as a person, right on the spot, whether his or CRISP also introduced a new, often-painful "Drop-Add" pro-
d I think I was more receptive. When you're receptive, you hrelectiona osed. U almost Pentan-ylestarg cedure. In any event, a CRISP
~et more out of the class.?' der ideal conditions, the regis-1 Before one can register, stu-ispoal betr hn a
et more out of the class.y m b wtration process can be as short dents must learn the meanings CRUNCH (Class Registration
"Why should faculty members want to teach a Course as 15 minutes. of terms such as "Biographical Utilizing No Coinmpetent Hu-
kart course?" asked a former undergraduate Course Mart In- But when CRISP premiered Data Verification Form," "op- mans).
:uctor. "They don't get paid any extra by their departments last spring, students often found tional counseling stamp," "mo-_-
or the extra work, and Course Mart can't pay them anything. themselves waiting up to an bility limitations," "entry re-
'ourse Mart doesn't have funding. Even undergraduates have hour and a half to register as striction," and "override form."--
teach for the sheer love of it. Undergrad teachers don't get several problems forced pain- For literary college (LSA) stu-
edit for teaching, or pay. Sometimes all they get for their ful delays. Opinion was divided dents, CRISP basically involves'
ork is a lot of frustration." concerning the desirability of four steps, described in full de-
the computer over the process tail in the "Checkpoint" news-
Some Course Mart instructors complain about student at- it replaced and some officials letters available at 1221 Angell
itudes toward Course Mart courses. "I felt as if everyone in warned that a complete system Hall. First, the student must
lass was there to learn only what they had to to pass," said a malfunction could cripple the stand in line (at an appropriate
ormer Course Mart instructor. "The papers I received were, for entire registration procedure. day and hour) to get a CRISP a
e most part, atrocious. I went into this Course full of enthu- ' appointment ticket - the ear-;' I
iasm, but it was a disappointing experience for me. After a G R A D U A L L Y, how- lier the date and time on your
int, I didn't even care about my own class." ever, many of the problems ticket ,the greater the chance
were corrected. When computer of getting into the courses you
"I'M GLAD the University offers alternative classes," said technicians programmed the want.

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TIRED FEET?

Course Mart student. But "course Mart courses are obvious
isy-A courses, except for the law classes."
To strengthen some of the weak aspects of Course Mart,
ie Course Mart Committee is making an effort to more closely
valuate initial course proposals and their prospective teachers,
nd to encourage faculty sponsors to better support courses and
ive guidance to the instructors.
"I never knew there was a faculty sponsor," said a student
i a Course Mart media class. "He never attended class once.
dl the burden of the course was on the instructor."
EVEN WITH Executive Committee criticism of the Uni-
ersity's academic course market, the 1974 Commission on
rraduation Requirements recommended continuation of Course
tart, and the Course Mart shows indications of survival for at
east another year.
"If anything is the death of Course Mart, it will be apathy,"
oted Goldschmidt. "It will be lack of interest on the part of
te faculty, who are hesitant to teach or to sponsor courses. But
te students are interested. Every Course Mart Course offered
sems to fill up fairly fast."
"Course Mart has a lot of potential to be a forum for differ-
mnt ideas and a source of classes on topical subjects," said a
veteran of six Course Mart classes."But it needs some effort
gn the part of faculty and the support of the College to work
well, and it needs some caring on the part of the students who
'ign up for the classes. This program is for them, and if they
lon't start taking it seriously,it is going down the drain with
ll that promise."
WATERBEDS

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Hare's Ear
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expires Sept. 12, 1975
-.-------COUPON-------
1112 South University
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