The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 6, 1984 - Page 13 SCHOOLS STRUGGLE AGAINST UNWIERSITY REVIEWS Rebuilding after the cuts By GEORGEA KOVANIS More than 18 months have passed since, amidst Diag protests and cane dlelight vigils on University President Harold Shapiro's front lawn, three of the University's schools were fighting to survive. The three schools-art, education, and natural resources-had fallen victim to the University's budget ax and were targeted for cuts inspired by the University's five year plan to reallocate $20 million of its general fund budget in- to "high priority areas." The University didn't consider these three schools as high priority areas. After being scrutinized by review committees, the art school received an 18 percent cut and natural resources was cut 25 percent. Finally, in the fall of '83, the education school was slashed by 40 percent. Now, however, more than a year later, school officials say the worst is over. It's a time for picking up the pieces, rebuilding morale and reflec- ting on what happened. "You felt like you were sitting in a room with the spotlight on you," said John Bassett, associate natural resour- ces school dean. And Bassett was right. All eyes were on the three schools targeted for major cuts. It was difficult to avoid the spotlight, especially "when you have the New York Times running articles about the proposed reduction of the art school . . .," said William Lewis, acting associate art school dean. And even today, it's hard to step out of that spotlight. "In my own view, the most damage was done by the negative publicity," Lewis said. "Every time you cross paths with your fellow peers . . . you have to cross paths again telling them we're in business.. .," he added. "We're having to fight the perception. that the school of education at the University of Michigan is closed," said Carl Berger, education school dean. "(It's) very hard to overcome that damage - that first flush of publicity," Bassett says. "We've had people call in who heard that the school was closed," he added. School officials admit that their schools must overcome the effects created by the publicity which surroun- ded the reviews. However, in addition to this, officials in each of the three schools say they must overcome the in- ternal confusion caused by the reviews and rebuild the staff morale which was about the review. "At the time, the reactions were of considerable anger," Lewis said. "(It was) a 'how could they do that?' routine.', There were vigils and marches. School of Natural Resources students tied green ribbons around trees which lined the campus; art school students staged elaborate protests. Students and faculty members joined together to fight for their schools. "(The review) brought the faculty together like very few things ever have - faculty and students," Heers said. "I think the review made people angry. 'The trick is, can you have fewer people, fewer staff ...and more? We don't know. We're certainly going to have to be more ef- ficient.' -John Bassett associate natural resources dean are contemplating moving. "They don't have to leave right now, (but) they're looking," he added. The situation is similar in the education school. "I'm sure there are several that are looking for positions at other schools," Berger said. The faculty is tired because they've been teaching and hanging in there during two years of strain." However, Bassett said, "I think the morale is coming back again. People were kind of in the dumps." Now, he said, it's time to rebuild. "I think we've got our destiny in our own hands." But no one says "smaller but better" is going to be easy. "The trick is, can you have fewer people, fewer staff. . . and more? We don't know. We're certainly going to have to be more efficient," Bassett said. Heers said he is ready to face the challenge. "We have to think of better ways of doing things," he said. "The question is, will it be as good as what we've done before . . ." Heers added. "We have to do this with less tenured faculty and less money. And we have to keep our enrollment up." School officials agree that it might be sometime before they know whether or not they've survived the review. "I think we'll know in about three years whether we'll survive or not," Berger said. And until then, everyone will be kept guessing. 'I don't think we'll know the effects of this until years down the line," Heers said. It's not going to happen magically overnight either. "It's going to take time," Bassett said. You don't just do this - five years is a minimal period of time," he added. For now, however, the worst is over. "We're glad to have survived the review. We're anxious to get on with building a new school. It's a hell of a hard job," Bassett said. shattered by budget cuts. "There are people who still feel hurt," said Wendel ffeers, acting art school dean. I don't really understand the reasons why we were put under review," he added. Heers' colleague shares his con- fusion. "There was no warning that I was aware of," Lewis said. "It came as a big fat surprise," he said adding that he first learned of the review through reports in the newspaper. "It arrived like a thunderbolt," he said. "I couldn't believe they thought this was a bum school," he added. "Being angry about it came later." And people became plenty upset Tyre were some new types of juices flowing . . ." he added. According to Lewis, art school students became possessive about their school. "It was not the art school where they were taking classes, it was their place," he said. But even though faculty members fought beside students to keep the schools, morale declined. Some faculty members even left the University. "The morale is very low and it will be until we get something going," Berger said. "If I had to guess, I'd say we've lost three faculty to the review to date," Bassett said last summer. And more Daily Photo bty CAROL L. FRANCAVILLA Don't panic On any given day, you will find the Diag full of protestors, preachers, musicians, or as in this day, jugglers practicing their trade. Helping with scheduling By NEIL CHASE Selecting classes and planning your next term's schedule can be a traumatic experience-one false step and you may never graduate. But don't be alarmed, the University has several academic counselors to guide students through the layinhof college life. Incoming freshmen must ga to a counselor and plan their " first schedule. But most usually don't return unless they find themselves in trouble with their classes. THOSE STUDENTS who go through four-years at the University without working closely with an academic advisor ",are "missing something that might enhance their experien- ce," according to Virginia Reese, associate director of the 'LSA academic counseling office. ''Too many students have a vision of academic advisors as a tool you use only when you're in trouble," Reese said. 'While the academic counselors can help a student who is in trouble, Reese said the office has a lot to offer other students. 6 During orientation each LSA freshperson spends about 90 minutes in a group counseling session and 20 minutes alone ,with a counselor, but Reese said these sessions allow the counselors only enough time to explain requirements and help the students plan their schedules. AFTER A MONTH or two of classes, a student who came to the University hoping to pursue a specific career may give up on that plan after sampling the classes or may want to ex- :Plore alternatives. , Each freshman would be well-advised to see a counselor after the first few weeks to plan or change their goals and Hate French? I By ANDREW ERIKSEN to design a specific y ByANDRW ERKSENThe two counselor What LSA degree program has no teetedcinsBG *foreign language requirements, no indaWaedin a BGS *istribution requirements, and no con- and Linda Wallin. drentration requirements? Does it sound ben, a study of th oo good to be true? Believe it or not, selection is being co ~~, 'The number of BI tLhere is such a degree. It's called the ehmyear by BIC ?achelor of General Studies. each year by t hovered around 300 "There are a certain number of shows: begin to explore the wide variety of options available, Reese said. She added that regular counseling visits throughout a student's years here can be very valuable, especially if a student develops a close relationship with one specific coun- selor. The counselors are available in the academic counseling office on the first floor of Angell Hall. A student who requests an appointment can usually schedule one for the same day or the next day, Reese said. BY THE FIRST term of the junior year each LSA student is expected to meet with a concentration advisor and declare a major, and another session with the adviser must be scheduled just before graduation to assure that all requirements have been met. Students who come to the LSA counseling office are often referred to other offices for additional help. "We're in the business of trying to teach people that there are a variety of sources of information," Reese said. One such source is the Students Counseling Office, a com- pletely student-run organization whose purpose is to "give the students a more down-to-earth approach," according to coordinator Kevin Daleiden. "We talk to (students) as equals because we are equals," Daleiden said. "We like to think of ourselves as the first in a line of referrals. Students should come here first because we'll be able to refer them somewhere else." SCO volunteers help students find the informaton they need and even make phone calls to get information or arrange appointments for students who are hesitant to do it themselves. ry a BGS degree. Subocnibte l The Itiekiqaa D04,q Execu- TdOPS WOR(D PRO (ESSING '9 (313) 663-7158 3019 N. Maple Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 " Papers . Resumes " Cover Letters " Dissertations " Papers and Reports " Consultations Domino's Pizza Del ivers:M course of study. rs that help students are Tom McKibben According to McKib- e pattern of course onducted. GS degrees awarded he University has as the following list * 1978-'79 - 344 degrees * 1979-'80 -331 degrees * 1980-'81 - 320 degrees * 1981-'82 - 340 degrees * 1982-'83 - 317 degrees Most employers don't question the BGS degree, says Reese, because they look at the courses that were taken to earn the degree rather than the name of the degree. Doubles Two pizzas for one special price. m Two 10" cheese pizzas $5.49 -plustax- $ .99 for each additional topping Two 12" cheese pizzas $6.99 - plus tax - $1.19 for each additional topping Ti.. /1J E..LI Sin gles (Single 10" pizza not available) One 12" cheese pizza students who choose it to avoid a foreign language," said Virginia Reese, 4irector of residence halls academic advising. But she said the flexibility of ,e degree program allows students to btain an interdisciplinary degree. ,Many successful law students earned a DGS degree in their undergraduate studies. "Law school is a very common 'oal," said Reese. THE FIELD that is most popular kith students studying an inter- 4isciplinary field is business, according M Reese. The BGS degree allows you to eke more courses outside of LSA than e B.A. or B.S. degree. Basic BGS quirements include 60 out of the total 20 credits in upper division courses 4nd no more than 20 credits from one 4epartment. "The degree is not meant to be a back door to a business degree," said gese But students in LSA wanting to $4.15 UNIVERSITY LUTHERAN CHAPEL AND STUDENT CENTER 1511 Washtenaw (Between Hill and South University) 663-5560 SUNDAY SERVICES 9:15 and 10:30 PASTOR ROBERT KAVASCH Serving the University Community for 42 Years - plus tax - $ .85 for each additional topping AZl 1 L I-,I,; I + f'I ,11 IJ' (ALP .1 '" _'11 6 1i1111 rt* Two 14" cheese pizzas $8059 -plus tax - One 14" cheese pizza $6.00 plus tax - U I ti A --------n !. II