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The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 6, 1995 - 7
Econ.and
Russian
clashn
clssroom
By Heathe E~gr
For the Daly
The lights went out on an Economics
401 exam Wednesday when two Rus-
sian studies classes demanded the audi-
torium to show a film.
The economics exam was scheduled
from 6:30-8 p.m. in Angell Hall Audito-
rium A. A Russian Films course is regu-
larly scheduled in the same room at 7p.m.
Approximately 100-130 economics
stdentswereahalf-hourintotheirexams
when students from two Russian studies
courses began to enter the room. About
10-20 students arrived to view the film.
The question became, which was
more important-the film or the exam.
"I think that it's unfortunate that the
interests of a great many students were
sacrificed for the interests of a few,"
said economics Visiting Prof. Peter
Morgan.
Economics Assistant Prof. YanChen
also was in the room and said she asked
Russian films Prof. Herbert Eagle if he
could postpone the film or move it to
another room.
Eagle said no.
"We were the regularly scheduled
class," Eagle said yesterday. "I felt the
(economics) instructors didn't show
concern for my class."
Eagle said films are rented and re-
turned the following day. "If the stu-
dents miss it, it's gone," he said.
Eagle added that scheduling for the
auditoriums is tight, so it was not pos-
sible to move his class to another room.
"An exam can be regiven," he said.
But economics students disagreed.
EngineeringjuniorAmy Weenersaid,
"It's inconsiderate. Exams are more
important than a class."
LSA senior Matthew Pryce agreed
with Weener. "The test was completely
comprised," he said. Eagle was "very
adament about the whole thing.... I've
never seen anything like it," he said.
Chen said Eagle was "totally insensi-
tive."
"He insisted very loudly that he was
going to tum out the light and start the
movie," she said. "I was so angry."
Prof. Janet Gerson oversees all the
Economics401 classes. "It's really hard
on (the students)," she said. "They stud-
ied for the exam and thought they would
be taking it.
"(Eagle) could have at least let my
students take the exam," she said.
The economics students' exam was
postponed, but the exam had been di-
vided into four separate rooms and stu-
dents in the other three classrooms com-
pleted the exam. Those who did not
finish the exam may either have their
grades calculated with one fewertest or
retake it next week.
"The initial culprit is the scheduling
office," Eagle said.
Ie said thereneeded tobemore com-
munication between departments to
prevent scheduling problems.
"There was no way to solve (the
conflict)," Eagle said. "There could be
no winners."
Committee OKs stronger
drivers' license requirements
LANSING (AP) - Youngsters anxious to get their driv-
ers' licenses would have to spend more time behind a desk
and pay for training under a plan approved by the House
Transportation Committee yesterday.
The committee voted unanimously to require more time in
the classroom and behind the wheel with an adult passenger
before students could get an unrestricted license. Lawmakers
also approved a plan to allow schools to charge for driver
education courses.
But the bill is filled with potential cost increases and a
constitutional problem that could stall it during full House
debate.
"Sure there will be problems we have to work out, but
compared to the costs we are experiencing now, graduated
licensing is a real bargain," said Patricia Waller, head of the
University's Transportation Research Institute.
Waller said the total social cost of a fatal accident averages
about $2 million. She said that diminishes any concern about
moderate fee and cost increases, which no one could estimate
during the three-hour hearing.
Rep. Dan Gustafson (R-Williamston), sponsor of the bill,
said the potential costs would be dealt with later.
"If we are going to wait on graduated driver licensure to
resolve fee issues and cost issues, we are not going to see
graduated driver licensure until more children are rushed
through this minimal experience system and more children
are killed," he said.
Gustafson's bill would require 30 hours in class and six
hours on the road before students could get a restricted
license. The current minimum is 22 hours in class and four
hours on the road to get an unrestricted license.
The bill would allow students to begin driver education
three months before their 15th birthdays. Students would
have to attend an initial education course, part of the 30-hour
requirement, and one of their parents or an appointed adult
would have to attend one class before the students could get
an instructional license.
Students also would have to pass vision and written tests
to get that license. With that permit, students could drive only
with a parent or an appointed adult.
At 16, students could apply for a less restrictive license.
They would have to go three months without an accident,
complete a second class and log 50 hours driving time,
including 10 hours at night, with an adult. They also would
have to pass a driving test that would be administered by
private companies at the students' expense.
The state did away with across the board driving tests in
1978. It does require driving tests for some individuals,
including students with old driver's education certificates
or those who had no on-street driving during their train-
ing.
The second-level license would allow students to drive
without an adult, but would keep them off the road from
midnight to 5 a.m. It also would allow only one non-family
passenger unless a parent was in the car.
Students going to and from work would be exempt from
those restrictions.
At 17, students could get an unrestricted license if they had
gone six months without an accident.
Scott and Lynda Barnes of Mason said the gradual process
was worth any additional cost and added procedures. Their
15-year-old daughter, Collette, was killed this summer when
she was riding in acar with a 15-year-old driver who only had
a learner's permit.
"Witnesses to the accident said as the car was coming up
to the stop sign, the kids were laughing and not paying
attention," Scott Barnes said.
The provision to allow schools to charge for driver educa-
tion courses could raise a constitutional problem because
schools are required to teach such courses.
Smiling in the rain
Patrick McNeely, an Ann Arbor Pioneer High School student, uses a garbage bag
to protect himself from the rain yesterday afternoon.
Hos Programnto
host lunch for lumni
GAMMA PHI BETA RUSH
A NEW BEGINNING
By Eileen Reynolds
For the Daily
The Honors Program will hold its
annual Honors Alumni Council meet-
ing today. Events include lunch with
distinguished alumni, presentations,
council meetings andpanel discussions.
The featured guest, Pete Schweitzer,
is CEO of J. Walter Thompson Adver-
tising. Schweitzer, an Honors alum, is
devoted to aiding Honors students in
gaining valuable work experience.
Last year, Schweitzer founded a paid
internship program at his firm. LSA
junior Jennifer Harvey, one of three
honors students who interned this sum-
merwith J. Walter Thompson, also will
speak.
The Honors Alumni Council, com-
prised of 12 alums, is an advisory group
that meets each fall to evaluate and
advise the program. The council is a
similar, yet smaller, version ofthe LSA
Visiting Committee.
"We try to get successful doctors and
lawyers to come to our meetings," said
Liina Wallin, Honors coordinator.
"The advisors act as sounding boards
as to what the Honors Program is, and
what it should be," Wallin said.
The panel will deal with current is-
sues affecting the Honors Program and
the University. Topics include changes
in computer records, living-learning
programs - such as the Pilot Program
in Alice Lloyd residence hall - and
new technology being introduced to the
University. Ruth Scodel, director of the
Honors Program and professor ofGreek
and classical studies, will mediate the
panel.
The Honors Program has approxi-
mately 1,800 students, in all four years.
Admission to the program is competi-
tive. Most students are admitted to the
program upon their enrollment at the
University.
The top 10 percent of the entering
first-year class is invited to join the
Honors Program.
OPEN HOUISE
Sunday 11-6
Monday
Tuesddy 9-6
EVERYONE WELCOME
Jnfrmltiom 761-1520
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raise your hand ...
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