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By JOEL BL'RKE
Assistant campus editor
The controversial 14-day withdrawal
policy has been lengthened to 21 days by
the Academic Affairs Advisory Com
mittee (AAAC).
The change came after a quarter of
vocal opposition culminating in a Student
Government Association (SGA) proposal
to increase the 14-day time period. The
14-day policy was originally passed at the
AAAC Aug. 9 meeting this past summer
The 14-day policy was enacted to end
the practice of some students who,
fearing poor grades, withdrew at the
half-quarter withdrawal deadline.
In other action, the current three-day
drop-add period was shortened to two
days. This change was proposed at the
Aug. 9 AAAC meeting. Implementation of
the new policy will go into effect winter
quarter on a trial basis.
PROPOSALS FOR new registration
procedures were also adopted at the
meeting These include ending late
registration with the end of drop-add and
assigning a grade of NR (no grade
reported) when improper final grade roll
deletions or additions have been made or
a grade of W has been assigned The
grade of NR must be changed within one
quarter or a grade of WF (withdrawing
while failing) will be assigned
Due to the shuffling of students to
different classes during the drop-add
period, many faculty members experi
ence delays in their teaching schedules.
University Registrar Bruce Shutt said
This inspired a request for a shorter
drop-add period, according to Shutt.
The enormous number of students
exercising drop-add was another reason
its time was decreased. “Last fall there
were 30,000 drop-adds performed." he
said.
Vice president for Academic Affairs
Louise McBee said this fall 28,000
students went through drop-add
THIS IS very unusual for a university.
Shutt said. "At this University it seems
there is a free-for-all when it comes to
classes ’’ Most students at other
campuses are interested in the specific
classes they take, he said. Here the class
period is the most important thing, he
added.
“We cannot simply give everyone
third, fourth and sixth period classes."
Shutt said.
These two problems caused the original
drop-add period of five days to be
shortened to four Last fall, it was again
shortened to three days, he added
“We have not gotten any negative
feedback from students" concerning the
shortened drop-add period, he said Now
faculty members feel two days for
drop-add may be better than three, he
said.
STUDENTS MI ST go to their deans in
opposition of the shortened drop-add
period. SGA President Rob Hancock said
“Only student involvement will change
this If the students become apathetic
toward this policy," there is little chance
for reversal, he warned
In regard to the new 21-day withdrawal
policy, he said. “This is a step in the
right direction, overall I’m pleased
Ideally I would like to lee it lengthened
to an even longer period of time." he
added
Hancock. Senate President Steve
Newton. Sen Tim Lewis (Agriculture
and Minister to Consumer Affairs Joan
Dawson spoke before the AAAC
yesterday in favor of increasing the
withdrawal period of 14 davs
AAAC deans were not unanimous in the
desire for the new 21-day policy. McBee
said. Some desired it remain at 14 days
or be shortened
Others said the withdrawal policy
should be increased to 28 to 35 days, she
added
Policy change credited to pressure
“IT WAS basically a mechanics
problem in that faulty confirmation lists
were provided. It takes two and one-half
weeks to do it (provide the lists).
Professors didn’t know who should have
been in their classes," James Buck, and
associate proiessor in the History
department, said.
“With some, it was just that somebody
was telling them how to run their
business," he added
While speculations over the cause for
the policy change varied, most seemed to
be in agreement in approving the action.
“I'M REAL pleased. I think it will
benefit the students. I would like to have
seen it be 28 days, but at least 21 days
gives them (the students) a chance,"
Jean Cleveland, chairman ot the
Freshman Council withdrawal committee
said.
Yet Dean Scott Cutlip of the journalism
school called the move only a
“tinkering." the beginning of a needed
“overhaul" of the registration system
“No thought has been given to the fact
that the policy was changed in the first
place to help the students." he said.
“Our most serious problem was in
accommodating students that were closed
out of courses they needed. It is
frustrating...to see them frozen out and in
two to three weeks see grade-hoppers
withdraw and leave spaces empty," he
added
Cutlip also suggested that the long
period of time between advance
registration and fee payment be
shortened
BUSINESS SCHOOL Dean William
Flewellen suggested charges for registra
tion be based on hours instead of being in
one lump sum
“My personal philosophy is that
students ought to be able to withdraw
anytime as long as they don t have
failing grades and before they get their
(final) grade." he said
“However, we’ve got to lick this
problem (of grade-hopping». The 14-’iy
policy only improved things and the
21-day policy will improve them less
There's really little difference," Flew el
len said.
Shutt said there are no further plans
for changes
By MATT PRICHARD and
BRIAN O'SHEA
The decision to change the University’s
withdrawal policy from 14 to 21 days was
a direct result of pressure by the Ag
school adminiatration and student
groups, according to Alex Booth,
president of the Ag Hill Council.
"It’s the first time student complaints
have gotten some results," he said.
University Registrar Bruce Shutt said,
“a group of students did appear before
the AAAC (Academic Affairs Advisory
Committee). One said. We want a way to
protect our grades.' That's the worst
thing he could have said, for he got no
sympathy from professors The only
reason to withdraw from a class should
be a legitimate reason "
Photo by DAVID CROSBY
Dance anyone?
Monday afternoon proved warm enough The 25 member company performed the
for the University Concert Dance five-minute non-danre oriented routine
Company to grace the front lawn of before more than 100 curious students.
Journalism with Celebration to Autumn.
THE RED AND BLACK
VOLUME H4, NUMBER 11
Georgia’s only collegiate daily newspaper
UNIVERSITY OK GEORGIA. ATHENS, GEORGIA :i060?
Inside
Georgia vs
Tech.
See p.6
TUESDAY. NOVEMHEK 11, is;;
Withdrawal lengthened to 21 days;
drop-add period shortened to two
Your dinner bird
sensitive, dumb
By JUDY GUEBERT
It's Thanksgiving again A time when families gather together to appreciate
their blessings And to eat Oh, yes, how we do love that special meal Nothing
quite compares to it Sweet potatoes, cranberries, dressing and pumpkin pie are just
a few of the items found on most menus
But no Thanksgiving repast is complete without The Turkey. But he’s no
volunteer. He's drafted: And the casualty rate is very high Almost 100 per cent.
Turkeys are big business, especially this time of year.
“Certainly Thanksgiving is a big time lor turkeys," Jim Thaxlon, owner of a
turkey farm near Watkinsville, said Actually, fall and winter are slow production
months in the turkey business because birds going to market now were hatched
around mid-June
TURKEYS have a strange life. They begin life in a hatchery Baby turkeys are
created by artificial insemination and hatch almost exactly 28 days after
conception
Once born, turkeys face the trauma of sex segregation. Thaxton said that toms
imales) and hens (females) require different feed and are raised separately from
birth. This also discourages slaughter hens from converting to breeder hens
Thaxton said that although turkeys can exhibit small amounts of intelligence,
they are actually "real dumb "
Besides an obvious lack of intelligence, turkeys can be very sensitive. Thaxton
said it is better to speak sweetly to laying hens for psychological reasons.
Although this is a somewhat unscientific method of increasing production, the
turkey industry has more sophisticated means
THE FEED for the birds is computer mixed according to IBM punch cards, and
for good reason; turkeys consume six different types of ration, including com,
soybean meal, alpha meal, limestone, phosphate and brewers grains. (That's right,
when Pabst is through with their grains, they pass them on to the turkeys.)
Another trick of the turkey trade involves "darking out" the breeding hens.
Turkeys have a tendency to lay more eggs in the early spring And in order to have
a steady supply of baby turkeys all year long, “you got to trick ’em," Thaxton
said.
By leaving the electric lights on for 14 hours, the hatchers simulate spring,
causing the hens to increase production.
When the hens catch on to the trick, it is time to fool them into thinking winter
has arrived Their hours of light are reduced to around six and they are “darked
out.”
It’s turkey time
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Predicted death toll up for holiday
By YVONNE WILLIAMS
State editor
The Georgia State Patrol has predicted
at least 2S persons will be killed and
another 518 injured in auto accidents
during the four-day Thanksgiving
holiday
According to Atlanta GSP spokesman
Bill Wilson, the predicted death toll of
motorists on state highways is slightly up
from last year, when only 18 fatalities
were anticipated
Wilson said he believes more fatalities
will result this year because of "the
increased number of speeders, a larger
number of cars on the road, and the
improved economic situation” which will
enable more persons to travel greater
distances
An estimated 1897 traffic accidents will
occur statewide, according to Wilson,
during the holiday period, which will
officially begin Wednesday at 6 p.m. and
end at midnight Monday.
STATE PATROL traffic safety forces
will be beefed up all across the state, and
officers will be handing out very few
warning tickets
"All of our able-bodied troopers will be
pulled off non-enforcement duties and
pressed into service on the highways,"
Wilson said.
"And we will definitely be handing out
green stamps,” he chuckled “There are
not many sob stories that are going to
keep up from giving out tickets during
this period."
Traditionally more than half of the
accidents which occur during the
Thanksgiving holidays are related to
drivers who have consumed too much
alcohol, he said
HE PREDICTED that at least 15
holiday fatalities this year well be caused
by drunk drivers
“Thanksgiving is one of our highest
death holidays," he said "And the
greatest majority of deaths will occur
Wednesday afternoon and Monday
evening when the largest amount of
traffic is on the road ”
Wilson advised motorists who plan to
be traveling during the holiday period not
to attempt to drive lengthy distances in a
short period of time
"Don't try to make the whole drive in
one day," he said
SAT report data
could be wrong
By SKIP HULETT
Assistant campus editor
The average Scholastic Aptitude Test
(SAT) score for this year’s freshman
class, touted by University officials as
being 15 points above the national
average, does not include the scores of
243 students enrolled in the University
under the Special Studies Program. The
Red and Black has learned
Though no figures were immediately
available, sources have indicated that the
addition of those scores into the SAT
tabulation would have lowered the
University’s average
In addition. The Red and Black has
learned that 33 students possessing grade
point averages lower than the 2 0
required for admission into the Franklin
College of Arts and Sciences were
allowed to enter the college last July
Those students were admitted from the
Special Studies Program
The Office of Admissions released
figures from its Fall Quarter 1977
Admissions Report which pointed to an
increase in the average SAT scores of
incoming freshmen at the University
WHAT THE report did not mention was
that of 1149 applicants rejected for
admission, 243 since enrolled in the
University under the Special Studies
Program were not considered when
tabulating the average SAT score for
incoming freshmen
The Special Studies Program, now in
its second year, is designed to offer
special classes and tutorial services to
students who do no meet University
admission standards Students are
enrolled in remedial classes in three
areas: English, reading and math
Some students are allowed to enroll in
regular University courses while taking
special studies Most students, upon
completing the program, enroll in Arts
and Sciences, the University’s largest
college
SAT scores for these students usually
fall between 400 and 800 Some faculty
members have in the past criticized the
program for bringing in students with
low SAT scores
HOWEVER. DESPITE these low
scores, the University has publicized an
increase in SAT averages Column*, the
Official public relations organ of the
University, publicized the increase.
University President Fred C Davison, in
his State of the University address Nov
9. said. "This fall’s freshman class has
an average SAT score of 1014 This is an
increase of 15 points over that of last
fall’s class, which was in turn an
increase over the year before
“In fact. SAT scores lor our freshmen
have remained at 1000 or higher for most
of the last 10 years As you know , these
scores nationally have declined in each of
the last 14 years."
In addition, a promotional film for the
University broadcast on national televi
sion during halftime of the Georgia-Flor
ida football game made mention of the
increased University SAT scores
Dr. Claire Swann, associate director of
admissions, said no student enrolled af
the University through the Special
Studies Program was included in the
statistics published in the Office oi
Admissions report
IN THE NOV. 4 Red and Black
Director of Admissions M.O Phelps
attributed the improved scores to "better
recruitment’’ and “higher admission
standards " Phelps is out of town and
could not be reached for comment on the
subject of low scores not being averaged
into the University average
He said in the earlier report that plans
are being made to step up recruitment of
out-of-state students In this year's
average, 417 out-of-state students scored
an average of 1036 on the test, while
in state students averaged 1010
Under admission policies, students with
high grades from high school and low
SAT scores will be admitted, Phelps said
Regarding the admission of 33 students
into Arts and Sciences. Dr Leroy Ervin,
director of the Special Studies Program,
said the action was contrary to
procedure
“Upon gampletion of the Special
Studies Program students applying to
any of the schools at the University are
to be considered in exactly the same
manner as incoming freshmen." with
their grade point averages subject to the
See SAT. p.2
Correction
M Louise McBee. assistant vice
president for academic affairs, was
incorrectly quoted in yesterday 's issue of
The Red and Black. Concerning the
14-day withdrawal pblicy, she actually
said, “I feel we should modify it."
The former SGA president quoted in
tne same article should have been
identified As Randall Seabolt