Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2-THE CLUSTER, OCTOBER 23, 1»
Editorials
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-Letter to the Editor-
Dear Editor.
I want to express a concern about
an issue that effects ail English ma
jors. This issue is the Senior Com
prehensive Examination, required
by the English Department to ob
tain a degree. I, in conjunction with
many others, have made a list of
The Kwangju American
Cultural Center
By CHANG YOUNG-GDL
Nat. Unhr., Kwangju, Korea
The vacant building of the American Cultural Center,
now an abode of silence,’reluctantly J
receives a visitor, unlocking
two padlocks and an ixoo-barred gate;
a strip of empty air is bung at the flagpole
where the Star-Spangled Banner had been fluttering
forty-two yean. What then has America left here,
80 Hwangkum-dong. very near the 5.18 Square
where th^kitizens in the bloody whirlwind screamed for
Democracy and Liberty?
The dust sitting mute oh chain in the reading room,
the iron ban stark at attention in window frames,
bricks, closed doors, panes of bulletproof glass.
and some questions unquenchable in everyone's mind. ..
Ah. the land's old cries several sparrows are scattering in the
quadrangle of the American
.Cultural Center. I gaze up into the deep blue heaven
through the shadows failing to pieces. One heaven
of five thousand yean the Korean paulownia branches support.
To where winds this road / rfoog'now? Rise on wings
the prophetic songs above the scan and separate land,
breaking the heavily-built white silence, turns the history
its hidden dark face above the amicable hands
that have been shaking forty-four yean. Yes you would say:
Sdf-Teiiance doesn't lie in blaming others for your own
sores nor in isolating yourself. We'd better learn
from a tree how to be in touch with winds and how to grow
without bending to a seasonal wind. Then as we
might open Korean Cultural Centers in any city
of the U.S., why can't the Americans open theirs here?
The vacant budding of the American Cultural Center
in the heart of Kwangju City, drearier than ever,
users monosyllables in metallic voice, hardly
understood, dosing its iron-barred gate
and two padlocks as a visitor goes out.
This poem waa itat to me by its author. I thought it was an
concerns about this examination.
We devised this list after attending
an “informative" meeting on the
exam. We find this exam inap
propriate for the following reasons:
1. We began receiving informa
tion concerning the exam our
sophomore year, but by our senior
year this information has become
obsolete. The reading list has
changed so drastically, with the ex
ception of the Shakespeare
category, that preparing for the ex
am before our senior year was
pointless. 1 \
2. It is difficult to prepare for
topics we have never studied in
class. We are put at a disadvantage
because we spend time interpreting
and studying material for the Corap
that we should be dedicating to our
ocher courses.
3. The test is not standardized in
any way.
4. The test should be general in
formation and knowledge, not an
effort to "make-up" or compensate
for works which were not taught
Only es nuiai works should be
included.
5. The degree of difficulty bet
ween professor* within the English
Department is so great, the classes
offered are so few. and all students
take such a wide variety of difTerat
cornea that all English majors can
not be equally prepared for the
exam.
6. Other colleges within Mercer
University have done away with
these exams. (Biochemistry com
prehensive examinations help die
students to prepare to go on to
medical school).
7. if the student has fulfilled all
hour requirements and pad all fees
(approximately S40.000) the
department hat no right to
supercede the authority of the
university requirements
Therefore, the exam should be
optional for English majors in
Put a letter where your mouth is!
By Heather Kimble
Editor-In-Chief
I'm sure that you are just about fed up with the semester system issue.
Quite fnnkly, so am I. However, in my relatively few years, I've come
to realize that in most cases, it doesn't matter how fed up we get, issues
are going to continue to creep up until they’re resolved. The semester
system, however will no longer be an issue after the first week of
November. At this tune, the 45 day discussion period will be over, and
it will be left up to the administration to make up a decision.
I know that most of you feel that regardless of how much we comment
on issues, decisions will be made regardless of our suggestions. This may
or may no: be true. The really unfortunate pan, however, is that we may
neyer knew just how important our views are because we, as a student
body, ign ire our opportunity and responsibility to air our opinions.
Now, back to the semester system. Both the semester system and the
calendar change proposals are important issues that are going to affect
your life. 1 say your because as a Senior, I'll be gone by the time they
go into effect, if they go into effect. However, all other underclassmen
will have to deal with the impending changes.
When these proposals were announced, I went to the post office and
requested a second box for The Cluster. I assumed that I would be bom
barded with Letters to the Editor regarding the proposals. Much to my
dismay, try efforts were in vain. No, I really didn't request another box,
but 1 am quite concerned with the lack of concern regarding these issues.
With over three-fourths of the campus being affected by these possible
calendar changes, not to get so much as one letter is distressing.
The problem doesn't end with the proposal. The Cluster has also printed
several articles and editorials that did not set well with various interest
groups, including students, faculty, and administration. I know this from
not letters, but hearsay and conversations with individuals. It's not that
I don't like talking to people (anyone (hat knows me laughed at that com
ment). but 1 can't print conversations.
1 encourage anyone who is disgruntled by an article, or delighted by
one (imagine that), to drop me a letter with your name, address, and phone
number. I need this information, not to send a hit squad after you, but
in case there is a problem with the aiticle (wrong information, lack of
clarity, etc.). I also encourage you to get informed about the proposals
that I mentioned earlier. Form an educated opinion aboyt them and voice
that opinion to your professors, the Dean of your school, class represen
tatives and The Cluster.
Please Note:
In last weeks Ouster, an article appeared entitled 'Mercer A llama Goes
to Court. One sentence on this article may have been misieMing. The ar
ticle staled that University officials deeded to close the Mercer Atlanta
campus. The article should have read the College of Liberal Am and
Sciences of the Atlanta campus had been closed
The Cluster would also like to credit "Papa" Joe Hendricks with the
poem. "Thank You Claude:," in the dedication to the hue Claude D. Smith
that appeared in the Oct. 16 issue.
Out* 4 Use feemUer.