College needs new technology

To the Editor:

Last week’s editorial says plans to place more technology in classrooms are excessive, and raises an important question-has the value of technology in classrooms been oversold? Perhaps, like most everything else in our make-it-new culture. Not all students and faculty make the most effective use of their time or the technology at their disposal, wherever it’s used. Perhaps we could use the telephone as an analogy. Like the telephone, educational technology is becoming ubiquitous. We become dependent on it because it can be so useful. Can we live without it? Yes, much of the time. But for more and more people, the connections it provides to other people, places and ideas can make it indispensable when used effectively.

Some of the technology installed early on, when we began renovations in Olin-Rice, has been less than simple to use and difficult to maintain. But the systems we install now are simple, reliable and relatively inexpensive. You point out that CIT has difficulty servicing all the computers on campus. True enough here, and at most colleges-the growth in personal computers has been astounding. But your arrow misses the mark. We instituted a policy several years ago-we do not install computers in classrooms. While a few remain, we always provide a laptop interface in renovated classrooms, and encourage academic departments to purchase laptop computers for shared use among the faculty. Computers in classrooms are indeed too much for us to maintain, so we got out of that business. And two years ago, new staff positions were created at the college in direct response to the growing need for professional support of faculty computing and technology efforts, both in and out of the classroom. These two new positions are called Academic Information Associates, and they are resident in Olin-Rice and Old Main. In fact, a job search is currently underway to hire an AIA for Carnegie.

In addition, the Information Services Advisory Committee, with faculty, staff and student representation, recently affirmed that classroom technology must be a top priority within the budget. We were urged to increase the number of upgraded classrooms. There is currently only one assignable smart classroom in Carnegie, one in Humanities and two in Old Main. We feel this is inadequate, and many faculty members do, too.

Brian Longley, Director of Media Services
Joel Clemmer, Vice President for Library and Information Services

SARC’s decisions defended

To the Editor:

While I am under injunction not to discuss pending court cases, nor do I want to contradict a senior faculty member whose opinion and professionalism I deeply respect, I do feel it necessary to correct some statements which were recently made in this space about procedural points in regards to study abroad.

1) The Study Away Review Committee (SARC) is composed of two faculty members and the registrar of the college. This year those members are Beth Severy, Carlton Macy, and Jayne Niemi; these are the only voting members of the committee. The committee meetings are convened by Michael Monahan, Director of the International Center, and myself, the Study Abroad Coordinator.

I might add that I am saddened to see this committee characterized as motley and unprofessional, not only because the majority of the voting members are faculty, but also because the International Center Staff members have a combined total of over thirty year’s service in higher education, while I believe that Ms. Niemi has nearly an additional thirty years of dedication to Macalester.

2) There is indeed a grievance procedure for students who have concerns about the way the SARC handles a decision about off-campus study. That procedure is to ask the Curriculum Committee to review the way in which the decision was handled. It was my understanding that the Curriculum Committee declined to review the decision in this particular case.

3) While it is true that no other language department now operates its own study abroad program, all language departments and area studies programs, which require their majors to study abroad, are required to have their students approved by SARC. It is my belief that most are grateful to their faculty colleagues who represent them in taking on the duty of reviewing 100 or more proposals per semester.

While I agree fully and unequivocally that Professor Dye is far and away the most qualified person on campus to judge a student’s capabilities for study in the German program, and I have told him so, our provost and faculty have chosen to set up the current approvals process, and as a college official it is incumbent upon me to do the best with the system as it stands.

4) Neither the SARC nor any reputable member of the study abroad profession believes that students who are clinically depressed should be prevented from studying abroad, nor should any other differently-abled student be prevented from enjoying that opportunity. To reiterate, the SARC did not deny Colin’s proposal on the basis of his medical record (as they were not at first privy to it), rather, based on the information they had at the time his proposal was submitted, they requested that he re-submit his proposal when his record showed one more consecutive semester of improving grades. Students who are not approved for study away in a given semester are always strongly encouraged to re-apply in a subsequent semester, in the letter which announces SARC’s decision. I very much hope that Colin will take up this opportunity again, and let me send him abroad after all, if he decides to return to Macalester.

Katherine N. Yngve
Study Abroad Coordinator

Alum comments on depression

To the Editor:

I was disheartened to read the editorial “A frivolous lawsuit.” Apparently the editors of The Mac Weekly know nothing about depression or mental illness and are using their ignorance to perpetuate the harm that has been done to Mr. Kennedy.

In any given year, 9.5 percent of the population suffer from a depressive illness. Depression interferes with people’s ability to work, study, sleep, eat and enjoy once pleasurable activities. It is a biological illness related to unbalanced or disrupted brain chemistry. While depression can destroy lives, it is important to note that it is a treatable illness.

The editorial would have us believe that treatment involves “dealing with depression” and not “jetting off” to another country, which would “exacerbate his emotional turmoil.” Depression is treated with medications and psychosocial therapies. People who are depressed need support, encouragement, understanding, and patience. They need to get back into the rhythm of life as soon as they are able. Instead of understanding the impact that depression had on his GPA (but not his ability to speak German), the school blocked an important opportunity for him.

As a graduate of Macalester, I have always expected the college to understand and accept diversity. The college has come a long way in terms of race, culture, sexual orientation, and gender. It appears that it needs to work a little harder when it comes to disabilities, especially mental illness.

Sue Abderholden ’76
Executive Director
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill in Minnesota

Appeal to SARC overlooked

To the Editor:

In the past two editions of The Mac Weekly, many opinions have been expressed regarding Colin Kennedy, his wish to go abroad, and the pending lawsuit. Much of the criticism has relied on the assumption that decisions made by the Study Away Review Committee (SARC) are well founded. I do not wish to make any judgements on Kennedy's eligibility to study abroad but rather call into question the decision-making process.

As a sophomore I was initially denied to study abroad on the same program as Kennedy. I had reached a point in my German skills that demanded I study abroad rather than taking upper level courses unprepared. During the stressful and difficult appeals process, I had meetings with various committee members and administrators, and many other meetings were held on my behalf. While the administration understood, and did not disagree, that my intellectual progress depended upon my going abroad that spring, they were unwilling to budge. It became clear that they were unconcerned with my academic progress. During the last possible appeal the Curriculum Committee reluctantly accepted me and sent me a grudging e-mail with the decision.

This experience demonstrated to me that SARC is perfectly capable of making irresponsible decisions and getting backing from the administration. I am not the only student who has experienced these difficulties in the past. Colin Kennedy attempted to appeal his case, but the college refused to open a dialogue with him about their decision. Not only do I feel that SARC needs to rethink their review process and philosophy, but I believe it is imperative that appeals be addressed. Qualified applicants are being denied, and without any recourse the quality of these students' education is being severely undermined.

Kathryn Tomko ’03