The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, October 07, 1999, Image 13

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    n
Battalion
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PINION
Page 13 • Thursday, October 7, 1999
Has the grading system at Texas A&M
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cademia and
the overall
.intelligence
of college stu
dents has in
creased tremen
dously in the last
fey- generations.
For this reason, it is
dire for the Univer-
ELIZABETH
KOHL
■tl refe
geesv
;were
sity to catch up and accommodate fu
ture students with a grading system that
better measures their achievements.
I In the current grading system,
inany students find themselves
struggling to earn the grades they de
sire. Perhaps it was one poor test or
Ma\ be the attendance policy caused
orte’s grade to slip to a low A or B.
Rgardless of why it happened, one
"j"‘•femester’s worth of hard work can
be destroyed in a single class ses-
: Jon, causing students to ride the
7 a*;A borderline of letter grades.
’ u a s a result of borderline grades,
' some students try to improve their
' A 'ipR by taking “blow-off courses” or
"Rose in which they feel they can
..... easily get an A. Using up electives on
«iCihcllB asses t ^ iat are “easy,” as opposed to
iiHieing C: interesting, is common place. But be-
isekaii Caf*^Y lu se each class’s grading structure is
Based on the discretion of the profes-
|sor, an above-average grade is some-
Bmes near impossible to come by.
Students at large universities un-
erstand that professors, even with
he aid of teaching assistants, are lim
ited by time constraints in their test-
ng methods. For this reason, many
irofessors test what their students
have learned with multiple-choice
tests. Should one of these exams only
have 20 questions, a student missing
more than just one question will be
borderline between A and B.
While Aggies have become quite
efficient at taking multiple-choice
tests, there are better alternatives to
measuring student competency. Be
yond the stereotype of high difficulty
levels, a good essay test allows stu
dents to showcase the information
that they have learned. Even short-
answer or fill-in-the-blank tests could
be added to a few multiple-choice
questions to improve testing quality.
Testing large student bodies with
essays and short-answer tests has
been proven possible. Universities
such as Wake Forrest and Yale both
use these techniques more regularly
than multiple-choice exams. And
while students at those universities
are inquiring as to what the essay
question is going to be, at A&M the
only question is “What color Scant
ron do we need?”
Multiple-choice exams may seem
to be easier, but it is hardly an ac
creditation to the University that Ag
gies are undoubtedly some of the
best responders to any question fol
lowed by four answers, one being
the appropriate, the others wrong.
Borderline grades lead to improp
er measurement of students knowl
edge. A&M is on the same four-point
system that most state universities
are on. But by recognizing students
for “excellent, good, satisfactory or
passing” achievement, there are no
shades of gray in between. Students
falling slightly short of any letter
grade often find their hard work is
overlooked. Nearly every student en
rolled at A&M has found themselves
trying to hang on to that A, B or C.
An organization could be started
for all the disgruntled Aggies who re
ceived an 89 and only three grade
points in at least one class. Because
of this, A&M would have a much
better representation of its student
body’s abilities if it offered “ + /-”
grade points in addition to the cur
rent grading system. Even though
implementing a system like this
would bring some students GPRs
down, it has the ability to more
evenly distribute grades.
The main obstacle faced by cur
rent administration preventing them
from altering the measurement of
GPR is that it would simply be a has
sle. In the long run, however, the
University would find that a new sys
tem would show that there is a large
group of students who work hard
and simply make a mistake or two
that causes them to fall slightly short
of the next whole letter grade.
It is time for A&M to become
disenchanted with scantron ma
chines and the ultra simplicity of
the grading system. The student
body is becoming mentally diversi
fied and needs better methods to
their accomplishments.
a
Elizabeth Kohl is a junior
accounting major.
h r> o cm
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ROBERT HYNECEK/Tm R.vTTAOON
MAIL CALL
lAISSANQ!?
tball fans battle it out
Pattended the Tech-A&M game, this past
19 GMirlrttirday and witnessed Tech fans unsports-
iflus Bike behavior after the game. I must
)0WNW gee with Bryan Massey’s letter to The Bat-
*iu n 'H that their behavior was embarrassing,
link we should use their behavior as an
pie of what not to do at Kyle Field
n we host a team.
As Aggies, we hold ourselves to a higher
pidard of behavior. Accordingly, when oth-
schools’ fans come to our campus, we
, M ., ; should treat them with sportsmanlike
REuaousBndliness, not taunting.
^^Kln Aggieland, our character is a
hoj no*^t above, so let us make sure
■continue to set the example
the rest of the Big 12, Ags.
Matt Criswell
Class of ’00
There have been mixed reac-
s after the Tech and A&M
)tball game, from both the Ag-
ss and Raiders. Some are
ud and some are ashamed
ithe actions of the Red Raiders,
can understand that it was in
propriate for some stu
nts to chant comments about
e Aggies, but I also heard some of the
me comments made about the Raiders
by some Aggies in my section. Obviously,
£^|notall Aggies are the fair and polite stu-
> UBLEJEOP);
i.OVEOfK ;i
SO 3® f:« '
cjivEMEor dents that they claim to be.
I also understand that some of the Ag-
ies did not understand why we took down
our own goal post.
I was amazed, but proud, that our stu-
muw: ] ents were so full of spirit that they cele-
irated in such a way. Some Aggies may
hink it is ridiculous, but of all the schools in
exas, you would understand how you can at
|ne point, become overwhelmed with such
pride in your school.
Lauren Olson
Texas Tech University
I would just like to take the time to say
of you are very poor losers. For all of
/ou to act appalled at the actions of Tech
students is very wrong.
Some friends of mine went down to Col
lege Station for the game last year, and they
were cursed at, told that they sucked and
had objects thrown at them while sitting in
the student section.
Before you start attacking the actions of
others, maybe you should look at your-
At least our students do not assault
eachother.
I am a student at Texas Tech, and I am
tired of hearing about Aggies excuses about
the loss on Saturday. As far as being undig
nified, I distinctly remember last season at
Kyle Field when a group of Aggies threw gum
and other things at me during yell call, or
whatever it is called, because I was holding
my guns up. Boy, that sounds like real
sportsmanship conduct to me. Running out
on the field is just a horrible thing.
Our traditions may not be as popular as
yours, but stop saying that we have none.
We do have one tradition, and that is beat
ing you every year.
Eric Shaw
Texas Tech University
A&M may have a fine sports
program, but in the eight years I
have been in College Station, I have
seen no difference between the way
Aggies treat visiting fans after a
home victory, in any sport, than the
way we get treated when we lose
on the road. The only difference is
we classify our behavior as show
ing school spirit, while their be
havior is touted as a lack of
class.
Gregory Salata
Class of ’99
Texas Tech and A&M have always been
big rivals, and our behavior was no less dig
nified then A&M’s would have been if they
had won. It is amazing how righteous people
become after losing a game. However, sadly
I have to say that you are wrong about
A&M’s “dignified” school spirit.
I have personally been to football games
in the past between Tech and A&M in which
I was yelled at, cussed at, given the finger to
and literally pushed around by A&M stu
dents because of my support for Texas
Tech. Next time, let me encourage you to
watch your fellow students and fans, you
are not as morally upright as you may think
you are.
In the future, if you cannot handle losing
or winning gracefully, stay home.
Luke Stapleton
Texas Tech University
also M
selves.
Open
•IV
Ian Fairchild
Texas Tech University
The Battalion encourages letters to the editor. Letters
must be 300 words or less and include the author’s name,
class and phone number.
The opinion editor reserves the right to edit letters for
length, style, and accuracy. Letters may be submitted in per
son at 013 Reed McDonald with a valid student ID. Letters
may also be mailed to:
The Battalion - Mail Call
013 Reed McDonald
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
77843-1111
E-mail: battletters@hotmail.com
special \ SERIES
DNA trials and tribulations
D NA technology is paving the
way toward a better judicial
system. However, many of the
legal system’s own are resisting
DNA’s impact on appellate laws.in fa
vor of established convictions.
The National Commission on the
Future of DNA Evidence, a high-lev
el study committee appointed by At
torney General Janet Reno, recently
recommended that convicts be al
lowed to file appeals based on new
DNA evidence, even after appeal
deadlines have expired. This recom
mendation would allow trials to be
reopened, or at least revisited, in
hopes that wrongfully convicted
person could be exonerated.
The proposal — which is not legal
ly binding — has already been criti
cized as naively ignorant of the on
slaught of appeals sure to come if
Reno uses the committee’s advice to
shape Justice Department policy.
Moreover, the recommendation chal
lenges the finality of criminal verdicts.
But these criticisms are unfounded.
To be reconsidered, appeals would
have to fall under a number of guide
lines, which means dockets will not
be unreasonably burdened. Besides,
the supposition that criminal convic
tions are more important than
truth is paradoxical to the
foundation of the judi
cial system.
There always is
the fear that al
lowing appeals
will increase
the possibility
of an overly
heavy burden
on judges. But
assuming that
case loads
would increase
drastically by al
lowing convicts to
appeal may be an er
roneous assumption.
The commission advises
that prosecutors allow convicts to ask
for appeals but make no guarantees
on the success of the appeals. The ba
sis of the each appeal is still consid
ered on its merits and the case’s ini
tial evidence, not only the new DNA
evidence. A new appeal does not
LEGAL
ISSUES
Part 4 of 5
DNA
evidence:
Should
courts allow
genetic
evidence
after trials
are over?
guarantee an over
turned conviction.
The committee’s
executive director,
Chris Asplen, has
admitted as much
to “Court TV”. Ac
cording to an Asso
ciated Press article,
he told the network
that there are many
cases in which the
DNA evidence
would have no real
effect on the origi
nal verdict.
However, in cas
es where DNA evi
dence would clearly
alter the initial deci
sion, Asplen said
“the prosecutor
should not object
on a statute of limi
tations grounds.”
Therefore, the
opponents of the
commission’s find
ings are being reactionary. Allowing
convicts to appeal — even after the
appellate deadlines have expired —
probably will not slow an already
sluggish court system.
Even if courts are some
what burdened by the
appeals, law en
forcers should real
ize that bogus
convictions are
more of a detri-
j*| ment to justice
than over
whelming case
loads. After all,
there is no
statute of limita
tions on the truth.
Retrying cases
may feel like a bur
den to district attor
neys, police officers and
other law enforcers, but if these
officials are willing to settle for any
thing less than the truth, perhaps they
were not meant for legal professions.
And people should remember that
the presumption of innocence is one
of the basic structural principles in
the legal system, much in the same
O
RUBEN OELUNA
/Tut: Battalion
way that the Hippocratic Oath is
fundamental to the medical profes
sion. The burden of proof lies on
plaintiffs to prove the guilt of defen
dants, not on defendants to prove
their own innocence.
If new DNA weakens the prosecu
tion’s arguments from the prior trial,
prosecutors have not made a convinc
ing case, and the convict deserves a
retrial anyway.
As Asplen said, “ [DNA] isn’t like an
alibi witness coming out of nowhere.”
DNA evidence is a reliable source,
when properly collected and stored.
Scientist and deputy director of the
commission, Lisa Forman, said DNA
is often used in cases such as rapes
because of its impartiality.
“The science involved is blind to
the adversary system,” Forman said
in The New York Times. “This is the
most dispassionate type of evidence.”
Those contesting the purpose of
the proposal do not argue with DNAs
reliability, but they obviously are dis
counting the usefulness of such a
tool. DNA evidence will maximize the
benefits of DNA in legal proceedings,
rather than uselessly hindering cases.
To date, retrials triggered by DNA
evidence have resulted in the release
of 67 people (62 in the United States,
5 in Canada), according to the Inno
cence Project, a group at the Cardozo
School of Law that attempts to over
turn convictions using DNA evidence.
If DNA evidence has already affect
ed the lives of 67 wrongly convicted
people, releasing them from an unde
served punishment, imagine the af
fects it could have on the multitudes
of prisoners across the nation.
Law enforcement not obliged to
using DNA evidence in appeals would
be better off remembering that it is
better to let a guilty man go free than
to have an innocent one suffer.
Convictions may look favorable to
justice on the front page of a newspa
per, but if they do not reflect justice,
then they are of no use.
It is in everyone’s best interests if
prosecutors bring the guilty to justice.
And with the power of DNA, justice
can be served unequivocally.
Beverly Mireles is a junior
microbiology major.