NEW
THE BATTALION
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tinued from pagel
in 1994 and that increasinj
lumber of professors will
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nt access to professors,
her goals of the campaign
as increasing the numbei
holarships and better all-
programs, will alsobenefn
/erage student.
Excellence in athletics will
itely enhance the life of
udents,” Gates said,
ms far, the campaign has
1 money for 19 endowed
dation Excellence
ds. scholarships given by
exas A&M Foundation lo
ity students. In total, $92
>n has been raised for
arships, including 585
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raduafe fellowships and
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guished faculty,
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taut because of the loom-
its in state funding,
on't bother (lobbying
ifficials for more money),
want to be supportive of
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e said that Gates has
the University cope with
: cuts by putting an empha-
spending efficiently.
; importance of research
fcM was discussed by
who believe it distin-
s A&M from other stale
Is and those who
sod concern that funding
:li will do little to help
erage student,
hat is done in the
:h labs in the morning is
in the classroom in the
ion,” Gates said,
tent Anne Armstrong
that One Spirit, One
will give the University
ice to improve its weak
ms and boost its ranking
top universities in i
ne Spirit, One Vision)
nke us not just in the top
maybe in the very top,"
ong said.
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The Battalion
Page 3 • Monday, March 31, 2003
Dropping the Q-bomb
Today marks the deadline for students to Q-drop classes
By Lydia Stout
THE BATTALION
IVAN FLORES • THE BATTALION
April Ponce, a junior geology major, had
problems adjusting to her engineering course
load as a freshman, but because she felt afraid
to use her Q-drops, she ended up with a GPR
that she is still trying to bring up.
Unfortunately, this is the experience of
many new students who may not know when it
is best to use their Q-drops.
“1 don’t think freshmen really understand Q-
drops because the policy isn’t explained as well
as it should be at the very beginning,” Ponce
said. ”1 was scared that if I used Q-drops in my
freshman year, it would make me look like a
bad student.”
Today is the last day students can Q-drop
a class, and students must make a decision
that could affect their entire college
\ careers. The decision to Q-drop a class
for new students can be difficult
because they must decide whether it
, is necessary at such an early time to
/ use one of the three chances they
/ have to avoid a failing grade.
“If I had been more comfortable
and known more about the policy, 1
would’ve dropped (the class),” Ponce
I regret it now, but I didn’t want to waste
my Q-drops, because with such a limited
amount, I thought I might need it later.”
Since then, Ponce has found the academic
benefits that come from Q-dropping a diffi
cult class that could negatively affect a GPR.
Ponce said that when she went to her adviser
last year to Q-drop Math 152, her adviser coun
seled her to take the course again in a smaller
class environment and did not make her feel
inadequate for dropping the class.
“I am very glad I did it because I got a
chance to take it over again at a community
college with more individual attention,” she
said.
said. “That is really what I needed.”
Like many students, Ponce has ideas on
what to change within the Q-drop policy to bet
ter fulfill student’s needs.
“I think the Q-drop policy should include
one drop allowed each year with a limit of four
and a later Q-drop date, so students can better
assess whether or not to drop,” she said. “The
current Q-drop date forces students that may
have only had one or two tests to
decide whether they can pass or
fail, and in situations when pro
fessors curve or simplify their
tests later in the semester, a Q-
drop could be misused in a class
they really could’ve passed.”
Even with her disapproval of
the cutoff date of Q-drops, Ponce
believes unlimited Q-drops could
encourage laziness in students and
appropriate limits inspire students
to work hard.
William Marlow, an undergradu
ate -nuclear engineering adviser,
agrees. He said the Q-drop policy is
sufficient for students’ needs with
the number that is currently offered.
“I am not convinced you need a large
amount of Q-drops because then you breed an
attitude of throwaway courses,” he said.
It is a good resource to have, but use the three
opportunities to drop wisely, Marlow said.
Stephen Davis, a sophomore international
studies major, agrees that limited Q-drops
encourage students to be responsible and not
depend on taking classes over and over, but
thinks that the last day to drop should be later
in the semester.
“When the last day to Q-drop comes, you
could still have two or three more tests,” Davis
said. “How can you make a judgment with only
half of the information available?”
The choice to Q-drop puts pressure on stu
dents to estimate their potential grades and
make a decision based on limited information.
“(Dropping a class) is nerve-racking because
it is hard to know if the class if worth it or if
you will need the Q-drop later,” Davis said.
Like Ponce, the question of whether to Q-
drop came early in Davis’ academic career. His
decision to use two of his Q-drops in his first
semester has eliminated problems associated
with bringing up a low GPR.
“If it wasn’t for Q-drops, I
wouldn’t have the GPR I have
now. I believe they are most
important to use in the first two
years, when your GPR is just
building,” he said.
His experiences Q-dropping
Physics 218 and Math 151 gave
him a fresh start in his college
career.
“If 1 hadn’t Q-dropped I
would probably have stayed in
the engineering department to
see if I could make it, but in the
end I would have had a low GPR
and a lack of interest in my
field,” he said.
Davis said that when he
decided to drop his classes, his
experience with his adviser was
very critical and impersonal, lacking the advice
he needed at the time.
“When I went to my advising office to drop
my classes, my adviser seemed to put me in the
category of a slacker and told me smugly to
‘work harder’ as if I wasn’t working hard
enough already,” Davis said.
Although he lost money, Davis said he
would gladly trade lost money and hours to
keep his grades high.
Q-dropping has also allowed Wade Butaud,
a junior nuclear engineering major, to excel in
his college career.
“(Q-dropping) was one of the best decisions
I ever made,” Butaud said. “When I retook my
class, I had a better grip on college life and I’ve
excelled with A’s since then.”
a
Q-dropping was
one of the best
decisions I ever
made. When I re
took the class, I had
a better grip on
college life.
— Wade Butaud
junior nuclear
engineering major
Aggie" Greeks
..BECOMING THE BEST
DID YOU KNOW...
• There are approximately 4,000 students in the 52 Greek
organizations at TAMU making us the 2 nd largest student
organization
■ The All Greek grade point average is HIGHER than the All
University grade point average
■ Aggie Greeks donate more than 8,000 hours of service
time and $25,000 to the community each year
■ Fraternities and sororities model the way with their risk
management initiatives, leadership programming, and
campus involvement opportunities
■ TAMU is home to several award-winning fraternities and
sororities with plans for every single organization to be
recognized as “the best” in the nation
• That Aggie Greeks came to campus on March 31, 1973
making us 30 years old today...
HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY
AGGIE GREEKS!
psieAmt a
SPECIAL ADVANCE SCREENING!
of
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
Rudder Theatre
8:00pm Tuesday
April 1, 2003
FREE ADMISSION
while passes last*
‘Students may pick up
complimentary passes at the
MSC Box Office.
Seating is limited and not guaranteed. Please arrive early.
Arrive Early! Seating is first come, first served!