1976-03-29; Central Michigan Life

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ft
en era
ebate cools
by KATHY JENNJNGS
CM LIFE Rvporter
'f General Education-^is it a
monster to be unleashed upon unsuspecting students and faculty or a
valuable and necefssary program for
jpreating "University educated"
graduates? *
.u That question could have raised
tempers and Jieated debate two
'years ago, but flow the, issue seems
jto h%ve cooled.
STUDENTS, faculty and ad-
ministrators interviewed seem to
agree a general education program
at CMU is necessary. For a bj-pad
education which1 creates a better
individual, a core of classes exposing
students to areas outside their
specialization is needed, they, say,
However, how such a program is to
be implemented causes
disagreement.   ,
Those interviewed were optimistic the Academic Senate is
ready to seriously consider the issue
as debate begins Tuesday.
"Every signal I have and the
mood I sense in the Senate is that
now is the time to talk about general
education," Sue Nichols, Academic
Senate chairperson said. "I think we
are ready to forget old problems and
start with a clean slate."
Nichols, assistant professor of
journalism, explained that Tuesday
Senators will discuss specific issues
of general education and determine
what consensus has been reached.
Issues the Senate will discuss in"
elude whether departments should
decide which general education
classes students should take or
whether a University-wide program
is preferable.
Senators ateo will discuss what
type of courses students will be
required to take, entrance and exit
exams needed to obtain credit, who
will be responsible for general
education administration and the
problems of transfer students in
completing general education
requirements,
The majority opinions expressed in debate will be drawn
together into a general education
proposal'by the Senate's Executive
.Board. This proposal then will be
debated on the floor of the Senate.
Volume 57 No, 70
Monday, March 29, 1976
**,*"-)- f*yyr$    •<*"-
Nichols said "if there is a dramatic
divergence of-opinioni'of some topics,
the Board <sould develop separate
proposals for debate."
PROPOSALS developed could
range, from a modification of the
present curricula-by-curricula
system of general education to a new
University-wide program. •
In the* curricula-.hy-curricula
program, each curricula contains its
own general education requirements
and students on that curricula must
take those classes to fulfill a major.
In the University-wide program, all
students take the same classes or
classes from a certain area no matter
which curricula they are on.
Most, people intervie'wed
favored a University-wide program.
Adelyn Dougherty, dean of the
School of Arts, and Sciences, said
she favors a University-wide
proposal because "anyone who looks
at' our catalog can see the great
differences in departmental
requirements. This can cause great
difficulty in determining what a
baccalaureate degree means," she,
said.
Tom Miles, associate professor
of   mathematics,   agreed,   saying,
.  "Right now each curricula has its
own general education
requirements. Nothing is consistent
and there is too much diversity.
Students should have some kind of
common, background."
Gary Hatch, student Academic
Senator, also is concerned about
present inconsistencies. ' "In my
major, psychology doesn't fill a
science requirement, but in some
curriculas it does. We need
something to standardize things and
get them more consistent," he said.
General education and proposals
for its implementation have been
discussed at CMU for at least 27
years. Until last year all proposals
were defeated or dropped due to
litth) agreement on issues. Last year,
the Senate postponed discussion onta
proposal from a Senate Ad Hoc
committee'until general education
testing could be conducted. 'After
these tests failed due to lack of
student response the Senate voted
.to rescind the action and begin
debate Tuesday.
DESPITE  obstacles   to   be
overcome before a proposal can' be
adopted, most are  optimistic the
(See "General..." page 9)
Author warns against winter
travel in Bermuda triangle
, i
„-:*-*- 'if
Charles Bprlltz
by DAVID N.BRABOY
* CM LIFE Reporter
Never sail a ship or fly an
airplane through the Bermuda
Triangle during the winter months,
advised Charles Berlitz, author of
the book, "The Bermuda Triangle",
to a near-capacity crowd in Warriner
Auditorium Thursday evening.
"WHAT WE ARE dealing with
is simply the complete disappearance of ships, planes and people
(in the Triangle) that take place in
times of good sailing and good flying
weather," &6 laid, ^'Wltfi no life rifts,
no" Wreckage','no Oil slick* and of
course, no survivors,"
Berlitz explained the greatest
number of vanished ships and planes
in the Triangle occurs during
December, January and February*
Those months also coincide with the
busiest tourist trade through the
Triangle, he said.
Throughout a 90-minUte slide
Association directors
4 P
slater informal caucus
\ \
Students may bring their questions aid concerns
ibetore the Student Association Board of Directors at an
linftjrmal caucus Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m. in the
'University Center Ballroom.
According to Pam Maxwell, student body president,
ittiere will be descriptions of the different organizations
represented on the Board at the caucus. She added there
xwill be schedules of those Boardmembers' office hours as
stroll as the office hours for at-large Board-represen-
fiatives.   Maxwell,   Plymouth "senior,   said;,  at-large.
members* offices are in the student government offices
in the lower level of the UC.
Although no adm inistrators are scheduled to appear
at the caucus, Maxwell Said if issues arise requiring
University clarification, she would ask the proper administrator to attend the next caucus.
The caucuses have been scheduled monthly.
Maxwell said. "It depends on the response," she said. "If
we have a lot of response at this one we may have one in
the next couple of weeks."
presentation, Berlitz described a
chilling history of the famed
Triangle, which is an area of. the
Atlantic Ocean stretching south
from the Bermuda Islands to Miami,
Fla. and then east to Puerto Rico,
During the past 70, years,
Berlitz said more than 100 ships and
planes have vanished and 1,000 lives
have been lost. But during the past
few years, the rate of disappearances have increased, Berlitz
claimed.
"Based on my own calculations,
the disappearances are still going oh
today on the ratio of a plane every
two weeks and a ship or yacht every
week," he said,/Berlitz reported the
Coast Guard said his estimate
"sounded just about right."
Berlitz said because of this
recent increase of vanishing^ and
publicity, public awareness of the
Triangle has grown to such a degree
people have written to the Coast
Guard asking if it is safe to sail or fly
there.
THE COAST GUARD responds
with a form letter, Berlitz said,
which reads, "The Bermuda Triangle
is a legendary area; it does not
exist," The letter then gives the
Triangle's coordinates. "So if it isn't
legendary," Berlitz said dryly, "at
least you'll know where it is."
Characteristics of the Triangle's
effect, Berlitz explained, is a complete loss of mechanical control of
instruments aboard ships and
planes. Compasses begin spinning,
lights fail, communication becomes
disrupted and an eerie electronic
. glow engulfs the crafts while within
a bright white mist, he described.
Berlitz theorized the Triangle's
mist-clouds may be" caused by "huge
magnetic   vortices"   which   weave,
through the area.
"Everything that happens in the
Triangle seems to be connected
somehow with the intensification of
magnetism," he said. "So what we
are talking about is if magnetism
could be brought to a high enough
intensity it might possibly change
the molecular composition of matter.
In other words .,.   disintegration."
Another unknown element of
the Bermuda Triangle is the sighting
of Unidentified Submarine Objects,
which are cylindrical in shape and
travel up to 200 knots beneath the
ocean.
"They're constantly seen by'
pilots and they've been seen on many
occasions to leave the water and go
up into the sky," he said.
SOMETIMES SHIPS are left
exactly as they are found, Berlitz
said, but without any crew or
passengers. These derelict ships are
becoming more and-more frequent,
he added. "It's as if there's been a
clear sweep of all passengers,"
Berlitz said.
"Some of the most recent
disappearances are rather unnerving," he added, "because they
seem to have something to do with
time itself."
He cited a case in which a
United Airlines 747 flying towards
Miamlsuddenly vanished from radar
for 10 minutes. When the plane
reappeared on radar and subsequently landed, an inspection of all
the passenger's and crew's watches
revealed tbey all had lost 10 minutes
while flyfng through a mist-like
cloud. Even the plane's chronometer
had lost 10 minutes.
Other cases Berlitz cited included a plane which had been
circling directly above an airfield,
but the pilot could only see the
ocean.
Berlitz's speech was sponsored
by Program Board.
Inside
• Development
director appointed—
Page 3
e DPS reports larcenies—Pago 8
• Sped til devices aid
hurlors-T-Page II
LAST DA K-Richard Nixon's last
days in office are the subject of a
book soon to be released (see
story page 2).
/
views
beliefs
I
over the years
... \-     !
by KEVIN LEE ,
> CM LIFE Reporter ■   v
(Editor's note; This is the second, of & three-port series dealing
with religion in the University and Ml. Pleasant community. In today's
article, 'students '•and faculty members discuss changing' attitudes,
'towards religion. The third and final article in the series will give local
clergy views 6f the current situations.)   ■
Ydars have passed since most CMU students, and faculty^were
. dragged by the hand, to Sunday church services with their parents.
. Now, most people seem to accept religion on their own tormsH  ' ,
1  Nearly ail 40\ people interviewed said their religious views and
attitudes have changed in the last 15 years. Most people claim their
faith is becoming based more upon an "individual" conception, of
religion,
> "MY RELIGlGUSbeliefs have become more poignant because I've
lost faith in evertying else," Dave Heyl, Mt, Pleasant senior, said.
As a Jew, Caiman Levich, chairperson of the Physics Department,
claimed his beliefs "have become less dogmatic."
Hifld Oweis, Jordan graduatestudent, &id."When I was younger,
I used to go to church and it was a very emotional experience, but now
I find myself asking questions about my faith that there are no answers
to." Oweis is a Greek Orthodox Christian.
_  u "I was brought up in a very strict Catholic family,  and when
*r changes were made in my church, I became very confused," Cindy
Dean, Coldwater junior, said. Dean recalls her childhood years when
she attended a Catholic school where students were required to attend
mass daily.
" "They've" changed confession and the priest no longer is the only
one to distribute the Eucharist, now they bave* a deacon that assists,"
she said.
Because of all the changes, Dean said she no longer attends mass
and has considered changing her faith.
MANY OTHER students claim they no longer attend church
s services because worship sessions have become too "institutionalized^"
among other things.
1 "I could not see any reason to go to church because.people in
church talk about peace and brotherhood "but right after services,
they're out in the parking lot running each other over trying to get
home," Rick Reich en bach, Bay City junior, said.
, "It was more of a habit to attend church. I stoppped going because
it wasn't changing my lifestyle," one student said.
"I used to go to church every Sunday and to Sunday school too, but
I stopped going because the church got too liberal," another student
'   added. "Itgot j£6 be the same thing—the same hymns and Bible stories,
nothing very spiritually enlightening." ,,
"I get more fullfillihent out of the Wineskin group session than I
did while attending the Methodist Church," Lee Ann Krat.se/ Clio
senior, said, "But I still go (to the Methodist) church when 1 visit my.
hometown."    . - '
temporary teaching" of the Quaker religion, where a member of the
congregation reads and interprets the word of God for the people.
"1 DON'T like people telling me what todo. The way they interpet
the reading and the way I do may he different," he said.
. Paul Dekar, professor of religion, said, "About 15 years ago, I Was
just starting to" get into the church circle, since then, my faith has,
become more deepened." Defray a chiid of Jewish and Russian Orthodox parents, said he attends Quaker services in Alma. •  p
Other students claim their attitudes towards religion have
remained the same.
t "When I was younger, I used t6 go to the church and fall asleep-
just to make my mom bappy to see that ^attended," Mike Overbeek,
Holland senior, said. "I still go and fall asleep just to make my mom
happy." (     > .
Despite the world's constantly changing technology and theories
of evolutions, many students believe any future changes in their faith
will be for the better, ,
"After I am finished with school, I plan to learn more about
religion, but for now, my studies take top priority," one student said.
ANOTHERstudent claimed, "Considering the fact that I'm going
to marry a minister, I think my attitudes towards religion will change." ,
One student claimed her beliefs-^-and the religion of the world— '
would decrease in the future. »
"People will'be looking for a reason to explain their existence but I
don't think it will be a> religious explanation—it will probably be
science-oriented."
Some students claimed their faith would have been affected
favorably if they had the opportunity to live while Jesus Christ Was
alive, Christ was a man whose teachings are responsible for most
contemporary and traditional religious in the West. .
"I think my faith might have been stronger—maybe," Oweins said,
Kerry Dudley, Benton Harbor sophomore, said, "From what I've
lead aboUt Him in the Bible, it would have been an experience to have
met him.''. ..    v ,       '.   '   .,
ONBSTUjbENTsaid he would have preferred to have lived then
because of the limitatipns of science and government. "By allowing
science and government to become involved in issues such as determining how long a person should be allowed to live, we are drifting
awkyifrom the concept of natural selection, a power of Godi"
Others contend living during that era woUld'hatye bad little effect----if hot an adverse effect--on their faith.      . .i     "
'       "I think! would have been One Of the people who laughed at him. t'
would not have been an kutomatic believer," ofte student said. ?
Another student said, "There was a man-named Jesus Christ who
came on to this earth, but that's all he \yas-a man." , .
i "(See "Religious ., ," page 101 P
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