Get out while you can
College should take five years instead of four, urged Claire Harlin in her March 25 Viewpoint "The four-year phenomenon." At first, it seemed a spoof, arguing that because students "are maturing sooner" they should be treated as children longer. But April Fool's Day is almost a week away, and Harlin, alas, must be taken seriously.
In fact, she is worse than wrong. College years need to be shortened. In part, because of what Harlin recognizes as "the ever-rising tuition tab." The UT Board of Regents, in recognition of the increased productivity of workers in the economy in general, can keep professors in the academy only by raising their pay. Since the productivity of teachers does not increase, tuition rises faster than inflation. And in a productive society, tuition will ever continue to rise. Parental generosity, student loans and legislative contributions have limits that we now approach.
The earlier maturity of students offers one answer: Learn "college" material in secondary school. And indeed, we see many students entering UT with Advanced Placement credits worth almost a year of college. We should require of all entrants the ability to write, do calculus, speak a foreign language and demonstrate mastery of a common core of knowledge. Then, in college, students could move quickly to upper level or professional studies. Europe takes secondary education seriously and does not indulge in the delayed adolescence of four "bright college years," so pleasant and beloved by American alumni. And we note that efficiency in education does not seem to have hurt Europe.
Harlin is right, that in today's world, many may expect to change careers later on, but that would seem to argue in favor of postponing some specialized education until mid-life, rather than lengthening the earlier years of college.
Francis Dummer Fisher Senior Research Fellow LBJ School of Public Affairs
Organization orientation essential
I was extremely disappointed to hear that New Student Services will be restricting the opportunities of incoming freshmen to learn more about their student organization options during summer orientations ("Groups can't table at orientation," March 26). Like many students, I became acquainted with a few student organizations during my orientation barbeque. I then became involved as soon as fall began, and those activities have defined and enriched my college experience. And no, Graduate Assistant Rachel Horner - my extracurricular activities haven't hurt my GPA.
I cannot say that I am all that surprised. Orientations at this University and others across the country have become more and more about indoctrinating students with the party line on diversity and campus politics and less and less about helping students find their niche. Oh, and we mustn't forget the important role orientation plays in making sure every freshman knows where to go to get their free condoms - reckless promiscuity rocks!
Student leaders must speak up with a unified voice and tell New Student Services that these changes are completely unacceptable. History shows that most students find the groups they will be a part of during orientation and that most groups identify and recruit prospective members during these sessions. Ending them will lead to a bland campus, devoid of activities and fraught with students unclear about how they will will really fit into our massive community.
Tony McDonald Young Conservatives of Texas former chairman Economics and government senior
China, can you hear us?
John Kim wrote an impassioned tirade to the citizens of China ("A message to the citizens of China," March 27), but really, unless China's citizens are subscribing to The Daily Texan en-masse, one wonders how they would even get it - or why they would even care.
Elaine Wang Plan II and English sophomore
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