This semester's class registration provided more than its share of problems. In an effort to solve some of those difficulties, the College will hurl yet another curve ball at both students and faculty. Due to the software difficulties, a majority of 100-level classes will be made into consent only classes.
The new registration system will not allow faculty to reserve some seats and not all for a specific group of students. Otherwise, it will incorrectly count the number of students enrolled in the class. To solve this problem, all of the seats will need to be reserved. "We only have to do this in November, and never again," said Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Bob Geitz at Tuesday's General faculty meeting.
Introductory classes geared toward first-year students will be most affected by this problem, but other classes will feel the crunch as well. Geitz said, "In arts and sciences, that's where the bulk of the reservations are, but there are some at some other levels as well."
The problem does not actually lie with the registration interface, PRESTO, but with the file-serving program BANNER that hosts PRESTO. According to Geitz, the computing center has installed some upgraded hardware and afforded BANNER more memory. "We have every reason to believe this will work smoothly," said Geitz, assuring skeptical faculty members. The registration difficulties not only provide frustrations for students, but faculty as well. Geitz urged all faculty members to use the web-based consent process, instead of the CAL labeling procedure. By using the CAL, it creates more footwork for the registrars office, which is not equipped to input the data.
Students will receive a list of classes being affected by this difficulty in their normal registration packet. In order to sign up for these affected classes, students will have to sign up at department offices for their reserved spot. Department secretaries will then input the students into the PRESTO system. One of the problems here is that faculty will need to give out their PRESTO login names and passwords. "This violates all kinds of principals of computer security," said Geitz. But, he assured everyone that their passwords can be changed easily.
Most of the shortcomings of PRESTO have been addressed, and Geitz hopes for a more pleasant registration procedure. "As far as we know all of the problems that occurred in the last registration have been addressed. I don't really foresee any big problems."
Attempts once again have been arranged for commencement of pre-trial hearings of defendant Delucas Lucas. The new pre-trial date is set for Nov 19 at the Lorain County Courthouse. This scheduled hearing has been made after multiple broken trial dates and change of council for Lucas.
James Burge is currently Lucas' lawyer. The trial date was postponed numerous times primarily due to the absence of Lucas' first lawyer, Kirk Perry. Lucas was represented for a short period of time by William Willis.
Lucas has long been awaiting a pre-trial hearing, after being arrested Sept. 15, 1998. He was 19 years at the time of his arrest, and was enrolled as a senior at Oberlin High School. Lucas is also a former Marriott employee who worked at Stevenson. He is accused of breaking into Fairchild and attacking a student in her room on Sept. 6, 1998.
The trial was originally supposed to take place on June 28 of this year. Because the pre-trial has been pushed back, no further date has been arranged for the trial.
Charles Newkirk, husband of former Dean of Students Charlene Cole-Newkirk, has filed a lawsuit against Oberlin College for unfair hiring practices.
The suit, filed Oct. 12, claims that Newkirk was rejected for a position even though he was fully qualified. A Caucasian applicant was hired instead of Newkirk, who is African American.
The lawsuit claims that Caucasian applicants were treated more favorably in the application process. Newkirk claims that he was subjected to "humiliating and disparaging treatment" unlike other applicants.
Newkirk also said that while applying for the part-time job he inadvertently touched a secretary's elbow. The College notified his wife, Cole-Newkirk, several days later referring to the incident as "sexual harassment."
Moreover, the suit claims that the College is responsible for articles printed in the The Oberlin Review. Newkirk claims the articles implied that he had been involved in multiple incidents of sexual harassment. Newkirk said the Review used members of Cole-Newkirk's staff as a source. Cole-Newkirk's staff was known to have conflicts with both Cole-Newkirk and her husband. The statements were then published with "reckless disregard for their truth or falsity."
Al Moran, vice president of College Relations said, "Based on the history of the school, I would say the allegations are absolutely, positively without merit. We have a 160-year old affirmative action plan."
The suit asks that the College, which was the first in the country to be interracial, develop a plan of affirmative action as well as paying an excess of $25,000 for damages.
In addition to this suit, Newkirk currently has a suit pending against the Review.
Copyright © 1999, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 128, 7, October 29, 1999
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