Senate discusses uses of old tests
By LAURA ROMPF
Assistant News Editor
At its first meeting of the new year Wednesday night, the Student Senate addressed the issue of professors using past tests as study guides.
"The real problem is that the use of old tests can give students a major advantage. They will help students to have a good idea about which questions will be asked," said Philip Dittmar, the Fisher Hall senator. "This is an unfair advantage because from dorm to dorm, test files are unequal."
Last semester certain students were given an advantage by acquiring specific tests from other residents living in their halls. The same tests were not available to students in all dorms or to off-campus students, Dittmar said.
"The fact is, if a teacher offers an old test as a study tool, that's great. But if kids are buying tests to study by rather than reading the book and studying their notes, it is not fair that they do better than students who are studying the correct way."
Dittmar said that he will continue work on this issue.
"I would like to see either teachers put tests in the library or on the Internet so that students all have equal access," he said. "Across the board, all students should have equal access. There must be high integrity in the teachers' action or our actions. The fact is, test files in the dorms do not equate."
Dittmar explained that he will address the Campus Life Council and try to have this issue addressed in DuLac.
In other senate news:
The nomination for Dan Peate as senate parliamentarian was unanimously approved.
A resolution in honor of Father Theodore Hesburgh was passed unanimously. The resolution recognizes Father Hesburgh "for being a true model of servant-leadership to follow" and congratulates him for winning the Congressional Gold Medal and the Medal of Freedom, the highest award given by the United States government to a civilian.
uAnother resolution was passed ordering the Club Coordination Council, the Off-Campus Council, the Senior Class Council and the Freshman Class Council to submit a transition report to the senate.
Student body president Micah Murphy announced that the administration and the Hall Presidents' Council agreed to name the student section at basketball games "Matt's Outrageous Bunch," or the MOB.
Murphy added that SafeRide will begin in approximately two weeks.
Joe Cassidy, Director of Student Activities and the LaFortune Student Center, also addressed the senate.
"Cushing is currently under construction," Cassidy said. "Therefore, SUB movies will be moved to stadium seating in 101 DeBartalo."
uAlso, a banner offering condolences to Seton Hall University, where three students died in a dorm fire on Tuesday, will be available for students to sign.
All News Stories for Thursday, January 20, 2000
