The Prospector (Helena, Mont.) 1916-2015, April 07, 2004, Image 2

FROM THE EDITORS 2 Attendance policy absurdity ly, but insecurities are usually ridiculous anyway. I admit that attendance is required for some classes due to class participation being a key factor in the grading process. Being an English major I have to go to class because we discuss what was read, if I never went I would be lost when I had to write a paper or take a test. Not all courses are as such, for example ANY textbook lecture course. The notes can always be retrieved or the class can—usually seen in larger schools—be taped. My point is, we wear big kid pants now and are able to make decisions on our own. Responsibility is learned in this way. Bullying our grades isn’t going to teach anything. The choice to attend or not to attend lies in the hands of the person paying for the education. If I pay, then I decide. If mom and dad are covering the costs, I better get my butt up and out the door. I wouldn’t have to worry about attendance because my life would cease to exist if I brought home any­ thing lower than a “B.” All in all, the policy is absurd and makes me ask stupid questions that cause my brain to ache as I search for the answers. That said, have a happy Easter weekend and eat lots of choco­ late and eggs, especially you fresh­ man—it’s almost the end of the year and you still have to put on your “ 15.” T h e P r o s p e c t o r A student publication of C a rroll C o llege Editors in C h ief Staffers Shantil Siaperas Patrick Beck Stephanie Twining Shawn Buane A d v e rtising Director Kayla Corrigan Vanessa Lanz Angela Fulkerson Faculty A d v iser Annie Heffelfmger Prof. Brent Northup Katie Lang Interns Bobby Lewis Mary Ahmann Michael McMahon Jessica Cronnelly Ali Nistler Eamon Hansen Manabu Ozawa Abby Kloker Vanessa Lanz Jessica Saunders Emily McVey Photographer Lana Runkle -Titus Ben Steele Katie Stiel Kathryn Wilson Mary Ahmann All students of all majors and years can join the Prospector Staff. If interested in joining our staff, contact Editor Shantil Siaperas and/or Stephanie Twining at 447- 4521. The Prospector welcomes expressions of the views of its readers. Letters must be signed and must include the address and telephone number of the writer. Letters are subject to editing for brevity. HOW TO CONTACT US: Mail your letters to Carroll Prospector; Saints Central #251018; 1601 North Benton Avenue; Helena, MT 59625 or e-mail us at: prospector@ carroll.edu Editor Shantil Siaperas Attendance policies are for toddlers. They exist in junior high and high school because the kids are not paying and are forced by law to attend. This is understandable. In college, on the other hand, the students or students’ parents are paying for their presence to learn. . They enter college not because they have to but because they want to. My question, is why are our grades threatened if we decide not to go to class? Obviously the grade will reflect the attendance. Then perhaps if the stu­ dent’s grade is suffering, he/she will decide it’s time to get out of bed and go. This method is often called “live and learn.” The underlying issue here is not the students showing up at a class, after all, the college already has its money. Perhaps it has something to do with an insecurity on the part of the professor. If a student hardly ever goes to class and then aces all the tests, homework assign­ ments, and papers, it wouldn’t reflect too well on the teaching and learning process. This situation is highly unlike- Carroll’s own 12-step program Editor Stephanie Twining While this month’s FOCUS/cam- pus ministry controversy may not be everyone’s idea of a “positive experi­ ence,” I think the Carroll community needs to take a step back and try to focus on the encouraging aspects of what is really happening at our school. Now that the forum is over and everyone has been able to reflect on what was said, I hope that everyone may come to view the debate as the first step in the long healing process needed so desperately by Carroll at this time. As I see it, our own progress so far is surprising similar to Alcoholics Anonymous’ twelve-steps to recov­ ery program. Step number one is admitting we have a problem. Well, we just did that! A five-hour forum followed by two weeks of vicious argument proves that not everyone agrees with the decisions being made. The next step involves the belief that a Power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity. This is where I think Carroll is right now. In talking this issue to death with students and faculty on both sides of the argument, one concurrence seems to be that only God can help us now. Some members of the school have even made the decision to give this issue to God and pray for the best. This decision is the first phase of step number three. We’re making progress. Both groups involved in the con­ troversy are concerned with loving one’s neighbor and spreading God’s word, aren’t they? These two groups seem to be such an unfortunate com­ bination to be at war with one anoth­ er. It is time to get over all the dam­ aged feelings and continue our long trek toward step number four: making a searching and fearless moral inven­ tory of our community. With two steps down and ten to go, it will be a long time before Carroll is a hurt-free campus. But for now, I would like to commend all those involved in the forum for getting us all through step one. Because of these people, Carroll’s brokenness will heal and, in time, we will be a whole com­ munity once again. better Ingredients. Better Pizza, carroll students get a large one top. pizza for only $6.99 delivered call 442-7272 or visit us at 1433 11th ave across from the mall VOLUME 87, NO. 6 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2004