Page 4
BYJENNYKRAAR
I just can't imagine sitting
through another freshman
BHTC class, no I just couldn't
. . . not until I realized I
could handle the course
materials from a completely
unique perspective - from a
teacher's point of view. Real
izing that I would have an
opportunity to help lead class
discussions, confront students'
ideas through their papers and
tests, as well as have a say
in how the BHTC material is
to be approached, I grabbed
the chance to attend a BHTC
class, once again.
There are a number of
teachers who chose to seize
this role. The selection of
T.A.'s is on a personal level.
Individual teachers will either
select an outstanding student
from a previous BHTC or other
class, who they feel they can
work with, or have a student
recommended to them by a
fellow teacher. Sometimes
the initiative will come from
an individual student, who
will ask to become a T.A.
Jonathan Malino was concern
ed that there was no structure
in, or standard for the selec
tion of T.A.'s.
What incentive do T.A.'s
have for pursuing this role?
One person had social as well
as academic reasons. She
wantedVo experience teaching
and "get to know freshmen."
A special education major
wanted to see if she was
capable of putting ideas
across effectively and was
looking forward to working
with students outside of class.
Another T.A. felt she could
gain skills in writing her
own papers by reading and
evaluating freshmen essays.
She was influenced by the
illusion that she could receive
four credits for the effort as
well as fulfill the senior BHTC
requirement. Besides wanting
to work with a particular
teacher, money, needed for
the next semoster's expenses,
was the motive for one T.A.
Unfortunately, for some,
receiving money was another
misapprehension.
Within the BHTC depart
ment there has been a contro
versy over the type of rewards
deserved by T.A.'s. In the
past the choice of whether
to pay the T.A.'s or give
credits was up to each pro
fessor. This semester up to
two credits are being given
while money is not. Ed
Burrows, the department head,
said that some professors felt
that there was not enough
work involved for the T.A.,
since they had already en
countered the subject-matter
Value of T.A.'s Questioned
to deserve payment. Dr.
Burrows' T.A. felt that T.A.'s
should receive money, because
their duties are comparable to
a job and very time consuming.
She also drew a correlation
between T.A.'s and graduate
students, who get paid for
their work in teaching under
graduates. Another T.A.
pointed out that T.A.'s in
other departments get paid
for their work.
"I didn't know how much
being a T.A. involved or else
I probably wouldn't have done
it," one T.A. confided. This
quote is just one of the many
indications that the T.A.'s
exact role is not explicit. Ed
Burrows said that the BHTC
staff has talked, in a general
manner, about the duties a
T.A. can carry out yet no roles
were definitely outlined.
Being "muddy" on exactly
what the department as a
whole expected her to do, was
the feeling one assistant
expressed. Unclear official
guidelines, according to her,
allowed for flexibilities. On the
whole, exactly what and how
much a T.A. does, is left to
each particular teaching
team.
A number of T.A.'s express
ed that there need to be
specific standards set for
exactly what T.A.'s duties
entail. Without such guide
lines, some T.A.'s are swimm
ing around not knowing
exactly what to do, and turn
to the teacher they are aiding -
who is equally confused on
the issue. This leads to
cases in which T.A.'s are either
not doing enough, not living
up to their potentiality or are
overworking by doing too
much.
The weekly BHTC staff -
T.A. meetings are an attempt
to share teaching methods
and approaches to the mater
ial, and simultaneously to give
the T.A.'s a greater sense of
their function. "These meet
ings are the biggest waste of
time," stated a conscientious
T.A. She felt that there was
not enough sharing of ideas
and that, more significantly,
there is a lack of respect for
those ideas that are shared.
A multiplicity of reactions
to the idea of T.A.'s were
revealed by their students.
That T.A.'s can be a middle
opinion which allows the
teacher to be more in touch
with the students point of
view, was looked on as a
positive aspect. One student
said that he values the student
student intellectual relation
ship that the institution
inspires. However, another
student said she didn't have
The Guiltordian
the nerve to use the T.A.
outside of class because it was
very demeaning, while one
student said that his T.A.
never opened his mouth.
Another student stated that
during discussions the T.A.
made up for the deficiencies
of the teacher. On the whole,
students expressed that the
idea of a T.A. was a poten
tially valuable and inspiring
aspect of BHTC - the ambi
guity of the extent of the T.A.'s
obligations seemed to be the
only problem.
Alternate answers to this
dilemma are being formulated.
One idea was to have a four
credit advanced level course
for T.A.'s. In addition to
aiding a teacher, the T.A.
would deal with the same
theme as BHTC freshmen,
but in a more intellectually
Union News
BY DONNA HURLEY
Another week at Guilford,
and the Student Union has
activities and services waiting
for your participation.
Tuesday night's movie is
The Boys in the Band (Stern
berger, 8:15 p.m.). This film
is an intriguing exploration of
the homosexual experience.
Set at a birthday party, the
story unfolds as a poignant,
bitter, honest view of adult
relationships is revealed.
Starring the original Broadway
cast of actors, this film version
of The Boys in the Band is
an intense venture into another
way of life.
Wednesday, Nov. 9, the
Greensboro Police Depart
ment's Crime and Loss Preven
tion Division wiil be sponsoring
an engraving clinic. From
10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the
officers will engrave your
stereos, radios, cameras,
bicycles, or other valuables
with a personal identification
number. If these valuables
are later stolen, they can be
more easily returned to you.
The clinic also features an
exhibit in the Crime and Loss
Prevention van. The clinic will
be located between Founders
Hall and Milner Dorm, and is
brought to you courtesy of the
Union Recreation Committee.
On Friday, Nov. 11, Barry
Lyndon comes to Guilford.
This winner of four Academy
Awards will be shown at 8:15
p.m. in Dana Auditorium.
Starring Ryan O'Neill and
Marisa Berenson, Stanley
Kubrick's saga of 19th-century
adventure is excellent tech
nically, as well as superb in
content. Kubrick worked for
complex manner. This would
entail an extra class time solely
for T.A.'s in which teachers
would present possible educa
tion techniques. Currently,
the details for this brainstorm
have not been completely
arrived at.
Theoretically, the institution
of T.A.'s is very much a part
of Guilford's philosophy. This
encourages students' sharing
of ideas which contribute to
the "spirit of the community."
Also T.A.'s provide a chance
for students to receive individ
ual attention, an integral
element of Guilford, being
a small college. The reality
of T.A.'s actual effect on the
community had to be left as a
decision to the T.A. him/her
self, rather than to an outline
as a consensus of what the
department, as a whole,
expects of a T.A.
over three years to produce
the special costumes, scenery,
staging, and lighting that
authentically take the viewer
to Europe in the 1800's. In
this setting, Ryan O'Neill por
trays Lyndon, a character
drawn from William
Thackeray's novel of a happy
go-lucky rogue that is alter
nately a spy, soldier, and
gambler. A classic among
historical dramatic cinema,
Barry Lyndon is a movie well
worth seeing. (Note: this film
runs slightly over three hours.)
One last note: Wish movies
like Star Wars, A Star Is Born,
or Rocky played at Guilford?
Join the Film Committee and
do something instead of just
wishing! Contact Tyler Sauer,
or leave a message for him on
the Union Office door (upstairs
Founders, office suite). This is
the way to participate in the
great film series at Guilford!
Senate Minutes
Oscar Newkirk was selected
to serve on the Administrative
Committee while Randy
Catoe, Joe Ellington, and
Christopher Fields were
appointed to the Academic
Usage Committee.
November 8 is the deadline
for delegates to the Model
U.N. Security Council at
UNC-G. See Cathy Sebo, if
interested.
Discussion of Visitation
hours was led by Becky
Sensemam. The major concern
of the discussion was 24 hour
visitation. A survey, conducted
by the Communications
Committee, will be taken to
receive further input.
November 8,1977
Did You
Know...
BY DIANE de CORTEZ
that Jenni and Roxanne are
looking for a ride to Singapore?
Will share gas, driving, and a
sling.
* *
that Walter bathes in stop
bath?
* *
that Milos Forman came to
Guilford incognito to check
out Milner as a potential loca
tion for "One Flew Over The
Cuckoo's Nest"?
* *
that there is a lot you don't
know?
* *
why foreigners come to Guil
ford to be students?
* *
that I don't either?
* *
that you too could write for
the Guilfordian?
* #
that Mary Hobbs has a back
door you can escape through?
* *
that the theme song of the
Geology department is Simon
and Garfunkel's "I am a Rock"?
* *
that a number of Hobbits
changed their sex for the
Homecoming dance?
* *
that the grass is greener in
North Carolina?
* *
that 33 V 3 percent of the
students went home for Home
coming?
* *
that Daniel is not the only
Boone that took pictures?
* *
that if you want to make fun
of something or somebody,
like friends, enemies, classes
or whatever, you can send
your witty phrase or drawing
to: Diane de Cortez, P.O. Box
#17305.
* *
that student apathy is getting
to be a disease? Get your
shots now!