Marshall University - Chief Justice Yearbook (Huntington, WV)

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Learning from ihe top down. President Dale F. Nitzschke receives a phone system lesson. Printing out the name of the office or person being called, the phone system brought technology to Marshall.

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What do you hate most about going to Marshall? The answer from most students would have probably been the same — registering for classes. Long lines and closed classes were enough to give most students a headache. Some even became so frustrated that they considered dropping out of school. And, of course as the list of classes closed grew, so did student anxieties. Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever get my schedule fixed, Julie Reed, So. Charleston sophomore, said. In the fall of 1987, some students were faced with an additional hassle. Mandatory advising became the policy of several schools on campus. In order to register for the next semester's classes, students in the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Business and the School of Nursing had to have their adviser's signature. In addition to the signature, each professor was provided a stamp with the name of the college and the number the professor was assigned. Faculty members approved of the move, saying it helped the students. Students won't be taking electives that they don't need. Students, on the other hand, had mixed feelings about the new rule. Many supported the rule, saying it was a good idea. I know it caused problems for some people, but I think in the end, it will be for the best. It's good to have someone to help you choose the right classes for what you want to do, Mary- J. Lewis, Pratt sophomore, said. Others, however, felt the rule was childish and uncalled for. They argued that by the time students got to be juniors, they should be able to look in a catalogue and tell what classes they need and that having to get the signature was a pain. If you can’t you don't deserve to graduate, Rebecca Purvis, Poca junior, said. Finally at the front of the line, students hoped they would get the classes they needed. This student made last-minute decisions when he realized his first choices were closed. Here's where the waiting began for many students who pre-regislered. A faculty adviser was helpful in narrowing the choices. 27

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UGH! New equipment requires training The summer brought a new phone system to campus and, at first, many headaches connected with learning such a modern and efficient system. Allen R. Taylor, associate director of the computer center, said the system was installed in the summer because fewer people were on campus. Complaints poured into Taylor's office about the system, but Taylor said most of the complaints were the result of the user being a beginner with the system. Once everyone made the adjustment, the new system was much more efficient than the old one. Not only did everyone at the university including students — have to relearn how to use the phone, everyone had to learn new vocabulary words. Audix and “voice terminal” were musts to the new lexicon. And everyone became accustomed to the computerized laser disk they heard when they were put on hold. Taylor said installation — including groundwork — took nine months, during which time 14,569 linear feet and 285,942 conductor feet of fiber optic cables were installed with more than 13 million conductor feet of copper cable. And training sessions for the system were held over a three-week period. About 800 people were instructed on how to use the system. Featuring laser disk music on Audix, the new phones caused headaches for everyone. Installing fiber optic cable, these groundsworkers compute length of cable of the new phone system. 29