Miami University - Recensio Yearbook (Oxford, OH)

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PRAIOHTT: PAUL WESON fore computers. its an inner tool and if you use it for the purpose that benefits your situation that7s fine. But if you let it dominate you, then thatls a problem. Q. HOW has the computer age affected Miami? Not very much yet. Welre in the process of looking into administrative computing and computer literacy for our students. Computer word prooessing equipment for their regular studies. This is all were after. Were not trying to make ooin- puter soientists out of everyone. Q. Will you retrain or hire new people? We will retrain the people we already have. it will also make a difference in those we hire to fill vacancies. PRESlDENT PEARSON TALKED CANDIDLY ABOUT HTS UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCES AND THE E'U'I'URE OF MIAMI ... Q. Do you plan to incorporate ' computer knowledge into the different curriculums? We plan to integrate computer knowledge into the curricu- lum. For example, we hope that well be able to provide a laboratory for Freshmen En- glish so all students at least one time during the semester will be able to compose an essay on a word processor and correct, edit and get the final product. The main function is to write the essay but if we have the opportunity to use this equipment then all the better for when they go out to get a job they wont be scared of Computers. Q. What is your goal in incor- porating computers into the curriculum? My goal is that all students will have the opportunity to use Q. Where do you plan to get the money to finance this computer integration? Thatls the $64 million dollar question. We plan to get money from the private sector and we plan to squeeze some money out of our state budget, Lets face it, we may not get the money. If we dont get the money then we cant do it. But if you dont try to do it youlll never get the money. Q. What kind of computers do you plan to get? We will be getting mostly the Inioro-ooinputers. its like the IBM personal computer or the Apple computer. We lve already bought a new eoinput- er and added it to the main frame computers. Q. Is the key punch obsolete? The key punch is not obsolete but it is on its way out. We will , keep ours because it can be : used for some purposes. Q. Do you think computers are a fad? Computers will definitely stay with us. 1 think that too often in education you find them being a fad. Thatls the reason why I made it olear that we would not add required courses. llIn just suggesting that we get equipment so that the professors can use them in their own disciplines as a tool but not an end. Q. Do you have any computer knowledge? No. But next week llrn having a Inioro-oornputer sent to my office and Mn going to learn. Q. Have you seen some changes since youlve been at Miami? When l first got here there were virtually no advanoed in- formation processing compu- ters on this campus and already many of the offices and departmental offices aoross campus now have equipment to do their work better. The new equipment in the admissions office has helped them do their job much better. Many depart- ments are using equipment in their teaching. its already happening, we just want to speed it up a little bit more. We want to get it into zoology, english, political soi- enoe, art and music. Q. Why do you feel that com- puter knowledge is impor- tant for graduates? We want to take away the in- feriority complex, relative to computers, of our students. When they go into the real world they wont be soared stiff about entering new ern- ployinent when a word pro- oessor or personal computer is there to use. If they had this experience somewhere in their education they wouldnt have an inferiority complex about computers. Q. What goal do you wish to achieve with the integration of computers? That the graduates of l986 will have met high hard-ware and soft-ware. Computers are with us. Everything depends on information-fast. Many jobs offered to our graduates will require that kindof expe- rience. i dont want our Miami graduates to be underpri- vileged. 9; Judy DuSoheid Pearson Interview 21

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20 Pearson Interview Glenn Liming Q. What effect do you feel the new stadium will have on the University? It will galvinize more public in- terest, more excitement and more support for the University. There will be plenty of seats so that students can some and sit and see a good game and have fun. It will Keep students there and also attract interest from non-students in the region. My experience in the past has been that a very active athletio pro- gram brings constituency in support for the University which is very important. Q. Will the new dorm on West- ern campus be freshman or upperclass? The new dorm will be an upper- olass housing unit. Q. Do you feel that the pro- posed Interdisciplinary Study and Fine Arts joining is posi- tive or negative to the Univer- sity? It was presented in a positive way from two aspects: for one it will save $50,000-i$60,000 and save two faculty members from being terminated. It will also bring several units together in a more coherent fashion in terms of administration. It allows us better to support those units bet- ter. It gives more money to teaching and learning of stu- dents rather than to the admin- istration. The cost for two small units is much more than for the administration of one combined unit. The goal here is to shift resources from administrationi to the students. Q. What is your view of the computer age? a Tview it as any new age with new technology and new ability to handle daily affairs. Computers and word processors if used in the proper way, provide much greater efficiency and produc- tivity in communicating to peo- ple and analyzing and solving problems. I dont bow down be-

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Fees Soar -- HIGH SCOR 1 UP 32