Ohio University - Athena Yearbook (Athens, OH)

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20 Risk, Life,

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or New ? College t. i ' r ' i : • m By Susan Wolbert It is ironic that many of the non- traditional things happening at Ohio University are in reality tradition bas- ed. However, the differen ce is that they are untraditional for this cam- pus in light of the past 5-10 years. The rise of Greeks and increased greek life activities is one such thing. During what might be called the radical years or years of unrest at OU to be a Greek was considered passe and unimportant. Greeks were often mocked and taunted. Now, however, changes in attitude have occurred (untraditional views for this campus) which have brought expanded in- terest in and Greek activities. Another occurence that is non- traditional is the very trend toward traditionalism. School pride, in- creased interest and participation in athletics, and a new view about education are some of the examples of this changing attitude. No longer is education just considered a four- year playtime, academics are on the rise and students have become much more professionally, career oriented. There are other things which are non-traditional in themselves regardless of past history. These in- clude a dwindling amount of con- certs for what used to be a concert- goers haven, the forced shutdown of The Post once a week as a result of financial problems, the use of and emphasis on women ' s sports as valid athletic endeavors, the crowd- ed, hard-to-get-into classes un- reminiscent of the 1 10 teacher- student ratio of previous years, and the complete change in on-campus housing arrangements and regulations. Also the new student is a change. Promising a marijuana referendum on the spring ballot, it is a sign that tradition has not yet taken a firm hold. These occurences, com- bined with the traditional influence now pervading the campus, are all products of untraditional thinking — a change, not a renewal. Tradition: Renewed or New? 19

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A game of Risk, Life and Go to the Head of the Class By Sharon Pearcy Do Not Pass Go; Do Not Collect $200; Do Not Balance This Year ' s Budget. It ' s almost a game, the running of a university. ' ' It ' s a game of Risk. Life and Go to the Head of the Class all rolled into one. You risk building new dorms to accommodate extra students and end up going back three spaces because enrollment suddenly drops. You spin to recruit good students, but are penalized publicly because of riots and a party school image. And, landing in a national inflationary period does nothing for the shape of your budget. But let ' s play another game for a moment, a game called Future The object is to maintain a poverty stricken university on a lower-than-ever budget without letting academic standards, facilities, or student satisfaction drop. It takes balance and coordination, but the Ohio University administration has had a few years of practice. Any number of persons may play this game. In fact, as the number of players increases, more money rolls in, and the game becomes easier. So what does the Future really hold for O.U.? There are two ways of looking at the question: 1) from the side of administrative planning; and 2) from the side of student reaction to those plans. The latter was gathered, for this article, by questionnaire. A randomly selected group of 1 00 students was asked to respond to questions about new University proposals and ten- tative plans. The best place to begin an analysis of the University is where the student does; at the admissions office. Ac- cording to Dr. James Walters, director of admissions, this year ' s 1 3,809 student enrollment increased for the first time in five years. Freshman enrollment jumped 1 6 per cent and transfer students. 29 percent In the past, enrollment peaked in 1 970 at over 1 9.000 students and then steadily declined to the 1975 low of 12,800 What has spurred the recent increase? For the past two and a half years, we have practiced an aggressive marketing policy, said Dr. Walters. Research shows that if we can get the student to Athens, the campus will sell itself. ' ' Thirty new programs have been developed, including the scheduling of eight prospective student weekends Although we are encountering the party school ' and low standard ' images daily, they are considerably weaker. he said. Perhaps this attracts the students not applying to O U. who are more conservative, straighter. and more career-oriented in Walters ' opinion. Surprisingly enough, the admission requirements are less strict than they were ten years ago In the 1 960s. the large number of students applying allowed the University to be selective Now, we cannot legally be selective until all the dormitories are full. stated Walters And how do you fill your dorms? One way is to tear some down so there aren ' t as many. Howard Hall has already bitten the dust, and the administration has its eye on Scott Quadrangle With less dorm space. O U will be able to practice a more selective admissions policy The future of admissions entails reaching the 1 4,500 student mark and then self-imposing that ceiling The reason for the past decline in enrollment was that the in- stitution got too big, too rapidly, says Walters. We don ' t want to get that big and pay the price again. The admissions office is seeing a more serious stu- dent applicant. according to Walters, one who is more career-oriented and conservative. Walters uses the phrase drugs are down, beer is back to describe the social habits of this new breed But what do the students themselves have to say. and what do the statistics show? Statistically. 83 per cent of O.U. students visited the campus before deciding to attend, and most chose the school because of the campus or an academic depart- ment Of the 1 0O students who responded to the questionnaire, 68 per cent felt that the University ' s public image was improving and 70 per cent noted a change in the type of student now attending Oil. Most thought that the improvement stemmed from an ad- ministrative crackdown on admissions and that, as a Craig Holman The campus is portrayed in a miniature model in Baker Center Risk, Life, Go to the Head of the Class 21