Editorial

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor in
Chief  Cuahtemoc Ortega

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 Corey McEleney

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 Cody Cass

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 Amy Frye
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Amanda Schapel

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The words "summer" and "school" in the same sentence have
traditionally sent chills down students’ spines, but they are the
best possible solution to the overpopulation problem at UCLA.

Due to Tidal Wave II, UCLA will see an additional 4,000 new
faces on it’s campus, with no new classrooms to accomodate
them.

Even so, the classrooms that are in existence will be put to
good use during the summer as a result of summer session enrollment
increases.

The UC system has hit on an excellent solution to it’s
overcrowding problem; possibly the only fesible fix since adjusting
units and Minimum Progress won’t do the job. These recent policy
changes to help cope with Tidal Wave II have been ineffective at
best.

The new Minimum Progress Requirement instituted last year,
requiring students take upwards of 27 units every two quarters, has
been justly criticized for not allowing students needed flexibility
to deal with extenuating circumstances or pursue extracurricular
activities.

Unit restructuring, meanwhile, compromises academic requirements
to reduce student population, hindering students’ intellectual
growth in the process.

These misguided policies have combined to adversely affect
students’ quality of life much more severely than they will ever
help alleviate the campus’s population crunch. But thanks to the
new policy shift regarding summer school all is not lost to Tidal
Wave II.

For starters the UCs are starting to offer more classes,
especially GE’s, which can remedy ineveitable schedualing conficts
for students. UCLA students are used to being put on wait lists or
not getting the classes they need during the hectic enrollment
period, but now that more in demand classes are offered during
summer, this is a very realistic alternitive.

In addition we have the state to thank for subsidizing these
summer sessions at four of the nine UCs. Without this financial
support students would not be enjoying the current low cost of
seventy-four dollars per unit–which is substantially cheaper than
the cost during the other three terms.

When financial constraits constantly play a part in students
lives it is nice to know that during the summer they can get a
break, and have the support of the state and UC system.

Notably the the most beneficial incentive, fee reduction is not
the only positive thing about summer sessions. The shortened length
of each term is another plus. Accomplishing ten weeks of class in
only six, is enough to make anyone give up a few prime-time hours
of sunbathing.

For those who still have a physical reaction to summer school,
the much more relaxed atmosphere should help ease them into the
idea of missing out on beach bonfires or their favorite soaps.

The students who are taking advantage of this rare opportunity
to further their education without sacrificing their wallets are
ahead of the game. But if the past trend of increasing summer
session enrollment continues, we may actually see a school year
where four quarters is the norm, and the disasterous reprocussions
of Tidal Wave II could be contained.