Page 143 - ThePhoenix1994-95

On The Hill Wednesda , March 15, 1995, Page 7 "First- Year Program," from p. 1 French suite sponsors first time around, we had a really good nary survey released at the beginning of was in place before," she said. and thinks it is a great idea. folksong performers experience [with the new program] ." the spring semester, 39% describe the Senior sociology major Aaron Evidence of that good experi- course as morerelaxed,33%report more Rosen is really excited about the new ence appears in statistics provided by participation and involvement, and 25% program Disharoon. From fall 1994 to spring suggest that it helped them adjust to col- This semester he is interning with The French Suite invites American populations in the 1995, the retention rate for the fresh- lege, that they feel their opinions matter, Disharoon, helping her coordinate U.S. and do hands on demon- to listen man class was 94%, approximately orthatthecoursereflectsreal-worldcon- the program for next year. you performers to America's fin- strations of clogging, bones est and French of 11 % more than reenrolled for a sec- cems. "It is anticipated that we can en- and spoons playing. II is free! ond semester the previous year. Ac- A number of students also reported hance the new students' experience French-Canadian will take folksongs. on French cookies and bever- concert place The cording to that same study, the reten- that they liked having the class with all and make his/her transition less Saturday, April I, from 2 p.m. to ages proposed during the tion rareottheclass of 1m from fall freshmen in it because it enabled them stressful by providing some continu- 4 p.rn. in Alumni Hall. pause. to spring of their freshman year was to get to know their classmates and the ity [between academics and social Lilianne Labbe and Don Event sponsored by the up 5% from the previous year. faculty better. life]," said Rosen. He said that the Hinckley will sing cajun, French Club and the ''Many factorscouJdhavecaused Anotheraspect oftheprogram was program next year will combine the thatincreasebesidesthenewprograrn, to house virtually all of the seminar- O.L. and P.M. again, creating a new French-Canadian songs. and The tradi- art- CAPBoard. more information, For French tional such as coming out of the recession," course students who participated in the position called S.O.S. (Students Ori- ists will also speak about the please contact Colette said Disharoon. "It's too early to re- seminar courses on the third floor in entating Students). "When [first-year customs and culture of Quebe- Henriette, ext. 468 or Hanh ally tell." WhitefordandRouzer. Part of Hughes' students) have a different O.L. and cois, Acadian and Franco- Trinh, ext. 8411. In a preliminary study of the survey asked whether students discuss peer mentor, they lose trust," he grades of first-year students for the fall the course outside of class, and 82% re- added. 1994semester, students who took the sponded yes. Leahy thinks the program went RAZZMATAZZ special courses were compared to a Senior Julie Lucas, who was a peer really well. "Having Julie as a TA. h (next to Frisco i'{)tAl", group of those who did not The rwo mentor and TA (teaching assistant) for and peer mentor was just a really, ~ HAIR STUDIO 11, groups were matched based on high political science professor Christianna really successful combination, not Pub) school GPA, SAT scores, race, gen- Nichols-Leahy, feels that all aspects of just because of the students having der and, when able to, major and state the program combine for an excellent more of an academic tie-in to their involved ~jf~~~L of residence. The survey showed that first-year experience. "My mentees peer mentor, but also because Julie students in thesemmarcourseseamed were always together, did everything is an excellent student in general and higher OPA's (average of 2.44 VS. together ...they all lived on the same floor, certainly in political science," she 2.25), completed more credit hours had the same classes, adviser, etc ...they said. "I'm just a really big fan of the (an average of 1.1 more hours), had couldn't help but get along," said Lucas, program." 7% fewer listed as having academic a political science major. "I can't stress Overall, everyone had difficulty, and 3% fewer were dis- enough what close friendships were positive things to say about the new alf other times--cut, wash & blowdry 10% off (w/ student [0) missedorwithdrew. formed as a result of this program." first-year program. ''To me, these everyday--basic manicure only $7 (wi student ID) Although the percentages look F1rst-yearstudentJeffKellmersaid kids have got the best start of all," HOURS:M 10-5,T-F9:30-8,S 8:30-5 VISA,MC,DISC small, Disharoon believes it is enough he enjoyed Hughes' psychology class said Disharoon with pride. 876-0654 walk - ins welcome to predict a very optimistic future for and thinks the program is a great idea. the program. 'The faculty are seeing "Dr. Hughes is just great," said the a positive growth in the students, and communication major. "I love having lamanxioustoseehow [the program] her as an adviser, and I loved her class." carries through 10 their senior year," However, not all the students felt said Disharoon. ''What r like most the program did them any good. about this program is that the faculty Jonathon Shacat, a freshman biology are responding more to the needs of major, said he "doesn't know how [the the students ...they are making a con- committee] cameup with the program. nection," she added. The only thing I got out of it is the fact Hughes also conducted a survey that ifIhadn't taken theclass, rwouldn't of the first-year students in the special be on the newspaper staff now. I think coursesto learn their personal feelings it's a big waste of time," he added in about the classes. She said the key disgust. question on the survey was how the Disharoon, nevertheless, feels the course differed from others the stu- program is a wonderful idea. '1have dents took. According to the prelimi- heard upperclassmen say they wish it "''''Ill l5lWlli4.\S!JID