CUE Discusses Ethnic Studies, Library Hours

In its first meeting of the year, the Committee on Undergraduate Education (CUE) yesterday discussed the possibility of upgrading ethnic studies to a standing committee and the potential for a 24-hour library.

The 12-member committee discussed changing ethnic studies from an ad hoc committee to an "interdisciplinary coordinating committee." The proposal will be reviewed at next week's Faculty Council meeting.

The Ethnic Studies Committee is currently able to sponsor visiting professors on a one-semester basis. The upgrade in status would allow the committee to acquire both junior and senior faculty members, Dean of Undergraduate Education Lawrence Buell said.

Five CUE members who are Undergraduate Council representatives said they hope to make Cabot Science Library a 24-hour library.

"I think we should consider Cabot since the Science Center is open for 24 hours," said Christopher J. Garofalo '94, chair of the Undergraduate Council's Student Affairs Committee.

The CUE will meet with representatives from Harvard's libraries at its next meeting to discuss the feasibility of the proposal. Garofalo also suggested that the CUE advocate lowering the cost of making photocopies in the libraries.

Council members also said they are trying to shift the academic calendar forward by one month in order to place first semester final exams before winter break.

Council representative Sean M. Becker '94 said an informal poll of undergraduates last spring found that approximately 70 percent of students would favor a revised schedule, "so they can have a true winter break."

Faculty members at the meeting said they were open to the idea of a schedule change, though many suggested that the reform will not be easy to institute. Altering the academic calendar requires a change in University statutes and the vote of the governing board, as well as possible changes in the summer school calendar.

Council members said they want to reform the Core curriculum by allowing a greater number of substitutions for Core classes and more possibilities for bypassing Core courses.

In the same way that some intro- ductory science classes can fulfill the ScienceA and B requirements, the council hopes thatintroductory and survey courses in otherdepartments will be able to fulfill Corerequirements.

Council members also said they wanted toincrease the number of Core classes offered.

Garofalo said council members on the CUE arealso working on granting students course creditfor public service, and instituting mandatoryevaluations of teaching fellows--particularly forthose whose first language is not English.

Those who "need more help" with the languagewould be referred to the Bok Center for Teachingand Learning, he said

Council members also said they wanted toincrease the number of Core classes offered.

Garofalo said council members on the CUE arealso working on granting students course creditfor public service, and instituting mandatoryevaluations of teaching fellows--particularly forthose whose first language is not English.

Those who "need more help" with the languagewould be referred to the Bok Center for Teachingand Learning, he said