Counting Noses

Each November, about the time the nation counts its votes, the College begins its own tally: daily attendance checking in classes which have more than 50 percent freshman enrollment. Not only must Yardlings search out their assigned seats; upperclassmen in these courses, as well, are checked in each lecture. This rule, inconsistent with the rest of the Administration's attendance policy, is retained in spite of the fact that sophomores often account for almost half the course membership.

It is easy to see why the College encourages freshmen to develop good class-going habits from the very beginning. Students not used to the come-or-not attitude of large lectures might choose an extra hour of sleep too often. To check the attendance of those who have already passed through the Yard's gates, however, seems unnecessary. The University admits this by its practices in predominantly upperclass courses where no attendance record is kept.

The bad effects of recording upperclass attendance are not limited to mere nuisance; the practice is also a waste of money for monitoring and extra bookkeeping charges. This expensive nuisance could be avoided by separating freshmen into special sections of the lecture halls for attendance purposes. Although such a practice might sound like the "beanie" approach at other colleges, the very presence of a rollcall already indicates to the freshman his special status.