YourView
Letters to the Editor

New rec/sports facility fees for faculty discourage use

There aren’t a lot of people I admire more than Chancellor Michael Ferrari, having seen what he has been able to accomplish at TCU. I know, however, that he will understand where I’m coming from when I say that there is a tremendous gulf between the financial vision of someone making 300 to 400 grand a year and someone making 15 to 20 grand. Perhaps I am being selfish with regard to losing what has been a pure benefit — access to the rec/sports facility. But the $5 monthly fee is likely to be only the first step in what is already being discussed as a steadily increasing fee. And the $5 a month is literally only half the story, as locker fees will now also be $5 a month. And there will be other fees for using select parts of the facility, such as the climbing wall.

Many firms, over the past few years, have begun providing on-site fitness areas for their employees, because fit workers are generally healthier, work stronger, are absent less and use their health insurance less. One would think the administration would see the benefit to TCU of encouraging — not discouraging — employee use of this outstanding new facility.
— Bob Vann, office manager in the TCU Writing Center

Test files have nothing to do with integrity
I salute the TCU Daily Skiff Editorial Board for having the audacity to make its opinion known on the issue of Greek test files. I know my life has changed as a result, and although I can’t speak for the entire TCU community, I am sure they were equally touched. After reading The Skiff View article titled “Integrity,” I was outraged that professors who knowingly hand back their tests are becoming the victims of these criminals who do not set fire to the tests immediately. The editorial board was so brave in pointing out that this evil 1/3 of our student body knowingly harvests old tests.

On a serious note, the idea that Greeks lack integrity due to possession of test files is ridiculous. Professors are not stupid, they know students keep tests. Keeping the tests has nothing to do with integrity.

You made a challenge for the Greeks to prove their benefit on campus. The benefits of the Greek community speak for themselves. But the Skiff usually focuses on the negative. Using “Skiff Logic” the Skiff also stands in the way of forming an honor code. A former Skiff reporter was fired from the AP for unethical journalism. So I guess all members of the Skiff can not be trusted.
— James Hannagan, senior management major

Test files argument should be solved with other options
For the most part, I agree with the Skiff’s commentary. True, test files give Greek students an unfair advantage to exams. Wouldn’t it be peachy if all the fraternities and sororities would just honorably discard their files? And the Greeks doing such a thing would be the ultimate way to get the student body to buy into an honor code.

Yet, let’s think realistically. Even if Greeks agree to do so, does anyone really believe that they will ditch all of their valuable GPA resources? So what if we proposed a solution from the opposite angle: Some Greek students really are dedicated to learning material.

Perhaps these students use the test files not to obtain and memorize answers, but rather to get a feel for the format and style of test questions — especially on first exams.

What if TCU were to require professors to give a copy of old exams to every student in their classes so that students can get a feel for their style? A handful of professors do this already. Certainly all students would have the same advantage this way, and perhaps it would encourage lazy professors to vary their tests.
— Kathryn Dawson, junior math major