Wishing and waiting

As summer slowly comes to a close, students gear up for classes and professors busily prepare… As summer slowly comes to a close, students gear up for classes and professors busily prepare syllabi. Meanwhile, The Pitt News has come up with its annual wish list. Some are new desires, others are repeated yet long unheeded, requests. We only hope that Pitt takes notice.

Wish # 1: Online Scheduling and Online Add/Drop

With swift advancements in technology and the University’s gradually rising status, it’s truly shocking that Pitt has not yet implemented online class scheduling. In this respect, Pitt is lagging behind almost every other university in the country.

The current system requests that students meet with advisers to enroll in classes. While we see the benefits of regular advising, we believe that it’s largely unnecessary. Students can make the right decisions on their own. Online scheduling is obviously working at other universities.

There’s no reason it can’t work here.

If regular advising is of great importance to Pitt officials, we don’t have to lose it with the implementation of online scheduling. Pitt can ask that students meet with advisers before they sign up for classes. This way, we can have the best of both worlds.

However, if online scheduling is too much too soon, we’re willing to take baby steps. Perhaps Pitt can start by allowing students to simply drop and add classes online.

Currently, the paper-based system we have is convoluted and useless, unnecessarily wasting the time of students and staff. During add/drop week, the line at Thackeray Hall can stretch out the door, and the long wait to drop a course can feel like the endless wait at the DMV to get a driver’s license.

Oftentimes, science majors have to wait in line for hours on end, early in the morning, to ensure their en-

try into a popular and required course. But with online scheduling, this problem can be eliminated and students can get some sleep.

In the meantime, it would be greatly appreciated if someone could move the green add/drop forms from the second floor of Thackeray down to the add/drop room on the first floor. Seriously.

Wish # 2: Improve SafeRider

‘ Crime is no stranger to the Oakland area. That’s why it is the University’s responsibility to ensure that students stay safe. Part of that responsibility is expanding SafeRider to reach more neighborhoods in and around Oakland.

‘ Many students live in Shadyside and Squirrel Hill,areas not completely covered by SafeRider. This is ludicrous, especially because SafeRider goes as far as Chatham College. Pitt should not only expand coverage to these neighborhoods, but also it should employ more phone operators and obtain more shuttles so that more students can take advantage of the SafeRider service.

We understand that expansion costs money, but with responsible planning and budgeting, it is a reasonable request. And if it will guarantee students’ safety, it’s a worthy investment.

Wish # 3: Pass the USA Today Readership Program

‘ Last semester, 56 percent of 3,269 students voted ‘yes’ in a Student Government Board-issued referendum to adopt the USA Today Readership Program, which would bring the USA Today and The New York Times to campus every day for an annual fee of $5 per student. But the Student Government Board decided against it, saying that while the majority was in favor, it was only a small majority.

We’re asking SGB to reverse this decision and listen to the majority, although small, of voters who want the USA Today and The New York Times within reach every day.

Five dollars a year is a small price to pay to stay up-to-date and informed about current events. While these newspapers are available online, more students are likely to read them when they are close at hand.

Furthermore, the program not only offers newspapers but also brings valuable CEO job fairs to campus, thus increasing job opportunities for students.

Well, there you have it! We’re keeping our fingers crossed; the rest is up to Pitt.