McGill University’s plan received with cautio Montreal (CUP) --

Reaction to the McGill Uni-

versity plan to place time limits on the com- pletion of undergradu- ate degrees ranges from nonchalance to alarm.

The proposal, which goes into effect next fall, will restrict arts and science students to a maximum of eight terms to complete their programs.

“Even though stu- dents can apply for an extension, can’t see anything good about the plan,” said McGill student council arts representative Pe- ter Nixon.

“It seems like a lit- tle bit of Social Darwin- sism, in that it will put a lot of pressure on peo- ple to finish and it will cut down on the quality of education by making the experience totally academic,” he said.

Council club repre- sentative Carlene Gar- diner said she thought the time limit was a bad idea from the be-

ginning.

“I’m quite surprised by the decision, and I don’t understand their rationalé for wanting to impose the limits,” she said.

Associate dean of science Roger Rigel- hos said it won’t be that difficult for stu- dents to satisfy the re- quirements of the time limit.

“All we’re asking is for students to main- tain : reasonable progress to- wards a degree,” he said, adding that the plan will help insure general standards.

“This will allow programs to be updated and course requirements changed. If you get a_ bache- lors of science degree in pliysics in 1987, you ex- pect two people gradu- ating to have taken the same program.”

Rigelhos denied that the policy change will create as- sembly line graduates because many students can maintain full course

Gordie raced across the Sela , WAAWOVE that the Fluing pigs were asieep.

ating

loads. He also said that extensions for cases of illness or other extenu- circumstances will be fairly easy to ob- tain.

Gilles Cote of the Concordia University admissions department

said no such time limits are in effect at Concor- dia, although the engi- neering and commerce departments both have grade point average re- quirements. “Actually, it’s a good idea and I

after the fact. I think

n : agree with the genera standards argument," he said. “Unfortu nately, these decisiong are often made quick] and students are tol I think they should be giver plenty of warning.”’»

Research at UPEI |

by Kaberi Dasgupta

The Biology Department

In this conclusion of our Research at UPEI se- ries, The Gem takes a look at the goings on at the Bi- ology Department.

Professors are not the 2 only researchers at the Uni- versity of Prince Ed- ward Island. The biol- ogy department, which recently introduced an honours program, pos- sesses a few student researchers. One of these students is Vin- cent Adams, a_third- year biology major.

Under the guidance of Professor Louie: Hanic, Vince has been exper- imenting with methods of holdfast regeneration in Chondrus_ crispus; Trish Moss. Holdfasts are used by many sea- weeds for attachment to substrata such as rock.

Vince’s first series of experiments involved specimens of Irish Moss that he had_ severed just above the hold- fasts. With a dentist’s drill, he made a small

hole in each plant, near

the cut end. Through the holes he drew a piece of nylon string.

He had hoped the

plants would form hold- fasts around the string, unfortunately this did not occur. Thus a new series of experi- ments were tried.

Vince and Profes- sor. Hanic hypothesized that holdfast regener- ation failed to occur because of the nature of the substratum that they had used. Vince is now experimenting with strips of ceramic instead.

Another hypothesis : _ that Vince and Profes-

foods,

sor Hanic are consid- ering is that perhaps the nature of the tis- sue in the holdfast is different from that of the rest of the plant. Consequently the cells of the plant body can- not generate holdfast tissue. Differentiation has been established. To test this possibility, Vince is experimenting with sections -of hold- fast tissue, trying to find out whether these sections will give rise to plant body tissue or holdfast tissue.

Of what value are experiments with Irish Moss? Well, aside from the fact that no. at- tempt in gaining knowl- edge is futile, these experiments do have “practical” value. One is improved methods of

- propa-

gating Irish Moss. Irish Moss is used in many cosmetics, and in medicine as a gland ointment.

A method of prop- agation now used is that of placing pieces of Irish Moss in an un- wound rope ,and twist- ing the rope tightly: plants then emerge from the rope. They must then be cut off. However, if these plants possessed a holdfast that wound around the surface of the rope, harvesting

would be easier as the could be pulled off the rope like beads on string.

More important fo Vince and other stu dents, however, is thd fact that such project provide invaluble train ing in methods of sci entific thought (and th¢ de- velopment of the abilit) to remain in the labora tory from 9:00 A. M. t 6:30 P. M. on beautifu summer days).

Other budding re searchers at the bi ology department in clude Stephen Farmer who is working unde Professor E. Johnso and Larry Green, Di ane Gamble, and Dow Kelley, all of whom ar being guided by Profes sor L. Hanic. Dian and Doug have bee identifying the specie of plants that gro in particular areas off Prince Edward Island

Recently Larry Green had large dose of success i his studies. He DIS COVERED a speci¢ belonging to the alg genus Ulothrix. (Co gratulations, Larry!)

What’s next? Pe haps one day the cu for the common col will be developed by b ology students at tl University of Prin¢ Edward Islands

NOTICE _

All students who plan to return as full-tim students to UPEI in September, 1987 are re quested to complete an intent-to-return form a the Registrar’s Office before they leave for thé

summer.

All students who have completed an intent-to return form and are eligible to return may prereg ister during the summer. Pre-registration mate rial is not processed unless the student complete the above form and is eligible to returns

=Th

wunscay, March