The possibility of scheduling classes during the eleven o'clock hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays has recently been debated by both Student Government and the administration.

Currently, only a handful of classes are scheduled for the hour from eleven o'clock to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Notable exceptions include four-day-a-week classes and some foreign language courses that meet daily. The hour is reserved for chapel on Thursdays and has become a popular meeting time for student organizations.

The Committee on Academic Affairs of the College has proposed that this "free hour" be eliminated in order to create another time to hold class, hopefully easing scheduling problems associated with classroom space. The Committee has called for responses from faculty and administrators regarding their opinion of the issue. After weighing the advantages and drawbacks, the Committee would then possibly call for the elimination or continuation of the free hour.

Ken Zick, vice president of student life and instructional resources wants to hear the opinions of his colleagues before making a statement. "I understand the need to use this time for academics, but time for chapel and group meetings is also important," Zick said. "Right now, I'm waiting to see what everyone else thinks."

Student Government passed a bill regarding this issue two weeks ago.

In the bill, SG recommended that the eleven o'clock hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays remain free from class. The bill cited a number of reasons for the recommendation.

SG hopes the university will keep the free hour in order to preserve the tradition of chapel, continue to provide a regular break for students to socialize and eat lunch and leave an open time for student organizations to have meetings.

If more class time is necessary, the SG bill recommends this be added in the afternoon, not during the eleven o'clock time slot.

After passing the bill, SG next sent the recommendation to Zick, President Thomas K. Hearn Jr., Peter Siavelis, an assistant professor of political science and the faculty adviser and the office of the dean of the college. April 3, the bill was sent to the department chairs asking them to respond with their thoughts.