By CATHY ANN SCHMIT
BYU students have varied opinions about BYU’s Self-Study regarding if and how it affects them in their majors.
“The changes seem really upbeat and positive,” said Derek O’Malley, a senior from Albuquerque, N.M., majoring in broadcast journalism. He said his instructors have really tried to maintain good feelings about the program and the recommended changes.
Nathan Holladay, a freshman from Orlando, Fla., majoring in molecular biology, said he is also an Honor student and he likes the program and enjoys the classes, but if the Self-Study committee thinks it is necessary to eliminate the program, he will support that decision.
“The change is great as long as the decisions are informed decisions,” Holladay said.
Holladay’s major falls under both chemistry and biology, but if the Self-Study recommendations are implemented, it will be completely under chemistry and that will affect him, he said.
The study’s recommendation to add a master’s degree program in Information Systems Management is supported by Varden Fuller, a senior from West Valley majoring in economics.
“The program needed more computer-oriented classes and the new degree will bring them,” Fuller said.
Other students felt the Self-Study made outrageous recommendations.
“I feel they made the recommendations without thinking about the effect. The people were so disconnected from BYU — it was silly — it just makes no sense,” said Kristi Swigert, a senior from Tucson, Ariz., majoring in market and finance.
The recommendations helped one student decide between majoring in business and computer science because the Self-Study might alter the computer science schedule, said Jeff Wilhite, a sophomore from Seattle, Wash., majoring in business.
“It seems like the recommendations will help some and hurt others,” Wilhite said.
“I’m not going to get my master’s here so I am not affected by the study’s recommendations,” said Mark O’Donnel, a marketing student.
Fuller said even though he feels the additional computer equipment will be nice for others, he is not affected by the recommendations.
Swigert said she is not affected directly either.
Still other students had no idea what the Self-Study is or felt they did not have enough information to comment.
“I’m not familiar with it at all although I have heard about some changes in the college,” said Melanie Clark, a sophomore from San Diego, Calif., majoring in pre-social work.
“I don’t have enough information about it to really say,” Holladay said.
