Letters to the Editor: P/D/F

P/D/F change would stifle exploration

Regarding 'A call for P/D/F reform' (Friday, Sept. 30):

It's true, students often exert as little effort as possible in fulfilling distribution requirements. However, the proposal for the P/D/F system overlooks something currently encouraged — and something the proposed system would likely stifle.

It is well known across campus that many humanities majors fill the same "joke classes" in search of their lab science and quantitative analysis requirements. "Rocks for Jocks" draws many students, and in one course, I've been told, "lab" becomes synonymous for kayaking in a marsh. Meanwhile, the science majors and engineers are equally guilty. "Dirty Words" makes the perfect LA, while Engineering in the Modern World can fill that missing HA.

If these were the only courses taken to fulfill distribution requirements (and if they were always taken with the intentions I've unfairly insinuated), it might make sense for students to be unable to P/D/F them. A Cin a class that caters to those who fear the subject might indeed fail to prove a student's academic well-roundedness. However, I would be surprised if the majority of students fulfilled most of their distribution requirements in these "joke classes."

What about the person who fills her SA requirement with a class in Congressional Politics? Or the (crazed) person who places into Advanced Multivariable Calculus and chooses to take that class for his QA? And if a chemistry major wants to take two classes on Shakespeare, but fears for her GPA, should we really ask her to take two more classes, sans P/D/F, for her LA requirement?

Much of the academic exploration a Princeton student can achieve in his four years takes place in classes that are also needed to fulfill distribution requirements. The English major chasing a finance certificate and the electrical engineer studying Spanish on the side simply cannot take many extra classes. Accordingly, it is rather counterproductive to restrain their academic creativity by making it profitable for them to take a "joke class" which will not hurt their GPA. Besides, how can we say that a philosophy major who satisfies an ST merely by passing General Physics II is less qualified to graduate from Princeton than a philosophy major who takes Physics for Poets and is forced to receive a grade? Colin Anderson '07

Current P/D/F system needs to be reformed

Regarding 'A call for P/D/F reform' (Friday, Sept. 30):

The 'Prince' editorial calling for P/D/F reform highlights a far too common abuse of the system, but the proposed solution is insufficient for two reasons: It fails to recognize the different requirements for B.S.E. students and it assumes that the P/D/F itself is the cause of its current abuse.

Unlike A.B. students, B.S.E. students are only required to take seven courses in the humanities and social sciences. These must include at least one course in four different distribution areas. Since the distribution areas and requirements are not uniform through the University, a university-wide P/D/F policy based on distribution requirements cannot be fairly implemented. Furthermore, since B.S.E students take more five-class semesters than A.B. students, the P/D/F option is often necessary in order to manage the increased class load.

The P/D/F option does not need to be viewed as a deterrent to effort, but the current regulations on the use of the P/D/F leave little incentive for students to rescind the option after the deadline has passed. In most courses, the majority of one's grade comes from the final paper or exam. Since students have already decided to maintain their P/D/F grading option at this point, there is no motivation to put forth effort. Instead of the modification to the P/D/F proposed by the 'Prince,' I suggest that the current rules regarding the P/D/F remain but that students should be allowed to change their grading option after the completion of the semester. Students would still incur a penalty of one P/D/F for the course, but they would be justly rewarded for their effort. In this way, students can take courses in unfamiliar subject areas using the P/D/F grading option without fear of tarnishing their transcripts. They can also be motivated by the prospects of a good grade if they find that the P/D/F was unnecessary in the first place. Greg Glass '05