tl20001002-000 "Monday rer www.thetowerlight.com Published twice-weekly by students of Towson University Te t 10/2/00 Locals give input in search 3 Jah Works jams on in live show 9 RattleBots' becoming hit 11 Steck scores 1, allows 1 in win 15 Departments News 3 Natioti 5 Campus Briefs 7 A&E 9 Sound Bites 10 In a Theater Near You.14 Sports 15 Fast Break 15 Athlete ofthe Week /9 Op/Ed Plus/minus revisited Nick Taxiarhou The Towerlight It's been two years since the plus/minus grading system was implemented at Towson, and junior Jenelle Bosler has had enough. The math and mass commu-nication major said she wished the University would either drop the plus/minus grading system completely, or make it mandatory in all classes. ""[Either] all or nothing, that's my biggest thing,"" Bosler said. ""In one of my classes my teacher didn't use it, and I got a high 'B', but ended up getting just a 'B'. And in another class I got a low 'A' and got an 'A-'. I got screwed."" The fate of the two-year trial program is now in question, as the University Senate's Academic Standards Committee has begun review-ing the policy, which has been an issue of contention between students, professors and admin-istrators since the Senate voted in favor of it in 1998. At issue is the policy's cam-puswide use or lack thereof, as well as the fate of the ""C-"" grade and the absence of ""D-"" and ""A+"" marks. Compounding the issue is the seeming prestige it brings the University, and the ASC has distributed a faculty survey ask-ing for feedback. ASC Chair Dr. Craig Johnson said the committee should have a report ready by December. ""The Senate told us to study the [two-year] period and report back to them on what we found from using plus/minus,"" said Johnson, a psychology pro-fessor and advocate of the sys-tern. ""But they weren't specific in telling us what to specifically look for ... and haven't given any pointers since."" Dr. Jack Fruchtman, chair of the University Senate, said the committee is asking the faculty questions in surveys such as, See PLUS/MINUS, page 4 Photo illustration by Jonathan Smith and Chns Heruy The Towerlight Colgate blocks path to playoffs Four blocked kicks, OT interception lead to Tigers' demise in 30-27 loss to Raiders Derek Turner The Towerlight After Colgate kicker Russ Abrams booted a 22-yard game-winning field goal Saturday, handing Towson a devastating 30-27 overtime loss, the Red Raiders sprinted across the field victorious, while the Minnegan Stadium faithful filed out of the stadium dejected. Senior defensive end Andrew Hollingsworth didn't move. Towson's all-time sack leader remained on the field several minutes after the game ended trying to figure out just what had transpired in the back-and-forth game as the Tigers' once high hopes of a Patriot League title were reduced to that of spoiler. No team has ever won the Patriot League with two league losses and the Tigers are now 2- 2 in the league (3-2 overall). The Red Raiders (3-1, 2-0 league) may have also blocked any chances of the Tigers receiving an at-large bid to the Division I-AA playoffs. That wasn't all they blocked Saturday. Colgate blocked three Towson punts and after block-ing a second quarter extra-point, Ahmad Russell scooped the loose ball and returned it 80- plus yards for two points. Even worse, after each blocked punt, Colgate scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive. ""Terrible,"" Hollingsworth said. ""There's no other word to describe it � just terrible special teams and I can't explain it. Once in a while somebody blocks a kick but to have four, that's awful, and I don't have an explanation for it."" When Hollingsworth finally made his way off the field, he ran into Colgate Head Coach Dick Biddle. ""He said, 'We got lucky. You Set KICKS, page 19 Qu-ts Henry The Towerlight Junior TE Billy Hayes buries his head after Tovkson's 30-27 OT loss to Colgate Saturday. Today High 76 Low 58 Tuesday High 85 Low 62 Wednesday High 85 Low 57 Thursday High 77 Low 51 "