The proposal to remove student anonymity from Brandeis' pass/fail system was abruptly derailed at the faculty meeting last Thursday as professors voted to send the proposed changes back to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC).Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe and Union President Joshua Brandfon '05 each presented their stances on the potential alterations to the pass/fail system and the issues of anonymity.

The UCC proposal included two changes to pass/fail procedures-removing anonymity and allowing students to elect the pass/fail option when taking less than four courses. Under the suggested changes, the pass/fail policy would read, "Instructors are informed of the grading option that a student has chosen."

Following Brandfon's address, several members of the faculty voiced their support and opposition toward anonymity.

Jaffe and other faculty representatives who belong to the UCC favored amending the policy. Brandfon, citing the complaints of many students, opposed the changes.

Jaffe spoke first and described how the UCC arrived at its conclusions about the pass/fail system.

"The UCC, when it was brought to their attention, asked why we do things the way we do them now," Jaffe said. He said the reasons were not pedagogical, but attributable to current technology used by the Registrar's office.

After introducing the proposal, Jaffe heard questions and comments from a few professors. One professor, citing students' opposition to the removal of anonymity, said the UCC proposal was "in the vein of a double-blind medical experiment."

Prof. Thomas Doherty (AMST), who sits on the UCC and was, according to Jaffe, a strong proponent of the suggested changes responded to the concerns. He called the present arrangement a "contest between student and teacher," and suggested that some are fearful that professors able to see which students are taking a course pass/fail will unleash "petulant revenge."

Prof. Jacob Cohen (AMST) approached the microphone next and gave his commentary on the anonymity question.

"It's been said the only perspective comes from the students," he said. "With regard to my own experience, I have often had students come to me and say they're taking a course pass/fail and [ask] to not go so hard on them. I don't want to know that."

Following Cohen, Brandfon gave his criticism of the proposed changes.

"First of all, all three student representatives [to the UCC] are against it," Brandfon said. "The fear is that students taking a course pass/fail will not be treated equally under the new system."

Brandfon also mentioned that the Union Senate recently passed an amendment in opposition to the UCC's proposal and that an open forum on the subject last Monday heard many students voice their support for anonymity when electing the pass/fail option.

The UCC, which includes Jaffe, four other administrators, seven professors including Doherty, one graduate student and three Union representatives, attached a detailed report to the meeting agenda.

In developing its recommendations, the committee juxtaposed Brandeis' pass/fail policy with those of other schools. Indiana, Princeton, Rice and Yale offer anonymity, while Brown, Duke, Harvard, the University of Chicago and Washington University in St. Louis do not.

More professors commented about the UCC proposal after Brandfon took his seat. Several echoed Cohen, saying they do not wish to know the names of pass/fail students.

Prof. Eugene Sheppard (NEJS), a member of the committee, spoke in defense of the UCC's suggestions.

"Many of us were surprised there was anonymity," Sheppard said. "Most students didn't know there was anonymity. But students didn't want to lose something they didn't know existed."

Prof. Marya Levenson (ED) reiterated the concerns of professors supporting anonymity. Although many said they did not favor dropping the policy, some hinted that a passing mark be equivalent to at least a C.

Levenson then motioned to table the proposal and send it back to the UCC for review.

"The UCC can take it up again," University President Jehuda Reinharz said after the motion passed.

The University is installing new software designed by PeopleSoft to administer course registration procedures, including pass/fail policies. For several months leading up to the faculty meeting, it was unclear if the proposed loss of anonymity was the result of this technological change. It was later revealed this proposal was pedagogical; it was supported by faculty representatives to the UCC and opposed by Union representatives.

Shortly after the meeting, a mollified Brandfon commented on the results.

"I'm certainly pleased the faculty was able to see the issue from our perspective and recognize some of the disdain that would have come from changing the policy," he said. Brandfon, who is seeking reelection in the upcoming Union elections, called the tabling of the pass/fail proposal a great accomplishment for the Union



The UCC must now reconsider its changes to the pass/fail system. Both anonymity and the option to take a course pass/fail with less than four courses in a semester will be on the table.



"We don't know what the committee is going to say," Brandfon said. "I presume that their new recommendation would not include removal of anonymity. The faculty felt pretty strongly about that."



Jaffe spoke to the Justice yesterday about the failure of the UCC proposal to win the support of the faculty. He said if any change were to take effect next semester, it would have to be approved at the faculty meeting next month.



"I was personally in favor of the changes, but they're not central to education," Jaffe said. "All things considered, I don't like the idea of anonymity." He said the loss of student anonymity is not off the table, "but the UCC will have to go back and discuss it."



Jaffe said the UCC is scheduled to discuss pass/fail policy at its meeting on Thursday.