In December last year, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences voted that for seniors who were candidates for honors, the taking of hour examinations within their field of concentration would be optional, "provided that the department...decided to adopt that ruling". So far this year, no departments have taken any decided stand and have left it conditionally up to professors of each course. The result has been that seniors have unwittingly cut hour examinations, others have taken examinations they later found unnecessary; and the value of the ruling is thus nullified.
Such complexity needs to and can be cleared up expeditiously. At present no one seems in authority, no one can say definitely whether or not a senior is excused from an hour examination. To settle the matter reasonably and to disperse the present confusion, each department should announce definitely its decision, and have that decision apply to all courses and all senior candidates for honors in the field.
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