As President Richard Freeland swaggered into the luncheon held in his name on Monday, Stetson hat in hand (no comment on that one), student leaders mingled about the Tex-Mex style buffet.

The president addressed the students while glasses clinked. He spoke of construction and new hires on campus. He delivered a speech that ran for about 45 minutes, discussing the university’s strong points and what lies ahead for NU.

As my colleagues and I began to doze off, Freeland opened the floor for student questions.

This is when the luncheon got exciting.

The first student to step up to the microphone was Courtnee Crystal, an international business major and the secretary of senate. Crystal made an appearance at the last luncheon during winter quarter when she asked about academic advising and the lack of availability to meet with advisors in a timely fashion. Namely her advisor.

This event was no different.

She, among other students, raised their hands when Freeland asked how many business students present had run into problems with advising. The tone of the luncheon turned from dull to lively, well in my eyes. I could just feel the administrators present groaning, their eyes rolling and as I turned to my right, I saw the president’s cheeks reddening, his jaw tightening.

As I said, things got interesting.

Freeland directed Crystal’s question to Ira Weiss, the dean of the School of Business Administration.

Ira again addressed the crowd of students, a large number of them students in the school of business. Weiss again said the school is coping with the crunch and has extended advising hours to accommodate co-op students. He also added that the school has been given an additional advisor and may see another by July 1 via reallocating funds within the school.

Again Weiss said that if problems occur and students need to get in and see their advisors, to call or e-mail him. Again, here is Ira’s contact info: he can be reached at 373-3239 and his e-mail is [email protected].

President Freeland told students that this advising crunch should be a lesson in persistence. He also urged the student leaders present in the room to get the word out to their friends.

Freeland himself has taught the students a lesson in persistence. His message throughout the final stages of the conversion has been: advising. This key tool he continues to boast is what will carry the university to the next stage of the game — semesters.

Dean of Arts ‘ Science James Stellar said that at peak moments during the quarter, his office may be understaffed. But he assured students, “If we were to properly staff the office, we would have to spend more of your tuition dollars.”

Then Stellar chuckled.

I am serious. He laughed.

I, as a tuition paying student don’t think it’s funny. If I want to go see my adviser during a peak moment in the quarter, which most students do, especially if they need to register for classes, I don’t want to wait. Why should I? I work to pay my rent and to help alleviate the financial burden of tuition thrust on my mother’s shoulders … and you want me to just sit back and wait?

Stellar can be reached at 373-5173 and his e-mail is [email protected] if you want to give him a piece of your mind.

Now granted there are a lot of students on campus as this is a large university. There are also a lot of students who are confused about semester conversion. But this is why we NEED advisors to be waiting with open arms to give us advice. Overloaded advisers must be burnt out by no., And with the May 20 registration date looming, I can only imagine their dread when the alarm goes off in the morning and they are forced to shuffle off to work at NU.

Shuffle, ha, no pun intended.

This should be an indicator. If the deans are already saying there is a crunch during peak times under quarters, just imagine what it will be like the week of May 20 when registration begins for the fall and spring semesters. My advice to you: Go now.

If you can’t meet with your specific advisor, see if there is someone else, preferably with some knowledge of the conversion and semester system, and speak to them.

Get it done.

For the “hold harmless” policy to be applicable you must first be responsible and see an advisor.