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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 3, 1974)
t 4 Page 2 THE BATTALION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1974 Listen up [Your Man at SafflDay students battle I By WILL ANDERSON J ^ for better parking (1L£R0U Lrvacl uu josto In Friday’s Battalion, Rick Aldridge, a junior biol ogy major, complained about a lab he was taking for Wildlife Fisheries 311. Students paid their lab fees but were told they had to pay $2 to receive handouts pertinent to the course. “It seems lab fees are not lab fees at all but just one of those money making disguised charges this university is great at inventing,” Aldridge said. Aldridge said the class was told the Department of Wildlife Science was low on money. The Bait’s investigation began with Prof. Fred Hendricks, instructor of the course, and Dr. James G. Teer, head of the Dept, of Wildlife Sciences. No lab text is used in 311, Hendricks said. “We have printed a booklet, “The Key to the Fishes, ” which costs us about 75 cents at the quick copy center. It contains a substantial amount of information on the fish in Texas waters. “About 250 pages of material are to be given out during the semester. The copy center does the booklet and we print the rest here ourselves.” Hendricks said the booklet was sold last year in the same manner. “If we gave it to the bookstore to be printed it would probably cost a lot more,” he said. “If we have an excessive amount of handouts, we approach the class and see if it’s worthwhile for them to get the extra material,” Dr. Teer said. “Anyone who doesn’t want to pay doesn’t have to; the extra isn’t re quired. “The manual is well defined on the state’s fish so it might help. Nothing is held against the students that choose not to pay the fee. ” Teer said the booklets were sold at his instruction because the lab fee was not enough. “A lot of our courses are field oriented. We never have the funds to make the trips we want,” he said. Expendable lab materials, like fish and alcohol, were indicated by Teer as a large drain on lab fees. The lab fee system was explained by Dr. R. E. Wainerdi, assistant vice president for. academic affairs. “Lab fees do not go to the department that assesses them,” said Dr. Wainerdi. “They are set by law and go to a state fund. ” The fees may not be less than $2 or more than $8, ” he said. “These are sent to the state treasury and allotted to different departments from there dependent on need. Lab fees are not a device of the university to make money. “Students pay a traction of the cost of a lab and the difference is paid by the state. Fees are fixed by law, audited and regulated; Aldridge’s allegation is unfair and unreasonable. ” Dr. Wainerdi suggested R. Clark Diebel, controller of accounts, might enlarge the explanation of fees. While this reporter was waiting in Diebel’s office. Dr. Wainerdi called and said all students who paid the $2 would get a refund. He learned this in a discussion with Dr.‘ H. O. Kunkel, dean of agriculture. “I instructed the money to be refunded, ” Dr. Kun kel said. “The decision to sell the booklet directly to the students was a mistake. It’s been done before; there’s no regulation against it but it’s probably not good business. “It’s too late now. We’re already into this semester, but it should have gone through the bookstore. The refund will involve some loss to the Dept, of Wildlife Science. ” Dr. Teer said the department had sold the booklet in hopes of saving students’ money. He said, “My per sonal projection of the end result of all this is that the booklet will have to be submitted to the bookstore and the price will go up two or three times.” Editor: As day students with cars all know, the parking situation on cam pus leaves something to be desired. One needs only to refer to his handy copy of “Motor Vehicle Regula tions, September 1974” to become aware of the fact that on the main campus, there are exactly nine areas where day students can park. Of these nine, three are streets where parking is minimal, four are desig nated as areas where day students, dorm students, random staff and vis itors may park, depending on who beats whom to the parking lot. That leaves two parking lots en tirely for day students. But being the good people they are, they will continue onward, uncomplaining, battling it out for a parking place. If the university is so in excess of funds that they would even consider building a “wall” around the North- gate area, they might also consider building a multi-level parking ter minal for the benefit of all. Maureen Colley, ’77 The economic reply Education finance system su. By MIKE PERRIN Going to college is expensive. But not with a new system of financing an education. Under this system, the student goes to school as long as he wants and gets all the books and other academip paraphenalia necessary for his edu cation. He then pays back a certain (say 2) percent of his yearly salary to the university until he retires. If he flunks out or quits school, he has to pay only a pro-rated amount of his contract—half if he finishes half and so on. For example, if a college graduate averages $20,000 a year over his lifetime and he works forty years after graduation, then the university’s 2 percent is $400 per year or $8 of his $400 weekly salary. Not much. But in forty years the school collects $16,000. And as a university’s graduates get better and better, the university makes more and more money for education. This scheme is also inflation- proof, given that college graduates salaries tend to keep more even with inflation than other segments of the labor force. The school re ceives the same amount of real pur chasing power. State aid would cease—the stu dents are now paying the full amount of their educations and no need exists to forcibly extract money from the taxpayer to pay for these schools. If a taxpayer wants to give that much money to a school, he can donate it. Grants from corporations, found ations and individuals would not be ruled out, nor would any other vol untary giving. Private schools get a shot in the arm, state universities unburden themselves from taxpayers and political control and get down to the business of education with incomes assured. They are not subject to the whims of an “almighty” legislature in parceling out the money. Schools with the best graduates make the most money. Only one argument exists for schools to be publicly financed- —externalities. Some claim that education results in benefits for everyone, so everyone must pay for education. But this assumes that more be nefits exist than consumers buy in the market. This means that com panies distribute something for no thing and employes receive nothing for something. If so, the employe should be paid, not the university—the public receives be nefits from the actions of graduates; the graduates receive benefits from the university. The payback plan makes graduates pay for benefits re ceived and ensures pay for benefits performed. This plan is predicated on the be lief that students will miss 2 percent of their future income at that time less than they miss a large portion of it now. Of course, a student should be able to choose the method of payment he prefers, but he must pay the full cost of it. Schools with strong programs be nefit from them, students with a de sire for education get it, schools are released from political control, and the taxpayer is relieved of a burden with a payback plan. Cbe Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor on request. Address. The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College or of the writer of the article and are not necessarily those of ' the university administration or the Board of Directors. The The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all Battalion is a non-fyrofit, self-supporting enterprise operated news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local by students as a university and community newspaper. Editor- news of spontaneous origin published herein. Right of reproduction of all .7 j. . j . ■ j i' ... r .i j.' .,, , other matter herein are also reserved. ml policy IS determined by a majority of the editorial board. Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas. LETTERS POLICY Editor ; Greg Moses Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are Assistant Editor Will Anderson subject to beingcut to that length or less if longer. The editorial Managing Editor LaTonya Perrin staff reserves the right to edit such letters and does not guaran- Sports Editor Mike Bruton tee to publish any letter. Each letter must be signed, show the Photo Editor Alan Killingsworth address of the writer and list a telephone number for verifica- News Editor Hank Wahrmund tion. Copy Editors Cynthia Maciel, Carson Campbell. Address correspondence to Listen Up, The Battalion, Boom News Editor .T.C. Gallucci 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. Steve Bales Members of the Student Publications Board are Jim Lindsey, chairman; City Editor Rod Speer Dr. Tom Adair, Dr. R. A. Aibanese, Dr. H. E. Hierth, w. C. Harrison, Steve Special Assignment Reporters Teresa Coslett Eberhard, Don Heg,, and John Nash, Jr. Ray Grasshoff; Richard Henderson, Paul McGrath, Tony Gal- Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Services, Inc , lucci, Mark Weaver, Gerald Olivier, Joe Matthews, Steve New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. ' Gray, Jack Hodges, Judy Baggett, Barbara West, Wendy Wetzel MEMBER General Assignment Reporters Dave Johnson, The Associated Press, Texas Press Association Richard Kotrla, Kanaya Mahendra, Jim Peters, Chirra Reddi, — —— David White, Hazel Campbell, Steve Uekert, Cindy Taber, The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M, is published in College Linda Lea, LeAnn Roby, Roxie Hearn, Debi Holliday, Rose station, Texas, daily except Saturday. Sunday, Monday, and holiday periods. Mary Traverse, Ron Amsler, Robert Cessna, Mary Russo September through Mav, and once a week during summer school. ' Photographers Doug Winship, Mail subscriptions are $5.00 per semester; $9.50 per school year; S10.50 per David Kimmel, Jack Holm, Steve Ueckert, Glen Johnson, full year. All subscriptions subject to 591 sales tax. Advertising rate furnished Chris Svatek, Gary Baldasari, Rodger Mallison. To live is to love To love is to change To change is to grow To grow is to hurt To hurt is to feel To feel is to care To care is to hope To hope is to live. James P. Simon I LAKKMKW CLUB i THE TREND, SCHEDULED TO . 3 Miles N. On Tabor Road PERFORM ON OCTOBER 25 AS A TAMU SPECIAL ATTRACTION, Saturday Night: Johnny Bush & The Bandoleros HAS BEEN CANCELLED. NO RE PLACEMENT WILL BE From 9-1 p.m. SCHEDULED FOR THIS PER FORMANCE. STAMPEDE Every Thursday Nite (ALL BRANDS BEER 35 cents) Embrey’s Jewelry We Specialize In Agrgie Ring's. Diamonds Set— Sizing— Reoxidizing— All types watch/jewelry Repair Aggie Charge Accounts 9-5:30 846-5816 L0GGINS AND MESSINA, DUE TO THE LOSS OF A MEMBER OF THEIR BAND, HAVE CANCELLED THEIR APPEARANCE AT TEXAS A&M SCHEDULED FOR OCT. 18. A REPLACEMENT PERFORMANCE WILL BE AN NOUNCED AS SOON AS ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. REFUNDS FOR THOSE RESERVED SEAT TICKETS ALREADY ORDERED FOR THIS PERFOR MANCE WILL BE MADE BY MAIL. UNIVERSITY LUTHERAN CHAPEL 315 N. Main — 046-MS7 Hubert Seek. Pastor PEANUTS C Beverley Tours, Travel SKltOBRISTMAS IN GENEVA DEPARTS HOUSTON DECEMBER 20 RETURNS JANUARY 1 from §375 HURRY! Reserve now - no applications accepted after October 15 HOLIDAY GROUP SPACE NEW YORK $164.27 departures December 20 &: 2 1 MIAMI departure December 20 $137.27 Includes Roundtrip Airfare from Houston All Group Airfares Subject to Fare Rules on Each Departure. CALL 0M US F0K UNIVERSITY CENTER Your own personal travel agency on campus 846-3773 TOWNSHIRE SHOPPING CENTER 1907 Texas Ave., Bryan x2:i-0<)(> i BEVERLEY BRALEY UNIVERSITY TRAVEL When you need a calculator- you need it now. No waiting for delivery. Your University Calculator Center has the largest inventory of quality units available anywhere. Plus, we specialize in the calculator requirements of the college student. -1S00 From TEXAS INSTRUMENTS, worldwide leader in the electronics industry. iitfiisissiMii TI-1500. This calculator really does fit into a shirt pocket. The slimmed, trimmed case has a chrome-look finish and all the features of the larger portables. Not just four, but five big machine functions (+ , —, x , -*-,%) let you have all the answers. Automatic constant. Full-floating decimal. Easy-to-read 8-digit display. Algebraic logic. Rechargeable. AC adapter/charger, carrying case and manual included. $59.95. LOUPOT’S Northgate Across From The Post Office a? niversity foulator 1974 Application Calculators Incorporated By Charles M. Schulz YOU THREU) MY PIANO POUIN THE SEWER"