Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 4, 1975)
The Consumer Alert by John L. Hill Attorney General AUSTIN—With the ap proach of the swimming and sunning season, many persons trying on last year's bathing suits are unhappy about their physical condition. Health spas and companies selling weight reduction aids are quick to capitalize on the desire to get back into shape for summer. Advertisements are appearing in many publica tions for special devices or products or exercise programs that will help you "shed inches and pounds in time for your vacation.” But our Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division lawyers caution persons who suddenly decide to "do some thing" about their condition to be careful. Always consult your physi cian before embarking on an exercise program or new diet. Both your physician and your common sense will likely tell you that you should increase your activity slowly and gradu ally. This is especially true if you are dieting along with an exercise program. But our attorneys also cau tion consumers to be careful if they intend to sign up with a health spa for an exercise pro gram. or if they plan to try some of the advertised diet aids. The main thing to remem ber, say our attorneys, is that no exercise or diet is going to work without some effort on your part. Many persons hope to find some "secret formula" that will kill their appetites and allow them to lose weight without hunger pangs. Or they search for a health spa that promises to trim off inches and tighten muscles "with ab solutely no effort by you." Consumers who look for such miracles could fall for the false, misleading, or deceptive sales practices used by some businesses. For example, our Consumer Protection attor neys recently obtained a per manent court injunction against a weight reduction firm. The six-week program the firm was recommending to consumers involved daily in jections of human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone derived from the urine of pregnant women. Persons who signed up for the program also were put on a 500 calorie per day diet, a very strict diet that if followed would cause most persons to lose weight without injections of any kind. Under the court order, the firm must stop representing that the hormone injections can reduce weight or that they prevent hunger pangs or other discomfort while on the diet. Consumers should also check carefully before signing up for "special summer rates" being offered at some health spas. Sometimes the low price is just bait to gel you to the spa, where you will be urged to sign a higher-priced long-term contract. In some cases, the "special rate" is the same as the usual rate. Keep these things in mind when considering a health spa contract: You should find out exactly what you will get, how much it will cost, and how long the program will last. Check facilities and equip ment. and find out if they are available for use at all times. Talk with others who have signed contracts there. Be sure not to sign a contract with a firm that hasn't opened yet. If possible, enroll for ,a trial period to see if you like the prbgram and personnel. And find out in advance if you can cancel if you move, become ill, or just change your mind. Board votes to raise campus living fees Page 2 THE BATTALION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1975 The TAMU Board of Directors has authorized increases for the room, board and laundry fees for the fall semester. President Jack Williams told the Board that the increases were “necessary to meet inflation and the mandatory raises that we have to give the personnel in the dormitory operation. He explained that the major cost increases would he in utilities, since it was anticipated that the cost of heat would rise 85 percent and the cost of electricity would go up 76 percent. Hot water for heating was expected to be 37 percent higher, and the cost of chil led water for air-conditioning would increase by 65 percent. Totalled, the projected utility increase per dormitory student was over 50 per cent. Labor costs had also contributed to the necessary fee increases. The passage of a mandatory pay raise by the state legislature February 1 of this year caused a $325,000 hike in the payroll of the Food Services Department alone. The laundry service also experienced increased costs, as the pay raises amounted to an additional $30,000 for the fiscal year 1974-1975, and would increase next year’s budget by at least $50,000. Howard Vestal, assistant vice- president for business affairs, stud, “These increases will carry us through next semester, but we may have to raise fees again next year. The approved increases are as follows: Dormitories (with present rates in parentheses) Legett, Hotard, Milner ($117.00) $135.(X) Hart, l«tw, Puryear, Walton ($137.00) $155.00 Dorms 1-12, Crocker, Davis-Cary, Moore, Moses ($220.00) $235.00 Fowler, Keathley, Mclnnis, Schumacher, Hughes ($235.00) $250.00 Krueger, Dunn, Aston, Mosher ($350.(X)) $375.00 Board (with present rates in parentheses) five-day ($320.00) $347.00 seven-day ($358.00) $388.00 Laundry (with present rates in parentheses) men ($30) $35.00 women ($20) $25. (X) Married Student Apartments (with present rates in parentheses) Southside (3 bedroom) — ($100.00) $114.00 Southside (furnished) — ($70.(X)) $80.(X) Old College View (2 Bdrm. Fur.) — ($63.(X))$72.00 Old College View (1 Bdrm. Unfur.) — ($52.00)$60.(X) Hensel ($85.00) $97.00 College View (Brick) — (125.00) $143.00 College Avenue (1 Bdrm. Fur.) — ($125.00)$143.00 College Avenue (2 Bdrm. Fur.)— ($135.00)$ 154.00 SPfC/AL -for 6rino -ffo a-d and. RewianenT for //57 00 Va/tiz. SusJrj /Tjfifhis 8V6 - 7/// 323 Uni/ersi-fu Dr C.S. PROFESSION A L MfR SPUN/ce FOR me n t UhnCH Hassle free program starting in fall If you live off-campus (as do over two-thirds of the students at TAMU), it will no longer be neces sary for you to scramble and scrape to get the information that seems to be readily available to the students on-campus. The “Hassle Free” program has been designed with ex actly you in mind. Under the direction of the Office of Students Affairs, the “Hassle Free” Program will be composed of a corps of trained volunteers located throughout the major apartment complexes who will be available to assist students and answer ques tions about the university. The Student Affairs personnel will assemble weekly packages of in formation for these student volun teers to post in the apartments. These “reps” will be available for information about intramurals, TAMU traditions, University publi cations, campus facilities, and cam pus activities. They will also have maps of the campus and community and lists of often called telephone numbers. Although the program is not scheduled to begin until the fall semester, volunteers have already been found for the following apart ments. Briarwood, Scandia, Tang- lewood, Country Place, Barcelona^ Casa del Sol, Plantation Oaks, Wil low Oaks, Southwest Village, Casa Blanca, French Quarter, Old Col lege Main, and Southgate. It is also being discussed to have Area Reps for residential areas in the commun ity with high student populations, but as of yet no plans have been formalized. Karen Switzer, Assistant Direc tor of Student Affairs, said, “Very often parents are really uptight when they find out that their son or daughter will be living off-campus. We hope that, when they find out that there will be someone living in the area to whom the student can turn, they will feel much better. Switzer stated, however, that the main purpose of the program is to improve the communication prob lem that exists for the off-campus student. HAMG-/NG-, BASKETS! BUDWEISER ft CAPS AN D VISORS ; SlFSattil The Best Pizza in Town (Honest) and all this: LUNCHEON SPECIAL (Mon.-Fri.) LIVE ENTERTAINMENT HAPPY HOUR OLD TIME MOVIES HOME MADE ICE CREAM (Bill’s specialty) CREPE SUZETTES COLDEST BEER IN TOWN (HONEST) AND OF COURSE ... ‘ETCETERA.’ Come enjoy an evening (or luncheon) in a relaxed cozy atmosphere unequal led in the Southwest (honest). BUFFALO ° OCM aN£) PLAYBOY T- SHIRTS ■£ORI <3/\NMLS BAST 29* ST WAREHOUSE? 37/5 E. 29* ST. \TOWN COUNTRY CENTER./ rr^nr-- —Htt~ - Councils talk services, rate questions postponed The city councils of Bryan and College Station met in joint session Wed., May 28 to discuss issues of importance to both cities. Among matters that were discus sed were, civil defense, health ser vices and the role of the two cities and the county in funding them. Proposed utility and telephone rate increases were not discussed. College Station Mayor O. M. Holt noted that the utility and tele phone rate issues would not be brought up at the meeting due to the semi-social nature of the meet ing and the lack of pertinent records on the two matters. It was agreed however that both of these matters should be referred to special com mittees for further consideration. On the issue of civil defense and health services, Bryan Mayor Lloyd Joyce said that Bryan had been bear ing most of the burden of funding in that the county did more in the way of providing these services to Bryan and College Sta tion,” Joyce said. “The reason that county taxes are so low is that they don’t provide enough services to the two cities. However, most of the services are used in Bryan and Col lege Station.” In further discussion of the fund ing issue, both councils agreed that alternative methods of funding should be investigated. One alter native presented was to base taxa tion for the services on a user basis rather than the current basis of population. the past. “It’s time Cbe Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or of the writer of the article and are not necessarily those of the university administration or the Board of Directors. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting enterprise operated by students as a university and community newspaper. Editorial policy is determined by the editor. LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are subject to being cut to that length or less if longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit such letters and does not guarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must be signed, show the address of the writer and list a telephone number for verification. Address correspondence to Listen Up, The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. Members of the Student Publications Board are: Bob G. Rogers, chairman; Dr. Gary Halter; Dr. John Hanna; Roger P. Miller; Dr. Clinton A. Phillips; Steve Eberhard; Don Hegi and John Nash Jr. Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M, is published in College Station, Texas, daily except Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and holiday periods, September through May, and once a week during summer school. Mail subscriptions are $5.00 per semester; $9.50 per school year; $10.50 per full year. All subscriptions subject to 5% sales tax. advertising rate furnished on request. Address: The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous origin published herein. Right of reproduction of all other matter herein are also reserved. Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas. MEMBER The Associated Press, Texas Press Association Editor Sports Editor . City Editor Campus Editor Photo Editor . .James Breedlove Mike Bruton Jerry Needham Karla Mouitsen Tom Kavser Embrey’s Jewelry We Specialize In Aggie Rings. Diamonds Set— Sizing— Reoxidizing— All types watch/jewelry Repair Aggie Charge Accounts 9-5:30 846-5816 TEXAS CANOE TRAILS, a system of canoe and kayak camps on — I N C RENTAL RATES* One day — $15.00 Two days — $26.00 FOR RESERVATIONS — Contact your local booking agent: Don’t hassle with transporting equipment. LetT.C.T. be waiting for you at the canoe camp. "Rental fee includes canoe, paddles, life jackets, and shuttle service. UPPER GUADALUPE LOWER GUADALUPE CANOES, LTD. Dr. Mickey Little 1212 Berkeley College Station, Tx (713) 846-7307 (dip & save) THE HOUSTON POST “THE BEST-FIRST” TAMU SPECIAL Vi Price *4.35 BOTH SUMMER TERMS *2.20 FIRST SUMMER TERM *5.60 ALL SUMMER CALL: 822-4351 846-0396