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