4B
Two run for RHA leadership
Jim Cooper
Name: Jim Cooper
Age: 22
Major: Management
Class: Senior
Hometown: Borger
JIM COOPER
What are your qualifications for
RHA president?
I have two years experience in
RHA as Dunn Hall Intramural Di
rector (1977-1978) and president
(1978-1979). As a result of these two
years experience in dorm activities
and this year on Casino and other
committees. I feel I can respond to
challenges on the grass roots level of
individual halls with residents and
the organizational level with student
organizations, administration and
staff.
What do you see as the major
problems and issues confronting
the RHA?
1. Accountability- Hall funds are
being spent wiser and better than
ever before but we are still obli
gated to strive for improvement. Ef
fort also needs to be made to further
inform residents about programmed
halls.
2. Involvement- It is my opinion
that RHA members should also give
more input to University commit
tees.
Do you see any problems with
any aspect of the board plan?
No, having eaten at several other
universities in the state I can say
that out food services are far and
above the average. Our Student
Menu Board can take much credit in
this area. Of course, a “little” im
provement in food quality is always
appreciated.
What priorities should govern
the assignment of dorm space?
Upperclassmen in residence halls
are responsible for carrying on tradi
tion and dorm pride. It is too bad
that more freshmen cannot live on
campus and learn from these up
perclassmen. But rather than ruin I
tradition and dorm pride, I would
rather allow as many freshmen as
possible without ruining the present
system.
Do you feel dorm activity fees, for
those dorms with such programs,
should be compulsory? Compul
sory, in a strict sense of word, no, |
This is an area which RHA needs to
concentrate. As programming con
tinues to improve this area will de
mand less and less attention. When
all residents feel their desires in
programming are satisfied they wil
want to pay their activity fees. This
is what we strive for.
!’*■
Barbara Thompson
Name: Barbara Thompson
Age: 19
Major: Ocean Engineering
Class:Sophomore
Hometown: Midland
What are your qualifications for
RHA president?
Last year, I served as the first
RHA Educational Programs chair
man, a subchairman for Casino ’78,
and I received the RHA Distin
guished Service Award for outstand
ing work. I was a delegate to two
state conventions and a national
convention to exchange ideas with
other university residence halls.
This year, I am secretary of the
RHA— an active elected member of
the Executive Committee which has
encouraged a diversity of programs
with the halls and excellent rapport
within the RHA.
What do you see as the major
problems and issues confronting
the RHA?
The issues facing the RHA con
cern not only each individual hall
but also halls’ relationship with ad
ministrators and other organiza
tions. We must improve on-campus
input into issues such as parking,
food services and administrative pol
icy so that hall students will have an
effective voice into current con
cerns. With the program fee issue
soon resolved, we can turn to a wide
range of programming for all resi
dence halls.
Do you see any problems with
any aspect of he board plan?
The problems concerning the
board plan are more complicated
than they appear. For example,
many Commons residnets would
like fast foods like Sbisa, but this is
not economically feasible for the
fewer students without increasing
board costs. Rising food prices are
already forcing our fees up higher
each year. The two-meal-a-day plan
would not cost the residents less
since we already get breakfast
virtually free. However, cross
dining between halls would be ben
eficial to allow convenience in din
ing and diversity of food. Also, we
should maintain student input
through the menu board.
What priorities should govern
the assignment of dorm space?
Both freshmen and up
perclassmen make a balanced, act
ive hall. Fish learn about A&M and
mature to well-adjusted individuals
and upperclassmen provide the role
models. The policy recently formu
lated by Ron Blatchley and Ron
Sasse of Student Affairs insures an
optimum proportion of each class
without forcing any resident to
move off-campus.
Do you feel dorm activity fees,
for those dorms with such pro
grams, should be compulsory?
Programmed halls should be
beneficial and responsive to all resi
dents. If the halls provide a wide
range of activities from mixers to
seminars and service projects, most
residents will want to pay the fee.
However, no one should be forced
to pay if they object to the fees or the
activities sponsored. The hall coun
cils and the RHA plan to better in
form residents on the uses of fees
before payment next year. But, in
fairness to all residents, they should
pay for any services or program they
attend.
Bi
BARBARA THOMPSON
J
Two race for off-campus presidency
Bruce Martin
Name: Bruce Martin
Age: 21
Major: Animal Science
Class: Junior
Hometown: Houston
What are your qualifications for
OSA president?
I have been associated with the
OSA for two years as a representa
tive and as a vice president of pro
grams. I have also worked on the
merger committee to set up the new
Off-campus Student Association. I
understand not only the difficulty
facing me in organizing the off-
campus students into a solid student
group, but also in organizing the
structure and manpower of the or
ganization to fully develop the po
tential of the off-campus student
body.
What should be the goals of the
OSA next year?
For next year the OSA shall have
to try to establish a strong and know-
ledgable following under the new
organization constitution.
OSA shall have to re-establish its
credability in the eyes of the stu
dents and the administration
through its public service and stu
dent oriented programs.
What services should the OSA
provide off-campus students?
OSA should act as the active voice
of the off-campus students on issues
that directly affect them both on
campus and just as importantly in
the community.
OSA should get off-campus stu
dents more active in programs and
functions on campus that many of
them rarely find about until it’s too
late. A good example of this is work
ing on bonfire and participating in
Parent’s Day functions on campus.
OSA should work to help off-
campus students with housing prob
lems and other difficulties that arise
from living off-campus.
What are the major problems
confronting off-campus students as
a whole?
The major problems facing off-
campus students as a whole are; a
lack of communication with the
University administration and stu
dent government. As a result this
causes a total lack of representation
of their views and feelings on deal
ings directly or indirectly affecting
them.
Debbie May
Name: Deborah (Debbie) May
Age: 20
Major: Business Marketing
Class: Junior
Hometown: Houston
What are your qualifications for
OSA president?
Living off-campus since my
freshman year, I’ve become quite
aware of the problems facing off-
campus students. I have worked ac
tively on various OSA projects and
was one of three members selected
for the merger committee with
Hassle-free. I consider being OSA
president a full-time job and intend
to treat it as such.
What should be the goals of the
OSA next year?
With the University’s rapid
growth, I believe off-campus stu
dents deserve a stronger voice in
University affairs. My main goals
are to eliminate the “kinks” of the
new organiztions, unify off-campus
students, and establish the organiza
tion’s reputation as a respectable
politicol entity capable of great ac
complishments.
What services should the OSA
provide off-campus students?
OSA should:
1. Serve as the political voice for
off-campus students in university
and community affairs.
2. Keep the students informed of
campus activities, trying to get them
more involved.
3. Serve as a referral center for
problems regarding off-campus liv
ing.
4. Offer programmed activities for
off-campus students as a grup.
What are the major problems
confronting off-campus students as
a whole?
Due to the construction, I would
consider the lack of parking for off-
campus students the most critical
problem they are faced with. Shut
tle buses, however, also pose a
problem due to overcrowded condi
tions, infrequent pick-up and un
predictability. A third problem off-
campus students face is lack of avail
ability of information regarding
campus events.
me: I
B: 21
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iss: S