THE BATTALION Page 7
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1981
5th Year Seniors
on Campus?
A Housing Department deci
sions not to allow fifth-year
seniors and graduate students to
live on campus caused much
controversy and has prompted
officials to take another look at
the problem. Student reaction
prompted several bills to come
before the Senate regarding the
proposed policy. The Senate
passed two bills that asked for a
delay of the effective date of the
policy to be Fall of 1982 instead
of Fall of 1981, and that the De
partment of Student Affairs seek
input from all the student organi
zations concerned prior to the
consideration of future policy de
cisions.
The main criticism of the poli
cy has been that the students
were not informed early enough,
even though the decision was
made in June, 1980. The original
plan was to have been effective
in March of 1981 and students
first learned of the plan at a Resi
dence Hall Association meeting
in November of 1980. Incoming
graduates to the university still
have not been informed of the
proposed policy.
It is estimated that the per
centage of freshmen living on
campus would increase from 57
percent to 62 percent if the fifth-
year and grad students were not
guaranteed rooms. Married stu
dent housing is not included in
the policy.
Student Affairs has formed a
committee composed of two staff
members, two sophomores,
three seniors, and one graduate
student to hear the requests of
those fifth-year seniors and grad
uate students who wish to appeal
their case because of genuine
need. The deadlines for submit
ting an application for an appeal
case is March 1 for the fall
semester, and Oct. 1 for the
spring semester. You can get an
appeal form from the Housing
Office in the YMCA building.
For more information, contact
the Coordinator of Housing
Services, Room 101 of the YM
CA building, or call 845-7219.
Computer Access
The Academic Affairs Com
mittee is aware of the problems
students face when attempting to
use the computer. This fall, a bill
was drawn up which called for
the University to lengthen “Hap
py Hour." The bill was passed in
the Senate, and happy hour has
been lengthened by one hour.
Also, the University has been
looking at the complete problem
through a committee that has
been studying student computer
access on a University-wide
basis.
The Academic Affairs Com
mittee has the responsibility for
looking into further solutions to
the computer problem. Any sug
gestions you may have for the
alleviation of these problems
should be directed to this com
mittee.
Senate Constituency
Workshop
On January 29, the Student
Senate held a constituency work
shop. This workshop was de
signed to help the senators learn
how to more effectively reach
and get input from the student
they represent.
The workshop was planned as
a result of years of continued
complaints from students that
they “only see their senators at
election time.” The actual idea
for the workshop had its roots in
a meeting held this past summer
when student body president
Brad Smith and all of the vice-
presidents met to discuss plans
for the upcoming school year.
One of the goals that Brad had
set for the year was to have the
senators play a more active role
in meeting with and discussing
ideas and problems with other
students. With these goals in
mind, Brad and Ken Johnson,
the speaker for the Senate, de
signed the workshop. The pro
gram included hints of how to
put together a speech on student
representation, a review of pub
lic speaking skills and ideas on
how to encourage questions from
the audience. After a period of
instruction, the senators broke
into groups to talk over specific
ideas and plans. Results of the
workshop are very encouraging
and it seems to have been very
effective. Within a week after
the workshop some of the new
ideas surfaced around campus,
such as the “White House Whis
pers” in the Commons, and a
Student Government bulletin
board in the Academic Building
for the College of Liberal Arts.
Other plans will be carried out
Student Elections
If you are interested in getting
involved at A&M, the time is
right to get into action. Filings
for many important offices opens
March 3 and closes March 9 at
5:00 p.m. Filing takes place in
room 216 A in the MSC. The
positions open are: Student Body
President, five Vice Presidents,
Class Council Officers, and
Senators. Also, Yell Leader,
RHA, Off-Campus Aggies, and
the Graduate Student Council
will have positions open. The
elections will take place March
31 and April 1. The run-off will
he April 8. The voting locations
are the MSC, Guard Room,
Commons, Sbisa and possibly
the library. Leah Whitby, the
election commissioner, encour
ages anyone interested to run for
an office, and she hope all Aggies
will turn out and vote. For more
information, contact Leah in the
Student Government Office.
WHO CARES ABOUT
TEXAS ASM?
! P
iUDENTS L
nor
int
Student Government members express a sentiment shared by many students
during Open House last fall.
through the rest of the semester.
If you would like to learn more
about Student Government, how
it works for you, and how can
you add your input, get in touch
with your senators. These people
have a responsibility to repre
sent you, and they want to get
your ideas and complaints so that
together you can help make Stu
dent Government more effective
for all students.
New Library Hours
There is good news for all of
you who like to spend time in the
library. As a result of a Student
Senate bill, library hours will be
expanded by 12 hours each
week. Beginning February 23 li
brary hours will be extended
from midnight to 1:00 a.m. Sun
days through Thursdays, and
from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on
Saturdays. On Sundays, the Re
serve Reading Room will open at
9:00 a.m.
The Student Services Com
mittee learned that electricity
and staff costs were minimal, and
that the proposed extension of
hours would only cost an addi
tional $1800 per semester. After
the Senate passed the bill, E)f.
John Koldus and Dr. Charles
McCandless were able to find
the necessary funds for the pro
ject.
Quiz Files
The Academic Affairs Com
mittee has been looking into the
idea of creating a University
wide quiz file. Both the Off Cam
pus Aggies and the Business Stu
dent Council have expressed a
desire to work with the commit
tee on this project. Research is
underway to find ways of setting
up such a file and obtaining larg
er amounts of quizzes for the file.
The committee has been in con
tact with the University of Texas,
which has a computerized quiz
file, to check into the possibility
of a similar file for Texas A&M.
The committee hopes to begin
putting this file together soon,
making it available to students at
the earliest possible date.
COSGA
The Conference on Student
Government Associations (COS
GA) began yesterday, and will
continue through tomorrow. Ap
proximately thirty schools from
adjacent states will be in attend
ance. The conference is an effort
by student leaders from these
schools to better equip future
leaders by acquainting each
other with their various ideas,
problems, and areas of strength.
The agenda for the three day
conference included a formal
dinner and entertainment the
first evening, with workshops
and group discussions planned
for yesterday as well as today.
Today s discussions will also have
some time set aside for an evalu
ation of the conference.
The COSGA committee has
spent a great deal of time and
effort planning this conference,
and Greg Hood, COSGA chair
man, is confident that the confer
ence will be both successful and
beneficial for all concerned par
ties.
The conference is considered
to be a pioneering move in the
direction of further uniting Stu
dent Governments across the
South to share ideas and learn
from each other’s strengths. If it
proves to be successful, further
conferences may be planned.
Bike Rack
Congestion
Recent complaints about bicy
cle congestion on campus during
the day have prompted the Stu
dent Services Committee to give
the matter some consideration.
Although surveys indicate that
approximately 80 percent of the
students are opposed to the ban
ning of bicycles from central
campus, most agree that some
thing needs to be done about the
haphazard parking of bicycles,
particularly at thd library and the
MSC. Students are not using the
designated bicycle racks, and the
resulting clutter presents a fire
hazard and an unpleasant obsta
cle to the handicapped and un
handicapped alike. The MSC is
planning to post signs specifying
rack use, even though similar
signs, posted at the library, have
been singularly ineffective.
Other solutions are being
studied, including the sugges
tion that more bicycle racks be
built.
Weight Room
Along with the recent Kyle
Field expansion, a new Nautilus
weight room proposed by the
Student Senate last year was
opened on the second floor G.
Rollie White Coliseum. The ex
isting weight room was expanded
to include $40,000 woth of new
Nautilus and Universal equip
ment. The cost was paid by Stu
dent Services fees and bookstore
profits.
The new weight room is avail
able for student use from 11:00
a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 5:00
p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekdays,
and from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
on Saturdays and Sundays.
Workshops on the use of the new
equipment are currently being
planned.
Summer Jobs
Program
The Student Services Com
mittee has been working on a
plan to match A&M students de
siring summer jobs with former
students who want Aggies to
work for. The committee is
working with the Former Stu
dents Association and other cam
pus groups while organizing the
plans.
The Jobs Program will set up a
file in the Student Govenrment
office where students could
come and get information on job
opportunities. These would be
arranged according to location,
by either city or county. Stu
dents would then contact the
company and arrange for an in
terview. Once a job is filled, its
card will be removed from the
file.
A state-wide publicity tour of
A&M Mother’s Clubs and local
Former Students Associations is
scheduled for February and
March. At each stop representa
tives will give a presentation on
Texas A&M and the objectives of
the Jobs Program. These presen
tations should create a large re
source of job opportunities bene-
fitting those Aggies in need of
summer employment. For more
details on the program, stop by
the Student Govenrment office
in Room 216 MSC or call 845-
3051.
Aggie Park
Last November, the Student
Services Committee began con
ducting research into the possi
bility of establishing an off-
campus recreational facility for
student use. Research is continu
ing on this project to provide a
park for intramurals, classroom-
type activities (such as those in
cluded in astronomy, orienteer
ing and range science classes),
and a place for students to relax
and “get away from it all.”
The committee is considering
several tentative sites located on
university-owned land. These
sites are located by Easterwood
Airport, about three miles from
campus. The park would have a
maximum of 200 acres and could
even include a small lake.
A nationwide survey of similar
facilities at 120 universities of
comparable size has been com
pleted, and an environmental
design class has been asked to
help develop some specific pro
posals and cost estimates. Uni
versity and city officials are pro
viding their input into the pro
ject also.
The only drawbacks to the
plan for an off-campus recrea
tional facility are the complexity
and the cost of the project. At
this time, research is being con
tinued. Yet because of the long
range nature of the project, re
sults aren’t expected for several
years.
Spring Reapportionment
As part of its’ constitutional
duty, the Texas A&M Student
Senate annually reapportions it
self to reflect trends in the
growth or movement of the stu
dent body, and to insure effec
tive representation for each stu
dent. This Spring’s reapportion
ing, brought about by increasing
enrollment, has resulted in the
Student Senate being enlarged
by two seats, bringing the total
number of seats to 83.
Most of the other seat juggling
in the senate is a reflection of
unusual growth among the vari
ous academic colleges and living
areas. Because of their growth,
the colleges of business and engi
neering, the on-campus stu
dents, and the off-campus stu
dents in ward IV (the area north
of University Drive and west of
Texas Ave.) each gained one seat
in the senate. The parties losing
senate seats are the college of
science and Ward III, off-
campus (the area opposite Ward
IV).
Each Texas A&M student is
entitled to representation in the
Student Senate by two senators:
one from the student’s academic
college, and one from his dorm
or living area. It is the constitu
tional obligation of the Rules and
Regulations committee to see to
it that this is carried out prop
erly. If you have any questions
concerning your representation,
you’re encouraged to direct
them to the Student Govern
ment office, room 216 MSC.
Student Lobby
The Student Lobby is getting
under way to combat some perti
nent issues concerning Texas
A&M students. Primary among
these issues is the proposal for a
major tuition increase. If passed,
this increase will be the first such
tuition increase since 1957, and
will be of substantial propor
tions.
The other major issue con
fronting the Student Lobby con
cerns the proposed splitting of
the Permanent University Fund
(PUF) among seventeen other
schools. If the $1.2 billion PUF
budget actually is divided among
these other schools, Texas A&M
will be forced to close several
PUF funded organizations.
The reasoning behind these
lobbying efforts is clear enough:
if these two measures are passed,
they could have serious conse
quences for most if not all A&M
students. For this reason, repre
sentatives of Student Govern
ment will be traveling to Austin
at various times this month to
represent the opinion of A&M
students on these issues. With a
little luck, and a little diplomatic
skill, this lobby hopes to estab
lish an “ear” in Austin interested
enough to allow Texas A&M stu
dents a voice on issues concern
ing the university.
This is the first year that A&M
students have established their
own lobby effort outside of the
Texas Student Association.
Hopefully, this change will allow
A&M students to be more di
rectly represented as well as en
abling the students involved to
learn more about the operations
of state government.
Senate Shorts
The following are some of the
bills currently pending Senate
approval:
Aggie Basketball Ticket
Distribution Proposal
WHEREAS: The Texas A&M
Basketball program has achieved
much success and popularity
over the last few years, and
WHEREAS: The present system
of admitting Aggies into G. Rol
lie White Coliseum for games
has created long lines, confusion,
and much aggravation, and
WHEREAS: The present system
discriminates against those stu
dents who have late classes or
must work late, and
WHEREAS: A better means of
distributing tickets and admit
ting students to a Basketball
game would permit maximum
use of G. Rollie White Col
iseum’s capacity and reduce
many problems,
THEREFORE BE IT RE
SOLVED: That the Texas A&M
Student Senate study alterna
tives to the present Basketball
ticket distribution policy and
propose to the Athletic depart
ment a new ticket distribution
system.
Texas A&M Student Lobby
Proposal
WHEREAS: The 67th Legisla
ture of the state of Texas is now
in session, and
WHEREAS: There will be a
multitude of issues presented
which concern the welfare of the
students of Texas A&M Univer
sity, and
WHEREAS: As elected repre
sentatives of the student body it
is the responsibility of the
TAMU Student Senate to pro
mote the interests of our stu
dents,
THEREFORE BE IT RE
SOLVED: That the External Af
fairs committee formulate a set of
policies on the issues deemed
pertinent.
THEREFORE BE IT FUR
THER RESOLVED: That the
Student Senate pursue these
policy aims through a com
prehensive lobbying effort
through the External Affairs lob
bying subcommittee.
Traffic Problems Bill
WHEREAS: Traffic congestion
has been increasing with each
passing year, and
WHEREAS: Increased conges
tion threatens the safety of
pedestrians and cyclists,
THEREFORE BE IT RE
SOLVED: That the TAMU Stu
dent Senate recommend that the
TAMU Police consider policies
to reduce traffic congestion in
the central parts of the campus.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That these policies should in
clude, but not be limited to:
Police directing traffic during
rush hours; closing Spence
Street to motor vehicles; rear
ranging blue/red traffic sticker
parking areas.
Student Organizations Storage
Area
WHEREAS: Texas A&M has
achieved great success in giving
its students “the other educa
tion” through a wide variety of
student organizations, and
WHEREAS: There is a shortage
of storage space that these or
ganizations may use for storage
due to the growth of the Univer
sity, and
WHEREAS: The Student
Services Committee has de
veloped a proposal for two (2)
storage areas under the access
ramps on the north side of Kyle
field.
THEREFORE BE IT RE
SOLVED: That the Senate re
quests that $11,500 be allocated
from University funds for the
purpose of developing their
plan.
“All-University Pre-Election
Bash” Bill
WHEREAS: Student input has
led to the suggestion of a major
“Meet The Candidate” night,
and
WHEREAS: There is no current
popular meeting of this sort,
THEREFORE BE IT RE
SOLVED: That the Student
Government set up an “All-
University Pre-Election Bash” in
a large setting, i.e. G. Rollie
White, during the week or prior
to the night of elections.
Suggestions:
Aggie Band
Small Yell Practice
Speakers; Dr. Koldus, Dr.
Sampson, etc.
President, VP’s and yell leaders
Corps, RHA, OCA, local talent
(?)
“Bicycle Parking” Bill
WHEREAS: Texas A&M Uni
versity is known for having one
of the best looking campuses in
Texas, and
WHEREAS: The continuous
parking of bicycles along
sidewalks, and clustered in front
of buildings detracts from this
beauty,
THEREFORE BE IT RE
SOLVED: That the Student Se
nate of TAMU recommend to
the University that any possible
action, such as more bike racks,
be taken to improve or remove
these areas of congestion of bicy
cle parking (i. e. the area in front
of the MSC, Milner Hall, and by
the outside entrance of Krueger
Hall), and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That along with the above rec
ommendation, the Student Se
nate of TAMU recommend that
the Bike Route on the west side
of Spence Street, that terminates
in front of the Agriculture Build
ing, be extended along the whole
length of Spence Street running
south up to the Commons.
Clarification Of An AGGIE
Tradition
WHEREAS: The tradition that
classes not be held following an
Aggie football victory over the
University of Texas was upheld
last year when classes were dis
missed, and
WHEREAS: This dismissal
created confusion among many
students and faculty because it
was not announced far in ad
vance, and
WHEREAS: Confusion again re
sulted among some students
when classes were not dismissed
following this year’s victory over
the University of Texas, and
WHEREAS: Such confusion
could be avoided by a set policy
concerning the A&M — UT foot
ball game;
THEREFORE BE IT RE
SOLVED: That a set policy be
established as to whether classes
will be held after future A&M
football victories over UT.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That if it is decided to honor the
tradition of dismissing classes af
ter Aggie victories over UT,
then:
1. Faculty be informed of this
fact at the beginning of the fall
semester so that they may plan
accordingly,
2. Students be informed by in
structors and through student
publications the week of the
game or earlier that classes willb
e dismissed if A&M defeats UT.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That due to confusion resulting
from this year’s late decision and
inadequate dissemination there
of, the administration instruct
faculty not to penalize students
for the misunderstanding sur
rounding the situation.
Senior Finals
Members of the Finance Committee discuss policy during a group meeting.
In December of 1980 it was
brought to the attention of the
Academic Affairs Committee
that the Academic Council was
considering a proposal which
would allow professors to give
graduating seniors an extra exam
prior to grade submission. The
Academic Council is composed
of Vice Presidents, Deans, As
sociate Deans, Department
Heads, faculty members and the
Student Body President. In reac
tion to the proposal in the Aca
demic Council, the committee
submitted the “Cruelty to Dead
Elephants” bill to the Senate
which stated the Senate’s objec
tion to this policy. The bill was
placed on emergency and
passed.
Yet, in spite of the Student
Senate’s objection, the Academic
Council decided to pass the pro
posal to allow an additional test.
Most of the Council members
felt that in many cases, a
graduating senior’s grade is de
termined without the addition of
a final examination score to the
student’s average. They felt this
was unfair to other class mem
bers, and did not motivate the
graduating seniors to learn the
material in the last part of the
semester.
The main objection presented
by the students was that any test
given to a graduating senior
would have to be administered
and graded by the Friday before
dead week when the grades are
due. If the test was the same
final that the other students
would be taking, the senior
would be at a disadvantage by
not having the additional time
during Dead Week to prepare
for it as other class members
would. The Senate felt this poli
cy opened up the doors for many
possible abuses.
In an effort to solve this prob
lem of potential abuse, Dr. Pre
scott (University Vice-President
for Academic Affairs) has in
troduced a proposal that would
not allow this additional test for
graduating Seniors to be com
prehensive. This proposal will be
considered in the February 20th
Academic Council meeting and,
if passed, should go a long way
toward clarifying the new policy.
No matter what the outcome is,
graduating Seniors still will be
exempt from taking a regular fin
al during Finals Week. Howev
er, there will be additional tests
sometime before Dead Week
just for those students who are
graduating.
Parents’ Day
Parents’ Day is a special day
shared by all Aggies with their
parents. This is the day specifi
cally set aside by the university
to honor all Aggie parents. The
weekend of April 25th and 26th
has been set aside for this year’s
events. The agenda will boast
many activities, such as a concert
by the Singing Cadets, dorm and
outfit barbecues, the Presi
dential luncheon, performances
by the Ross Volunteers, the Fish
Drill Team, and the presentation
of the prestigious Gathwright
Academic Awards. There will al
so be the traditional flower pin
ning ceremony, in which the
mother of each Corps member
pins a flower on her son or
daughter. This year, a dance is
also being considered. All in all.
Parents’ Day ’81 should be quite
impressive.