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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1981)
!S .ocal Johnson cites issues waiting SG action ghout the It tee is also in ; the Living Batl- >r bank injunction witll .angford said. ram started k was very sue® I “This year, we’i(| double or triplet ors and expandilt Station and t, lies in Texas.” By DENISE RICHTER Battalion Staff Getting more feedback from idents and being better repre- ntatives of the student body are o goals of the 1981-82 Texas :M Student Government, says udent Body President Ken phnson. “To be effective, student gov- ment has got to be a group of idents who are serving their as a link of information,” id Johnson, a senior agriculture momics major from Nacog- hes. “It’s really a challenge but link we can do it. ” One way the student govern- ent plans to increase student t is through a campus can- ssing program. “Once a month, we’ll prepare a estionnaire listing four or five ues,” Johnson said. “Each liv- j-area senator will then go door- door asking residents what they ink about each particular issue, mis questionnaire will eliminate [JJ e hocus-pocus and scientific ithematical stuff you have to do th surveys. WeTI be talking to ople, getting their opinions. T think when this is done, we’ll ve a stronger voice when we lit with administrators and I ink the students will have a )re positive attitude toward stu- !nt government. We’ll actually representing them.” Johnson said he feels the follow- juipment, scMfl ! issues will receive the most and endowmenl! ent ion during the fall semester: boasts an endx Fraternities and sororities — $650,000 and Ife hese groups have been trying to m go into ic welded ii hing about thect' that might h gh it. ing degree j that capability’ll companies annii grants to the pat >f $1.5 million, donation toli J.R. Thompt arren ElectricG recognition fork; : new engineesj nplex was mud i Hall. m TER ATX rE BER2 in recognition on the Texas tM campus for a number of ars,” Johnson said. “In 1977, fey were denied official Univer- recognition. During the iring semester, the student sen- established a committee of stu- int leaders to consider the issue, is group has to make their re- mendation by the last senate eting of the fall semester. “It’s the feeling of many people ntA&M that Greeks (members of lltemities and sororities) aren’t Motive to what A&M is all ab- imt. I think the student senate bould create a forum to present oth sides of the issue. The prob- tm is that at other schools, the eek system fragments the stu- lent body and we don’t want this jen here. "Greeks will have to show the t of the student body that y’re Aggies first. They’ll have show that frats and sororities are ilding up A&M, not fragment- igit. Ken Johnson “This issue isn’t a matter of life and death but it is a matter of tra dition and great philosophical con tent. Personally, I would like to see it go to a student vote.” Teaching and research — “For a University to be nationally rec ognized, two things are taken into consideration: the quantity and significance of the research prog ram and the stature of the gradu ate programs,” Johnson said. “Texas A&M’s driving quest for excellence is causing it to channel a lot of money and many outstand ing teachers into the research programs. “The root of the problem is that when promotion and the granting of tenure are considered, teaching plays a minor role. Because of this, there’s a great deal of pressure on faculty members to produce re search and fine teachers are leav ing A&M because of this policy. “We want to establish some criteria for people who excel in teaching. The graduate and re search programs give a school sta ture, but if we lose our teachers and the undergraduate program dries up, people aren’t going to want to come to A&M anyway.” Limiting enrollment — “The question of limiting enrollment is a philosophical one,” Johnson said. “Since Texas A&M is a land- grant institution, established of, by and for the tax-payers of the state, some people feel that the sons and daughters of the tax payers should be able to come here if they want to. “Students at Texas A&M are very fortunate in that it doesn’t cost all that much to come here, to a school that has a lot of good things to offer. But, now we have a real problem because we’ve out grown our faculty and classrooms. “I think the regents’ decision to limit enrollment was a step toward excellence — they want highly motivated students and students who can do well on their tests. The sad part is that we’re losing people who might not have done so well in high school but who get moti vated once they get here and real ly do well. “The Board of Regents has been far-sighted in this issue. They’ll review the program after one year and review it by academic college to see where it is working and where it isn’t. Student govern ment’s role in this will be to in teract with the administration ab out the policy, observe its effects for the duration of the trial period and make recommendations based on student views and input.” Student lobby — “Over the years, there have been national and state groups organized be cause there are issues that come before the legislature that directly affect students,” Johnson said. “For a while, Texas A&M be longed both to the American Stu dent Association (a national lobby) and the Texas Student Associa tion. But, we withdrew from both groups because they weren’t liv ing up to the dollars we invested in them. “For example, a couple of years ago, the TSA came out against the Permanent University Fund and there was A&M, one of the two recipients of the PUF, belonging to a group that opposed it. So, we decided to form our own lobby. “Over the past year, Brad Smith (1980-81 student body president) and two other student govern ment executive officers prepared a paper on the PUF. They went to Austin to testify and copies of their paper went to legislators, former students and University adminis trators. The PUF issue was re solved in our favor but it has been complicated by the governor’s stand on the ad valorem property tax so the issue is basically still before us. “Our lobby, consisting of Blaine Edwards (vice president for exter nal affairs), myself and a program coordinator who hasn’t been chosen yet, will keep up with this issue and others that directly affect Texas A&M.” EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT OUR SIZZLING SUMMER CLEARANCE SALE! SAVE 50% ON MENS AND LADIES WEAR 20% off Wrangler jeans THE BATTALION Page 7 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1981 In the beginning, chaos reigned in Aggieland. On the first day, dorms were erected... By the sixth day, 10,000 souls had found refuge within. On the seventh day, H.B. rested and called it good. OFF CAMPUS, chaos still reigned; Into this disorder has come the OFF CAMPUS AGGIES. Howdy lost Souls, We are the OFF CAMPUS AGGIES (OCA). We represent the students living off campus and invite you to participate with us in activities such as Bonfire, MSC All Night Fair and Parents’ Weekend Festivities. We also invite you to help represent your student community by serving as representatives on the Bryan and College Station City Councils, the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce, and several of the University committees. For the first time, OCA will be electing apartment council Presidents from each of the major complexes. Sign-up for these offices will begin after the second meeting, and elections will be held on September 30th and October 1 st. Details will be discussed at the first meeting. The 1981 Aggie Bonfire will be a major project for OCA in the fall semester. Our goal this year is to get an organized effort from off campus students. Your apartment council will be your direct link to the bonfire leaders and will help organize cutting weekends. Qualified leaders are needed. If you are interested, contact Bruce Martin at 845-1515. Another push for OCA this year will be having representatives to monitor the Bryan and College Station City Councils and the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce. Issues of concern this year are utility rates, zoning, and any proposed decisions concerning student life at A&M. OCA members will be serving on several University Committees including the Traffic Panel, Shuttle Bus and Bonfire committees. OCA has something for everyone; all you have to do is get involved! DATES TO REMEMBER August 31 September 2 September 15 Sept. 30 & Oct. October 13 “All University Night” Meeting 6:30 p.m. Meeting 6:30 p.m. Apartment President Elections Meeting 6:30 p.m All off campus students meet at 6:00 p.m. at Rudder Fountain 601 Rudder 308 Rudder 308 Rudder Officers and Advisor Treasurer: Melissa Montgomery Advisor: Louann Schulze President: Paul Bettencourt Vice President: Bruce Martin Secretary: Rhonda Rhae For more information, come by Room 216 of the MSC or call 845-1515 (ask for OCA) or call 845-1741. HOUSTON CHRONICLE DISCOUNT 1 /2 PRICE \\ MORNING DELIVERY YOU NOW HAVE A CHOICE ON YOUR MORNING NEWS PAPER. THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE IS THE LARGEST MORNING NEWSPAPER IN BRAZOS COUNTY. GUARANTEED DELIVERY TO YOUR DORM, APART MENT OR HOME DAILY AND SUNDAY FOR THE FALL SEMESTER. FOR TEXAS A&M STUDENT, FACULTY & STAFF Aug. 31 — Dec. 18 $ 11 50 Aug. 31 — Dec. 31 $ 12 75 JUST CALL 693-2323 or 846-0763 Houston Chronicle We put a little extra in your day
