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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'
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ing degree j
that capability’ll
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m
TER
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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.”
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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.
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