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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 1982)
etc Ex-loan agents aid Cornell United Press International ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell University has taken a novel approach to the problem of col lecting unpaid student loans. It uses retired collection agents. The Ivy League school, lo cated above Cayuga Lake in up state New York, has hired three retirees to work part-time in its collection office to try and get Cornell grads to come up with money past due. Two of the three retirees are former collec tion agents. “We’re not aware of any other college that has hired re tirees to do this,” Cornell’s asso ciate bursar Richard Banks said. The idea has worked so well that in their first two months on the job, Althea Daharsh, 64, Bill Lycfle, 68, and former real estate agent John Alexander, 61, reco vered enough money to meet the collection program’s entire annual operating budget. “In the past we hired student help to supplement our full time staff,” Banks said. “But by the time we got the students trained, it was time for them to leave. So we decided to go for the retirees. “We talked with our person nel department and came upon the Older Persons Employment Network in Ithaca. We con tacted the agency and it turned out that the first person they sent us was a retired collector. We decided that it was such a good idea and decided to hire two others.” The trio started last winter and the university’s been happy with the results. They work four-hour shifts, three nights a week. “We’ve been happy for a number of reasons,” Banks said. “First, they were pretrained. They can also be used to train our new full-time people. They know the business. W^ don’t have to hold their hands. They can use the necessary diploma cy, maturity and tact to talk to our grads who owe us money.” Banks said he doesn’t think of the three as a team but he added that they are “really dynamic.” He acknowledged it’s the first time Cornell collection officials have been satisfied with the part-time help. “They’re extremely hard working and conscientious,” he said. “They’re super people. They’re real characters.” Banks said Cornell doesn’t treat its collection process like a typical agency would. “We don’t browbeat any body,” he said. “We’re more low key and perhaps a bit more thoughtful.” Daharsh, who worked for a collection agency 16 years, said it’s difficult for her to explain the success she and her co workers have had but she came up with some theories. “You have to treat each per son as an individual,” she said. “Sometimes being very nice will do the trick, other times you have to be more aggressive. But you can tell very quickly what tactic to use. It comes with the experience.” Lydle, who worked with Daharsh at the Credit Bureau of Ithaca for about three years, said experience is definitely the key. “It’s simple. We knew how to find people and we also knew how to talk to them. I’ve had 48 years of people-to-people ex perience in my lifetime and when you’ve had as much tele phone time as I’ve had you can read people’s voices and tell the liars from the sincere ones.” Daharsh added: “Basically, most are willing to pay but they kind of let it slide and no one’s reminded them recently that their money is due. There are extenuating circumstances in all the cases but some people just don’t really care whether they pay or not. “That’s a small percentage but the attitude they give us is, ‘The heck with you, go jump off the pier,’ I can’t convey to them that I’m angry but I am. I have to keep it within myself. I just tell them we’ll turn it over to the attorneys.” Lydle said that by and large he thinks most people want to pay, but the debtors need is someone to reaffirm their re sponsibility. Both insisted they are diplo matic and humane — unlike the stereotype of the collection agent. “I’m a very human person," Lydle said. “But 1 only allow people to lie to me once. This year Town Hall/Broadway is offering a season ticket for the first time. You can experience the wonderful world of the Great White Way and see a free play! From music to murder, Town Hall/Broadway brings you some of the finest New York theatrical attractions. And you get guaranteed seat ing, a 20% discount from individual ticket prices (one free play) and priority seating for the 1983-84 season. Share the thrill of Broadway right here at home. We’re saving our best seats for you! DEATHTRAP • November 21,1982 Starring Leslie Nielsen ANNIE • December 7,1982 EVITA • February 15,1983 Look at the benefits you get as a season ticket subscriber: • “Deathtrap” performance FREE! • Same reserved seats for each show! • Priority seating for 1983-84 season! TOWN HALL 82-83 BROADWAY SEASON ORDER MAIL TO: MSC Box Office, P.O. Box J-1, College Station, TX 77844-9081. Or call MSC Box Office, Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 845-1234. Name Phone # Address Apt. # City/State/Zip CHECK ONE: Orchestra Rows Zone 1 AA-L Zone 2 M-Z Balcony Rows Zone 1 A-K Zone 2 L-Q Zone 3 R-ZZ Explain your seating preference: First Choice Second Choice TICKET PRICES Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone No. Tickets x Price = Total $ $41.00 $35.00 $30.00 Handling 100 PAYMENT: □ Visa □ MasterCard □ Check (to Town Hall) TOTAL _$ Card Number Expiration Date Cardholder’s Name What’s Up TEXAS A&M PRE-TH EOLOG1CAL MEETING:A meeting to discuss speakers, catalogues and files, and vote on a trip to San Anti Ik- held from 8:80 p.m. to 9:45 in 102 Rudder SOCIETY OF MANUFACTURING F.NG1M :Sign-ups for the O I IS Plant 1 rip and dijcussi Aggieland picture dale, a nominating commit^ coming speakers will Ik- held in a meeting at 7 p.n, Zachry. STUDENT ‘Y’.'Hey Ags! Come join our share gra p.m. in the All Faiths Chapel Don’t miss it! UNIVERSITY LUTHERAN CHAPEL* ■'Martin Luther”, will be shown at 7 p.m and a light Communion Service of Meditation vullbeMi p.m. at the University Lutheran Chapel, 3I5N Main in College Station. MSC COLLEGE BOWL TOURNAMENT* narnent will be held at 6:30 p.m. in 510 public welcome to come and view the matches, MBA/LAW DAY: I irketsloi Mb VL.u Dav.api inform students about graduate studies in law ness, will Ik* on sale at the MSC Box Office through! and at the A&A lobby from 10 a.nt to‘2 pj through Nov. 5. Program tickets are $2 and lunch tickets will lx* 54.50. INTERN A IT ON AL ST UDENTS Cl ATI ON: A regular execuUve committee mees be held at 6 p.m. at the ISA booth in the MSC INDIA ASSOC IA I ION: A celebration of Indi Year will be held on Nov. 13. AH members must jit Diwali tickets from executives l>eforetlieendof'A Just call one of them and reserve your tickets.No will lx* sold after the deadline. MSC HOSPTTAITT Y COMMITTEE:Attend Anyone interested in competing in the 1983 ANM Scholarship Pageant should pick ttpap available in 216 MSC at the Hospitality cubide, line for all entries is Nov. 5 at 5 p.m. DE I’ \R TMEM OF S I { HEX I ACTIVl recognized student organizations are invitedtoj| cubicle space in the Renovated Pavilion. Applid due Friday. For more information, contact the Activities Office at 845-1133. MSC OUTDOOR RECREATION CO TEE:Ttxlav is the last day to sign up in 216MSi Kayak workshop to be held Saturday at Hildagt Sign up begins in 216 MSC for a weekend canoe the Neches River to he held Nov. 6 and 7. PSE-PI SIGMA EPSl LONlOfficer elections, initiation lee for voting rights, will beheldinanti 7:30 p.m. in 150 Ac ademic and Agency Building, DATA PROCESSING MANAGEMENT Cl ATTON:An Inf* n mation on Careers in Data!® sing meeting, wit h Chevron, w ill he held at 7:30p:| k 203 Ramada Inn. Opportunities with ChevronindBlgie quarterb nia will be discussed. Anyone who is interestedinisjhis offense du in data processing is invited to attend. Beer andTBiylor two we ments will he provided. confident abou HUMBLE HOMET OWN CLUB:The meetingik but that they’! scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight has lx:en cancelled, in order to wit WOMEN IN COMMUNICATIONS INC.:A ^ record anc will be held at 7:30 p.m. in 03 Reed McDonaldtol I Publicity Workshop Preparations and to plan fori events. FIT SCO PA L S I UDEN T ASSOCIATION:^ will meet for Holy Eucharist and supper at 5:30p the Canterbury House, 902 Jersey St. Thursday INTRAMURAL-RKCCREATIONAL SPORTS: sicmal Swim Meet will be held at 7 p.m. at theP.L, Pool. TEXAS A&M HOCKEY TEAM:A New Orleans will be discussed in a meeting at 8 p.tn. in 204Stcri Evans Library. All those going must attend. MSC HOSPITALITY COMMITTEES HI Children’s Party will be held at 7 p.m. in 230a MSC. Faculty, staff and students children arek* Attention ladies! Anyone interested in competinj' 1983 Miss Texas A&M Scholarship Pageant up applications available now in 216 MSC at die F ity cubicle. The deadline for all entries is Nov.Sad MSC OUTDOOR RECR E ATTON:Sign up in 2H for Thanksgiving trips: backpacking—CaneyCre derness, Ark., and rafting — Big Bend National Also, sign up for the weekend canoe trip to the!' River to be held Nov. 6 through Nov. 7. EVENING PRAYER BREAK-CANTERS ASSOC IAT TON: A prayer break open to all- relax, pray, and share — will be held at lO p.nrati Faiths Chapel Meditation room. YOUNG DEMOCRATS OF TEXAS A&M:Ap# lx* held from 8 p.m. to midnight at BeeCreekP^ Southwest Parkway) to give the studentsofTexari chance to meet some of the local candidates forf office. Beer and lots of candidates will be there.E'f 1 is welcome! CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST:A Training Class will be held at 8 p.m. in H3Rl f NOTE: The time is one-half hour later than us 11 cause of yell practice. Everyone is welcome! ^iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Make the World Go Autf Take a Break at UNDERGROUND RAILRC SNACK BAR Open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Basement of Sbisa ^SPECIAL* Good for 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Only Buy a Hamburger or Cheeseburge f & Fries Get a Large Coke Free Play a game while you wait. (Offer good through Oct. 31, 1982) “QUALITY FIRST” nliiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiimiimiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii