Opinion
Page 2/The Battalion/Monday, March 26,1984
Editorial Board endorsement
Five good candidates.
That’s The Battalion Editorial
Board’s consensus. The slate of hope
fuls running for student body presi
dent is well-balanced, well-informed
and generally well-qualified. Any one
of them — David Alders, Diane Baum-
bach, Keith Carmichael, Jay Holland
and Grant Swartzwelder — would
make a good president.
But this is an important election —
not only for Student Government, but
for the entire student body. Texas
A&M students cannot afford to elect a
candidate on name recognition alone,
nor should it elect a candidate who isn’t
willing to take a stand.
The Faculty Senate has already
shown it is serious about making
changes around Aggieland. Texas
A&M students need to make sure their
elected representatives are serious also.
That is the only way the student view
point can be presented — and listened
to. In decisions that affect students, the
students should have their say.
After serious and sometimes heated
discussion, the Board decided, consid
ering the importance of this election,
to endorse a candidate for student
body president. It was a controversial
decision even among the Board mem
bers. The editorial page editor was op
posed to endorsing a candidate be
cause of the ethical issues involved and
abstained from the final vote.
But after meeting with each of the
candidates, the Board feels one candi
date would be best able to stand up for
what the students want. That candi
date is Diane Baumbach.
Baumbach’s emphasis on foresight is
important. Foresight — so that stu
dents aren’t caught unaware on issues
such as senior final exemptions — is
crucial. Potential decisions on core cur
riculum and student service fee in
creases will affect all Texas A&M stu
dents, and our student body president
needs to make sure the Student Senate
is aware of all issues facing students —
and is ready to deal with these issues.
Her aggressiveness and dedication
to standing up for the students — with
out alienating the “powers that be” —
impressed the Board.
Baumbach is knowledgeable on the
issues that Texas A&M will face in
1984-85. Her willingness to work with
other student organizations — such as
the MSG Gouncil — is a plus.
But perhaps her strongest quality is
her ability to see what Student Govern
ment is now, and to envision what it
can become. She is perceptive enough
to see the strengths and weaknesses of
the present system and is not afraid to
make changes to improve it.
On the basis of her interview with
the Board, we endorse Diane Baum
bach for Texas A&M’s 1984-85 student
body president.
— The Battalion Editorial Board
Students endorse candidates
Alders qualified
and committed
Editor:
David Alders is the man for student
body president.
Students must be an integral part of
the policy-making process at Texas
A&M. Under Alders’ leadership, we can
be assured our interests will be rep
resented professionally and credibly.
Alders has earned the respect of
those who know him — his peers, the
faculty and the administration.
As speaker of the Student Senate, stu
dent representative to the Faculty Sen
ate, member of the Chancellor’s Student
Advisory Board, and state president
and national vice president of FFA, Ald
ers has exhibited the qualifications nec
essary for the position of student body
president.
However, these positions represent
more than just titles — they stand for
experience, performance and commit
ment. It is this proven commitment
which warrants the support of all stu
dents.
A year from now you will be glad you
elected Alders student body president.
man of MSG ORION and served on the
Student Financial Aid Board. She also
has former experience in Student Y,
Fish Camp, MSG Fall Leadership and
various honor societies.
Baumbach exemplifies the qualities I
see as important to any student leader.
She will be one of the tnost dynamic stu
dent body presidents ever.
Mike Cook
Class of’85
Carmichael for
cooperation
Kelly Kiesling, Class of ’84
Alan Hill, Class of ’84
David Klosterboer, Class of ’86
Brian Terrell, Class of ’84
Baumbach for
action, foresight
Editor:
Diane Baumbach is the candidate
who has the ability and experience to
represent the students of Texas A&M.
An effective student body president
needs foresight, communication and ac
tion. Baumbach has the ability to fore
see future issues and provide solutions.
She has promised to take action on such
issues as campus security, the core cur
riculum program, student fees and
short-range parking solutions.
Baumbach stresses the need to effec
tively communicate with the student
body and student organizations. While
speaker pro tern, she developed and im
plemented “Project Visibility,” a pro
gram to increase contact between sen
ators and their constituents. Baumbach
has the committment to meet with other
student leaders to solve campus prob
lems.
Baumbach is the one candidate with
substantial experience outside Student
Government. This year, she was chair-
Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity
to share with you and your readers who
I feel is the best candidate for student
body president.
Keith Carmichael is not only com
mitted, dedicated and concerned for the
job he does, but also for the people he
represents.
The main qualities Carmichael pos
sesses that would make him the best
choice for student body president are
his outgoing personality and his sincere
desire to represent each individual.
Carmichael has the ability to reach
out to people and make their problems
his problems, something this position
requires. He has a genuine understand
ing of the job of student body president
and feels that it is more than just a posi
tion of leadership — it requires the coor
dination of 36,000 students.
If Carmichael were elected he would
truly be a president of the student body,
not just the leader of Student Govern
ment.
If you’re looking for a candidate who
will make use of the entire student body
through joint cooperation in trying to
solve whatever problems we might face,
I encourage you, along with me, to sup
port Carmichael for student body presi
dent.
Darrell Pickard
Class of ’85
Holland to take
a stand on issues
Editor:
The name Jay Holland should be fa
miliar to most students by now. He is
running for the most important student
office on campus.
Holland will bring many new and re
freshing changes to Student Govern
ment. Student Government is a very
worthwhile organization, but it defi
nitely needs a facelift.
There are too many people within
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Student Government who refuse to take
a stand on the issues. Holland will take a
stand — in the students’ favor — no
matter how controversial the issue is.
Inadequate representation stems
from the do-nothing policies of many
members. Holland is concentrating on
people, not politics. He will best rep
resent you with an open door policy. Fie
will enact new ideas and suggestions
from you, the students.
Unlike many in Student Government,
Holland has taken the proper mixture
of responsibility and student input and
run with it. Unlike many, he has ful
filled his responsibilities to date.
Under the leadership of Jay Holland,
Student Government will take a turn for
the better.
Mark Maniha
Class of’85
Swartzwelder to
increase input
Editor:
I would like to offer my endorsement
for Grant Swartzwelder for Student
Body President.
As a Student Body Vice President,
Swartzwelder has proven his willingness
to go to the students with information
on issues of concern. He realizes that
representative government is only as ef
fective as the input it receives.
As Student Body President, Swartz
welder will strive to unite the student or
ganizations. This coordination requires
a student body president able to relate
to a variety of organizations. Swartz
welder has been active in groups from
engineering societies to Parents’ Week
end to various national political cam
paigns.
Swartzwelder has the background to
ensure that his objectives become real
ity. His experience with the Office of
Academic Affairs will aid the student
body’s fight to maintain optional finals
and to represent student views within
the administration and Faculty Senate.
It is time Student Government has a
leader that is willing to show direction
through an increased dedication to qual
ity student representation and involve
ment. Swartzwelder will positively en
sure a Student Government responsive
to the student body.
Scott Murray
Class of’85
Slouch
by Jim Eale
RAUNCH FOR
SOPH PRESIDENT
SMOOK - 52%
CALDWELL - 61%
,• NoZULCH - 54%
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3-Z3-84
‘We’re having primaries?’
Student organizations
favor fee hike pro post
By now many of you have no doubt
seen students walking around campus
wearing yellow tags that read, “Vote 1(b)
We Need It!!”
Hopefully, you took a few minutes to
find outjust what it is we need.
The tags refer to the upcoming refer
endum concerning the student center
complex fee. The referendum will be
held in conjunction with the spring elec
tions on March 27-28. Item fib) is an al
ternative on the ballot recommending a
$10 increase in the current $10 fee over
the next three years, $6 of which will go
to the University Center and $4 of
which will go into a special reserve fund.
The new reserve fund will provide
the Memorial Student Center, it!
vious that we will need more spat
the future. While students cam
nance an entirely new facility, tit
serve fund will ensure student p
pation in the planning and consi
stages of any renovations. Students
play an active role in the distributu
any funds from the reserve account
The University Center Fee his
mained at $10 since 1973. Expt
have skyrocketed due to Legist
manadated salary increases, into
developments and escalating costs.
If the fee is not increased, chanf
student users for staff and special!
ices will increase, a surcharge cot
assessed on all ticketed events,
rent vital services offered within
Center could be reduced. Allthestj
sibilities would have a severe imi
students.
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for student management and input into
the services the University Center pro
vides and establish a means for long
term additions or improvements to the
Center.
Most importantly, the reserve fund
will provide a source of money to be
used for student-supported priorities
within the University Center.
At present, students have little input
into the way University Center fees are
allocated. Consequently, students have
little opportunity to direct money to
areas within the University Center that
would provide expanded space and
services to students.
With the overcrowded conditions in
Some concerns students have
fee increase is the concept of usel
versus a student-wide payment
wide range of services offered
University Center makes it imp
to assess higher fees on just the ns!
the Center. Expenditures for mi
nance and upkeep, recarpedng
reupholstering are difficult to
to a specific user.
The Student Senate at its last me
passed a resolution in favor of
1(b). Student leaders from OCA,"
ISA, MSC and the Corps of
strongly endorse option 1(b) a
concept of a reserve fund. Regard^
your decision, we hope you maketli
fort to read the flyers and articlesaij
have a good understanding of wW
are voting on.
Guest columnist Eric Conner
MSC executive vice president (
ministration, student body referei
coordinator and a senior ■
neering major.
Student senator says Proposal 1(b)
will not increase studenfs input
I wish to express my opposition to the
proposed increase in the University
Center Fee which the student body will
have the option of accepting by referen
dum in the student elections on March
27 and 28.
has been nil, and no written under
standing has been established with the
MSC Director about the future.
Student Body President Joe Jordan
pointed out that the Student Govern-
In my three years as a senator in the
Student Senate, I have had the opportu
nity to hear and discuss the proposed
University Center Fee increase. I agree
that an increase in the fee is needed, but
I don’t have the faith in the “guarantee”
that students will have significant input
as to the use of the fee or any reserve
fund it may generate.
On March 21, the Student Senate dis
cussed a resolution supporting option
fib) of the referendum, which would es
sentially establish an extra reserve fund
which could be used to expand or im
prove the Memorial Student Center.
I objected to supporting this option.
In the past, student input to the admin
istrative operation of the MSC complex
reader’s
forum
guaranteed student input if theti
fund under option fib) is approv
sorry, but I can’t believe this.
By state law the Univeristy cam
contractually bound to accept
input, but I feel that the studentsil]
deserve a written understanding
the MSC Director and the
administration that student inpiii»_
actively sought and given careful®
ment had already passed a bill which in
cluded the request that the MSC Direc
tor should report his activities to the
MSC Council, so that they could be kept
informed and propose student ideas.
Also, Jordan stated that the extensive
negotiations that have brought this ref
erendum to the student body would be
kept on the record so that ideas on in
creased student input could be docu
mented.
With this we were expected to get
sideration.
With this referendum, the sli
have control of the “purse strings
is defeated now, new negotiations
the administratin can be pursn 1
reach our goal of getting student
Then the issue can be put to a
next fall’s freshman senate election]
Though the Student Senatevo«
13 to support option fib), withal
senators absent, I hope the studcni
will join me in voting for no inert
the University Center Fee.
Cliff' 1 ' 1
Grad student, Chemical Engiff