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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 1996)
The Battalion olume 103 • Issue 44 • 12 Pages Thursday, October 31, 1996 The Batt Online: http://bat-web.tamu.edu Fee increase reviewed niversity Center asks Student Government to reconsider referendum W Dave House, arl Baggett and The re arrested for the Mi and had one hour to "eleased. Be > By Courtney Walker The Battalion University Center directors nt the Student Government pass a referendum in Decem- r raising the University Center mplex Fee to help fund future keep of the facilities. The fee, which would be creased $2 per student ch year over three years, snot approved last semes- by Student Government. Dennis Busch, assistant di- tor for the University Center mplex, said heated debates i public hearings have made : issue negative. “We think a lot of people it took out their frustrations no more fees on our fee be- use it is the only one that sto be approved by the stu dent body,” he said. The fee would increase from the current $24 to $30 over a three-year period. The increase would begin in Fall 1997. The fee would increase by $2 again in Fall 1998 and 1999. The University Center Com plex includes the Koldus Build ing, Memorial Student Center and Rudder Complex. The fee increase would cover the cost of utilities, payroll and payroll-related expenses, sup plies, equipment, maintenance and repairs. Currently, $4 of the $24 fee goes into a reserve renovation account for expenses and ex pansion of the complex. The account pays for replac ing tables and chairs for meet ing rooms and for maintenance JBSk | University Center Operating Account W’ I Actual Ad cal Budgeted Projected Budget FY 95 FY 96 FYQ7 FY 98 (w/o increase) Revenue $2,849,856 $2,929,586 $2,900,000 $3,000,000 Expenses 2,813,409 2,880,949 3,046,922 3,180,000 Net income 36,447 48,637 (146,922) (1 80,000) Reserve 182,829 231,466 84,544 (95,456) projects, such as replacing the roof of the MSC, which is ex pected to cost $750,000. Chris Williams, MSC Council president and a senior political science and speech communi cations major, said many people do not realize where the money goes and its importance in maintaining the buildings. “This isn’t an outrageous in crease,” he said. “I don’t like paying fees either, but this is a sensible increase and if the fee increase doesn’t pass, then stu dent organizations may have to pay for meeting rooms, the cost of conference rooms may increase, and operating hours may be reduced.” teed Arena ecyclitonstruction rastponed xas Recycles ry Foods and a vacal age including a trip for a World in San/ iree years ago Gov, Get ush officially declared Texas Recycles Day. IX coordinates theevei vin Tuerff, manage a Texas 2000 for IN the UT wo schools would edge cards ‘This year’s goal is ion pledge cards.” erff said the committees the event by is and various e working together. It saves a lot of paper.” By Erica Roy The Battalion The completion of the Reed Are- will be delayed until the spring 1998 because of Tuesday’s acci- city of College Sttaint in which an 80-ton truss broke aff met anddeciti 'ayfrom a crane, crashed into the perstructure of the arena and in- red three construction workers, ist year the state ofleffitil Completion of the special events 82,000 pledge cards,’!« nter was scheduled for late 1997 fore Tuesday’s accident. ] Gen. Wesley E. Peel, vice chancellor i rFacilities Planning and Construc- m, said in a press release that the ml coordinators, radrifwcompletion date is uncertain. “While it is premature to specu- te on a completion date for the he best way to pledgfpffj oject, it will definitely not be ough the Internet,*lifi iened until sometime in the Hringof 1998,” Peel said. One injured worker, Abel adera, was released from Colum- a Medical Center on Wednesday. JMary Jo Powell, associate direc- |r of public information for the fiversity, said a wide variety of ople are investigating the acci- fent. The Occupational Safety and [ealth Administration, the Univer- and the contractor, Huber, Hunt Nichols Inc., are conducting in stigations. Assessments of the cause of the cident will take about two weeks. Clean up activities will begin af- Irthe evaluations of the accident te complete. Peel said in the press release the Instruction of the unaffected areas I the arena will continue during |e accident investigations. Huber, Hunt & Nichols has an Jxcellent safety record,” and more [tensive damage from the accident s avoided by preventative safety Jocedures, he said. See Arena, Page 5 Ryan Rogers, The Battalion 1“ • a. k !• ■ ■ | Roy McIntyre, a senior history major, prepares Hotard mgnt IN IQn l Hall for the Halloween festivities tonight. See related ' Halloween stories, Page SSFAC changes funding process 6:00 p.m. 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 By Marika Cook The Battalion The Student Services Fee Allocation Commit tee has restructured the process to allocate funds to campus entities. The committee, com posed of 10 undergradu ates, four graduate stu dents and two faculty advisers, makes recom mendations to the Uni versity on uses of Stu dent Service Fees. They have increased allocation efficiency by streamlining the process. Faye Little, SSFAC chair and a junior agri cultural business and fi nance major, said she is excited about the changes. “It has been wonder ful,” Little said. “It is amazing students are given this much power and input. We are the only all-student-run SSFAC in the Big 12.” The Student Services Fee, which is $99 per student each semester, gener ates $8.2 million a year. These monies are distributed to 20 University de partments and programs. For some of these organizations, the fee is their only source of funding, while others use it to supplement their income. This year, the new child-care cen ter has requested a portion of the Stu dent Services Fee. Bill Kibler, associate vice president for Student Affairs, said the facility is a drop-in center for stu dents with children. “The majority of costs will be met by fees paid by the parents on a per- hour basis,” Kibler said. Previously, the com mittee used a liaison format to decide each allocation. Committee members were assigned to depart ments or programs requesting funding. They acted as liaisons by attending meetings and reporting back to the group on the legitimacy of the organi zation’s needs. Tim Sweeney, associate director of Student Activities, said the change was made to expedite the process be cause of inconsistencies. “The majority of the liaisons got in- depth knowledge but some didn’t,” he said. “We are making it more fair across the board.” The new format requires groups to present their budget requests to the entire committee in a 30- minute proposal explaining who they are and what the funds will be used to accomplish. “There’s no way to accommodate everything everyone asks for,” Sweeney said. “We are finding the most important needs.” The monies will be distributed for the 1997-98 school year with the re vised process. Thursday, October 31 Aggie Band University Art Collections! and Exhibits Student Activities Student Organization Fi ra nee Center Student Randbock Bus Operatbns Student Heath Services Child Care Center a^ywwwBiwwa Kevin Carreathers, director of the Department of Multicultural Services, is presenting his budget to the com mittee this week. “The earlier liaison approach de pended on how much homework each liaison accomplished,” he said. “One positive aspect of this new style is every group is required to turn in a standard budget form.” Carreathers said his department uses the funding for staff and services, which benefits many students. “The majority of our programs are self-sufficient by design,” he said. Sweeney said Texas A&M’s Student Services Fee differs from most other Texas universities because A&M does not use the fee to support its athletic program. “One university gives 85 percent of their fee to their ath letic department,” Sweeney said. In addition to the presentation format, other changes have been implemented. The committee is smaller and the process begins earlier. Also, the committee members were given an extensive training program to address key issues. “We are making it more manage able for all involved,” Kibler said. “We appear to be on target with our calen dar of completion.” The SSFAC anticipates developing a budget by Dec. 5. It will be present ed to the Student Senate and the Graduate Student Council in the spring of 1997. “These groups don’t have the au thority to change the budget, but they can support it by sending their endorsement to Dr. Southerland,” Kibler said. The budget is presented to Dr. J. Malon Southerland, vice president for Student Affairs. The final stage is ap proval by the Board of Regents at their March meeting. “The allocation committee has a tough job,” Carreathers said. “They’ve been as fair as they can be.” “It is amazing students are given this much power and input.” Faye Little SSFAC chair The Battalion TODAY nggie Spirits lumors of haunted campus buildings Irculate during this ialloween season. Aggielife, Page 3 New Route HH )UB =-31 mmmi 12” sub & get a 6” sub FREE!! ege Station Locations Oi# alid With Other Offers, mt Coupon With Order For Discount Expires 11/24/96 orn with a basketball layer’s body, Amber foolsey chose to play illeyball at A&M. Sports, Page 7 ip-off Care oodyear: A&M will fi lly have a child-care nter, but it will cost parents a pretty penny. Opinion, Page 11 A&M may add three degrees Ogden discusses Aggie support State representative says students play role in his success By Christie Humphries The Battaijon Changes in the Table of Programs at Texas A&M could lead to the establishment of three new academic degrees. Ronald G. Douglas, provost and executive vice president, said the potential programs are a doctorate in speech communication, a bachelor of arts degree in music and a bachelor of arts degree in maritime studies. Mary Jo Powell, associate director of public information for the University, said adding the programs to the Universi ty’s table is the first step in making the programs a reali ty. The Table of Programs re flects an institution’s authori ty to offer programs and must be consistent with the Uni versity’s mission statement. The Coordinating Board for all public colleges and universities in the state maintains each institution’s Table of Programs. Each school’s table is reviewed every four years. A&M’s table was reviewed by the Board at its October meeting, and the three new programs were added. The University may now continue planning the implementation of the new degrees. However, Powell said all programs must be reviewed and approved by the Board several times before becom ing a reality. Martin Medhurst, asso ciate department head for speech communication, said a proposal from his department will soon be submitted to the Board for final approval. See Degrees, Page 4 By Melissa Nunnery The Battalion Republican State Rep. Steve Ogden told the Col lege Republicans Tuesday that college students’ sup port has been critical to his political success. Ogden said he thinks of students as his customers and makes his decisions based on what is best for them. He reminded his au dience that the first bill he passed was for the Student Recreation Center. “I try to look at it in the context of what’s best for the students,” Ogden said. “I decided it (the Student Recreation Center) is prob ably the best deal you could get for $50 anywhere in the state of Texas.” Ogden spoke of another bill he supported for the benefit of students — the General Use Fee bill. He was hesitant to sup port a bill to increase the cost of education, he said, but agreed that it would ensure the quality of pub lic education. Ogden is supporting the bill on the basis of two amendments. One amend ment required public hear ings be held on General Use Fee increases. The oth er required money raised at institutions to stay at those institutions. In other words, he said, fees raised at A&M would not be transferred to an other institution, like an other Texas A&M Universi ty System school. Jeff Livingston, presi dent of the College Repub licans and senior electrical engineering major, said Ogden realizes A&M is the heart of his district. “He represents us well,” Livingston said. “He likes students. He wants to ad dress our concerns and an swer questions.” Jason Glen, College Re publicans vice president for publicity and a junior political science major, said he wanted Ogden to convince students to vote Republican in the upcom ing election. “He’s an excellent speaker,” Glen said. “He does a good job of con vincing people to vote Re publican.” Glen said Ogden makes the the November election look positive for Republi can presidential candidate Bob Dole and the Republi can Party. See Ogden, Page 5 “I try to look at it in the context of what’s best for the students.” Steve Ogden Republican state representative