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