The Towerlight, February 28, 1975

tl19750228-000 "lb 'ice President of Student Services aximize their time in college. Dorothy Siegal pledges to help students TL photo by Kathleen Wood ock Committed to students Siegal pledges aid by Joan Grabowski In discussing her new role as Vice President of Student Service, Mrs. Dorothy Siegal explained her department's commitment to act as a ""facilitator"" of student needs. She explained her pledge to help students maximize their time in college and vowed to make college have a more enduring impact on a student's life than merely a sum total of courses. Mrs. Siegal promised that change would be ""a constant happening"" in the student services division, as new needs were found. Although she claimed to be ""too new"" at the job to decide if any broad structural changes were called for, the new V. P. said that her department was committed to constant self-reevaluation, and change, where needed. Massive response promised In response to student complaints, the Student Services Department plans a massive response to the problem of academic advising. ""Students feel throughout the campus that there is not sufficient academic advising; that frequently they are advised in one place, and don't really get an understanding beyond what the catalogue says,"" commented Mrs. Siegal. Other problems with academic advising arise with persons not covered by academic departments, and those who need help in trying to un-derstand how to get the best broad education, and still complete requirements for graduate school. ""I'm not sure what our role should be (concerning academic advising), but we have a role to play and we are looking to define it. We are looking for students to tell us by their ex-periences, both good and bad, more and more about what our role should be."" Aware of students' interests When asked how she became aware of student interest, Mrs. Siegal noted several sources. Students acting individually, in 'groups or as representatives of student organizations had discussed issues with her. Also, ""faculty make us aware of student concerns by the kinds of pressures students bring to them"". The V.P. expressed an in-terest in working with student organizations that do poll student opinion (citing Towerlight & SGA), ""It is our job to be interacting enough to get a pulse of what students are saying, and to make sure that what we are interacting with is not just a very select sample of the student population."" ""The important thing,"" Mrs. Siegal said, ""is to make it known that this department is truly available to students."" When asked about the problems of commuter students, the new V.P. commented, ""I know that there are concerns about commuter students making full use of the college, and I share that concern. We want to make it so this person has not only the right to use the college, but also has the opportunity, and is encouraged to use it should he feel it can be made more convenient to him."" contin d on P 4 11 :FEBRUARY 28 1975 et,t VOL.LXVII,NO 16 Fisher urges status change by Mai lene Milder The community has given its representative voice and lias addressed this institution specifically to become Towson State University,"" said James Fisher, Towson State College president, as he addressed resident students In Newell cafeteria Monday evening. During the course of the previous semester, Fisher raised the question of University status to be considered �Y the community and through public hearings received favorable feedback. In December a 14-6 decision by the Academic Council recommended that Fisher bring the issue of University status to Annapolis. Bill In Committee Currently, Bill 531 calling for Towson State College and Morgan ,State College to have their status changed to University, is in the Constitutional and Administrative Committee. If approved, the bill would then go to the Senate Appropriations Committee, and would be voted IIPUlt by both the House and Senate in Annapolis. Through favorable decision, the designations, Towson State and Morgan State University would become official July 1, 1975. If tabled, the bill would be considered next year. Degrees more marketable i ""� We do not aspire to modify, reduce or enhance this nstitution, but to make more attractive one of the finest Public institutions in the country,"" said Fisher as he Presented the case for the name change of Towson. Fisher, ,aIOng with his assistants, maintain that in changing ""wson State College to Towson State University a degree earned from this institution will be more marketable. After .8peaking with numerous people, Fisher pointed out that ,ic1.1e external community places a higher premium on TSU. Si this is purely a change in name only, there would be no additional cost to the taxpayer, he added. Society sees a 'University' as being more prestigious ;ST we want to change with the times,"" supported Dean enneth Shaw. With university status, it would be easier � receive private and state monies, Shaw said. Tuition not changed While making one of the ""largest, most qualitative 'nstitutions more attractive to various communities,"" Towson State would not raise its tuition as a direct result of the status change, nor would the school's accreditation be altered, said Fisher. Also a ""valid"" concern over an expected student enrollment increase was voiced by many students. ""Our size is not dependant on what we call ourselves,"" said Shaw, because we take as many students as we need to meet enrollment projections. Currently there are 7,500 day and 5,500 e-vening and part-time students on campus. Shaw contends it would be a mistake to increase the enrollment past the projected 9,500 students, whether Towson be a college or university. ""A dynamic would set it,"" said Shaw, ""where it would be hard to find out what's haripening in the system and hard to change it. Point of diminishing returns Fisher maintains Towson could be very ""efficient and effective"" if we limit our size with an enrollment ceiling. ""It is my contention there is a point of diminishing returns,"" ,said Fisher, ""where education suffers and the costs don't. go down."" Faculty and staff would grow in proportion to student growth with graduate programs increasing only to student needs, said Shaw. Since the name change is only cosmetic, reminded Fisher and Shaw, a faculty pay increase would not be the result of University status. ""Irritating"" problem An expansion in Towson's personnel results in the recurring ""Irritating"" problem of ample parking space. Fisher explained that the budget for parking is generated by Towson and the State. The State board is not sym-pathetic to the parking problem, said Fisher, because they feel ,a car is not a necessity but a luxury. Regardless of, University status, the college is trying to keep the number of cars in proportion to the number of available spaces constant. � All criteria filled In concluding his stand for a change over to university status, Fisher maintains Towson encompasses all the criteria for university designation. Towson has sufficient enrollment, accredited graduate and complex programs and at least 50% of the faculty have earned doctoral degrees. Food committee created by Pete Binns & Marj Mayers In response to suggestions from boot h the administration and resident student representatives, the Residence Council (R.C.) has established a Food Services Com- m_ ittee. The Residence Council Foon Committee, main purpose will be to set uP .a formal line of corn- Munications between the residence students and the food services ad- Ministrators. From an interview with Residence ,c�ouneil Chairman Spence Leckron, Luwerlight learned that preliminary Steps have been taken to organize the ""nntnittee. The following student �v.olunteers - Kathy Strain, Dennis aleMillen, Linda Leventhal, Brian Geirnan, and Gary Young - appointed by Leckron constitute the present eXecutive board of the food com-mittee, The main body of the com-mittee will be the entire residence student population. As Stein com-mented, ""the students can at least talk to us and tell us the problem.' (However, as both Stein and """"eekron pointed out, since the Residence Council's Food Committee is still in its formative stages, it is not Yet prepared for a flood of criticisms of the dormitory food services. The etutunittee will make it known when they are ready for complaints and or suggestions - hopefully, in a week or two,) The executive board has already met with the Director of Food Ser-vices, Mr. Carl Jess, to formulate a , 'Di i an of action. At present, the c�41mittee has drawn up a list of Priorities concerning the im provement of food quality, the ser-vices provided, and the promotion of better communications between the residents and food services. ""One of the things initially discussed,"" stated Jess, ""was the problem of food waste and some ideas as to how it can be controlled. After all, it does affect the price of the meal plan of the students."" But, as both the Residence Council and Jess noted, there are many more issues to consider at future meetings. One of the first concrete steps taken by the new Residence Council's Food Committee will be the issuance of a survey of the opinions of dor-mitory students. The survey, ac-cording to Mike Stein, ""will be distributed at meals by R.C. representatives for students to fill out,"" and will generally try to cover all areas of the food services as they affect the residence students. The main emphasis of the com-mittee is, as Jess stated, ""primarily to have a formal line of communications between the resident students and the food services."" The Residence Council seemed positive in its attitude toward the new committee and the interaction between the students and the food administration services. As Mike Stein stated, ""Jess wants legitimate complaints and he wants to help us, I think. He wanted to limit the number of people talking to him at once, so now we have the convenience of the ,committee meetings."" Leckron agreed: ""He's working in cooperation with us because he wants to. We'll be having regular meetings with Carl Jess and concentrating on things thal are important."" However, Stein stressed that ""It's going to be up to the students and .people who eat there - at JNewell. If they aren't willing to give us legitimate complaints then they have to be willing to stick with the food."" When questioned about his reactions to new Residence Council Food Committee, SGA President Konrad Herling emphasized that he hopes it will be a considerable im-provement over a similar attempt made during the Crumbaker ad-ministration. The latter, he main-tained, had a conflict of interests which led to the apparent white-- washing of Health Department in-spections. Herling's pror(osal Herling stressed his own proposal to form a single committee of 10 students to look into food and health services, which he hopes will check funding, personnel, sanitation, nutrition and the like. In relation to the nutritions aspect, Herling stated that he hoped his proposed committee would be designed ""to investigate food services, how it runs, and how it can be running better."" continued on pg. 4 !Gallup to speak George Gallup will be speaking tonight at 8:30 p.m. in Stephens. Tickets are still available at the Box Office today. President Fisher claims that the change to university status is merely . cosmetic.photo by. Dave Carrington Vets to meet Towson Concerned Veterans will be holding an important meeting today in the Tiger's Lair at 3:30 p.m. To be discussed are bills currently in the state legislature, funding for next year, election of officers, and the formation of intramural teams in volleyball and softball. Also to be presented at the meeting is information concerning the aVailability of more work-study monies for veterans through the VA as well as complete details about the loan program authorized by Congress last year when it overrode President Ford's veto of the GI Bill. Senate acts after recess by Joan Grabowski After several weeks of inactivity, a full Senate acted on a flurry of legislation. A bill concerning student teaching fees proposed by SGA President Konrad Herling was referred to the Education Committee. Herling noted that students at the University of Maryland enrolled in the Teacher Education Department do not pay a student teaching fee in the semester that they student teach. Towson students, however, are required to pay the fee. The committee is charged with ascertaining why the fee is currently employed and for recommending ""appropriate modifications"". Conference termed ""farce"" Herling reported on the Conference on Racism he attended in Boston. Though he had hoped for a broad discussion of the topics of racism and busing, the SGA President reported that the conference was ""a farce"" and ""a disappointment"". Herling observed that the groups at the conference were not representative of students, but of political factions. Candidates seek office SGA Vice President announced the list of candidates seeking office in the March 6 and 7 SGA elections. Those seeking election are: , for President - David Nevins, for Vice President Anne Marie Lowe, for Treasurer - Kathy Kolar and Ron Chrismar. Senator-at-large can-didates are: Joanne Finegan, Francis Hurry, Michael Fell, Mike Hill, James Cowen, Barbara Sjogren, Robin Taormino, Mike Behney, Vicki Bass, Nancy Payne, Bob Hayden, Leon Langley, Dan Sheehy, George Howard, Sheila Culbertson, Al Fear Jr., Mike Joseph, Douglas Sch-weinhart, and Marie Williams. Class Senate hopefuls are Lucy Reed (Junior) Fran Schramm (Senior) and Melia Katz (Sophmore). Class Office candidates are; 1976 Clarke Porter, President, Laurie Weaver, Vice President, Fran Schramm, Secretary and Terry Firnstein, Treasurer; 1977 Ed Edsel President, Frank Nardo, Vice President, Chris Buchanan, Secretary, Karen Underwood, Treasurer; Class 1978 Jeff Aiken President. A bill was passed appropriating $82.05 to employ a student secretary for the Senate. The bill provided for a wage rate of $2.00 per hour, and approximately 110 hours em-ployment. Some funds had previously been appropriated in the budget. Faculty grant program in air The Senate passed to go to the CAIB, a measure establishing and Candidates snub council by Bill Stetka Only three of the fourteen can-didates for Senator-at-Large positions in next year's Student Government took advantage of the opportunity to speak before the Council of Organizations Wednesday afternoon. Maria Williams, Mike Behney, and Sheila Culberson all voiced their positions for Senate posts, while the other eleven candidates were absent from the meeting. In addition to the three Senator-at- Large candidates, two candidates for class senators were in attendance. Lucy Reed, candidate for Junior Class Senator, and Frances Schramm, candidate for Senior Class Senator, both appeared at the meeting but declined to speak. David Nevins, running unopposed for President of the SGA, and Ann Marie Lowe, uncontested candidate for Vice-President, were also in at-tendance. Kathy Kolar, one of two people running for the treasurer's position, was present as well. Ron Chrismar, Kolar's opponent in the treasurer's race, was among those absent from the meeting. Williams was the first of the three At-Large candidates to present their positions. She gave as the major problems, security, student in-volvement, and the student parking problem. There was much discussion as to what could be done for the parking situation, with suggestions ranging from a high rise parking lot to im-plementation of a mass transit system. Behney offered that students should be allowed to look at ad-ministration, SGA, and other organization records. He also stated that he would seek a more complete breakdown of what student activity fees are used for. He also asked for more students in administrative positions and a look into the Board of Trustees of Maryland State Colleges. Behney stated that since the programs are continued on pg. 4 financing the Outstanding Faculty Grant Program. Under the program faculty members nominated by a comipittee of nine honor students selected randomly from the Honor List by the President of the Senate receive cash grants. The Senate voted to appropriate a total of $3100.00, with 10 grants of $250.00 each, 10 honorable mention plaques at $10.00 each, $500.00 for an awards reception. Unaminous Consent Three budgetary measures, long in Senate, passed unaminously. A constitutional amendment proposed by Eric Martin resulted in a plethora of legislative activity. Martins bill would have allowed for the establishment of a judiciary power within the SGA. Martin proposed that a ""supreme court"" be composed of four associate justices and a chief justice. The court would have original jurisdiction over all controversies that SGA was a party to. The court would deal only with non-criminal cases, and would become an appeals court should a lower court ever be created. As an example of cases that would appear before the supreme court, Martin cited the possibility of an SGA organization suing the SGA for budget actions. Senator Anne Marie Lowe protested that the powers provided for were unenforceable while Senator Bob Hayden noted that it would take more than the status of such a court to enforce decisions. Amendments suggested A number of amendments were suggested, and a proposal to limit half the courts membership to upper-classmen was accepted. After the bill passed a second reading, Vice President Nevins noted that since it was a constitutional amendment, it would have to go to a referendum. In order to be placed on the March 6 and 7 ballot, the bill had to be acted on at that meeting. A proposal passing the bill to a third reading was defeated with a 5-4 rollcall vote. However, Anne Marie Lowe, who had originally voted against the third reading moved for a reconsideration, which was accepted. Martin's bill was then brought to a third reading and passed 5-4. It was to be placed on the March 6 and 7 ballot as a referendum issue. SGA president Herling agreed to sign the bill. The next measure on the agenda was being discussed when Senator Dan Cunningham called for a point of order, noting that a 2/3 majority was needed to bring a bill to referendum. As that majority was not achieved, the bill was defeated. Martin speaks up again Another measure proposed by Martin provided for apportionment of the senate membership according to area of residence in the state...The bill provided for election of senators from the various geographic districts in Maryland. Senator Terri Crane noted that it was difficult to fill the senate even without such restric-tions. The bill did not pass to third reading. The final measure considered concerned executive reorganization. The bill created two department heads in charge of different divisons within the SGA. Nevins claimed that the bill would make for better managment in SGA and would give permanence to the organization by specifing who reports to who. Senate passed the bill. 11 Committee to review applications The Special Committee of the Senate to review applicants for senate positions for the remainder of this year will meet Monday, March 3 at 9:30 a.m. in the Student Govern-ment Association offices. Anyone who has turned in a petition to fill out this year's term, alea.se attend! "