The Towerlight, March 1, 1984

tl19840301-000 "The Towerlight An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. �King Solomon Vol. 77 No. 19 PUBLISHED BY THE STUDENTS OF TOWSON STATE UNIVERSITY TOWSON, MARYLAND 21204 A -0110 -7frr '""r ""14 - Comp. Sci.to trim majors, add terminals By Glenn Small The Computer Sciences department has sub-mitted a proposal to the University Senate that would screen students wishing to declare Com-puter Sciences as their major. ""We're not trying to be elitist�we're just trying to be reasonable,"" said Robert Caret, Dean of the College of Natural and Mathemat-ical Sciences (CONAMS) of which Computer Sciences is a part. The screening proposal stems from a jump in the number of computer science majors from an estimated 100 in 1983 to 512 in 1984 and would seek to limit the number of students who change their major just to get a course. ""As it stands now, anyone can change their major to computer sciences just to get a course,"" Caret said. ""And then change it back to whatever it was the next semester."" ""We don't like to restrict anyone,"" explained Joyce Little, acting chairperson of the Compu-ter Sciences department, ""but we have to do something."" Little said that in a course that accepts 200 students, 600 are turned away and that it is always hard to meet demand (for courses.)"" Caret said that the department has grown a great deal in one year. ""Last year in the spring semester, 1400 stu-dents were taking computer courses [at Tow- By Lonnie Timmons son] compared with this year's 2000,"" Caret said, ""and we had to turn over 700 away."" ""I believe that everyone should be able to [take what courses they want to],"" Caret con-tinued, ""but we're going to push for screening."" ""Wherever there's a demand, there is screen-ing,"" Caret said, citing Nursing and Account-ting as examples. The proposed standards, if they are passed, would require freshmen to have either an SAT score of above 1100, completion of one year of calculus, or an advanced placement score in Computer Science to be accepted as a major. Community college transfer students with an AA degree in either Data Processing or Com-puter Science with a 3.0 GPA in their major would be accepted into the program. Caret said that he was look-ing into the possibility of opening a 24-hour computer room somewhere on campus, and of allowing students to dial into the VAX on the third shift (midnight to 8 a.m.) as equipment becomes available. Anyone already possessing a Bachelor's de-gree would also be admitted. Other students wishing to be accepted as ma-jors would need MATH 273 with at least a ""C"", and COSC 236 or 336 with at least a ""B"", or the equivalent. The proposed standards would also allow any student without the above criteria to petition the department for admission, if that student felt he had had experience similar to the above. Caret stressed that the proposed screening standards are indicators of whether or not a per-son has the potential to make it in computer sci-ence. ""It's not an easy major,"" he said, ""and these are lenient standards."" Screening its majors is not the only thing the department is considering to allow more stu-dents into courses and more time on computers. 'Whenever you are talking about computer science,"" Caret said, ""you are talking about three things: equipment, space and faculty."" Caret said that in the three years he has been here, he has seen dramatic improvements in equipment. ""I would guess that by the end of this year,"" he said,"" we will have increased the number of micro computers on this campus by 300 percent in three years. ""We've increased terminals by 100 percent or greater in three years,"" Caret said, while Charles Parrish, assistant director of Academic Computing, estimated that in the last two years the number of terminals has increased between 100 and 200 percent. There are presently 41 computer terminals tied into the VAX system in the basement of Ca* Library. Ron Blum, director of academic computing, said that later this Spring there will be 62 terminals tied into the VAX�with many of those terminals being hooked up in other buildings around campus as lines are installed. Caret said that he was looking into the possi-bility of opening a 24-hour computer room somewhere on campus, and of allowing stu-dents to dial into the VAX on the third shift (midnight to 8 a.m.) as equipment becomes available. To allow students who have the capability to tap into the computer through a telephone line, See COMP. SCI., page 2 At left: one of the 41 computer terminals tied into the VAX system. The number will be in-creased to 62 by late Spring, officials say. Above: The Academic Computing Center in the basement of Cook Library. Services held for Charles Jones, former BSU V.P. Charles B. ""Chuck"" Jones Services were held last weekend for Charles B. ""Chuck"" Jones, a for-mer vice-president of the Black Stu-dent Union, who was killed last week. Jones was 25. According to Baltimore City po-lice spokesperson Arlene Jenkins, Jones, who lived in the 400 block E. Lafayette Street, was shot once in the head at 2:25 p.m. on February 22 following an argument over money. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Maryland General Hos-pital at 3:19 p.m. Jenkins said a suspect, Keith Don-ald Thomas, 23, of the 300 block of E. Lanvale Street�the same block where Jones' body was found�turn-ed himself in at the Central District Police Station the following day. Thomas was charged with the use of a handgun in commission of a felony and homicide, and, as of Monday, was being held at the City Jail on $100,000 bond. In addition to being vice-presi-dent of BSU, Jones was also a candi-date in last year's Student Govern-ment Association elections and could frequently be seen campaign-ing in front of the second-floor en-trance to the University Union. ""Charles was a very special per-son,"" said Lillian Anthony, asso-ciate dean of minority affairs. ""1 al-ways called him 'The Man in the Three-Piece Suit,' "" she said, be-cause of Jones' penchant for dres-sing well. Dr. Anthony said the Office of Minority Affairs is soliciting cash donations to help Jones' family de-fray the funeral costs. Donations may be given to Vivian Hastmann, secretary, Office of Minority Af-fairs, Miss Donoho, hostess, Uni-versity Union, or Lynne Dowell in the Administration Building, room 102A. March 1, 1984 Senate votes to remain in Div. I Football team to stay in Div. II; Fees will increase $25 next year By James Hunt After nearly five hours of discus-sion and debate spread over the last three weeks, the University Senate Monday voted 14-8-2 in favor of a motion to hold the football team at the Division II level, while allowing the remainder of Towson State's in-tercollegiate athletic programs to remain in NCAA Division I. The motion came as an amend-ment to two of three recommenda-tions made in a report submitted to the Senate at its last regular meet-ing four weeks ago by the Intercol-legiate Athletics Committee (IAC). In the report, the IAC recommend-ed that the University remain in Di-vision I and the football team be ele-vated to Division I-AA. The Senate took no action on the third recommendation, which was to raise athletic fees $75 over the next three years ""to offset the ris-ing costs of competition in all sports."" Because the Senate can on-ly act in an advisory capacity, in fi-nancial matters, the decision rests with President Hoke Smith. Smith said that athletic fees will increase a total of $25 next year, ($13 plus the $12 increase already in next year's budget) to cover infla-tion and provide additional funding to women's and 'minor' sports. He was not certain, however, whether there would be increases the follow-ing two years. The motion approved by the Sen-ate Monday, which essentially maintains the 'status quo', while re-solving to more closely monitor bud-geting, scheduling, and other as-pects of the University's intercol-legiate athletic program, seemed to emerge as a compromise among a strongly divided Senate. From the outset, some of the op-ponents of the recommendation felt that remaining�or, as with football, moving to�Division I would cost more than it would return to the University, while diverting funds from more 'legitimate' University concerns such as academic scholar-ships and faculty grants. Also, they said, the fee increase would place an unfair burden on stu-dents, many of them who do not par-ticipate in athletics, either as athletes or spectators. Supporters of the recommenda-tion, meanwhile, contended that competition with Division I schools such as Bucknell and Lehigh would enhance the University's academic reputation and increase pride and commitment to the University, re-sulting in increased attendance at athletic events and contributions from friends and alumni. Also, they said, there would not be much difference in cost between a Division I and a Division II pro-gram, in part, because good Divi-sion I schools are closer and easier to schedule than schools in Divi-sions II or III, and the same quality equipment and facilities would have to be provided regardless of which division Towson participates in. Despite the arguments and coun-ter- arguments, however, the Senate remained almost evenly split. As the meeting neared the traditional 6 p.m. adjournment, the Senate mov-ed into the ""Committee of the Whole,"" which allowed them to hash out a compromise and conduct an informal poll on it before taking final action. Both President Smith and Dr. Jim Ewig, chairperson of the IAC, said that the proposal to move the football program to Division I is 'dead', at least for the remainder of this academic year. Ewig said he ex-pects the IAC will indicate on its end-of-year report to the Senate that the Division I-AA proposal needs more study, meaning that it could come before the Senate next fall. In the meantime, the football team is having difficulty scheduling games. Division I-AA teams such as James Madison, Del-aware, and Maine either ""can't"" or ""won't"" schedule games with Towson, Ewig said. ""We don't even have a Homecoming game"" [as of Monday), he said. Candidates for top SGA positions to run unopposed [[[Cu ow; Student Government Association senator Chip DiPaula's ""US"" ticket will be the unopposed slate as DiPaula became the only candidate for president in the SGA elections scheduled for March 13 and 14. Vice-Presidential candidate Eileen O'Shea and candidate for treasurer Joel Cohn, both members of the US slate, are also running un-opposed. There will, however,be a race for the fourteen senatorial seats, as eighteen students handed in their petitions before the 4 p.m. Tuesday filing deadline. Three incumbent freshmen senators: Marty Hyatt, Regina Lenin and Lisa Op-penheimer, are seeking re-election. A complete list of candidates for all positions will appear in next week's edition of The Towerlight. Alcohol under glass A Counseling Center study looks at alcohol use on campus page 6 Women host ECC hoops Towson State's women's basketball team is hosting Rider College in the opening round of the ECC playoffs today at 5:00 in the Towson Center page 8 'King' Yul ""The King and I"" starring Yul Bryn-ner opens to a packed house at the Lyric page 5 Center to sponsor Women's Week events Legal rights, war and peace among issues rating focus By Loraine Mirabella The Women's Center, as part of their celebration of International Women's Week from March 5 to March 9, will sponsor daily events covering topics which affect women's lives. Discussions and films will deal with health concerns, incest, wo-meft's legal rights, war and peace is-sues, and political parties. ""We're more apt to focus on con-troversial issues during this week and bring people from outside cam-pus in to do workshops,"" Leah Scho-field, Women's Center director, said. A workshop dealing with incest will be presented by Lois Flowers and Mary Speck of VOICES, (Vic-tims of Incest Can Emerge Sur-vivors) an educational, legislative, and fundraising Baltimore-based group at 2 p.m. on March 6. A complete listing of events dur-ing International Women's Week may be found in ""Events""... page 4. ""The problems of incest victims are complicated by the long years of silence."" Schofield said, ""Hopefully (the discussion) will lead them into a support group."" Helen Delich Bentley, a Mary-land 2nd Congressional District candidate and Mary Pat Clarke, for-mer councilwoman for Baltimore Ci-ty, will discuss women's involve-ment in political parties on March 8 in the University union. This pro-gram will be repeated on March 9 with Dr. Mildred O'Tenasek and Democratic national committeewo-man, and Bentley. The result of the 1984 presiden-tial election will have ""great impact on women's lives. This is an ex-tremely important election for wo-men,"" Schofield said. ""[The discussion] is an opportu-nity for women to get information about political parties,"" she added. Dr. Jane Halpern of the Univer-sity Health Center will open the ser-ies with a discussion about health concerns on March 6 at noon. Other discussions include ""Wo-men's Legal Issues"" with attorney Claire A. Smearman, a Towson State alumni, focusing on discrimi-natory Maryland laws on March 6 at 2 p.m. and ""What Do I Really Know/Think About War and Peace Issues?"" with Pat Winchild from the Women's International League for Peace, on March 7 at noon. All events are free and open to the public. International Women's Week be-gan as International Women's Day in 1916 and is celebrated nation-wide, Schofield said. "