The Towerlight, March 7, 1975

tl19750307-000 "Minority Report on Univ. Status issued, TICKETS FOR JAMES J. KILPATRICK ARE STILL AVAILABLE IN THE BOX OFFICE. HE WILL SPEAK MARCH 14. A NEW DATE HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR GEORGE GALLUP. HE WILL APPEAR MARCH 23 IN THE COLLEGE CENTER. ALL OLD TICKETS WILL BE HONORED AND TICKETS � ARE STILL AVAILABLE. �I MARCH 7, 1975 t TOWSON STATE COLLEGE VOL. LXVII, NO. 17: see page 4 VOTE IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION ELECTIONS TODAY. HELP THEM, HELP YOU. Fisher and Shaw-speak on issue SGA pleas heard Attack UMBC report Road conditions to be changed ""They're probably waiting for somebody to be run down."" TL photo by Mark Woodcock by Joan Grabowski Responding to SGA pleas and an investigative report in a local newspaper, Baltimore County has agreed to improve pedestrian crossing conditions on Osier Drive and Cross Campus Boulevard. In a December 4 correspondence to the Baltimore County Executive Office, SGA President Konrad Herling urged that ""for safety of pedestrians who courageously traverse these paths, swift and sound action should be pursued quickly."" � Need a tragedy fqr action Herling noted that ""too often, action is taken only after a tragedy has oc-cured,"" and cited the case of a four year old child hit while crossing Towson-towne Boulevard this summer. The SGA president characterized increased safety measures as ""necessary and humane changes,"" and requested County Executive Venetoulis' personal involvement and support in the matter. In response to Herling's letter, the matter was directed to the County Department of Traffic Engineering for investigation. Executive Venetoulis concurred 'with Herling's observation that ""a tragedy should not occur before action is taken."" Speeds lowered Towson was advised on February 20 as to the results and recommendations arising from the traffic engineering study. The following actions are to ix taken. The speed limit on Cross Campus Boulevard will be lowered to 25 miles per hour, and an overhead sign reading ""Yield to Pedestrians' will be installed. Overhead signs On Osler Drive the speed limit will be reduced to 30 miles per hour with a similar ovgrhead sign at the crosswalk near the Administration Building. This reduction in speed limit should occur between Towsontowne Boulevard and the Fine Arts Building. The crosswalk on Osler Drive near the Fine Arts, Building will be painted with a zebra type and with normal crossing signs. The speed limit on Towsontowne Boulevard will be reduced to 35 miles per hour between Osier Drive and Burke Avenue. Phasing causes delay The study also revealed that left-turn phasing would not appreciably reduce the delay at the intersection of Osler Drive and Towsontowne Boulevard. Indeed, the installation of such separate phase would materially increase the delay experienced by some of the motorists. The speed limits mentioned above will be installed in the immediate future. Overhead signing will be installed in about a month. The painting of the crosswalks will be done as soon as weather permits. Not a permanent solution Director of Traffic Engineering Eugene J. Clifford emphasizes that none of the measures mentioned are a permanent solution to the pedestrian-automobile conflict on the campus. ""The ultimate solution would be the con-struction of pedestrian overpasses where such movements are concentrated. The Fine Arts Building is ideally suited for such an overpass and I believe the original architectural design indicated such construction. Until such time as the college :s able to convince the various other State agencies who are responsible for funding, that such overpasses are essential, I believe that the college should do whatever it can in the way of publicity. . . to insure that all pedestrians endeavor to use only the crosswalks in crossing the various streets in and around the campus. I believe that it is fruitless to attempt to protect all pedestrians who were not attempting to cross at such established locations."" ""Too little, too late"" Crossing improvements were nearly ""too little, too late"" for Towson student Bruce Genther. On February 28, Genther reported nearly being run down by a vehicle, as he attempted to cross Osler Drive. ""I was within one or two inches of being hit,"" Genther said. ""People (motorists) refuse to stop and yield the right of way."" Genther was skeptiml about the County's proposals observing that ""they're probably waiting for somebody to be run-down."" He also questioned the value of crossing signs and flashing lights, instead suggesting the construction of pedestrian bridges or tunnels. Genther suggested that even a crossing guard would be fair game for motorists. ""Dr. Fisher can't take his cross-campus walks anymore because he can't get across Osier Drive,"" Genther observed. SGA Meeting marked by resignation by Joan Grabowski Boasting 100 percent attendance for the second consecutive week, the Senate acted on a number of legislative matters. It was announced that Ms. Clara Jenkins had been hired as secretary for the Senate. Starting Wednesday, Ms. Jenkins' employment should aid in the organization of Senate Procedural matters. SGA President Herling proposed the establishment of Environment Week, scheduled for the week after spring vacation. The president has contacted campus science groups, and hopes to plan a week of activities ernpnasizing the environment at Towson. Herling also noted plans for improving commuter-resident rapport. Because many of the resident students live in Washington, Herling observed that an excursion to that city, with residents transporting commuters could improve student understanding. A convenient reason for such a trip would be the April 12 John Denver Concert at the Capital Center. Herling mentioned the possibility of reserving a large block of seats at the concert, and offering them at a discounted price. A Woody Allen film festival was announced for March 13. Proceeds from the festival will be used to fund lenghthened library hours during exam week. Congratulations in order. Herling congratulated the Iota Phi Theta fraternity for the Black Cultural History display last week on the first floor of the College Center. He described recent problems with buses servicing the tutorial for children from East Towson. Until needed equipment can be installed on buses, drivers are needed to tran-sport children to and from the college,j on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 4 to 6 p.m. Drivers can be reimbursed for gasoline by the SGA. Martin resigns The resignation of Eric Martin from the Senate was announced. Martin will assume the post of ""legislative assistant to the president of the SGA."" Proposals by the county to alleviate the pedestrian crossing problems on Osler Drive were an-nounced to the Senate. Measures taken towards the appointment of a student member to the College Board of Trustees were discussed, with announcement that Dr. Douglas Martin, head of the Towson AAUP had endorsed the proposal. SGA V.P. David Nevins noted that Senator Fred Harris has formerly introduced such a proposal in the U.S. Congress, and noted that Harris might endorse the student member idea for Towson, Also mentioned was the need for students to contact their legislators and ex-press support for the measure. Requests submitted Herling submitted two requests to the Senate for funding. The first was for a ""Hot Line"" service. The state purpose of the ""Hot Line"" is to ""decrease the widenitig com-munication gap now existing between many students and their elected representatives"" and to ""help students get through the red tape and bureaucracy."" The ""Hot Line"" is expected to cost slightly over $100.00. The second request was for a com-mitment of funding for the Speaker Series. Calling the series ""a truly magnificent accomplishment,"" Herling noted that advance con-tacting and contracting was essential for success. Because of the Budget and Audit System Act, contracts with speakers could not be authorized by Marlene Milder James Fisher, President of Towson State College, and Academic Vice-President, Kenneth Shaw, gave a reply to a 13-page letter from faculty members at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. The memorandum from Martin Schwartz and Fred Gornick challenges qualifications for a name change from Towson State College to Towson State University. UMBC memorandum The memorandum bases their objections to Towson acquiring university status after members at UMBC set standards and compared the number of doctoral degrees both faculties held, the amount of publications each faculty staff had in ""scholarly journals"", and the belief that Towson ""Adheres to a mode of education typical of a State Teachers' College."" Fisher replies In reply, , Dr. Fisher called for appropriate and professional evaluators to compare both in-stitutions, if comparisons need to be made, instead of engaging in a silly game of ""statistical warfare in which salvos of academic statistics and credentials are fired back and forth in a meaningless and wasteful in-terchange."" TSC accredited The Middle States Association, an accrediting agency affecting all collegiate institutions in Maryland, examined all academic programs of the college, reported Fisher, re-accrediting TSC. Also Towson has received recent national recognition from other authorities in teaching, development, administrating, and community relations. Citing Towson as a ""model public undergraduate institution,"" Fisher said, ""We (at Towson) try to ac-complish the antithesis of what they of Martin In other business, supplemental budget requests were approved for the International Student Union, and sent to second reading for the Towson Chapter of the Society for Physics Students. The Government appropriation committee gave favorable reports to the constitutions of three organizations. The organizations are the Political Science Club, Alpha Omego Lambda fraternity, and the Towson Outing Club. A reorganization of committees bill received favorable report from the committee. The bill changing the number of committees from five to three passed second reading, and should be acted on next week. An Ad hoc committee recom-mended eight students to fill vacant Senate positions until the end of April. Those recommended were Mike Hill, Mike Joseph, Fran Schramm, Mike_ Fell, Doug Schweinhart, Larry Simons, Al Fear and George Howard. The Senate approved the recommendations and the new Senators will take office next Tuesday. Nomination fayerod The nomination ot Dan Brewer to the CAIB was passed by the Senate. The body also _passed a bill establishing a program of monetary grants for special projects and studies by college community members. A resolution by Senator Anne Marie Lowe to recognize March 8 as International Woman's Day was unanimously passed, ending the Senate meeting. Matters under consideration for next week will include the issue of new President pro-Tem for the Senate. unless specified by law. Senate boasts a full attendance. Pedestrian traffic rerouted around Lida Lee Tall TL photo by Steve Kim by Marlene Milder ,Due to circumstances beyond the control of the college, it has become necessary to temporarily re-route Pedestrian traffic around Smith Hall. These temporary conditions should be corrected by Monday, March 10, reported Campus Safety Coordinator, Robert Baeuerle. BY Monday, alighted ""safe"" walk-way will be ready for students, said Baeuerle. Baeuerle, and Director of Plan-ning, David Sturdivant, attended a progress meeting with the con-tractors. ""We were told by the contractors that they would provide a temporary walkway by backfilling to maintain easy access to buildings,"" said Baeuerle. The contractors, reported Baeuerle, informed the college they had two to three weeks to prepare the Glen with the proper material and lights. However, without any prior notice, the contractors simply called the program director and announced that they would begin work on the area around Smith Hall (Classroom II Construction project) the following day. No safe walkway past Smith was provided by the contractors and, as Baeuerle stated, walking through the mud ""would have been suicide."" The lack of sufficient notice on the part of the contractors forced the safety coordinator to re-route the students around Lida Lee Tall. Although such a move may in-convenience the student, it is by far a safer means of traversing the cam-pus, Baeuerle pointed out. The construction situation changes daily and hourly, yet Baeuerle maintained there was a definite need for more and better coordination with the contractors. After conferring with the con-tractors, both Sturdivant and Baeuerle hope to make traveling improvements around Lida Lee Tall in order to facilitate students as they try to reach their various destinations. Remember how simple life used to be? TL photo by. Erick Hoopes (UMBC) do there."" This can be seen as Towson has exceeded its enrollment projections with qualified applicants while UMBC did not reach their projections. Foundation paved Towson paves a foundation to have students ""think and live as intellectuals,"" maintains Fisher, and does so as the institution involves both faculty and students in the research process. ""We will be the first to admit that we have fewer Ph.D's on our faculty than UMBC and we are pleased at the difference,"" said Dean Shaw. Reacting to the UMBC paper, Shaw did correct some of the errors found. While the letter reports 47% of TSC's faculty hold doctoral degrees, figures indicate that it is indeed over 51%. In correcting the errors Shaw replied, ""we are not trying to refute that we are different from what they (UMBC) aspire to be."" When TSC sends brochures to prospective faculty members, reports Shaw, the professors should keep in mind to regard themselves as ""teacher-scholars in a system in which one can be rewarded for teaching and spending time with students."" Faculty at Towson State College need not be a ""pale reflection"" for an old State U,"" said Shaw. Shaw asserts Shaw pointed out most of the report was inaccurate, by UMBC's own assertion. Phrases in the paper such as ""A lack of information prevents our making a com-prehensive comparison,"" and ""here again our data is incomplete but we do have some indication of the per-formance of our students relative to those at the state colleges"" reveal a lack of creditability to the resear-chers. ""We (at Towson) hope that this particular paper is not characteristic of the 100 research papers that the science faculty have written,"" said Shaw. Crime grows on campus by Marlene Milder Both Baltimore County and Towson's Campus police have ob-tained no further information con-cerning two larcenies reported on campus last week. During one incident, $570 was taken from the College Center Bookstore after a register attendant left the cash register unlocked to take care of a charge card in another area. Two suspects are being sought. Description compiled Wayne Cox, campus police, has compiled a description of the two suspects after receiving a description from a witness. The woman, standing behind the two males at the checkout, gave the alarm after observing one of the males perpetuating the offense, by reaching into the cash register and confiscating the money. Campus and Baltimore County police answered the call, while the County Crime lab responded and processed the scene for fingerprints. Manpower unavailable Because campus police does not have enough manpower, the bookstore does not have an officer specifically assigned to the center, said Cox. The bookstore is checked periodically as security makes rounds, reported Cox. During the beginning and end of the semester, there is a heavy volume of security because of the usual rush. To staff the bookstore at these times, men must work overtime and double up, Cox noted. Another larceny was also reported from News and Publications last week. Two typewriters. and one radio valued at $865 were discovered missing the morning of February 26, by Mrs. Payen, Secretary for News and Publications. There was no signs of forced entry, reported Cox, and to date, no one is being sought in connection with the crime. "