The Towerlight, May 3, 1974

tower light M»y 3, 1974 Vol. XVIII No. 30 Towson State College Towson. Md. Discord arises: Senate passes budget Budget Hearings capture the attention of the TSC students. photo by Dave Carrington "Uses of History" discussed by Boorstin in lecture by Sue Debolt Despite some discord among the Student Government Association Senate, the group passed a budget of $152,260.00 for fiscal year 1974-75 by a vote of 10-2 with one abstention Monday, April 29. This amount has been allocated from funds resulting from the $22.45 paid by each student as their student fees. Former SGA vice-president Allen Mosley, who resigned “in disgust” after the proceedings, addressed the body after the final session Monday as he told them he felt they were “irresponsible” in passing the budget and accused them of representing only “middle-class” values. Mosley Criticizes Mosley specifically criticized the body for passing a regulation ruling no comments from the gallery during the final session, forbidding an election to fill two posts vacated Monday, and allocating $38,036.00 in social events. Adding that he was very sorry that he had to be a part in such proceedings, Mosley called the newly devised budget a “big rip-off.” Several senators and executives responded as Recording Secretary Barbara Huss emphasized that no one wanted to cut the budget but it was a necessity. Former Senator and present SGA Treasurer Rudy Forti agreed with Huss and added that the body was passing what they believed the students wanted. He said that if the student body wanted more social events then it was about time they got what they wanted. Senator Ginger Palermo emphasized that she was sick of having her personal character insulted and added that if anyone disagreed with her vote then they should come to her personally. Severely criticizing the budget. Senator Dave Pridgeon said that it had been put forth by a certain point of view. Adding that the executive budget had barely been cut, Pridgeon emphasized that the group had made “damn sure” that the Black Student Union had been cut, the cheerleaders were cut because they were black, and any political activities were cut. Responses made In a later Towerlight interview, SGA president Rick Danoff and several other senators responded to the final budget and the hearings. ( Continued to Page 9 ) Towson’s Student Government Association Senate will sponsor by Sue Debolt Dr. Daniel Boorstin. described by Towson History professor Dr. the first annual Inaugural Weekend today and tomorrow. Festivities will include a picnic featuring a Senate meeting for inauguration purposes, dance and a moonlight cruise. Former SGA Vice-President Allen Mosley, who is in charge of the weekend, said that the festivities were planned so that students could meet the new officers as well as give an input of ideas Adding that similar festivities were held at Morgan State College, Mosley said that he hoped such acts would alleviate student apathy at TSC. A picnic, from 3 to 7 p.m. on the College Center patio, will initiate the weekend festivities. At that time. President Konrad Herling, Vice President David Nevins, and Treasurer Rudy Forti will be sworn in as the SGA officers for the 1974-75 year. The picnic will be followed by a dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the College Center multi-purpose room. The Things and Stuff Band and Fallstaff will be featured at the affair which will also include a cash bar. Saturday’s activity will be a Moonlight Cruise from Port Welcome from 8 to 1 1 p.m. All events are free and open to all. although admission will be on a first come, first serve basis. Further information may be obtained by contacting Mosley, Herling. Eric Martin, Lucy Reek, Fran Schramm, or Rick Danoff at the SGA office. John Boles as the “most original and provocative interpreter of the whole erf the American experience”, lectured to a Towson audience on the “Uses of History" Thursday. April 25. An eminent historian. Boorstin first distinguished between the uses of history makers and the uses of history writers. Boorstin emphasized the special function for the historian of our time as he called for present historians “to be themselves." Adding that “history was not only medicine but an anecdote." he said that "it would help us to immunize ourselves against social quacks and false prophets " Emphasis on Prediction Noted Boorstin went on to note the emphasis on prediction in today’s society and to detail the nse of the social sciences to see how that emphasis on prediction had grown. Stating that modem social science possessed many blessings as well as problems, he emphasized that the sense of prediction gave a sense of control. He labeled a strong tendency of American life to overvalue predictability. According to Boorstin, this sense of predictability has led us to relieve ourselves of responsibility and to shift ourselves away from the unpredictable. Boorstin concluded that history must be the “prophet of the otherwise to explore the past and discover the future whereas Social Science must be the “prophet of expectations.” He added that America has been the “treasure house of the unexpected.” Vision Opened Emphasizing that “history opens our vision, our minds and our ears to the areas of the human spectrum we never knew." Boorstin maintained that the historian must know the past so he can save us from it In closing. Boorstin said that “social science was the master of the determinant whereas history was the prophet and poet of the indeterminant " A question and answer period followed the lecture. During that time Boorstin gave his views of ethnic studies He criticized the use of labels as he said he was against white studies, black studies. Jewish studies, ethnic studies, etc Boorstin. the author of eleven books and editor of the 27- volume Chicago History of American Civilization, is best known as one of the leaders of the “consensus" school of United States history Rhodes Scholar Boorstin. 60. was born in Georgia, received a Ph.D.at Yale University, became a Rhodes Scholar, was admitted to the Bar in both England and Massachusetts, and was the first occupant of the Chair of American History at the Sorbonne, in Paris. He taught American history at the University of Chicago from 1944 to 1969. when he became director of the National Museum of History and Technology of the Smithsonian One of his books. The Americans: The Colonial Experience, won the Bancroft Prize. Another. The Americans: The National Experience, won the Francis Parkman Prize. His latest. The Americans: The Democratic Experience, traces the changes which have come about in the lives of ordinary Americans since the Civil War. photo by Mfk* Dunn* Former Senator Fred Harris moats with TSC President James L. Fisher and History Professor Douglas Martin upon his arrival on the campus. Complete details will be posted next week. Inaugural weekend