The Towerlight, November 6, 1987

tl19871106-000 "J Inside Baltimore Cardinals? Are we getting a football team, finally page 4 1. 81 No. 8 The owerlight Published weekly by the students of Towson State University Towson, MD 21204 Index news 17 classifieds 2,6, 8 sports 3 4 features & entertainment 5 6 editorial 9 letters 9 weekwatoher 10 November 6 1987 Journalism updated Twenty-two micro-computers manufactured by the Physics epartment were delivered last week to the Journalism Laboratory Of the ass Communications program. Or. Eddie L. Loh, Physics chair, personally directed the delivery of the 2 personal computers that his department assembled from the parts ought from local vendors. Loh literally pushed the cart up and down Van Bokkelen Hall to nitiate the delivery. Journalism lab supervisor Dr. Soon Jim Kim received the delivery of ?se PC's, also giving hands to moving and storing of the PC's. 'This day marks the beginning of a new era in journalism education at owson State, as we receive 22 campus-assembled PCs to be used by our tUdents, starting in spring semester 1988. [We have waited since 1975],"" aid Kim. ""I thank the University Provost Robert Caret and Dean Gil-ert Brungardt of the College of Fine Arts and Communication for their gesdership in making this historic conversion possible,"" he continued. APpreciation also goes to the Physics Department that manufactured see computers, overcoming many a technical and administrative Ifficulty. � . ""I hope our departmental administration will also live up to the expec-bons of the University authorities who provided these modern tools of ournalism education,"" said Kim. These 22 PCs will be installed in the Journalism lab during the winter reak, and typewriter-to-computer conversion will take place during the urimester. A workshop is planned for the switch-over to computerized ournalism instruction. Next semester, students in journalism classes will start using the .odern Journalism lab (VB Room 207) equipped with a 22-terminal, Ix-cluster (each with an IBM Proprinter and switcher) system. Courtesy of the Mass Communications Department photo by Jay Woernle Soon Jin Kim, supervisor of the Journalism Laboratory, Eddie L. Loh, chair of the Physics department, and Wilson H. Martin, (from left) were instrumental in getting the new computers for the Journalism Lab. Praternities discuss misconceptions by Vince Russomanno :63 News editor Jackie Boggs, a member of the Pha Kappa Alpha sorority and a Bident assistant in Tower C, . . nsored a program to clear up �conceptions between black and It� fraternities and sororities. s want people in white fraterni-es and sororities to understand e are really about the same Ings,"" Boggs said. Before the program began, gg8 Passed out questions to � , ululate the discussion. The first 9 read by a member of Lambda i Alpha: ""Why do you think ere are hardly an blacks in white ternities?"" We have two blacks in our fra- Ira,. ItY, and I do not know of any ostacles placed on our side pre- raing others from joining,"" said 1,n Fields. 0 1 13�ggs also responded to this ir.estion. ""If I were in a white sor-t. that would be my main social """"111). I feel more comfortable with ,oPle of a more similar back- Mud. It is not forced segrega-au. It is who you identify with."" IA Sister of Zeta Tau Alpha said fat she did not consider joining a ruck sorority because ""it is de- n ed mainly for black females o have certain needs, culturally, ,d for identification, and that ght be different from mine."" She also mentioned that a black I had rushed Zeta Tau Alpha t depledged for financial 11sans. ""I was happy she had the 1.ve to go through rush,"" she said. ""Myself, I do not know any black women who have tried to join white sororities,"" Boggs added. The second topic was an open ended sentence: ""If I joined a fra-ternity/ sorority of the opposite race I would feel "" Boggs directed culturally and racially,"" said a brother of Kappa Alpha Psi. Boggs pointed out that commun-ication problems exist because ""black fraternities and sororities have a separate process we go through to become megtbers that is quite different from [tHe processes p o y ay Woernle Jackie Boggs (top right) hopes to elevate dissonance between white and black greek organizations through an open forum. this question to a black member of of white Greeks]. We get our rules a predominately white fratern- directly from our national and the ity. . University has a copy of what we ""Initially I was going with a do and why."" black fraternity but decided ""What you [white fraternity against it for moral reasons,"" he members] consider hazing we do said. ""I never looked at it as a not consider hazing, and the Uni-white fraternity. I just looked at its versity accepts what we do,"" she content, and what it is all about continued. ""There is a reason for matched what I am all about."" all of it."" ""I do not feel strange when I see A specific example is being ""in-a black guy in a white fraternity, I line."" This is when members are just wonder if he is comfortable seen marching in unison across kheration results in suspension by Laurita Huff News reporter , ;1(aren Webber, a 23-year-old Lewson State student, was ar. 'eted and has been suspended rn the University after allegedly terIng her transcripts. Only a few credits short of gra- Elting, Webber denied the allega-h saying that it was an error by s Business Department. Webber said that the department Ist her records twice and, when e records were found, some of her ades were better than those she t , d earned. After she approached Ile Business department, pointing 4t the discrepancy, she was told at she would have to meet with argaret Hayes, director of Judi- al Affairs. At that meeting, Webber was ested, and a judicial hearing as set. teAs a result of that hearing, she rrently is suspended until May, 88 Until then, or until an Peal�which is in the works� rrules the decision, Webber is t allowed on the campus. If she seen on campus, she said, she be arrested. 'YVebber also said that she was Sid she is being reprimanded e9Ause regardless of whose error ' .1s, she is benefitting from the %take. O Webber said that she wanted to ave her uncle, Joseph P. Webber, al attorney, present at the hear-ing, but the University denied that she had the right to do so. Although Webber and her uncle took the issue to court, Judge DeWaters also denied that she has the right to have her uncle present as counsel; however, the Judge said, her uncle could attend the hearing. (Later, DeWaters said he is sure that the University had some assistance from the attorney general's office.) ""If you read The Student Hand-book� page 47, number D3�you'll see that a student isn't allwed to have an attorney present,"" Hayes said, "" excep' 'vhen concurrent criminal charges have been filed. This means when the state gets involved itself."" Meanwhile, Joseph Webber said that he believes that the Universi-ty's law is unconstitutional. According to the Constitution, he said, every citizen should be allowed due process by the law. Under this University law, stu-dents are denied counsel even when charges may lead to suspen-sion or expulsion from the Uni-versity, he continued. ""This is very serious. It is silly to have a lawyer present if he just has to sit there,"" Joseph Webber said. Lisa M. Quill contributed to this article. Student belongings remain over break This list was handed out at the demonstration students conducted earlier this semester. ""I compiled the list from my experience and what I've seen at Towson over the past four years,"" said Krivos. URG decided that this year stu-dents would follow the usual rou-tine and move all their belongings home at the end of the semester, according to Siegel. The University and students did not want to break existing con-tracts and committments made by the University to rent spaces out over breaks. According to Mario' Hoffman, dean of student development, such con-tracts include new carpeting, fum-igating, and building repairs. by Judith B. Jelenko News reporter Dorothy Siegel, dean of student services, and other administrators met with the University Residence Government (URG) to discuss the possibility of residents leaving their belongings on campus over January break. Chris Krivos, SGA president, had presented a list of student demands to the University. The list had been put together by Krivos to address many of the problems students encounter on a daily basis. Being able to move out over winter break had been one of those listed. on campus campus. ""Being ""in-line"" pro-motes unity. It shows that no one stands out above anyone else,"" said a member of Phi Beta Sigma. ""If a [member] feels strongly about not standing in-line, he does not have to, but that has never happened. [The members] accept it as a part of the process,"" he added. ""You are proud to stand in line and show everyone you are a part of it,"" added Boggs. ""Everything is by Choice. No one has to do anything. There is always the option to get out of it,"" said a member of Omega Psi Phi. This also goes for the ""brands"" that some members of predom-inately black fraternities have on their arms. ""The brand is volun-tary. We do not do that during pledging. I do not have one but I know where to go if I want one,"" he said. A misconception many members of black fraternities have about white fraternities is ""all of your activities involve a lot of drink-ing."" ""We have brother that do not drink at all. It is not an intregral part of the pledging process,"" said a member of Kappa Sigma. ""There is a big gap on this cam-pus between black and white fra-ternities and sororities. Boggs said. University may raise standards for academic good standings by Sean Brohawn News reporter Towson State University is cur-rently considering a proposal that would raise the requirements for academic good standing. According to the May 12 version of this proposal, the purpose of the revision is ""to improve the overall academic performance of the stu-dent population and to enhance the value of a degree earned at Towson State."" Because of the ""more finely-tuned"" plans for retention of matriculated students and the more sophisticated computer sys-tems in operation, the University is more capable of monitoring the academic progress of students, according to the proposal. The May draft has undergone some changes in detail, though not in substance, according to Univer-sity Registrar William Reuling. Under the new proposal, degree candidates who fall below the min-imum grade point average re-quired for good academic standing will receive a warning from their faculty advisor or from an aca-demic advising center. This warn-ing will not appear on students' records. If the requirements for good academic standing are not met in the subsequent semester, however, students will be academically suspended. Students under academic sus-pension ""may not attend the Uni-versity for one regular semester or any intervening sessions,"" accord-ing to the May proposal. A notice of academic suspension will then be placed on students' records, and any credits earned during this period will not be eval-uated until good academic stand-ing is once again attained. Stu-dents may remove any incomplete grades during this period, but the University is not obligated to accept credits earned during sus-pension. Requests for reinstatement will be considered after the suspension period and students who are read-mitted will be placed on academic probation for up to one year. During the probationary period, students must take at least six (but not more than 13) credit hours in both the fall and spring semesters, consult with an advisor to outling a program of study, and receive written permission from Academic Advising or from an advisor in the College of Continuing Studies in order to register for classes. Upon approval from the director of Aca-demic Advising, however, stu-dents may attempt a maximum of 15 credits. Failure to attain good academic standing after the probationary period will result in academic dis-missal from the University. The Academic Standards Com-mittee has consulted with the stu-dent body before submitting the proposal by questioning student offices and representatives. According to Reuling, if passed, this policy would represent a ""major change in the way we do things,"" and will, most likely, entail a lengthy debate in the Uni-versity Senate. The version currently under consideration by the Executive Committee is expected to reach the Senate in December. SGA denies WCVT funds by Doug Wood NPLUS reporter A motion to allocate $1,000 to WCVT failed the SGA Senate at Tuesday's meeting. Senate Bill 1987-88 #9, an act to allocate $1,000 to WCVT for the purpose of attending the Music Marathon Convention in New York October 29-November 1, was failed because WCVT's foundation allegedly refused to turn over its account balance to the SGA. ""[Senator] Jon [Long] has asked repeatedly for the foundation's bal-ance, and they have been unwil-ling to give it to him,"" said SGA President Chris Krivos. Senate Bill 1987-88 #10, an act to allocate $225 to the Society of Physics Students for the purpose of Honorariums for three guest speakers was passed. fit other news, Krivos expressed disappointment that the Univer-sity Senate measure to require the tenured faculty serving on the Screening Committee to be from different departments had failed to pass. Krivos said that he intends to resubmit the bill with different wording. ""We'll keep doing it until it passes,"" said Krivos. Krivos was also upset about President Hoke Smith's accu-sation of a misstatement in The Towerlight concerning the lack of student representation in the calen-dar committee. ""Mr. Reuling [Regis-trar] [prepared the calendar corn-mitte report] himself, with no stu-dent involvement. The Towerlight stated that, and it was the truth,"" said Krivng The SGA will be accepting appli-cations for a new senator. The seat is open to the entire student body. Anyone wishing more information should stop by the SGA office in the University Union. Mandela speaks about South Africa Over twenty years ago, Nelson Mandela, the man who led black South Africans in the fight against apartheid, was jailed for his politi-cal views and activities. Even though he waits in the same prison which he entered so long ago, Man-dela is still considered to be the leader of the anti-aparteid move-ment. When change in South Africa finally does come, it is as-sumed he will be the new country's first president. Maki Mandela is the eldest daughter of Nelson Mandela. She was first educated at the Univer-sity of Forthare, a university exclu-sively for blacks, where she majored in social work. She will be speaking at Towson State Univer-sity November 8th. She worked as a social worker in the remote part of the Transkei, a territory which was declared inde-pnoto courtesy ca it & speakers Maki Mandela will address Towson State University November 8 in the Chesapeake Rooms. Mandela is the eldest daughter of jailed political leader Nelson Mandela and a noted speaker on the situation in South Africa. pendent by the racist regime in Pretoria. Mandela's duties as a social worker involved settling family disputes, helping the phys-ically and mentally handicapped to acquire basic skills and cope with life as normal citizens, and helping women to find employ-ment. It was while working as a social worker that her interest in the pol-itical, social and economic role of women developed. As with all emer-ging women of our century, her desire to acquire better knowledge of South African women vis a vis women in the third world led her to the University of Natal in South Africa. Mandela pursued an honors degree in sociology with particular interest in black South African women in the labor mar-ket. While in Natal, Mandela worked with the co-founders of ""Speak"", a newsletter published monthly by a group of young women. The new-sletter is translated into various ethnic languages, which help the illiterate working-class women to acquire basic reading and writing skills as well as helping them en-counter problems in their work places. Mandela holds membership in the Institute for Black Community and Labor Relations Research Group, founded to train black re-searchers, and to publish articles on the social and economic condi-tions of blacks in South Africa. Mandela will make her speech, ""Tears and Fury,"" at 8, pm in the Chesapeake Rooms of the Univer-sity Union. Tickets, available at the Union Box Office are free for students, $5 for faculty and staff, and $8 for the general public. Courtesy of K & S Speakers �� "