The Towerlight, September 10, 1976

tl19760910-000 "Towerlight Welcomes Towson's new students LXIX, NO. 1 v. AVetJTOWSON STATE UNIVERSITY An SGA calendar of events will be provided in Towerlight next Fri., Sept. 17. SEPTEMBER 10, 1976 oupons changed ming Department revises policies by Pete Binns The coupon meal-plan sys-tem, initiated last year, has been modified in order to avoid the problem of seme-ster- end surplus coupons by the Department of Dining Services. Under the new system, coupons will be distributed on a month-by-month basis. The coupons are color-coded and are good only during the month in which they are distributed. Mel Blackburn, business manager of dining services, said that the new system will help students budget their coupons to insure that stu-dents do not end the semester with an ' excess of unused coupons. He said that last year many students ""held back using coupons in September and Octoger,"" and then had to sell or throw away coupons at the end of the semester. Blackburn said that many students would probably still end up with extra coupons at the end of each month, but that they would have fewer extra coupons than last year. ""It's hard to get so far ahead in a month that a student can't eat up what's left."" Coupons may still be sold by the students to any buyers. Blackburn said that the .new distribution system would /1,1344,40 .added benefit of hulking the market for extra coupons more competitive and thus increase the price at which students may sell their extra coupons. According to Blackburn, many coupons were sold last Year at ""about 30 cents on the dollar."" This year, he said, it is expected that coupons will go for ""maybe 80, 90 cents on a dollar."" Day students, he said, probably will still be interested in buying coupons at higher prices and resident students will not lose as much money as they did last year, if they choose to sell coupons. Blackburn also said that a whole month's worth of coupon's would not be given to a student at a time. Coupons for September and October will be given out in three installments for each month: November and December coupons in two installments each. The reason for this, he said, is ""because students sometimes lose books. This way, the loss is limited, solnewhat."" Towson switched from the traditional punch card method to the coupon system when Newell Hall was closed for renovations because the Univ-ersity Union facilities are not designed for a punch card system. Blackburn said that it would be impossible to control all access routes to the cafeteria well enough to make a non-coupon system work. ""(The coupon system) is the best system for the conditions that exist right now,"" Black-burn said. He stated that he couldn't predict whether the coupon system would be retained when Newell reopens next year. Another change in the coupon system this year is that two plans were made available to students. One plan provides $370 worth of coupons for $370, the other provides $390 worth of coupons for $390. Blackburn said that the practice of offering a discount on coupons was not continued this year because too much money was being lost. He explained that much of the $200,000 deficit in the Food Services bueget last year was due to the coupon discount. If a student runs out of coupons before the end of the Please turn to page 3 Finally, TSU by Bill Stetka Quick, everyone, rush to the University Store and buy-up all the TSC shirts that are sure to be collectors items! Towson State is finally a University. After getting the thumbs down sign on previous att-empts at university status by Governor Marvin Mandel, Towson was granted the name change in late May. That is when the governor somewhat reluctantly signed into law Senate Bill 1037, authorizing the name ""Towson State University."" The bill became effective July 1, 1976 -- a wonderful bicentennial pres-ent for the Towson commun-ity. Dr. James Fisher, president of the university did not want to dwell on Towson's thwarted attempts of the past. ""What's past is past,"" he said, adding that he didn't feel any grudge against those, particularly the governor, who had refused Towson's re-quests for university status the past two years. ""It just gives us a sense of pride - a good feeling - to finally be acknowleged as something we knew we were already,"" Dr. Fisher said. Referring to the letter he sent to the members of the school community July 1 acknowledging Towson's new status, Dr. Fisher said ""We wanted to do it without fanfare."" While some people wanted to throw a party to celebrate, Dr. Fisher said, ""Further recognition will come."" Tigers will not play `big time sports' by Pete Binns Towson State University will not compete in ""big-time"" athletics, Dr. James L. Fisher, president of the University, announced recently in a statement on the University's athletic policy. Dr. Fisher said he had made the decision because big-time athletics have, in his judge-ment, ""reached such dimen-sions in America that it must be questioned by all respons-ible educators and concerned citizens."" Citing examples of univers-sities, ""Where athletes are considered to be commodities or 'meat on the hoof""' and where there is an adminis-trator whose sole reponsibility is to guide athletes academic-ally. Dr. Fisher said the concept of big-time athletics is ""often practiced anti-theti-cally to the principle purpose of a college or university."" ""I. want to be sure that doesn't happen here while I'm president."" he said. In making the new policy The Tiger's Lair has changed to a McDonald's style operation. County exec teaches Poli Sci Baltimore County Executive Theodore Venetoulis will teach a section of Political Science 470 ""Topics on Political Science"" this semester. The course is subtitled ""Administration and Politics in Baltimore County,"" and will cover several aspects of county government. Among the topics selected for the course are Problems of Government, Relationships with other Governments, Pl-anning and Zoning and Run-, hing for Office and Winning.' The course is scheduled for President James Fisher Will have student office hours this semester on l'hursday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. � 4-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, and will offer three credits. The current edition of the University catalogue describes ""Topics in Political Science"" as an ""examination of current topics in Political Science."" The catalogue also notes that interested members of the community who do not have the prerequisites are urged to take the course on an audit basis. Venetoulis graduated from Towson State College with a degree in Political Science and Education. He holds master's degrees in Education and International Relations from John Hopkins University and in Government and Public Administration from America University. TL photo by Beej statement, Dr. Fisher said that since Towson was only recent-ly, as of July 1, designated a university, he wanted to make clear to all Towson's support-ers his position on inter-coll-egiate athletics. ""At this time of gaining university status, it is import-ant to establish a definite direction for our inter-colleg-iate athletic program. There should be no misunderstand-ing in or outside the university community concerning the philosophy under which our program will be adminis-tered,"" Dr. Fisher said. President Fisher stressed that ""no program or activity in athletics will be allowed to jeopardize the academic mis-sion or reputation of the university or the academic objectives of its student - athletes."" Although acknowledging the efforts of the Tiger Club, n Towson's athletic booster or-ganization, to raise gift monies to provide grants-in-aid to student athletes, Dr. Fisher said that he was setting a limit Lectures on government and social issues at major univer-sities throughout the country and appearances on national television as a political analyst have both been a part of Venetoulis' career, A resident of Baltimore County since 1951% Venetoulis was elected County Executive in 1974 for a four-year term. Dr. Pritam Merani, Political Science Department Head, said, ""We are happy we were able to get Mr. Venetoulis' services."" He added that Venetoulis is very well quali-fied to teach the course. ""He mentioned Venetoulis' exper-ience as an associate professor at Essex Community College, and his long experience in politics. of $30,000 per year on the amount of funds The Tiger Club may give out. Extra funds, if any, will be invested and used in later years, if needed to meet the limit. The $30,000 limit, is far above The Tiger Club's average grants-in-aid total and was set arbitrarily. The limit is not zero, Dr. Fisher said, because ""we want a reason-able shot at winning and we can't hurt ourselves with $30,000."" Dr. Fisher stressed that Towson would not be doomed to lose all its athletic contests by not participating in big-time athletics. ""I believe that we should encourage excellence in athle-tics to the same degree that we strive for excellence in all programs of the university. Excellence must, however, remain within the perimeter of small-time athletics,"" he said. Towson will continue to compete in the appropriate athletic divisions with other colleges and universities of its calibre. ""Our level of comp-etition will stay as it is,"" he said, ""so with a little input, we'll win."" Although admitting that some pressure had been exerted upon him to support a big-time athletic program, Dr. Fisher said that the pressure had been ""rational and not in the form of ultimatums."" He said that after making the statement, he had received support from those pressuring him because ""now they know - we're going to be the best at the level at which we stand."" Although Towson will open a new $12 million physical education complex this fall, Dr. Fisher said this would not be the beginning of big-time athletics at Towson. He said the complex was never pres-ented as""a coliseum for the greatest games"" and was designed to be primarily an education facility, to be used primarily for physical educa-tion rather than athletics. Fisher states problems to faculty by Ruth Ann Leftridge President James Fisher dis-cussed his plans for combating the major problems facing TSU in his first ""State of the University"" address delivered on September 7. ""The public attitude regard-ing the value of higher educa-tion, the general economic con-dition, the inequitable distri-bution of resources, and the unabated growth of govern-ment bureaucracy"" are the four most serious problems, according to Fisher. He feels these issues ""combine to make increasingly difficult and at times impossible the conduct of effective higher education."" Fisher believes the general public is no longer completely supportive of Maryland's public higher , education pro-grams. saying, ""(It) questions our motives, wonders at our wisdom, doubts our worth, and reflects their uncertainty through elected representa-tives who now find it politically safer to reduce budgets in higher education than to ques-tion the integrity of their con-victed fellows."" In discussing the general economic condition, Fisher ex-plained that the future for higher education, both na-tionally and state-wide, is one of ""declining funds and rising costs."" ""That difference (between funds and costs) is made up largely through increased stu-dent fees, which can be ex-pected to increase from $75 to $125 per year for at least the next five years,"" stated Fisher. TSU's President discussed the decreasing student finan-cial aid funds. There will be cutbacks in ""virtually all"" of the Federal government's di-rect student assistance pro-grams ""while the State of Maryland has never had a significant student assistance program,"" said Fisher. ""I estimate that this year from 40% to 80% of the ad-ministrators' time at Towson will be spent filling our Forms and writing reports, most of which will be of little value,"" said Fisher. ""Or, time will be spent in endless negotiations and confrontation with pro-fessionals in external state a-gencies, professionals who in no way directly serve students or the citizens of Maryland-- they simply regulate us."" ""But it is not the existence of the bureaucracy I question,"" he continued, ""For I accept some need for regulation and accountability. Rather, I ques-tion its inertia, its ineptitude, and its inefficiencies."" Despite these problems, Fisher says Towson remains the ""lowest-cost public four-year institution in our state and one of the lowest in America - in both instruc-tional and administrative costs."" He continued, ""We are measurably the most attrac-tive institution in Maryland and we have had to turn away for at least the past six years hundreds of qualified appli-cants while most other schools have failed to meet their en-rollment projections..."" ""By far our highest priority is to provide here a sound li-beral arts and science ex-perience for students regard-less of their occupational am-bitions,"" said Fisher. The Towson State President feels that a willingness to try new things is necessary if TSU is going to continue ""being the best."" ""And certainly being the best means being willing to admit that some of our changes have not worked -- that there is nothing here that is not an experiment that time or new intelligence cannot dislodge or modify,"" he said. ""Last year we abandoned the 'NC' and reintroduced the 'F.' We had made a mistake, at least for Towson."" Fisher said, ""Clearly, we must stand together at this time. Unlike the reaction of most of American higher edu-cation to adverse conditions, ours must be a united corn-munity."" Dr. Fisher said the name change should make it easier to get money in the form of both federal and private grants. He said it was a fact that schools designated as ""university"" get more grants than those designated ""col-lege."" The main reason behind the name change is to enhance the image of Towson State with people. Dr. Fisher said there are no tangibles that can be pointed to for the name change. ""Is there anything tangible in a haircut? It just presents a better image,"" he said. Still, it may be awhile before others realize art Towson State is a university. Dr. Fisher has asked that all ""Towson State College"" mat-erials be used up before ordering ""University"" items, such as letterheads and envelopes. Al Duke, manager of the newly named ""University Store,"" said there is only a limited supply of ""college"" material (shirts, bumper sti-ickers, etc.). ""We're getting a lot of people, especially alumni, buying the old materials,"" Duke said. ""I guess they realize it's their last chance to get collectors items."" Duke said a ""limited am-ount"" of university items have been ordered, the first of which is expected to arrive at the end of September. This. includes decals, bumper sti-ckers, key chains, and other small items. He said they could not place any orders until it was official that Towson would become a university. ""After last year's false alarm, when we were 99 and 44/100 percent sure we made it, we had to be very careful,"" Duke said. Duke said that only items marked ""Towson State"" could be ordered earlier than July I, when Towson State officially became a university. Some items, like tee-shirts and pennants, have been ordered, but it is not known when they will arrive. In the meantime, Duke suggests, students who want to cash in on the collectors items better hurry. The ""Towson State College"" sup-ply is dwindling fast. Union Trust opens branch at TSU by Kathy Pascuzzi ""Union Trust Bank has gone back to school,"" pro-claimed a letter sent by the bank to a 11 Towson students in August. The bank began services during the last week in August at its new branch in the University Union. The grand opening celebra-tion featured refreshments � and drawing for a $1,000 grand prize. Services provided by the new facility include a 24-hour Banking Machine, which will be available to students with an account at the bank whenever the University Uri-ion is open. Students can make deposits and withdrawals through this machine, and can even transfer money from a savings to a checking account and vice-versa. According to William Carey, Director of News and Publica-tions, the University met with representatives of several banks, and chose the Union Trust Company, ""because of the services"" offered to students through the bank. Mrs. Sandusky, an assistant manager ""on loan"" from another branch, is acting as assistant manager at the University Union facility until Robin Horwitz, the permanent assistant manager, can take over. Sandusky outlined the serv-ices available to Towson students at the bank. She mentioned that students can qualify for a checking account with overdraft protection if they have a part time job. The overdraft protection is a short-term loan extended to cover a check 'written with insufficient funds in the account. She also said some other loans may be available to students who have part time employment. ""This is un-usual,"" she said, ""but we really want this to be a success here."" She explained that the loan approval is ""not an overnight thing...Some stu-dents expect to apply for a loan on Friday and have the money by Monday."" She said that the enitre process takes about five weeks from start to finish. ""It's usually only about two weeks between applica-tion and approval notifica-tion,"" she said, ""but five weeks before the actual cash is available."" Sandusky said some stu-dents can get loans even without a job, ""if someone is willing to co-sign for the loan,"" adding that ""Someone has to be responsible...It's really for the good of the student. We don't want to get them involved with debts they can't pay."" Please turn to page 8 Dr. Fisher addresses faculty as Dean Shaw looks on. TL photo by Ken Vane "