Newspaper Page Text
The Red and Black, Friday. April 6, iH7.l
REPLY TQ KENT
NSA has useful information'
LETTERS!
The Red and Black has had
such overwhelming response in
the past week to its letters-to-the-
editor column that we have
altered our usual format today in
order to print a number of letters
that have been held up because
of a lack of space. We appreciate
your enthusiasm and hope that
you will continue to send us your
opinions.
TO THK EDITOR:
Despite Phil Kent's rather weak
objections ihe would find any group not
espousing the Campus Conservative Club
line objectionable!, Coalition definitely
plans to renew the University of
Georgia's lapsed membership in the
National Student Association, as well as
in the Southern Universities Student
Government Association
The reasons should be clear from our
own Student Government's ineffective
ness over the past two years: we have
seen an almost total lack of innovation
and imagination in dealing with student
problems, and this stems partly from the
fact that we have become isolated from
other campuses and have little know
ledge of programs and proposals initiated
at other universities which might be
useful to us here
The NSA can provide us with valuable
information about what Colorado or
Arizona State or Boston U. or Ohio have
done about parking problems, student
activities fees, health care, housing, or
any of the many issues affecting students
which SGA should be concerned with
This kind of communication and
also provide a needed forum to insure
that students at Georgia — a major
southern university — will have a voice
in shaping national student opinion.
Legal services and a national lobbying
force are other benefits provided students
through the NSA. On a regional basis, the
Southern Universities Student Govern
ment Association complements these
services.
At a national NSA conference in
Washington last year, which several
Coalition members attended by invita
tion, I met a number of SGA presidents
from all across tha country and found the
exchange to be interesting and informa
tive. The University of Georgia should no
longer deny itself these contacts with
other student governments through the
services of these national and regional
student organizations.
SUSAN PANSUER
IIlTHE RED AND BLACK
A Pacemaker newspaper
Claudia Townsend, editor
Jim Thompson Jimmy Johnson
Business manager Executive editor
Arnold Punaro and Mitchell Shields, news editors Leslie Thornton and Susan
Wells, associate news editors; Fran Fulton and Ann Hutchinson, city editors;
Susan Parker, state affairs editor; Ray Boss, sports editor; Mike Blum, associate
sports editor; Frazier Moore, consulting editor; David Hartin, copy editor;
Stephe Jackson, photography editor; Ed Parker, wire editor; Stacy McDaniel,
production manager; Brad McColl, art director.
exchange of ideas will not only benefit us
at the University of Georgia, but it will
Tornado revealed
gross incomptence'
Punaro wants
to be husband'
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BEFORE ENDORSING
TO THK EDITOR:
I am a resident on the top floor of
Brumby Hall, and I would like to say that
I have never been in such an inexcusable
and mismanaged situation as Saturday
night's, when the tornadoes were striking
in and around Athens. What I am saying
is this;
Now is chance 1
to abolish SGA
TO THE EDITOR:
Student government is a farce. It has
no more power than "Student Council" in
high school. For Ihe past three years we
have had "Joke” candidates for SGA
President such as Mathilda Gorilla and
only a pitiful per cent of the student body
turns out to vote. More vote in national
elections, although theoretically SGA
should have a greater and more
immediate impact on our lives. I favor
Ihe establishment of the Ralph Nader-
originated PIRG on campus. This is our
opportunity for action and our chance to
abolish SGA.
CRAIG LAEHLE
AG Council didn 't ask anyone
TO THE EDITOR:
I would like to take this opportunity to
clear up the controversy surrounding Ag
Hill Council’s recent endorsement of PSA
this spring It is a rare occasion that Ag
Hill Council becomes actively involved in
campus politics and I feel that it is very
unfortunate that Steve Patrick has seized
this opportunity to drag our name
through the mud
At no time did Ag Hill Council invite
representatives of either party nor did we
receive a request from Coalition or PSA
to appear. The motion for endorsement
was spontaneous, being made by Russell
Brooks, a student senator who ran as an
independent and has not been associated
with any political party. At no time was
any political speech made and the only
time Tankersley became involved was in
responding to questions concerning the
PSA platform This was a regularly
scheduled meeting and if Mr Patrick
was as interested in South Campus
problems as he alledges, he should have
requested an appearance to present his
proposals
As a member of Ag Hill Council and a
South Campus student I am enraged to
hear that theSouthCampus student center
facility, which has long been a project
Martin's charges
devoid of facts'
TO TIIE EDITOR:
Your April 4 issue includes a letter lo
Ihe editor from Ms Vickie Martin which
is totally devoid of logic and facts
She stales that all three of the PSA
executive candidates were on Ihe Action
Union slate of candidates during last
year's elections. In aclualily. Debbie
Currier, PSA administrative vice-presi
dential candidate, was not even a
member of Action Union, nor has she
been engaged in Ihe past as a candidate
lor office of any parly Furthermore. Ms
Martin writes that "most (if not alii" of
the PSA senatorial candidates ran on Ihe
Action Union ticket last year. To be
perfectly (actual, only six PSA senatorial
candidates were Action Union senators
last year This is a total of only eight
candidates, representing only 20 per cent
of the entire PSA slate ol candidates.
Ms Martin infers that the people of
party A, incorporating themselves into a
party B, necessarily structure parly B so
that it is only another name lor party A
If she wished to draw such conclusions,
lei her recall that Steve Patrick,
Coalition presidential nominee, was first
elected from New Party, and ultra-con
servative campus political party If Ms
Martin’s thesis holds true, then Coalition
is composed of right-wingers who
actively support status quo. University
administration, and a re-involvement of
the United States in Southeast Asia. By
Ms Martin's logic, we can naturally
expect Coalition lo become a local
chapter of Ihe John Birch Society, or
even the Ku Klux Klan
HICK IIL'TTO
being worked on by students on South
Campus both this year and in years past,
has now become an issue that Steve
Patrick claims credit for. This is a direct
insult to the intelligence of the students
on this campus Patrick's past record in
the senate is clear and it is unfortunate
that he has to resort to such outright lies
to cover it up A typical example was the
move by Coalition to strip the
representation from all the small schools
on this campus so as to leave Arts and
Sciences the overwhelming force in the
senate. Both Patrick and Bell were
instrumental in this move. Coalition now
claims credit for the compromise
proposal that was presented by Tankers
ley that thwarted their efforts.
I am sorry that Coalition has had to
resort to a mud-slinging campaign in
their efforts to make headlines in The
Red and Black. T hope that the students
on North Campus and Sout Campus alike
will be albe lo see through these attempts
and vote for the candidates that have
shown that they are capable of making
some much-needed changes on this
campus.
DAVID WEAVER
Vice-president,
Ag Hill Council
Students should be 1st’
TO TIIE EDITOR:
Coalition's position on student housing
continues to be based on a belief that the
priorities governing housing policy are
wrong We believe that the first priority
of the Housing Department should be the
student, his comfort, and the congeniality
of the environment in which he must live.
Toward this end, the Housing Depart
ment should be run with Ihe greatest
possible direct student input and geared
10 meet Ihe needs of dormitory residents
as fully as possible
A dorm is more than a bed and a desk.
11 is a place where students sleep and
study, but it is also Ihe place where they
meet friends, enterlain. relax and engage
in a large portion of their daily activities
Coalition believes that efforts must be
initiated to allow the residence halls to
realize their potential as full social,
recreational, and educational environ
ments for their residents. Most important
is the point that students should not have
their freedom or independence curtailed
because they are regarded merely as
people made to live in residence halls to
provide the funds to pay off housing bond
issues They should instead be regarded
as potential customers who will live in
and fill the residence halls solely because
the facilities and environment are made
so attractive that they will have chosen
to live there and can be assured that they
will have continuing input concerning
changes they desire.
Coalition will work for several specific
changes in housing policy in attempting
to achieve this goal of changed priorities.
Working in full support of the Committee
of the ttOOO.Coalitionwill seek to eliminate
the residency requirement, which requi
res students who are 18 vears of soe or
older, and thus legally adults, to live in
the residence halls. Again, we believe
that when the University must (ill dorms
with students who want to live in them,
residence halt atmosphere, living areas,
and rules will have to be revised to meet
student desires.
Coalition calls for total self-determina
tion of open house hours by the residents
of each dorm. There should be no
imposed limitations on visitation hours
such as the current 10 a m.-2 a m. limits.
We believe that students, as adults, are
capable of choosing their own open house
hours.
Residence hall councils must be
delegated more authority by administra
tive officials. Hall councils are, in theory,
arepresentative body for the residents
and they must begin to function as such.
In order to effectively represent the
residents, hall councils must be able to
actively participate in all stages of G.R.
and R A selections and must be
empowered to formulate internal housing
policy. Further, the hall councils must be
given complete control over the use of
the $2 house fee paid by all residents
each quarter
In order to provide for the diverse
interests and outlooks of residence hall
students Coalition will actively work to
provide residence halls which will reflect
these interests Top priority among these
shall be for the establishment of a
residence hall — or portion of a hall —
for women graduate students
In working toward the implementation
of these goals. Coalition is working with
the interest of the student in mind.
University Housing, we believe, must be
what the students want it to be.
STEVE PATRICK
Disgusting display of disrespect here
TO THE EDITOR:
I was disgusted with the unequalled
display ol disrespect shown to the
members of the Atlanta Symphony
Orchestra Monday night Such lack of
courtesy has never been seen on this
campus
Throughout the performance the
comings and goings of the spectators
(they certainly could not be called an
audience! so distracted me that, had the
stage been a screen. I could have been
attending a Saturday matinee at the
Bijou
It a person were so inconsiderate to
arrive late for the performance, he could
have, at least, had the manners to wait
until the completion of a movement
Saturday night when I heard on the
radio repeated warnings that the
tornadoes were fast approaching the
Athens area, I immediately went down
the stairs to find out the proper
instructions as to where the residents
should go to a safe place, such as a
fallout shelter in the building, etc., in
consideration of the threatening situation.
To my anger. I made the following
discorveries regarding the abilities of
this dorm to handle such a threat:
t 1 The supposedly "capable" girl at the
desk knew nothing about the tornado
watch, nor what to do in case a tornado
could be seen travelling in our direction,
nor if and where the residents could be
safely evacuated to. When I asked if the
manager of the dorm. Mrs. Lee, could be
contacted in order to receive this
information, I was told to "call her
myself," which I did, plus going to the
lady's apartment, receiving no response
in either case.
2) In addition to this lack of knowledge,
there was also a lack of concern. There
is a public address system in this dorm
and at no time during the storm was it
activated to warn the residents in any
way of possible tornadoes and emergency
procedures, or at the very least, to tell
the upper floor residents to get off the top
doors. In the ensuing power failure in
surrounding Athens, and with the very
real possibility of power loss in the
University system as well, it was a long
time before the elevators were shut off,
and prior to that time, people were not
warned to use the stairs.
I find it extremely hard to understand
the gross ignorance and incompetence
that was exhibited Saturday night during
a potentially dangerous situation. I hope
that people will be concerned enough to
make sure that the necessary precautions
1 ill be taken in the future and that
Saturday night's “performance" will not
be allowed to recur.
CHRISTINE FALK
TO THE EDITOR:
Contrary to the snippety caption under
the Bridal Fair photo of last week,
written by Mr. Arnold Punaro, there are
some women who actually do not secretly
want the Big Day. Perhaps it is because
they have already read or witnessed
what happens after the honeymoon. A
good account is given in the Athens
Banner-Herald Bridal Fair Supplement.
Here is related the happily-ever-afters of
one New Bride, stoically smiling over
raw biscuits, finding solace in the
matrimonial togetherness of burning
pothnlders. and distressed over navy-
streaked pantsuits and the washday
problems of removing that troublesome
lint form hubby's socks We are even told
that such problems aren't unique to this
particular New Bride, but that every
New Bride suffers them.
It is obvious that this woman enjoys
her new role, and this is OK with me and
also with W.O.M.E.N., I suspect, who
protested the Fair What is not OK is the
intimation that this woman’s marriage is
the only acceptable or respectable form
of marriage, that anyone who rejects the
maid-wife role for herself is secretly
envious, or that a protest of the Bridal
Fair is a protest or marriage las was
suggested by the photo's caption, "To Be
or Not to Be?”, which is certainly not the
question of the protest. It will be news to
some that over half the membership ot
WO M E N, is married.)
I do not mean to be unfair or nasty to
the woman described in the Banner-
Herald article, or to set her up as a
straw-woman. My complaint is with the
Fair’s wedding brokers, who must rank
with morticians for disarming and
seductive slickness, and with the media
for fostering such a snivelling picture of
domestication. I realize that reporting on
sticky waffles and lint-covered socks is
simpler than wrestling with the real gut
issues of two people learning to live with
each other. But I fear that this kind of
reporting may lead one day to the belief
that the true issues of marriage actually
are navy-streaked pantsuits and sticky
waffles. Now I'm being facetious, of
course; that day is here, and Mr. Punaro,
PSA suggests OCA
before entering One lardy individual had
the audacity to ask me to move, in order
that he might be seated To avoid a
scene. I graciously complied These
complaints are minor
As any four year-old knows, when one
entertains company, he offers a drink
inot necessarily alcohol) at the mini
mum. and more properly, a meal During
the intermission. Ihe players were forced
to stand in tine to purchase a ten cent
soft drink. Why weren't refreshments
provided at intermission'’
It is pitiful that we are treated to but
one "quality" concert yearly, but it is no
wonder
Kit HARD D. IIAWKINS
TO THE EDITOR:
Progressive Student Alliance is con
cerned with the problems faced by
students living off-campus. PSA proposes
the creation of an "Off-Campus Associa
tion" or OCA
Recognizing that students living off
campus have particular housing needs
the Off-Campus Association would be
prepared to assist you as a student
member by relieving you of the financial
responsibility ot paying deposits to local
utility companies, helping to locate and
secure housing for University students,
and to increase student awareness of
their rights and responsibilities in tenant-
landlord agreements.
OCA members would not be required to
pay the normally required utility deposits
tor power, gas or telephone Through
negotiations with Georgia Power, South
ern Bell, and the Georgia Natural Gas
Company it could be agreed that the OCA
would guarantee the amount of these
deposits for its members (a savings to
you of approximately $85 001.
The Off-Campus Association will work
with the University Housing Department
to provide an apartment listing service
for University students The listings
would contain (he important informatior
about housing, such as price, location,
size nl apartment, and other pertinent
facts These would he the most current
listings available since they would be
continuously updated by apartment
resident managers as apartments are
filled or vacated.
The Oil-Campus Association is current
ly serving the students at the University
of Alabama PSA has conducted
extensive research along with the
cooperation of the University of Alabama
OCA towaids implementing an Off-Cam
pus Association on the University of
Georgia campus The OCA would be
funded by an allocation from student
activities funds and membership fees
from those students receiving the
benefits ot such an association
Unlike Coalition. PSA is concerned
about the problems faced by a majority
of the University ol Georgia student
population and not a few special interest
groups
We hope for a fresh change in the
complexion of the Student Government
Association and provide the only possible
means by which such a change can be
real
JIM LANGFORD
l*SA Campaign coordinator
the Banner-Herald and the Bridal Fair
are all responsible for promoting the
lint-removal school of marriage.
The Bridal Fair also promotes the
attitude that a good marriage begins with
a large dowry; the Fair is a show of
merchandise and we are admonished that
these goods are prerequisite, mandatory,
and the very essence of successful
married life. All the stories in the
Banner-Herald Supplement that docu
ment radical changes in wedding
practices since the days of openly-admit
ted dowry actually point up more that the
changes have been only in the ceremonial
form and pomp of the wedding rather
than in any real substance and meaning
of marriage. The Bridal Fair is a relic of
our bride-selling history; the ir tution
of marriage as a wedding of property is
what the Bridal Fair is all about, and
what feminist and others are protesting.
And why should Mr. Punaro hold
suspect a woman who prefers to use her
abilities and wits and life for some
purpose other than removing lint from
husband's socks? The answer is obvious:
Mr. Punaro secretly wants to be a
husband.
STEVEN E. MAYER
Area legislators
helped the faculty
TO THE EDITOR:
The newspaper coverage of our Faculty
Legislative Service efforts to obtain
faculty benefits legislation has been
much appreciated. University System
faculty and staff, as well as public
elementary and secondary teachers,
gained in the recent General Assembly
session. Your coverage played an
important role in our modest but
significant successes.
We would have made little progress,
however, without the guidance and
assistance of our local General Assembly
delegation: Senator Paul C. Broun and
Representatives Hugh Logan, Chappelle
Matthews, and John D. Russell. All four
worked tirelessly and with great
legislative skill for faculty pay raises and
improvements in the Teachers Retire
ment System beyond those recommended
in the Governor's budget. The officers
and members of Faculty Legislative
Service were novices in legislative
matters, and therefore the advice of our
local representatives was especially
helpful They took time to assist us when
time and energy must have been in short
supply.
To cite but one example, Senator Broun
notified us when the Senate and House
appropriations committees, meeting
jointly, were to consider the University
System budget At the hearing, two
significant events occurred.
First, the legislative counsel stated that
the average University System salary is
$50 higher than the national faculty
average This misstatement, an honest
but important error, went uncorrccted by
the Chancellor and the chairman ot the
Board of Regents. Faculty Legislative
Services officers promptly distributed
letters to the members of the two
appropriations committees showing that
the legislative counsel was comparing the
average twelve-months University Sys
tem faculty salary with the nine-months
national average, whereas when the
appropriate nine-months University Sys
tem salary average comparison is made,
University System salaries are found to
lag far behind salaries elsewhere.
Second, later in the hearing, the
Chancellor supported the reduction of the
retirement vesting time from 20 to five
years, citing the competitive disadvan
tage in faculty recruiting and retention
the 20-year provision entails A legislator
asked what percentage of institutions
around the country have five-year or
lower vesting The Chancellor replied
that he did not know, but guessed that
about 25 per cent do, from which
legislators might conclude that the
competitive situation is not serious.
Faculty Legislative Service officers,
having done their homework, were able
to inform the members of the
appropriations committees that over 85
per cent of the universities and colleges
reporting in the last AAUP national
survey have five-year or lower retire
ment vesting, an important correction.
We would not have known about the
hearing, and therefore could not have
corrected misinformation, without notifi
cation from Senator Broun This example
is but one of many instances in which the
four members of our local General
Assembly delegation helped us with our
efforts to obtain better (acuity and staff
benefits. Our delegation served us well in
the 1973 session and we look forward to
working with them in the future as we
attempt to obtain further changes in our
retirement and other benefits.
IIOMER C. COOPER