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University of Georgia Wednesday, April 4,1979 Volume 8$, Number 81
Georgia a only collegiate daily newspaper"
News $42-3441 Advertising $42-3414
Nuclear plants to get inspection
tty CINDY JACKSON
Assistant campus rditor
In reaction to the nuclear reactor
accident at Three Mile Island last week.
Southern Co Services. Inc . of Atlanta
will establish a task force to inspect
safety procedures at operating nuclear
plants in Georgia and Alabama, as well
as other plants under construction
The task force will inspect safety
systems at the Edwin I Hatch plant near
Haxlev and at Plant Farlev near Dothan.
Ala
Plant Vogtle. under construction near
Waynesboro, will also be inspected
We are as concerned as everyone else
is about what happened. - Southern Co.
spokesman David Altman said
Officials of the Southern Co would like
to reassure themselves as well as the
public that safety systems at the plants
are actually safe according to Altman
The study will eventually be made
available to the Georgia and Alabama
public service systems and any federal or
state agency who wants it. Altman said
A second unit at Plant Hatch is in the
testing stage and Georgia Power hopes to
have it in full operation by May.
according to Leslie Lamkin. Georgia
Power public information spokesman
Protest held at Courthouse
Gary Appleson and CASK
members protesting for truth
about nuclear plants
K> C ATIIY M. LEWIS
Executive editor
Despite drizzling rain and a last minute change in location,
about 30 people turned out for ;«n anti nuclear power rally held
on the Courthouse steps Tuesday.
Representatives from five organizations, including the newly
formed Citizens advocating Safe Energy tCASEt spoke to the
group and called on the Public Service Commission to form
a fact-finding committee to investigate safety standards at
Georgia's nuclear power plants
In a prepared statement, issued by Helen Borne, member of a
l’n : versity activist group. Georgia Public Service Commis
sioner Billy Lovett said that the commission would be
cooperating with other groups as much as possible concerning
the nuclear safety problem
“In some areas I feel that we have not gotten all the answers
or asked all the questions," Lovett said. "If we can't get the
answers to resolve the safety issue we will take whatever
actions are necessary including closing down the plants "
When reached for comment. Lovett said that he expected the
commission to meet on the nuclear safety question this week
"No one wants to continue the use of nuclear power if it is
going to be a continuous threat to public safety." he said.
l^ovett said he believed the nuclear power question should
have been discussed during the Georgia Power rate hike
hearings, but "because of the problems we had. it was never
brought out in the open the way it should have been."
Citing Nuclear Regulatory Commission reports. Garv
Appleson. representing CASE and Athenians for Clean Energy,
said the public has not been told the truth concerning the safety
of nuclear plants, and in particular, about the safety of Plant
Hatch in Baxlay. Ga.
"The Baxley plant has beer, shut down 45 percent of the time
since it opened in *.975. and has rated below average in
comparison to other plants when meeting the requirements set
by the NRC," Appleson said.
Georgia Power officials contacted Tuesday said that the
report quoted by Appleson was misleading.
"Nuclear plants have to report everything, even a minute
change in the schedule The plant has to be closed for
maintenance and refueling on a regular basis and these
shutdowns were included in that report." Ga Power spokesman
Mary Boyd said
The Hatch plant availability and reliability rating has
increased in the last year. Athens division manager Gene
Hodges said "The plant received a 70 percent availability
rating last year, which is an extremely high rating for fossil
fuel plants in general and even better for a nuclear plant in
particular "
The Harrisburg incident should serve as a catalyst to finding
alternate energy sources. County Commissioner Jewel John told
the anti nuclear group at the rally.
“The Harrisburg accident can serve as a turning point in the
handling ot nuclear power. John said. "Experts have handled
it until now. but now that the public is aroused to the
possibilities and problems, they can no longer refuse to become
involved in its direction
Students’ trip to polls could mean demise of SGA
By BOBBY BYRD
Assistant campus editor
Much of the furor over the abolition of
student government could reach a
conclusion Thursday as students go to the
polls to vote on the future of SGA
The ballot will consist of only one item.
New local tax
‘confusing’
By VINCENT A PAPSIDERO JH.
Assistant city editor
The new local option sales tax law has
brought both confusion and added
headaches to many municipalities and
county commissions around the state
Here in Athens, city and county
officials must decide on a new formula
for distributing sales tax money collected
under the law Officials have 30 days
within which to reach agreement on a
formula.
"There’s been a lot of confusion."
county Finance Director Let) R Pedigo
said
The new sales tax law was adopted by
the General Assembly after the State
Supreme Court found the original law
unconstitutional
This new law allows counties already
opting for the extra sales tax to continue
to do so. State Revenue Commissioner
Bill Strickland said
The new law continues the collection of
a one percent sales tax above the
statewide three percent, but calls for a
new formula for the distribution of
money collected to city and county
governments, according to Johnny C.
Fowler, city treasurer
City and county officials must agree on
a new distribution formula within 30
days, according to Pedigo, or the extra
one percent sales tax will lapse
The original law was found unconstitu
tional in a suit filed against Whitfield
County by the city of Dalton before the
State Supreme Court Money collected
under the original law was prorated
based on population Property taxes were
rolled back accordingly
The court ruled that counties must roll
back property taxes county-wide and not
on a sectional basis Before the ruling,
property taxes were rolled back in the
city, then separately in the county,
according to Pedigo
The court also allowed counties to
continue collecting the one percent tax
An appeal of the court's decision on the
suit was filed However, the court denied
to hear it and allowed counties to
continue collecting the tax until the end
of March when a new law was to be
instituted, Fowler said This prevented
deficits in the counties' and cities'
operating budgets
The new law was adopted by the
General Assembly during 'he last term
and went into effect Apt ti 1.
a yes or no to the abolition of SGA
However, some question exists over
whether the students' vote will be
binding
At press time, the referendum is posed
as a call for student opinion, and will not
legally force the SGA to disband A
motion sponsored by Mike Hearn (Arts
and Sciences) is scheduled for the senate
meeting tonight to make the referendum
an amendment to the student body
constitution
As an amendment, the referendum
would become immediately and irre
vocably effective upon passage
Problems will exist, though, in getting
the measure through the senate as an
amendment All amendments must be
passed by a two-thirds vote of all the
members present, at two consecutive
meetings If the measure passes
Wednesday, the meeting will be recessed
and a separate meeting called imme
diately to allow a second vote
Speculation holds that the amend
ment's chances for passage in the senate
are slim. Gregg Jocoy. a member of the
senate elections committee, said "there's
News Analysis
a possibility that this thing has no
chance."
The motion passed the senate earlier
bv onlv one vote, so it seems unlikely
Senate to consider abolition, bail issue
By CINDY J ACKSON
Assistant campus editor
The Student Senate will vote on a motion to make the
referendum abolishing student government a constitutional
amendment at a meeting tonight at 7 pm
The motion must be passed by two-thirds of the senate at two
consecutive meetings to make the students vote on the
Thursday referendum binding. Student Senate President Lynn
Johnson said
There is a possibility the senate will hold two consecutive
official meetings Wednesday in order to pass the motion twice,
according to Gregg Jocoy (Arts and Sciences'
The senate will also vote on a motion to set up a S2000 bail
bond fund to bail out students in jail on a first offense of
possession of marijuana
The money for the fund will be raised from sources other than
student activity funds, such as donations from individuals and
funds from the Coalition for the Abolition of Marijuana
Prohibition, said Jocoy. sponsor of the motion
The task force will be headed by Ruble
A Thomas, vice president of Southern
Co., whose responsibility lies in the
nuclear area. Altman said.
Other members include representatives
from Georgia Power. Alabama Power
and nuclear experts from General
Electric. Westinghouse and Bechtel
Corporation
The Southern Co. owns all common
stock in Georgia Power and several other
southern electric utilities
Although the Plant Hatch unit will
come under the inspection of the
Southern Co. task force, a full-time
inspector lives near the plant and
inspects it constantly on a varied
schedule. Lamkin said
The accident that occurred at Three
Mile Island probably could not happen at
Plant Hatch "because the system is
designed differently." Lamkin said
"I am not going to tell you that we
could never have an accident. " she said,
but an accident like the one in
Pennsylvania would he unlikely
The text of Thursday's referendum ballot
is as follows: "The students of the
i’niverxit) of Georgia abolish the Student
Government Association and strike from
record Articles I through VII of the
Student Body Constitution. Yes or No."
( Articles I thiough VII provide for SG.-Vs
existence.) Noting hours are t:00-3:§0.
that two-thirds of the senate will vote to
make Thursday's referendum final
Although he is opposed to the abolition
of SGA. Jocoy said he is supporting the
passage of the constitutional amendment
See REFERENDUM, p 7
Senators will also consider a motion by senate Vice President
Barry Irwin which would prohibit campaigning within loo yards
of polling places
"This is to prevent people who have strong feelings from
campaigning and putting pressure on the polls." Jocoy said
Other motions up for senate vote include a motion to
revitalize the student buying power card by spring quarter of
next year and to get "better deals for students." Jocoy said
Another motion requests that the senate academic committee
look into a proposed tuition hike and decide what action the
senate should take on the matter
The senate will vote on a motion to express disapproval of a
proposal by the University calendar committee to reduce the
end-of quarter exam schedule from four days to three
Other business includes election of the allocations committee
and a speaker from the Georgia Credit Union League. Larry
Seagers who will talk about establishing a student credit union
at the University
The senate meeting will be held in room 237 of the Chemistry
building
Testing baron Kaplan gears students for exams
By TAMMY SAVAGE
Features editor
For a little boy who played teacher,
instead of doctor, when he was growing
up. Stanley Kaplan has come a long way
Stanley H Kaplan has risen from the
ranks of high school tutor to become an
internationally known barron of the test
preparation centers that dot college
towns from here in Athens to Los
Angeles. Houston. Chicago and to
Gainesville. Florida
Kaplan said it was "a matter of
gradual evolution" as the operation grew
from preparing students for a newly
created test in the late 1940 s the SAT. to
coaching students for over 15 professional
school admissions exams and licensure
tests
"I didn't think of this, it was thrust
upon me so to speak and naturally I
didn't reject it." Kaplan said "It just
happened."
Kaplan was in Athens last week as a
part of a personal tour of his testing
centers
Another nuclear plant owned by Duke
Power Company, near the northern end
of Lake Hartwell in South Carolina, was
built by the same company as the plant
in Pennsylvania
This plant, the Oconee Nuclear
Company, is "similar only in steam
supply and has a different pump and
valve system. ' Duke Power Co
spokesman Steve Canite said.
The company was recently ordered to
reinspect its safety system by the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
However, the NRC study only specified
ten questions and the Duke Co has
decided to set up an in-depth study which
will be more complete. Canite said
The company is presently trying to
establish a liaison with other companies
which have Babcock & Wilcox plants (the
same type as the one at Three Mile
Island' so that an exchange of any
important information will be possible.
Canite said
Core may be ‘scrapped’
HARRISBURG Pa <UPI>—Federal
officials yesterday cautiously expressed
hope that the worst is over in the Three
Mile Island nuclear crisis but said the
reactor’s core appeared to be damaged
badly enough that it may have to be
scrapped
A Nuclear Regulatory Commission
official said preliminary indications
suggest most - and probably all of the
3600 metal-covered uranium fuel rods
that make up the core were irreparably
damaged in the accident that launched
the nation's worst nuclear power
emergency last week
Normally, one official said, only
one-third of a reactor's core would have
to be replaced each year to add new fuel
But at Three Mile Island, he said, the
intense heat from the accident appears to
Kaplan and assistant!)
The Kaplan tests are prepared for the
"educational centers by a private
reseatch staff, most who have taken the
tests themselves Students are also
questioned after the tests as to what
parts of the Kaplan course were helpful
and what parts of the exam were not
covered by the course
Kaplan stressed that his staff
have knocked out the entire core.
"The core appears to be damaged to
the point it would not Ik* re-useable." the
official said.
Events surrounding the Three Mile
Island crisis have prompted a quiet
exodus of one-fourth the residents of the
four counties around the plant, cut
business by one-half in some stores and
caused restaurants to close early m the
evening instead of late at night
NRC teams have gradually raised their
estimate of core damage as the full
dimensions of the Three Mile Island
incident unfolded
The first estimates said only one
percent of the core was badly damaged,
while estimates Friday said 25 to 50
percent of the core had t»een knocked out
See HAKKIKM HG p 7
contributed only original work to the
preparation centers, saying "they sign
statements with us saying their work is
original "
"My tests do not violate anybody's
copyright." Kaplan stated, "and I don't
want anybody violating my copy light "
Kaplan answered some of the criticism
that has fallen on standardized tests and
commercial preparation for them, saying
"the tests give a picture of the student
that the gradepoint average doesn't
pin
pointing out the great importance
placed on admissions tests. Kaplan said.
"Don't attack the ETS 'Educational
Testing Service', the lest maker, or the
other test makers Attack the law
schools, medical schools and (he dental
schools that use the tests They're the
ones who commission these people to
make the tests and they find that tests
work for them to help predict the
student s performance And if the tests
work for them as far as they are
concerned, the testmakers are doing
their job "
UGA Today
Classic musical
Tickets for the University Theatre's
production of Guvs and Dolls go on
sale today at the Fine Arts Theatre
box office The office is open
weekdays from noon until 5 (to p m
and tickets cost $3 for students. $3 75
for general admission Hailed as "the
classic American musical." Guvs and
Dolls features a cast of gangsters,
showgirls, and Salvation Army mem
bers. as well as one of the funniest and
most melodic scores ever written The
play will run April 11-15 in the Fine
Arts Theatre, and all seats are
reserved, so get your tickets now
Fascinating syndrome
Find out what The China Syndrome is all about See inside p
Circus in motion
The "Loco-Motion Circus" with
special guest Betsy Kaske. will
perform in the Memorial Hall
Ballroom at H oo p m tonight I
for this three man show and music are
free to students, and are available at
the information booth General ad
mission tickets are $3.00 and may be
purchased in the business office
Go to the polls
Poll managers for Thursday s
referendum are desperately need
ed Any interested student may
apply today to Tom Cochran at the
Dean of Student Services Office in
the Academic Building Applica
tions and interviews will be
conducted all day today
Senate motions
The Student Senate will hold a
meeting tonight at 7 p m in room 237
of the Chemistry Building Motions
pending are: revision of the exam
schedule, establishment of a bond fund
for marijuana first offenders, revision
of the election code, and the expansion
of the Student Buying Power Cards to
better serve students The public is
invited to attend
A great performance
On tonight s bill of TV fare. Great
Performances will feature The
Philadelphia Orchestra at 8 00 p m on
channel 8 Selections include a Handel
concerto and Debussy's l.a Mer
If you didn't see Arthur Hailey's
N\ heels the first time around, you have
another chance The first of the
four-part mini series will air tonight
on channel 2 at 9 00 p m Hailey s
story about the auto industry will star
Rock Hudson and I-ee Remick