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SAC wants to erase textbook taxes
By SHANA GALLENTINE
The Red a Black
Campus reacts to Thursday
shooting of professor’s son
By KRISTEN WYATT
The Red a Black
If the Student Advisory Council has
its way, annoying calls from credit card
companies will be a thing of the past and
textbook costs at the University will
drop about 7 percent:
The organization, which makes rec
ommendations to the Board of Regents
and the Governor's office, will have rep
resentatives lobby the Georgia General
Assembly on student-related issues,
including disclosure of students’ person
al information, textbook taxes and the
Board of Regents’ 2001 budget.
Brian Beers, SAC press secretary, said
SAC representatives will be at the
Capitol every day of the current session.
One issue the group will advocate is
limiting the distribution of students’ per
sonal information to commercial groups.
Currently, businesses like credit card
companies can reach students by filing
requests under the Open Records Act.
“Solicitors are filing open records
requests so they can get information
about students," Beers said. “Names
would be OK, but we don’t want the
University system to be handing out
phone numbers or addresses. We can’t
think of a legitimate use they’d need that
information for.”
The group also advocates eliminating
sales tax on textbooks.
Mike Runnels, former Student
Government Association president pro
tempore and SGA Treasurer Heath
Moody attended SAC’s June conference
on behalf of the University’s SGA.
Runnels said he supports the elimina
tion of textbook taxes as a way of
decreasing student costs.
“Students are charged more than
enough in tuition and fees, and the
HOPE scholarship only grants $150 for
textbooks," Runnels said.
“The more help students can get in
defraying some of the costs of their edu
cation, the more pleasant their
University experience will be."
SAC External Affairs Chair Nels
Peterson said exempting textbooks from
sales taxes would save Georgia college
students an estimated $1 million to $3
million each year.
Beers said textbooks are already
exempt from sales taxes in several
states, but it would probably be several
years before Georgia students would see
a change.
“We don’t have a sponsor for our bill
yet, but hopefully we’ll find someone to
introduce it," Beers said. “It’s likely to
take two (general assembly) sessions for
fiscal matters like this.”
The group also will advocate the
Board of Regent’s budget requests for
the fiscal year 2001, a budget Beers said
will keep costs low for college students
across the state.
“A lot of legislators would like to cut
that budget, which would result in insti
tutions charging higher matriculation
and other fees,” Beers said. “We’re obvi
ously opposed to that.”
The SAC, founded in 1968, represents
over 200,00 students in Georgia.
All around the Journalism Building
Friday, students and professors spread
the news with disbelief: A professor's
son was shot and killed the night
before.
Arthur Middleton, 16, son of Journal
ism department head Kent Middleton,
died Thursday evening in his mother’s
home near Cedar Shoals High School.
“Faculty and staff were walking
around in a daze,” journalism professor
Barry Hollander said “There wasn’t a
whole lot of urge to do classes."
About 100 students enrolled in
Middleton’s communication law class
were met with a "class canceled” sign
on the door and no explanation. But
the news spread.
Throughout the day, Hollander said,
colleagues left campus to visit
Middleton’s home.
“We take seriously the idea that the
college is a family of faculty and staff,"
Dean J. Thomas Russell said
“Basically everybody’s sympathy is
with him and the family.’’
At Kent Middleton’s home Monday,
family and friends gathered to comfort
the parents.
"A beautiful life was lost for noth
ing," Middleton said, flipping through
snapshots of his son. "It's unfath
omable.”
Middleton likely will return to work
sometime this week.
In lieu of flowers the family asks
that donations be made to the Arthur
Moog Middleton Scholarship for Music
and Writing c/o the Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship of Athens, 780
Timothy Road, Athens, Ga„ 30606.
OUNSELING
& TESTING CENTERl
WOMEN IN TRANSITION
This is a group lor women students over 30 who are dealing with transitions in their
lives. Returning to school, ending or beginning a relationship, a career change, a
child oft at school, graduation, and physical changes are just a tew ot the transitions
that may aflect a woman s sense ot sell. This group is intended to provide a
supportive environment where women can explore ways to use these transitions as
an opportunity tor positive growth. Limited space available.
CALL 542-3183 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
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Winter Hours
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TOMORROW!
Wednesday, January 19, 2000, 7:00 p.m.
*9
Tate Center, Reception Hall
•THE preparation seminar designed specifically to help you get ready for Career Connections
•Information about the employers and what they're looking for will be distributed
- get it early and ahead of the game!
•Topics to be discussed include:
Get ready for
Career
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on
January 26
•How to increase your visibility to over 160 employers
•How to make the best first impression
•How to dress for success
•How to prepare an outstanding resume
•Developing a checklist for what to do before, during and after the career day
Sponsored by The Career Services Center
For more information call Donna Crouch at 542-8340
Student Government
Association Elections
February 15 - 16
Be the difference
Join SGA
'ew will have the greatness to hei
f, but each of us can work ta elm
portion of events." -Robert Kennea
Petitions Available in
Rm. 151 Tate Student Center
Monday - Friday 8:30 - 4 until Jan. 27th