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VOLUME 46 NUMBER 21 Football, Health BY MICHAEL BYRD Football at West Georgia College, and the availability of a doctor at the campus clinic became central issues of concern among students at a recent “open forum” with the top administrators of the college last Monday, at Tyus Hall. Sponsored by the Tyus hall residence staff and directed by head resident Marty Underwood, the program brought WGC president Dr. Maurice Townsend, Dr. Bruce Lyon, dean of students, and Ron Taylor, director of Residence Life into an informal discussion with about 15 Tyus residents. Uppermost on their list of complaints was concern over the campus Health Center. Several students complained that Dr. Roy Denney, the physician of the clinic and also its director, is unavailable Around Campus Library Closing at End of Final Exams The West Georgia College Library will close 10 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, according to Sarah Rigg, reference librarian. The planned reopening will be 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 2. The close, which was originally scheduled for around the first of this month, will now extend through spring break. “It may lap a little into spring quarter,” said Rigg. She added, however, that it would be for less than 10 days. Books are already being moved into the library’s new 46,000 square foot addition. The well area has been blocked off to allow workmen to build a ceiling between the main floor and the first floor. This will satisfy a new state fire law. Students are now entering to the left of the original front entrance. A parson is stationed here to see that no books are taken out without bang properly checked out first. The floors have also been renamed. Once confusing to new students, the floors are now listed: basement, main, one, two and three. Weathlngton Takes Awards West Georgia debater, Paul Weathington has been named the top speaker in the past five tournaments out of seven. “He could very well be the best speaker in the country clearly one of the top three,” said Walter Ulrich, assistant debate coach. Two weeks ago, Weathington teamed up with Randy Evans and placed fifth in the Baylor tournament in Texas. They lost a split decision to Northwestern University in the quarter final rounds. Northwestern then went on to win the tournament. Weathington was named third best individual debater in the tour nament. There were 40 teams competing in our division. More Students Early Register The Registrar’s Office experimented with anew deadline for paying early registration fees last quarter, and have reported good results. The deadline was moved to correspond with the day arena registration was held. Gordon Finnie, registrar, said that the change allowed more students to finalize their early registration, resulting in fewer students having to register again on arena registration day. Eighteen percent of students who early registered for the winter quarter of 79 were dropped for non-payment of fees. Of the 3,020 students who early registered, 545 were cancelled. With the new system used last quarto-, only 2.9 percent were dropped. For the winter quarto of ’80,3,448 students early registered and 103 woe cancelled. The Registrar’s Office said that although the change in the fee payment deadline may not fully explain the increase in the numbo of students who early registered for the winter quarto of 1980, the change did play a significant role in encouraging more students to early register. Furtho figures from the Registrar’s Office show that of the 4,825 total enrollment this quarto, 69.3 percent did early register. A year ago, out of 4,970 total enrollment, only 49.7 pocent had early registered. By getting more people to early register, the college cuts down on the amount of paperwork and the students are missing the usually crowded arena registration. Students are encouraged to register early for next quarter. Registration is being conducted now. Happy Valentinas Day from the West Georgian 1 TH€ W€ST GCORGIAN WEST GEORGIA COLLEGE, CARROLLTON, GA. 30118 to the students. According to Lyon, the physician’s hours are from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. But several students said these hours weren’t being kept. “He really likes to get out of there,” one student said. “I was in there one time and I heard him say, ‘How many more have I got? Good. I’m going golfing.’” Another student said that he is not in his office at 7 in the morning. Most felt that in order to see the doctor, one would have to miss a class. Football became a subject of much speculation among the entire group, although Townsend said the decision he makes would be based on the findings of the study com mission, appointed by Dr. Tracy Stallings. Puffing periodically on his familiar pipe, Townsend told the Center Become Issues in Forum gathering that financial con siderations will be the deciding factor. “Every department wants more," Townsend said. “Last year athletics had a budget of $107,000. This year, they are asking for $153,000. That’s one third more. That comes out of the S3OO-$315 thousand (in activity fees) that supports everything. “Football teams are expensive. Yet I have no objection to a football program. • “Yet we have to increase the women's program this year,” he continued. Due to the Title IX ruling, scholarships for women will have to be increased “two to three times.” Townsend’s “wait and see” posture was reflected in his summation, "I’m open to the idea.” That posture could change quite easily should the study commission conclude that a football program could make money at West Georgia. “Football does make money,” said Townsend. “It could make money here.” But Lyon pointed out that the program being considered now is of the non-scholarship variety. Townsend took the opportunity to SGA Discusses Seven Day Meal Ticket, May Place Medical Kits Around Campus BY MICHAEL BYRD The Student Government of our West Georgia College has had several notable accomplishments for the first half of the academic year, according to SGA vice president, Michael Stiggers. “It has improved 110 percent over last year, he said. “We started the year trying to save students money,” said the vice president. “Randy paid his own way to the first SAC con ference. Emerson and myself recommended that we stop going to SAC, and tried to get other students to do the same.” Other accomplishments cited by Stiggers: —The 1 meal ticket plan —The 7-day meal ticket plan which will cost S2O dollars more per quarter, according to Stiggers. —lnstallation of handrails at both Boykin and Downs Halls. These were installed without drawing funds from the SGA budget, said Stiggers. —SGA conducted polls. —Appointments of students to faculty committees such as the student activities committee. —lnstallation of suggestion boxes at Z-6 and the Student Center. —lnstallation of Medical Kits at the gym, student center, and Z-6. Stiggers discussed the possibility that some senators are not giving a 100 percent effort. “We intend to strictly enforce the absentee policy, which is quite lenient,” said Stiggers. But one senator, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that possible ineffectiveness of the Student Government, was due to the tight restraints imposed by the administration. “The question is not ‘what have we done,’ but ‘what can we do?”’ he said. The only things left are these little nit-picky things.” BY GLOVIS GORE The Student Government Projects Committee met last Thursday and discussed the possibility of a seven day meal ticket, a student buying power card and plans to have first aid kits readily available to students. A seven day meal ticket, if ap proved, would mean students could use their meal ticket to buy from the snack bar as well as from Z-6- lament the budgetary cutbacks which will affect the college. The decrease in available funds for the university system has come about because of a statewide decrease in enrollment. “We will take a cut, but I do not know how much," he told the students. “I was asked by the chancellor to show how I could cut 10 percent. But there’s not room to take that kind of cut here. “A year ago I was asked to cut SIOO thousand, (under a different chancellor),” explained Townsend. There is room in faculty salaries and perhaps positions to take a cut of that magnitude, he feels. But a decrease of 10 percent could not be made, especially in two months, he said. It must be made clear, however, that the chancellor asked the president to show how the cut of 10 percent would be made if needed. But it is not known how much a decrease will be necessary. “I tried to point out to the chancellor and his staff that I need a year’s notice. (In a year) I can do it. In two months no. Tyus residents told the ad ministrators that bus service has become practically unusable to them. Because winter quarter As indicated in the survey, students were overwhelmingly in favor of a seven day meal plan. 7 DAY MEAL PLAN SURVEY RESULTS 7 (seven) DAT MEAL PLAN SURVEY The following it e survey by the S.G.A. to find out what student response would be to a 7 (seven) day meal ticket. Strongly Don't Strongly Agree Agree Care Disagree Disagree I think we should have a 7 day meal 261 51 18 5 9 plan available for students. I would buy a 7 day meal ticket if 195 68 29 31 20 it were available. A 7 day meal ticket would be bene- 222 180 63 61 39 ficial to getting more students to stay on campus. APPROXIMATELY 340 STUDENTS COMPLETED THE SURVEY. i’SiiM If % I f f i 9 It l & Jjg ji S It ■ „ \ &SE29 -v - West Georgia College students participated In the Southeastern Invitational Model United Nations hosted by Auburn University. U.N. “delegates” were: (front, left to WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1980 course offerings have caused many of the students at Tyus to take 10 o’clock classes instead of 8:55 classes, they have missed the bus ride. Tyus residents depend on the service more than most students, they believe. One student said, "That thing saved my life many a day.” “They laughed at me when I bought those two busses,” Townsend said. “They said ‘you fool.’ I call them the ‘blue gooses.’” The president announced plans to purchase four passenger vans to be used by students and faculty. Faculty may be able to arrange to use the vehicles for travel to nearby locations to teach classes in such places as Dalton, Cedartown and other local communities. Instructors now have to furnish their own transportation and fuel. Student field trips may also enjoy use of the vehicles if pur chased. The three administrators made a tour of residence halls earlier the same day, and found a few inequities which could be hazar dous. In Boykin Hall, for example, one of the storage areas contained old Christmas trees and books. If a surprise inspection were taken, “The old fire marshal would have a stroke,” said Townsend. Next on the agenda was the student buying power card, which would give West Georgia students right,) Mike Flinn and Tony Boatright. Back, left to right. Dr. Paul Masters, faculty advisor. Keenan Mitchell, Barry Faster wood, Alan Duke, Laurie Paul and Cheryl Lovell. The president asked the students questions at one point, eliciting feedback on their perception of West Georgia. Of particular concern to Townsend was the school’s reputation of being a “suitcase college.” Lyon told of interviews he had in the past with students concerning their reasons for making trips back home every weekend. “They don’t go home to see their parents. They don’t go home to see their girlfriends. They go to see their old buddies.” But what can be done about the problem? Keeping Food Services open on weekends, one possible alter native, was discussed by Lyon. “We would be glad to keep it open on weekends,” he said. The idea is being put into action by the student government, but Lyon said the practice hasn’t worked in the past. Requiring freshmen and sophomores to do without cars, a policy which has kept students at West Georgia on weekends in the past, wouldn’t work today, said Lyon. “I couldn’t ask security to check every car,” said Townsend. Most of the students in the group complained about lack of activities as the biggest cause of “weekend flight.” discounts from 5-15 percent off items when presented to mer chants who have decided to par ticipate. Merchants will be informed about the plan and encouraged to participate during the next two weeks. Dennis Blackmon, com mittee chairman said that he hoped the cards would be ready for students by the beginning of spring quarter. “These cards were used before by about half the students who had them,” said Blackmon. He pointed out that due to inflation the cards would be even more effective now. Plans were also discussed to put first aid kits in various locations around the campus. About six kits in all are planned to be placed in such places as the gym, student center, and Z-6. One of the main functions of these kits would be to help in the treatment of minor injuries that more often occur during in tramural games.