Newspaper Page Text
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Volume HI
Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, February 8, 1971
No. 12
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Two SGA senators
to be replaced
Election Tuesday
Publication board
has,) first meeting
The recenWy established
Board of Publications met for the
first time Jan. 27 to organize its
meeting procedure and in
vestigate the financial con
ditions of the Cluster, Cauldron
and Plucked Dulcimer. Dr.
Rufus Harris appointed Mr. Bill
Lane chairman of the board and
Dr. Howard Giddens, James
Murphy and Robert Skelton as
members from the faculty and
administration. Student
members appointed by SGA
president Ernie Robinson are
Laronce Beard and Betsy
Jooes. Student editors Johnny
Turner, John Lowery and David
Bottoms are ex officio voting
members of the board.
Mr. Bill Lane emphasized in
the meeting that one primary
purpose of the board will be to
act as a clearing house for
complaints concerning the
three student publications. He
cited the BSA charge that the
1970 Cauldron did not represent
black students fairly, as an
example of complaints which
the new board might handle.
Mr. Lane said that any such
formal complaints against the
Cluster, Cauldron or Plucked
Dulkimer should be sent to P.O.
Box 58 in the campus post of
fice.
The structure of the board as
proposed by the Ad Hoc Com
mittee on publications was
altered by Dr. Harris so that
when charges are brought to the
Board*against a student editor,
that editor will not be able to
points which former Vice
President for Development,
Ralph A. Phelps, Jr. had
strongly objected to in his
dissenting vote of the Ad Hoc
Committee report.
Budget reports from the
Cluster and Caalgron indicate
that both publications will
probably stay within their
allotted amounts this year. In
past years both the school
newpaper and the yearbook
have frequently over spent their
budgets. The Board of
Publications has the authority
to appropriate money to the
three existing publications and
Mr. Lane reported that the
Student Activities Board has
allocated $22,750 for student
publications for 1971-72. Of that
sum $9,045 is designated for the
Cluster $11,338 for the Cauldron
and $1,762 for the Plucked
Dulcimer.
The Board has the authority
to suspend funds from any
publication which “flagrantly
or persistently violates agreed
standards of taste, decency, or
accuracy.” The Board deter
mines what the agreed stan
dards are. However, the Board
does not have the power of
prior censorship over the
contents of any authorized
student publication. The Board
cannot take disciplinary action
against any editor, but can refer
charges against the student to
the Judicial Council.
The Board also has ih*
authority to regulate new
publications which make, use of
University funds. Any
publication other than the
Cluster, Cauldron and Plucked
Dulcimer would require
authorization from the Board if
it used school money. Existing
publications are limited to their
present title and format, but
could change either if the Board
approved.
Mr. Lane pointed out in the
meeting that the Board of
Publications must review the
qualifications of candidates for
editorships in the annual spring
elections. Standards of
qualifications are currently
being drawn up by the Board
members.
Two SGA senators will be
elected Thursday, February 11
in a special election to fill a
vacant sophomore seat and a
vacant junior seat. These seats
were formerly held by Bill
Adams and Betty Cavallo.
Adams was removed from his
position because if repeated
absences and lack of interest. As
be failed to appeal this action,
show proper cause for his
absences, or respond to an
inquiry by the senate, his office
was automatically vacated.
Adams received more votes
than any other sophomore
candidates in
the last SGA
election, and
was the
president of
the sophomore
class. The
Cluster has
been unable to
reach Adams
for comment.
Bette Cavallo left school last
quarter for personal reasons,
and has not returned. She was a
junior senator.
This special election is being"
held under the SGA Election
Code according to Article III,
Section IV, of the constitution
Packy Cable, SGA election
marshal is in charge. There is a
dollar a qualifying fee and a five
dollar bond, which can be
refunded.
In other action the SGA
amended the Honor Code so that
no letter will be sent to parents
which was
proposed by
the Honor
council. The
w. possibility of
haying pre-
registration
Cavallo before the'
curriculum was set up was also
discussed.
George Tucker reported that
the idea of telephones in dor
mitory rooms has been ap
proved by Dean Hendricks,
Miss Stewart, and Joe Sparks.
He also said that the telephone
company will*do a feasibility
study spring.break and tuat Mr.
T. Scott Avary is handling the
arrangements. The final
decision concerning telephones
will rest with Dr. Haywood.
The senate received a report
from Mr. Metz, University
librarian, in which be sold that
last year twelve hundred books
were stolen from the library
resulting in a loss to the
university of approximately^
$15,000.
The possibility of joining the
Southern University’s Student
Government Association and
the Southern Intercollegiate
Association of Student.
Governments was discussed.
Students filed out of Connell Student Center last week after a bomb scare was phoned into the
university switchboard. Detectives said a male caller said, “There la a bomb in the cafeteria, baby.”
and hung up. Units from the city fire department failed to tarn up anythiajpf^L«rt* by Johnny Turner