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i; ,, / Volume HI Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, February 8, 1971 No. 12 r'-* 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