1974-02-27; Central Michigan Life

              Volume 55 tip. 62
Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan 48859
Bill sent to revision committee
Wednesday,'February 27, 1974jJ
A Senate kills General Education proposal
byLORETTAPIZZO
LIFE Ass't. News Editor
General Education as proposed
ie General Education Seminar in
ecent report, has been, in effect,
d.
Following Monday's Academic
,te meeting at which senators
d both to approve the concept of
>ral Education and to turn oVer
itfO most important parts of the
,osal to an ad hoc committee for
rification and supporting
ence that such a change" is
led," most senators seemed to
lude the report as the authors
le it is dead.
••The   bill    is    dead,"    Senate
irroan Caiman Levich   declared •
iday.   "The   bill   is   dead.   The
;rarp is not, but the bill is,."
Other senators echoed that
timent, saying the 'hill would
er come out of committee the
i it went in. According to one
srver, the bill will come, out
iking laundered   or   watered
During the two-hour debate
wnents of the report argued
nst such a move, saying if there
Jed to be a revision, the seminar
members should do the work.
One objection raised during the
discussion .    ^concerned the
""generainess"- of General Education.
According to Leonard Lieberma'n,
professor ,of sociology and 'anthropology, with General Education,
faculty members and students alike
reach '.'.the lowest . common
denominator very soon. Everything
becomes' very, very general," he
said. "One learns nothing very
particular or nothing very general
either."
Sherman L. -Ricards, associate
professor of^ sociology and anthropology, raised the objection
General EducatiohU's "the very death
of a professional person" and, results
.in "greater losses than gains.'4
In a General *-Education
program, according to Ricards, each
year instructors "amass a pile of
reading material this high, which
they never have time to read."
Ricards indicated a lack of reading
time results in a drop in competence
on the part of instructors.
Ricards also objected to the
proposal on the grounds it was
"amorphous" and proponents were
attempting to "force ' it on the
students when they haven't any idea
if they (the students) want it or not."
Desire for proposal questioned ^
"There' is no evidence the
students want this," Ricards added.
'You haven't any proof at all they
want General Education."
Ricards said, "I have this
morbid dread if this thing passes, the
■ faculty will have to do it and won't
like it. Where will the tea'chers come
from? There will be' a veritable
parade of teachers coming and going
from general ed. Anyone of you who
would vote for this better be
prepared to take credit for it later.
Just sign your names in blood on it,"
he quipped..
He also concluded the program
would be likely to result in faculty
cutbacks and added, "any of those of
you voting for this should have the
courage to be the first to go" when
cutbacks, occur.
. Other objections came from
Hampton, who said the proposal,
which some have tagged as "new," is
"so old it*seems new;" and from Ray
Kytle, assistant professor of English,
who said he Objected to the answers
seminar members were giving.
He 'said he'd attended several
; seminar forums last, fall and - still
"finds members rather slippery. I
don't find any clarity," he . said.
Robert Severson, chairman of the
Department of Economics, said, he
' found the report confusing and
(indicated ' it' contained "weasel
words."
Levich, who did not preside as
chairman during committee of. the
whole, said he didn't understand the
need for a program taking up three-
eights of the student's academic time
"unless it is to give three-eights of
the faculty a job."    l
,   Other action
In other action, senate set aside
the agenda at the start of the
meeting to:
Pass a motion to renew Central's membership in the association
of Michigan Collegiate Faculties and
to approve a motion'to change, the.
wording in requirements for optipn/s
on majors in graduate school-  j ;, '
President William B. Boyd and
Provost Charles J.,. Ping wem.in
Lansing at a budget hearing and did
not .attend the meeting.
Proposed constitutions
sent to committee
EFLECTIONS OF WARMER WEATHER TO COME-Reflections of the
ie ice and snow may be spotting our days how, but spring is a little farther
is past the blizzards and through the slush and muck.
/
CM LIFE PHOTO BY STU DEGUES
warmer weather that will melt all
away than just around the corner.
by TERRI BURKHARDT
LIFE Staff Writer «
"Political confusion" was the pervading atmosphere
of the special Student Senate meeting Monday night-, as
senators discussed the correct procedures in presenting
and debating student body constitutions.
The special meeting was called for an -open .
discussion of student body constitutions specifically the
one proposed by the Senate Constitutional Committee,.
However, an alternative constitution was also presented
to Senate by the Voice of Students group. This was'the
first time many Senators saw, or even knew about, an
alternative constitution, and much discussion centered
around what to do with it.
New constitution presented
There were numerous .resolutions calling for the
Voice of the Students. Constitution to be referred to the
standing constitutional committee a,nd be reported back
to Senate in two weeks, but members, of the Voice of
Students claimed that their constitution would not get a
"fair triah"
"Anyone can call a constitutional convention, if this,
is sent to a committee of Senate to be revised or looked
over then it won't get a fair review," Off-campus Senator
jCam Dayis^ and, co-sponsor of the Voice or Students..
»Constitution, said. *
''It seems this is a political problem With many
people here tonight politically motivated. Let's not let
ourselves be carried away," Off-campus Senator Steve
England, commented.
"I have never seen this constitution before tonight,
but I've seen the revisions on the other one for some
time. How can we be expected to ask relevant questions
about this one (Voice, of Students) when this is the first .
time we have seen it?" asked Off-campus Senator Bill ^
Pilcha'k. .     -
"You got this constitution tonight but have had the *
Other one for 10 years," countered Woldt Senator Liz
Lentz, also co-sponsor of Voice of Students Constitution.
"This Voice of the Students Constitutional Committee has been meeting secretly all week and now they
.are wasting our time and confusing the  Senators,"
Kozicki said. . ,
"If our constitution got in the Senate Constitutional
Committee it would never get out," Lentz said.
After many senators constantly referred to the
constitution proposed by the Senate Constitutional
committee as the. "Kozicki Constitution" Kozicki said
"Don't tire me with your political slams." Senate then
decided to refer to Senate's Constitutional committee
constitution as Constitution A and the Voice of the
Students Constitution as Constitution B.  ,
Constitutions to face review
Senate than proposed they read Constitution B in
its entirity and after the reading they go through each
constitution section by section with kozicki speaking for,
Constitution *A and Davis speaking for Constitution B,
This was done. However, after reading through
Article I Section 4 of both constitutions, many Senators
expressed concern over the time element and suggested
another special Senate meeting be scheduled.
Differences of opinion concerning terminology,
example, Student Senate vs Student Congress caused
Senator Davis to ask if "you'd call cornflakes wheaties?"
and a discussion over budgetary matters led many
Senators to agree that this Ttfas not .the way to discuss
constitutions. ' A
■ Off-campus Senator Steve England proposed
Student Senate refer both Constitutions A and B to a
special committee for the purpose of review with
representatives from each constitution present in
debate. This committee shall present a report in length
at the next special Senate meeting.
Senate accepted this proposal. ,
'Two stipulations for the committee are they conduct open meetings and submit a written report. The,
committee will meet Saturday rft 1 p.m. probably in the;
■ Student Government office.
In other action Senate elected Davis as president of
Senate pro-tempore, a position vacated by Kozicki as he
was required to move into the open position of student
tody vice president.
Organization exists only -'technically'
Mens' Union directs efforts to Student Foundation
by LORRIE LYNCH
LIFE News Editor
.Once a major organization on
ps, Mens' Union (M,U) exists -
pically only on paper" since the
|'S decision to direct its efforts
•Tithe goals  of-the   Student'
ndation last December.
Technically we're still MU
Nsnt and vice-president," Greg
j*ft. Benton Harbor senior, said
M position and that of Pat
.hief, 'Port Huron graduate
j>el»t. Bachler is presently
«nt Foundation president and
Mli is vice president.
^lenn Starner,. acting dean of
Ns, agreed MU still does exist '
•nnically," though they have put
w* effort  into  the   Student
■ndatioh. l
%oeh and Bachler explained
_ W board,   composed . of   23
etjd        members, voted
nimously    to    commit     the
•watton totally to the Student
naation because "it was more
Jitageous" to  the   goals   they
"M to accomplish.
Wged MU assets to Foundation
™ a constitutional amendment
Jed last December iho boafd
fd Mu assets, including ac-
,7 re«ivable, in support of the
^Foundation.. .    '        v*    >
*e?lrdlng to the «m*admeat
;**■ "totally waives any prior
** the Mens' Union to thaw
J we only  exception   being
jy*« retain, only those !«««**
buttle legitimate UafeSUtie*
*9 Mess* Union up to aad
J« amendment also says,, the
* MU structure could  not
allow achievement of certain goals
the Student Foundation would. The
igoals include a coordinated student
. "fefWt to:
— Increase awareness of the
facilities at CMU to the students and
faculty,
—Provide for specific, campus
services to the students and faculty  t
of the University
\     —Increase    services    for    the
Alumni of the University
Y    —Provide specific services for
the Non-Campus Community
—Increase an awareness of the i
facilities     of     the     University v
throughout the state of Michigan and
beyond.
—Provide student assistance
and input to the recruitment efforts
of the University.
, According to the constitutional
amendment MU believed these goals
best could be achieved through the
Student Foundation.
/in organisation can reallocate
money within their organization
after original budgeting procedures
according to I&ehler and Koroch.
Therefore Student Foundation use of
Mens* Union awney would be
legitimate.
Starner said there w*s no
administrative hassle concerning
MU assets When the amendment^was
passed.     ■ * .*. .' _
*     Koroch "noted   Student Four- ;
dation   i*  i  strictly   voiuntefer
* organization,   with   no   personnel
receiving salaries.'
According to the president and
vied president, the Student Fomv
dation idea terew about a year *nd a
Jill* agdA4-has,>«ft m. «on.
struc&dtt aftd implemSistatum stage*
since.
MU, formerly associated with
hosting major concerts' at CMU,
redirected efforts last year toward
becoming a service organization,
Bachler said.
"Last year we stressed .our
intramural program, helping the
University and the community. As
the idea, (of Student Foundation)
grelw MU became a test program,
with   services   such   as   our   tour
guides,   community  service .and
campus service," Bachler added.
Present MU status
So what is the status of Mens'
Union now? Though MU« members
presently are directing efforts, along
with other student volunteers to the
Student Foundation, the
organization     still     does     exist
"technically."   There   is' still   a
president and vice-president
"technically." The organization still
has an account number with the
University and MU "carry-over"
business still is completed.
As for the status of Mens' Union
Starner said if Student Foundation is
successful he does not foresee'
elections for MU this spring.'
However, he expects Student
Foundation to succeed.      >
"It (Student Foundation) has a
lot of potential," Starner 'said, "and,
the most important thing is it is
coming from the students thetn-
selves^ It could have tremendous
impact on jthe University." '■".
Positions for the MU Board
could be filled in the spring election,
according to Bachler and Koroch,
though they do not expect anyone to
"suddenly rally for Mens' Union." -
Members claim 'Robinson Hall Dorm
Council most democratic on campus
.    by TERRI BURKHARDT
LIFE Staff Writer
Robinson Hall does bave a
constitution*, they have had one. for
more than a year and they currently
are operating within its structure, as
was made evident at' the Robinson
Hall Dorm Council meeting Monday
night with council member Steve
Washburn, Reed City 'senior,,
reading the constitution and
recommending changes and-
revisions.
The constitution was read
partly in answer to charges made by
Student Senators that Robinson Hall
did not have a constitution 'and
partly because it is undergoing
revision. 't
Washburn claimed Robinson
Hall' has the most' "democratic
council on campus and.maybe in the,
stater" referring to the fact that any
resident of Robinson Hall is a dorm
"council member and has voting
privilege if he attends two con-
. aecufcive* meetings.
''One of the' misconceptions of
Rpbinson Hall is something must-be
wrong with bur dorm council since
anyone, can be on it. It actually is a
much fairer system of representation, since the body of people on it
are interested in the - dorm," one
dorm council member pointed out.
The constitutional committee is
open and will be meeting next
Sunday at 9 p.m. and anyone with
changes they'd like to see" is invited
to attend, Washburn said.
With the fact that Robinson has
a constitution established, the dorm
council went - on to discuss the
student body, presidential appointment of Gordy Johnson as a
Robinson Hall Senator.
"If the president is so concerned
about representation' in this
organisation then why did he appointv
someone who ne^er attended the
dorm council meetings and didn't
t even know we had a constitution?
We should ask why .ow illustrious;
president- appointed someone
Without knowing tjhV facts," Washburn #aid.
Robinson     Hall     lias   -.not
±
recognized Student Government
since an  election controversy  last
„ spring in which they claim half of
their ballots were destroyed during
the ballot counting of the student
body presidential elections. «
However, Council members
emphasize this was just "the spark"
that led to their disassociation with
Student^, Government. /They say
Student Government claims to be a
/ viable organization on campus and a
representative body and students
need Student. Government to get
along with other' organizations.
Council members point out for
the last year Robinson' Hail has
gotten along fiae on.its own aad it
conducts buainesri with-other donas
■ aad the university without going to
< other committees; .instead they go
directly to the organisation.,   '
They point to their numerous
, dorm , activities,   contributions   to
Listening. Ear, Korean Orphanage
'and   other., campus   groups   as
evidence they can get by ;without
Student   Government.    ■
Johnson claimed he does feei
Student Senate is effective but'
he has requested to drop the
Robinson Hall designation from his
title and just be considered .a
'Senator at large.
The Robinson Hall Dorm
Council votedv to establish a cbni-
mittee to solidify the position of the
dorm couacil towards Student
Government with a report expected
Wednesday night at a special dorm
council meeting at.7:15.
Once' the position is known,
dorm council,members plan to go to,
other dorms explaining th«jr:
position and possibly, seeking
support for their actions,        .   i
Alth'ough Residence Halt.
Assembly (RHA) represenatiVes
we're at the meeting they Were
. primarily there in an observing role.'
Robinson Hall council members also
-extensively criticized CM LIFE,
charging coverage was1 ''biased and
unobjective" and suggested possibly
reporters were "emotionally involved" with their stories. '
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