Rattler (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 10, Ed. 1 Tuesday, February 25, 1975 Page: 2 of 8
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February 25, 1975
THE RATTLER
Page 2
Much to-do
about nothing
Dear Editor,
Illi
JV.
z
Dear Editor:
Respectfully submitted,
John A. Medina
Dear Editor:
Sincerely,
Brendan Kennedy
I
Scott Meier
Ramon Vela
Debra McDonald and Pat Wallace
Brendan Kennedy
Gabriel Ayala
The RATTLER is published by the students of St. Mary's
University every fortnight during the school year with the
exception of holidays. National Advertising Representatives:
National Educational Advertising Services, a division of Reader's
Digest Sales and Services, Inc. 360 Lexington Ave., New York,
N.Y. 10017. Mailing address: 2700 Cincinnati Ave. San Antonio
Texas, 78284. Happy Birthday, Sandy!
It’s past the time for reformation.
Campus Security has been under pressure for quite a
time, but give credit where credit is due! Some of the
officers have their heads together and can handle the job —
then there is the majority.
One evening a friend discovered a wheel lock on his car.
The ticket was immediately paid, but why did it take an
hour for the wheel lock to come off? The first officer that
the sergeant sent over didn’t have the slightest idea how to
remove a wheel lock After trying all his keys he left for
assistance. The next officer tried two key rings and accused
us of tampering with the lock The ordeal was growing old
when the ring that he tried twice suddenly opened the lock
It must have been the way we talked about the lock — I
hear locks are highly sensitive beings. I now understand the
concept of two heads are better than one, because it took
two of them to remove the lock
A security officer’s job is like any, a few small things
must be learned. And if someone can’t open a lock, what
qualities exist which makes a fearless protector of campus?
The most redeemable quality I saw was that the officer
could make a loud noise with the gears of his car when
shifting into second. That’s bound to scare intruders away.
For Campus Security improvement, I suggest that they
be given a key and lock If they can open it in less than
thirty minutes — hire them. Good men are hard to find.
By the way, officers, the J master key will open the
wheel lock
John A. Murray
President, Student Senate
All articles, and literary material submitted to
the RATTLER must be signed by the writer.
fertteips
All articles, and literary material submitted to
the RATTLER must be signed by the writer.
Editor
Assistant Editor . .
Copy Editors
Photography Editor
Business Manager .
News Editor Jack Glascock
Features Editor Stan Konieczny
Reporters . Anton Hajek,
Ted Martinez, Bernie Robalin, Ramon Vela, Jim
Siefert, and More McLean.
Photographers Linda Frazier
Tom Freese, Dayton Shermer, Dan Morton and
John Renfro and Clifford Gribble.
Advisor Mr. Dave Roberts
C] WOULD UWE .
I 'THE
\pLA^ OFFS TH (3
j^yEM..., y
Rattler
^naky Too/?
Several items have cropped up in the past two weeks
which merit some mention.
The Rattler has completed two parts from its series on
alcoholism, and the results were predictable enough: no one
believes that an alcohol problem exists on campus.
However, there exists a surprising lack of information; no
one believes there are alcoholics here, and at the same time,
very few persons really understand what alcoholism entails.
What is occurring is that students are settling into the habits
of drinking in their college years--worse yet, no one is
willing to say much on the subject ..
Mr. Easley’s letter in the last issue pointed out a fact
that is well-known to most students--the tennis courts are in
sad shape. The Athletic Committee has recommended that
measures be taken to put the courts back into playing
condition, and we strongly back their suggestion. Surely
some funds are available for this purpose...
In St Mary’s publication “Profile 75”, there reads a
passage which states that “plans are now on the drawing
board for a new one-half million dollar athletic/ recreation
complex, as well as a new Business and Administration
Center.” In an article in this issue, Mr. Robert Mouton said
that many of the present dormitories are inadequately
wired for increased electrical usage (such as the proposed
refrigerators). Besides poor electrical wiring, the dorms,
especially Chaminade and Charles Francis, contain other
“deficiencies.” We suggest that St. Mary’s consider a new-
dorm before entertaining any notions about a recreation
center.
Letters to the Editor in the past two Rattlers have
complained about the Student Senate. We suggest that
students make more of an effort to talk to Senate members
about the direction the Senate is taking. ..
New vending machines have been installed in the dorms.
We visited Marian Hall two days after the machines were set
up. The soda machine gave us warm fizz, and the candy
machine flipped our coins back-we neglected to try the
coffee machine. Beginner’s luck?. ...
The Basketball Rattlers have won another BSC title,
and head for the play-offs. Now is the time for Snake fans
to back the team-we’re going to need those free days to get
to Kansas City.. .
Whoops! Another mistake-deadline dates for the
Rattler have been changed again to April 7 and 21-the
paper will be issued April 15 and 29. . .
( But MY
Jfan&s kept
^JFIEKCIHGt
Jthe basketball^
As I’m sure everyone already knows, the Student
Senate is a small group of interested students elected by a
minority of the student association (approximately 1,000
students). To a large extent, our purpose is to act as a laison
between students and administration. We are not only to
respond to student issues, but also make the Student
Association aware of issues that may be of concern to
them.
A necessary condition for this model however, is that
we receive criticism, complaints, or suggestions from our
fellow students. Such input would not only make for a
smooth government process, avoiding any possible
misconceptions, but assure us that we are doing our job
properly.
There is one issue in particular that we are about to deal
with, that we are in great need of input on. The Analytical
Studies Committee of this University is about to undertake
a complete study on the Student Activity Fee, and we are
being asked to give the students’ views on the matter.
Athletics, the Health Center, the Student Senate, the
Rattler, and the Social Activities budget shall be evaluated
in terms of costs, how they are to be funded, and what
exactly should be covered by the Student Activity Fee.
Also, each of these areas will be challenged and evaluated in
terms of their purpose in the University. Some new areas
may be added, or old ones deleted. Particular focus may be
placed on athletics, due to its rising costs (now $66,000
anually).
This issue, and the costs involved will affect all of us
directly. Being that this is one issue that we as students
disagree among ourselves, it will be a difficult issue for the
Senate to handle.
I am asking for your responses on this issue so that we
as a Student Senate avoid misconceptions of our own on
this matter. I hope that you will comply by contacting the
Student Senate Office or by attending the Student Senate
meetings directly on Mondays at 1:30 p.m.
It is time that we bring into question the role of that
body politic on campus known as the Student Senate; that
organization which is elected by and responsible to the
student body. I would like to scrutinize and challenge the
integrity of the Senate in light of actions which took place
last semester and are taking place now.
Since it is only by questioning that clarification can
come about then I will direct questions to the Senate and
invite them to make themselves answerable to the
following:
It has been my experience in the past to have taken
complaints, proposals and questions to my senator never to
have them answered, but merely brushed aside. If then, it is
not the responsibility of the elected representatives to
answer to the electorate, can anyone then tell me what one
must do to have a voice in the Senate?
Can anyone in the Senate tell me why the present
treasurer gave himself a raise in salary last fall which was
passed through the Senate without question and without
substantiation of reason?
Can anyone in the Senate tell me why one of the senior
reoresentatives has not attended meetings for the past
months, having gone well over the three allowed absences
of senators, and why he has not been asked to either resign
or account for his absences? Further, can it be explained
why, when the said senator proposed to resign, he was told
by one of the reigning officers to continue “hanging on?”
Was it perhaps to avoid the hassle of an election? Or to
prevent entrance of a dissenting senator?
There is, supposedly, a proposal being tabled or that has
been tabled on the Senate floor for a terrace or patio in
connection with the pub. Yet it has been my experience
that my asking a random selection of representatives about
it that some of them said the proposal had passed, some
that it had not, and others that they knew of no such
proposal. Why, distinguished Senate, are your senators
unaware of what’s going on? Who then is running the
Senate if the senators are not?
I invite those interested in following this up to question
their representatives and witness the incredible amount of
ignorance on their part concerning senate business. As a
further insight, look into the expenditure files of the
treasurer and entertainment committee and see what
amazing feats of magic they have performed with some
$5,000-plus appropriated them from the University Center
budget added to a previous budget of $6,453 (and Mr.
Murray seeks a $10 bite more from the $30 Student
Activity Fee?)
Undoubtedly, some eloquent spokesman for the Senate
will come forth to dust Senate tracks and craftily contrive
of some way to have the Senate come out smelling like the
proverbial rose, Undoubtedly they will claim their files and
records open, which is true, but, because of apathy they
will never be pegged. This is the way it has been in the past,
the way it is now, and most assuredly the way it will be in
the future. We as the student body are shamedly forced to
admit that that which calls itself the Senate is nothing more
than a mouse-like collection catering to the whims of a Pied
Piper we ourselves put in.
Dear Editor,
John Murray, in the letter which appeared in the
Rattler on February 11, says that the Student Senate is “far
from satisfied.” I feel that this statement is a bit irrelevent
considering the letter which appeared on the same page.
This letter, written by Joan Patton expressed her
unfortunate and distressing experience with the Senate.
This is what is relevent: students are dissatisfied.
Aside from its frequent inquiries and protests I feel that
the Senate has remained rather dormant in regards to it’s
relationship with the students of St. Mary’s. The vifews of
the Senate seem to be a narrow and discerning as those of a
private club or clique, which considers itself too elite and
infallible to consult the constituent who it is supposed to
represent. In my opinion the Senate should be “far from
satisfied” with the attitude and conduct of its members,
before it tackles all the major woes and faults of the
University.
In closing Murray says, “we (the Student Senate) will
continue to challenge the Administration.” I propose that
instead the Senate challenge its own attitudes and conduct,
climb from Mount Olympus and get back to its duties of
representing the students of St. Mary’s!
Stanley Konieczny
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St. Mary's University (San Antonio, Tex.). Rattler (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 10, Ed. 1 Tuesday, February 25, 1975, newspaper, February 25, 1975; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1287204/m1/2/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting St. Mary's University Louis J. Blume Library.