The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Ed. 1 Thursday, February 12, 1987 Page: 4 of 10
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Page 4/The J-TAC/Thursday, February 12, 1987
Tarleton State University
University
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OPINION
TSU expenditures should be examined
.... ...ni-j i i all tViB nnrtimilnrs nhnut fin. I'll see one OF tWO of the fo
The powers that be have settled,
I. think,, on an official summer
schedule for 1987.
The setup is a definite improve-
ment over the 1986 summer
schedule, but it's still far from the
usual six-week semester that we've
been accustomed to.
The cutback in the number of class
days was in response to former Gov.
Mark White's call for state budget
"cuts. Our university administration
looked for ways to cut expenditures
without drastically affecting any one
part of the TSU system. According
~ to Vice President of Business Affairs
Larry Bickett, "we are already cost-
efficient," and we could only
feasibly cut back by about five per-
cent. A change in summer schedul-
ing seemed to be one answer: trim
the number of hours that students
and staff used the buildings, and save
on utilities.
To implement this shortened
. schedule, there were three plausible
avenues: one eight-week term, two
four-and-one-half-week terms, or no
summer terms at all.
The choice of the three was ob-
vious, but after going through that
summer, I would have opted for
"none of the above." In my ex-
perience, the quality of instruction
during the summer of '86 was bad-
ly impeded. There was less time to
absorb the material — to know it, I
have to understand it. To understand
it, I have to think about it. Unfor-
tunately 1 think at a snail's pace.
We still have the same number of
classroom hours — it's the home
hours I'm worried about. The usual
summer session is 25 class days over
five weeks; revised in '86, it was 19
class days over four weeks and two
days; this summer it is 21 class days
over four and one half weeks and 22
class days over five weeks for the
first and second terms, respectively.
It doesn't sound like there's much
difference between them, does it?
There is. Anyone who attended or
taught at TSU last summer knows
this, even if they happen to like the
arrangement. Summer school itself
is bad enough — we pinch some 15
weeks of class days off at the two-
thirds mark and then we find we
have to cut them even more? It's
disappointing, especially in light of
tuition hikes.
We must pay more to ease the
school budget; however, there isn't
time to get our money's worth from
the classes. There is no sense in this.
What's the use of taking Mam-
mology 5064 if you can't remember,
six months later, the family that the
raccoon belongs to? That was one of
the easier ones, too.
We saved about $75,000 in
utilities alone last summer due to the
scheduling. We've even managed to
fit this summer's schedule such that
teachers (from area schools, I
believe) can attend summer school
here.
The problem I'm having has to do
with an evidently general attitude
toward how to save and spend
Tarleton's money. I realize that I
don't know all the particulars about
what will follow, so take it with a
grain of salt, think it over and write
a letter-to-the-editor telling me what
you think of this mess.
One, we could grow icebergs in
H&B during July. Two, we could
light the city of Stephenville for a
week with one evening's worth of
the candlepower from the lights in
the softball fields. Three, we could
use a permanent, oversized entrance
to each floor of the academic
buildings so we wouldn't have to
break a window every time we move
equipment in or out that is too big
to be brought up the stairs. Huge
removable windows might do nicely.
Four — and I have to do this —
the fountain. Why tear it down if ail
we're going to do is build another
one later? I don't get it. We had a
fountain, prettier that that brick
structure we have now, and we took
it down. Perhaps it had quit work-
ing, too. We built another,, more
elaborate (lighted!) fountain, and it
quits working. So why not follow
tradition and carry on? Because it's
useless, guys. Anything that has
working parts has the potential to
fail. So fix what you've got — no
more new stuff for a while.
Five, back to the softball field
lights. I was told that in order to see
the ball, one must have the proper
lighting. Moreover, these beacons
are energy-efficient and only cost a
few dollars a month to run.
I still can't believe that those
players need as much light as they
do. I'll see one or two of the four
fields being used and every stand of
lights is on. These are halogen lights
— efficient, to be sure — but there
are a total of 16 stands with 12 bulbs
each at 1000 watts per bulb (my back
room is lit up on those nights and I'm
a mile away!). This seems to be a
flagrant waste of energy, no matter
how low the cost of operation.
Sometimes the most evident ra-
tionale for decision-making (other-
wise known as the quickest way to
do things) isn't always the best
course of action. Who said, "At
times one must go a long way out of
his way to come back a short
distance correctly?" A free-ranging
horse will take the long path around
a mountain, even if it means another
day's travel, if crossing directly over
seems unsafe.
There are many things I should
know more about before I continue
talking; there are more aspects of
this budgetary business that I've
begun to wonder about, one of which
is addressed in this issue by a
member of the Tarleton communi-
ty. This letter-to-the-editor is
somewhat related to my spiel.
We would like responses from all
corners of TSU — opinions, facts,
gripes — whatever you know about
the way we treat our expenditures,
I'm sure that university ad-
ministrators would welcome
suggestions.
CAROLEA HASSARD
Reader criticizes flagrant spending at TSU
Last year a newspaper article was
written that described how Tarleton
ranked in the top 5 (five) state
universities for having the lowest
paid employees.
This is quite sad. While the arti-
cle went on to say the "average
salary is $26,018," I can assure you
this figure was only reached due to
approximately 10 percent of staff
employees in the $50,G00-plus
range, 20 percent in the
$30-to-$50,00Q range, leaving the
other nearly. 70 percent (Pe-on
group) in the $7,500-to-$20,000"
bracket.
Dr. Thompson was quoted in the
article before legislation last year on
a bill to "Reward Cost-Effective
Colleges," in which TSU ranked in
the top three, as saying "should the
bill become law, higher salaries will
Student asks for space in H&B hall
Have you ever felt you were try-
ing to walk down a crowded city side
walk and everyone stopped walking
except you?
If you want the thrill of a big-city
sidewalk without the big city," go in-
to the H&B building between
classes.
Being surrounded in the middle of
a large group of people would make
the claustrophobia sufferer frantic.
There has to be a reason for this
large gathering of people.
Traditionally the bottom of stair-
ways have been romantic places.
..Could it be for this reason that
everyone gathers at the bottom of the
stairs? Maybe it could even be that
students like crowded areas. Squeez-
ing through each other in crowded
areas will give bodily contact with
other students. Does this excite you?
The T-J'ers (traffic jammers) have
just made it too crowded on the first
floor of the H&B between classes.
Sorry for putting it so bluntly, but
let's fac it, it is a problem.
Talking is part of life so friends
chat, women gossip and others
mingle through the crowd. Let's face
it, do we have to stand in the middle
of the hall, stairway entrance or a
doorway to talk?
Why couldn't we step into some
of the dead spaces of H&B and liven
them up? Put some life into the ends
of hallways and corners. No one
gossips or stops to talk in the mid-
dle of 1-35. At least I hope not; Why
should we do it in the middle of the
busiest hall? Do we need hall
monitors? Well, I should hope not.
There are even several T.V.'s and
nice furniture to use in the Student
. Union Building but we do not utilize
them. We pay for it. Why not gossip
in comfort and luxury instead of
abusing our feet?
We could even use those few
precious minutes to study before
each class. We could get an easy free
30 minutes of studying every week
for every class. That would allow us
more free time at night.
DOMINIC RIOLA
be first on the list to receive any ad-
ditional funds generated."
These lowest paid employees are
the backbone of TSU . Without them
there would be no registration, well-
kept buildings with clean floors and
windows or three hot meals, served
on time, five days a- week.
In our fiscal year 1985-86, most
staff employees received a whopp-
ing three-percent raise; for 1986-87
we received a letter from the Presi-
dent's office notifying us of our
future three percent, which after
taxes would nearly give me enough
for an extra tank of gas in the car
each month. Our raise was then
dropped due to the "budget cuts."
Now, during the past month, it
was decided that TSU "NEEDS" an
official school baseball team. This
project will reportedly cost TSU bet-
ween $45,000 and $50,000 just to
get started. While I have nothing
against baseball or any other athletic
function, it just seems to me that if
there is enough local money to build
baseball facilities, there should be
enough to reward the DEDICATED
EMPLOYEES OF TSU.
This, however, is just the "TIP
OF THE ICEBERG." Flagrant
spending has become a common
thing in the past several years.
Last year, for example, there was
$50,000 to spend to redo the ex-
ecutive dining room in the dining
hall, most of which was spent on
lavish furnishings. It looks great, but
$50,000? Then there was also the
president's office in the old Ad-
ministration building which was
redone for approximately $35,000,
most of which was fancy carpet and
furniture that was used for a short
time until the new Administration
building was finished.
These are only a few examples of
this "WILD-HAIR SPENDING"
that accure on a monthly basis.
Somebody wants something done or
purchased, it's done, then six months
or a year later someone else wants
something different, so everything is
ripped out and done again before the
new is even worn off.
With today's economy it is hard
as hell to support your family when
the inflation rate grows at eight per-
cent or 10 percent a year while your
salary grows at three percent
(maybe).
Even if this three percent had of
gone into effect, it would have been
cancelled out due to the rise in the
cost of our insurance. So actually,
everyone will be bringing home less
than last year. Around August or
September we all get a letter from
Personnel showing what great shape
the state says we are in-
HORSEHOCKY! These contribu-
tions and such are fine and dandy but
the bottom line is TAKE HOME
PAY that really counts. Safeway still
will not take one of my vacation days
as payment for the milk and bread
I need to eat, or to the city to deep
my gas turned on in the winter.
Good employees are hard to find,
Tarleton needs to do whatever it can
and should do to keep all of ITS
PEOPLE.
Name withheld by request
daydceanmkiq IM AMEKICAN history lol
BY Becky styles
w=A<mJN< . -tM«' FfeotilluA
0eTHg-RO<£lS$
Gutenberg Bible is superb
In 1455, at about 55 years of age,
Johann Gutenberg printed the first
book in the West with moveable
type. It is known as the Gutenberg
Bible.
The Book of books, the Gutenberg
Bible is a complete and throughly
polished entity, having confined to
pass inspection for over 500 years.
In 1456, Heinrich Cremer, vicar of
the Collegiate Church of St. Stephen
in Mainz, completed the illumina-
tion, rubrication and binding of a set
of the Gutenberg Bible and marked
the date of his work in both volumes.
The 42-line bible was a remarkable
achievement for its own time.
We now have the privilege of see-
ing the Gutenburg Bible reproduc-
tion, of which there were only two
published in 1961 by the Pagenant
Books of Paterson, New Jersey. At
the Tarleton library, under the direc-
tion of Harvey Gover, we can view
the beautifully bound two-volumes
collection.
They were donated to the library
in memory of Mr. and Mrs. William
James Clay by Miss Roberta Clay of
Dublin.
When we pledge allegiance to the
Bible, God's Holy word, and hide
the words in our hearts that we may
not sin against Him; we need always
be grateful that someone took time
out of their' life to write down God's
holy words on paper for us, God is
so good to us. Don't take your Bi-
ble for granted. It took a lot to place
it in your hands. Be grateful
JO STEM
J-TAC STAFF u ,
Editor Carolea Hassard
Arts Editor
Patti Browning
News Editor
Randi Jbnes
Sports Editor
Russell Huffman
Reporters
Claudia Archer, Becky Styles
Douglas Conklin, John Flores, Melody Flowers,
Contributors Thomas Hill, Dominic Riola, Win. C. Rose,
Sheila Schmidt, Marsha Sides
Typesetter
Gail Hall
r
Paste-up
Susan Pessolano
Ad Sales
Donna Grayson
Ad Design
Jan Brunnick, Becky Styles
Circulation Manager
Randi Jones
Faculty Advisor
Mark Grear
The J-TAC is published each Thursday
during the regular semesters, with the ex-
ception of university holidays and exam
periods. Printer is the Stephenville
Empire-Tribune.
The J-TAC is a non-profit organization,
U.S. Postage is paid permit number 133,
Stephenville, Texas, 76402.
Deadlines are noon Monday for adver-
tising and noon Tuesday for news stories.
Opinions expressed on the editorial page
are not necessarily those of the universi-
ty or of the J-TAC.
Letters-to-the-Editor may be sent to: J-
TAC, P.O. Box T-98, Tarleton Station,
Texas 76402. Letters must be signed and
addressed, but the information will be
withheld if the writer desires.
Do you feel that the United States should be responsible for the captives in Lebanon?
Kenya Kresta—Sophomore
Major—Biology
Hometown—Garland
"I'll leave that up to the President.
Rodney Webb—Freshman
Major—English
Hometown—Garland
"If we do, fine. If we don't, fine.
Melody Flowers—Senior
Major—History
Hometown—Hico
"American officials told the U.S.
citizens that worked there over a
year ago that they should leave to
avoid dangerous situations. I think
they, and not the American govern-
ment, should have to reckon with the
problems they're having,"
mm
Dominic Riola —Senior
Major—Mech Ag
Hometown—Cameron
"We should do everything short of
military action until they are harm-
ed. Then we should take military
action."
Sheila Schmidt—Graduate student
Major—Biology
Hometown—Clifton
"No, because they were aware of'
the possibilities of dangerous situa-
tions and they chose to stay."
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The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Ed. 1 Thursday, February 12, 1987, newspaper, February 12, 1987; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth141639/m1/4/: accessed May 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Tarleton State University.