• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1973-05-17_Vol38_No59_05

THE WESTERN CAROLINIAN Thursday May 17, 1973 page 5 tional authority which allows ballot boxes to beremovedand/ or opened before the closing of the polls." If the writers of that letter had been familiar with the bylaws of the SGA constitution, they would find that there is no article, section, or clause that says boxes cannot be removed or ballots counted before the polls close. The letter states that "The vice president had appointed more than one elections manager." Again, if the writers had been familiar with the SGA by-laws, they would find that under Article II, Section 4, Paragraph (3) of the by-laws that "Each election shall have an Election Manager or Managers appointed by the President of the Senate," The appointment of more than one Election Manager is in no way a violation of the Constitution. The writers ask "Why was the election date changed to a day more 'suitable?* " The reason for the change of date stemmed from the fact that the original date fell on the Tuesday after Easter holidays. It was felt that a great number of students would not have returned by then and it would also interfere with the campaign of the candidates. The writers, also, ask "Why was the SGA President appointed election manager when the constitution refers to these positions as being two people?" We must applaud the writers for reading that much of the by-laws, but in reference to the pre- ceeding paragraph, the by-laws do not say that the President of the Senate cannot appoint the SGA President as Election Manager and that the two cannot be the same person. A third question raised by the writers was "Why were there people other than Student Senators manning the ballot boxes and counting ballots when the constitution leaves no room for such liberalities?" If the writers had cared to read the bylaws, they would find that there is no article, section, or paragraph that states only Senators of SGA shall man the polls and count ballots. Also due to the fact that many of the Senators were engaged in campaigning for candidates and/or had prior commitments that prevented them from working, the polls were manned and ballots were counted by non-senators. "Are you afraid of the average, non-student senator, student???" The election results were validated by the President of the Senate, the Election Manager^), the President of SGA, and the Senate advisor. The ballots were checked by the Senate advisor before the final tabulation was made and announced in each election. In regard to the accusations made by the writers about the Senator-at-Large elections,the error was small and there was no change in the outcome of the election. You could say "no one is perfect,' but that is not sufficient. In any ballot count, there is always the possibility of error, even when using voting machines, and had the writers of the letter been counting ballots; they, too, would have been subject to the same margin of 'human error' as anyone else. The writers of that letter were former Senators in SGA and should have been familiar enough with the constitution and by-laws of SGA to answer these questions themselves. In conclusion, we hope that senate statute approved Monday night, dealing with election procedures, will stop any future questions concerning the validity and honesty surrounding the SGA elections. Though the elections this spring were held prior to the approval of the new statute; we do not feel that the procedures followed were dishonest or unconstitutional. Respectfully Submitted, Jill Sistare, Senator-at-Large Mary Morrison, Senator Betsy Chapman, Senator=at Art Exhibit Awards The Western Carolina University Art Department's annual Student Art Exhibit opened Tuesday in the gallery located in Belk Art Building. Six $25 cash awards were presented by the WCU Art Students League. Judges were Evelyn Anderson, local artist from Webster and former WCU faculty member, and Jos Vander- meer, Asheville artist, Those receiving awards were Tim Oates of Durham, painting; Judy Harris of Trinidad, Colorado, pottery; Charles A. Jones of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., sculpture and jewelry; Mary H. Reig of Brevard, drafting; and Craig Wallace of Asheboro, printmaking. Five purchase awards, donated by River wood Pewter Shop, the Newcomers'Arts and Crafts group, First Union National Bank of Sylva, Mead Corporation, and Wachovia Bank and Trust Co. of Sylva, will be announced at a reception Monday, May 21, from 7 until 9 p.m. The public has been invited to attend. The exhibit may be viewed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 until 4 p.m. through May 28. .... FROM Page 4 -Large Christine Troutman, Attorney General Robert A. Byrd Jr., Presidential Assisstant Joe Digges, Day Student Senator Larry M. Richardson, Day Student Senator Donna Clemmer, Senator Debbie Esterling, Senator Fred Jones, Senator Jim R. Watson, Senator Bob Jefferies Dear Editor: We are all aware of the a- larming trend that has been in evidence in the current administration of this university. We have viewed it with dismay, disbelief, and often with disgust. As it has progressed (regressed?), there has been no relief in sight. But there may be a chance for us yet, One of the final three nominees for the office of Vice - Chancellor for Student Development has the qualities that would make him acceptable to the administration and the rare ability to appreciate the student's position and attitudes. This is Dr. Hal Salisbury. I have worked with Dr. Salisbury on the Student Affairs Committee for the past year, and the value he places on students has been consistently high. He questioned the value of the housing contract and the freshman residency requirement, posing question sand alternatives that at least precipitated removal of some of the petty provisions of the contract. As a member of the committee, Dr. Salisbury was instrumental in securing the visitation policy that had been drawn up by Student Government, After having worked with Dr. Salisbury, I am convinced of his commitment to the students of this university. He always asked the student members of the committee what we thought of the proposals that came before the committee. This was followed through with actians and considerationsbasedonhow he felt the student position could best be presented and enacted in final policy. . We cannot expect miracles from anyone that is chosen for the Vice-Chancellor's position, but I would feel more confident about our future if someone from the university was named. He could not help having a better understanding of our problems than an individual who would be entirely new to the university. We desperately need someone in the office of Vice-Chancellor for Student Development that will keep us, the students of Western Carolina University, in mind. Dr. Salisbury can do that. Ed Wilson NCEIEN Conference Set For Friday The mountain regional conference of the North Carolina Environmental Information and Education Network will be held Friday at the Western Carolina University Extension Center in Oteen. The second of six such e- vents to be held across the state, the conference will attempt to identify existing resources and unmet needs in environmental education, input will be sought from the civic, governmental, industrial, and- educational sectors of our society. There will be presentations on population growth, land use, and air and water pollution, as well as group sessions on environmental concerns, community networks, environmental education centers, and finances. Among the speakers on the program are Thomas Baines, director of the N. C. Office of Environmental Education and Outdoor Beautification; Larry Leggett, director of the Oteen Environmental Education Center; and Robert Bruce of the U. S. Park Service. The sponsoring agency, the N. C. Environmental Information and Education Network, is funded under Title 1 of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Co-directors of the conference are Dr. Joseph Y. Bas- sett, WCU professor of chemistry; and Dr. Rick Moore, head of the political science department at Appalachian State University. The conference will begin at 9 a.m., and will adjourn at 5 p.m. Write the editor P.O. Box 66 3inal 8xaminafion Schedule Spring, 1973 Vlonday 9-12 1:00 Classes Vlonday 2-5 ' 9:00 Classes Tuesday 9-12 — 10:00 Classes Tuesday 2-5 — 2:00 Classes Wednesday 9-12 — 11:00 Classes Wednesday 2-5 — — 8:00 Classes Thursday 9-12 12:00 Classes Thursday 2-5 ~ — 3:00 Classes Friday 9-12 4:00 Classes Comments On Jackson Airport by Warren C, Wilkes Three WCU biology professors said yesterday that they submitted written statements to the Jackson County board of commissioners which were not included in an environmental impact statementon the feasibility of the proposed county airport. Dr. Frederick A. Coyle, assistant professor of biology; Dr. Allen M. Moore, assistant professor of biology and Dr, James H. Horton, head of the WCU biology department, said yesterday that they submitted statements to the commissioners in January and February of 1972. A final draft of the environmental impact statement was received by the Environmental Protection A- gency at the Atlanta office February 15, 1973, and, according to EPA spokesman, the three professors' statements were not in the final statement, A preliminary draft of the Environmental Impact Study was received at EPA on December 4, 1972, the spokesman said. Horton ; in his written statement, questioned certain aspects of the preliminary draft of the Impact Study. He stated that "most of the assertions and implications contained ... are unsupported generalizations which must not be allowed to go unchallenged," "Air pollution in the immediate vicinity of the airport will almost certainly rise significantly if people who participate in those more than 30,000 annual operations drive to and from the airport," Horton said. The Impact Study said "the airport should cause a reduction in the number of ears in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park." Horton said that "if ... a touring bus service is installed for the park, the number of ears will be reduced whether Jackson County builds an airport or not," He concluded by criticizing "the tremendous waste of tax money - county and federal- involved in this construction. I, for one, do not believe that Jackson County's need for an airport can possibly justify the expenditure of the money which will be required to build one on the Berry Ridge site," AllenMoore, in his statement to the Board, pointed out that "major grading projects on ridgetops inevitably are unsightly and caus-i lasting sil- tation and erosion." He added that "erosion is much more difficult to control on steep slopes, and since they are difficult to pack properly, settling and slides are more likely." The draft impact study anticipated 84 to 102 operations per day, Moore noted. He later stated that the estimates seemed grossly exaggerated, considering the "lack of public transit in Jackson County" and the "small population of potential resident users." Moore's concluding statement posed the question, "Can't the Commissioners come up with a proposal which will provide transportation for the people of the region8 *^ not just for a few pilots?" Frederick Coyle was a little more outright in his statement, "The Environmental Impact Statement . . . should be wr'.t- ten objectively. The Jackson County . . , statement does not serve this purpose," he said. "It is said that one of the purposes of the airport is to meet the needs of industry,' Coyle maintained, "but there ' is no data to show which, if any, industries are prepared to buy planes or use the airport," Coyle went on to say that "unfortunately the statement does not sufficiently describe probable environmental effects. Noise level contour estimates are based only on the piston engine aircraft that will use the initial runway. It was made clear in the public bearing that the length runway is to be used by jets; this source of noise pollution must be considered now," Water runoff, erosion, stream siltation, soil loss, air pollution, wildlife displacement and the devastating effect on the beauty of Berry Ridge were some of the problems of building an airport as cited by Coyle, He noted that "facts have been witheld or distorted," He pointed out that Sapphire Valley "is planning an airport capable of handlingjet-planes," and went on to say that a Sapphire Valley spokesman said that the Jan. 31, 1972 public hearing that construction of a Jackson County airport would not affect their plans, Coyle said that "an efficient rural ground transit system or more support for elementary and secondary schools wouldbe much more beneficial investments." In a telephone conversation yesterday, Frank Redmond, Environmental Impact Study division coordinator of the Environmental Protection Agency in Atlanta said that the statements by Coyle, Horton and Moore were not included with the final draft of the Environmental Impact Study statement, and there was no reference made to Dr. Tom Wilcox's geology statement on slope failure. Redmond did point out that there were many statements from North Carolina state government departments and offices, along with a few personal statements,

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1973-05-17;
  • Date digitized: 2017-11-27
• Extent
  • Dimension: 15.75" x 11"
  • Pages: 8 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1973-05-17_Vol38_No59
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library