• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1985-03-28_Vol49_No24_02

Western Carolinian/March 28, 1985 Editor's Page Dear SGA LIGHTENING Thoughts F.0.7,eh! (Ask Me What It Means) by Heather Frey \ Guest Opinion this my WCU Students: I would like to take opportunity to announce candidacy for SGA President. Also, I would like to give you a brief description of my reasons for running, my qualification to hold the office, and my objectives to be reached in the coming year. It is my concern that some apathy has developed in the student body toward the elections of SGA officials. I feel the. evidence of the past uncontested presidential election and the fact that voter turn-out was only 700 out of a possible 6500 students effectively demonstrates the student body's apathy. Myconcer student body's apathy. My concern is that until now the uncontested candidacy has been allowed to continue by all of us. Thus, my reasons for running are a direct result of my concern for the student body; furthermore, we all need to be more enthusiastic about our potential ability to affect productive changes in the university. This leads me to my next point. 1 will be an advantage to you, the student body, as the next President of SGA. In the previous year, I have responsibly held the position of Resident Assistant and Resident Hall Council Representative. I feel this involvement has allowed me to be in direct contact with the student's needs. 1 have- been actively listening to the concerns of the student body. I feel that listening then acting upon those COnCPrnc chnnM K^ th** main goal of SGA. Another clear advantage of my candidacy is for the past four years at Western Carolina and at Guilford Community College, I have consecutively been on the Dean's list and at Western Carolina a Mortar Board nominee. I feel my academic record, involvement with the residents of WCU. and involvement with other organizations at WCU and other institutions demonstrate my commitment to achieve the goals 1 establish. lastly, my goals for the- coming year are: I. Demonstrate SGA's ability to affect productive changes that benefit the student's needs. 2. Establish new guidelines for student flexibility in meal selection. 3. In crease student evaluations to all class levels and make them public record. 4. Further fiscal responsibility through elimination of waste! In a more concise statement concerning goals. 1 want to redirect SGA to perform for the reason SGA was established—to be the voice of the students. 1 want to increase the interaction between the SGA, the Administration, the faculty, and the cafeteria so that my goals of flexibility in meals and increased publicity of student evaluations can be accomplished more effectively and efficiently. Finally, 1 as President pledge my commitment to achieve the goals I establish in SGA as cost efficient as possible. Thanks, Todd Davis Letters To The Editor running for SGA President and he has my endorsement. Not because he has promised to kiss my -, but simply because he impressed me as being honest, sincere, not an amateur politician trying to be a professional one and he is not currently a member of the present administration. = I believe he will be an improvement. , , , ri,, ,-.. , • e ... D ■. . u« ic ^n*» nf the few senators who has been Cliff Clark is running lor Vice-President. He is one oi tne icw ^« Me thinks I hath p.oed the senate one timeth too many. straight and honest with me about the happenings therein. He is also disgus e wi t e Yes, folks, with seven weeks and five issues of the paper left, the SGA has proposed I be conduct of some of the senators. 1 don't know his opponent Jeff Blanton but now Clark impeached. One might also think this has something to do with elections being just around and respect his honesty. He also has my vote. the corner, but I wouldn't suggest such a thing. Finally, there is a story on page 5 about a similar situation. It seems student governments Why am I being taken to court for impeachment, you ask? across the nation like to pull the strings on the newspapers. I recommend reading it. lt s very The charges are (and I will address them, nay, disassemble them, one by one): timely. 1. "A survey has shown that 98% of WCU students surveyed feel that The Western All I want to know is whatever happened to the First Amendment? Carolinian is inadequate in fulfilling the literary information they deserve."—A SENATOR P.S. Last night as we were finishing up the paper, 1 received a phone call from a student. She told me they surveyed 60 people! My staff and I apparently have been talking to that other told me she was outraged by SGA's conduct and that petitions would be circulating over the elusive 2%, because we have heard only minor criticisms and mostly compliments. next few days in my favor. I appreciate the support a great deal, as does my statt. Sometimes, 2. "The Western Carolinian failed to publish a paper the third week of March, 1985, we feel we're very much alone up here. Again, thanks, thereby not fulfilling their constitutional requirement of consistently supplying WCU students with a paper."—First of all, our constitution says absolutely nothing about when the paper is to be published. Secondly, according to Mark Haskett the sports editor who has worked here for the last five years, one paper has been published the week after Spring Break. Our publication schedule is available upon request. It clearly states that a paper was not scheduled for the third week in March. 3. "The present ad list records show extensive accounts receivable to the extent that there is an obvious lack of follow-up Which shows no reliable procedures to do such by the editor since taking position (office), or even an attempt to do such after learning of such records and WHEREAS the paper has failed to meet its requirement and legal duties of the editor to see that the Western Carolinian complies with state and university regulations governing the financial procedure of a state funded operation, and WHEREAS The Western Carolinian under the current leadership of Heather Fry (incorrect spelling) has not forwarded ad list requests by the administration from the dates 10/25/84 to 3/25/85 which are requested to keep up financial records for auditing by state officials, and WHEREAS those lists are used to keep track of overdue accounts owed to the Western Carolinian, and, be it further RESOLVED that the Student Senate orders the Vice-President office to immediately commence legal action to terminate Heather Fry's (sic) editorship."— ?'Hey, mon, eets not my job!" My Business Manager was elected to his job just like I was elected to mine. 1 don't touch the books, I don't know the first thing about them, 1 am not my Business Manager's boss, I do not tell him how to do his job, and I wouldn't know where to begin to do HIS job. Our constitution does not say the editor has to have bookkeeping experience. The absurdity of this resolution does not end there, however. A friendly ammendment was added to it which reads: "WHEREAS on many occassions Ms. Frey (finally the spelling is correct) has refused to publish various announcements entered from different organizations pertaining to school business and WHEREAS the overall quality of the layouts and grammar are embarassing to the student body and WHEREAS (this is my favorite) Western Carolinian officials have been uncooperative and haughty towards their publishing body, (guess who) the Student Senate."—I have never flat-out refused to publish anything. The Western Carolinian does not have a policy that says we will publish everything that comes to us. I decide what goes into this paper. THAT'S my job...not to bombard students with Trout Unlimited meetings, hundreds of announcements about choirs and ensembles, or lectures on statistics or biochemical engineering, etc. With discretion however, some of these announcements do make it into the paper. About the grammar: an issue of the paper doesn't have more than 3-5 staff writer stories in it. The rest of the copy is from the Office of Public Information, Sports Information or other professional contributing agencies and news services. If and when I or my staff writers make a mistake, it is due to the lack of time to polish our stories due to deadline, election time or other such headaches. Further, I don't respect the senate's definition of bad. If they don't like our lay-out, oh well. EXCUUUUUSE US! But is that really enough to fire me over? But the big $64.00 question is if I'm uncooperative and "haughty", that's enough to get me fired! Excuse me, dear Senate, but you people have given me plenty to be haughty and uncooperative about, although I do deny being haughty. Of course I could talk about the backstabbing, maligning and spiteful attitudes of certain members of SGA and the Senate. I'm polite most of the time, but SGA does at times push me too far. Haughty, no. Irritated, you're damn right. Come on, SGA, grow up! When one of the senators at Monday night's meeting, where all this transpired, asked what would the senate do to get a paper out if I was fired, he was told that I would be replaced...replaced by someone appointed by SGA. The Student Government would then completely control the paper. Cullowhee's version of Tass. Sources in SGA have told me that .their fellow government officials are "trying to make a point" by firing me. That's a quote. This is all "junior high crap," I've been told, but the Senate seems determined to go through with it. My point is this: Elections are next Wednesday. Consider carefully who you vote for. The present administration is a joke. I know; I've dealt with it. Todd Davis is V01& I tH I \E GOT A FRENCH CLA5S TtfJS f*>RNuV6 AROUND MERE* Thanks, Cheerleaders Dear Editor, The 1984-1985 cheerleaders want to say an enthusiastic "thank-you" for all who supported our Athletic Teams. Band, you are our #1 Booster - thanks! WWCU - you are a favorite supporter and Cat Backer. Western Carolinian, you and the staff have been most supportive of our activities. Thank-you Big Cat Club and Tom Bommer. Thanks to the Book Store for your generous support. And finally, students thanks for being such Rowdy Fans. Keep the spirit! Our Love, 1984-1985 Cheerleaders Hello Students, You need a choice. Thats why I'm running for Vice President of SGA. That's right fellow students, a choice between- the better of two candidates. Let me tell you about my decision to run. As corny as this may seem, I really care about the students here at Western. I want to see the best for the students here. I want to see them represented in the best manner possible by an administrator that caters to their needs and not the needs of themselves. Since I've been involved with SGA I have seen people much more concerned about their own selfish needs than with the needs of the students which they were elected or appointed to serve. This has put a bad taste in my mouth about SGA. But I believe that there are people on this campus who can work for the real interest of the students here at Western. But many times these people will not get involved to make a change. That's why I feel it is crucial that I am elected for the job of the Vice- President. I believe I understand the job of Vice President and what its responsibilities are to the campus. Through a number of discussions with Diane Singleton, our current Vice President, I have gotten a real feel for the job. Also in my tenure as Reynolds dorm senator I have gotten the chance to observe the functions of the Vice President within the Senate meetings which are so important to this campus. While it is not a job which dictates policy such as the president, there is another reason which is crucial to SGA. That is the voice of the students within the Student Government Association. The ear of the campus, so to speak. It will be my job to assure- that the interest of the students are well represented in the Administration of Student Government. If 1 am elected and given the chance to participate as the vice president of the Senate, it will be my job and my responsibility and my genuine concern to assure the Senators that there voice is heard within the SGA. Also the job has the responsibility of putting various Senators on the different committees which insure that when a problem arises within the student body that it is heard by objective and competent students who look after the interest of the students which they serve. During the past year I have worked on three committees which have given me the insight into their objectives and procedures and have shown me how important these committees can be. Believing that my experience has given me the necessary skills to hold the office of the Vice President, I believe that I am the best man for the job. While understanding that my experience within the Senate has given me the opportunity to be the voice of the students, it also gave me a chance to see some of the inherent problems within the present administration. While I will concede that major steps were made to improve SGA, some problems still exist. Mainly the Student Administration's lack of concern for students and organizations which are affected by the various resolutions which go through the Senate. A good example of this has happened just recently. A resolution which was sponsored by the Executive Office of SGA to freeze the traveling funds of the WCU Cheerleaders was proposed. As a Senator I ^understood the need to look into this matter. It was my OULde rstanding that the Cheerleaders had no idea that any such action was being taken. "I his is wrong. When legislation is being proposed one of my platforms is to assure that every party involved is contacted and given an ample chance to respond or to sit down with SGA without involving the Senate; unless a compromise cannot be worked out. A lack of communication is the problem with the Cheerleaders. This was also the case earlier this year when the SGA moved to change the constitution of the Western Carolinian. Many problems could have been aleviated if there had been an open channel of communication between these two powerful organizations. What is starkly clear with these problems is that the administration presently in power is completely oblivious to the idea • of Good offices. Offices where any matter proposed against any club or organization is given a chance to be worked out before major steps are taken, such as bringing it before the Senate. As I made my decision to run give the students here at Western a choice and a voice. I also understood the consequences >f I were to lose. If I lose, I lose everything. You the students will have one less voice within the continued on page 3 to

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: 1985-03-28
  • Date digitized: 2019-02-28
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.75" x 15"
  • Pages: 10 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_1985-03-28_Vol49_No24
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library