PAGE 8 — THE DECREE — SEPTEMBER 22,1997
SGA holds its first meeting of year
By ROCHELLE ROSEN
Students, faculty, and staff
filed into the Board of Trustees
Room Monday morning last week
to attend the first meeting of the
Student Government Association.
After roll call, the first order
of business was to state the goals
of the SGA for this upcoming
year. SGA President Alan Garber
said that the SGA plans “to sup
port more things” this year. There
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infection, car accidents, and poor
academic performance.
LSU is not the only school that
has had to face what some school
administrators have called “na
tional humiliation.”
In this past year numerous stu
dent deaths due to binge drinking
are also plans to bring improved
entertainment to campus.
The SGA announced that they
are “99.9 percent sure” that co
median/actor Adam Sandler will
be starring in a show on campus
in October. Five hundred free
tickets will be available to stu
dents. Garber described having
Sandler on campus as, “having
one of the largest national stars.”
Nominations for the Finance
Committee were taken. These
have been reported.Frostburg
State University in Maryland re
ported the death of a 20-year-old
student who had drunk eight cups
of beer and 14 shots of Vodka in
two hours.
Clarkson University in New
York reported the death of a 17-
year-old who choked on his own
vomit and died.
nominations will stay open for a
week. There was also the nomi
nation of adding eight seats to the
government that will consist of
athletes from the eight different
NCAA sports on campus.
“Athletes represent a large
number of the student body,” said
Garber. Garber went on to ex
plain that due to rigorous practice
and game schedules athletes “lose
a voice but still have valuable in
put.”
School administrators are try
ing to figure out the appeal of
drinking so much. In an attempt
to rebut “party school” reputa
tions, several colleges and uni
versities across the country have
begun active campaigns to ban
drinking at all public functions
and others have started special
programs.
The University of Illinois has
started a program called “Alco
hol 101” which is targeted at col
lege freshman. This program,
funded by The Century Council,
takes students to a virtual party
via CD-RM technology. Here the
student is faced with the conse
quences of their alcohol-related
behaviors.
What is the North Carolina
Wesleyan College approach to
combating binge drinking?
According to Pam Corley, as
sistant dean of Student Life, the
first line of defense is a properly
trained staff.
“We train our staff to be aware
if they find a student who is not
responsive,” says Corley, “They
know that if there is a danger the
student is to go to the hospital.”
Corley described the issue of
drinking on the Wesleyan cam
pus as “a big issue that concerns
me.”
Although Corley would not
release an exact number of cases
that have occurred so far this year,
she did say that “underage drink
ing contributes 90-95 percent of
the time” to other incidences that
include domestic violence and
vandalism.
Corley said that “alcohol inci
dences on campus this year have
ranged from simple possession to
binge drinking.”
Experts who have been direct
ing school administrators as to
how to deal with this problem
agree that since students are un
likely to stop drinking all together,
teaching students to look out for
their friends remains the best way
to curb drinking incidences.
As a result the NCAA team
representatives would carry a vote
but they wouldn’t collect funds
from the SGA. The group voted
for the nomination on the basis
that the collaboration of the SGA
and athletic teams would increase
support of campus events.
Many who attended this meet
ing came for the main event, the
vote on whether or not to recog
nize G.L. Etc. (Gay, Lesbian,
Etc.).
G.L. Etc. President Richard
Cox began his presentation by
reading a letter he received from
President of the College, John
White. White described the in
duction of G.L.E. as “an impor
tant step forward.”
White also wrote that G.L.E.
“goes along with the strategic pur
pose and Wesleyan way that
moves to confirm the feeling of
community.” He encouraged the
support of “various groups” and
stated that a person’s sexuality is
a “complex gift.”
White ended his letter by say
ing that Wesleyan “has a respon
sibility to recognize the gay and
lesbian students as a sacred gift”
who may make us “discover more
about ourselves.”
Cox went on to read from the
G.L.E. constitution that plans to.
“educate the general campus com
munity,” as well as “unite the gay
and lesbian student body.”
When the floor was open to
discussion, there was a deadly si
lence. Dean of Students Pam
Corley was first to speak. Corley
said, “Addition of a group like
this will help support a popula
tion we don’t think about.”
Many in attendance were sup
portive. The vote will take place
today at 10:30 a.m. in the BB&T
Room.
Storm damage leaves
havoc inside cafeteria
(Continued from Front Page) make sure that the SAC became
an acceptable temporary location
the entire roof would have to be for dining. The tables were cov-
replaced. the floor recarpeted, and ered with linens and fresh flow-
ihe electrical system completely ers were placed upon them be-
overhauled. Several appliances fore every meal. The food was
were damaged, such as the toaster upgraded to help diners forget
and the microwave oven, but hiost some of the inconvenience as well
importantly it was impossible for as the lack of sufficient air condi-
food preparation to take place tioning in the SAC building,
anywhere in the kitchens. Wesleyan was also supplied with
The Director of Food Service, useful equipment by Coca-Cola
Todd Meiners, explained how his and Pepsi who provided satellite
team faced the challenge. machines for soft drinks.
“It was a very hectic time for Evening supervisor and cook,
the staff and myself,” he said. Joyce D. Bobbitt, explained what
“Many decisions had to be made the staff had to go through that
about how we would cater for the week.
incoming students.” “Doc’s was used to cook some
Marriot staff had to make of the food since the cafeteria had
quick plans to ensure that the no power. Moving the food to
Wesleyan students arriving for the and from the Student Activity
•fall semester would-continue to Center wasn’t the hard part. Keep-
rcccivc the kind of scrvice they ing the food hot every meal was
cxpoctcd. For ll\e lime when the more difficult,” Bobbitt said, add-
rcpairs were l?eing made, all meals ing that the staff worked more
were served in the Sludcni Activ- hours than usual,
ity Center. The preparation and “Instead of arriving an hour
cooking of the meals was distrib- early to cook, we had to arrive
uted throughout-the various com- three hours earlier,” she said,
numity buildings on campus Because of the staffs work-
where kitchen facilities were ing 12-hour shifts and dedicating
available. themselves to making dining as
“The staff really came through pleasant as possible, the storm
when we needed it the most,” said damage to the cafeteria did not
Meiners. Everyone agreed that all have disastrous results. The
the meals were hot, tasty and Wesleyan community was grate-
ready on time. ' ful for the outstanding response
Staffalso worked diligently to . shown by the cafeteria team.
“We’re looking for
a few good people.”
Are you interested in having fun, laugli-
ing a lot, and helping out, too? There is
a space for you on the Campus Activi
ties Board. We can always use help and
input in the movie selections and activ
ity selections. Also, it’s a great way to
have fun and meet others.
Take some time, think about getting
involved in an organization where you
can help choose the campus entertain
ment!
For more info, or if you’d like to join
the Campus Activities Board (CAB), call
5227!
Binge drinking increases