Newspapers / St. Andrews University Student … / Sept. 30, 1983, edition 1 / Page 2
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2 September 30, 1983 The Lance The Lance Comment Communication: A Two Way Street Communication is an essential element at St. Andrews. Without a process for communicating ideas, the concept of an education would be nothing more than a force. However, we must not believe that the classroom is the on ly place communication should occur. Communication among and between students, faculty and the administra tion alike is necessary to transform St. Andrews from a school into a community of people working and living together. “The Lance” is a communication forum for the entire St. Andrews community. News is to be reported, events shared, plans announced and the expression of opinions is encouraged using “The Lance” as a tool. In the first few issues of “The Lance”, a number of issues have been brought to the attention of the St. An drews community. These issues have been varied and in some manner linked to an aspect of life here at St. An drews. Although many of these issues may have been controver sial, they were reported a straight forward manner. Com plaints were reasonably thought through and usually sug gestions and alternatives were offered for consideration. The idea was that once these issued were presented to everyone, thought would be generated and action taken where it was appropriate. Even if no action was to follow, “The Lance” believed that reasons defending the opposite point of view would also be reasonably presented. A few examples include: student’s lack of input on im portant decisions, Propst’s and McComb’s letter concer ning the Hghts and telephones, and the issues being raised concerning the planned revisions of the SAGE 402 course. In all fairness, it must be noted that the new parts for the lights have been manufactured and should be installed soon. Also, new alternatives to the archaic lighting system are being explored. Even while the articles concerning the SAGE issue were at the press, the faculty and students were holding public forums to address the problems and find sensible solutions to them. Already, the SAGE 402 team has accepted two student initiated changes in the revi sion and work is continuing to help make student input a part of the new program. But what of the telephones and lack of student input on important issues. Has the administration chosen i to overlook our carefully constructed questions on key issues? Let us hope not! We could understand if there was no response to a number of childish gripes, but our thoughts were well organized and articulated in a clear fashion. We are now asking for some recognition for our diligent and time con suming work. “The Lance” is dedicated to keeping the St. Andrews community informed of all the events that effect the peo ple living here. But, we must not forget that communica tion is a two-way street. “The Lance” feels as if it has done its part in a mature, responsible fashion. Now it is the ad ministration’s turn. Rick Hanna (for the Editorial Staff) Defying Gravity David Propst David Propst is on vacation. He will return in ttie next issue of the Lance. Budget Process Continues Positive Student Involvement By Dave Saunier We have been here at St. Andrews about four weeks now and already we have had a score of issues spring up around campus to start off our year. The lights that don’t work, and a surprise SAGE 402 program. How have we reacted to these situations? The phone service, ob viously inadequate, adversely affects students, parents, and faculty, and since such a broad range of individuals associated with the college are affected, it has not taken long to get action. The Stu dent Life Office in coopera tion with the Student Association, Burris, Work Study, and the Business Of fice has designed a plan to solve the problem. This will go before the President of the College for his approval and will hopefully be im plemented on or around September 30. The lighting problem ‘began to take place this sum mer and the parts needed to fix them were ordered at that time. As is our luck this style of light is no longer made and the parts have to be manufactured especially for us. General Electric told Ver non Davis, the head of Maintenance, that the parts would arrive September 21. They did not. The parts are now due September 27, so if in fact they do arrive on time, the lights should ac tually be fixed as you read this (I hope). The SAGE 402 plan caus ed a bit of an uproar mostly as a result of the manner and time that the proposal was brought before the students. The Student Association organized a Question and Answer period between the students and the SAGE 402 team followed by a student mass meeting to discuss the situation. As a result of the mass meeting the Student Association sent the SAGE team a memo proposing two concrete revisions, 1) the project date be extended this year from October 14th to November 7th and 2) the six hour exam be broken up into at least two different segments. The third point in the memo was that all things possible should be done to assure that the “option” re mains open to all students to do a project or the seminar, and results of surveys of the students and faculty indicate that in fact it will. Copies of the memo are posted on the new Student Association Bulletin Boards which are the primary vehicle of com munication between the Stu dent Association Officers and the full Student Associa tion membership. The light and phone situa tions were such obvious pro blems to a large group of people associated with St. Andrews that action on these problems did not take long. The SAGE situation was different, and any action in regards to it had to come from the students. We collec tively reacted. Seventy-five or so students making their feelings known at the mass meeting is what was necessary for our proposals to the SAGE team to be ac cepted. If only ten people had shown up our proposed revisions would have had lit tle weight. If 724 students had shown up our proposals would be extremely powerful and may have been different. It was the collective action that brought about this change, and it will be only through such collective response that any changes will take place in the future. The Lance Editor Rick Hanna Assistant Editor Maureen Ingalls Features Editor Sally Schiel Assistant Features Leslie Palmer Sports Editor Christie Williams Science Editor David Propst Photo Editor Patrick Voswinkel Assistant Photo Craig Piccola Art Editor .'. Jan St. Pierre Layout Editor Kim Lutian Business Manager BobDascombe Steve VIbert Advisor jim McDuffie The opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily those of THE LANCE, college, or student body, but are of the signed individuals. THE LANCE welcomes and en courages responses to the material in this publication, but • reserves the right of editorial freedom as governed by I responsible journalism. C
St. Andrews University Student Newspaper
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Sept. 30, 1983, edition 1
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