The Pendulum
Thursday, March 20, 1986
Volume XII, No. 22
Ion students offer
ax assistance
Frank Isley
n Editor
I’s tax time again, and for the
sal year in a row the Elon Ae
rating Association is par-
ng in the Volunteer In-
me Tax Assistance program
ITA). .
VITA is a nationwide program
ered in conjunction with the
inial Revenue Service that
Dvides assistance on simpje tax
turns, primarily to people
thlow incomes,, the elderly,
■English speaking people and
Bdicapped taxpayers. The pro-
un started Feb. 17 and ends
irch 28.
Tiirough the program,
rfents are given the opportuni-
evaluate the data that is
ought in and determine how to
ipare it,” said Hal Brock, a
itifled public accountant and
iistant professor of accounting.
I is the type of program that is
neficial to the students as well
being a service to the com-
unity.”
“It is also helpful to students as
) pursue jobs and can help
wn in fiiture jobs,” said Sally
iwn, a master’s of business ad
ministration student and coor
dinator of the Elon program.
According to Brock, the
students in the program are
predominantly senior accounting
students, although juniors who
' have completed a course in basic
taxation, are also involved.
The students received a short
training session from the Internal
Revenue Service and the North
Carolina Department of Revenue
before the program began. A
VITA hotline is available for
students to use if they have any
technical questions in filling out
the tax forms. Brock said.
“The students must be familiar
with the provisions of the tax
code and with the various state
and federal forms they must
prepare,” said Brock. “They are
also tested to assure they unders
tand the methodology and pro-
ceedures in filing returns.”
However, Brock said the
students have been running the
program by themselves.
“When preparing the remrns,
each student works with another
to assure no mistakes are made,”
he said. “Each student is required
to participate one and a half hours
Photo by Joe Coco
TIME TO FILE: Elon Student Susan Farrington helps Meg Henderson of Burlington fill out
her income tax forms during a session of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
per week and there are normally
three or four students managing
the site, in Duke 101, during the
scheduled times.”
Brock said the students evaluate
a person’s overall tax situation; if
it involves very complex transac
tions, they recommend the person
seek professional help.
“Each of the tax returns has a
VITA stamp on them so when
they reach the IRS they go to a
special department where they are
processed,” he said. “To date,
we have not been advised of any
errors.’
According to Brock, last year
approximately 50 returns were
filled out for various people. He
estimates there will be 50 to 60
tax returns completed this year.
“We are anticipating a large
turnout during the last week,
he said.
Joard appoints new youth trustee
Michele Lashley
Writer
lit new youth trustee was
W during the biannual Elon
*ge Board of Trustees meeting
March 5.
^ Purdy, a senior business
j^fnent major, was chosen
‘K board to serve during the
year youth trustee term.
Ifflecstatic,” said Purdy. “I
J^'ng to try to support the
school as best as I can during my
term on the board.” Purdy add
ed that the biggest honor “was
being chosen over my peers,
because there are a lot of people
in the class of ‘86 that could do
an excellent job on the board.
The election process of the
youth trustee begins with sending
out a form to all seniors which re
quests nominees for the position.
The candidates that will be
presented to the board are decid
ed upon after the forms have been
completed. The youth trustee is
then chosen by the board based on
the student’s academic record as
well as his/her involvement m
campus activities.
The two youth trustees that sit
on the board have all the respon
sibilities of the regular board
members. Amy Burch is the other
youth trustee that will sit on the
board with Purdy. Her term runs
out next spring.
Purdy will become an official
member of the board on June 1.
His first responsibility will be to
attend the October board
meeting.
'r
■■A
Paul Purdy
r
Operation Raleigh
Elon student accepted
to world relief program p-
R-O-C-K in Greensboro
John Cougar
concert reviewed p.5