1975-10-11

              RecorcI

STUDENT PUBLICATION OF ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY

VOLUME 88, NO. 7

• COLLEGEVILLE, MN  56321 •

October 11, 1975

BLASTS FOOD SERVICE, HOUSING DEPT.

Graff resigns as SEC Chairman

By John W. Arden

In a surprise move, Conrad Graff announced his resignation as Student Executive Council Chairman at the October 5 SEC meeting. Graff cited personal reasons and "wanting more time for myself as prompting the resignation.

In accordance with the SEC constitution, Dan Dorgan, chairman of the Judicial Board, will serve as temporary SEC Chairman until a replacement is chosen by the council. Within the next three weeks Graffs position, as well as the seats vacated by John Arden and Fred Mad-sen, will be filled by a special election tentatively set for late October.

In his farewell speech to the government Graff, a junior from

St. Paul, noted two major disappointments of his term, which began last February.

"I'm very sorry that we couldn't affect major changes in the Food Service and Housing Department," said Graff. "In my opinion (Food Service Director) Bette Almon and (Housing Director) Ida Johnson are as incompetent as hell. Neither are responsive or able to communicate with students."

Graff pointed -out that Mrs. Almon has a stack of napkins a foot deep on her desk, but had answered only a few all year. "We made an inquiry on the increase in food prices in the Refectory and Mary Cafe two days before school began and . haven't received a satisfactory reply yet," Graff said.

Johnnies still on top

By Joe Field

There has been quite a stir recently over a supposedly historic accomplishment by the Admissions Department and the freshman class of the College of St- Benedict. Rumor has had it *"at the Bennie frosh now outnumber their Johnnie counter-Parts, which would be a first in ^e history of the twin campuses.

"ell contrary to popular be-

'/ef'  this is  not   the   case.  The

ireshman class of St. John's is

f3 the larger of the two with

' -^ currently enrolled compared

the   474-member   freshman

Jennie crop. With a little math-

niatical manipulation this comes

°ut ^ just about a 10:9 Johnnie/

Bennie ratio, suggestive of a bit more "evening out" than the 17:11 ratio of the 1970 freshman classes indicated.

Continued increases in the size of the freshman class at St. Ben's and this year's drop in the freshman class at St. John's account for the narrowed gap. With CSB increasing and SJU pretty stabilized, it is predictable that, should the trend continue, within two years the freshman population at St. Ben's will match or surpass that of St. John's. If and when this does occur, it will mean a roll-over from the age-old position of Johnnies on top, Bennies underneath.

Conrad Graff

The outgoing chairman called the university Housing Office "the epitome of bureaucracy" and complained that even small matters such as unwrapped heating pipes and plumbing problems rarely received proper attention.

"Why does Fr. Michael (Bleck-er) wonder why more people are moving off campus? "Why isn't the on-campus enrollment what they expected this year?" Graff asked. "It's because of poor food and poor housing at high prices."

The resignation was made Sunday of Homecoming weekend, a triumph of sorts for the SEC and Graff personally. The Harry Chapin concert, besides being overwhelmingly popular, drew a good crowd. The dance and other activities were also well attended and came off well. But still, Graffs mood was one of resignation and relief.

"We've tried, but I'm sorry to say we haven't accomplished what we wanted to. Blame it on

the students, on the administration, or on the tradition at this school."

Graff questioned his former role and that of student government at St. John's. "Students should seriously question the need of an SEC and the need of a fifteen dollar activity fee," he commented. "I contend that fifteen individuals cannot legitimately spend $45,000 of student money annually."

"Instead I suggest they could give the entire budget to Student Affairs and have them do the job. Maybe engage a full time student director who would work forty hours a week and get paid for it, or earn credits for it," concluded Graff.

The Record has learned that several other SEC members will resign within two weeks, creating a turnover of almost half of the fifteen-man board.

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