1986-09-18

              The Recor

OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY September 18, 1986                         Volume 99                                Number 7

ton-profit organization

U.S.   POSTAGE

PA ID

Permit No. i Collegcvllle. Minn.

Collegeville, MN

Senate commences thirtieth year

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Photo by Michael Laux, OSB

SJU Life Safety Services pull a Buick Riviera from the swimming beach of Lake Sagatagan.

Buick found in Lake Sagatagan

By Tom Johnson

A 1982 Buick Riviera was dragged from the Lake Sagatagan swimming beach Tuesday, Sept. 2. The car was discovered by three SJU students who were planning to take an early morning swim.

At approximately 4:30 a.m., SJU seniors Matt Kapsner, Frank Moga, and Pierre Willette saw light shining from under the water about five yards from the swimming platform. Said Willette, "We didn't know what the heck it was. We thought it was a UFO."

The students swam out to the lights and discovered that what they saw were the headlights and inside dome lights of the submerged car. Said Kapsner, "We were flabbergasted . . . totally dumbfounded."

After finding no one trapped inside the car, the three reported their finding to Life Safety Services. Ron Jonas, the security officer on duty at the time, investigated and summoned the Stearns County Sheriff.

According to Michael Laux, OSB, Director of Life Safety Services, tire tracks leading down the service road and onto the beach indicated that the car was driven into the lake only minutes before the students arrived.

A license check found that the car was driven by a teenage girl, who was later questioned by county officials. Laux refused to reveal the name of the girl and said that "everything is speculation" about what will happen to her. SJU will not take any disciplinary action.

Little change in alcohol policy

By Kelly Rasmussen

"We believe that alcohol should be part of our educational environment and that our policies reflect respect for Minnesota law, academic and residential priorities, limitations of space and receptiveness to learning.'—CS5 Every Woman's Guide, p. 82.

While SJU and CSB do have an established joint alcohol policy, its statements may seem a bit vague to those who are wondering what trfe rules and regulations really are. In an effort to clear up any misconceptions about the current policy, The Record spoke with Janine Thull, joint director of student activities.

"There are really not very many changes," explained Thull. The one major change in the policy from that of past years will be evident at the schools* formal dances such as homecoming and winter formal.

"The change will be that we will no longer sell champagne by the bottle but we will sell it by the glass," said Thull, adding that the primary reasoning behind the change was that alcohol sold by the bottle is consumed not only by the person who purchases the bottle but by his or her friends, who may be underage.

"We did not want to eliminate all the alcohol at this point," said Thull, noting that, during this school year, a majority of students will still be of legal drinking age. "We still want to give them that privilege," she said.

The three main student governing groups—the St. John's Senate, the Student Administrative Board and the Joint Events Council—began to meet with members of the administrations of the two schools two years ago in anticipation of a raise in the state's drinking age. The changes in the CSB/SJU alcohol policy were made after discussion among members of these groups and after students were given opportunities to express their views on the matter.

"We looked at it as a three year phase-in program," Thull said, explaining that, over the next three years, roughly 75 percent, then 50 percent and finally 25 percent of students will be of legal drinking age. "We'd like to do it gradually because we support responsible drinking; thus we want to continue making alcohol available on campus," she said.

As part of the phase-in program, Thull said she hopes to meet with the governing groups

Alcohol

continued on page 5

By M. A. Holscher

A 30-year tradition will be upheld Sunday night when the president of the St. John's Senate, Ray Benning, convenes the senate for its weekly session. The tradition is one based on a dedication to service, a commitment to leadership, and a concern for the well-being of the SJU student community.

Student government at SJU began in the 1950s with (he formation of the Student Advisory Council (SAC), a group of students appointed by the school administration to plan activities, organize events and discuss matters concerning student life. This appointed council gave way to an elected body which was reorganized only a few years ago and renamed the St. John's Senate.

Today's senate is made up of 16 members: three committees with five members each, and a president. Each of the three committees is responsible for addressing specific areas of student life. Besides presiding over senate meetings of the executive committee, the senate president acts as the chief administrator and executive director of senate activities.

"The senate is an autonomous group," said Roman Paur, OSB, SJU vice president for student affairs. "It has evolved increasingly into a student administrative body."

Paur said he sees three fundamental roles for the senate: administering and distributing the

student activity fee, directing and monitoring the judicial system and advising the administration on student interests.

"Since much of its business deals with day to day student concerns, I think the senate works closely with me ... (because) student affairs is closest to daily life of students on campus," said Paur.

Janine Thull, director of student activities and senate advisor, said she, unlike Paur, does not view the senate as an autonomous group. Rather, she sees it as a diverse body which meshes with many other groups and organizations on campus.

"The senators . . . are everywhere. They're involved in all aspects of student life and are affecting those areas greatly," said Thull.

Thull, who provides leadership training for senate members and acts as a resource for the group, said the senate's main strength is in providing "a sense of direction and purpose" for themselves and for other students on campus.

"In the past few years, they've increased communication a great deal with the faculty and administration through letters and conversation. They really, really want to attack issues and accomplish something. It's a slow process," she said.

Senate

continued on page 4

Master Plan causes physical changes on campus

By Mike Toulouse

Flynntown, the sight which greets people as they enter the SJU campus, looks different this year—two of its famous houses are gone. Actually, the Flynntown houses (destroyed in a practice session for OSB firefighters) played only a small part in all the changes that took place at SJU over the summer. And most of these changes, from the smallest detail of landscaping to the largest interior renovation, are part of a larger plan.

The Order of St. Benedict's Master Plan, a far-reaching plan for reshaping the appearance of the SJU campus, is reflected in almost all of the changes. Even the way the modifications were implemented reflects the Master Plan. Apparently, the plan is adaptable: some of the predicted changes were not made, and others came about sooner than expected.

Gordon Tavis, OSB, SJU treasurer explained the move of the Administrative Computing Center into Wimrner Hall as one example of the plan's adaptability. In May, officials reached a final decision about purchasing a computer, and Tavis (who is responsible for supervising the implementation of the Master Plan) had to make some adjustments. "Our timetable had to be moved up," said Tavis. Before Administrative Computing could assume its new home, the U.S. Post Office had to be moved. Thus another change—the new location of the Post Office in Rat Hall—is evident. This shuffling of office space, or "phasing," was praised by Tavis in a previous Record article.

Rat Hall will see more changes than just the addition of a new post office. It is the future home of ROTC, and the Record will be moved to another location in the building. Tavis said that the plans were just finished for the basement in consultation with Lee Tollefson, architect for one of the Master Plan's con-

sulting firms. The east side is nearing comple-

- tion, and it should be ready this month for

people to occupy it. Some work will continue

in the east side as normal activity resumes.

Plans for the Old Gym are extensive. They include a hallway running completely around the central core of the building. The locker rooms and future prep school equipment room will occupy this core. ROTC will take the west side of the basement, and various offices will be made in the east side.

Tavis said that ROTC will probably be moved by second semester. As for what will happen to the space in Engel Hall when it is left by ROTC, SJU President Hilary Thimmesh, OSB, has assigned a task force to do some planning. This task force has also been planning the future use of the first floor of Benet hall, and another separate task force is looking into a new student center. The recommendations of both task forces are now complete; the next stage of the process is in the hands of Thimmesh.

The changes range from the depths of Rat Hall to the heights of Fourth Quad. The Human Life Center moved out June 30. According to Tavis, this had nothing to do with the Master Plan, but when the Benedictines were faced with all the new space, the Master Plan outlined their priorities—classroom and office space. So now there are two classrooms, a seminar room, and three offices where the Human Life Center used to be. Media was moved into the remaining space, and Cyprian Weaver, OSB, has been given media's old room to expand his diabetes laboratory. Finally, Academic Computing rearranged its office design and expanded.

One change that has gone more slowly than

Master Plan

continued on page 4