1987-10-08

              The Recor

OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY October 8,1987                             Volume 100                                   Number 9

norvprofit organization U.S.   POSTAGE

PAID

Permit No. I

Collegevllle. Minn.

Collegeville, MN

Photo by Lance Swanke

Ground broken for new student apartments

Ground was broken last Monday for the new apartment-style dormitories. Construction of the $1.4 million structure has already begun, with completion slated for August 1988. Pictured from left are SJU President Hilary Thimmesh, OSB and Roman Paur, OSB, SJU vice president for student affairs.

Heating problems plague Tommy Hall, Seidenbush

by M.A. Holscher

Residents of Tommy Hall and the Seidenbush Apartments could face a chilly fall if current conditions are not changed. The two buildings are without heat because of construction to the tunnel systems near the SJU power plant.

Joe Moriarity, SJU senior and resident of Seidenbush 7, said this week that he and his housemates have been trying a number of ways to stay warm. "At nighttime it's gotten very cooL It has prompted us to turn on the oven and open the oven door so that we can stay warm. One of my housemates even got an electric blanket to put on his bed at night," Moriarity said.

Gordon Tavis, OSB, SJU director of buildings and grounds, said that he could not comment on the specifics of the problem; but he did say, "there's a little piece of something somewhere (in the tunnel system) that's preventing heat from getting to the buildings and I'm not sure what that is."

Tavis said he was aware that the problem in Seidenbush is the result of the recent construction on the tunnel system. "We have constructed a tunnel from the power plant to the Butcher Shop which carries both electricuy arid steam. Seidenbush has a tunnel running to theButcher Shop. In order to get heat to that area, we have to hook that tunnel up. But I can't comment on the specifics of when that will be done," Tavis said.

Ida Johnson, SJU executive housekeeper, explained that "all of the heat systems are open and •it will take awhile to fuse all of the ducts together. At first, they were saying about a week and a half."

Tavis said the tunnel construction contributing to the heat problem will most likely continue through October. "The tunnel is expected to be done by the end of October. It's right on schedule," he said.

Mike Hughes, SJU freshman and Tommy Hall resident, told The Record, "I can't believe how

SJU receives grant for alcohol program

By Robert Speltz

SJU has been awarded a 551,101 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to improve and supplement an existing drug and alcohol preven-tionprogram for students, faculty and staff at SJU. According to Robert Kemmerling, SJU director of counseling and career services, the grant was obtained through the Fund of the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education and will extend over a two-year period.

Theprogram, titled'TrojcctlnvoIvement: Saying a Louder No to Drugs and Alcohol," was formally initiated in Septrmber and will, said Kemmerling, "try to more aggressively address and change an existing perception that SJU is a student community where chemical use is expected and abuse tolerated."

According to Kemmerling, John McLaughlin, founder and former CEO of the Benton Hall Corporation in Nashville, TN, will be hired .this week as a Drug Prevention Program Coordinator. "His specific duties will be to coordinate the activities of the grant," said Kemmerling. In addition, six volunteer subcommittees, dubbed the Program Consulting Taskforce, have formed to oversee, provide input and direction in the implementation of the grant, as well as to assist McLaughlin. The six committees are composed

of SJU/CSB faculty, students and staff and represent the following areas: assessment and evaluation, resident student issues, community and off-campus students, faculty and staff, coaches and student athletes and video and major committee.

In official documents submitted with the grant application, Kemmerling stated that a need for an improved alcohol prevention program exists at SJU.

"Inspiteofourcurrentatternptsateducationaland preventative programming, we continue to see signs that drug and alcohol use and abuse are a significant problem at SJU."

Kemmerling states two factors which "make this program particularly timely for SJU." Cited was the accident that occurred last year, when two senior students, after a party, were killed while sleeping on a local railroad line. The second factor involves the recent change in Minnesota State Law which effectively raised the legal age for alcohol possession and consumption from 19 to 21.

The documents submitted by Kemmerling point out that program participation and objectives will be achieved in part through incentives aimed at students. "Program objectives will be achieved by providing positive incentives and rewards for

choosing to say lNo' to theuseof drugs and abuse of alcohol."

Some specific program incentives include establishing a drug-and alcohol-free dormitory for 50 students, who would sign a pledge promising to abstain from chemical use and would submit to random drug testing. The apartment-style dormitory currently being constructed at SJU is being considered for such a program. The building, according to the proposal, will feature Nautilus equipment as an added incentive to avoid chemical use. With occupancy expected in September of 1988, upperclassmen would have the opportunity to signup in the annual housing lottery, held in the spring.

The program also includes the creation of an 8 -10 minute videotape that focuses on changing student and community attitudes about drug and alcohol use. The targeted audience will be prospective and first-year students. The film would then be incorporated into freshmen orientation sessions.

In addition, the proposal highlighted several objectives which Kemmerling said will be addressed over the next two years. The proposal said the grant would assist in supporting and encourag-

Grant

continued on page 4

cold it is in this building. I have to wear sweatshirts just to walk around. It's hard to believe I pay money-for this. I could be home freezing for free."

Judy Karasch, SJU director of student services, said she is concerned about the possible need to give students a partial refund on housing fees. "If it comes to that, we'll be meeting with the business office to discuss it. And if it continues to be cool in those dorms, there might be a good case for it," Karasch said. "For right now, we're still pursuing ways of providing heat. Clearly, it's quite chilly."

Karasch said she is presently working with the business office to provideheat as soon as possible. "It is certainly a concern of mine and everyone else in the office."

SJU prepares for accreditation visit

By Greg Fugate

The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, an accrediting commission for institutions of higher education, will be visiting the campuses of SJU and CSB in November of 1988. Through two separate committees (one for each school), the commission, which visits SJU and CSB every ten years, will provide "comprehensive and focused evaluation" of the two schools.

In anticipation of the North Central evaluation, SJU and CSB have formed a 16-member committee comprised of administrators, faculty members and senior Bob Christensen, president of the student senate, to do a preliminary self-study of the two schools. The committee, headed by Carmela Franklin, associate professor of history and classics, has been subdivided into four groups which will examine student life, faculty, curriculum and finances at SJU and CSB. The committee hopes to complete their report this winter, and pending approval by SJU President Hilary Thimesh, OSB this report will become the main reference for the

Pfioto by Jeff Brzozowski

Judy Karasch, chairwoman for student life sub-committee

North Central commission in their evaluation process.

According to committee chair Franklin, the commission will probably be on the two campuses for about three days. During those three days NCAS members (educators from schools similar to SJU and CSB, but outside of Minnesota) will meet

Accreditation

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