1988-10-20

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Saint John's University

Abbot goes to Rome / 3 The tireless Tupa / 8 Viva la Independent /12

Official student newspaper of Saint John's University, Collogevllle, Minnesota

October 20, 1988 / Volume 101 / Number 10

DNR grant goes to restore wetlands

By Matt McKinney Staff Writer

S JU has received a grant of up to $20,000 from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this year to construct a wetlands area on the south side of the entrance road which borders Interstate 94. The wetlands, a type of marsh, will serve the dual purpose of providing a habitat for various wildlife and the cleaning of waste water leaving the S JU campus, said Paul Schweitz, OSB, SJU land manager.

Schweitz sees the wetlands construction as an enhancement to the existing wildlife sanctuary at

SJU. "It will really enhance the wildlife potential of this area. The open marshland will provide breeding, nesting and feeding grounds for many species of waterfowl, song birds and furbearers. Wildlife species such as bitterns, egrets, geese, mallards, marsh wrens, wood ducks, blue- winged teal, possibly trumpeter swans, minks and musk-rats will be major benefactors." Schweitz stressed the importance of the wetlands area since wetland" acreage in this country is decreasing. "Farmers all over the country have drained wetlands in an attempt to tame the land. What they have done is greatly reduced that niche for waterfowl. Being a game refuge, we have a responsibility to provide a habitat for these waterfowl."

The wetland area will also provide an important service to the human population as it cleans the waste water leaving the campus. Schweitz was concerned about the water used on campus and then dumped into the Watab creekek since it isrich in phosphates and contains potentially harmful nutrients. "Wherever there are people there will be waste water. You have to purify the water and the best way is the natural way," said Schweitz, who 'explained that the wetland area will filter the excess nutrients from the water. "The marsh will jbe a 'phosphorous sink' which will further use up any residual nutrients (mostly phosphates) in the water leaving the waste treatment plant on campus. It is a good way of purifying the water and reducing the amount of pollution sent down-Grant continued on page 5

Paul Schweitz, OSB, SJU land manager. (Photo by Merlin Roers)

The senator speaks

Minnesota Independent-Republican senator Dave Durenberger made a brief campaign stop at SJU last Thursday, Oct 13. A1955 graduate of SJU, Durenberger was raised in Collegeville where both his parents were

employees Of SJU. (Photo by Lance Swanke)

SJU promotes 'safe sex'

Pamphlet calls for the use of condoms

By Michael Atkins StafTWriter

Recently distributed safe sex booklets have sparked questions about the SJU administration's role in preventing AIDS and other sexually transmitted disease on campus.

Approximately 900 of the informational booklets, entitled Sex on Campus: Sexually Transmitted Disease, were purchased by the Office of Student Affairs and were sent to all SJU students through the Campus Life Office.

Cletus Connors, OSB, director of residential programs, explained the book's purpose. "It was simply meant as an educational device for the students," he said. 'The administration thinks that sexually transmitted disease (STD) is an important subject and students should be informed on it as much as possible."

The 14-pagebook, a report from the Public Agenda Foundation, outlined the epidemic of sexually transmitted disease. It stated that "according to the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an average of 33,000 people are infected with STDs every day. That adds up to 12 million new cases a year." Furthermore, it documents that "in the year 1991, 54,000 Americans are expected to die of AIDS—an annual loss comparable to the death toll of the entire Vietnam War."

SEX ON CAMPUS:

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE

SURVIVING THE EPIDEMIC OF THE 1980s

PRIftu

THE SYMPTOMS, UMIHT

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To combat the spread of sexually transmitted disease,5ex0rtCampw^reportsthatcondomshave become the first line of defense. "When used properly," it states, "condoms can also be effective in preventing the passage of germs causing

gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, hepatitis-B and the AIDS virus. The book also provides detailed

Sex

continued on page 5

Club funds announced

By Tony Collins StaffWriter

Club allocations for the 1988-89 academic year are nearly complete, said Joint Funding Board (JFB) co-chair Dan Becker. The JFB has a total working budget of $138,000, with each campus contributing $69,000.

TheSJS's and SAB's final amount received from the student activities fee has not yet been determined because it will incorporate money absorbed from the past two years and also concede money for those studying abroad. Becker said he expects "amuchlargercarry-overfromthepasttwo years."

Allocationrequesls amounted to $140,206, but the initial amount allotted was $106,440. The balance of the JFB after this first distribution was $31,560 excluding late allocations.

"We did make cuts [in allocation requests]. If the money allocated isn't sufficient to cover all the things they want to do in their club and if they can't get any fundraising events organized, they are welcome to come back to us. We set aside some money because we know that not everyone can budget perfectly for what they're going to be spending,'* said Becker.

The JFB welcomes meeting with clubs "every two weeks to hear their requests for funding." Becker

Allocations

continued on page 5