Board approves construction of student center
At its April 6th meeting, the CSB Board of Trustees resolved that it approve the construction of a student center if the Finance Committee find such construction fundable. On April 17th the Financial Committee ratified this action.
"We're under way," said Michael J. Ryan, chairman of the Student Center Committee. According to Ryan, Peter L. Truszinski of St. Cloud is presently designing the schematic drawings for the center. When the drafts have been completed, the project will open for bids, a contractor will be hired, and construction will begin.
"If all goes .well," Ryan projected, "the building should be complete by late next fall."
According to original sketches, the student center will be split level with a post office located at the entrance. Each student and faculty member will have her individual, combination-locked mailbox located here.
A coffee house will cover approximately 2050 square
feet, accommodating 100-120 people. Facilities will include a well furnished snack bar.
The remainder of the upper level will be used for SAB and
of tke COLLEGE OF ST. BENEDICT
Vol.1
May 10. 1973
No. 1
Resident projections were ^pfeSented'lo" the Administrative Group at its March 21st meeting. Sister Mary Mark Donovan, dean of women, estimated that 605 presently enrolled students would apply for'73 housing.
With 893 beds available on campus, this leaves only 288 spaces for new students. As of May 1, the number of matriculants has reached 545. Assuming approximately 35 of these students will be commuters, this means that 131 new students will be without beds. Where does the college intend to put them?
James Sassen, vice-president for development and finance, announced that the college has purchased a house in St. Joseph near the campus. "We are also considering the purchase of a second home," he said. These two units will accomodate 16 students.
In addition, the college is presently negotiating with the convent concerning the purchase of the high school dormi-
tory. A settlement should be reached soon. (This building will house 80 additional students.)
Even with these additional housing units, there will be more students than there are beds available. With enrollments dropping at colleges throughout the nation. Dr. Idzerda, calls the CSB situation "his happy problem."
According to Michael Ryan, director of admissions, the Minnesota Higher Education Commission has reported that the number of 18 year olds who will graduate from Minnesota high schools in 1975 will drastically decrease from present numbers. ''With fewer students to draw from," said Ryan, "this will indeed affect our enrollment. It is necessary therefore, to even slightly overcrowd in these good years to counterbalance what may be leaner years ahead."
Also, beginning in 1974, larger classes will be graduating from CSB opening more housing for incoming students.
Fee Committee Fights Inflation
A committee was recently set up to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the activity fee for the 1973-1974 school year.
The committee, which includes both faculty and student representatives, will recommend that the fee remain at $50.00 per student
for the coming year, but that the distribution of the money be changed.
At the present time, 40% of the fee goes to the S.A.B., with the remaining 60% going to the Concert and Lectures Committee. Under the new system of division, three groups would be receiving an allocation from
Vitae offices, storage rooms and lavatories.
A bookstore will be situated on the lower floor occupying some 3400 sq. ft., approximately twice the size of the present CSB bookstore.
The projected location of the student center is the field to the north of the gymnasium and directly west of the high school. The committee has recommended this site because of its central location and its access to present gas and water lines. The physical education department however, has objected to this proposal because it will eliminate another of their playing fields. A final decision has not been reached.
The preliminary estimated cost of the building is $246,000. At the April 6th Board meeting Dr. Idzerda reported that he had told the Higher Education Coordinating Committee of the College's plan for a student center. The College would apply for gifts and grants in addition to asking HECCs support by means of another bond issue with the hope of securing it at 6% interest.
"The most pessimistic financial projection," said Mike Ryan, "is that we would have to borrow at commercial interest rates."
He is optimistic however, that the profits from the bookstore and coffee shop will take care of the amortization of the loan. "It shouldn^t cost the students or the college anything."
Several Trustees also suggested that extra profits from the student center be used toward other student services rather than be put into the general college fund. There was also some speculation that the Center should be run as a cooperative.
Fern Lit Funded
For the past few years, each Senior Class has given a gift to the College. This year's Seniors have decided to establish a "Feminist Literature Fund" with Cindy Stepan as chairwoman of the committee. According to Cindy, the reason for the decision was "because of the present emphasis on women in society, and also because it seemed to be in tune with the existing student interest on campus." Other Committee members are Mary Pat Huber, Jeanne Leifeld, Mary MeCormack and Mary Moore. They stressed that they were not exclusively concerned with writings on the Women's Lib movement. Proceeds will be used to purchase books and periodicals for the College library.
Selected by the six-person editorial board, Ms. Clare Rossini will head the new VITAE for 1973-74 school year. Clare is currently a freshman English major with three years of journalism experience.
f#
Bogged with FILR FWSP, EOG?
Worried about the financial future? Especially your financial aid? You will want to keep your eye on the federal appropriations committee and especially the date July 1. Currently this committee holds the purse strings on the proposed $872 million dollars, a figure for the national student financial aid. The decision to be reached will affect nationwide financial aid to college students.
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The major programs affecting CSB are:
EOG — Economic Opportunity Grants — grants of $100 to $1000 depending on need.
FWSP — Federal Work Study Program — the opportunity to work up to 16 hours per week (based on need.)
NDSL — National Direct Student Loan — low interest loans with a 10-year payment period (3%)
and the supplementing program is FILP, the Federally Insured Lending Program, (7% loans which Uncle Sam pays interest on while student is in school, again based on need).
The Nixon Administration wants to dump the first three mentioned programs in favor of a proposed Basic Opportunities Grant amounting to up to $1400 per year based on need determined by assets as well as income. The program favors those people who have no assets to those who might be "land or asset" poor. Therefore, the parent who owns property or land but whose income is substandard or below the level needed for
(continued on page 3)
Professional Dance Studio To Fuse with Liberal Arts -
Once again CSB is implementing a program which can be classified as truly unique. Scheduled to begin operation during Fall Term 1973 is a professional dance studio complementing the liberal arts program — perhaps the first such cooperative effort in the entire nation.
The new studio, which is designed to provide discipline and freedom necessary for thorough exploration of dance, will be staffed by three CSB faculty members. Marie Winc-kler will serve as studio director, Paula Rahders will be studio administrator and Terry Stoner will be company director.
For its first year of operation, the studio will be considered part of the Communications Department, Miss Winckler said, and the program's budget will be incorporated as part of depart-
mental operating costs. However, after the initial year, the studio will be independent of any departmental umbrella and operate under a separate budget. The studio will still be considered part of the College, however, and have full use of College facilities.
Fulltime professional dance students will be considered part of the CSB student population and therefore eligible for various student benefits.
Among the problems arising with the development of a new dance studio is that of inadequate space and facilities.
For the present, the studio will be housed in the Benedicta Arts Center and operate with existing facilities. However with projected dance enrollment increases, more space will eventually be necessary and additional facilities will have to be found.
