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The Record
April 9,1987
SJS
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good idea that they are getting a new advisor. The way it was done was more a flexing of muscles than an effective act of student government."
Thull said, "I was never confronted with any of their concerns," to which West responded, "We've talked to her several times during the year. It didn't get us anywhere."
Putting aside the specific allegations against Thull, West sees a larger issue at stake. He commented, "Even if the letter was complete misinformation, which it wasn't, the senate should be able to choose its own advisor."
Some senators see Thull's relationship with the administration as a restriction of the SJS's autonomy. Mike Sweeney, SJS senior and '86-87 member, stated, "In the last two years, we've been seen as somewhat of an advisory council. The senate was designed to work in conjunction with the administration. The role has evolved into one of advisory status."
Bob Christensen, SJU junior and '87-88 SJS president, said that "we 're lacking credibility" due to the perceived lack of autonomy.
During a meeting with Benning, Christensen, Creen and West on March 31, Paur said, "You should be accusing me of all of that. If you have a problem with administration, you should be saying, "The vice president is interfering with our autonomy and freedom."' Paur also said, "If you're saying that it's the senate's perogative to establish how it will relate to the adminis-
tration, you're wrong. It's not."
Paur added, "The student senate does not function out there with its own rules. To ask that the student senate be autonomous is a misnomer." (This statement contradicts a statement that Paur made in the Sept. 18, 1986 edition of The Record, in which he said, "The senate is an autonomous group. It has evolved increasingly into a student administrative body.")
At the same meeting, Paur said to the senators, "You cannot hire an administrator. You cannot fire her. You cannot redirect her responsibilities. Got it?" He added, "What you have done is destructive to the process. It's destructive to Janine. It's destructive to the new senate."
Although Paur and Thull feel that the SJS decision is not binding, some senators feel otherwise. At the first meeting of the *87-88 SJS last Sunday, Christensen said, "As I interpret it, we don't have an advisor."
Acting on this assumption, the SJS formed a committee that will develop criteria to be used for selecting an advisor. The committee will eventually recommend an advisor. West said that the '87-88 SJS "can pick Janine or anyone else."
Many senators would like to see a faculty member as an advisor to the SJS, as was the case several years ago. "Right " away you should be able to see the advantage of that. They know the ins and outs of structure and procedure,'' S weeney said. He al so commented that a faculty advisor, as opposed to an advisor from the administration, would "give us more of an equal position rather than one of inferiority that we enjoy now."
Skip speaks against drugs
Hubert H. Humphrey HI, Minnesota attorney general, took a stand against drugs Tuesday night at the SBH.
Tennis courts to be replaced
By Gabriel Flynn
According to Roman Paur, OSB, vice president for student affairs, new outdoor tennis courts are likely to be constructed to replace the present ones.
The main reason for constructing new tennis courts is the deterioration of the present courts. The need to replace the old courts is growing, as many problems inherited from their original construction have been discovered. Shifting of the courts has occurred because of a faulty foundation, and numerous live spots and dead spots have been found.
"The base was not laid correctly. They are breaking up, and they need a lot of attention. The engineers are saying that they are not worth fixing because they are always going to have these problems," said Paur.
The location of the new courts has already been decided. The master plan has slated the new tennis courts for the site of the old ones. In order to accommodate the needs of the university, the proposal suggests the addition of eight courts rather than the present six, all of which are to occupy the space of the old courts. This had posed a minor problem, but Paur said, "We have taken that problem to some engineers, and they say we can do it."
The major obstacle in constructing new tennis courts is funding. Paur said, "We do not know what they would cost yet. My guess would be somewhere between 100-150 thousand dollars."
In spite of the cost, there is much support for the addition of new tennis courts. The St. John's Senate voted earlier this year-to support the recommendation for new tennis courts, and the Student Affairs Advisory Council also unanimously supported the idea.
Paur said, "I brought this idea before the parents' council at the beginning of the year, and they thought that new tennis courts were a very good idea and that it
Photo by Teresa Hess
Construction is likely to begin this summer on eight new tennis courts to replace the current ones. The new courts will be located in the same space as the current ones.
should be considered a high priority."
When asked when the construction of the new courts will begin, Paur said, 'The earlier we have them, the better the long term advantage. I am hoping that we are able to begin this summer."
Paur also added that the need for new courts is great because the chance of injury from playing on the old surface is increasing. 'There is an insurance issue because of the safety factor," said Paur. "The courts heave and they are dangerous. We cannot properly fix the present courts. They will not last and we should not be using them now."
The proposal has also found support from the athletic department. "(Tennis coach) Dick Schroeder and other athletic coaches
think it is a good idea to have good outdoor courts," said Paur. "New tennis courts are good for the varsity tennis program, and they are also seen as an advantage in recruitment through the possibility of developing summer tennis camps. It would be nice to have good tennis courts on campus, because tennis is a sport that is consistent with our philosophy of athletic programing in developing long term leisure life and recreational interest."
A source of funding for the new tennis
courts has not yet been found. Paur expects
final decisions on the proposal to be made this spring.
Replacement for Fecht sought
By Michael P. Kosir
Three members of the monastic community and an SJU senior have applied for the position as SJU director of residential programs. Geoffrey Fecht, OSB, present residential director, announced a few weeks ago that he would step down from his position in order to seek his ordination.
"Four people filed applications before the deadline of March 31," said Roman Paur, vice president for student affairs. The monastic applicants include Cletus Conners, OSB, present faculty resident (FR) on third Tommy; Paul Fitt, OSB, present FR on second Tommy; and Tony Hellenburg, OSB. Al 1 are members of the mon as tic community. The fourth application was received from SJU senior Joe Germscheid.
Qualifications for the position include a minimum of a bachelor's degree. It is also stated in the official job description that "preference will be given to members of the monastic community of St. John's." Another requirement not presently stated in the job description is that "the residential director must be a freshman faculty resident while having the job," said Paur.
A review committee has been organized to further the application process. The committee consists of Patrick McDarby, OSB, associate professor of English; Judy Karash, SJU director of student services; J.P. Earls, OSB, instructor of English; and Fecht. Their job wil 1 be to rev ie w applic ations and interview the candidates. However, the final selection will be made by Paur after confirmation with Abbot Jerome Theisen.
"We are looking for a decent person that can work effectively," said Paur, "All are strong candidates."
The review committee will meet during the next few weeks; however, "A decision will not be made until later in April," said Paur.
