OCR Text |
Show 7 i SUSC tenant association is praiseworthy jewel ASSUSC President Scott Price will without hesitation refer to the crown even of his administration. It can be. In many ways it already is. Under the leadership of Mitch Connell, director, and Mary Petrik, assistant director, the Tenant Association has set out to give SUSC students something they have sometimes lacked in the past: full rights as tenants in housing in Cedar City. They are doing this with clear policies and admirable goals. The Thunderbird has editorialized previously on the merits of the association. After observingclosely how the association operates, even in rather precarious situations, we feel it is time to reaffirm our support. The directors and appointed caseworkers in the Tenant Association this quarter have tried to finalize contracts with the major landlords of Cedar City. At times they have run into, if not brick, then sheetrock walls of opposition. And like the most skilled of negotiators, the student officials have conceded to the landlords when concession was necessary and held firm when integrity was in the balance. Recent negotiations with one major landlord are typical. Recognizing the reality that if the association is to have any credibility it must have agreements with the major landlords in e Cedar City, association officials decided to for each the landlord on leeway contract, giving agreements points that do not compromise the standards for apartment living that the association demands and students deserve. The association felt so strongly that it should not alter one particular clause one demanding landlords follow federal fair housing laws that it was willing to forego approval of some of the most important housing units in town. Fortunately, continued calm negotiations resolved the conflict and kept debate on what should be basic in any housing complex equal access by students regardless of race, sex, creed or religion from turning into an ugly and embarrassing incident. This, all by itself, is deserving of praise, and we at The Thunderbird dont hesitate to give that praise. In light of its apparent success in signing a major landlord, however, the association should remember its duty in serving the students and not make any concessions to landlords just for the sake of maintaining the association. A student tenant association that stoops over to appease landlords is no student tenant association at all. In short, it is quite obvious to anyone who has considered the situation that the association is serving the interests of students, and that students should do their best to support the association. Student support, in fact, is probably the most necessary element for the associations success. In its efforts to strengthen the rights of tenants, the association hopes that student tenants become aware of their own rights and responsibilities. Student Tenant Association as a jewel tailor-mak- SUSC clubs need more coverage Editors note: Lisa Laird is a Thunderbird Staff Writer and' Communications major at SUSC. Its a sad statement when local and state papers publish stories and photos of SUSCs Homecoming festivities and the student paper prints four photos without cutlines and two stories about the new Homecoming royalty. Although I am quite proud of my association with The Thunderbird staff, it is obvious that I am disappointed in the newsapapers coverage of Homecoming in last weeks edition. m n mi mamuiiwsoi mm ihihn i t h tk i'i iu.fcM'fci-R- m i Editor Lynn Nolan Managing Editor Doug Christensen Copy Editors Bradford Lewis Amy Page Photo Editor Tamara Rumbaugh Sports Editor Stewart Smith Entertainment Editor Lanai Greenhalgh Senior Staff Writer Ralph Schriock Production Manager Tracy Cudweed Advertising Manager Laura Wearing Assistant Manager Brian Goettlich Faculty Adviser Larry Baker The Thunderbird is published each Monday of the academic year by and for the student body of Southern Utah State College. The views and opinions expressed in The Thunderbird are the opinions of the publications individual writers and do not necessarily reflea the views and opinions of the institution, faculty, staff or student body in general. The unsigned editorial directly above is the opinion of The Thunderbird as a single entity. Letters to the editor must be typed and include the name, student number (if from a student) and phone number. Only the name will be printed. Names will not be withheld under any circumstances and the editor reserves the right to edit letters for length and to preclude libel. Letters must be submitted by noon Friday for inclusion in the following weeks edition. The Thunderbird: editorial and advertising offices at 529 West 200 South, Cedar City, UT 84720. Mail at SUSC Box 384, Cedar City, UT 84720 (801) 7758. The parade was certainly a highlight for the clubs who participated in it. This year, clubs that entered a float could not throw together a banner and ride in a pick-u- p truck as in previous years. They all went through the effort of building a float with chicken wire and tissue paper. I know it is The Thunderbirds responsibility to print the student news and views of Southern Utah State College, however I do not believe that the staff is living up to that promise. th VOLUME 79, NUMBER 8 -- Many of the clubs put in hours of hard work to make Homecoming a success and did not receive mention of their efforts. Che Cfmnderbird V students had already heard on their radios on the way to classes. There were several activities that took place over Homecoming that could have warranted some coverage. Drama Club devoted many hours of effort to present a spook alley to raise funds for the Shakespearan Festival. That may have been a good feature story. The theatre department rented out costumes to raise funds also, and that might have been interesting. i SUSC has a fine reputation for its extracurricular activities and that is one reason that persuaded me When the to transfer to school here from clubs do well on the state and national levels, The Thunderbird is fairly quick about publishing the results. That may have been a nice little news feature. It was the first effort in quite a while by clubs to present a fine parade. I wonder how many people realize that the VICA club won first place with members, dressed as slaves, pulling a dragon down the e. believe the paper should be just as quick about publishing the local events the clubs plan and participate in. For example, the paper could have devoted more space last week to the Homecoming festivities and less to the national election results. I The national media is much more expediate at getting election results out than The Thunderbird. The paper could have devoted only one page to election results and perhaps the local ramifications, rather than two pages to rehash election results that I parade route. I wonder if students know the trials of building a float (such as finding a few nights before the parade that the chicken wire or tissue paper was borrowed by another club). I realize that clubs can print their local activities before they happen in the Coming Up section of The Thunderbird. It is an option more clubs should use. also upset at officers activity deserve realize that many of the club presidents are the lack of print their clubs are receiving. New may not warrant press; however, a major such as the club carnival, Nov. 19, does publication. I ...... . . . . : . :V i ' " . ' " ' |