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Show edjtorial SIGNPOST May 21. 1982 Page 4 ASWSC needs ideas Weber State students have often been accused of being apathetic, perhaps this is a misconception. The results of the student survey would indicate that campus activities fail to respond to the needs of a largely non-traditional student body. Most Weber State students are married, hold down full-time jobs and are older than students on other campuses.It is no wonder that participation has been low, given Weber State's unique collection of students. This is not to say that past activities have been poor, but perhaps they need greater variety. Attention should be given to things such as babysitting services and the possibility of scheduling activities at varying times in hopes of allowing others outside of the "clique" to attend. Such ideas generally will come from someone whose is not in the so-called clique of student government. New and divergent ideas are desperately needed. Weber State students, to facilitate such changes ASWSC officers need your input. How can student government be responsive to your needs if 83 percent of you never discuss your needs with your paid officers? Representative democracy carries with it certain responsibilities, one of which is participation. Participation comes in many forms; voting, committee work and input into the decision making process. To function properly, the Associated Students of Weber State College (ASWSC) to which all students belong, needs many individuals to chair projects and serve on various faculty and administrative committees. The ASWSC officers-elect (next year's officers) are desireous of breaking out of the clique image by involving a wide variety of new students not previuosly involved. Earlier editorials have pointed out that prior experience in student government is not a prerequisite to serve. By analogy this should mean that no one be excluded because of their lack of prior experience or association with student government. ASWSC directly spends about $150,000 of student fees annually. To be properly spent, these funds should be used to benefit the most students possible. Once again, without student input this becomes a promethean task. Not only are activities a concern of student government, but ASWSC officers also appoint students to sit on campus decision-making committees. These committees decide issues ranging from admissions and graduation to registration and curriculum. During the past year for example, some members of the Faculty Senate suggested that the period for withdraw! from classes be limited to about the first two weeks of class. Student members of the Faculty Senate successfully kept such a proposal from becoming a reality. For those who believe that students are impotent when it comes to decision making at Weber State College, this is but one example of many during the past year where student input did make a difference.The positions available in ASWSC offer a wide variety of experience. Some tuition waivers are available for those who serve. Certain positions require more time than others, but the benefits will always outweigh the inital investment of time. Such positions not only provide colorful resume fillers, but also give the student an education in personnel management, organizational skills and proper presentional methods for opposing viewpoints. Simply, without student involvment it is doubtful that much will change. If students are content to finance activities that they seldom or never attend, then no one need apply. P.S. Applications are available in the ASWSC offices in the Union Building. staff letters... WSC yearbook needs Admin support From the acorn a great oak tree grows. After a ten-year dry spell WSC again offers the college yearbook Acorn. Last spring President Brady indicated he wanted a yearbook, and Julie Crimin and others began production of the book on a $2,000 budget appropriated by the ASWSC. The Acorn staff conducted a survey of 143 students, which produced some positive results. Of those questioned 89 percent were in favor of having a yearbook, 71 percent would buy one and 71 percent would pay $15 for one. Funding for the 1982-83 academic year was decided in the ASWSC budget hearings last week. The Acorn staff asked for $5,000 in student funds which was approved. However, Julie Crimin, Acorn editor, is asking for an additional $5,000 from the administration. She feels the Acorn qualifies under academic funding as students receive valuable training while working for the Acorn. But the yearbook may still become a "white elephant" unless it gains administrative support.Acorn staff members feel that if they obtained administrative support, student support would follow. The yearbook has survived two or three office moves, which has slowed production. Despite this and the lack of incentives to keep a qualified staff willing to work the yearbook all the way through, the yearbook is three-fourths completed. It seems that the Acorn has student support, both in the yearbook staff and the students who are presently ordering yearbooks. What of the administration? Janice Strickland Journalism major, Ogden Reader responds to Falklands editorial After examining the Signpost editorial dated May 14, 1982, I found such commentary inadequate, lacking in objectivity and even naive. I would not dispute the fact that the forceful invasion and the violation of international law by Argentina is anachronistic (as is British colonialism), both sides are worthy of repudiation. But the Editor-in-chief's arguments about British reaction and American support is too simplistic in dealing with the Malvinas Islands crisis. The analysis of injured British pride and slipping national prestige as justification for the English response is weak. This argument makes the United Kingdom's action sound like a knee-jerk response of passion, not a rational policy designed to protect international law and order. The principles of self determination and the Fatherland responsibility to safeguard the rights of its territorial inhabitants are mostly the basis of British policy, not injured pride. There is no consideration given to the Argentine and-to a certain extent the Latin American point of view. No mention is made of Argentina's historic claim to the islands and their geographical ties to the mainland, nor Prisoners better than welfare mothers? American society holds highly the belief that people are rewarded according to their merit or worth. In Utah, as well as other areas of the nation, we have the ability to see just how well our beliefs hold up under actual practice. The Weber County jail estimates that it cost around $22 per day to feed, clothe and shelter one inmate. This totals up to at least $8,030 per year to support one citizen gone astray. In contrast it costs the taxpayers only $4,414 per year to feed, shelter and clothe a welfare mother with two small children. This roughly comes out to $ 1 ,470 per year for one citizen on welfare. I find it very interesting, if not appalling, that we support the county prisoner with five the Argentine effort to resolve the problem diplomatically. The miscalculation of the impact of the apparent American abandonment of Latin America is given minor importance, if any. Again there is only one side of the story about the effects of American limited military involvement, by not mentioning third world expectations toward the U.S. For the third world countries, this controversy is a test of American commitments to developing countries in time of crisis, when U.S. interests of actual security would not be in jeopardy. The article does not mention the present concern of the Reagan administration for building hemispheric unity and yet trying to maintain a united European front. Will Europe continue sanctions against Argentina? The Malvinas conflict, like most international crises, is highly complex. Mr. Largent seems to forget this in making a black and white, right and wrong approach to the South Atlantic dispute. An objective editorial in a college newspaper should examine both sides of such an issue before reaching a conclusion. Jorge H. Galvez Ogden, Utah times more money than the mother and her children. The inmate has already expressed his anti-social attitude by breaking the law. Yet we continually pump money into the prison system for better food, living conditions and even higher education! If our society is to hold on to our belief that there is justice, that we reward the good and punish the bad, we should really look at our welfare and prison systems. As it stands, we are helping to undermine our values by allowing luxury in the jails and only giving nominal care to the young and helpless future to tomorrow. Cris Harris Ogden, Utah Editor Steve Largent Assoc. Editor Bryan Shifter Managing Editor Wm. H. Conlon III News Editor Jill Niederhauser Sports Editor Don Carter Entertainment Editor Eunice Schlenker Signature Editor Joan Wilcox Secretary Joan Calvert Reporters Ron Davis David Jenkins Mark Jones Jim Konkel Teresa Schrodt Bob Parrinello Editorial Cartoonist Mike Knowlton Business Manager Julie Sumner Advertising Representatives Joe Brady Donna Messerly Photo Editor Lee Hicken Photographers John Hampton Dana Johnson v Rodney Wright Production Manager Ramona Basinger Newspaper Production Joe Cha Susan Reichmuth The Signpost is published twice weekly throughout the academic year Lu the WSC Media Board and the Associated Students ol Weber State College. Editorial comment appearing in this publication is that of Signpost staff or an individual writer and not necessarily that of Weber State College. Offices are located in the Union Building Room 2b7 Mail correspondence to WSC Signpost. Weber Slate College. Ogden. UT 84408. The Signpost is distributed to students on Tuesd.iv and Friday free of charge and is available by subscription at a prue ( S7 per quarter or $20 annually. |