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Show January 20, 1984 Forum PageS Explanations American journalists have traditionally viewed themselves as the peoples watchdog the abuses of corporate management and against government Forum staff members arent sniffing at anything as ominous as abuse. We do, however, try to focus our editorials on various student grievances that otherwise may not be heard over the echoes of understandable, but unhelpful explanations. For instance, our news coverage of the snow removal work undertaken by a dedicated maintenance crew, working days throughout the holidays to keep up with devastating storms, clearly explains how hard the crew worked and how expensive the project was. 20-ho- ur It doesnt explain why students couldnt have voted their 25 share of the parking reserve fund, or a portion of their uncommitted student fees to bring in additional manpower, to activity speed up and help pay for the work, and to cut back the excessive hours worked by exhausted crew members. more useful to students without a footing to go up or down at the half-wa- y slope. Were parking tickets really necessary in the parking lot east of Foster? Were we supposed to miss the fact that the parking lot and sidewalks at Bamberger Hall were absent all traces of ice? No, to be fair, we realize that administration worked during most of the time we were off for holidays, and Bamberger would be the logical place to start the snow removal work. We do feel, though, that classes in Converse Hall should have been canceled, or at least the stairs closed off, until the snow and ice there was removed. ' The merciless storms that turned Westminster to an ice rink in late December and early January wrecked havoc throughout the country, in most of the places where students spent their Christmas vacations. Failing our own personal experiences shoveling roofs, driveways, and walks, and salting and our own properties as college students we do have a certain level of intelligence, adequate to recognize the snow removal work which was accomplished. V de-ici- Obviously most students for the holidays couldnt take action before Jan. 2, but we might have helped then and duringthe remainder of the week, as volunteer crew members ourselves, if given the opportunity. off-camp- Also, being told how bad it was before Jan. 2 didnt really explain the conditions on Jan. 2. Signs, with one saying, Dont start up the stairs, on the west side of Converse Hall, might have been Still, the work that wasnt accompl ished matters. It matters because people might have been hurt, and it matters because even if we couldnt have helped this time, maybe we could help in the future. The Forum Staff letters to the editor Student Commends Faculty and Staff, Especially Career Services To Thfi Editor. Its a fact to all parties involved with the Westminster community that the college has undergone significant changes during the past five years. These changes have ranged from the major reorganization of the administration to the official name change of the college to the implementation of the plusminus grade system this well-know- n semester. Although these changes have had a considerable impact on the college and have received a lot of attention, there is one aspect of our college that has not changed and, in my opinion, has been largely responsible for Westminsters success. This unchanged aspect Im referring to is the genuine concern and commitment that the faculty and staff extend to every Westminster student Whether you are a freshman or senior, traditional or student this individualized interest by the faculty and staff is second to none. It has been my experience over the past five years that Westminster employs only e people who are committed to carrying on this tradition that is undoubtedly in the best interest of the students. al top-rat- Two such people that stand out in my mind are Esther Doherty and Pat Gardner from the Career ciKiiitu of Services Department. Esther and Pat are com mitted to advancing a students ability and interest and to guiding these efforts toward a productive and fulfilling career path. work, Esther and Pat always put the needs of the student first to ensure that the individual gains the maximum benefit possible. The direction and positive reinforcement from Esther and Pat not only makes the Westminster experience more gratifying, but it plays an integral part in preparing students for life after college. It doesnt matter if they are setting up an internship or counseling on the pos ed post-graduat- e Through the efforts of the Career Services Department, I have participated in two internships that have given me experience beyond that normally learned in the classroom. By working these internships, I have come to appreciate how much I Ive always found the value of reading incomother method of education. I think parable to any most people thoroughly enjoy books at least as a form of entertainment But I begin to question the value of reading when it costs me $163.25. Is a skinny paperback worth $16.80 when I can only use it for one semester? Especially when after the semester is over I can only sell it back for $8.40. That is assuming that the bookstore will even want it back. If they dont Im lucky to get $3 or $4 back, if anything at all. I could keep it and reread it several times throughout my life. Im not so sure that a study guide would make for enjoyable reading when Im 95; nor even then that Id feel that I had received my $16.80 worth. What about the $27.40 book that contains information that is obsolete within a year? For example, the computer science texts are revised as often as twice a year. Not only can I not sell it back to the bookstore, but it is worthless within six part of Westminster It is my hope that other students will seek out the services offered by Esther and Pat and appreciate the commitment that they have made on our behalf. They are a true representation of what Westminster College of Salt Lake City is all about. Sue O'Donnell Trust the Success of Westminsters One Hundred Years Dear Editor: For the past few years, small private, liberal arts colleges all over the country have been suffering from financial problems and many have been forced to close. Recently, Westminster College has also been experiencing the problems of insufficient money and student enrollment. Because of this, many students have shied away from enrolling at Westminster, afraid it might close. But there are some very important facts the community and the students must remember. Westminster has been educating people for over a hundred years and this is not the colleges first financial scare in those hundred years. Private education moves in cycles. It has its ups and its downs. Even though Westminster has recently been suffering financially, it has not closed, nor did it close in the past when problems arose. Fortunately, its spirit has always remained. excuse that has never been valid. The college is on its way up again. Private education in general is on its way up. Students are becoming aware of the advantages of a small private college compared with the hassles of a large state university. Nevertheless, the college cannot survive on its reputation or its spirit alone. Westminster must also have the support of the community. Success breeds success and, in order for the college to be successful, the staff, faculty and, most importantly, the students must make the college successful by placing their trust in it Many people all over the campus have a gut feeling that the college has really made it through the turmoil. Enrollment appears to be up again from Fall semester of 1983. The people who have been behind Westminster through its problems deserve praise for their hard work and faith in the college. The people at Westminster are its life, its dreams, and its success. The common excuse that I dont want to go to Westminster because it will probably close, is an Students Pay More Than Fair Book Prices Dear Editor: have gained by being a College. months. What can I do with it? I dont know if I consider my fireplace worthy of such an expensive log. After most of us pay around $2,000 for tuition, we are required to put out another $50 to $200 for books. Either we are all e millionaires at 19, Daddy pays, or GSL pays and we have debts in the five figures when we graduate. The remaining students resort to drastic measures to acquire their books. self-mad- Why is it that I can go to the local bookseller and buy a book filled with power, money, sex, and corruption for half the price of my boring philosophy book? Is it because the value of the philosophy book is greater or because Im required to buy it in order to graduate? When we complain, we are told to take into account the authors, publishers, even the bookstore, but what about us the poor college students? Who gives us a break? Certainly not the bookstore. Nanci Boyd If El I 1 vU I ' 1111 llljll (1 jSr Mv I VI.d k Editor 11 I I Sale. Manager 1 1 W 1 1 V Bonnie McBride The forum ot Westminster College of Sell Lake City will be pub-- fl lished and distributed while daises are in session during Spring semester, 1984, by the Associated Students of Westminster College, 1840 South 1300 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84105. Kathleen Hammond Managing Editor Sp0rUEdiUr Layout Assistant. Reporters Mike Moaer John Dahmen Jon Butler. Sheri Dearing, Kathleen Hammond. Joel Hastings, Mike Moser, Jennifer Thomas Valerie Allison, Franklin Anderson, Nanci Boyd. Jon Butler. Stacy Butters, John Dahmen. Sheri Dearing, Kathleen Hammond, Denise Janke, Scott Kaiser. Bonnie McBride, Mike Moser, David K. Neidert, Sue O'Donnell, Angie Russell. Christopher Satovick, Brenda Shut. Jennifer Thomas, Connie Watson Photographers Bob Marge1,e Djrector Joel Hastings, Angie Russell, Hamid Sarshar Faculty Adviser snd avoid use of profanity (,m ,uden,s ind ,her rejderand libel, length,c"" may not exceed three, double-space-d, - Ray Ownbey must be signed and mclude phone number, typed page, with lines 50 character spaces wide. The Emission, Forum will print up to six letters per week, with student submissions given priority, on a ,h basemn' Shaw Cen,er under he x daloTbhanon C,ly l ffUm basis. necessary ), by 3 p.m. on Friday one week before |