OCR Text |
Show page 8 November 8, 1985 Forum features Morgaim: Mam Who Sagms The CHaecks by Blaine Forsome Sharon Cook Find Candidate For Love According to Steve Morgan, vice president of administrative services, Working at Westminster is a lot more than just a job. This place gets to you. You get to the point where you commit everything you have got to it, you believe in it and it becomes a cause." Morgan became familiar with Westminster six and a half years ago while he was working with Coopers and Lybert as an auditor at the college. He actually joined Westminster four and a half years ago. Morgans key role is to ensure that Westminster continues to run Financially solvent as well as overseeing the endowment fund and all accounting functions. I have been fortunate to be here during both the worst times in the colleges history and now during some of the best, said Morgan. "The greatest challenge has been in keeping the bottom line black. In the past, this has not been an easy thing to do, but it is getting easier. The college has always been troubled financially but hopefully we have done something recently that will help us to be more financially stable. Morgan adds, During recent years, we never really looked at the whole tuition ballgame. When we would make a decision on tuition, the same questions were always asked. What is the University of Utah going to do? What about Weber State and Utah Technical College? These are not valid questions for a private college to be asking. State tuition is based on different ratios than those of a private school. Five years ago, tuition at the college was paying 48.6 percent of the cost of operation. This ratio is entirely too low for a private college. The ratio should be more along the lines of 70 percent Last year, tuition paid 63.1 percent of the cost of operation." Morgan states, We are trying to get to the 70 percent but not all on the backs of students. There are a number of ways to accomplish this. We are keeping costs under control and continuing to raise a lot of money for the school. Over $ 1 ,300,000 has been raised for the college. As we increased tuition, one of our big concerns was students. The federal governments posture was that student aid was not going to be increased which put more pressure on us to raise additional scholarship money which we have done. We have boosted our scholarship ' commitment substantially over the past three years, said Morgan. When asked what could be expected for future tuition increases, Morgan replied, We are hoping to keep tuition increases more in line of what cost of living increases are. Dear Blaine; My girlfriend and I have been living together for several years. When we get home from school she always likes to have sex before dinner. I am hungry when I get home and would rather have sex later or on the weekends. In the beginning I went along with her, but more and more I have been holding out on her. Now she is complaining that I am just not interested in her. Is she right? Signed, Feed Me First Dear First; Only you could know if she is right, but if she isnt may I offer a suggestion? Why not combine the two activities so that all involved are pleased? You will get your nutrition, and she will get hers. Bon Appetit, Blaine J Steve Morgan, vice president of administrative services. One of the concerns now facing the college is maintenance of the buildings on campus. Morgan states, Our funds are limited and we have to be very selective where we put funds. We dont have unlimited funds to put wherever we -- want. When students see buildings that need repair, it is a big concern to them and we are trying to tackle the problem. We are planning a capital campaign to specifically address some of these things. The restoration of Converse and F erry Hall are important projects to us as well as having a Fine Arts facility, added Morgan. Although the greatest challenges facing the college in the past have been controlling administrative costs, much has been done to improve the educational product Ultimately, education is our product we are trying to make education here more attractive. We have already made several changes including putting more money into our computer lab with the addition of twelve new personal computers, said Morgan. According to Morgan there is a new openness at the college which he is enjoying. When I first came to Westminster, things were financially so rough that decisions had to be made without much input. The urgency was right there and we did not have time to involve a lot of people. Now we can take time to examine the problem, listen to everyone concerned and con- sider all possible solutions." He adds, Last year, Mike Piper, president of ASWC, was included in the budget sessions. His input was extremely valuable and it was great to know AS W C supported our fiscal plan. Nothing can make us feel better than to know that students support where we are going with our plan. Morgan concludes, The college has had two good years and we are hoping for a third. Were not out of the yet, but the future of the college looks good. Foster. Parent Program Needs Yon would not sacrifice his marriage for the sake of his daughter. by Karen Holmes For over a year, protective service workers and juvenile delinquency counselors tried to Youngsters that become scapegoats in marwork with her. She trusts no one and wants ital disputes or adolescents with a history of to be left alone, said Bradish. running away from home have at least one Another case is that of a boy thing in common, They are all very, very sersocial the to of binds the attention came tie and who that kids thats the needy vices agency through the juvenile court after them, said Nancy Bradish, foster home liLake for area. he was apprehended with two other boys the Salt censor City while trying to steal a car. Working as a social services licensor, BradBradish indicated that what was unique ish helps children from infancy to teens find home own while this situation was this young boy had the childs homes about temporary been a model child, excelling in school and is being repaired. popular with his peers. Problems developed According to Bradish, it is important to with the onset of adolescence. The boy had work with the child in the least restrictive started coming home late and had reacted deenvironment. Occasionally other options are to questioning by his father. The pafiantly appropriate such as adoption or in the situato cope became ineffectual. efforts rents tion of an older and mature adolescent, indeAccording to Bradish, an adolescents typipendent living shelters. She noted the case of cal reaction to abuse is delinquent behavior, a girl who came to the attention of juvenile authorities and protective services incorrigibility, truancy and running away. These reactions are a result of overwhelming as being physically abused, traunt from environmental stress. Its severity and duraschool and a drug user. depend on the kind of stress, but abuse Her mother had died when the girl was tion in the home only intensifies the violence and ' two years old and after two years in a foster condition. home, she lived with her father and stepWe work with the child in the least restricmother, both alcoholics. Her stepmother refather and tive liked children her never environment, Bradish said. The kids portedly we deal with usually have a history of very complex problems in the home and frequently they have already been in one foster home or shelter. Statistics compiled in June by the Department of Social Services show that 5 7 percent of the children requiring foster care with teens; 43 percent were children under 12. There is a big push to find good families in this high-nee- d area, Bradish said. Home safety, employment history and medical and criminal record checks are among the licensing criteria for the potential foster parent. The foster parent must also attend at least six hours of preliminary child handling training, according to Bradish. Bradish also indicated that recent changes in foster parenting policy allow for the acceptance of qualified single persons with upexpenses. graded subsidies for child-car- e Office of Admissions Westminsters reports over 800 nontraditional students, those over 25 enrolled this semester. The single-parepolicy may provide new opportunities for those considering the foster parent program. We need dedicated people, said Bradish. It takes a special person one willing to work with kids." years-of-agnt Dear Blaine: I read your column in every issue of the Forum. I really enjoy reading about all of those people who are in love, even if they are having difficulties. You see, I really want to find someone to fall in love with. All of my friends have boyfriends or girlfriends and I feel so alone because I dont I cant help but feel like Im going to go through life all alone. Do you have any suggestions on how I can go about meeting that special someone? Signed, Table For One Dear Table For One: Love is a spontaneous and elusive creature. It happens when you least expect it and are least prepared. Its like the first snowfall of win- ter, winning a BhmeForsome million dollar in lottery or getting an automobile accident However, there are certain things that you can do to help it along. The first thing that you should do is pick a potential candidate. Then, get this person to notice you, try bumping into this person or dropping your books in front of himher. If both you and your candidate are dorm residents, try dropping your tray in SAGA. After you have your candidates attention, be bold. Ask himher to go out with yqu. But be sure to pick a safe activity, something like ice skating, bowling or going out for ice cream. Avoid activities like a tumultuous skiing weekend in Park City as this may put too much pressure on both you and your candidate. Take the opportunity of your first date to do some subtle persuading to get Mr.Ms. Right to ask you out for a second date. If this fails, dont be afraid to throw caution to the wind and ask for a second date yourself. Remember that since you were alone to begin with, you obviously have nothing to lose if heshe cant stand the mere sight of you. Happy hunting, Blaine e, Blaine Forsome is the Forums advice columnist on life and growing up. Letters to him should be addressed to Blaine Forsome, co the Forum, Shaw Center |