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Show PACE 4 THE THUNDERBIRD MONDAY FEBRUARY 8, 1988 PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE UNTIL CENTER OPENS There is no great achievement that is not the result of patient working and waiting. losiah Gilbert Holland With winter quarter now half over, students are becoming restless with the delay of the new Student Center opening. Many planned to begin this quarter with the facility in full use, but as it appears, the new building will not be open to students until at least the beginning of March. It is easy to complain about delays and criticize those in charge, but it will be better to wait patiently until the building is complete than to rush into a grand opening of an unfinished project. SUSC learned patience the hard way between Nov. 22, 985 and May 9, 1936. Some students may recall SUSC's embarrassment of jumping into the Centrum seven months before it was ready for opening. In November 1985, fireworks, fanfares and precision marchers entertained a crowd of 5,100 and the new special tournament in a events center housed the McDonald's Ivan Matheson cut the State Sen. grand opening ceremony. ceremonial ribbon "opening" the new facility. Sadly, the eventful evening was followed by months of controversy surrounding the premature grand opening. Because of violation of Utah fire codes, basketball games were rescheduled to the War Memorial Fieldhouse, then back to the Centrum again. Because there weie no fire alarms in the Centrum, a fire truck and a crew of five firefighters were on hand at each basketball game while security officers roamed the halls. The November opening, then closing and opening again confusion created more anxiety than the original impatience to move into the building. When May 1986 rolled around, a second grand opening celebration was held, featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Utah Gov. Norman H. Bangerter and actress Celeste Holm. SUSC breathed a sigh of relief after the Centrum was finally open, and the problems put behind. SUSC is fortunate to have received support for the new Student Center from its students in the form of fees. In times of financial crisis, SUSC students will s'ill be able to enjoy the benefits of the new, luxurious building. Improved Bookstore facilities and Food Service will be well worth the wait, whether the building is opened on schedule or not. A spacious reading room and a living-roostyle lounge area will offer a place for socializing and relaxation. The additional amenities will more than make up for the wait. Patience is indeed a virtue. The Centrum example proves that anything worth having is worth waiting for. 1 tip-o- ff m THE STUDENT NEWS AND VIEWS OE SOUTHERN UTAH STATE VOLUME 82, NUMBER COLLEGE CEDAR CITY, UTAH Bookstore questions remain open TO THE EDITOR: The recent two-pa- rt The Thunderbird article in on the bookstore was good but circumvented the major questions and issues concerning the bookstore. Why do books cost what they do? Where do the profits go? What are the profits? Why are books continually discontinued and new ones required leaving students with no recourse but to keep the old books or sell them back at ridiculous prices? What is the buy back policy of the bookstore? Are books judged on their condition or set percentage of the original price? If the buy TO THE EDITOR: As read the article on the education department in last of The week's edition received the Thunderbird, impression that the department of I Editor Danny Stewart Associate Editor Lisa Jane Laird Copy Editor Mitch Connell Photo Editor Richard Engleman Sports Editor Tiffame Florence Entertainment Editor Dawn DeBusk Senior Staff Writer Nicole Bonham Production Manager Gavin McNeil Advertising Manager Lynn S Dennett 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 and is not affiliated w ,in the College's department of communication. The views and opinions expressed in I he Thunderbird are the opinions of the publication's individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views 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 and phone number. Only the name will be printed Names will not be withheld under any circumstances and the editor reserves editing privileges Letters must be submitted by noon Friday for inclusion in the following week's edition. The Thunderbird editorial and advertising offices in SUSC Library 103 Mail at SUSC Box 7758 9384, Cedar City, UT 84720. Phone (801) I education does not stress acadenvcs. Nothing could be farthe; from the truth. I'm sure reporter Nicole Bonham Jidn't mean to give the impression that the department is not concerned with academic excellence; and as was interviewed, didn't intend I manager and the help be friendlier and smile more? Why does the manager feel his time is more important than the students when he opens the window 10 minutes late leaving 15 students standing and waiting? I am sure speak for many of the students when say feel I'm being robbed by the prices that feel are charged for books. frustrated by the amount that am given when sell my books back. have purchased a used book, to save money, for a class anticipated to take the next quarter only to have the book changed, leaving me holding an obsolete book. Perhaps a follow up story to answer the real questions students want to know, rather than a pat on the back for a business that participates in legal larcency, would be more appropriate. I I I I I I I I I can only speak for myself, but Susan Cummings department does stress academics Ed 17 back is set on percentage, who sets the percentage and why? Why don't they let students know when a book is not going to be used again, so the student can buy a used book or make other arrangements? Why does the manager always make you feel like you're pulling one over on him when you drop a class and sell the book back? Couldn't the to leave that feeling with the reader. I sincerely believe that teaching is one of the most important professions on the face of the earth and that academic preparation is of vital importance. think one of the reasons we place all the teachers we do, as mentioned in the article, if that the one of the dimensions of a superior complete teacher. The education department is trying to obtain practical experience for our students to enrich their academic preparation. I students receive excellent academic preparation from their major and minor departments at SUSC. The point was trying to make, however, is that this is just hope this misunderstanding did not cause any misconceptions about the education department and our commitment to the academic preparation of our students. I I Don Reid |