Show Th Eagle - Pag Thursday 2 JD Conover staff writer Oh how good it feels to be back at the keyboard again I reckon it feels so good because I had a problem that just like everyone else docs with their problems was supposed to go away during vacation and didn't I also figure that this little venture into the realm of editorials is going to make me about as popular as a turd in a punch bowl with some You see guys just before all of us had partaken in the joyous fall finals festivities I confronted the office of residential living about quarter a problem In the back of my mind used to be a small tiny minute almost indiscernible vain hope that this problem would disappear just as quickly as the individuals who are at the problem's roots Let me stray for just a moment from this wonderful narration and ask you I few questions When was the last time something in your neighborhood was broken and you received the distinct honor of helping pay for it to be fixed? How often are you an American citizen guilty until proven innocent? Have you ever accepted something that was clearly unreasonable because you simply were 18 snot nosed fresh out of high school trusting of others and had no bargaining power? If you answered "yes" to all of the above questions congratulations you of all people must live in the dorms! (If you answered "yes" and don't live in the dorms I'd feel guilty if 1 didn't point out that you've got some serious problems) The "problem" 1 have been referring to is group billing It's foundation rests in a room damage clause of the CEU housing contract which states "The student is responsible for the cost of replacement or repair of common areas and furnishings within the residents area Charges will be evenly assessed each floor member in the event the responsible person remains anonymous" In essence if someone else breaks something you get to help pay for it It doesn't matter if you were gone weren't involved wouldn't do something like that or dead The guilty party couldn't be found and now you must assume the responsibility for hisher actions and accept the punishment It's OK though It's just a little fine of about SS a shot It doesn't matter that the Fourteenth Amendment to the United Slates Constitution stales "nor shall any person be deprived of life liberty or property without due process of law" Oh how I fondly remember all the legal procedures that proved me a common criminal They were these quaint little notices in blue envelopes that told me how many dollars I was just fined It's easy to deal with though Just don't go pay the fine so the Office of Residential Living can bill your student account and then they can put a hold on your transcripts until you pay the money Rut wait there was supposedly a hearing that proved me guilty therefore denoting due process It was then acceptable to deprive me of my monetary property Suuuuuure partner Now I've got this bridge I could sell you There is a court case St Anne vs Polisi that stales "personal guilt as a prerequisite to punishment is a fundamental component of the American scheme of liberty" When we get fined we are receiving a form of punishment But since we were given due process do you think it's alright to deprive us of our personal liberty? Gosh sakes yes partner There's this land go good with the bridge I say The college has instituted this policy for a seemingly good reason It keeps them from paying out the nose for all of the things that are accidentally broken or vandalized It supposedly restrains the students from tearing things up and teaches them responsibility It is a cost effcc- - frMfr 1- - Jake Shewmake —Cordy Vest News Editor Eliason Kristie Arts and Entertainment Editor Gina Howard MM MlfHM Feature Editor Hickmon Richard -Sports Editor Travis Mann Ragun Larkin Aimee Anderson Reporters—— Jenny Blackburn Jeff Jordan Dusty Nciman JD Conover Stephanie Bogdin Darin Fairbanks and Gina Barbiero Lonnie Behunin Stephanie Man a Photographers Stephanie Marvidakis and Gary Allen Rix Susan A Polstcr Advisor— HNMHItNNIMMMNtHIMMUtNIMIIIHNIHHMiaaMiaHMMII Utah and it printni Eastern Tht Eagl it th official student publication of the Collegt of winter and spring quarters Opinions expressed in this publico every other Thursday foil ion may or may not reflect the official opinion of CEU's administration faculty students laffTaerrbJoeatedinEocmnjthMauiBiulilm live solution to a problem I can sympathize with the college for not wanting to lose money on a sure thing like vandalism Vandals are a problem and they do cost us all a lot of money Seeing as how this policy is a solution to a problem has it solved or even reduced vandalism in CEU's dormitories? A group billing survey that included a follow up of 32 public institutions of higher education almost unanimously reported no Of all schools surveyed only one school commented that their program "resulted in a decline in vandalism" On another note just because something is cost effective and efficient doesn't mean it is the best solution to a problem Nuclear war is incredibly efficient effective and inexpensive for it's results if you think about iL My point is that this policy is obviously unfair and just because it works doesn't mean we have to use it When I spoke with the Dean of Student Life he fell we should talk to other schools in the state and sec what they are doing Why? Why? Why? A thousand times I say why? There's an ok! adage that says "If you aren't the lead dog the never scenery changes" Couldn't CEU be a leader of the pack instead of just following others? Can't they be the first to do something on their own because it is right instead of wailing for someone else to go first? I remember in a Curriculum and Instruction meeting that the business courses were cut from five hours to four hours The biggest reason was because all the other schools had done iL Oh spare me please I thought we were here to receive a higher education Thafs a grotesquely hypocritical statement when you realize that this college hasn't even learned one of the first things that is strongly stressed to little kids Or docs anyone involved in decision making here remember when mommy said "If all your friends jumped off a cliff would you?" It's no wonder to me that no one knows where in the hell CEU is Why should they? The decision making facet of this college seems to act like a second rate last alternative hide in the comer institution which 1 might add seems to be the way people perceive CEU Is this the student's faults or does the problem lie elsewhere? I hate to urinate in your breakfast cereal but it is a problem that should be dealt with I don't think it would kill this place if they took on an image of doing their own thing and doing it right I realize that enrollment probably won't skyrocket because of a sute precedent like dorm reform but you've gotta' start someplace In the future I would hope that decisions could be made on individual merits and outcomes rather than the way a few have been made in the pasL I hope that the Office of Residential Living will keep this in mind because their policy will be challenged I would like to see them look at it rationally and not just get on the defensive fighting change every step of the way Is money so important that the rights of innocent individuals can be thrown out the window? There are alternatives to group billing Some schools offer incentive programs and others have people who do nothing more than keep an eye on things Group billing is inherently unfair on it's face value and doesn't solve the problem it set out to It has created more problems and raises questions of legality ethical content and being morally right I would like to say that I intended to offend no one Should someone have taken offense I offer them my apologies If you would like to speak with me on this subject I can be found in the student government room located it the Student Activity Center from 2 to 3 pm daily ASCEU president urges awareness of CEU issues The Associated Students of the College of Eastern Utah feel there are two very important issues that CEU students need to be aware of The first issue is the education battle in Utah legislature Brad Gwythcr ASCEU president said "We are well into the legislative session and everyone is battling for the buck Our part in this is critical due to the fact that we as students will feel the impact the most” Gwythcr suggests that each student write or phone their legislator and show support for the governor of higher education's request for budget increases This budget request applies to higher education which means a big boost at CEU as well as other colleges in the sute Secondly Weber State College and Southern Utah State College are applying for university sutus This could offer opportunities to the students at CEU Weber however seems to have a better opportunity due to the full time enrollment and a stronger economically based community SUSCs full time enrollment is less than Weber by about 7000 studenu ASCEU Student Government meetings are held every Friday at noon in the SAC Anyone with any input about the above campus issues is welcome to attend n-r- II 1990 Another new CEU club will be holding its first meeting Money appears to be more important than the rights of CEU's dormatory students by January by Jake Shewmake editor A meeting for studenu who are interested in forming a club for writers will be held in the cafeteria on Dec 23 to discuss goals objectives and activities for such a club Nancy Tackas has agreed to be the advisor for the club and has a long list of ideas for activities The main idea behind the club is to create a workshop type of meeting schedule where members of the club bring in material they have written and have it critiqued by other mcm bers According to Tackas this not only allows a writer to find out what people think of hisher writing it also makes the person feel like they are not alone in their quest to become a better writer Other activities club members might participate in are advertising for the readers series traveling to see famous writers read their writing or going to professional writing workshops Anyone who is interested is invited to attend the meeting Light will be served For more information contact Nancy Tackas or Jake Shewmake Free income tax service available College of Eastern Utah's business department is offering a free volunteer income Ux assistance service for the elderly low income and student popu- lation Under the direction of CEU business instructor Henning Olsen studenu receive "hands on" experience in filling out federal and state income tax forms The studenu work Tuesdays through Thursdays from noon until 2 Appointpm and take walk-in- s ments can also be made during the two hour time frame The service is provided in room 220 of the Main Building Olsen has received immense success in the program during iu seven year history He has acquired an income tax software package that uses compule1 to figure out individual sute and federal income tax forms Olsen has his studenu figure the individual's returns by hand Then he checks them by taking the information and feeding it into the computer f Opinions welcomel Please submit all opinions to The Eagle by the Friday prior to publication dates submissions must Include a signature phone number and address Letters may be edited for length All |