Serving the University of Texas at San Antonio Community
TUESDAY
October 12, 1993
Volume 16, Number 12
Texas' ONLY Independent Student Newspaper
University Gales resolving difficulties
Josh Parham gats mall from an Itidlvldual box at University Oaks II. Tha locks wars Installad by University Oaks after the post office refused to provkle IndlvMual delivery or k>cks for resident mall boxes.
By Maura Cunningham
Associate News Edilor
and
Leigh Ann Griffin
SuffWriter
Thefollowing is the second in a two- part report on problems that residents at University Oaks Phase I and II have had or are currently experiencing.
Residents at University Oaks apart¬ ments are leaming the "down side" to advertising. Residents discovered that many of the amenities that woe offered in the University Oaks brochure were not instantly accessiMe upon move-in.
The brochure, promises pre-wiied, ready-to-usecomputer hook-ups in each beditxHn.
James Unterreiner, a resident, said, "We've gotten quite a run around on the computer system. They're trying to tell us that it's their fault ova- there at the school, but when we went over and talked to them, they're like, 'We put the lines in; [University Oaks] have to hook it up'."
DebcMBh Delgado, general manager of University Oaks said. "We did our share. Who's been dragging their feet? The university. This project was port of a larger project that was approved through a fiscal budget. It's my under¬ standing that everything is already in place and anyone who wants to have a computer hook-up is asked to come and tum their name in and then the univer¬
sity will put them on hne."
Delgado stated that the apartments are working aggressively to get the com¬ puters on-line. She said that everything on site is already hooked up. What needs to be done is the connection be¬ tween the school and the apartments. In connection with Karen Whimey. associ¬ ate vke president of student affairs. University Oaks are trying to find alter¬ nate means to accommodate students. Those interested in hook-ups were given modems. ^__,„^_,„^_
Residents have had telephone prob¬ lems also. The tele¬ phone system was temporarily prohib¬ iting residents to call out or receive calls. -
Qay Heifoaugh, aresident said, "[Net¬ working Communications. Incorpo¬ rated] NCI has no clue about the phone system at all; they know nothing. And then the people that are hired by NCI are people that live here and they know nothing about the phones either. All they do is fax the complaints out to NCI. so nothing happens."
Jamie Connelly, a resident, has talked to the phone company conceming his problems. "1 talked to an actual po-son at NCI and he said that he would person¬ ally call me back before they sent out the bill. 1 basically told him, 'Look, I don't have a phone that works, people are leaving messages for me, I'm not get¬ ting any of them, I can't call out when I
want to, I'm not going to pay for a phone.' He said. 'We can give you some kind of discount.'"
University Oaks has intervened in favor of the students. Delgado said, "NCI has admitted full responsibility. I have sent correspondence to NCI de¬ manding that they provide my residents with the quality service that they prom¬ ised."
According to Delgado. NCI underes¬ timated the number of students. They
we have to go in and reset that. We're leaming, and we realized that every time there's bad weather or just something in general happens, the breakers go off. We now know that we have to reset it through the computer and that way it will close at all times and stay locked at all times."
Limited access to the activities center
(clubhouse) is another issue.  Delgado
gave two reasons for the limited hours:
no way to secure the mail and the possi-
^^^^^^^^^ bility of audio/vi-
UTSA bids farewell to UNAM students
By Brian Wbeder
News Editor
Twenty business students from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) came to UTSA last week as part of a university exchange program to |Homote understanding of each country's culture, business, educa¬ tional and governmental processes.
Dr. Rudy Sandoval, director of UTSAAJN AM exchange program.said, "We started the program three years ago with an underlying idea or philosc^y that if we were going to build txidges between the United States and Mexico— commerce, social, and cultural—then we needed to get young peo|^ involved. By the time businessmen get together they have vested interest, so the ideal time of bringing Mexicans and Ameri¬ cans together is at this level, juniw, senior and graduate students."
The UNAM students arrived on Oct. 3 and spent the week at UTSA partici¬ pating in classes and presentations cov¬ ering topics such as international man¬ agement, accounting. U.S. marketing and information systems, U.S. coipo- rate culture and use of computers in business and classrooms.
Pedro FIotbs, a UNAM stu¬ dent, said, "We want this exchange iho- gram to go on. not only with UTSA, we want to stay with odier univosities of the United States of America. We want to show our culture, our roots...we want to share our knowledge. We are really han>y we stayed here, it was a pleasure to stay with UTSA."
They visited several San Antonto business sites including USAA. the Chamber of Commerce business trade show, and the UTSA center for eco¬ nomic development.
Throughout the week UNAM stu¬ dents met several government leaders as
Students from the Unh^ersldad Nactonal Autonoma de Mexteo apent the week In San Antonto and at UTSA to leam more about American culture, educatton, government, aiid business.
"We [University Oaks] did our share. Who's been dragging their feet? The university."
—Deborah Delgado
have now purchased additional in and out lines to enable more callers. There are 24 trunk lines each in phase I and phase II. Originally there were only 12 lines in each complex. NCI also added more long distance lines to prevent call¬ ing problems.
Delgado said, "Since then, 1 did man¬ date that they have an NCI representa¬ tive in our office firom 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and any concerns or problems, NCI is handling those efficiently."
At the end of the day the student representatives for NCI fax a list of all the day's problems to the NCI manager. If a technician is required, one is sent the next day. If it is a "simple" problem, such as leaming how to operate the voice mailbox, the representative will help the resident that same day. Their goal is to be mcne "hands-on" than a pamphlet.
"I have spoken with the vice presi¬ dent of NCI and I have made the ulti¬ mate suggestion that he needs to either credit you all on your monthly bill, or give you some kind of credit towards your services that you did not have full use of. My undeistanding is that he is going to be doing that," said Delgado. She stated that he is willing to speak to residents because he feels badly that University Oaks is receiving the blame.
The phone problem lasted between 11 and 14 days. Delgado stated she had staff members woiking 24 hours aday to solve this problem.
The gates have also been an inconve¬ nience to residents. Residents com¬ plained of not being able to exit or enter when using their access card.
Delgadoexidained. "We' ve corrected this. For scHne reason the breakers tripped. Because it's all computerized and runs on electricity, it will reset it to its original statton. in this case aperi. So
sual equipment be¬ ing stolen.
In an effort
to extend the hours,
Delgado stated she
would like to start
^i^iiiiiiii^^iii^ii^^;;^ a tutoring program
if there is enough support.   She a].so
suggested opening up the club house to
use as a meeting place for study groups.
"I'd love nothing more than to let you
all have full rein. I believe that this your
fitness center and activities center and
you should be able to come in and do just
that.  I'm opei\ for suggestions." said
Delgado. "Come and tell us what you
like the fimess center to be open for, the
activity center open for. We'd be glad to
unlock it for you," said Delgado.
"A lot of students who are drinking underage are wanting tohave people get together. They can use the activities center—they put ttown a deposit, they don't pay a fee. And as long as its returned to its original condition, we hand the check right back over to them. One reason we know they don't use it as much as they possibly could is because there is ho alcohol allowed in the club¬ house," said Delgado.
Besides an activity center, the bro¬ chure also advertised a fitness center accessible to residents.
"Give us some hours to use it any¬ way. We're supposed to have access to a weight room; we don't. The first time I went down [to talk to management] I got the story 'Oh well we have to decide when we're going to keep it open and then we'll hire someone to fill those hours.' The second time it was 'We have to hire some people and find out what hours they can work, and then we can decide," said Jamie.
The fimess center officially opened SepL 27. Delgado said, "The fitness center originally was going to have to have a fitness attendant. That's not going to happen. Budgetary will not allow it without us having to pass the cost on to you all. It's my belief that you pay enough money as it is to live here. I com. on pg. 2
part of their program. Such leaders included state representative Christine Hernandez; Mayor Nelson Wolff; thc consul general of Mexico, Humberto Hemandez; and the city council.
Sandoval stated, "We started the (mv gram of the idea that we wanted to build vistons and horizons for young people for the future, to build, literally build and create fuhire leaders for the two coun¬ tries. This program has been a tremen¬ dous success. Our sponsorship has grown tremendously, the administration from the president on down has been extremely supportive. I'm very proud to have been designated as a director to achieve these goals and objectives."
UNAM students also took time to visit tourist sites in San Antonio as part of their cultural leaming. They visited the Alamodome. the Institute of Texan Cultures, the Spanish Govemor's Pal¬
ace, Fiesta Texas and the Hippodrome.
Grisel Garcia, a UN AM student, said. "We are veiy, very, happy to be here because we think this is a great opportu¬ nity for our countries, the United States and Mexico, because we are so different in customs and culture. I think this kind of thing joins us. the student and teach¬ ers, am so the countries also. We are the young people, the young peq)le who in the future will be in charge of the gov¬ emment and in charge of the big compa¬ nies. I think that the more we know each other, we will have better relations.
"In March we will be taking 20of our students, highly selected college of busi¬ ness students, to Mexico City to be in¬ volved in a similar type of program that we have here in San Antonto to receive similar experiences except in Mexico." said Sandoval.
UT Regents approve plans for UTSA university center, downtown campus, and new degree
University of Arizona Tlieta Delta Chi fraternity evicted for trashing chapter house
By College Press Service
TUCSCW. Ariz. - A Univenity of Arizona fratemity was evicted frOm its ch^Merhouse because the building was so badly trashed it was uninhatntaMe. the Arizona Daily Wildcat rqxirted in Sqitember.
The Theta Delta Chi frMemity was charged with criminal damages in an
amount of more than $250,000. plus $18,000 in unpaid bills. Under the chapter's lease agreement, the fratemity was responsible for maintaining the house.
Damage to the building, which the fraternity had rented since 1967,included 40 broken windows, damaged fumitiBe. broken toilets, gashes and holes in the walls, missing doors, and piles of debris
scattered throughout the building, ac¬ cording to the paper.
Investigators discovoed excrement on the ftoors, fire extinguidiers that had been discharged and noted diat die nxrf needed to be replaced.
Officials loM the newqnper tiiat the university will siqiport criminal charges against fratemity memben.
The UT System Board of Regents approved the preliminary design of the 97.000 square-foot of tiie University Center (UC) at dieir meeting on Friday. Oct. 8. The $12 million project, funded by student fees will triple die size of the existing facility.
Pending final iqjproval. construction will begin in October of 1994 and last about 20 months. The new cento" shoukl be occupied by August of 1996.
"The expansion will baskally do tinee things." says assistant vice president for student life. Karen Whitney, who chairs the planning committee.
"It will bring retail activity to tiie UC, it will significantiy improve meeting and conference space for students and others, aid it will allow us to centralize many important student services and programs." said Whimey.
The first floor of Uie expanded Uni¬ vasity Center will be designated for retailspace. The campus boc^cstore now in die Science Building will rekxate to 16.000 square feet on tiie first floor of tiw UC, and tiie existing UC cafeteria will be expanded to include additional dining aeas.
Registered students organization, the Stiident Government and die Campus Activities Board will have 6,000 square feet in which to conduct tiieir business.
The space includes a locker area, work cubicles and small office compartments.
Space has also been allocated for a 350-seat auditorium and 12 additional meeting rooms with capacities ranging from six to 40 persons. A 30-foot open- air bridge will link the east end of the expanded UC to the humanities-busi¬ ness building.
The UTSA bookstore is planned to move from its current location to a larger space in the expanded UC. In addition there are plans for a convenience store/ marketplace adjacent to the bookstore.
Several so^^ices and programs will move to the new UC. The office of minority affairs, tiie suident life (rffice, career services, the office of student emptoyment. and tiie Alumni Associa¬ tion office will be tocated diere.
Funding tor tiie UC expansion was derived from the University Center fee. The fee was increased in increments beginning in the fall of '91 after a vote by students showing support of the project. The original UC, completed in 1986.9na atoo funded by student fees.
TheUTRegentsalsoseleciedSaldafla Sl Associates. Inc. toprqKff; a compre¬ hensive master deveIopnie<it plan far UTSA Downtown and to design a build¬ ing for die Durango Street site.
The site, puchased from tiw Resolu-
tton Trust Corporation by the Bill Miller Bar-B-Que Enterprises. Inc.. was for¬ mally accepted by tiie UT System Re¬ gents from the Miller family at its meet¬ ing in Dallas last week.
Selection of Saldafla & Ass(Kiates was based on experience with educa¬ tional building planning and design, the expertise of its team of engineers and consultants, and design philosophy.
"We arc pleased with the selection of SaldaAa & Associates to help UTSA realize its dream; Dfhavinganexpanded downtown presence," said Sam Kiikpalrick, UTSA president. "Their experience in architectural planning of e<fcicatiofial institutions, as well as their familiarity witii the architectural ambi¬ ance of downtown San Antonio, were major considerations in their selection as project architect for this much-awaited building project"
The firm will now woik with the Univeisity'sdowntown project planning cominittee to develop the project'slong- range master plan and the detailed buikl¬ ing prt^ram. When completed in 1997, UTSA Dowittown wdl provkle space for appraximately 2.500 full time equiva¬ lent students. Besides housing tradi¬ tional classrooms, faculty and adminis- tcBtive offices, md UTS A outreach and oontonpg.2