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September 23,1997
Volume 20 Number 17
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UTSA-VIA partnership earns positive reviews
By Jennifer Naples
StoffWriter
Four weeks after the initial agree¬ ment between UTSA and VIA, there is hope for improvement in the existing bus service to and from t'he 1604 and downtown campuses.
The current bus service, 93 Cross¬ roads UTSA Express, going inbound picks up passengers in front of the business building. From there, it stops at the University Park & Ride, Cross¬ roads Park & Ride, and Dolores & S. Flores, respectively. Outtjound, the bus starts at Commerce & Alamo and follows with Crossroads Park & Ride, University Park&Ride, and 1604 cam¬ pus respectively. Buses run Monday through Friday starting at 6:21 a.m. with the last drop-off downtown at 10:20 p.m.
What many riders do not realize is that there is a second UTSA shuttle that provides transportation between the bus stop and the downtown cam¬ pus, which adds to the overall transit time.
According to university official's
Student Government representatives elected for fall
By Reglna Hurtado
Contributing Writer
The 1997 fall Student Govemment elections were held Sept. 16 and 17 for freshman, sophomore, junior and graduate representatives. A total of 564 students chose their representa¬ tives from among the 28 candidates for all classes.
Of the 21 candidates for freshman representative, two freshmen were elected: Shane Foley with 149 votes out of 1103 and Kristi Guzman with 117 votes. A runoff election will be held on Sept. 23 and 24 between Mel¬ issa Maclntyre and Alonzo Flowers for the third representative because one freshman voted twice for the same candidate:
As a freshman, Guzman was sur¬ prised to find that so many people voted for her, being that she does not know many people, but she has plans for her con'^tituents.
"I'mhopingto get awhole lot more people involved. My whole idea is to be the voice ofthe freshman," she said.
Foley also was surprised at the nunr ber of votes he received. His plans are to involve freshmen and discuss issues that are important to the student body.
"I was so surprised that I got so many votes; I wasn't expecting that. I hope to represent the issues that the student t)ody wants me to address. I want people to allow me to represent them," he said.
Three sophomore candidates ran for the only representative spot. Randy Burkhardt won with 62 out of 97 votes. Four junior candidates competed in the election. Guy Hayter took the only available office with 32 votes. There were no candidates for the only posi¬ tion of graduate representative. Vot¬ ing booths were located at the side door ofthe HSS, in the Sombrilla, and upstairs in the University Center. In-
Contlnued on page 3
initial reports, the number of persons using the service have been increasing steadily each week. Student concems center around the time it takes to travel to and from the campuses. For ex¬ ample, UTSA freshman Rodney Harris,who rides route 93 on a daily basis,said he is pleased with the service currently being offered, but he feels it could be better. "I think it could be faster," he said." I guess they could cut down on the stops or send more buses."
Discussion for possible changes in VIA's currenl route 93 to allow direct, "door-to-door" service between 1604 and downtown campuses is positive and hojjeful. Tlie prospective door-to- door service would eliminate waiting at the bus stops for the average 12- minute UTSA shuttle ride. Ysabel Trinidad, assistant vice president for business services, says the re-routing was not a consideration early on. "Whenever they (VIA) move a route, it costs money."
UTSA offlcials hope that VIA is able to find a re-routing solution that minimizes cost. "We are trying to capitalize as much as possible on re¬ sources that are not going to cost us
anything," remarks Trinidad.
UTSA tentatively expects a pro¬ posal from VIA regarding direct ser¬ vice in two to three weeks. With all other options explored, UTSA offi¬ cials believe employing VIA services is the most economical means to pro¬ viding a service it deems critical. Ronald Seacrist, UTSA chief of po¬ lice, states, "If VIA could figure out a way to adjust the 93 where they can still have their normal 93 service to the other patrons that are using it and still provide us door-to-door (service), then we can both end up winners.
"That's the optimum; that's what we'd like to see. But we know if it's not realistic for them or for us finan¬ cially, that we'll be looking at other options to provide optimal service to the students," adds Seacrist.
The $50,000 for the existing bus service comes from state-appropri¬ ated funds given to UTSA to cover operating costs at the downtown campus, although the cost of the con¬ tract with VIA was not factored in the $12.5 million UTSA originally re¬ quested. "The contract was finalized before the beginning of fiscal year,"
,„...     ,„p..„       _. Nathan Lambrecht/Paisano
With a UTSA I.D. card, students, faculty and staff can catch the VIA 93 bus for a free trip downtown. Currently, anyone headed for the Frio St. building must catch the UTSA shuttle at the VIA bus stop at Dolores and South Flores.
states Trinidad. "So, technically, some of it came out of the existing down¬ town operating resources that weren't part of $7.5 milliun (actual grant re¬ ceived by UTSA- downtown).
Since then, tunds were transferred "tocover the back cost," said Trinidad. "I can't say with any certainty that
there won't be any kind oi a budgel crunch after ihis biennium. because lhe 7.5 million is supposed lo cover the two fiscal years. Alter that, il's anyone's guess what the legislature appropriates foropcrationsdowntown, "suniniaii/es Trinidad.
This past week, a meeling belween
I'I'SA olTicials and VIA was held to evaluate the service ihus (ar. Three niajor issues broughl up m thc meeting were whole Irip lime, (.(inmiunicalion and security.
I' I'SA had inilialcd a 12-Jaytinic- sliiily lo lollow up on llie VIA service Continued on page 3
Smokers don't take policy lightly
Gary Wright/Paisano Students with children will find attending UTSA easier after a child care center, due to be eom- pleted by 2000, is built at the 1604 campus. The child care center is dne third of a project that will also include an expanded health services center and a new wellness center.
Wellness center slated for year 2000
By Reglna Hurtado
Contributing Writer
The year 2000 will bring three new additions to the UTSA campus. A $ 12 million Child Care Center, Health Ser¬ vices Center, and Wellness and Recre¬ ation Center, which have been in con¬ sideration for 22 years, will be funded by the recreation fee included in stu¬ dents' tuition.
"We have just completed a program report in which several committees were involved. Students, faculty and staff created an outline, which pro¬ vides an architect with information^ reviewed by the President and UT sys¬
tem," Karen Whitney, associate vice president for student life said.
The first and smallest phase of the project is the Child Care Center, which is planned forthe fall of 2000. Accord¬ ing to information provided by the Stu¬ dent Life office, this center will ac¬ commodate the needs of students, fac¬ ulty, staff, alumni, and the community with child care. It will provide early child educational needs of infants, tod¬ dlers, and pre-schoolers with nation¬ ally recognized curriculum. Italso will be a source for research and obsei va- tion by staff and students. The facility will accommodate approximately 100 children, but exact size has not been
A&E:
Cactus Alley #17 to be released this Friday 26th.
See Page 6
determined.
A 10,000 square foot Health Ser¬ vices Center will provide health care services to students, faculty and slaff, including ambulatory services, medi¬ cal exams, referral services, labora¬ tory and pharmacy services, vision test¬ ing and a variety of medical office practices. According to Jim Sawyer, director of student health services, the new facility will allow increa.sed ser¬ vices, more visible location, additional room, and more advanced technology to better serve the students.
"Wellness is a very important part ofthe health center, and can bc an asset
Continued on page 3
By Christine Hensley
ContrilJiitini^ Writer
Although UTSA is a smoke free facility, studenis, facully and stall can still light up as long as they are ouls;'le and twenty feet away from .he build¬ ings. Smoking is also prohibiied in all universiiy vehicles.
"It is very typical of univcrsilies lo have a no-smoking policy," said Karen Whiiiiey, associate vice presideni tor student life. "I don't think they (uni¬ versity administrators) ever allowed smoking in the classrooms."
Whitney added that lhe reason be¬ hind thc indoor prohihilion was lhe damage that mighl be caused by ciga¬ rettes, such as burn a hole in the uphol¬ stery. Smokers take advantage dI the atriums in thc buildings to smoke be tween classes.
"The enforcement of the policy is ba.sed on good citizenship because ii is easy lo break," said Whitney. Faculty be¬ comes the monitors for violatorsinside lhe build¬ ings, but no one has been cited for smoking in¬ doors. Violators of the policy would lace disci- pi inary actions as deemed necessary by thc severity ofthe violation.
Other universities- have similar smoking policies. The University of Texas at Ausiin also prohibits smoking in¬ doors. SoulhweslTexas in San Marcos allows stu¬ dents to smoke indoors, as long as they do it in designated areas. Facully members are allowed to smoke in their own of¬ fices provided they have an air purifier and keep the door closed.
Both  smokers  and
nonsmokers seem lo agice on allow ing iiioking outdoors. "I staried school here when ihey used U) ha\ c a snuiking lounge in the libraiy. and I agree with banning smoking inside lhe buildings, " said Tony Alvarez, a senior smoker. "1 think as long as you're oulside you ought lo be able lo smoke "
Junior. Cecilia Mepa. a nonsnioker, does not leel lhal designated smoking areas oulside are necessary "I person¬ ally don'l (eel people should smoke in the buildings, bul oulside I'm (Tne wilh il."
According lo Whiiney.nne o( lhe concerns is keeping ihc cigaielte butts off the ground and in lhe ashtrays "We are having a problem wilh smokers disposing oltheircigarellescorreclly," Whitney explained "Wc are trying to gel more tr.ish receplacles so we can cul down on lhe Irash. Irom a mainte¬ nance slandpoinl, the cigaielles arc a problem, ll makes it look duly and wc don'l want that "
Nathan Lambrecht/Paisano Students and faculty who smoke are free to dc so, as long as they are outside and 20 feet away from any building entrance.
Sports:
Girls' Volleyball Nets FTst Victory
See Page 9
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Features:
Unusual Summer Jobs for UTSA Archaeology Students
See Page 9