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UTSA STUDENTS RETURN FROM A 'JOURNEY OF THE SOUL
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Aprils, 1997
Volume 19 Number 24
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Experience Party hopes to reform UTSA's student government
By Jason Moore
Staff Writer
This semester's student govemment (SG) elections voted in all the mem¬ bers of the Experience Party ticket, Judy Juarez (President), Elizabeth
Ayres (Vice-President), Eric Denton (Parliamentarian), and Brian Chandler (Treasurer).
The Experience Party concept was formed in Feb. 1996 when Juarez and Ayres attended a national student gov¬ emment conference at the Texas A&M
The Experience Party Members
Judy Juarez, President
Brian Chandler, Treasurer
Eric Denton, Pari.
UNC to combat alcohol abuse with early classes
By Colleen DeBaise
College Press Service
Early morning classes. Friday tests.
What some students consider the bane of their existence might become the rule at thc University of North Carolina, where administrators plan an uniisual approach to combat alco¬ hol abuse.
The campus' Substance Abuse Task Force recently studied ways to dis¬ courage excessive drinking at North Carolina, often considered a top "party school." While some ofthe task force's proposals are conventional—such as substance-free residence halls and al¬ cohol-free social events—others could prove to be eye-openers to students who arc uscd to sleeping in.
For instance, the task force sug¬ gests in its report that more early-bird classes and end-of- ^—^~^^^"™—" the-week exams might put a clamp on wecknight par¬ tying.
Aaron Nelson, a senior who is stu¬ dent body presi¬ dent, admits that
some students are 	
irked about the rec¬ ommendations, which the university now is planning to implement. Over¬ all, however, the report "has been handled pretty well" by the 24,(XX)- student body, he said.
The 39-member task force, com¬ prised ofstudents, faculty, staff, alumni and trustees, started meeting last Au¬ gust, tliree months after a UNC frater¬ nity fire killed five students and in¬ jured three others.
Autopsies revealed that four of the flve victims were drunk, although in¬ vestigators said it was uncertain whether ihey could have escaped if sober.
The task force's report, approved by the hoard of trustees, will be a "valuable blueprint" as the university works to curb alcohol and drag abuse, said UNC chancellor Michael Hooker.
"Alcohol and drag abuse are na¬ tional problems that are not unique to college campuses," he said. "Increas¬ ingly, we are seeing that the problem begins well before students arrive at college."
Mohan Nathan, UNC's incoming student body president, said he agrees that students don't arrive on campus with "hayseed sticking out of their
The task force suggests in its report that more early-bird classes and end-of-the-week exams might put a clamp on weeknight partying.
mouth, and, 'aw shucks!', are sucked into drinking."
"I'd like to see a greater emphasis on educational programs and enforce¬ ment of alcohol laws," he said. "I'm concemed that a lot of the recommen¬ dations deal with symptoms of the problems, rather than the problems themselves."
Nelson, who served on the task force, said the early-morning classes are designed to provide structure in students' lives, especially for fresh¬ man enjoying new-found freedom. TTie report does not specify whether the university should make the classes mandatory, but states that they are "ad¬ visable."
The report also encourages profes¬ sors to give more Friday tests to "keep students aware of the total academic week and the seriousness of academic ————— purpose of this in¬ stitution."
Nelson said he is con¬ cerned that mom- ¦ing classes might put a burden on "folks that work" in the morning.
 "What   if  you
want to take your classes in the afternoon?" he said.
Also, students in general seem to be "not functioning we I at 8 o'clock in the moming," he said. "That's not when we're at our best."
Although he voted for the propos¬ als. Nelson said he doesn't know whether they will effectively prevent alcohol and drag abuse. "I hope we do some tests and focus groups prior to implementing them," he said.
A quick poll of UNC students found many open to the report's sugges¬ tions—even the 8 a.m. classes.
Others were less willing to embrace the proposals. "It probably sounds great on pap>er, but I don't see it as working," said freshman David Jemigan. "Idon't think it will have an impact on student drinking." ,
A better solution would be for more fratemities to declare themselves sub¬ stance-free, Jemigan said. He noted a recent decision by the national fratemities Sigma Nu and Phi Delta Theta to ban alcohol in all chapter houses.
However, as far as the report's sug¬ gestions are concemed, "it probably wouldn't hurt to try," he said.
university that introduced them to stu¬ dent government political parties. By pooling their resources and with the help of their campaign manager Andy Ackfeld, the Experience Party was cre¬ ated this past February to reform SG.
Juarez said the party plans to create a SG that is self-sufficient, "so that we wouldn't have to rely on student fees, [so] that your money can be used some¬ where else." She added, "We really want the students to know that we are here, that we're really serious about serving their needs, and we are here to serve them."
One way to achieve this self-suffi¬ ciency is through fund-raising. David Schwartz is currently working on a golf tournament with one of the local golf clubs to help raise money for SG.
The Experience Party is also work¬ ing towards winning a student govern¬ ment vote equivalent to that of a uni¬ versity vice-president for all UTSA policies or programs. If they cannot get a vote, they plan to give their input into any policies that may affecl the students; in particular, issues involv¬ ing students' money.
Trying to create a better path of communication between the financial
aid office and the student body is an¬ other Experience Party goal. "Finan¬ cial aid is thinking on one platform and we' re on another platform and we need to meet somewhere in the middle as far as informing the students," said Juarez. The Experience Party plans to com¬ municate more efficiently deadlines for financial aid applications, loan in¬ formation, and new student scholar¬ ships.
The Experience Party plans to in¬ crease voter turnout in elections and push for the formation of new political parties in the future. "When we go to national conferences, everybody is so shocked when they hear how low our voter tumout is. Even for most public universities they have at least 40 per¬ cent ofthe student body voting and we do not even come near that," said Juarez.
The Experience Party hopes to in¬ crease voter turnout to aboul 10 per¬ cent ofthe UTSA populalion by publi¬ cizing SG elections through banners, class discussions and debates, Eli/a- beth Ayres said, "Iivthe future, I would like to see more parties run."
Continued on page 3
TASP Stats for UTSA
Texas first time TASP pass rate:
UTSA first time TASP pass rate:
UTSA TASP Rates by Ethnicity
Asian American students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
Anglo students:
83%
91%
72%
82%
60%
75%
Source: The Roadrunner
UTSA freshmen score high on TASP
By Sara Dillard
Contributing Writer
The Texas Academic Skills Pro¬ gram, commonly referred to as the TASP test, has shown UTSA has a "high quality of first time freshmen" said Dwight Henderson, dean of the college of social and behavioral sci¬ ences.
The TASP is taken by new college freshmen to measure student skills in writing, reading and mathematics,
In 1995-'96. UTSA students taking the TASP test achieved scores that ranked UTSA among the top 10 public universities in Texas. During that same year, the statewide average of students passing the TASP test on their first
attempt was 83.1 percent, while 90.6 percent of UTSA students passed their first time.
Students who do not pass one or all ofthe TASP test on their first attempt enroll in non-course remedial classes to help improve their skills in hopes of passing the TASP on their second at¬ tempt.
Approximately 200 students are enrolled in non-course remedial En¬ glish classes at UTSA during the fall '96 semester. For every one student enrolled in non-remedial English classes last semester, there were four students enrolled in non-remedial mathematic courses, said UTSA Di¬ rector of Student Development, Dr. Patricia Glenn.
Study finds students indulge in more sex, alcohol on Spring Break
By Colleen DeBaise
College Press Service
Students drink more, use more drags and engage in riskier sex while on spring break than at their own cam¬ puses.
That's what two University of Wis- consin-Slout professors discovered after surveying 8(X) spring breakers on a Florida beach in 1995.
Three out of four men and two out of five women reported being drank every day, while a third ofthe students said they used marijuana while on spring break, the professors said.
Also, men told the professors that they had more unprotected sex with new partners during break than they typically had at home.
Continued on page 3
Texas State Attorney General Dan Morales Is scheduled to speal< to spealc Monday, April 14th in the Regents' Room in the JPL at 11:30 a.m. Morales will address the subject of affirmative action and discrimination. The public is invited to the event and a reception to be held after.
MIT promises scholarships to gay ROTC students
By College Press Service
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology says il will guarantee fi¬ nancial aid packages lo ROTC stu¬ dents who lose their federal scholar¬ ships because Ihcy arc gay.
None of Ihe 102 MIT students en¬ rolled in thc Reserve Officers Training Corps program has had a scholarship revoked since 199.^. when the U.S. Department of Defense enacted its "don't ask, don't lell" policy, said Roberi J. Sales, an MIT spokes¬ person.
Thc new policy, however, follows a
MIT facully task force decision last April to create a modified ROTC pro¬ gram open to all studenis, including lesbians and homosexuals.
MIT, along with many colleges wilh anti-discrimination policies, has long grappled wilh how lo preserve feder¬ ally funded ROTC programs that bar open homosexuals and—at the same time—not violate universiiy policies.
Since the 196()s, many campuses have banned the ROTC program. Bul MIT stood U) lose funds from the De¬ partment of Defense for research or other purposes il it did not preserve ils ROTC program
Simpson lawyer praises UMiss
By Coiiege Press Service ,
Former OJ. Simpson lawyer Johnnie Cochran praised the Unncr- sily of Mississippi for considermg changes lo ils Confedcfalc-era "Dixie ' fight song and "Colonel Reb" mascoi.
"There are things that African- Americans feel strongly aboul. and lo thccreditol lhe chancellor, he is laking steps toevaluate Ihe situation," Cochran said, in a Mar. 22 speech to the Olc Miss Black Law Students Association.
Chancellor Robert C. Khayal an¬ nounced in March that he had hired a New York markeiing firm to research the image ot (Me Miss.
The university has long been criti¬ cized Ibr its emblems, which many say have racial o\ertones and are offen¬ sive. In the early 1980s, Ole Miss offi- ciallv disassociated itself wilh thc Con¬
federate tlag
Buiman> tudents. including more than 50 members ot Studenis tor Uni¬ versity Herilage. say lhe symbols re¬ flect the university's Southern roots and should not bc changed.
Anoihcr group, the Rebel Siudent Union, ha,s collected more than 2(X) signatures in an ellorl to have student input in Ole Miss's image review.
"We wani to ensure that everyone involved will have iheir say and bc a part ofthe decision. " said the union's president Chris Bridgewaler, an Ole Miss senior.
The university holds lhal the review is not merely about whether lo change the Ole Miss fight song or ma.scoi.
"We made a decision to pursue a sludy of our academic rcpulalion," Khayal said. "Tliis is a study about substance, not svmbol."
Inside this Issue...
Features:     utsa students take
"Journey of the Soul," pg. 5
A&E: Val Kilmer Is a real
"Saint," pg. 6
Sports: Texas relays, pg. 8
Photo Poll
What Issues would you like to see covered in the Paisano?
UTSA students visited the "Behold" statue in the King Historic District in Atlanta GA. See pg. 5 for story.