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THE FINRL UIHISRE
Sports Editor has final say in a must read for UTSR sports fans
SPORTS, page 9
CELEBRRTE THE WORD
San Rntonio boolc fair attracts uiriters for around tlie uiorld
ARTS & ENTERTRINMENT, page 6
SPERKING OUT
Craig Dean to speak on gay issues Oct. 11.
FEATURES, page 5
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PAiMRO
October 10,1995
VoiumelS, Number20
SERUING THE UNIUERSITV OFTEHHS RT SRN RNTONIO COMMUN^ITV
Should newborns die: UTSA looks at controversy
By Cynthia Klekar
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Should newborns die? If a newborn infant is severly deformed and holds no prospects of ever enjoying Hfe as we know it, should we strive to perserve its life? Or should we allow nature to take its course and let the infant die? TTiese [wwerful questions will be part ofa lecture entitled "Should newborns die?" in the Regents Room on Thurs¬ day. Oct. 12 at 7:30.
The lecture is part of the 1995 Brackenridge Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Humanities series. Dr. James Rachels, professor of philoso¬ phy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is the guest professor who will present the lecture.
Over the past thirty years, Dr. Rachels has established himself flrmly as one ofthe leading bioethicist, espe¬ cially in the area of medical ethics. His work has been studied seriously not only by other moral philosophers them¬ selves, but by practicing physicians groups, including the American Medi¬ cal Association. Dr. Rachels states that his role in philosophy is to be "a part of the overall human effort to
figure out the truth." One particularly troubling issue in that effort is our roie as humans conceming the preserva¬ tion of life.
Dr. Kevorkian's involvement with assisted suicides and the publication of Derek Humphries' Final Exit has brought focus to the medical and ethical issue of death and dying. However, there is another side ofthe issue that deals with life and living. This will be the focus of Dr. Rachels' lec¬ ture Thursday: What should we do, as par¬ ents, physicians, a society, when faced with the question of preserving the life of severely handicapped newborns?
"I will discuss the question of the value of human life," states Dr. Rachels. "Why is it morally right to protect it?" Often, newborns are bom severely re¬ tarded, without brains, or some other vital organ. In such cases, doctors may be certain that these newborns have no
hope of living a normal life. At this point, Dr. Rachels asks, "Should we strive to prolong the life of every in¬ fant, regardless of the quality of its life? Or is it best in some cases to withhold treatment and 'let nature take its course' ?"
"Finding a middle ground is hard," stated Rachels. "[So¬ lutions] commit¬ ted to the right to life ethic won't satisfy liberals". Other factors in the issue include whether ornot to perform organ transplants on newborns who have a slim chance of sur-
Dr. James Rachels
Adding to the dilemma is the devel¬ opment of modem technology. Inthe past, the question of whether or not to preserve life was much more simplis¬ tic due to the fact that in some cases it was medically impossible. However, today we have a vast amount of medi¬
cal technology that can be used to prolong life, even the life of severely handicapped newboms. When do we use this technology? How should it be used? These question will be posed by Dr. Rachels during his lecture.
In addition to Thursday's lecture. Dr. Rachels will be visiting classes and holding another public forum, a panel discussion entitled "Ethics and Eutha¬ nasia," to be held on Tuesday, Oct. 10 from 5:30 til 6:45 in the Humanities and Social Sciences building Room 2.01.10.
Dr. Rachels has served as Dean of the School of Humanities and Aca¬ demic Vice President at the University of Richmond, New York University, the University of Miami, and Duke University. He is also the author of numerous articles and books, includ¬ ing C«are£//romA/»'ma/.s.- The Moral Implications of Darwinism, a book that is used in the classrooms of UTS A.
Dr. Rachel's visit is sponsored by the Division of English, Classics and Philosophy and made possible through a grant from the Brackenridge Foun¬ dation. Past-visitors have included internationally known experts in liter¬ ary studies and classics
Unabomber: memo sent to warn faculty
By Frank Cantu
StoffWriter
Last week a memorandum was sent out to all departments on campus by UTSA Chief of Police Ronald Seacrist. The memorandum was in response to a Unabomber bomb threat in the San Antonio area. Campus Police received a teletype from the Baytown Police Depanment on Sept. 27. The teletype was in regards to a report from an unidenti¬ fied source to the Baytown Police which re¬ ported a conversa¬ tion over heard on a ra- dio scanner among an un¬ known male and fe male. A discussion be¬ tween the pair revealed the possibility ofa Unabomber threat tar¬ geting San Antonio during the week¬ end of Sept. 29. When asked why the Unabomber would target San An¬ tonio, Lieutenant Hagy of the Cam¬
pus Police said he was not a Unabomer expert. Lieutenant Hagy has been in contact with the FBI in order to keep updated on this matter. However, the FBI has been unable to track down the subjects vis-a-vis the radio scan¬ ner.
Lieutenant Hagy stated that the Unabomer's traditional targets have been college campuses. But there was never a specific threat to UTSA or any other school or fed¬ eral institution in San Antonio. A memorandum was issued as a precautionary measure and re- minder to all faculty and staff to always be aware of suspi¬ cious mail and packages on campus. The memo cautions anyone receiving un¬ expected packages which do not have a re¬ turn address or have an unfa¬ miliar relum address to contact the Campus Police immediately. Faculty and staff did not receive the memo until Monday, Oct. 2, afterthe date of the threat.
Budget, resignations, and previous elections challenge Student Government
By Stephanie Dubick
StoffWriter
Troubled by resignations and va¬ cant positions after their Sept. elec¬ tions. Student Government is planning to hold in-house elections. During its agenda, Student Government also has passed its yearly $27,000 budget.
Elections were held on Sept. 27 and 28 for freshmen, sophomore, junior, and graduate representatives, however; the elections have resulted for the need for in-house elections. This is because graduate representative Michael White, junior representative Miles Sims, and sophomore representative Wendy Armstrong resigned from their posi¬ tions afler being elected. White re¬ signed because he had to take ajob, but the other two left no explanation. An¬ other sophomore representative posi¬ tion is also empty because it was not filled during the elections.
In order to fill the positions, the in- house elections will be held. Elections chairperson Cindy Mikeska said, "What I am going to do for these elec¬ tions is publicize around campus. No
campaigning is needed from the stu¬ dent body, and the applicants inter¬ ested in the positions will come before us and speak about why they want the position ^—¦¦™™ and what they want to do as a student govem¬ ment member, then we vote on it by ballot. The applications will not be ready for about four weeks so I can get enough time to prepare."
To be eligible for a student govemment po¬ sition, a GPA of 2.25 is needed as well as a cur¬ rent course load taking six graduate semester hours or nine under¬ graduate semester hours.
In addition to the elections, the new bud¬ get was passed at the iii meeting on Oct. 4. The budget totaled $27,000, which did not include funds rolled over from last year. There is $4,250 in fixed costs that are in every budget which include office equipment.
printing supplies, telephonfrpt yments, and other bills. Another $22,750 will be sent on special projects ai id com-
"I think the most important benefit is the personal satisfaction and making institutional changes in an effort to better the University. As a member of Student Government. I receive personal develop¬ ment and improve communication and leadership skills. It also provides me the opportunity to meet lots ofstudents and administrators."
- Kristi Hall, Student Government president
mittees.   The money for the budget came from the Student Service Fee.
Treasurer Danielle Bush said, "I based the figures on what we spend on in the past, and what each chairperson
Kristi Hali addresses the Student Qovemment panei at a recent meeting, i-lall feels Student Govemment is a good opportunity for students to enhance their leadership and communication skills.
of the committees requires. Because of the rollover, those figures have not appeared on our budget yet. TTie bud¬ get \yas first approved ^~—^ through the executive committee and then it gets approved through the assembly, which was just done."
Where the rollover will go has not yet been discussed, but Bush hopes it will benefit the students.
Now that most ofthe positions are filled and the budget was passed. President Kristi Hall has many positive goals for student government, as well as the student body. "I am really excited about this year. We have '^—^^ a lot of honorable mem¬ bers that I am happy to be working with," Hall said.
Student govemment has five gen¬ eral goals this year according to Hall. They are:
1) To effectively serve the needs of the students
2) Be informed on legislative issues and specific campus issues, and in¬ form the students about campus, state, and federal issues
3) Increase student government vis¬ ibility on campus
4) Foster a relationship between student govemment and the adminis¬ tration
5) Encourage student involvement These goals were dr -ided by the
assembly. The student govemment also established new functions to meet specific achievements. This includes the Town Meetings, which will be held every month. The September Town Meeting focused on the fee increases. The next one is scheduled on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 11:30 under the Sombrilla. The meeting will address library is-
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I   - I I
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Student Government (ioals
- To effectively serve the needs of the
students. Inform students about campus, state,
and federal legislative i.ssues. Increase Student Government visibility
on campus.
Foster a relationship between Student Government and administration. Encourage student involvement
J
sues, and four speakers representing the library on the panel. All Town Meetings are opened to the public.
In addition. Student Govemment has established the Rowdy Express, a monthly newsletter that promotes ac¬ tivities and distributes information about what olher organizations are doing.
Another objective to accomplish the goals is the new surveys. A different survey will be formulated and distrib¬ uted once a montli. This month's will be correlating with the library issues.
"Studentgovernment mei"berswill be required at least one hour a week surveying students and talking to con¬ stituents, and will be required to com¬ plete 10 surveys a week," Hall said.
Hall encourages students to come to student govemment representatives with their problems. She said, "It is imponant for students to come to us to let us know so we can do something about it. Students can really change things."
Several otherevents conceming stu¬
dent government will be held. They will be conducting classroom evalua¬ tions, targeting the big lecture halls. The purpose of this is for students to inform student government members about improvements that are needed in classrooms.
There are many benefits for being a student government representative. Fringe benefits include aparking space for the executives in front of the UC.
Hall said, "A lot of times we are in the office all day and it seems like all night. For safety reasons, we have close parking spaces. Also, we are carrying a lot of stuff from our cars to office which is heavy."
Hall finds many benefits of being in student govemment. "I think the most important benefit is the personal satis¬ faction and making institutional changes in effon to better the univer¬ sity. As a member of student govem¬ ment, I receive personal development and improve communication and lead¬ ership skills. It also provides me the opponunity to meet lots of students and administrators."