Wi^V^iWiW<^V<^
immmi^im^mm
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmtmmmKmmfm
n
i
Serving the University of Texas at San Antonio Community
L       hi P    the Dugout •page 7
Inside A&E
A Project of the Student Newspaper Association
The Aceman retumeth •page 6
J7^        ¦ '^''"
(*            -^/
¦^•-.^         ^^^
|/J
4I
^k^
'^^'^a       1|45k   1
_#^1
[^
toy r /\1BII
fSmiWAv^a^ 11
Volume 15 Number 5
March 31-92
Contracts with private interests can wealcen student services
The dorms, apartments, bookstore, and food service are following the trend of public universities contracting services to private firms
By Jerry Salines Staff Writer
UTSA'srclalionshipwith BachMan- agemenl, Ihe owner and manager of the Chisholm Hall dormitory, is showing signs of strain. Students and university adminisUalors are unhappy with some cost-saving changes the management firm has made in the last several months.
Private ownership and management of facilities on public institutions has grown more popular, especially at uni¬ versities which do not possess ready
capital for new constmction. In 1985 the ..niversity lacked funds lo build the much-neededChisholm Hall dormitory. The university was propositioned by a private company to enter into partner¬ ship in constructing the dorm and the adjacent activities center.
Bach Management built the dorm and adjoining facility and in return re¬ ceived a 30 year rent-free lease agree¬ ment on the university's land. Initially Ihe university managed the dorm facil¬ ity, but Bach Management decided afler three years to assume its management.
Karen Whitney, assistant vice presi¬ dent for student life, recentl published an article in "The Walking Stick," a college student housing publication. In the article, she said Ihe reason for the change in dorm management al UTSA "involved differences of views and val¬ ues between Ihe university and (Bach Management)."
Soon afler Bach Management took over management of the facility, they ended food service al Ihe recreation fa¬ cility. It was a snack shop operation, but it was Ihe only ealing facility convenient lo the residents. Bach's justification, said Whimey, was that the snack shop was operating "in the red."
Soon afterward. Bach eliminated a dorm work-study position Ihat was re¬ sponsible for removing trash from trash cans in halls and stairways.
As a result dorm stu¬ dents complain that the week before the semester's start and on weekends during the se¬ mester, no one is respon¬ sible for emptying the trash.
Residents say that on weekends the smell "rushes" into the dorm corridors when hall doors are opened.
Bach Management
says they have a contract with Ihe university main¬ tenance department lo lend to the dorm's trash, but university mainte¬ nance employees do not work   during the week
Student groups sponsor social justice awareness weel<
By Susan E. Riggs Contributing Writer
Student groups at UTSA have united to sponsor "Social Justice Awareness Week," a week of panel discussions, educational displays, films and service activities.
During the week of April 6-11, the Student Representative Assembly (SRA), Ihe Methodist Student Union (MSU), and the Campus Activities Board (CAB) are working together to bring lo UTSA students activities designed to help increase community awareness and involvement.
Education will be Monday's topic, health care on Tuesday, family matters on Wednesday, housing on Thursday, and a special service event, "Habitat for Humanity Workday," is scheduled for Saturday. A socialjustice donation drive will continue Ihrough the week. Stu¬ dents can donate canned food items, clothing, household items, or toiletry items al any of die functions during the week.
¦ On Monday in Ihe University Center Laurel Room, CAB will be sponsoring a reception, a display on education from the United Way, anda showing of "Stand ^id Deliver." A discussion tilled "Ham- (vrger Minds: Education in America" will follow the movie.
Dr. Lynn Leverty from Ihe Govemor's Education Policy Office, Julia Lerma of the Metro Alliance, and Norma Cantu from Ihe Mexican Ameri¬ can Legal Defense and Educational Fund will discuss secondary education in America and answer questions.
Tuesday's Topic, Healdi Care: State of Emergency, will begin with an SRA sponsored reception al 12:30 p.m. inthe
A sociat justice donation
drive will continue through the week. Stu¬ dents can donate canned food items, clothing, household items, or toiletry items at any of the functions during the week.
UC Laurel Room. Displays from Ihe U l Health Science Center, the UTSA Stu¬ dent Health Center and the United Way are planned. America's ailing health care will be discussed by Virginia Ramirez, co-chair for Communities Or¬
ganized for Public Service (COPS), Fa¬ lher Norman Ermis from the Sl. Alphonsus Catholic Church, and Dr, Gregory Staffel from the Brady Green Clinic.
The American Family Under Siege is the scheduled topic for Wednesday and a reception, which will begin at noon in HB 2.01.32, is also sponsored by CAB. United Way displays will concern fam¬ ily support. Panelists for this discussion include Michelle Montanio.a Child Pro¬ tective Services Specialist from the De¬ partment of Human Resources; Dr. Avalardo Valdez, UTSA professor of social and policy sciences; and Janet Alyn from the Texas Coalition with School-age Parenting.
The public is invited to participate in the discussion on housing called "Habi¬ tat for Humanity: Rebuilding America" which begins at 12:30 p.m. under the Sombrilla. Alsoon Thursday evening in HB 2.02.06 at 7:30 p.m., the Political Thinkers Society Forum will be on The American Family: Crisis in Evolution.
Saturday is Habitat for Humanity Workday. Volunteers will consduci homes at three sites around Ihe city. Students interested in participating should contact the Student Activities Office in the UC for details. For more information on any of the events call 691-4597.
C. D. Gable, right, talks with Dan Sims, a junior mechanical engineering student, at the UTSA Job Fair held Wed. 25 In the Convo. Center. CPS and dozens of other companies staffed booths at the fair.
fore the semester's start or on week¬ ends.
Andrea White, freshman special edu¬ cation major, is a dorm resident and member of the Hall Council, a commit-
ming pool. They feel the move is justi¬ fied since no one has been hurt at the pool in the last five years, they said. When Akins was asked about this situ¬ ation, he replied, "I don't care to corn¬
ice of dorm residents who me^t with the    ment on that, either!'
The university expressed concern when
Bach Management removed both the
food service and the lifeguards,
but they could not force the issue.
housing director to discuss and re.solve issues concerning the dorms. White thinks that while the Hall Council is a good idea, the housing manager doesn't lake any real action on the residents' complaints. "They just pay us lip-ser¬ vice," she said.
Bach Management says this issue has never been raised. When Housing Di¬ rector Tom Akins was asked about Ihe trash situation, he replied, "I don't care to comment on it. It's really our deci¬ sion."
In another cost-saving move last Sep¬ tember, Bach Management decided to do away with the lifeguards al the swim-
Craig Bach, of Bach Management in Austin, added a camera to the video security system to cover the pool before removing the lifeguards. The manage¬ ment theorizes that the resident assis¬ tants who staff the front desk can also keep an eye on the several monitors, including the one for the p(X)l.
The video camera at the pool, how¬ ever, is set in such a way that the room lights reflect off the ptXTl's surface, vir¬ tually eliminating visibility under the water. Bach says they encourage the use of a "buddy system."
Pai.sano requests lor financial records and insurance coverage ofthe p(x)l were
rebuffed by Akins. Despite the fact that Bach Management is contracting with a public institution, Akins said, "Our prof¬ its (and insurance coverage) are ourcon- cem."
The university expressed concern when Bach Management removed both Ihe food service and the lifeguards, but they could not force the issue. Bach Management retains the right to adopt new policies.
According to the article by Whitney, the cost ofprivate partnerships with the university is its loss of negotiating power with its private partner. Whitney says othercosLs result when trying to resolve "conflicts that arise from the lack of shared values based on the fundamental differences between a non-profit insti¬ tution of higher education and a profit making, private corporation."
Though it is generally agreed that partnerships between public universi¬ ties and private developers can benefit both partners, some issues have been raised al UTSA concerning the potential benefit lo studenis. University fixxl service is expected to go private by fall and the new apartments are being built under a land-lease agreement simihu to Ihat of the dorms.
A Report CaroOT
The week of April 6-10
.Monda, .April <)
Education Hamburger Minds: Education in America
12:00-12:50 p.m. UC Laurel Room
Panelists;
Dr. Lynn Leverty Ms. Julia Lerma Ms. Norma Cantu
United Way Education Display
Movie: "Stand and Deliver" 1:30-3:30 p.m. UC Laurel Room. Discussion following
luesdax. April 7
Health Care Health Care: State of Emergency
12:30-1:30 p.m. UC Laurel Room •
Panelists:
Virginia Ramirez Fr. Norman Ermis Dr. Gregory Staffel
UT Heath Science Center Display
UT Student Health Center Display
United Way Health Care Display
\S'
Family The American Family Under Seige
12:00-12:50 p.m. .     HB 2.01.32
Panelists:
Michelle Montanio Dr. Avalardo Valdez Janet Alyn
United Way Family Support Display
Housing Habitat for Humanity
12:30-1:30 p.m. The Sombrilla
Panelists:
Roxanne Batexel Terri Loper
Political Thinkers Society Forum
The American Family: Crisis in Evolution 7:30 p.m. HB 2.02.06