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September 9,1997
Volume 20 Number 16
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Crime statistics drop at 1604 campus, gradually rise downtown
Gary Wright
Editor in chief
Crimes reported at UTSA's 1604 campu.. dropped by approximately 26 percent over the 96-97 school year, according to the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Report released by the UTSA Police Department.
The report, which gives statistics
"Ifs just an aware¬ ness type thing. When people are more aware of a potential problem, they're going to be more careful with their property."
- Ronald Seacrist, UTSA chief of police
forthe 1994-1997 academic years for all three UTSA campuses (1604, Downtown Campus/ Cypress Towers and the Institute of Texan Cultures) shows a drop in reported crime at the 1604 campus from 330 total violations in the 95-96 school year to 245 total violations in 96-97.
UTSA chief of police, Ronald Seacrist, attributed the drop to imple¬ menting new crime prevention pro¬ grams and the increasing visibility of campus police due to the community policing program.
Nathan Lambrecht/ Paisano
One of four automobiles on campus that shows the results of a collision course behind the tennis courts is towed away on Monday, sept. 8.
The goal of the crime prevention programs is to educate UTSA's stu¬ dents, faculty and staff on how to avoid becoming a victim of crime on cam¬ pus, particularly with respect to theft, the most common of all crimes on UTSA campuses. "We're doing a lot of work through student affairs," explains Seacrist. "We're meeting with frater¬ nities and sororities and different stu¬ dent groups, and just teaching them how to secure their property.
"Most of the thefts that we see are thefts where someone has left their book bag laying somewhere or left their purse laying somewhere," con¬
tinues Seacrist. "So it's a personal prac¬ tice that we find is usually the problem that creates the theft opportunity."
In addition to students, faculty and staff are also being educated in the area of crime prevention through the new programs. "When we find an office unlocked or something, they (the of¬ ficers) hang a card on the door saying 'this door was unlocked; you could have lost property,'" Seacrist said. "It's just an awareness type thing. When people are more aware of a potential problem, they're going to be more careful with their property."
Chief Seacrist gives the bicycle pa¬
trol program, which was implemented in the spring semester of 95, credit for helping to lowerthe crime rate. "That's a part of our whole community polic¬ ing program and enhancing the vis¬ ibility of the officers," said Seacrist. "Officers are able to get to places much more easily on bikes than they can in cars, and they get there faster than they can on foot."
The bicycle program has also en-, hanced the crime prevention program by making officers more accessible to students, faculty and staff. "The citi-
Contlnued on page 3
Successful internships require time, careful planning
By Rachael Hill
Contributing Writer
Students at UTSA hoping to re¬ ceive academic credit for intemships are advised to consult their division's intemship coordinator or academic advisor at least a semester in advance.
In the course catalog, each major has a listing of courses available, and some include an upper division intem¬ ship course for three hours of credit; however, each division sets its own guidelines as to how that credit is granted.
Some majors, such as engineering, seldom offer credit for intemships since there are no free electives in the pro¬ gram, says Dr. Dan Hogenauer of the engineering division.
"Every single thing a student docs has to be in lieu of some other course, and in general, the number who gain academic credit for intemships are few," Hogenauer said.
Hogenauer added that his division created safeguards to ensure that in¬ temships would provide an educational experience, like leaming the design of a mechanism. Since most positions available to students simply don't in¬ volve that degree of work, it is not a regular practice ofthe engineering di¬ vision to grant a student credit, Hogenauer said.
Other divisions do allow credit for intemships, but have different guide¬ lines for determining credit, and limits may be set on the number of students who receive adademic credit.
Dr. Steve Levitt, the intemship co¬ ordinator for communication majors in the Division of English, Classics, Philosophy and Communications, says a maximum of twenty students can enroll each semesterand receive credit within his division. Levitt added that
he usually has a waiting list each se¬ mester for placements the following semester.
"There is a limit because placement and management ofa student' s progress is difficult for one person to handle," said Levitt, who assigns, approves and monitors the internships for communi¬ cation majors.
Every communication intem has a supervisor within the company who then reports the student's progress to Levitt.
Levitt added that priority is often given to juniors or seniors requesting credit for intemships, since they are getting closer to graduation. Other criteria include grade point average and progress in courses that would relate to t. e intended internship.
However, Levitt said exceptions can be made and that if one factor in the criteria is weak, a student's stronger points can weigh in.
Levitt recommends that communi¬ cation majors see him or their advisor at least one semester before seeking credit. The student must then fill out an information sheet which details courses, experience and the type of intemship desired. Levitt says stu¬ dents are welcome to request a par¬ ticular intemship.
Some students are required lo com¬ plete repiorts during the course oftheir intemship for an evaluation, while oth¬ ers are graded on the job by a profes¬ sional with the company.
Cindy Gable, academic advisor and intemship coordinator for the division of social and jxilicy sciences, says pro¬ fessors within her division help grade reports that students complete during their internship.
Gable suggests that students see her
Continued on page 3
UTSA economics professor recognized for excellence
An inside look at the l-IOPE Scholarship
Dr. Dale Truett
Dale Truett h.-'s been named an Ashbel Smith Professor economics, the highest honpr bestowed on a fac¬ ulty member, by UTSA.
The Ashbel Smith Professor must meet the highest standards of excel¬ lence for a professional scholar, in¬ cluding national recognition by fac¬ ulty peers for research, creative works or scholarly endeavors. The Ashbel Smith Professor
also must hold The Ashbol Smith Professor
the rank of pro-  ^^Jgf ^^^^^ ff^^ highOSt StaO- fessor, serving „ ,
as a role model dards of 0X00116000 for a pro- for fellow fac- fessiooal scholar, including
nationai recognition by facuity peers for research, creative worl<s or scholarly endeavors.
ulty and stu¬ dents.
"I'm  hon¬ ored to be given
this title," said 	
Truett, who "¦"¦^^^"¦^"'"'¦¦*" came to the college of business in 1973 as adi vision director. "One ofthe most renowned and internationally recog¬ nized economics professors on the fac¬ ulty was an Ashbel Smith Professor while I was a graduate student at the University ofTexas at Austin, tohave the same title as that person is quite an honor.'Tmett received his undergradu¬ ate degiee from Purdue University in Indiana and obtained a master's de¬ gree in Latin American studies and a doctorate in economics from the Uni¬
versity of Texas at Austin.
Tmett has published numerous ar¬ ticles on Mexico, eaming him the honor as one ofthe most published U.S. eco¬ nomics on the subject of Mexico. He has also researched and published in¬ formation on intemational economics and development for over 15 different countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Korea, several African countries and Spain,Tmett h as authored or co-authored more than 50 articles, books, chapters,
_     and mono-
' graphs dur¬ ing his career. In 1996, he published four articles and has three more ac¬ cepted for publication in 1997.
Named for Ashbel Smith, the first chairman of the UT System Board of Regents who was known as both a scholar and a visionary leader, these non-endowed designated professor¬ ships include a $5,000 annual stipend fpr a fixed term. Steven Kellman was named the university's first Ashbel Smith Professor in 1995. Traett'sterm is for five years, beginning this fall.
College Press Service
WASHINGTON—With the stroke of a pen. President Clinton in August signed into law an unprecedented $40 billion in education tax credits —a mammoth package that includes a HOPE Scholarship for the first two years of college.
Now colleges, universities and stu¬ dents get the difficult task of figuring out what to do next. So far, many details are clear: Families get a full credit on the first $ 1,000 of tuition and a 50 percent credit on the next $1,000, for total aid of up to $1,500 annually. The grant applies only to the first two years of college, with a sepa¬ rate program with aid for up¬ per-level students. But the package is complex, leaving colleges, families and accountants with plenty of unanswered questions. Here is a quick guide to the new plan as it stands now:
• When does HOPE begin? The credit takes effect in the 1998 tax year for education expenses paid afler Jan. 1. However, families and/or students will not get the actual credits until they file their 1998 tax retums, which are due April 15, 1999.
• Who is eligible? Single-parent fami¬ lies earning up to $40,000 a year and couples eaming up to $80,000 a year would get the full HOPE credit, budget documents show. Families still would
receive some help up to $50,000 a year for one-parent households, and $100,000 for two-parent households. Higher-earning families would receive no benefits.
• What expenses are covered? Mainly tuition and fees. Many lawmakers wanted to include books but failed to get such aid into the final agreement. Al some low-cost state institutions, "tuition is low but books are cxpen-
run services should advise students, at the very least," said Ray Taylor, ex¬ ecutive director of the Association of Communiiy College Tmstecs (ACCT). Some colleges already help students fill out financial-aid forms and could provide some tax advice as well, he said.
• Will HOPE change the way students pay tuition? Probably not. Students still will have to pay up front and then file
sive," said Ruth Flower, government relations director for the American Association of University Professors. In fact, books may equal or exceed tuition costs for students in states such as California.
• What role will colleges have in the program? That will be determined, pending talks between the U.S. Edu¬ cation Depariment and Treasury De¬ partmenl, officials say. Bul commu¬ nity colleges should gear up to provide assistance to studenis. "Any college that is providing well-
for the HOPE credit later. But some colleges might consider establishing a foundation or other means to help stu¬ dents with "bridge" funding between the time tuition is due and the time they receive their credits, Taylor said.
• What about families with more than one child in college? Such families can get a credil for each child in college, if Ihey are freshmen or s> ,)homores, ex¬ perts say.
• Can studenis still receive Pell Grants? Yes. Studenis can receive aid from both Pell and the HOPE Scholarship
program.
• What aboul help lor luniors and se¬ niors? Uppercluss students and relum¬ ing adults are not eligible tor HOPF. but can get a 20 percent eiedii on lhe first $5,000 in educalion expenses, lor a credit of up to $ 1,000 a year, analysis say.
This provision does noi begin until June 30, 1998^si\ monlhs alter HOPE'S starting dale—bul il lias ihc
same income guidelines as lhe
HOPE program.
• What else is in lhe lax bill.' Many credit and deduclions. including a lax deduction ot uplo $2,500a year tor inieresi on education loans, penalty- free withdrawals trom Indi¬ vidual Retiremenl Accounts. tax-tree irealnienl ot em¬ ployer-paid tuition and t.i\or able lax ireainienl ot slalc pre¬ paid luiiion programs
• Are there any hidden costs or hassles' Possibly. Many Ipw-and middle-income fami¬ lies may gel so many lax breaks— chiefly thc education credits and the new S500-per-chikl credits—lhal ihey will require calculation of allernali\e minimum tax. Individuals and fami¬ lies who lake a large number ot credits and deductions musl till out ihese tonus to help the government assess whether they pay enough tax.
"Strategies are going to change for taxpayers. There's no doubt about ii." said Noah Brown, ACCT's govern¬ ment relations director. "H.R. Block and others will be very busy."
A&E:
Ostritch Music.
Sports:
Walk-ons welcome... UTSA Held Open Base ball tryouts Friday
Features:
Colon Hydrotherapy. Get it.  Got it.? Good.