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Serving THE  University of Texas  at San Antonio Community
TUESDAY
February 1, 1994
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Volume 17, Numl>or3
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Texas' ONLY Independent Student Newspaper
Resident Assistants suffer from Bacli buy-out
New advising center opens at UTSA
By Laigh Ann Griffin
Associate News Etiitor
As of faU 1994. students with fewer than 30 semester hours of coUege wUl now be classified as General Studks majors and wUI receive academk advis¬ ing in the newly reorganized Tomas Rivera Center for Student Advisuig.
The center, kxated in dw John Peace Litnary BuUding. was formaUy opened on Monday at 9 a.m.
"It's a joint operation—academic af¬ fairs and student affairs. It's got two major components.the academic advis¬
ing and dw student development," said Dr. Loren Thompson, director of aca¬ demic advising. Stuari Rubner is direc¬ tor of student development.
The center, which wUl also advise new transfer students, students on pro¬ bation, and students wilh TASP defi- ciencks, has now incorporated the stu¬ dent devekipment and leaming assis- Uuice fiinction of die UTSA Office of Student Affairs.
Students wiU be able to come in for their first year and explore, take differ¬ ent courses, and get different kinds of perqwctives from the advisors and other
studenis.
"We want stiidents to take more of general educational courses during their first year, as well as to try things ttiat sound interesting," said Thompson.
By Brian Wheeler
Editor-in-Chief
Negotiations are stiU underway as Century Property Management, manag¬ ers of University Oaks I and II, looks to take over ttw Chishobn HaU dormitory managed by Bach Management.
Karen Whitney, assistant vice presi¬ dent of student life, said, "For quite sonw time now Centiuy Devetopment has been discussing and exploring with BachManagementthe possibiUty of tak¬ ing over management of Chisholm HaU and the Activities Center."
Botti Whimey and Deborah Delgado, general manager for University Oaks, stated they feh Ihat this would be a positive move for Chisholm Hall and University Oaks citing economy of scale in management and the experience in student housing that Century Develop¬ ment has with other colleges and univer¬ sities.
"From a university standpoint our greatest concem is we simply want qual¬ ity, responsive management," said Whit¬ ney.
As negotiations are waged by tiw decision makers in both companies, the resident assistants (RAs) at Chisholm HaU have found themselves in limbo. During the fall semester ttiere were 16
RAs whose job was maintaining the dormitory and assisting residents. In retum for Uwir services, they each re¬ ceived a rent-free room and a $4(X) sti¬ pend for food.
After ttw semester break, only 14 RAs returned. The RAs had to work extra desk shifts and on-caUs without additional compensation to make up for the lossof staffmg. Compounding prob¬ lems for the remaining RAs was Bach Management's refusal to offer contracts and ttie $4(X) food stipend they had received the previous semester.
"Certainly tiie university has been kept informed every step ofthe way, and we do review the management agree¬ ments«-any other agreements that would change anything aboul Chisholm Hall," said Whitney.
After the first week of school, two RAs gave notification and left. Since Bach had not signed Ihem to a conbact, they were ftee to icave at any time. The remaining RAs had to carry out the additional woricload of ttiose leaving.
Rkhard Scott, one of the RAs who left after the first week of school, said, "I think ttie general feeling is that the staff is not getting along. The deal with Bach (not paying stipends or offering con¬ tracts) just made it easier to decide lo leave."
Whitney said, "I was not aware dial the stipends had not been paid. I just recentiy found out the RAs were under a semester to semester contract which I do not suppori. Bach management did dial without reviewing it with the univer¬ sity."
Whitney said she would have lo in¬ vestigate the matter before she could say what actions Ihe university might take on the matter.
Last week another RA left, citing frustration with staff conflict and job uncertainty as the reasons for leaving.
Tom Akins. general manager for Bach Management at Chisholm Hall, stated he could not disclose any details on the deal or what contract terms for RAs would be offered by Century Develop¬ ment if die deal went Ihrough.
Delgado said, "At this time, because the deal is not complete, we really don't want to talk in any certainties aboul anything."
Delgado referred questions to Jim Short, vice president for Century Prop- erty Management, who was unavailable for comment.
Neither Whitney. Akins, or Delgado knew when, or if. the deal would be closed.
California campuses rocked by quaice
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By Diana Smith
College Press Service
It isn't often that an aU-nighter can save your life, but two Califortua State University-NcHthridge students are alive today because they weren't sleeping when almost everyone else was.
Amy MUler, starting piteher for tiie CSU-Noithridge women's sofd)aU team, and third-base player Shannon .Tones were wide awake and chatting about 4:30 a.m. in their fvst-floor ^lartment when the 6.6-point earthquake jolted the San Fernando VaUey, crumpling free¬ ways and buildings and creating a hell¬ ish scene of gushing water and fires caused by broken water and gas pipes.
One of the women had gone into the kitehen to prepare a snack and the other was in the bedroom when the earth¬ quake caused the ground to k^ up as much as 12 feet near the epkenter, cre¬ ating a jackhammer effect paitkularly devastating to Inidges, roads and build¬ ings. The upper floors of the apartment complex crushed the lower Hoots just as MiUer and Jones were scrambling to
safety.
"One (student) went out of the front door, and one went out the back win¬ dow, and that's how they survived," said Kaine Thompson, a spokeswoman for CSU-Northridge.
However, a third Cal State student was not so lucky. Jaime Reyes, 19,ofthe Los Angeles area, was kUled when the apariment complex near the universiiy collapsed. Mosl of the people who died in the apartment complex were sleeping in apartments on the lower floors, al¬ though it was not certain on which floor Reyes was located, Thompson said.
The 6.6-point earthquake caused dam¬ age estimated between $15 biUion and $30 bUUon. Nearly 3,(XX) people were injured during the earthquake or shortiy thereafter ftxxn faUing debris and bro¬ ken glass. The death toll had climbed to more than 50 as of Jan. 21.
Perhaps the most unnerving aspect of the disaster was hundreds of aftershocks, some registering more ttian 3.0 on Ihe Richter scale, that kept survivors on edge in the days and nights Ihat followed. Many people chose lo sleep oulside at
night rather than wake up in the dark to the kind of roars and crashes that accom¬ panied the first temblor.
The aftershocks also made damage assessment difficult because buddings Ihal were inspected and declared safe after die initial quake were further weak¬ ened «- damaged by more shaking, said Bruce Erickson, director of public rela¬ tions for CSU-Northridge, which ap¬ peared to be the hardest hit of all col¬ leges and universities.
"The campus is at or on the epicenter. Our buildings have sustained substan¬ tial damage. We are out of business for a couple of weeks," said Erickson, who handled emergency telephone Unes along with about 100 senior university em¬ ployees, including Ihe president and vice presidents, who huddled in a makeshift tent on the university grounds.
All campus buUdings were closed until they could be inspected further. A 2,5(X)-vehicle parking garage collapsed, whUe fire destroyed two floors ofa main science building. The library also suf¬ fered significant damage.
The 27,000-student campus had been
scheduled to begin registration the week of the earthquake, wilh classes sched¬ uled to start Jan. 31. Erickson said classes may be delayed by a week, depending on how badly fhe buildings have been damaged.
CoUege of the Canyons, a commu¬ nity coUege located in Santa Mania, Calif.,suslainedaminimum of $250,(XX) in damages because of the earthquake, according to hasty estimates forwarded lo the Board of Governors for Califwnia Community Colleges.
"Interior spaces are a shambles," read one preliminary assessment of damage, which noted that the costs could be much higher since the lack of electricity has hampered inspections. "Many pieces of equipment are smashed."
People who live in work in the af¬ fected areas went about their business the day after the quake with the kind of surprising cheer that survivors often as¬ sume when disaster threatens.
"It has brought people together," Erickson said. "Every campus in the system has responded with help."
First Chief of Police, Chavez retires after 20 years of service
by Rachel Dupnik
Su^ Writer
UTSA said good-bye to its first chkf pf polke, Manuel Chavez at a retire¬ ment ceremony on Jan. 28. Also hou: ored at the ceremony was Joe Rodrigiwz who has managed university o^kr aix- vkesanddwmkrofilm department for ;18 years. At this ceremony, dwCwver- sity Polke Association of San^j^onio presented Chavez with whjtTB^lf HamUton, association presidetit, con¬ siders "dw association's highest award." The association estabUshed a scholar¬ ship fund in Chavez's name. The first scholarship wiU be $230, and wUl be Awarded in fall of '94. At dw ceremony, he was also awarded a citation fimni the UT system poSke depifftment in rec g- iution of his service. - Manuel Chavez has been witti UTSA for 20 years and is the ordy chkf of police ttw university has ever known. Hamilton, who has worked wiih Chavez since 1987, said. "He's a cornerstone... dw poUce department has gone fimn a iecurity type orienuited department to a fuU fledged poUce dqwrimoit. witti tre¬ mendous senwes ttiat we offer to the wiiversUy. He is the originator (tf ttwse .krvices and they would not be provided irittwut his guidance and expertise."
Chief Chavez has been involved in law enfdHcement for 40 years. His ca¬ reer includes employment with the Hariuigen PD as Lieutenant of Detec¬ tives. Executive Directin' of Valky Boys Ranch, and Executive Director of Hariingen Boys Club. Chavez was also Chief of PoUce for the city of Phair. In efoence to his retirement. Chavez said. "It is time to retire and start enjoying the lestOfmyUfe. I feel confident ttuit when I leave things wiU go right along."
Dan Pefia. acting chief of poUce. said Chavez is responsibk for many dqiart- nwnt accomplishments. Pefla said. "I think the chiefs greatest accomplish¬ ment was ttw implementation of the career laddo- program tot pdice offic¬ ers." Before the invention of the pro¬ gram, it was more difficult for polke officers to advance. Petia slated, 'The caeer ladder program enabks officers toadvance in rank and increase their pay through additional dfaining."
Dan Williams, vice-president for busiiwss affairs, is in charge of fiUing dw vacancy. A selection committee has been estabUshed to fmd a new chkf. The position has been advertised in newspapers, journals, and other publi- csttions. Currentiy, more than 100 ap¬ pUcations hae been received.
Lieutenant Dan Pefla has woilwd with
Chavez since 1983 and has been with the UT system since 1978. Before joining the UTSA department, he worked at Uie UT Austin l»anch. On ttw chief s retire-^ ment, Pefia said, " I have worked for several departments and under a lot of supervises. He is ttie best one I've ever worked under. He allows Ihe people who work for him to express initiative, creativity, and explore different ways to do the same job efficientiy and better."
Pefia realizes Ihal he has quite a tough act to follow after Chavez He said, "I am anxiously anticipating the chalknge that is set before me. I am doing every¬ thing I can righl now to prepare, and I know mistakes are going to be made, bul I also am confident tiiat there are going lo be numerous successes."
Cha\ cz intends to keep in touch witti the department and his staff. He said he WiU keep track of what they are doing. Chavez said his experknces of UTSA are aU m^orable, but he values most seeing his officers accomplish Iheir goals. He slated, "I try to make ttwm be the best polke officers tlwy can be. I share ttie benefit of my experknces, and even though I got after ttwm, my main focus was to make them better." Chavez said duit ttw recent investigation and arrest in an attempted murder proved to him dial dw department had arrived at a
UTSA Chief of Police Manuel Chavez (center) was honored at a breakfast receptton for his retirement.
high level of iHofessionalism.
Chavez officiaUy vacates his posi¬ tion on Jan. 31. He said he has mixed feeUngs about his departure. "The hard¬ est part about leaving Uiis job is going to
be ttw peopk. I am going to miss dealing witti peopk's problems and trying to help ttwm out"
Bertha Brady, administrative secre¬ tary for Chief Chavez, said. "I hope we
get someone Ihat is as understanding and knowledgeable as thechief has been. He wiU be missed."
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