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November?, 1995
VoiumelS, Number24
SERUING THE UNIUERSITV OE TEKflS RT SRN RNTONIO COMMUNITV
Financial aid cuts debated in Congress
By Sara Hawkins
Acting Features Editor
Students will have to dig deeper into their pockets for tuition money once President Clinton signs the ap¬ propriations bill which will reduce money for student loans, as well as for other existing programs.
On Oct. 3, 1995, The House of Representatives passed H.R. 2127 which is the Fiscal Year (FY) 1996, Health and Human Service, and tt^ Education appropriations bill. This bill would cut financial aid for students by $701 million, or nine percent fi-om last year. Con¬ gressman Henry B. Gonzalez, Democrat from San Antonio, stated in an interview with the Paisano, "The bill cuts Pell grants by $5.7 million, or eight percent; provides no funding for Perkins Loans capital contributions; and provides no funding for state stu¬ dent incentive grants." The House proposal cuts $10 billion from the federal college loan pro¬ gram; however, the Senate has pro¬ posed a cut of $4.1 billion fi-om the student loati program. The House and the Senate must compromise before the bill can be sent to the President. The Democrats and Republicans are split in many areas concerning this bill, and the cut in edu9ational loans is but one area of disagreement.
The Pell Grant was increased from $2,340 to $2,440 per year for grant recipients. According to Congress¬ man Henry Bonilla, this is the highest level ever provided for the Pell Grant. "One important point that has not been covered by the media is why Congress wants to balance the budget," Bonilla said.  "If we can balance the federal
budget in seven years, it will make a real, noticeable difference in students' lives."
Noe Ortiz, Director of Financial Aid at UTSA said that the raise in Pell Grant looks good until it is investi¬ gated a little further. The House bill wants to reduce funding, "No matter how you configure it, when you lose funding, that means fewer students re¬ ceiving Pell Grants." Ortiz stated. The increase  in the minimum in the Pell
"One important point that has not been covered by the me¬ dia is why Congress wants to balance the budget. If we can balance the federal budget in seven years, it will make a real, noticeable difference in students' lives."
- Henry Bonilla
Grant has gone from $400 to $600, "What you are domg is cutting out anybody who would've qualified for less than $600." Ortiz added.
With the balancing of the budget wil] coine Ihe lowering of interest rates. "Studies estimate that student loan rates will be two percentage points lower than they otherwise will be. For ex- aniple, a college student who borrows $11,000 at eight percent interest will pay $2,167 less for their education. "That's a lot of money to save," Bonilla added.
President Bill Clinton has continu¬ ally threatened to veto the proposed bill. In the Oct. 28 issue of The New York Times stated that neither the
House nor Senate would be likely to have enough votes to override the veto. The House would save $20 billion in student loan costs by reducing assis¬ tance whereas Clinton would expand federal aid to students. In a recent weekly radio address Clinton ex¬ claimed, "Hear this! Before or after a veto, I am not prepared to discuss .. . the cutting of our commitment to edu¬ cation." He reasserted his guarantee of the veto by stating, "If they send me a budgetbillthatsayssimply, 'take
our cuts or we'll let the country go into default,' I will still veto it,"
If Clinton does veto the bill then the House and the Senate will have to rework the bill until it is acceptable to the President. The Republicans stress the need for balancing the budget today. Congressman Buck McKeon, Republican from Cali¬ fomia stated in a letter to college students that "If we succeed in
   balancing the budget now, inter-
"^"^ est rates for borrowed money will decrease by at least two percent, the number of jobs will increase by 6.1 million in ten years, and America will have a much more competitive Economy in the world market."
He emphasized the importance of balancing the federal budget in order to guarantee the college student today a job tomorrow. He stated that the majority of savings will be accom¬ plished by requiring lenders and "sec¬ ondary markets to reduce their profit margin and by eliminating the govem¬ ment takeover of student lending."
The only change to interest subsi¬ dies, according to the Republicans, is the elimination ofthe six month grace period following graduation, during
Studeiit Govemment Represenatives hand out information on Proposition No. Iwitich calis for tlie. issuance of $300 million in general obligation l)onds to finance educational student loans.
SG promotes voter registration with table
By Craig Kyzar
StoffWriter
To combat a decline in student in¬ volvement in the political arena. Stu¬ dent Govemment has taken steps to increase awareness. In a joint effort with the College Democrats, SG are sponsoring a drive to distribute politi¬ cal information.
The (SG) booth will be located in front of the Humanities and Social Sciences building until Tuesday Nov. 7. They encourage students to stop by and leam more about their own repre¬ sentative and govemi ig body on cam¬ pus. Sample ballots of upcoming con¬ stitutional amendment elections can also bfi locked over and discussed with
a Student Govemment representative.
"We are here for the purpose of trying to get more students involved in general govemment concems," Re¬ cording Secretary Richard Johnston said.
Student Govemment officials be¬ lieve that this election could have a personal impact on many local stu¬ dents, especially Proposition No. 1. This proposition calls for the ". . . issuance of $300 million in general obligation bonds to finance educational loans to students."
Those interested in financial aid issues can also get information about the congressional Hinson-Hazlewood College Student LxMm Program Reso¬ lution, which Student Government
endorses.
Also students who have not yet reg¬ istered to vote can do so by filling out a voter registration card on the spot.
Upcoming elections, including Proposition No. 1, will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 7, and could affect the Texas college student fw years tocome. This is why Student Govemment rec¬ ommends getting involved. For more information, contact the Student Gov¬ ernment at 691-4597, or in room 2.01.04B on the second floor of the University Center.
College Democrats president Ann Marie Schroeder discusses political issues with College Republicans president Clarissa Arellano.
which time no payments were for¬ merly required. "The borrower will have the choice of repaying the interest duri,.^ X months or having il accrue and repaying it when payments begin, adding only about $4 to the average monthly loan payment," McKeon re¬ fers to this method of cutting the bud¬ get as "student-friendly." Bonilla said, "In spite of all the misinformation and fear mongering surrounding our ef¬ forts to streamline govemment pro¬ grams, students will not be hurt. Stu¬ dent financial aid is a priority for this Congress which is why we're preserv¬ ing and even increasing funding for a
number of programs that benefit stu¬ dents."
The collective cuts involved in H.R. 2127 will come close to $1 trillion in savings. Gonzalez stated in (irder to meet this goal, "scores of programs across the board will be subjected to massive cuts." These cuts include ter¬ mination ofthe Federal Direct Student Loan Program, elimination of the in¬ terest grace period for student borrow¬ ers for the first six months after gradu¬ ation, and an increase in the interest on Parent Loans for Undergraduate stu¬ dents.
UTSA does not currently subscribe
to the Direct Lending Program offered by the federal government. However according to Ortiz the Financial Office is equipped with the proper technol¬ ogy to utilize this program if and when the decision to swiih is made.
"Taken as a whole, the budget pro¬ posals ofthe new Republican majority in Congress constitute devastating cut¬ backs in student financial assistance," stressed Gonzalez. According to the Oct. 28 edition of the San Antonio Express, this cut Will affect more than 27,000 San Antonio students At UTSA the Federal Supplemental Educational
continued on pg 3
Concealed weapons banned from campus
By Matt Golightly
Associate Sports Editor
Although as of January Ist 1996 a licensed Texan may carry a concealed weapon, they may not bring firearm on the UTSA campus.  As of Jan 1 any legal Texas citizen who has filled out a complete application packet and paid a non refundable $140 dollar licensing fee, is twenty-one years old or older, has no criminal record, and has com¬ pleted a ten to 15 hour class taught by a DPS certified instructor will       _ be issued a i.jense allowing them to carry a concealed weapon.
However, according to state penal code 46.03F the posses¬ sion ofa firearm on the physical premises of an educational in¬ stitution, with, or without a li¬ cence, is prohibited and is a third degree felony punishable by a prison term of two to ten years and/or a ten thousand dol¬ lar fine.
"Individuals are not allowed to have a firearm on their per¬ son, in their vehicle, in residence halls, or in apartments on university prop¬ erty." UTSA Police Chief Ronald C. Seacrist said. "This restriction applies to the downtown campus as well, not to mention The Institute Of Texan Cul¬ tures."
Anyone not in compliance with this ordinance will be booked, charged, and placed under arrest by TTie UTSA Police Force and, in addition to the actions taken by the authorities, sub¬
ject to administrative action thorough the Judicial Affairs Office.
"Our goal is to ask students not to bring firearms on campus. We are con¬ cerned for the .safety of students and faculty? There is no place for guns at UTSA," Karen Whitney, Assistant Vice-President for Student Life said. "Carrying a concealed weapon is a very serious incident and has tradition¬ ally led to a suspension."
Permitting citizens to carr>' con¬ cealed weapons into places of business
"We are concerned for the safety and security of students and faculty.  There is no place for guns at UTSA."
- Karen Whitney, Assistant Vice President for Student Life
is left up to the owners of those busi¬ nesses. And ifthey choose not to allow weapons in their businesses, owners must find a way to go about enforcing such rules. Some establishments are posting signs similar to the ones soon to be found on VIA buses stating, that even with handgun legislation in ef¬ fect, the carrying of a concealed weapon on board a VIA bus is prohibited. How¬ ever posting glossy plastic signs quite simply does not ensure that no weap¬
ons will be brought on board, just as the posting of a sign anywhere does not insure that a weapon will not pass by. That is why Luby's Cafeterias have decided not lo post ihc signs.
"We would prefer thai no con¬ cealed weapons were brought on to the premises except those belonging to law enforcement officers." Karen Sparks. Luby's Company .Spokesman said. "However, ifyou post the sign there's Ihc expectation that your go¬ ing to enforce it."
_^__ Luby's and other
businesses like them see no way of enforcing the signs if they're posted and don'l want to give patrons the false impression that they can. However VIA and other businesses posting signs see it as the best way to ensure the safety of their customers.
As far as enforcing the signs. VIA does not plan on taking any drastic mea- — sures such as placing metal
detectors on buses but are currently trying to work something out with the San Antonio Police De¬ partment.
"Our direction will be to work with the local law enforcement agen¬ cies," Precila Ingle, spokesperson for VIA Transit said.
Handgun legislation similar to the laws in Texas have been in place for some time in Florida and Arizona and murder rates have dropped in both states.