VoL 4k, No. @ University: Community's Feature Paer February 26,19910 •: • •i .. "*, • .-•" • . .." :i :•: 1 ; : : *-•.it.. •*& .» .- ;.' **.• .S A:'' .i•-.-•*"':'.*: AE,*. » *^ ".- ;*, ki^ '^if^^^^tf : Iji •. ^.,*:•" . :•* *'^ .. * ^ ^..: f5:.•:•::•' . ::,:' 'Ike r < •i :.• .• .:.. au • '!I '/ " I<* i*The Fourth Estate: Editorial I_1 HAPPY BIRTHDAY After an immensely restful vacation, Stony Brook do better to spend funds to restore accommoda- expenditures can only be viewed as a frivolous waste students have returned to school to find one more tions for smokers that were available last year of resources. Wishing the university hospital and present that was just too dang big to put under the old instead of curtaililng their rights to indulge in student union a happy birthday when both stand in Xmas tree. Tie a red plastic ribbon round that old that foulness known as tobacco. In any event need of serious improvement is an insult to the Student Union, c'mon everybody sing along. Yes it's regardless of the new smoking regulation the student body. Under this year's budget much needed true. If you haven't noticed, the powers that be have smokers' lounge, ahem exsmokers' lounge is repairs to the hospital have been delayed. chosen to affix to our beloved student union an in dire need of new furniture. SUNY must continue to remain accessible to all immense red ribbon above the front entrance, in It is also ironic that the Student Union is students across the fiscal spectrum. Surely those celebration of that edifice's twentieth birthday. All celebrating its twentieth birthday when it will who run this university must by now expect Cuomo's things considered this act is rather absurd. Both new scarcely be around for another twenty years Under budget cuts and should by now allow for them. students and veterans should be disappointed after the university s proposed master plan Central Hall Several research programs have been eliminated they tear off that ribbon and examine their present. will become the new student cneter, and the old union from the campus this year as a result of drastic budget The student union is far below par of those at other will be used for student services, such as billing and cuts, most notably the lyme disease research schools, yes we mean other state not private schools. registration. This is all well and good considering that program. With this being the trend, it seems its Some steps have been made to improve the union, the union lies out of reach for some of the less only a matter of time before it behooves the university most notably the newly refurbished End of the Bridge adventurous students (read lazy) who live in Kelly to begin cutting academic programs. Is that what it and the renovation of the Student Union arcade. and dread the trek to campus. In any event the union will take to make students realize that SUNY is on the Whoopee!! Although these measures are a great start is used primarily by commuters and resident sof G decline in accessability, affordability, and diversity of much more could be done. and H quads. programs; one would hope not. The whole idea of celebrating the Student Union's Governor Cuomo consistently promises to maintain In response to a brand spanking new New York twentieth birthday is indicative of a much larger "baseline quality" at SUNY when budget time comes State law, the indoor clean air act, the university has problem at Stony Brook. Often it ssems that the folks around. What this simply means is that the level of restricted smoking in the student union. The fireside upstairs lose sight of immediate needs, instead quality will remain the same, and will not decrease. lounge is now off limits to smokers of demon nicotine, focussing energy and resources on self Well, that's just dandy, but frankly the level of quality although many young fiends deliberately ignore this congratulatory gestures and long term goals while at Stony Brook leaves something to be desired. So policy. Smokers are now relegated into a few areas in neglecting immediate and absolute necessities. Sure the next time you're sitting in the union on one of the building, the largest of these being the ledge the university could use a new athletic center, CATV. those lovely wrought iron benches thinking about a which overlooks the former smoking fireside and while we're at why not installa jacuzzi in every cigarette or agood meal why not think about what you lounge. suite room. can do as a voting citizen to improve your quality of Perhaps instead of spending so much money upon What's at issue here is simple; priorities. The sole life at Stony Brook. We can only hope that when Mario's number comes up, we all do the right thing, celebrating the union's birthday they should focus- focus of an institution of higher learning should be and perhaps SUNY can take their attention on present problems. Both smoking just that , especially if the institution is a public a turn for the better instead and nonsmoking students should have equal seating university. In light of the advent of Governor of maintaining "baseline quality," i.e. stagnating. in the union' s lounge areas. The money alotted the Cuomo' s by now annual budget cuts to SUNY (see. Department of Student Union and Activities would related story on page 3) the university's most recent ---- The Stony Brook Press AIDS I1 Executive Editor................. Joe DiStefano Managing Editor................ Kate Owen Our gaimimnt ca im to .or Managing Editor Emeritus .......... Lee Gundel thelimi de muand ri o pope wih HIV Associate Editor............. Robert V. Gilheany igrtectonbecaM9Btheyaregipxxpleof oaohr, pmin Photo Editor............. ........ Inju Keum o'r por. On FRid F~~ry 16 Keith Hait 31, Arts Editor..................... Lowell Thomas dkc Keith is jui one ower 72,00 Rusiness Manager ................. Drew Mitty rpXortel peopi vima ! awe ded of AIDS alre Editor Emeritus..................... Kyle Silfer Taeiarect action nomu Fict ak Fit AAIDS News and Feature: Elizabeth Ard, Ink, Michele Neumeir, Drew E.Mitty. Kashif Siddiqi, Lorelei Mann Arts: Rich Butrico Jr.,John Bua, Kristin Frieben, Irin Strauss, Lowell Thomas, Chris Volpe Graphics: James Blonde, Steve Schmitz Otto Partz The Stony Brook Press is published bi-weekly on Thursdays during the aca demic year and summer session by the Stony Brook Press Inc a student run and student funded not-for-profit corporation. Advertising policy does not necessarily reflect advertising policy. I For more information on advertising call 632-6451. Staff meetings are held weekly in the Press offices on Monday nights at approximately 8:00 pm. The opinions expressed in letters and view- points do not necessarily reflect those of our staff. Phone:632-6451 Office: Suite 020 Central Hall (Old Biology) SUNY at Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY 11794-2790 or L I_· I_ I · I page 2 The stonylrrooK Jrress Budget Blues "The by Drew E. Mitty evening it would be converted to a bar fea- subsidize the project; However, he did es- beverage industry woul4 be essential be run in a professional For the People who regularly frequented turing nightly musical entertainment "I timate the construction costs and archi-. Alternative must It can't be a loose, disorganized the Qraduate Student Lounge before its don't see any reason why the coffee shop tect's fees as being in the neighborhood of manner. There are some islies that have abrupt closing in the spring of'89 the delay can't make out like a flying bandit But $35,000. As to the lack of tangible progress operation. be ironed out like hours of operation, in creating an alternative drinking estab- we've got to get to work. In my role as in building the "Alternative," GSO vice to the lab in an attractive way, and lishment to the EOB has been a great dis- facilitator, I don't see the renovations as president Peter Kortright offered "What's renovating construction I types of food and drinks to be served." appointment. overly difficult, we just have to make the' holding up things now is the 'Both Walcott and Persky concurred that In anticipation of a demand for replacing Central Hall area Functional." problems, primarily cost We (the GSO) the alcohol selection should be limited to the former Old Chemistry Building hang- Nevertheless, Walcott is acutely aware of have no problem with Administration. canned beer and caraffes of wine. out, student leaders and administrators the potential problems and expenses that Everything now is entirely up to FSA." the Overall, student response to the alter- formed an Executive Committee this past could accompany building such a facility. Nonetheless, Dr. Walcott envisions native drinking establishment has been fall consisting of Ira Persky, Executive "You have to understand that the FSA lost leadership role for speeding the proiect quite positive. Junior Andrew Cupit, a Director of FSA; Dr. Ben Walcott, Asso- money on the GSL We had real problems along as being best filled by Polity because Kelly resident,stated that, "The new loca- ciate Professor, Mike McKinney of the with non- students from off campus creating the demand for the "Alternative" is grea- (Central Hall)would be closer to where I GSO; and Michael Lapushner, Polity Sen- disturbances, mainly rowdiness. Also, the test among the undergraduate students. tion their co- live. Its also good to have options to the ator. McKinny has since been replaced by equipment for serving beer is expensive. Walcott urges Polity to improve Admi- Bridge. The atmosphere there is too much GSO Vice President Peter Kartright Lots of decisions have to be made about mmunication with members of the Direc- like a pickup joint, it should have a friend- This past January, both President Mar- labor, management, and inventory.