Arson Suspected Cause in Tuesday's New Hall Fire
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U S Postage PAID Bronx, New York Permit No. 7608 Non-Profit Org. Thursday September 30,1982 Volume 64 FORPHAM UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK Number 20 Separate Facilities Seen As Only Way Te Improve Meal Plans At Rose by Mark Dillon Wynkoop said helped shape the character of "Every year for the last four we've had a the current plans was that he received many new (meal) plan. Every year we've had new complaints from women students who said problems. Problems won't be resolved until they were not able to finish the money of there are two separate dining facilities, one :heir cards. for residents, one for commuters. There will "The female population did not want to be problems until we convert to a standard 19 pay for the male student any longer," said to 21 meal a week meal plan." Phelps. So said Todd Wynkoop, chairman of the "We discussed the drawbacks of the United Student Government's Food, Health system without separate facilities. Saga and Security Committee and student presented an alternative, and the committee representative to the Univerity Food Com- decided it to be a worthwhile proposition" mittee. Both groups were responsible for stated Assistant Director of Residential Life devising the current meal plans now offered Mary Ellen Grable, chairperson of the Todd Wynkoop by the Saga Corporation. University Food Committee. According to Vice President for Student Saga's proposal was to implement a plan Affairs Joseph McGowan "students are similar in structure to the one in use at the paying through the nose" for the flexibility Unviersity of Vermont, where Saga also Arson Suspected Cause In that allows residents and commuters to use operates. "There was nothing underhanded the same cafeteria. "My criticism at the between Saga and the University. Saga did moment is not so much on Saga, but rather not attempt to slide anything by the USG or Tuesday's New Hall Fire the problem is in the meal plan itself," he the University Food Committee," said stressed, saying that he would much rather Wynkoop. Wynkoop added that he figured byRoseArce notify security and then the fire department see a traditional boarder plan than the the current plan out two different ways. He New Hall's 330 residents were forced to if necessary," says Assistant Director of current cash-value plan. He said although the said that although one way showed an evacuate their building in the early hours-of Residential Life for Education Mary Ellen bookstore would have to be relocated, "we "astronomical" increase in prices, the other Tuesday morning because of a third floor' Grable. "Everything but notifying the fire have the kitchen power to expand." indicated that students were getting the best fire, thought to have been deliberately set. department was done." If a separate facility was now in use, value for their money. The lire was in a trash can in the compac- "They are supposed to evacuate the build- McGowan stated, $625 would take care of a Another factor considered in the making tor room and on the third floor door leading ing without jeopardizing their own safety," student's food needs for the full semester and of the current plans, according to Wynkoop, to the stairwell. It was extinguished by Resi- said Barr but he adds firmly that "their job is possibly provide seconds at every meal. was that register clerks would often ring up dent Director Tim Barr and Resident Assist-" not to put out fires. A wastebasket is one McGowan pointed out that what stands in varying prices for the same items because ants Camille Pinard and Chris Egan. "As far thing," he states, "something of greater the way of expansion are USG and UFC they weren't sure if commuters and residents as we know," said Barr, "there were not wit- magnitude is another." claims that boarders and commuters wish to should be charged differently. nesses." According to Barr, all R.A.'s are instruc- eat together. "It's a genuine social issue that According to Phelps, an advantage to this At floor meetings the following evening, ted in the use of fire extinguishers. "If a more emphatically separates the two year's plans is the option of carrying on extra New Hall residents were asked to "keep their resident spots a fire they should pull the groups," he added. money for the next semester or asking for a eyes and ears open" and "report anyone who alarm, get an R.A., and evacuate the Food Service Director William Phelps also total refund. Also, he said that for each extra was acting strangely or who did not belong in building," said Barr. emphasized the need for separate cafeterias, dollar a person adds on, he or she receives the building and was present the night of the "All the R.A.'s, if they don't have one (a saying, "I'd love it. I'd be on my hands and $1.70 purchasing power because overhead is fire." fire extinguisher) would have excess to one," knees." taken out in advance. "If you don't like it, said Grable. "Sometimes what happens is Reasoning for current plans you can always move off campus," he ad- "Someone did it as a prank," maintains ded. New Hall President Mark Bonsanti. "With that students fool around with them and Phelps explained the rationale that led to all the security guards and R.A.'s, they they're discharged. This office may not be current plans as being a clear choice between Saga loses money wouldn't do it again." aware of that." either letting current prices stand and sacrificing purchasing power or having the New Hall resident Ann Connolly dis- On the night of the fire, however, no ex- McGowan disclosed that Saga again lost prices of the plans rise to $675 and $750. He agrees, "We had the same problem three tinguishers were in visible use. "Each R.A. money last year, although much less than the interpreted that the USG and UFC claims times a week in Queen's Court last year, then has one," states Barr, "in a panic we didn't previous year. "We lost our shirts the first meant "student preference" for a more ex- the person suspected moved and it started think of getting one." Barr says the fire was time," he said, meaning that in the financial pensive cash-value plan. somewhere else so don't think it's gonna extinguished with the aid of water from a arrangement set up with Saga for the 1980-81 Wynkoop said the current plans "best suit stop. It's the type of thing where he's obvi- nearby sink. school year the loss was split between the the needs of Fordham students. We think it's ously begging to be caught because he keeps "We should have fire extinguishers," said corporation and the University. In the good. There was a lot of thought put into it." doing it," she added. New Hall Vice President Cynde Revesz of the arrangement last year, a $135,000 rental fee He stated that if the current plans were not New Hall has four resident assistants and a need to have extinguishers available for was paid to the University for use of the resident use. "They overstep their bounds by implemented, Saga would have to raise cafeteria equipment and maintenance. resident director. "Their job is to determine register prices also. One factor which the severity of the fire, evacuate the building, Continued on page 3 McGowan said the rental fee was higher this : acverjiy oi me lire, evacuate me ouiiuuig, w»»««» "»p»«' •» year, but would not release that amount. The rental fee represents University overhead, which is passed directly on to Ramskeller Facing Hard Financial Times students by Saga. This year it amounts to "The main purpose of a University is to KIbyI o»*r,.Betsy. n«r^McCormic« i»ik. a_ ibeer_ ' _. itfW_e ikee p cost„,,*„s „a„s i,».,lowf n,as. nnccikpossibleL . Wwtne **Thf» main mirnose of a University is over $100 for each of the nearly 1300 students just want to break even," he said. provide an education," Sullivan said, "and I on the meal plans. Phelps said that it is fair to The Ramskellar, once the hub of student consider scheduling extra-curricular activi- social life at Rose Hill, is struggling to stay Barr said he feels that the problem is not pass all of this cost onto students because a( the drinking age itself. "It's the state law and ties which detract from that goal to be "Life is not fair. Where am I supposed to loat after having undergone several op- counter-productive and poor program- tional changes due to the University's new we realize that there is nothing we can do get it from?" he added "I look like I'm the about that," he said. ming." one who is creating the cost. Most univer- alcohol policies. Under these new policies, no Sullivan noted that the Ramskellar is still students are permitted inside the Ramskellar However, he does think that the severity of sities have room and board together. No one permitted, and is encouraged, to plan acti- «™le alcohol is being served and the Fordham's policies has had a detrimental else puts it (costs) out in black and white like vities for Wednesday nights, but they must be Wednesday night mixers have been cancelled. effect on the Ramskellar's business and its we do." He said that even under ideal con- non-alcoholic activities so that minors can Business so far this semester has been reputation.