Cable TV Proposal Rejected BLIZZARD!
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r The Observer an independent student newspaper serving notre dame and st. mary's Vol. XI, No. 67 Thursday, january 27, 1977 Cost too great Cable TV proposal rejected by Barbara Breitenstein Hesburgh also noted that the enough. I guess." News Editor presence of CATV on campus The proposal, which was origin might be disruptive to study habits ally presented to the Student Life The Student Government propo and would detract from the ''per Council last November. calls for the sal to install cable television sonal'' atmosphere at Notre Dame. installation of a "closed loop" (CATV) on campus has been set He explained that the University CATV system. This type of system aside by University officials prim prides itself on the personal rela would cost approximately $500,000 arily due to . its high cost and tionships between students and and could broadcast both educa possible distractive effects. faculty and added that broadcas tional and entertainment program In a letter to Student Body ting classes on cable TV would ming on a possible 28 channels President Mike Gassman, Fr. destroy that atmosphere. with only one input from Valley Theodore Hesburgh. University Gassman will reply to Hes Cablevision. president. explained that the deci burgh' s letter, and present it to the CATV would provide certain sion was made because the Univer University president this week. advantages, according to the pro sity does not have enough funds to Gassman's letter will stress the posal, including the broadcast of finance the project at this time. system's benefits to the University educational programs such as class However. he indicated the .idea is and will explain the system more lectures, facilities for communica still open for consideration. clearly. tions studies in broadcasting. a "We generally agreed it was a "I'm sorry to see that he (Fr. closed circuit security system, bet ,,.,.,ilf:C'!~ ;,;r: ... , .. ;,;. 3~ good idea ... Hesburgh stated yes Hesburgh) was opposed to it," ter reception of both local and BEFORE- The sun was shining early, bu the snowstorm in the terday. "but the cost is too great at Gassman said. "We didn't define Chicago television stations, and afternoon destroyed this man's work. (photo by Debbie Krilich) this time." the advantages and the system well usage by WSND as a license-free stereo station. "I don't think the entertainment part will outweigh the educational f~aculty campaign stops advantages," Gassman remarked. "And I don't think it will destroy the atmosphere of the University. IJFlS tuition remission rule The educational possibilities will Airhne employees do'lot pay taxes far outshine the entertainment Katie Kerwin on their free trips, department aspect." Senior Staff Reporter store employee discounts are not "I think the problem." Gassman taxed and neither are reductions or continued, "is that you shouldn't A proposed Internal Revenue waivers for legal or medical ser look at the cost first. You should Service (IRS) regulation to tax vices rendered by one lawyer or look at the advantages and then tuition remission scholarships doctor to another, claimed the find ways to get the money for it." grwted to college professors by National Educational Association in According to the proposal, the thEir schools has been stopped testimony presented to the IRS cost of ·the system could be aft·~r strong opposition from the commissioner before the IRS hear absorbed in a yearly student fee of acc:.demic community. ings early this month. $5 to $10 plus an input fee of about :rames Robinson, professor of AA UP national officials attri one dollar per month for each English and president of the Notre buted much of their success to student using the system. This Dame chapter of the American vocal opposition from the academic assessment would pay the installa As:>ociation of University Profes community and effective "grass tion cost in about ten years. sors (AAUP), stated he received a roots" campaigns against the pro However, Hesburgh stated that letter from AAUP Director of posal. Opposition to the bill was this fee would be too much of an Government Relations Alfred D. presented by national organiza additional burden on parents al Sumberg informing him that the tions of college administration and ready paying high educational proposed regulations appear to be faculty, as well as by members of costs. He also said the University dead now. Congress. AFTER- Yesterday's snow wreaked havoc with campus traffic. has other expenses now which Ihe Commissioner of Internal Those who worked to defeat the (photo by Debbie Krilich) exclude the CATV project. Revenue announced at a hearing on proposal were also concerned that "The proposal might have been Jan. 7 that he would not sign the the IRS was attempting to change slightly ahead of its time,'' explain proposed regulations, but would Congressionally-accepted policy on ed Vice-President for Business leave them to his successor for its own. "You are changing policy, Affairs Thomas J. Mason. "The disposal. changing a matter of public policy, biggest concern is cost. It is terribly Tuition remission plans for facul a change we feel inappropriate for BLIZZARD! expensive and we don't have the ty ~~hildren and spouses have been an agency to make arbitrarily and resources for it now." accepted as nontaxable by the IRS independently of our elected repre "The University is also commit and Congress since 1954. The sentatives in Congress.'' the Notre INDIANAPOUS AP - Most of including Wabash county and por ted to personal contact of faculty proposed change would have rede Dame AAUP chapter charged in its Indiana ground to a halt yesterday tions of Grant, Huntington and with students" Mason continued. fin,~d these scholarships as a letter to the IRS commissioner. as an afternoon blizzard with Miami counties, state highway ''Anything that would detract from taxable compensation. Tuition Aside from the direct detrimen winds gusting up to 42 miles per officials admitted defeat to the high that would not be favorable. The benefits. because they are awarded tal effect upon professors and their hour swept across the state. winds about 6:30 p.m. Officials drawback is in relation with the sol ~ly on the grounds of where the children, the long-range implica The high winds kept Gov. Otis R. closed roads in the area and uniqueness of the campus. It would parent is employed. are a form of tions of a change in the status of Bowen from attending a Merril ordered all state equipment back to be a major change for a campus like fringe benefit, the IRS proposal tuition remission plans troubled lville Chamber of Commerce din the garage. ours," he said. declared. many educators at Notre Dame. ner. Officials said drifting snow The National Guard Armory in Mason also commented on the The proposal was expected to "It's the ultimate effect on educa made it impossible for Bowen's Rensselaer was opened to stranded possible disruptiveness of cable TV have the most serious impact on tion I worry about." Robinson :-Jane to land. motorists and students from rural "Another concern is about whether private colleges, which rely on the stated in an Observer article on By mid afternoon state police Jasper County. there's a need for additional recre tuil:ion waiver plan to attract faculty Dec. 8. "The more expanding of were urging citizens to stay off the State police posts around the ational outlet along with other members at salaries much lower and tampering with the fundamen roads because blowing snow was state reported a rash of accidents, ac.dvities on campus." than what they could earn else tal idea of what a scholarship is will drifting thoroughfares shut faster including a seven-car pileup that Mason agreed the system has where the AAUP reported. affect those who receive scholar than highway department crews injured at least two persons on U.S. potential, but that cable television In a letter to the IRS commis ships. To me. that's more impor could clear them. 31 north of Indianapolis in Hamil on campus would have to wait until sioner last December, the Notre tant than the fringe benefit idea." By early evening northwestern ton County. "things change and the cost comes Dame AAUP argued that tuition Robinson yesterday expressed portions of Interstate 65, I-80, They said many highways were down substantially. When the cost remission provides educational op relief that the proposal had not U.S. 31, U.S. 41, and U.S.136 were littered with trucks and cars that is low enough," he said, "then it portunities that benefit the stu gone through. "I think it was closed as visibility fell to near zero were mired in drifts. can another item of priorities." dents involved and is not actually a important that this should be in in some sections. Weather officials predicted "We're not saying an absolute cor~pensation for services rendered effect stopped," he said. adding Schools and government offices winds would decrease \0 arouna 15 no," Mason concluded. "It's just by the faculty members. Faculty that he did not think the IRS should in Lake and Newton counties were miles per hour early Thursday that we don't feel its time has members whose children are grant tamper with Congressionally closed by noon after the storm morning, but temperatures also arrived.'' ed scholarships do not render any defined concepts. moved into northwestern INdiana. were expected to plunge. Gassman. however, stressed the more services than other faculty Weather officials issued a travelers The extended outlook called for need for beginning the project now. members. A change in the accepted defini advisory for all of Indiana yester lows of 10 to 15 below zero being "It is valuable in the present," he The IRS proposal was also criti tion of this particular type of day night and predicted two to four the low for Monday.