We cBtbeze Vol.57 James Madison University Harrisonburg, Virginia Tuesday, September 25, 1979 No. 8 j] Campus clean-up 'Everyday is parents' day' to JMU grounds crew By VANCE RICHARDSON S;ar as there were in past years because No concentrated effort was made this year to ower beds have been established now, Higgs spruce up the campus for parents' weekend, said. Since there has been no frost so far this according to the superintendent of building and fall, the flowers are still blooming, Higgs said, grounds here. noting that "a campus just isn't complete More emphasis was made on clean-up without flowers." details this past weekend, George Marcum Higgs recalled the time when his men put said, but this is not unusual for special flowers out in pots over by the dining hall. weekends such as graduation or even a home "The weather called for frost," he said, 'so we football game, he noted. took them up, then put then back, and they "Everyday is parents' day," according to lived for a good while after that. I guess we'll E.L."Junior" Higgs, grounds supervisor here. never live that one down," he said. "Sure we do a little extra for Parents Day," he "People saw us putting the flowers in and said,"but we try maintain the campus day by taking them out and then putting them in day as far as beautification." again. We got lots of criticism because people The main thing that had to be done this year just didn't understand," he added. for parents' weekend was the assembling of extra bleachers for the football game Saturday HIGGS gets compliments in addition to night, he added. criticism. "We've had a lot of comments from students; they do notice the things we do," he HIGGS NOTED that when students see his said. "The majority of students here are men laying sod, planting flowers, or spreading impressed with their campus," Higgs added. mulch right before parents' weekend, they "We look forward to having the parents incorrectly assume that these things are being here," be said. "We've had several letters Photo by Sandy Pwtow done just for the parents. "The truth is that from parents stating how beautiful the campus these things need to be done in the fall; they're is. Landscaping has its impact on a parent's RAIN left parents with a wet impression of campus last weekend in our planning," he said. as showers caused the cancellation of many pre-planned outdoor (Continued on Page 10) activities. There won't be extra flowers planted this Metric system still foreign to U.S. citizens By LOUIS EACHO should be able to cope with the When was the last time you society around them, and by stepped on the scales and 4 going out in a world that discovered you were a few Americans have never dealt with change easily works in a metric system only kilograms overweight, 9 knowing the English system of deciding that it might be time and the metric system is a prime example measurement, they will to run a kilometer? probably have problems," Sound strange? Well it's all Wartell said. part of the metric system. The Students who have taken the United States government had eight hours of natural sciences planned four years ago on required to graduate may using the metric system as the have little idea of how the standard for all metric system works even measurements, but the though "none of our science government is now finding departments have used the that voluntary guidelines are English system in years," being ignored, according to a Wartell said. government report completed Depending on the science in 1978. course a student decides to "At this point I'd say that take he can receive varying the United States is moving degrees of exposure to the toward not converting to the metric system, Wartell said. metric system at all," Chemistry and physics would according to the Dean of the definitely require a student to College of Letters and understand the metric Sciences. system, while geology will Americans have never dealt require a basic knowledge of with change easily and the metrics and an introductory metric system is a prime biology course requires little example, Dr. Michael Wartell or no knowledge of the metric said. system, he said. The Metric Conversion Act, THE VOLUNTARY metrics anyway," the GAO Does the typical James "What you'd really first passed by Congress in guidelines set by Congress in survey said. Madison University student want to do if JMU decided that December 1975, and signed by 1975 have since been ignored The GAO concluded their need to learn the metric a knowledge in the workings former President Gerald by most communities and report by stating that, "a dual system? Will it eventually be of the metric system was Ford, was supposed to lead businesses because "the cost measuring system for the U.S. commonly used by Americans essential, would be to test the U.S. into using the metric of converting to the metric would be impractical, in their everyday life and if so, entering freshmen on their system as its' sole measuring system is too high and the inefficient, uneconomical and when will the conversion be apparent knowledge of the system by the mid—1980's, Firactical advantages are confusing. Americans also complete? system," according to according to the editor of the imited," according to a need to decide whether the use Attempts to convert to the Wartell. American Metric Journal. report made to Congress by of the metric system by metric system in the U.S. Robert Hopkins predicted the General Accounting Office everyone else in the world have been failures in the past THEN A ONE credit course back in 1975 that by 1980 in October, 1978. warrants the effort and few years, but in a few on the metric system could be Americans would be "A complete conversion to expense needed to convert our generations the metric system offered for those who haven't conducting most of their metrics will cost the day to day affairs such as will be the normal method of had a sufficient background everyday business American consumer billions highway speed limits, measuring length, weight and with the subject, Wartell said. transaction with products of dollars and a majority of consumer product and volume, according to Wartell. using only metric weights and Americans are simply weather reporting into metric (Continued on Page 10) volumes. opposed to making a shift to* rneaSure^ ■ ■ •'••'''••''/ '•" "COLLEGE GRADUATES BJBJgf, Page 2, THE BREEZE. Tuesday, September 25,1879 More telection at WRMA Satellite to increase station programming can be both costly and time probably be around the end of it," he said. stations only receive a two By VANCE RICHARDSON March due to weather delays A programming schedule Eercent share of their A radio satellite scheduled consuming. will be sent to the station one staling audience. Construction of the around the country," he said. for construction on campus satellite's 'foundation is Once the satellite is month in advance so its Lanham noted that WMRA here will allow WMRA (90.7 scheduled to begin Dec. S, installed, NPR will send operators can record those ranks 14th in the nation among FM) to choose from as much programming to WMRA along programs considered to be of public radio stations in terms as six times the programming Lanham said. An antenna interest to WMRA's listening of audience size. "We may try currently received by the audience, Lanham said. to increase our signal at some station, according to WMRA's A Communication Arts point in the future," he added. general manager. WMRA will record programming course taught here by Dr. The satellite, one of 214 David Tucker surveyed 400 WMRA WAS a 10-watt satellites being installed by people in WMRA's listening station until Nov. 12, 1975 National Public Radio (NPR) 24 hour* a day area to help determine the when it was rel'^nsed to at public radio stations around community's programming broadcast to a wider area with the country, will be erected eight different channels, needs, he noted. 19,500 watts, Lanham said. between the Wine-Price atop Burruss to receive the The station's fourth birthday signal from the satellite is Lanham said. Four channels building and the field hockey will be coupled to provide two WMRA IS LICENSED to will be marked by a "fund- turf, Don Lanham said. expected to be installed by "the friends of James raising celebration" during Jan. 6, 1980, and the entire lines for high quality music t When the satellite is programs in stereo, while the Madison University," but the week of Nov. 10-17, complete, NPR will transmit system will be complete on Lanham stressed that it is a Lanham noted. Feb. 9, 1980, if all goes other four channels will carry its jrogramming directly programs in mono, be said. public radio station. Being Other than seven full-time from Washington, D.C. to the according to the schedule licensed by the FCC to serve staff members, all WMRA drawn up by NPR. WMRA will be able to satellite, which will then feed record programming 24 hours the community in which it workers are JMU students, he tb » signal to WMRA's studio a day, Lanham noted This operates, WMRA broadcasts said. These include students it, the basement of Burruss HOWEVER, Lanham not only university working for practicum credit, stressed that these are only will allow the station to "tailor Hail.