Gov. Challenges Colleges
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Argo Newspaper Stockton Stale College Pomona, NJ 08240 Office: G-206 (609) 652-1776 ext. 560/573 First Class Mail Argo is not an official publication of Stockton State College but is published by an independent corporation licensed in New Jersey April 4; 1985 Volume 29 Number 19 POMONA, N.J. Peter Mercado Resigns as Dean By Brigid-Rose Callahan Orientation Program, Athletics and Re- basic math, courses in social problems his concern about the needs of students, Mr. Peter Mercado, Dean of Students, creation, Handicapped and Internation- > and family relationships, algebra, geo- as exemplified in the institution of his has offered his resignation to Stockton al Student Advising and Veterans Affairs. metry and government. "Dean of Students Hour"' held weekly State College President Vera King Farris. Dean Mercado is known for his sup- Mr. Mercado has received numerous on Wednesdays. He also has a radio Mercado's resignation, which will be port of the underdog, having been active- awards in the public sector, such as the talk-show on Stockton radio WLFR. effective in June 1986, was submitted to ly involved in his support for the disad- Outstanding Young Men of America Mercado stated that the reasons be- President Farris last week and will be vantaged throughout the Northeast. He Award 1977, 1978 and 1979, and the hind his resignation are "personal reasons brought before the Board of Trustees on is responsible for much of the success of Special Award for Innovative Projects and a change in career," and that Friday. the Educational Opportunity Fund at from the New Jersey Department of "Stockton has been very good (to him)." Mercado, whose jurisdiction extends Stockton; one of the most successful in Education. Said President Farris of the resignation, over the Office of Campus Life, has the country. He served as an evaluator Perhaps Dean Mercado is most wide- "I'm quite saddened. Peter has been a responsibility for the Educational Op- for the Middle State and New England ly known for his availability for students. good friend to students, but at the same portunity Fund Program, Career Plan- Commissions of Higher Education. It is a rare occasion that a student who time I'm happy for him. It will be a very ning and Placement, Health Services, Dean Mercado has quite a reputation walks into Dean Mercado's office will exciting time for him." Campus Activities, Greek Societies, as an educator. He has taught Spanish, not get to see him. He is also known for Housing Authority By Earl Moore Through a survey distributed to the signed by every tenant. Housing is only tenants of Housing I, many students permitted to enter the apartments except have informed the Argo that they are not in the case of repair, inspection required at all pleased with the regulations and by law, emergency, upon request and/or proceedures of the Housing administra- after the tenant has given specific per- tion. Of those who have responded, a mission. Any other entry made by the total of 91% are unhappy with Housing landlord is illegal. Also, the landlord and feel that the powers-that-be are may not enter, for any other reason unresponsive to students' problems and except in the case of an emergency, at an complaints. "There is no tenant-land- unreasonable hour, or during any period lord relationship." says one respondent. other than during the academic term. In "It is a student-administrator relationship." other words, inspections during the One major problem that students have Christmas break were not made during complained about deals with the ongoing the academic term and may be unjust. inspections for the apartments' condition, "That clause is open to interpretation," illegal furniture and smoke alarms. As says Ron Rice, Director of Housing. required by law, inspections must be "The notice was given to students before conducted once a month to test smoke break, during the academic term." Ac- alarms, but Housing uses the opportunity cording to Rice, the notice permits the Peter Mercado, Dean of Students (above) is leaving Stockton to pursue a career for their own interests, according to the entiy although it was made between the change» Mercado has been a champion of underdogs during his tenure at survey. two semesters and not during any Stockton. He will leave after the Spring 1986 semester. According to the Lease Agreement, academic term. Students have also questioned the legitimacy of smoke alarm inspections Gov. Challenges Colleges being made during an unscheduled fire drill, to which students have not received By Brigid-Rose Callahan should be based on a "program to upgrade ing programs, "to provide transitional notice, and are in no way considered an In consistency with Governor Thomas the quality of academic offering includ- funding to hire new faculty and academic emergency. H. Kean's endorsement of the betterment ing the addition of new degree programs support services staff" (these would have "Stockton police are in charge of of New Jersey State education, he has and new options within existing programs." to be incorporated into the regular instit- those operations," says Rice, "not reiterated his support of the legislation In addition, the proposals should be utional budget by the end of thelife of the Housing. But, they do usually tell us that would make state colleges autonomous. based on a "comprehensive three year plan), to purchase state of the art edu- when they are going to conduct them." Stated Kean, "Each college must follow plan for excellence." Also covered should cational equipment and software, to in- The lease also states that the landlord its own path to excellence. And if that be the mission of the institution, and its crease and improve library assets, to shall provide a schedule of anticipated path is clearly defined, geared toward plans to make that mission stronger and make capital improvements and to im- routine inspections and repairs at the quality teaching, and designed to foster more distinct, a projection of the quan- prove community awareness of college beginning of each academic term. Hous- academic achievement by students, the tity and quality of the student body and programs. ing has fallen short here with this respon- state should be prepared to provide the its plans to improve the standards for In an Administrative Announcement, continued on Page 4 resources." admission. President Farris announced the mem- In addition, he has made "a unique In order to assist the colleges in develop- bers of Stockton's blue ribbon task force, Inside This Issue challenge to New Jersey state colleges." ing their proposals, the colleges are who will develop the proposals. With Kean has requested that a $10 million permitted to request up to $5,000 for Faculty members include Adele Beverly, budget appropriation be made to enable expert consultants, or technical assis- Bill Daly, Gerry Enscoe, Rosiland the colleges to implement "plans that tance, for development or evaluation of Herlands, Robert King, Edmund Koenke, will enable them to capitalize on strengths the proposal prior to its submission. Melaku Lakew, Lewis Leitner, Margaret and chart their own paths to greatness." President Farris stated that the fund Marsh, Mimi Schwartz, John Searight, Kean's "Challenge Proposal" awaits will enable the task force to meet on Lynn Stiles, and Ken Tompkins. The approval by the legislature. retreats with consultants. The President Executive Staff consists of Neil Klein- Arts and Entertainment î / The process for grant application will also stated that she expects the college to man, Chuck Tantillo, Rob Trow, Pat Bulletin Board. be in two phases; a preliminary proposal do very well. "This is a very overwhelm- Hall-Miller and Harry Clark with Classified ; Creative Writing 10 due by June 14 and a final proposal due ing, wonderful opportunity. It is very Sherman Labovitz as SFT. Student on Editorial. 4 by August 30. According to The Gover- much to Stockton's advantage." the task force are Laurie Harrold and Personals nors Challenge to State College's - If awarded a grant, a college may use Lisa Hartman, and Committee Scribes Rat's Corner. .... 9 Request for Proposals, the proposals tne ninds to develop faculty/staff retrain- include Cindy Jassel and Jane Sharaf. Sports Page 2 ARGO April 4. 1985 ~ Stop Punishing Vietnam Vets By Brigid-Rose Callahan rededication of the Patio, which was miral Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr., was respon- effort to draw attention to Vietnam The Vietnam War may have ended for attended by many school officials and sible for the spraying of Agent Orange in Veterans as a whole. His purpose was, to most Americans in 1973, but for some dignitaries. Vietnam, in an attempt to protect his explain to others what we went through, veterans, the repercussions are still be- The message was originally to have men from being ambushed in the dense "and was not seeking...sympathy for ing felt. been delivered by Elmo R. Zumwalt III, jungles. himself. Elmo is just one success story," Such was the message articulated by who was unable to attend due to failing Gitelson told of Zumwalt Ill's many stated Gitelson. Gene Gitelson, President of the New health. Zumwalt, a Vietnam veteran is achievements highlighting that he had "The time has come for veterans, of York State Vietnam Veterans Leader- undergoing chemotherapy for cancer of skippered a fast river boat runner 16 all eras, to come together and forthright- ship Program. Gitelson spoke before an the lymph glands. Zumwalt believes that years ago, and was practicing law in ly speak of their experience," voiced audience, made up mostly of veterans, in his cancer is linked to Agent Orange, a North Carolian when he returned to Gitelson.