The Observer Central Washington University

Central Washington University ScholarWorks@CWU CWU Student Newspaper University Archives and Special Collections 1-14-1988 The Observer Central Washington University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/cwu_student_newspaper Recommended Citation Central Washington University, "The Observer" (1988). CWU Student Newspaper. 1807. https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/cwu_student_newspaper/1807 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the University Archives and Special Collections at ScholarWorks@CWU. It has been accepted for inclusion in CWU Student Newspaper by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@CWU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thursday, January 14, 1988 Volume 6, Issue No. 1 Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington Legislature reviewing HEC plan · quacies. ''One of the things causing con- By SUSAN MONAHAN 1111111111 siderable consternation on the part of a News Editor 1 number of people, is it says that the institution should meet the average of Earlier this week the Washington peer institutions.'' This is a major con- State Legislature began its review of the cern of the legislature; the prospect of Higher Education Coordinating Board's passage without modification is not controversial and much criticized good. master plan. Assessment of an institution would The master plan has some goals that become more formalized within the can most likely be accomplished, but plan, although with or without the plan with some modification to the present Central will be doing more assessment plan. The question at the moment is activity. ''The student would be well whether or not the legislature which ap advised to keep a wary eye out for pro pointed the HEC Board are willing to posals that would place the expense of propose modification. They are not go that in the pocketbooks of students,'' ing to want the board to be looked upon warned Garrity. negatively and as a group that cannot The use of assessment data is to im accomplish its tasks. · prove institutions. ''However there are One proposal being implemented those who want an assessment program without the approval of the legislature to do something else. They want to is a new admissions program. The new compare you with otherstudents and policy, to take effect in 1990, would want to compare you at Central with utilize a standardized test such as the students at other institutions in this state SAT, combined with a student's high and nation wide. They also want to school GPA. "We have indicated that compare our math and English with we believe this is likely to have a others around the nation, even if they negative consequence for minorities are not the same," he said. This idea and women," stated CWU President ""' causes concern among some people. Donald Garrity. He added, "Literature ~ ''Hopefully assessment activity will indicates this to be true." The board has Q) benefit the student without cost to the data that agrees with this and has said ..oocn students,'' stated Garrity. that 15 percent of all students will be 1l Othei: states such as New Jersey have admitted through exception. ''Their ~ fundiiig for such programs, but there data suggests, beginning in the fall of ~ has been no movement in that direction 1990, there will be some number of per- t: here. -sons who are currently admitted direct- ] ''Another area where the HEC Board - ly, but would only be admitted by ex- ~ stated a generalized goal ... to provjde ac ception,'' commented Garrity. cess to higher education for Washington CONCERNED ''The document calls for establishing CWU President Donald Garrity expresses his citizens prepared to complete suc concern over the HEC Board master plan. The Washington State a system of public higher education that cessfully a program of study and to.pro Legislature is currently reviewing the plan. allocates adequate resources to institu vide such access equitably and with tions, and provides institutions with maximum effiency. An absolutely great flexibility, and holds the institution ac this adds up to budgeting. ''The change Currently peer institutions are the basis statement of a goal,'' commented Garri countable,'' stated Garrity. Specifically will not be radical,'' he commented. for judging an institution's inade- ty. January 18 marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday that until a few years ago was not celebrated. The man we honor was born in 1929 and died in 1968, leaving a trail of peace efforts. In 1964, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts ~---against racial discrimination. King donated the--- $50, 000 prize that accompanied the award to the civil rights movement, further proof of his stature as a great leader. Page 2 - The Observer Thursday, January 14, 1988 E·DITORIAL AND OPINION Take a chance, try res.ponsi.bility Unfortunately, the typical student budget affords little for expensive By WREN WOHLGEMUTH . jewelry or a new wardrobe every two weeks, but vendors selling these pro Editor ducts have objected to the University's right to offer products through such As I begin my term as editor, some things come to mind that beg ex learning vehicles as Warefair. · planation. These may not be burning issues of the day, but in our com Yes, I referred to Warefair as a learning vehicle. munity-Central Washington University-they are issues of which we It is a learning situation for those put in charge of organizing such an need to be aware. event-coordinating advertising, contacting artisans, and seeing the event * * * * * through. While at Central, we have an opportunity to gain valuable practical ex Largely run by students, this event has been extended to include live -perience in most of our chosen fields. Being a communications major, I entertainment, which for one campus music group, has led to their profes know first-hand that I have chances to gain on-the-job training in virtually sional debut in February. any field the department offers. Their ap-pearance a year ago gave these students an op-portunity to -per One such op-portunity is the campus radio station, KCAT. The -people form-for pay-in front of an audience that normally wouldn't be recep taking advantage of this situation are constantly beset by two distinct pro tive to such music. blems-lack of sizeable listenership and the fact that they are stuck {for By attempting to gain economic control of the Kittitas Valley, these ag the time being} on cable. gravated businessmen are alienating themselves from the students. Let's It is common for -people to respond that they would listen to the station if see a show of hands-How many of us have gone to Yakima to look for they knew how to hook it up. Ofall the stupid excuses, that gets my vote for clothes or see a movie? ignorance par excellence. · Without the University enrollment of approximately 6,000, I was told Are you trying to tell me that the same people who can hook up a $3,000 that the community of Ellensburg is roughly 7,000 people. Using those stereo system, complete with VCR, can't figure out how to hook up their figures, it doesn't take a math major to figure out that we as students con radios to the cable outlet on the wall? stitute almost 50 -percent of this community. I'm tired of hearing complaints alJout Ellensburg-area radio stations, Imagine if all of the dining hall workers-cooks all the way down to the when there is an alternative-completely produced and managed by servers-went on strike. Would this town be able to handle the influx of students on this campus. some 4, 000 hungry students for an extended period of time? The second excuse given is that KCAT doesn't play the kind of music you At this -point, you should be wondering what my -point is. want to hear. If I have a -point at all, it would go something like this: The businessmen Where were you when the station conducted surveys in the SUB and din and businesswomen of Ellensburg need to be aware that for many ing halls,. asking the students what they would like to hear? Probably students, the campus is their home-all they need is available to them on hooking up their home entertainment systems. campus. Hey, give these guys a listen. Granted, their slogan of the 1986-87 school In order to draw these students into the town, there must be a reason, year was stupid - "We want you to hate us" - but they do try. other than a bank. Perhaps a few choice sales or student discounts of five A simple phone call to the studio would be appreciated {963-2311}. Let to ten -percent. Incentives such as these would be a certain drawing -power. them know what you want to hear. As far as I know, they play You might also consider offering internship op-portunities for students. anything-except Barry Manilow and Whitney Houston. Not only would this increase business, but you would be promoting the * * * * * education of the students. Recently, various local businessmen have questioned the rights of the To the students: As tem-porary residents of Ellensburg, we need to fre school to do a profitable business, aiming their comments at the Universi quent the businesses that sup-port the University. Offer suggestions alJout ty Bookstore and other campus facilities. new products and the lack of certain items. Part of this problem lies not with the school and their moneymaking We are a vital part of this community and are responsible in part for the ventures, not with the students or community that frequent these livelihood of much of this community.

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