Pandora's Box Vol. 34 No. 3

PANDORA'S BOX Vol. XXXIV No. 3 York College of the City of New York Jamaica, Queens May 1993 Student Elections Features New Booths And Low lurnout By Baraka Dorsey The 23 At-Large Senators-Elect, in or- Managing Editor der of their rank in the election, are as fol- On May 4, 5, and 8, York College held lows: its annual Student Government Elections in Jocelyn Badette, Robert Hudson, the Cafeteria. Monitored by the Queens Christopher Pierre, Jose Cinque-Rivas, Board of Elections, this year marked the first Jessica Clark, Joseph Novembre, Yvrose time York College has used election booths Supplice, Marie Constant, Mozammel instead of ballot boxes in a student election. Jamal, Jean Hyppolite, Mohammed Is- The booths were requested by students lam, Mannan Ahman, Mohammad in an effort to avoid the controversy which §Momin, Mizan Biswas, Nadegejerome, surrounded last year's elections. The Stu- s Beatrice Mills. Pilar Morillo. Tamal dent Multicultural Coalition (SMC) and the jMannan, Ayala Avni, Md. Matiur Coalition Of Progessive Students (COPS) iRahman, Tej Pal Singh, Debbie were embroiled in a stew of problems re- aMarcelline, and Sheikh Ali. sulting from charges of ballot-stuffing and | The seven Departmental Senators-Elect, ballot-box stealing. jj iisted in no particular order, are as follows: "Election booths were part of the agree- Lancelot Rochester (Natural Sciences), ment reached between the college and York students use new voting booths to assure integrity of elections. Patrice Kemp (Accounting and Business), COPS," said Frankee Davis, Evening Vice- Malik Gregory Callender (Mathematics), President of Student Government and mem- Harold St. Hilaire (Social Sciences), ber of SMC. "However, we [Student Gov- dents voted. ficially, most of the winners of the 23 At- Maritz Griffith (Early Childhood Educa- ernment] support the idea, because ballot "The low turnout is another example of Large seats belong to that group. tion), Christie Taylor (Fine Arts), and boxes are too vulnerable to stuffing, steal- the apathetic attitude of many students," However, it should be noted that Davis, George Watkins (English). ing, and other improprieties. Election said Davis. "The same students who com- one of the At-Large SMC candidates favored The new senators will take office in June. booths are best for everyone." plain and wonder about their Association to win re-election, lost the election by a sur- They are expected to attend an annual Lead- Although the elections were held on Fees and how they are spent, are the same prising margin. ership Training Retreat in Upstate New three days, there was a low voter turnout. students who choose not to take control of Out of seven Departmental Seats, six are York in late summer. Pandora's Box According to unofficial results released by their money." held by members of the other slate - People wishes them good luck in the coming year. the Board of Elections, out of approximately As most of the candidates belonged to Organized Working for Equal Rights 6,656 students eligible to vote, only 850 stu- the SMC slate, it is no surprise that, unof- (POWER). Asbestos Removal: A Hot Topic At York move any asbestos. By dividing the area into INSIDE sections they were able to shut off the air conditioning ducts to prohibit asbestos fibers from circulating through the air as an extra precaution. Air meters were also set up in work areas to measure any harmful levels of Pell Grants Page 4 asbestos in the air. The roof is the only place asbestos has been discovered and it's been stated that there is no asbestos in the interior of the building. Bangladesh | "We have no asbestos on the inside," said Celebration....Page 5 •j" George Targownik, Director of Campus 3; Planning. He proceeded to explain that "the ^ asbestos on the roof is very inert and no fi- | bers come out of it, but just to be sure (the DeFilippis On | air vents are shut)." Hispaniola Targownik stressed that all necessary pre- George Targownik, Director of Campus Planning, explains safety measures cautions were being taken to ensure the Conference....Page 6 taken to protect students. safety of the college community. All air samples are sent to the Kemron. Environmen- By Christopher Chaney ture. However, York College's original tal Services which has reported asbestos Photos of Editor-in-Chief contractor was able to use the dangerous measurements way below dangerous levels.. Last week students in the Academic Core material because of a "grandfather clause" The only time that the asbestos can be- Malcolm X Page 7 building suffered through hot weather be- which allowed companies to use their ex- come harmful is when the workers unearth cause air conditioning vents were shut down cess materials, including asbestos. it because the fibers are admitted to the air. to prevent the circulation of asbestos fibers. The asbestos was located in the base That's why they avoid contact with the fi- GQ Fashion....Page 8 Asbestos insulant was found in the base flashing (where the corners of the roof meet bers by wearing air filters, gloves and spe- flashing of the Core building roof when re- the wall) where the Dorm Authority cial overalls. Most of this work is presently pair work to eliminate leaks was set to be- (building's caretaker) discovered it in occurring on the roof adjacent to the library gin. preparation of the Walsh Construction Co. and students responded to the uncomfortable Riding With Water-leaks during storms have always clean-up. situation. Posse Page 10 been a problem at York but never a danger. The construction corporation was imme- "It's very inconvenient to take a two hour Asbestos, a cancer causing agent, can be a diately reassigned the job of asbestos re- class in such hot temperatures," said Yovelys killer if it is ignored In fact, it is no longer moval and divided the roof into fourteen permitted as a building material in any struc- work areas so they could systematically re- Continued on page ?. Page 2 PANDORA'S BOX May 1993 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR What'dHeSay Writers Wanted & V.R Says Goodbye To All Needed For Next Dear Editor: York College, faculty and administration to Dear Editor: work closer with the students they say they There is a constant situation that con- As my term as Evening Vice President are here for. Feel free to drop by and have cerns me. Maybe by bringing it to your at- Semester's Staff comes to an end, many thoughts run through lunch with us, or sit in our classes. Remem- tention it can help clear up this situation. my mind while I prepare for finals. In ret- ber what is was like to be a student, and all This is my 5th semester at York College CONTACT: Chris or rospect this year has been a true learning the problems and obstacles that had to be and at this point in my college career I experience. From the controversy of last overcome just to get to class day after day. would like to become more active in school Baraka 718-262-2529 year's elections, to the chaos of the Stop looking at the statistics compiled about activities. Goldstein Report, there has never been a the students and begin to look into the faces, What I've noticed is that activities are dull moment. Now, a newly elected student hearts and minds of students. held in the atrium that are supposed to be will soon replace me in the office of 1G04. Although I will not be a member of Stu- open for all students to attend, but I don't Christopher Chaney There were many issues on both a student Government, I will still be involved in feel welcome or invited when the entire pro- Editor-in-Chief dent body-wide and an individual basis that the York College community. The Fall gram is conducted in a language ! don't were addressed. And unfortunately, so 1993 semester will find me a Staff writer understand. many more that were not. With the emer- for Pandora's Box, and one of many work- Customary songs, poetry, stories, etc., in gence of the 1993-94 Student Government ing to establish Ihe York College Black Stu- order to keep thei-r-aurhenticky, must be re- Elect, may this all change. dent Union. cited in the appropriate language. However, Tanya M. Hines Change within the hallowed hails of f bid one and all Peace. Thank you to an entire program done this way is no iongcr See Ya Editor York College will only occur with a unified all of those who assisted me in Student Gov- cultural enrichment, it is restrictive. student body and government. Individual ernment: Osememe, Erica Oseohtue, Sean, My point is that since everyone has io agendas must be put to the side to accom- Serena, and all those who put up with my pay an association fee, we shcuid have the plish those things that are in the interest of putting them to work because they were choice of participation. In order to make the student body as a whole. Not just where standing there. that choice, we must first understand what Baraka Dorsey the Goldstein Report is concerned. Every Remember that no matter what you are we are participating in. That's what cultural Managing Editor issue that affects college life and access to involved in at York, you are first and fore- programming is all about. higher education must receive equal and most a STUDENT - the rest is just honey Sincerely, zealous attention. on a biscuit. Leatrice Singleton I would like to invite the President of Sincerely, Frankee Davis Student G.A.

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