R Protest Federal Aid Cut Murray Faces Concerned Students
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
\ i ) \ *% • ; v n•/ \ THE CIRCLE LVolume 26, Number 72 fb Marist College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. February 25,1982 r protest federal aid cut by Matt Golonka students could lose over $1.2 million by . 1984 if the budget is passed. Equally In a special convocation that was held devastating in the president's budget cuts is last Wednesday, students were informed the reduction in the College Work-Study that the total potential loss in financial aid Program, which underwrites jobs on cam to Marist students could exceed-$1.6 pus for needy students. Here at Marist, the million if President Reagan's proposals cuts would mean a 12% reduction during through 1983-84 areall approved. 1982-83 resulting in 100 fewer student jobs Citing the budget cuts as being on campus, and a 27% reduction during "Ridiculous and insane," President Mur 1983-84 resulting in an 100 additional jobs ray asked the students to write to their con being cut. Overall; Marist students could gressman to urge them to oppose the pro lose $56,000 by 1984 in the" Work-Study posed cuts. "It is our own constitutional program alone. right," Murray said, "to write to our con Another program being hit hard is the gress and express our opinions." " government sponsored Pell Grant. In this Jim Muzikowski, president of the stu basic grant program, students who come dent body here at Marist, also spoke to the from a household where family incomes students saying that, "President Reagan's are $25,000 or less can apply for aid from proposed reductions are like a cancer." He $150 to $1,800 for educational expenses. continued by saying, "and if we don't act With the proposed cuts, the maximum now, it.will only spread and become grant would be reduced to $1,600 and they worse."'.' "•••-.' would be limited to families who earn less What President Reagan is planning is than $14,000 annually beginning in 1982- drastically reducing the amount of money a 83. This would mean that Marist students student could acquire through financial could lose up to $400,000 in government aid. There are three basic loan programs aided Pell Grants. that Marist students use to help finance Nationwide, the effects would be severe. their educations. They include: National The American Council on Education, the Direct Student Loans, under which a stu principal group that represents the voice of dent borrows from the government; the countries 3,000 colleges and univer guaranteed student loans, under which the sities, estimates that 700,000 students now money is borrowed from a bank and repay receiving guaranteed loans will be ineligible ment is guaranteed by the government; and - under the newjegislationand-thatthetotal^ -loans to parents, -which'are also-'obtained ,of-such loans granted in>6ne year will, drop*, ''. •' "- .->,- T.«•J-> from'banks and guaranteed by'the'goverri- ";fro m $718 billidn't6'$6!3 billionvCombined^ mem. .' " ." - • ' with $500 "million in cuts of educational In these three programs alone, Marist benefits plus $189 million in trims of campus-based programs, this would put the total loss of Federal assistance at more than $2 billion. Gradprogram Overall though, the planned cuts that are designed to save $900 million are facing vigorous opponents, not only in Congress, but here at Marist as well. "Don't get too in sight for excited for these are just proposals," said President Murray. "Personally, I don't J. Geils and Magic Dick of The J. Geils feel that they will go through." Geils Band in concert. See story, page 6. Computer He did say though, that if there becomes (Photo by Rick O'Donnell) a need for concern, he won't stand by and watch. "I will do everything in my power at Garden Science to keep students here at Marist," he said. by Cathy J.' Cassetta For higher education to survive today, Murray faces concerned students the institutions in it have to be able to meet the many challenges that face them in the future. by Theresa Sullivan students. "The students at Marist College positive learning experience. Peggy Fussell, College administrators know that they aren't really concerned with learning," said • a senior fashion design major, said, . have to prepare to meet new needs, new President Dennis Murray and Academic Matt Chandler, a senior business ad "Science of Man stimulated me to learn as demands and new curriculums. Vice President Andrew Molloy fielded ministration major. He added, "thinking is much as I could. If it weren't for the pro gram, I would have left." Marist College is fully aware of the questions from some 70 students at a one- not really encouraged here." ; ;; changes taking place in higher education and-a-half hour meeting last week. Communicationtarts major Dee Nell, a Students asked Murray and Molloy ques and this is one of the reasons why, it has Concern over the large percentage of senior, said that the problem does not end tions concerning the Science of Man pro become so successful. ~~ career-oriented students and strong interest with the students. "I've found that gram's destiny. Murray said that the CORE and Science of Man program may On Friday, February 19, Marist took in the future of the Science of Man pro teachers will hand you a text book and you gram at Marist were the two recurring will give back what you've read," she said, be blended. When asked by a sophomore another step in its upward bound direction. Science of Man student about the future of The vote to add a graduate program to the issues discussed on Tuesday, Feb. 16,1982, adding, "All I have to do is memorize the in Fireside Lounge. book and I'll get an A." the program, Molloy said, "We can't deal college's computer science curriculum with what will be." No definite answer to overwhelmingly was passed by the faculty. Seventy-five percent of Marist's students Many students verbalized their agree major in either business administration, ment with Nell. In response to Nell's con the question was given. Statements like, "It What exactly does this mean? Well, it may be possible the Science of Man pro gives Marist the chance to become pro communication arts, computer cern, Murray said, "Not every professor is mathematics or computer science. going to challenge you." gram will continue, but not as it does minently known to the community and presently," were indicative of Molloy's more, for being able to offer to students a However, Marist calls itself a liberal arts institution. Many students questions A sophomore communication arts major answer. complete education in computer science." The students repeatedly expressed their The largest IBM facility in the world, only whether the college's priorities have fallen expressed dissatisfaction with some of the away from the liberal arts. faculty, sighting computer science teachers concern about the future of academics at about nine miles down the road, has of Marist. According to the students, Marist fered to assist Marist in giving students ex as an "example. "There are a number of Chris Harrison, a senior English major, courses taught by teachers here who are ex should stress the importance of history, perience and a quality education in the field asked, "How much of the Title III Grant religion, philosophy, literature, of computers. perts in their field; however, they have went to the liberal arts?" Murray said the neier learned how to teach," he said. mathematics and the natural sciences. The Director of Computer Science, John money was distributed into the areas of C_ Murray said that the general deficiency Chandler said, "Students are trying to go MacDonald, is retired from IBM. He join "hardware, the business component, in the educational system is that teachers through as easily and as quickly as possi ed the staff at Marist in July 1981. The management and marketing communica aren't taught how to teach. He said, "We'll ble." He said that when he entered Marist, knowledge and experience he has is a big tions." Although none of these programs is identify the deficiencies. If they can't im his goal was to-obtain a high-paying job. asset to Marist. When asked about how he classified under the traditional liberal arts, prove, we'll find other teachers." . He said that knowledge is now more impor felt about the vote MacDonald said, "I'm Murray said, "Any course on this campus Although students sighted many tant to him. "If it wasn't for Dr. Ryan and very pleased." •-.-." can be considered a liberal arts course if it weaknesses in Marist academically, most his program, I wouldn't be the person I The vote still has to pass by the State is taught within a liberal arts tradition." seemed to agree that the Science of Man am," said Chandler, adding, "If there The-students said that in reality, this program, created by Dr. Xavier Ryan, were more teachers like him, Marist would Continued to page 10 ideal does not exist for most Marist associate professor of philosophy, was a be the best institution in the country!" i Page 2 - THE CIRCLE • February 25,1982 i February 25,1982 • THE CIRCLE - Page 3 Off-campus security raises student concern by Jennifer Grego - Park Place now houses 4 male students, building in search of what he considers to 11 female students, and one female resident can take. These are "the obvious things be security breeches. He reports these to that I would suggest to any students — on -This semester's exodus of 16 students assistant.