On The Inside Cushing Renovation P9 3 Arab National Guard pg 7 THEserving the notre dameOBSERVER - st. mary's community Vol. IX No. 78 Tuesday, February 11, 1975 SLC votes Post-Labor Day start Student Government poll weighs heavily in outcome by Mark Jahne thing everyone agreed on.” He cited the results of the Several different problems were noted in the progress Staff Reporter survey and the economic impact upon the students of report, which was provided to allow all mem bers a chance starting before Labor Day as his main reasons for being in to think about them prior to discussion at the next A proposal recommending a post-Labor day start for favor of the proposal. meeting. Topics included the structuring of committees, next year’s academic calendar was passed yesterday by While in favor of the resolution, Director of Student size and constituency of the SLC , what its advisory and-or the Student Life Council. The proposal states that it would Activities Fr. David Schlaver noted the travel conditions legislative powers are, and what to do about issues that be preferable for the 1975-76 school year to begin after the that owuld accompany a later start to the semester. “My overlap with other bodies. Labor Day holiday. concern is for those who will be travelling over the Labor The present calendar issue is a perfect example of how A strong influence upon the SLC vote was the outcome of Day weekend ” He added that the last time classes began an issue can involve two bodies, while an academic a poll conducted by the Student Government Academic after Labor Day (Fall 1973) many students returned to calendar definitely concerns academics, it also affects Commission. In that poll, seventy-four percent of the campus early. student life. Hence both the SLC and Academic Council students responding and seventy-five percent of the McLaughlin was high in his praise of those who con­ end up debating the same topic. faculty expressed a desire to begin the fall semester after ducted the survey, saying, “They did a real good job on it. At the opening of the meeting, SLC Chairman and L abor Day. It's quite indicative of what students and faculty think Student Body Vice-President Frank Flanagan expressed This proposal will be presented to the University about it.” displeasure because Fr. Hesburgh’s letter vetoing the Academic Council when they meet this afternoon. Also, When asked what effect it would have upon the sexuality rule appeared in the newspaper before it showed Dr. Robert Ackerman will advise University President Academic Council’s decision, he answered, “I think up in his mail bos. The letter, which was addressed to Fr. Theodore Hesburgh of the SLC vote in a letter he is they’ll pay strong attention to the survey.” Flanagan, was hand-delivered to the Observer offices on presently drafting. The proposal passed the SLC vote Other general discussion was centered around a Thursday night, Jan. 30, and was published the next day. easily, with nineteen members in favor, none in dissent, progress report submitted to the entire SLC by its The copies intended for Flanagan and others were and two abstentions. “Committee on the Future of the SLC.” The committee is mailed, and thus not received until the following Monday. Student Body President Pat McLaughlin noted that the chaired by Denis Sullivan, and includes Prof. Paul Con­ The Observer published it under the m istaken belief that sole purpose of the resolution is to put the SLC on record way, Mrs. Maureen Gleason, Bro. Just Paczesny and if they had a copy, so did all those who were intended to as in favor of the post-Labor Day start, since, “That’s the reporter Dr. Robert Ackerman. receive one Academic Council meets today Calendar history by Ken Bradford council’s calendar choice would Kersten refused to discuss the Staff Reporter not be very probable. issue with the Davis committee Following Guiffrida’s statement, because it was “too early in his a committee of students, headed political career.” The Academic Council will meet by freshman Mike Davis, an­ Davis added that Academic today to discuss proposals for next nounced the circulation of a Council student members emerged year’s academic calendar. petition to request a change in the as the heroes in the controversy The major controversy is proposed calendar. The petition even though they originally voted whether to begin the fall semester stated. “The academic schedule as for the pre-Labor Day start. before Labor Day or after the planned would cause excessive In D ecem ber, 1972, B urtchaell holiday. Fr. James Burtchaell, hardships on many students due to announced that the Academic university provost, leads the forces the early opening of school and the Council would once again consider favoring a pre Labor Day start, shortness of breaks. We, the un­ a pre-Labor Day start, this time GOLDRUSH '75 closed Sunday night after 10 successful days in while various student and faculty dersigned, request that the for the 1973-74 academic year. Stepan Onter (Photo by Harry Bush) groups have favored the post-Labor University Academic Council Burtchaell noted there would be Day sta rt. reconsider the schedule for the two vacation package options. The The history of the calendar 1972-73 academic year.” first option included a one-week controversy can be traced to the Within one week, the committee Thanksgiving break and a long Gold Rush'75 ends; major restructuring of the procured 3,400 sig n atu res to the weekend in October. The second semester schedule in December, petition and influenced ten council option included a week-long break 1969. Prior to the 1969 revisions, members to request a reconvening at midterm and a long weekend for the fall semester ended three of the council to discuss the Thanksgiving. Under Burtchaell’s charity festivities weeks after the end of the calendar issue. plan, holy days of obligation would Christmas vacation. On M arch 22, 1972, over the no longer be class days. The University Administration student’s spring break, the council The Burtchaell proposal was drafteda calendar which concluded met and adopted a calendar submitted near the end of the considered success the fall semester before Christmas scheduling classes to begin after semester when campus but allowed only one break, a four Labor Day. The calendar, which publications had closed for the by Val Zurblis and one-half day weekend for allowed a six-day Thanksgiving final examinations and semester Staff Reporter Thanksgiving. Classes were held break, passed the council by a 33-15 break. The Academic Council met on all legal holidays and on holy vote. before Christmas and once again “Gold Rush ‘75” came to a close Sunday night after 10 days of days of obligation during the fall approved a pre-Labor Day start by blackjack, poker, and dice games at Western-style booths in Stepan semester. A break in the spring a 28-19 vote. A m otion by G uiffrida C enter. semester lasted nine days. to table discussion until student The faculty was given an op­ Administration beaten opinion could be accurately Mardi Gras chairman, Dan Sullivan said that profit totals have portunity to evaluate the change m easu red was voted down, 21-19.. not been totaled because all the bills have not been paid yet. and 79 per cent approved the new Guiffrida noted, “It’s the first Returned lumber, stuffed animals, popcorn, and other materials calendar. The Student Senate also time to my knowledge that the must be accounted for before final profits can be tabulated. supported the Adminsitration by a Administration got beat in the In 1968, its m ost successful y ear, M ardi G ras m ade $22,000. Only 26-4 vote. Academic Council.” Cloud of secrecy cited $5,000 w as m ade in 1973, and $19,000 w as cleared last y ear. “ The In March. 1972, Burtchaell noted Burtchaell then reiterated his av erag e usually runs from $8,000 to $12,000 p er c a rn iv a l” Sullivan the semester without the break rationale behind the Pre-Labor An Observer editorial by editor- stated . was “very fatiguing” and Day start. He claimed the new in-chief Jerry Lutkus complained The final event of Mardi Gras was the raffle drawing held proposed that the 1972-73 academic schedule contained only 66 class that the calendar vote was held in a Sunday night. John P. O’Brien of Franklin Park, Illinois won the calendar include a three-day days, not enough for an accredited “cloud of secresy” and charged first prize, Dodge Dart and Junior Partricia Willing of Lyons Hall weekend in October and an eight- institution. Burtchaell added that the Administration with won the student prize, a color television. Sullivan said the raffle day break for Thanksgiving. there was a need for a break deliberately releasing the in­ made money, but, the total has not yet been determined. The University Academic earlier in the semester. formation after the student press Grace Hall surpassed the winner of many years in monetary Council approved the Burtchaell Davis later complained that the could handle the issue. totals of the individual booths. Keenan’s “Bordello” had a strong plan which called for an August 31 calendar was being manipulated The University Administration start, the earliest start in the lead all week long until the last day when Grace’s “Funeral as a political issue alone and that discovered that the proposed school’s history. Responding to an P a rlo r” su rp assed them by $30.