Volume 7, Number 5' College At Lincoln Center, Fordham University, New York April 16-May 6, 1986 Excel Rebels Students Approve Students Petition Against Leaner USG Program Elimination By Sharon Dawson A new United Student Government constitution that cuts off one government branch and trims the By Lisa Robin Guido other two has been ratified by CLC students as a result of a recent referendum. With the guidance of a newly organized ad hoc "Student government should act as a lobby rather committee of the USG, CLC students are protesting than a decision making body," USG Vice President the probable elimination of the Excel adult-entry for Non-Traditional Students Barry Duckett said. program. The students are circulating a petition "The constitution rewrite has been a concern of in support of keeping a separate core curriculum ours for about a year," President Robert Picistrelli for adult students and, at press time, were planning said. The new constitution was written as a com- to bring it to the College Council meeting on Mon- bined effort by all USG members, he added. "We day, April 14, according to Chris Kanelba, a allowed everyone input. Many people were involved." member of the ad hoc committee called the Non- Traditional Student Affairs Committee. The process of changing the previous constitu- tion began, according to Duckett, when the USG Approximately two-thirds of CLC students are jiidiciary of last year, of which Duckett was a adults; and two-thirds of these adult students Is a statement being made here? member, made recommendations for its rewriting. entered through the Excel program, according to Last semester, Duckett said, the USG passed mo- committee member Sharon Todia. Committee just some of the many questions that seemed to be tions on how the previous constitution should be members pointed out that the identity of this on students minds. "You do have an implied con- rewritten. Minutes from the fall USG meetings school, a major attraction for prospective students, tract," Excel chairperson Dr. Barry Goldberg said. New Constitution record no such motions. is the intertwining of traditional and non-traditional He told the students that courses would continue "From what I've read in the newspaper, the USG students. to be offered, that students would be allowed to was having problems," said Al Tagliavia (CLC '88), The movement began when nearly 100 CLC finish their core requirements within the entry pro- one of the students who voted to approve the con- evening students attended an impromptu Excel • Looks To Solve gram, and that the transfer of credits would still stitution. "Looks like it was time for a new con- support rally in the student lounge on Tuesday, be possible even if the program should become stitution." The new constitution was presented to March 25, sponsored by the ad hoc Non-Tradi- defunct. student at this time, prior to USG spring elections, tional Student Affairs Committee of the USG. The Goldberg also said that the Mellon Committee Past Problems because, Duckett explained, it eliminates positions committee was formed following a USG open has yet to recommend a single core curriculum to that students otherwise would have run for. forum held on March 20, when both adult and high the Curriculum Committee of the College Council The reaction of students to the new constitution school entry students openly discussed the pros- By Thomas Waite prior to it being reviewed by the full College Coun- seems to be positive. On Wednesday, March 26, pect of disbanding Excel for the first time. cil.which has elected student representatives. The The previous CLC United Student Government the first day of the two-day referendum, 60 students The rally was meant'to be a quick information Council meetings ar open to all students and, as constitution was termed "inadequate" by USG hatfsigned'up iri favor of the proposed constitu- session during the break in evening classes, but it Goldberg pointed out, "there, in a 1 iteral sense, is members and "a poor working document" by the rapidly gave birth to a spirited student movement. where your voices can be heard." director of student activities. A better Grafting was Many in attendance voiced concerns: "If Excel is The committee met again on Thursday March in jeopardy, why weren't we notified of the clearly needed. Only, that was 1982. 27 to organize the petition drive. USG Vice Presi- The USG constitution that was finally adopted changes? Why weren't students involved? What dent for Non-Traditional Students Barry Duckett about those of us who've just started, don't we have a year later in the spring of 1983 has now been an implied contract with the school?" These were continued on page 2 replaced after only three years of effectiveness. From the moment of its installation, the now CLC Loses 292 Students defunct constitution was a troubled document. Certainly, it wasn't for the lack of consideration By Lisa Volpe Adam, S.J., a member of the Retention/Attrition that the USG constitution of the past three years Task Force, the Lincoln Center campus "needs to was doomed to be temporary. Unlike the recent According to the Registrar's office, the first become much more visible" if it is to attract and constitutional revision, which was begun and com- preliminary figures on CLC's current attrition rate retain more students. Fr. Adam also stressed the pleted in two months, the 1983 document was put reveal a drop in enrollment by as much as 292 importance of retaining adult non-traditional stu- in place only after 15 months of deliberation within BARRY DUCKETT students since last Spring. Paced with this, the dents, which, according to Parenteau, constitute the USG, reviewed by Dean of Students Dr. Joseph latest in a series of data revealing nearly a decade 66 percent of CLC's total enrollment. Fr. Adam McGowan, and a student referendum that was an- tion. The document, according to its own state- of steady enrollment declines, the Recruitment/ said that he thinks the construction of dorms at nounced two weeks in advance by a full page ment, required two-thirds of voting students to Advertising Task Force will be proposing numer- Lincoln Center will help to steady the population advertisement in the Observer. But despite the favor it in order for it to be ratified. Also, according ous changes in the university's current format for on campus, permitting students who previously scrutiny, snags that would cause trouble for each to USG Secretary Claudia Califano, at least as recruiting new students, according to Task Force commuted to school with extra time to participate USG convened under it were left undiscovered in many students as voted in the most recent USG member Norm Parenteau, director of Student Ac- in activities, while also providing employed, part- every corner of the constitution. The present docu- election about 200 had to vote in the referendum tivities at CLC. time students with low-cost housing. Parenteau, ment, ratified by CLC students on the last two days in order for it to be valid. After the second day of Commenting on this year's decrease, which also a member of the Retention/Attrition Task the referendum, which was the last day before the spring vacation, the constitution's ratification was University Registrar Stephen J. Bordas referred to continued on page 2 continued on page 6 as an "alarming figure," Dean William Tanksley validated by Assistant Dean of Students Normand said, "I wouldn't panie, but I would like to know Parenteau, said Picistrelli. how typical it is." Fordham Turns Green On The Avenue"The old one was verbose, contradictory, and According to Parcnteau, enrollment at Lincoln duties were very unclear," Picistrelli said in ex- Center is down by 1,000 students since enrollment By Franz C. Adams plaining the reason why a new constitution was peaked in 1977. He attributes part of this drop to needed. The main reason for writing the new con- a need for increased marketing of the Lincoln For the first time, more than 100 members of the stitution, according to Duckett, was that the Center Campus. "It is emergency time here [at Fordham community marched as a group in the previous document was confusing. Through the CLC]," he said. "It's time for some sort of drastic city's 224th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. Led rewriting process, the USG constitution was re- measure." by University President Rev. Joseph A. O'Hare, duced from 14 to six pages. One such measure designed to aid in the recruit- S.J., the group of students, faculty, administrators Also reduced is the number of USG members ment of students is the newly proposed Student and alumni represented the first joint CLC-Rose provided for. In the previous constitution, 30 stu- Ambassador Program, which, if approved, would Hill effort at intercampus activity, said Laura dent occupied the executive board and senate; in call upon underclassmen volunteers to visit their Dohrman (CLC '87) of the Inter-Campus Activity the new document that number has been reduced former high schools, providing firsthand informa- Coittmittcc, which sponsored the event. to 21. Under the newly ratified constitution, the tion about the many favorable aspects of Fordham. USG will consist of eight traditional senators, eight The Student Ambassador Program would be effec- "As we moved up Fifth Avenue, the warmth of non-traditional senators, and five executive board tive, said Parcnteau, because, "the best method [of the crowd's enthusiasm, and the reception Fordham members. Eliminated are the judiciary, the Aca- recruitmcnt| is word of mouth." Parcnteau said he received were quite incredible," said Fr.