University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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H ANDS STUDENTS WORK = TOGETHER TO CREATE AFFORDABLE QUARTERS by LOTTE CHOW Smoking or non-smoking, vegetarian or non-vegetarian, women ' s or co-ed, single or double, . . . The list goes on and on. It is a list of choices people made when they moved into an Inter- cooperative Council co-op. ICC, a non-profit organization, over- saw seven cooperative houses, one cooperative dormitory and one cooperative apartment near campus. They were non-University owned and were all co-ed except Seneca Falls, a women ' s co-op. Pat Ray, president of the board of directors of ICC, said the main reason students live in co-ops are the relatively inexpensive cost of living and the prox- imity to campus. I would like to say it ' s af- fordable and con- venient, Ray said. Rates for the STUDENT LEADERSHIP Edited by Teresa Weidler co-ops ranged from $250 a month for a double occupancy to $365 a month for single occupancy, room and board included. Although co-op capacities varied, most houses accom- modated 15 to 30 people. And all the ICC co-ops were within four to six blocks from campus, Ray said. It ' s a nice place to live in while one was at school, he said. Like campus-owned co-ops, ICC ' s history can be traced to the depression of the early 1930s. Many students could not afford housing expenses, so a group of students began renting houses close to the University campus. In the ' 60s, the group started purchas- ing its own houses, because most of the old ones were demolished or sold. And until the 1970s, more houses and apart- ments were bought. ICC housed some 170 UT students in 1985. Although many residents cited the inexpensive cost as the main reason they chose to live in co-ops, they say other factors were taken into considera- tion as well. Julie Stern, UT Latin Department graduate, said the control of one ' s living environment has attracted her. We can decide how much should be paid on rent, how much should be spent on food, utilities, maintenance, etc. And as we own the house, we care very much for its well-being, Stern said. Each week, a budget meeting was held to determine expenditures. Every resident had a say in the matter, and it was democratic, Stern said. Another resident said the sense of belonging was what attracted him to co- op living. He described it as being a shareholder. Everyone has input, and he feels he belongs there, he said. Part of the input was in the form of house labor. Every resident was responsible for four to five hours of house labor each week, which may in- clude cooking, cleaning or repairing, depending on what one preferred. For example, every week, one or two people from each co-op were designated as grocery buyers. They joined the Wednesday Night Food Buyers with whom they bought in bulk from wholesalers, to reduce food costs. Another bonus in co-op living was the friendly atmosphere. Yeah, because you live under the same roof, you see each other every day. People tend to know each other better, said Wayne Wilson, a sophomore in electrical engineering. Student leadership 203

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HELPING H L r Sharing and belonging leads to camaraderie as Dodie Stark and Kathy Mack share the attic bedroom in the Royal House Co-op. Photo by Kathy Gilbert Monthly meetings provide Co-op members with a chance to input their ideas and suggestions at the House of Commons. Photo by Kathy Gilbert Before dinner, a resident at the House of Com- mons Co-op relaxes in the living room. Photo by Kathy Gilbert Co-op members participate in weekly budget meetings at the House of Commons, which is located at 2610 Rio Grande. Photo 6v Kathv Gilbert 202 Student Leadership

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STUDENTS ' ASSOCIATION Leaders assume advocacy role by INGRID WIETING We have a definite advocacy role to advance the concerns and initiatives of students sanctioned by the students ' and regents ' adoption of our constitu- tion, said Rodney Schlosser, president of the Students ' Association. During 1984-85 the Students ' Association represented UT students on campus, in the City Council and in the State Legislature. The Students ' Association was divid- ed into three branches. The Executive Branch included the president, vice president, financial director, presiden- tial advisors, staff and appointments. The Legislative Branch was compos- ed of the Student Senate and its com- mittees and the Judicial Branch includ- ed the Election Supervisory Board which supervised elections. The Student Senate, which consisted of 40 senators elected by the UT students, played an overseeing role in the Students ' Association. Schlosser said the Senate provided the structure and funding for the projects, efforts and SENATE: FIRST ROW: Belinda Eva Ladabaum, Ronald Wayne Reed. SECOND ROW: Kathleen Marie Hudson, Noemi Herrera, Samara Lackman, Risa Jill Turken. THIRD ROW: Christine Jeanne Notel, Patricia lone Barton, Michelle Renee Lind- say, Lynda Lee Lankford, Tammy Bettina Corn- well, Robert Alan Foster. FOURTH ROW: Laura Anne Cottam, Gail Lynne Gerber, Kim Robin Gross, Trey Monsour, William Maurice Christian. FIFTH ROW: Melinda Alene Roth, Rodney Len Schlosser, Kelly Marie Leach, Patricia Ann Bar- rera, Veronica Garcia. SIXTH ROW: Gregory Paul Hemphill, James Joseph Scheske, Eric Stewart Folkerth, Craig Reel Baker, Jesse Lamar Crowell Jr. SEVENTH ROW: James Brian Loef- fler, Bernard David Roth. Photo by Karen Messerman lobbying for all the other arms of stu- dent government. Each senator was encouraged to par- ticipate in Senate committees and pro- jects. The Senate was also responsible for overseeing budget policies and en- dorsements for city, state and federal government. The Coordinating Committee, another part of the Legislative Branch, consisted of the seven committee chairs and the executive officers. It was responsible for coordinating committee Gathering students ' signatures to put the suicide pill issue on the run off ballot is Bernard Roth, sponsor of the bill. Photo by Jim Sigmon Students ' Association PRESIDENT Rodney Schlosser VICE PRESIDENT Trey Monsour SENATOR AT LARGE, TWO YEARS Traci Bransford Gail Gerber Kelly Leach Tommy Tompkins SENATOR AT LARGE, ONE YEAR Kathleen Hudson Risa Turken Bob Foster Patricia Barrera Kathleen Espersen Eileen Hu Andrew Jefferson Jeff Williams ARCHITECTURE Karl Crank BUSINESS Kim Gross Bill Christian Greg Hemphill Craig Baker COMMUNICATION Eric Folkerth Leah Benson !: ' . :.-. ' 204 Students ' Association