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

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; ' .-. ' Endorsing controversy Committee recommends temporary new policy by Rita Garza To endorse or not to endorse. That was the question that troubled the Students ' Association Citizens ' Af- fairs Committee. Since 1984, the Student Senate had endorsed candidates for the U.S. Congress, Texas Legislature, certain statewide offices and local offices on recommendation from the committee. In the spring of 1985, however, criticism of the association ' s en- dorsement of those running for Left: Ann Montgomery, Bob Palacios and Stephanie Koury prepare signs to post around campus urging students to vote In the primaries. Right: Joel Newberry, engineering freshman, mails out reminders to Austin residents to vote in the May 3 primary. political office surfaced. Critics charged that the endorsements did not reflect the political ideology of the student body. Endorsements were a major issue of student election campaigns. Presi- dent Scott Scarborough, accounting senior, was elected on a platform that promised curtailment of the associa- tion ' s political activity by eliminating endorsements. A lawsuit, filed in November by the Young Conservatives of Texas and Richard Munisteri, business soph- omore, charged the association with violating state law by spending $900 of their student services fee money for endorsements. The committee responded by set- ting up a subcommittee to study the whole issue. After public hearings and interviews, the subcommittee came up with a recommendation to the full committee: keep en- dorsements. The issue was deposited in the lap of the Student Senate for a final ver- dict. The Senate met on April 22, and the group of 40 representatives decided to end endorsements for the 1986-87 year, but left the broader question of whether or not the association should endorse for future student leaders to decide. This is a sensitive issue, but a lot of students resent the fact that we endorse. They don ' t want us voicing their opinions for them, Acting Chairman Chris Flynn, chemical engineering sophomore, said. FRONT ROW: Rachel Esparza Hinojosa. Kristi Lynn Boylan, David Carroll Harly. Marcela Maria Uribe. Clayton Neill Pope, Martha Lynnc Dyer. Denise Davis. Robert George Palacios. SECOND ROW: Tommy Lee Tompkins. Wendy Elizabeth Pinkus. Carlos Treistman. Lane Michael Luskey. Stephanie Lynn Koury. Ann Margaret Montgomery. Wendy Lee Hetzel, Anna Rosalinde Bergstrom. Daniel Garcia Rodriguez. Eric S. Upper BACK ROW: Kenneth Joseph Sawin. Gregg James Feronti, Anthony Joseph Franzetti, Francis H. Richardson, Michael Lee Cohen, Joey Warren Newberry. Pamela Carol Chism. Susan Elizabeth Harrell. Brett Alan Kirstein. 288 Citizens Affairs Committee

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II Recruiting strategy by Laurie Rosenbower Because only three percent of the University ' s population was black, the Minority Affairs Committee attempted to increase the percentage by establishing a committee for bet- ter recruitment policies. In an attempt to combat the prob- lem of minority students withdrawing from the University, the committee went to the students and worked to sponsor legislation through the Students ' Association to aid in the area of retention and recruitment. We were looking to raise the con- siousness of the administration as far as retention and recruitment are Committee urges laws to create better balance concerned, John Smith, business administration senior, said. In November, a resolution which created a standing committee on minority recruitment and retention was passed by the association. It says the University better serves itself and the students if prob- lems of recruitment and retention are addressed. That is what the commit- tee is for, Smith said. The Minority Affairs Committee went through the process of sending the legislation through the Students ' Association instead of going straight to President William Cunningham to help the bill gain support. We felt that if we got more stu- dent support, he would take a closer look at the issue, Smith said. Student support was sought because the committee felt that the students were closest to the issue. Students and students relate better than students and faculty. They have more feeling for the pro- blem, Smith said. The formation of the standing committee stressed that the problem was one that students felt and that the administration needed to address, Smith said. The problem of recruitment and retention is University-wide. It doesn ' t just hit one college. Students have a first-hand knowledge about the problem. They know what makes minorities come to UT and what makes them leave, Smith said. Top: Marya Crigler, biology freshman, and Adam Reed, electrical engineering sophomore, take notes at a committee meeting March 10. Center: John Smith, business senior, explains details about an upcoming program. Bottom: James Ray, electrical engineering sophomore, and John Medina, computer science sophomore, listen to details discussed at the meeting. Janet Johnson PROMT ROW: Lynn Ceclte Pisget . Tracl Leigh Braruford. Ciueton Slmone Nichols. Teresa Morones. Stephanie Lynn Goodman. Daniel RkThard Benavkfes SECOND ROW: John LeneH Smith Jr. Mate Heimuth Moebius. El ita Louise Manor. Diana Naranjo, Teresa Lynn Henderson. Rodney Andre Isabel! BACK ROW: Johnny Jesse Medina. Weldon Earl Echols. Braddtet. Son|a MkrheV Franklin. Michael L Davis. Wlnthrop Todd Brown Minority Affairs Committee 287

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versy C0m : keep er . on April 22, and p f representatives - endorsements for the ' to left the broader I whether or not the to endorse for ' sensitive issue, but a lot is resent the fact that we i y don ' t want us voicing nns for them, Acting to Flynn, chemical ig sophomore, said. Power of plastic by Laurie Rosenbower Twenty-seven Austin-area mer- chants combined forces with the Students ' Association Consumer Affairs Committee to offer the Stu- dent Discount Card. With the $5000 raised from the card, scholarships were awarded to outstanding students by the committee. The card, which could be used at businesses ranging from op- tometrists to Bevo ' s Bookstore and Committee helps students save cash, earn awards Mad Dog and Bean ' s was sold during fall registration and adds and drops for $3. We gave out 10 $250 awards of merit to students who were going to be sophomores and juniors, and five $500 awards of distinction were given to seniors, graduate students and law students, John Westfield, graduate student in public affairs, said. That is the most any student organization has given out. We are very proud of that achievement especially during a time when we were attacked as not being visible, Westfield said. The committee handed out the scholarships in conjunction with the Ex-Students Association at the awards banquet held in the fall. Because of the expertise of the Ex-Students Association in awarding scholarships, we co-sponsored the project with them, Westfield said. They were an integral part of the program. They handled the ad- ministrative things such as cor- respondence, Westfield said. Our purpose wasn ' t to make money from the merchants. The students and the merchants are both very happy with the card, Westfield said. Top: Carta Enos, business sophomore, and Olga Chao, business Junior, scrutinize the textbook exchange list In hope of finding a real bargain. Bottom: Jessica Sherman, communication freshman, uses her Students ' Association Discount Card at Glnny ' s Copying Service, one of the 27 merchants who honored the card. Bradley Wlhon FRONT ROW: Lynnelte LouiM Gulley. Mlchete Cara Thompson. Angela Hyang Yen. SUcey Kay Street. Janet Lynne Mezzack. Jacqi tene Lambert. Andrea Felice AndefKjn. Laura Mlchefc Wauky MeJtua Mlctwfc KkngbeH BACK OW: Cynthia Ann Maldonado. Craig Andrew Afcert. Joaeph Anthony Cusler. Elizabeth Ann Btevim. Hockey Le Bottec. David Alan Garwke. Jennifer Lynn Zjmpetman. Robot Scon Le. John David WeMfMd. Brian Jack Man Students ' Association Consumer Affairs 289