TRIBUNE Volume 7, Issue 19
Library merger: renovations and rationalizations by Jamie Alden “Cost just wasn’t a major motivat ing factor,” said Charles Evans, the Areas Director for the Libraries, refer ring to the decision to merge the Under graduate Library (UL) with McLen nan. The decison was made last June to amalgamate the reserve units, circula tion departments, and references sec tions of both libraries to build what was termed a “more comprehensive service for undergraduates.” Though many students have voiced concern over the elimination of journal subscriptions and duplicate books, UL Service Librarian Marilyn Cohen and Evans assured the Tribune that all changes would be subject to a lengthy period of discussion amongst library staff. “Usually the titles cancelled will still be in the system, whether they’re in McGill or some other Montreal univer sity,” said Evans. The decision process involves both a serials advisory committee and the reference librarians.
who determine which journals are used most frequently. Concerning access to copies of books that are in high demand, Cohen stated, “I think that subject bibliogra phers will be aware of the large classes,” and added that this would
assure that there will be adequate numbers of popular titles available. In addition to the merging of serv ices, it appears there will be some major reconstruction of the first floor of McLennan library. Architectural consultants have been hired to assess
the situation regarding renovations to the first floor at the beginning of April. Recommendations will then be made to the Director of Libraries, Eric Ormsby. Cohen suggested that only minor changes in design would be made this
summer, but said the whole rede signing process would take from “three to five years.” When asked about the changes to the job structure for library staff, Evans replied, “Jobs will be redefined, they will not be more menial. The possibil ity of job changes will take place as much through automation as through the merger,” but McGill policy stipu lates that no employee will be termi nated. In spite of the merger, the libraries’ plans for automation of services will not be delayed. William Curran, Direc tor of Reader Service s for the Areas Libraries, said “The merger is not at all related to our plans for automation. We will be facing automation in 1989.” Students will be kept abreast of developments through an Ad Hoc Committee on Libraries recently formed by Stuc Soc VP University Affairs Maria Battaglia and Marilyn Cohen.
Senate
Research guidelines and student levies by Jennifer Mori “This is an issue on which we will never get a consensus, but we must agree on something that gives us some protection as opposed to none at all,” said Prof. Pedersen in support of the Report to Senate of the Committee to
Redraft Amendments on Military Re search. The amendments state that re search should “increase knowledge in ways that do not harm society,” and exhorts researchers to “assume direct responsibility for the intellectual and
Asbestos tiles not a health hazard? by Armelle Dodman Students have expressed concern about the health hazards of ripping out asbes tos ceiling tiles on the third floor of the McConnell Engineering Building. Lee Iverson, a graduate student in Electri cal Engineering, told the Tribune that “many of the tiles were being pried off and a lot of dust was flying around.” The tiles were piled on the floor and were not removed for a week. Com menced at the beginning of last semester, the tile removal was part of a renovation project preparatory to the installation of new computers. Although student concerns were ex pressed to the Administration, the dust particles were never tested. Physical Plant Director Wayne Wood claims that the tiles are standard, the type used normally in institutional facilities. “There is absolutely no possibility of exceeding Québec safety standards with regards to the use of asbestos
tiles,” said Wood. Despite Wood’s claim that “there is no danger,” the asbestos product is to be replaced with another form of mineral tiles which Wood says are cheaper and larger than the old ones. “Asbestos has received bad publicity in the past, and people will often tend to panic when they hear the word,” re marked Wood. “The only place in which a potential danger could exist in regard to the inhalation of the particles would be in the mining or shipbuilding industries where it flies around like snow.”__________________________
Bookstore Saga: by Ian Harrold and Jennifer Mori McGill’s Students’ Society and the Administration have concluded an agreement that will give financial com pensation to Studsoc for $4.5 million it had loaned to McGill for construction of a new $6.4 million bookstore. As well, Studsoc will eventually receive profit earnings from the bookstore once the contribution has been paid. The building is expected to to be com pleted sometime in 1992-93. Studsoc has not, however, received a guarantee of office space in the new building as it
ethical quality of their work.” The amendments also require researchers receiving government military con tracts to submit written statements of harms and benefits to the Vice Princi pal Research, who would both super vise research procedures for military contracts and report to Senate two years after the implementation of the proposals. Senate approval of these proposals was unanimous except for Prof. S.J. Noumoff, who held that “Senate has not had an opportunity to discuss the whole issue.” Noumoff was skeptical about the researcher judging the harmfulness of his/her own work. As there are no judges of ethics, “the real test is to catch someone violating the spirit of what Senate thought it was doing,” he told the Tribune. Lee Iverson, student member of the Amendments Committee, holds that “the University now reserves the right to refuse anything directly from a mili tary agency, [but] the real problem is that it is easy for agencies to set up fronts.” Senate also resolved to support the March 16 Students’ Society General Assembly on Underfunding. “We hope that profs will encourage students and other profs to attend,” stated Maria Battaglia, StudSoc VP University Af fairs, but “this does not mean classes will be cancelled,” emphasized VicePrincipal (Academic) Sam Freedman. continued on page 3
equity established
had hoped and it is unlikely that Studsoc will see financial compensa tion for some time. “I think this is a real victory,” Stu dents Society President Daniel Tenenbaum told the Tribune. “Students should not be paying for the construc tion of a new bookstore... I think we were fair in asking for compensation.” Tenenbaum’s agreement superceded one made last year between then Studsoc President Paul Pickersgill and Associate Vice-Principal (Physical Resources) Sam Kingdon. That agree
ment provided no compensation for forgoing profits and did not guarantee their return when the new bookstore was completed. Tenenbaum presented the Admini stration with the compensation pro posal last December and Kingdon’s reply proposed that “surpluses from the [present] Bookstore operation be ginning in fiscal year 1986-87... be ac cumulated in a special Bookstore ac count,” and that “as soon as repayment from this [account] has covered $4.5 continued on page 3
Council supports Access assists Fraternities by Mariam Bouchoutrouch “We just do not rate, a CEGEP has more facilities than we do,” stated Sam Miller, Chairperson of Access McGill. He explained that Dawson College has more facilities than McGill. “I just don’t feel the univer-
to ask their faculties and schools to provide information about the effects of underfunding. McGill has suffered deficits totalling $30 million in the past three years and expects a deficit of about $10 million
McGill as important” he said. According to Professor Irwin Gopnik, Dean of Students, the Univer sity is not allowed to ask applicants to McGill if they are disabled; therefore, students must approach the university if he or she needs a special service. “As far as I can tell, no request for services by a disabled student has been turned down,” he added. Miller believes that individual help is not enough because there is a wait ing period for the student to receive the facilities. “We have to meet the global needs, not just the individual needs,” he commented. Otter facilities would include the renovation of various buildings across campus, including the installment of an access ramp on die Union Building. However, this would include more money than is available, and would require university money. Council also considered the underfunding problem, underlining the need for discussion and research on the subject. Councillors were re-
In response to the lack of housing for incoming students a decision mate by faculty to evict fraternities would include the selling of Delta Upsilon and PSI U, on Pitre Ave. and the renovation of the Red Door and the Blue Dow fraternities on Univer sity Ave. for residence housing. Daniel Tenenbaum, StudSoc presi dent, argued that “the fraternities and the students were not consulted.” Another complaint was that the Uni versity would be leaving 60 students homeless in tire search for housing for 60 «her students. In other business. Council ammended the elections and referendum regulations placing a ceiling an spending for presidential and vicepresidential candidates. Tire ceiling would be $400 and $300 respectively. Another regualtion ammended prohibits any publication funded by StudSoc to print articles, letters, edi torials and advertisements that favour any candidate during the pollling pe riod.