ASG take-over a SIC proposal
PIONS!
Battle fought for best burgers
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AIR QUALITY QUESTIONED
Gone with the wind
Library director ailed by health complaints By Mark Hopkins Opinion Editor
(Photo by Roman Koenig)
Comet Week festivities came to a blustery close Saturday with the crowning of the homecoming king and queen. James Woeber (R) was crowned king and Mary Jaeb was crowned queen during unusually high Santa Ana winds. The monarchs are representatives of Phi Rho Pi, the national speech fraternity. Also pictured is runner-up Carmel LaDao of the Spirit Club. The coronation took place during half-time of a football bout against Southwestern.
Bookstore to add lockers in remodel By Michelle Pollino Staff Writer Beginning next fall, students will be able to leave their books and backpacks at the Bookstore without the worry of theft. According to the Director of the Bookstore Virginia Dower, a bank of lockers will be installed during remodeling. The lockers will cost students a quarter. Students will then receive a key. When they return the key to the locker, they will get their quarter back. "We've been wanting to do this for a long time, but we didn't have the space or the funds," said Dower.
"The lockers will cost around $5,000." Director of Student Activities Jim Bowen said, "If the Bookstore wasn'tgoing to install the lockers, I would because students were complaining about their things getting stolen. We were going to do it one way or another." One student, Pat McKinley, had his backpack and books stolen last spring. When he reported it to the women in the Bookstore, she told him that it was the second theft in a half-hour. "I was really angry because they require you to check your bag, but
(see BOOKSTORE- page 2)
Director of the Library Media Center, Dan Arnsan, is the latest in a string of directors who have faced complaints from staff members about maladies such as mental fatigue, dizziness, and difficulty breathing while working on the ground floor of the library. "I'll do whatever it takes to resolve the problem," said Arnsan of the continuing grievances of ill health expressed by employees in the library. Library Clerical Assistant, Michelle Burks is one of the most affected individuals. "When I come in, in the morning, I get a headache after about 25 minutes. I also experience a metallic taste in my mouth," said Burks. One factor that Amsan and library personnel believe may be a contributor to the dilemma is the cogenerator plant located adjacent to the library. The natural gas cogenerator produces heat which is used to warm the swimming pool located east of the Dome, and also generates some electricity for the campus. Chemicals are emitted from the cogenerator' s smoke stack which somehow, the library's staff believes, find their way into the library. According to Amsan, the problem began on the opening day of the building, Aprilll, 1983, and still remains even after six years of trying to solve the puzzle. On Sept. 27 of this year, five staff members with health complaints were given pulmonary and blood tests to determine if any suspected substances were being inhaled.
The biological tests were conducted by an allergist from Scripps Clinic. The results of the tests were not received as of press time. Air samples were also taken by Director of Buildings and Grounds Mike Ellis. Samples were taken inside and outside of the library the day before, on Sept. 27, and the day after the biological testing took place. The results of Ellis' air tests found no detectable levels of nitrogen dioxide, ethyl mercaptan, or formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is given offby wood and is a common solvent used in the manufacturing of consumer goods ranging from carpets to foam stuffing. Ethyl mercaptan is the chemical added to natural gas to give the odorless substance its characteristic "rotten-egg" odor. Ethyl mercaptan is added in order to help detect leaks. The validity of the test has been called into question by Amsan and the affected individuals. Amsan wrote to Pat Farris, director of Business Services, in a memorandum dated Oct. 3, 1989 that, "conditions for testing a 'worst case scenario' were far from ideal." The memo notes that the cogeneration plant was down during most of the testing period, including the time that blood samples were taken. Atmospheric conditions were also cited as being less than ideal. Amsan urged Farris in the memo that regardless of what the test results may find, that the problem warrants the hiring of a consultant who specializes in "closed building syndrome." One factor in closed building syndrome is poor exchange of air. Amsan said the Vice
(see LIBRARY - page 8)
Student Government expands with Information Center merge By. Roman Koenig Staff Writer In a decision reached last Wednesday, the Associated Student Government voted to follow through with its plan to merge operations with the Student Information Center. "The ASG passed a motion by a 9-1 vote to assume the duties of the Student Information Center, but not before an in-depth policy manual is written," said proposal creator ASG Senator Norm Plotkin. The purpose of the manual would be to outline strict guidelines for the operation of the cen-
ter under the ASG, including duties delegated to a secretary. Plotkin said that this could take some time. "We are in no hurry," said ASG Senator Harry Sachs. "We want to do this right." "We could have just moved in the day after we did it," added Plotkin of the proposal's passage. "We want to use foresight in setting the groundwork for responsible implementation." It was at the recent Seesaw Leadership Conference in Irvine that the senators saw the need for expansion. According to both Sachs and Plotkin, many of the
ASGs represented at the conference said they had ample space at their colleges to help meet students' needs. That space was considerably larger than that for Palomar's ASG. All but one of the senators at last Wednesday's meeting voted in favor of the proposal. Senator Theresa Rau cast the descenting vote. Amid all of the questions and controversy over the plan, Plotkin and Sachs feel that the ASG's approach to the merger is a good one. "It's growth with accountability," concluded Sachs.