©P~litan
Volume 7 Issue 19
February 13, 1985
The games people play
~
Boltz Removed, Sutherland, Bails Out
pearance of the encumbrances raised the suspicions of those involved. Sutherland said Boltz, who worked News Editor, The Metropolitan at a computer terminal ..!uring registraMSC student government Vice Presition, could have removed the hold dent Dave Sutherland resigned last himself. "Ben could just walk around and not Wednesday, citing unfair be noticed in the business office," administrative "games" that forced him to remove a student senator from Sutherland said. "I would get challengoffice. . ed like, ·can I help you?' But if you're supposed to be there they won't quesOn Feb. l, Student Senator Ben Boltz was administratively withdrawn tion you." Boltz denied tampering with his own from the college due to an unpaid sturecords and said when he went to the dent support loan. During the senate business office to see why he was meeting Feb. 6, Sutherland said that_ encumbered again he was shown his since Boltz was no longer a student he name underlined on a list that 5:::- could no longer function as a student indicated he shouldn't have been on senator. hold. Boltz was able to register, accor_ding to Helen Foreman, business office supervisor, because Boltz paid his fall tuition debt. But the question of a list of students not to be encumbered fueled the fire of · those skeptical of the situation. Roberta Smilnak, associate vice president of student affairs, said such a list never existed. Jared Johnson, business affairs officer, agreed that no such list existed but could offer no explanation for the student's comments. 'Tm not aware of any list," Johnson said. "There is no such list, we deal with a lot of paperwork here and based on what I've seen and heard I know of no list. Unless someone can give me more information about the list I just don't know of any list." Ben Boltz (left) and Dave Sutherland are· at the center of the latest ASMSC shakeup. Photos By Beagle Johnson said he knew of a list of those who should be encumbered but he couldn't look for Boltz's name. "Helen (Foreman) is sick today and I don't know where it is in her office," Johnson said Monday. Yesterday Foreman was back in her tion Act, said that most employees therefore, Gasser had either to retire, "by Michael Ocrant office and produced a list of couldn't be given mandatory retireor, with the permwionof the college Alrirtant Editor, The Metropolitan encumbereti students with names ment before the age of 70. president, contil)ue teachinp; on a temThe precise, underlying wues that underlined, including Boltz, of Congress apparently was reacting to porary year-to-year contract. led the MSC's sociology department students who should not be the fact that the average longevity 0£ Metro policy stated further that a r.:: chairman to give up the post he held for professor on temporary contract could encumbered. Americans had increased sharply since 11 years may never be revealed and as "That list didn't even pop into my 1934, when the Social Security Act was not hold the position of department I far as the principal characters in the mind yesterday,''. Johnson said. "It's paSsed and the age for retirement was chairman. controversy are concerned the mues, more of an internal worksheet." fixed at 65. If policy were strictly followed it whatever they were, are dead. A worksheet i'-.·, used to mark the Colleges and Universities, however, meant G~r should have been given a The central character of the story, students names who clear the debts so were given exemption from the law; temporary contract beginning July 1, their records can be adjusted, Foreman .... Dr. Robert-Louis G~r. ex-sociology such institutions could still require 1982, the beginning of the fiscal year. depa'rtment chairman and current said. His position as department chairman faculty to retire at age 65. Swm Consul, though obviously bitter, Checking again o.n the status of The exemption apparently was given should also have ended at that time. is saying nothing. due to lobbying efforts by higher It was not to be. Boltz, Buenconsejos found the hold had Gasser continued to work under "I can't see any good coming from again been lifted without receipt of talking-it won't change -anything," regular contract and remained the payment for the student loan. department chairman through the end Gasser said during one of several brief Again he advised the Bi.lsiness Office of the '83-'84 school year - two years to put a hold on Boltz. telephone conversations .. "That's all education administrators. after reaching mandatory retirement done and past." Then on Feb. l, Boltz was advisWhat did change for Gasser, in age. Effective July 1, 1982, though, the ed of the problem and he contacted October 1981, was his age. Somehow, somewhere, questions Smilnak. exemption would be nullified and colThat's when Gasser turned 65, and so arose which caused delays in lege professors, too, could work, if they She sent him to Johnson. became eligible for retirement. implementing school policy. so desired, until they reached the age of Boltz and Johnson arranged for an . But by law, and. by the rules of the What happened, according to Sandy . administrative withdrawal ·so Boltz 70. icollege, G~r would have little to say Jones, director of contract ~rsonnel wouldn't have to pay a late fee for his Gasser missed the July expiration :about his future employment. date by nine months. services, was that Gasser's contract Spring cl~. A late fee is charged to cont. on pace 3 cont on pap 4 : The National Anti-age DiscriminaUnder MSC's governing board rules, I
by Robert Davis
But in his letter of resignation, Sutherland said he felt he had made an error in relieving Boltz from his job and had done a "dmervice to Ben, the Executive Branch of student government, the Associated Students of MSC and the school." "I took this- action believing that I was looking out for the best interest of the students," Sutherland said. "I feel that I was the victim of some game the administration was playing with Ben and his student status." Sutherland said there was an encumbrance on Boltz's record that should have prevented him from registering this semester. Bennett Buenconsejo, Director of
Student Support Services, said Boltz had a $120 debt to his office. "I saw Ben' at registration and knew he should have an encumbrance so I checked and saw that it had been lifted," Beunconsejo said. When Buenconsejo verified that Boltz hadn't paid his student support loan the encumbrance was reapplied. According to Boltz and business office personnel, when Boltz's fall tuition, which had not been paid, was received two weeks ago the encumbrance was lifted. What the business office employees didn't realize is that Boltz had another hold from the Student Support office. The disappearance and reap-
.f MSC Prof. Silent On Murky Issues
Analysis.
•1
.
"
I