The student newspaper of Worcester Polytechnic Institute Tuesday , M arcb 18, 1975
V o lume 3. Num b er 7
ft's your money
Vandalism at WPI by Nest Wright • A recent Newspeak editorial addressed the With the end of another school year in problem of the laundry rooms, specifically Sight, dormitory residents will soon be again the Daniels laundry room. The inconsiderate moaning the loss of some of their room attitudes displayed by many in ripping off damage deposits. And everyone at WPI is their fellow students is bad enough. But asking where all that turuon goes, especially worse is the rampant destruction of washers with the latest increase. One key element In and dryers. The Mac Gray company owns the both of these concerns is VA NDALISM of washers and dryers, and has maintained a WPI facilities. price of $.25 per load at a time when all other It seems that vandalism is endemic to WPI, similar companies charge more, usually at or at least on some level. But when you think least $.30. lboUt that statement, and the FACTS behind In past years, damages to the MacGray 11. somehow a paradox emerges. Here we hiYe a community of people who are sup- company's machines at WPI have been bad, posedly considered mature, responsible but the company absorbed the losses. Two individuals, and yet the damages today are years ago the money boxes on the the same ones seen by this writer in his machines were broken into and the machines freshman year. damaged, WPI was not charged. But, new Newspeak recently sp oke with Gordon management at MacGray and a depressed Fuller about the nature, extent and severity economy have changed that, and WPI will of the vandalism problem. Damages may be soon be paying to repair machines whose broken down into three primary areas: 11 wifing has been tampered with or whose Dormitories, 21 Laundry rooms, and 31 the · coin boxes have been punched in. This will be in addition to repairing vandalized Daruels lounge and Wedge area. Many people in admissions and ad· electrical !:>oxes and breaker boxes. Vandalism in the Daniels lounge and ~n~n•stration have indicated that the fresh· men entering WPI in recent years have been Wedge is also a serious problem. Mr. Fuller more responsible and motivated than their showed Newspeak several damaged areas in pest counterparts. But, in spite of this, the Daniels lounge. On your next trip through, same damages. appear in the dorms year notice the damaged cellinl) tiles, the holes in liter year. Specifically. exit signs continue to the paneling and all the doors without be destroyed, lights are still knocked out and handles or knobs. The paneling in Daniels is lire extinguishers are discharged or stolen. of lapped construction and single piece Raal1zing that some horseplay is inevitable, it design, making replacement difficult • still senseless for these kinds of damages The passageway between Daniels and the 10appear EVERY year in the magnitude they W edge leading to Institute Road is another have. area seriously damaged. Recently, a
Student Government Elections RaUls The following are the results of the Student Government elections held last Thursday. PRESIDENT SECRETARY Paul Frederickson 110 John Forster 259 George Hefferon 336 John Smith 284 Edmund Shea 1t2 543 638 SOCIAL CHAIRMAN-CO-CHAIRMEN Nat Alderman and Stephen Sesto 'John Dewine and Tom Zarilli Robert (Rusty) Hunter and John Ronna
170 253 253
676 CAMPUS HEARING BOARD 224 Jeremy (Joe) Jones 204 Raymond Houle 219 Eric Hertz 194 Alternate laura Mattick 171 Alternate Kent Baschwitz As a result of the tie vote for Social Chairman ~Co- Chairmen a run-off election will be held on Thursday, April 10, 1975 for the candidates John Dewine, Tom Zarilli and Robert Hunter, John Ronna .
UMOC
b y Gersrd M. Ch11ss Once again this year, Alpha Phi Omega will lllOnsor the Ugly Men on Campus (UMOCI tontest. The basic concept behind the COntest IS reiattvely simple. Each group who 'POnsors ac andidate attempts to make him or her as ugly as possible. Please note that, desp•te the contest name, both genders are llliglble The candidates then have their PiCtures taken so that voters may select their ltvorite. Voting wtll take place during the week preceding the Junior Prom, concluding It the J.P. Fair on Saturday, April 19. The w inmng candidate wtll receive a dinner for two, and his sponsor will receive
an engraved bowl symbolic of the contest In addition, one lucky person who voted for the winner will receive a $10 certificate fQr their favorite beverage. All proceeds from the contest will benefit the American Cancer Society. Any group or organization may .spo~or a candidate, includtng groups formed for that specific purpose. This is an excellent opportunity for your club or organization to compete against others, while at the same t1me aiding a most worthy cause. For further information, or a copy of the rules, write Alpha Ph1 Omega at Box 2566, or call Jerry Chase at 791 ·2172.
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I Wagner photo I passageway lock, required by fire laws and costing $40.00 per unit, was removed by vandals. The door leading from the Wedge was also dismantled, being stripped of lock and handle mechanisms. And if you have gone oct the door facing Institute Road, you will notice the absence of a panic bar on the left unit. • So the questions '"till remain. Who is responsible fbr all these damages and why do those individuals find it to their benefit to destroy WPI property? Granted that out·
siders and non· students of W PI may be held accountable for some of the problem. But much of the blarna still rests with WPI students, . either directly or indirectly. The vandalism here appears to be like no other, in that no one EVER sees the damage being done. Or Is it that the actions are seen but not reported, oither io RA' s or WPI Campus Pollee? To fail to report such actions to someone makes the observer an accomplice I albeit not active participant) to the destruction that co everyone at WPI.
CHB decision:
Water. beds by Norton N. B onspsrte, Jr. On March 6, 1975 the Campus Hearing Board started hearing a case in which a student brought a grievance against the school. The c:1rievance was baaed on the fact that the school intends to remove a water bed that belonged to the student. The student lives in a dormitory, and felt that their right to due process had been violated. The student pointed out that no w here in t he "General Covenants f or Student Residences" is there a clause prohibiting water beds. The school quoted Article IV, Section A , paragraph 2 of the constitution of the WPI campus judicial system. It statee, " The rights of the individual will be o f paramount concern where not inconsistent with the goals of the college and the rights of other members of the WPI community." The school did not contest the fact that there is no written rule, against water beds, but the policy of the school is not to allow them in dorms. The school has an interest in ita property and poim.ed out that its present msurance poliyies do not include or cover loss or damage to and-or from water beds. During its deliberations the Campus Hearing Board discussed who should have the rtght to determine what is dangerous, and if the school has the right, what could stop them from makmg arbitrary rulings. The decision of the .. Cempus Hearing Board was that the school be temporarily
restrained from removing the water bed. If by April 1 1975 the student can work out a mutually satisfactory agreement with the school showmg reasonable liability coverage for possible damages incurred by the water bed, the restraining order would be extended until Juno 1, 1975. However, failures to comply with the April 1 dead line, may result in the Campus Hftaring Board lifting the restraining order from the school. I
The C&(Tlpus Hearil'1g Board found the "General Coven\('lts for Student Residents" deficient In ita regulations, they made the follow ing recommendations to the school: 1I A clause be inserted in the General Covenants for Student Resider)ts giving the school the right to prohibit and remove from students' rooms articles which it deems are dangerous or detnmental. 21 A clause reminding the students of their right to petition the Dormitory Com· mittee on policies which they question. The Dormitory Committee, after looking into the situation may make recommendations to the WPI administration, but because the school is ultimately the liable party the final decision wtll remain with the school. Finally, tha Campus Hearing 'Board also directed the school to inform students in writmg of current unwritten policies on ) rohibited articles lsuch as water beds, etc.) .>efore they move into school housing.
UPDATE Last week NEWSPEAK made a last minute effort to enable certain candidates for Campus Hearing Board to obtain the publicity they had not been informed was available, disclaiming "responsibility" for the apparent " error." NEWSPEAK regrets any inference that there was any blame to be placed elsewhere without information to base it on and · apologizes to- Deni se Gorski and those responsible for running the elections, whose efforts we were and are Impressed with.