The_Rambler_1991-11-13

              JANE POWELL
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ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 7
SPORTS
BACK COVER
Volume 63, Number 7 SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale NOVEMBER 13, 1991 Flambler student Forum Leaves Students Frustrated
by Michelle Kennedy
On Monday, October 28,1991, at
6 PM, students assembled in the Multi-Purpose
Room in Roosevelt Hall to open communications
between students and administrators about
students' concerns about the campus. Student
Government provided this forum to provide
students with answers to questions relating to
issues such as campus lighting, campus safety,
residence hall conditions, and campus food service,
but the outcome of the forum was unsatisfactory
to many students.
According to Mr. La Rosa, Vice President
for Administration and Finance, and Dr. Cipriani,
President of SUNY Farmingdale, 54 job positions
and $2.5 million have been lost in the past 2 years.
These cutbacks have no ties to tuition and fee
increases; tuition is controlled by the state.
Dr. Cipriani, President of SUNY
Farmingdale, clarified that the money generated
from the students' tuition goes into a central fund,
and pays the bills of the state. A state university
does not keep the tuition it takes in, unlike a
community college which keeps the funds received
through tuition. He added that the first priority of
the administration is academic programming, and
justified the disintegration of four academic
programs because it prevented the dilution of
other programs.
When asked specifically what was the
rationale for dropping the Mortuary Science
curriculum, Dr. Cipriani answered that the
restricted budget called for cutbacks, and dropping
this curriculum would not hurt the students or
faculty.
Mr. Zanenka, Director of Physical Plant,
responded to a freshman student who asked why
the hot water problem in Nassau Hall was not
corrected, by explaining the plumbing systems of
Nassau and Suffolk Hall. The problem is that the
water temperature in Nassau Hall showers is 102
degrees Fahrenheit, a health concem since 110
degrees causes bums. Zanenka told the student
that the plumbing had deteriorated, and was no
longer workable. "The anti-scalding devices do
not work."
The students responded with a roar
of laughter when Dr. Taube said,"Basically and
statistically, the campus is safe." According to
Dr. Taube, the statistics over a 10 year period
show that the reported crime rate has remained the
same. He claimed that the campus is well lit and
safe. He also stated that there is increased lighting
in front of Suffolk Honors Dorm. T h e
lighting problem is due to the erosion of ground
wiring. The reasons given for the problem not
being rectified is the lack of funds due to budget
cuts and the fact that only one electrician and one
helper are responsible for 71 buildings. Sodium
lights were put on the resident halls to protect
students as well as they can. The Student Security
Aides program has also been introduced to the
campus to improve the safety of residence students.
Blue boxes have been installed for emergency use
on campus.
Jackie Williams, Seargent at Arms of the
Student Security Aides (SSA), said that there are
problems with safety, and campus police does not
respond effectively; they need more help. "You
all seem to find money when necessary, [why
don't you see what] you can find within the
budget," she said.
Knowing that a gun was found in the
Multi-Purpose Room after a student function last
year, Jason Blidgeon, student at Farmingdale,
asked why body searches and metal detectors are
not permitted at campus functions. The response
was that frisking is an infringement of people's
rights, although according to Blidgeon, SUNY
Old Westbury and SUNY Stonybrook follow these
procedures at their campus events.
"What is an unarmed officer supposed to
do if he finds a weapon?"
Walter Schnell, head of campus police then
responded defensively. Students became
very agitated at this point, and the topic was
quickly changed. This was a common response to
any type of friction between students and panelists.
Joe Puccio, Editor of the Rambler student
newspaper expressed his frustration to the panel
when only two questions were allowed in reference
to the budget. Other students also felt discouraged
by the panel when they were prevented from
asking questions when the moderator, Alice
Mathis, Director of Student Activities, told them
they were out of time, and they were even more
agitated when the questions they did ask were not
answered.
"Why are the students required to be on a
meal plan, when the food is unhealthy and
unsanitary?" Derek Thomas Alumni, a student,
asked the panel.
Dr. Taube denied that the food is unhealthy or
unsanitary. He stated that the food is inspected,
healthy and varied. The student reiterated that
there was peanut butter at the salad bar and had
remained there for an entire month. The
administration did not deny this, they only repeated
that the food is inspected and fulfills specifications
of food quality.
Other students also felt that the meal plan
should be optional for different reasons. Some
students are not served meals because there are
specific times that resident smdents can eat Dinner
hours are technically until 6:30 PM, but many
students are not served because the food is put
away before 6:15. A lack of variety of food
served, and the fact that leftovers are served was
also a concem of students. Dirty silverware and a
lack of cutlery was also brought to the attention of
administrators.
There was no motive given for the
requirement of a meal plan being mandatory for
resident students. The panelists only stated that
other universities also require meal plans for
residents. In response to the silverware problem,
Ms. Allison, Auxiliary Service Corporation
Director of Operations said, "What I promise to
do [is address this issue]."
The forum started out with a substantial
amount of people in the audience, but ended with
few remaining. Many people left after the first
few responses, labeling the forum a farce. More
than one student stood at the podium and addressed
the panel to state that they were unhappy with the
administrators' responses.
The only problem resolved by the forum
was the opposition to canned ketchup and the foul
aftertaste it leaves. Food service agreed to change
the use of cans to the use of plastic packages.