The surf is up-See
vol. xxxii, no. 20
Credit loss threatens graduation
cabrini college, radnor,pa. 19087
Sports
friday,april 11,1986
Brush fires s ark east coast
byJoan C. Kramer Come May a number of students will not graduate due to either an unfulfillment of degree requirements o~ outstanding bills. A senior must have completed a minimum of 130 credits and attained a cumulative average of 2.0 to graduate. Transfer students often have trouble completing their graduation requirements because they lose credits in the transferring process, or they find it difficult to complete the minimum 60 credits, according to Mary Ann Biller, academic dean. Students wind up having to take course overloads each semester or summer courses to catch up on credits. One transfer student hopes to graduate, but she said "it will be with exactly 130 credits." Because seven of the 64 credits from the institution she previously attended were not accepted by Cabrini, she has had to take at least 18 credits a semester for four semesters and a threecredit summer course. Biller said, "We have had instances when students have failed in their senior year, giving them a loss of credits and lowering their cumulative average." Either they "are not studying hard enough, or it's a financial dilemma," she said. A group of students called "inactive stud en ts" cannot graduate. According to Biller, "there were eight at the end of last year." These students usually miss less than a semester's worth of credits, many times only three or six credits. Biller said, "We will counsel them on their requirements." Down by three credits in one of his major courses, one student is considering declaring pass/fail, hoping to fulfill his academic requirements. But as far as graduation is concerned, he sai~, "I highly doubt it (gr~duating)." Owmg the college $2,400, he said, "I could sell my Chrysler and get $5,000 for it." At present, with his job at the Philadelphia Inquirer, he can pay for part of his tuition, or he may obtain family assistance to help pay the bill.
Firemen rushed to the scene as flames threatened to engulf trees on the corner of Mount Pleasant-and Spring Mill Roads in Bryn Mawr late Tuesday afternoon, April 1. Senior fire engineer Fred Hunter was on hand to explain that unseasonably dry weather has been a contributing factor to many such brush fires during the spring
season. Brush fires are more common to the west coast, however, caused by dry grasslands and wooded areas. Hunter stressed that fires do not start by themselves a,:,d said that this one was probably caused by a ' cigarette carelessly discarded by a passing motorist. (photo by Nick Martell)
Security y tem in library's future by Leah Cascarina "One of the most frustrating things about my job is knowing that we have something, and going to help a student, only to find an empty space on the shelf," said Judy Olsen, librarian, Holy Spirit Library.
Students on campus also share Olsen's frustration about library thefts, which have become even more of a problem in recent years. For the library, however, help is on the "There are always one or two every year way. Through a grant from an undisclosed that do not march, and do not attend the source, the library is now able to afford a ceremony because of financial setbacks," ¡ security system. James R. Keches, business manager, said. ''We have some money to begin inquiring about a security system. We will soon meet Keches continued, "All tuition must be with 'Checkpoint' to discu~ the possibility paid in full. There are no exceptions." of having their company do the installaSometimes students do not pay the traffic tion," said Anita Johnson, library director. fines, drop fees, finance charges, drinking Because of the cost of a system (between fines and residency fines, which accumu$10,000 - $15,000), the library was forced to late on their bills, accordin.g to _Keches. go to outside sources for funding. Despite One student last year, according to the cost, the library staff believes that the Arlene McEvilla- Dittbrenner, director of system will save them money in the long financial aid, had fulfilled all his degree run. requirements, but had an unpaid balance '"I'he average cost of a book is $29. A of $5,000 to $6,000. bound periodical is even more. Everytime He attended Cabrini for five years after someone walks (out with a book), we're out transferring. His bill had built up over the that money," said Johnson. years. "He created it himself," McEvilla•~r it's instalU!d, we only have mainteDittbrenner said, "He ignored the bill." nance and book preparation, which we can Another student, down by nine credits, fit into the budget at minimal cost," said was advised by his adviser throughout his Olsen. college career to take summer courses. But From a survey of area libraries, security he never could because he "had to work systems ~e fast becoming the norm, not full-time. I don't get anything from my parthe exception. ents," he said. . According to Sister !dary Dennis Lynch, director, Kistler Library, Rosemont Col. He worked three different jobs, was lege also had to go to outside funding for given federal and state funds and guarantheir system, but thought it was well worth teed student loans, and obtained work it because the system would eventually pay grant which he "got rid of because it was a for itself. hassle" after his first semester sophomore year. Cabrini plans to get a system similar to "I know for a fact I am not going to graduRosemont College's. ate," he said. ''The toughest part for me is paying off my loan after I do graduate. I Falvey Library, Villanova Uni~ersity, owe American Bank $10,000." has a guard. Louise Green, librarian, said
that the guard prevents some of the thefts, but he is unable to stop them all. She also said that the library will probably install a security system in the future, depending on their budget. "We've done research and found that a guard doesn't deter thefts over a long period of time. Also, an initial investment ¡ in hardware is cheaper in the long run than a human being," said Johnson. The staff also thought a guard would make it difficult for students to leave the library during the heavy flow periods which occur right after classes are dismissed. The staff hopes that the system will stop what the librarians consider to be the biggest cause of thefts - laziness. "People would rather just walk out with a book than take a minute to check it out," said Jim Sauer, director, Eastern Library. The second major cause for the thefts, according t;o..area librarians, is pressure. "Pressure is most intense on students when assignments and projects start to pile up and there becomes a demand for library material," said Johnson. "Security systems are used primarily as deterants," said Olsen. ''They are mostly a psychological device. People are less willing to take things if there is a chance that they will be embarrassed." Gwynedd-Mercy's Lourds Library has had a security system for three years. Sister Bernice Marie, director, said, "Our system greatly cuts down on thefts." She did add, however, ''The students that really are out to steal will find a way to beat the system." Despite the excitment and high expectations surrounding the system, the eventual installation is not going to happen overnight. The staff has to wait for a proposal from "Checkpoint" to meet their specific environment installation needs and then there is the time period involved for the delivery of materials and the training. "Our primary goal is to stem the tide and try to maintain what we have and make the materials available to the students that pay for it," Johnson said.
Annual RA selectiOn announced by Joan C. Kramer Following an extensive interviewing proces~ of students by Mar)Ellen Lilly, resident bfe director and the resident managers, resident assistants (RA's) for 1986-87 have been announced. The placements are as follows: Woodcrest first floor, Linda Panetta, sophomore and Maureen Murray, junior; second floor, Debbi Mai_da,junior and Maria Lis, sophomore; third floor, Molly Fenerty, soph. omore. The Mansion will be supervised by Lisa Nolan, junior and Jeanne Reineberg sophomore. RA's in the houses will be: Kathy O'Don~el!, junior, House 1; Jean McCreavy, Jun~or, House 2; Kate Grimley, junior, House 3; Ruth Brown, junior, House 4; Allison Schaefer, junior, House 5; Betsy Mahoney, sophomore, House 6; Peggy Emerich, sophomore, House 7. There will four RA's in Xavier Hall: Sean Meenan, junior; Patrick McKenna, junior; ~a~ Kane, sophomore; and Keith Fogarty, JUnlOr. No RA has been selected for Counsel Hall, according Lilly. Applicants were judged upon their personal charactersitics: integrity, dependability, initiative, creativity and leadership. They were also selected on the basis of their willingness to assume the responsibilities necessary to foster a constructive living environment, according to information given by the Lilly.