f riday, feb. 16, 1990
cabrini college, radnor, pa 19087
vol. xxxvi, no. 15
SGA proposes Racialtensionspark creditfor work
studentprotests
Sister Eileen addresses students after they got her out of bed due to illness. (Photo by BarbaraWilson, printildb¥ ChfisPesol$ki)
by Barbara Wilson On Feb. 13 at 4 p.m. several students assembled into President Sister Eileen Currie M.S.C.' s office and particpated in a sit-in. According to several students the sit-in was a direct result of the racial incidents that have taken place on Cabrini's campus. The most recent incident happened on Sunday, Feb. 11. A placard in Woodcrest Hall with Assistant Director of Resident Life Tyrone Carr's name on it was defaced with a racial slur. At the sit-in students demanded to speak with Currie so that they could talk over demands and grievances. After waiting in Currie's office for 55 minutes students had their chance to speak with her. .Although Currie was ill she managed to agree to their major demand. They requested to have a campus wide meeting that was to be scheduled for Thursday Feb. 15at 12;45p.m. in the Gym. The students felt that with Currie's backing, there may be a more unified attempt in controlling the racial tensions on campus. Among various adminsttators presoot, Academic Dean Antoinette Schlesier, Ph.D. was on hand and advised the students to "Do whatever you believed you have to do but to do it peacefully, quietly and be grown up about the whole situation." ..As a result of the coalitions demandsbeing insuffiently fulfilled the group took action to articulate their demands ..The coalition requested that Currie issue a statement on the overalJ racial tensionson campus. However, her statement keyed in on one specificincident rather than the issue as a whole. . At 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 14 approximately 78 people gathered and marched from the chapel through the atruim chanting along the way, "Were gonna beat back racist attacks., and "We're fired up, we won't take it anymore .. ''. Then on to the Widener Center through the second floor of SacredHeart Hall, past the Holy Spirit Library andthen to the Mansion, wherespeeches weregiven. Designated spokes people talked on previous racial incidents and what the group holds as its objectives. The group is calling themselves The Coalition Against Racial and Ethnic Intimidation. Four members of Haverford College's black student league were on hand to speak out and show their support. They mentioned that Swarthmore College andBrynMawr College were also'' united in the cause'' and were ready to come to the aid of the coalition. After the rallie the group then proceeded back to the chapel where they were advised by Tyronne Carr and Rita Calicat. Both reiterated that the group should be looked upon as a whole and that if their demands are not met ''they will be back tomorrow''.
by Christina Roach A proposal is under consideration by the academic council to give certain student government executive board members academic credit for their work. The idea began in November, when four members of the executive board attended a national convention for student government associations in Florida. At that convention the SGA members learned that many schools give compensation to their officers. Some of the schools offer monetary compensation, while others give academic credit for the experience. Student Government President Angie Corbo drew up the formal proposal. "Because I see my job as SGA president as a 30-40 hour a week job," she said, "and I know the responsibilities that lie within my role, I would like to propose that this experience be treated by the campus community as an academic experience as well as extra/co curricular." Corbo hoped that adding an academic side to the executive board would increase their integrity on campus. "People would lose the misconception," Corbo said, "that SGA officers get paid, and run for office only forthe money and perks of this glamorous job. And it will stress to the officers that they can't just bein this forthetitleorthenice office. There is a job to do--and receiving credit for the job would promote excellence.'' The proposal, still in its formative stages, proposed that the members of the executive board would have the option to take practicum-type credit fortheirjob. The officers would work closely with a faculty adviser to develop the terms of the individual practicum. The officer would then be required to hand-in paper work and supplement their learning with outside reading. The amount of credit an officer would receive has not yet been determined. Dean of Students Robert Bonfiglio thought that receiving credit for service is a precedent that already exists at Cabrini. Members who participate in some of the cocurricular activities, such as the Loquitur, WCAB and College
Success Seminar co-facilitators, can receive a one-credit practicum for their work. "In my opinion, the SGA presidency is a practicum,'' Bonfiglio said. "It is a practical experience in the area of leadership skills. So, in that context, it seems to make a lot of sense that the SGA pursue receiving credit for their work.'' Bonfiglio said the SGA serves two purposes in a school. It must serve the students in the institution and provide the students involved with an 'academic' experience. Academic Dean Dr. Antoinette Schiesler said there are pros and cons to awarding academic credit for a service. "On the one hand," Schlesier said, "I do not believe it is necessary to give extra credit for SGA experience. I believe that there is a lot oflearning that takes place that you can't expect to get credit for. On the other hand, I could see the experiences used as part of a leadership internship where you did get credit for it. So, I'm not closed to the proposition, just a little hesitant right now." The proposal will be formally submitted to the academic council at their February meeting. Both Schiesler and Corbo said they have received positive feedback from the faculty. Schiesler said she she is not ready to pass a judgment on the proposal yet. "I have lots of questions about the proposal,'' she said. "Some, Angie was able to answer to my satisfaction and some are still hanging." Schiesler questioned the loss of altruism on campus. "My first reaction was, 'whatever happened to the willingness to work for the joy and enthusiasm of doing something because you like to do it? Because you are working with people you like. Or, because you could learn something?' "However, that doesn't mean I am not for the proposal,'' Schiesler added. "I need more input before I can say 'yea or nay.' Bonfiglio said the goals of the college state that there is equally as much learning to be gained from extra-curricular activities as from
more Credit on 9
inside
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perspectives ...... 2, 3
Preserving the
We own Eagle
news ................ 4, 5, 9
Underground
Road!
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features ....... ... 6, 7, 8
Railroad
(see page 12)
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sports........ 1O, 11, 12
(see page 7)
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