Candidates address Auburn-related issues at forum
Auburn can survive switch to semesters
Trustee's wife killed in auto accident
Candidates address Auburn-related issues at forum
| LINDSAY WOODS Staff Writer The race for Alabama's vacant U.S. Se nate seat and 3r d District Congressional seat made its way to Auburn's campus Monday night. The Student Government Association's Freshman Forum sponsored the event that drew more than 100 students to hear the candidates. Assistant director of Freshman Forum, Paul Dees, said, "We organized this event because many incoming freshman and Auburn students aren't that knowledgeable about local politics." "Hopefully by attending they won't be stepping into the voting booth totally blind as to where the candidates stan d on the issues," Dees said. Libertarian Mark Thornton was the only senatorial candidate in attendance to explain his platform and answer questions. Republican candidate Jeff Session s and Democratic candidate Roger Bedford were both unable to attend. All three of the candidates vying for the 3rd District Congressional seat, Democrat Ted Little, Republican Bob Riley and Libertarian Ralph Stokes, were in attendance. The candidates were asked a series of set questions and then allowed a 90 second re sponse. Then the candidates answered questions from the audience. They all had different opinions on what was the most important issue facing college students and people affiliated with higher education. Thornton said, "One of the most important iss ues facing you is social security is going broke. You're paying 15 percent of your wages to it, and there's not going to be any money left for you. "A poll states that more college students believe in UFOs than in social security being there for them, " Thornton said. "An important issue is the affordability of education. Tuition has gone up 35 percent in the last five years, your education is costing too much. Another issue is what I call the 'brain drain'. Too many of our faculty members are going to other states for other opportunities," Little said. Riley said, "You need someone who is going to go up there (Washington D.C.) and sell what's best for this University and this state. We need to concentrate on bringing whatever money is available in D.C. back to Alabama." "We (Libertarians) advocate the abolishment of the IRS. This will give everyone a 35 percent raise. You must remember, you get no free money from the government. It all comes with strings attached," Stokes said. Another issue addressed by both senatorial and congressional candidates, involved their stance on affirmative action.
| "I oppose affirmative action, and I would like to see it repealed," Thornton said. Stokes said, "Affirmative action does t wo things, it keeps people out and puts other people in. I am against quotas and feel that when this country makes sure minorities and females receive equal wages as their male counterparts, we won't need affirmative action." Little said he disapproves of quotas, but believes some people do need help because of their backgrounds. "I think affirmative action needs to be based on need and merit, not skin color or gender. We have to build this country from the ground up. I believe we are all of the sam e race, we all are Americans," Riley said. The candidates were also asked to explain where they stand on financial aid and student loans and how they would implement their beliefs. Thornton, a professor in economics, opposes students loans. "With st udent loans, quite often the money is never collected, and the taxpayers pay for it. I would support tax cuts and tax breaks to help pay for education," he said. Little said, "I am in favor of financial aid. We need to make sure government is behind st udents who are capable and willing to work hard to get an education." Stokes opposes student loans. "Both of my kids financed their graduate school with student loans. Student loans are a primary if you are going to receive the education you need to succeed," Riley said. When asked if they supported Dole's 15 percent tax cut or President Clinton's target cuts, the candidates again were divided. Riley favors Dole's plan because it would offer Americans a better opportunity to decide how to spe nd their money. Little is in favor of targeted cuts, but he said his first priority would be to balance the budget. Stokes doesn't support either of the plans. He feels it is too little, too late. " I support big tax cuts and little tax cuts. I w ould vote for every tax cut," Thornton said. Election day this year will be Tuesday, Nov. 5. The SGA will be sponsoring a voter registration drive all week on the concourse. Sessions was unable to attend the forum because of a prior commitment to a fundraiser. Bedford was scheduled to attend but backed out at the last minute. Max Ayer, a senior in agronomy and soils, said, "I found it (the forum) informative, and it helped me see what the candidates are going to do if they are elected. I only ho pe other students will participate in this year's election. Everyone's voice matters, but only if they let it be heard. Get out and vote." |
Auburn can survive switch to semesters
| ERIC KAMMERUD Campus Editor With all the talk of Auburn switching from a quarter calendar to a semester calendar, the question of whether the change will break t he University's already frail budget has come up. Paul Parks, Auburn provost, said the University should have no trouble with the switch. "I see this as a major project for the University to undertake, and I expect some cost," Parks said. "But I don 't believe the cost will be so expensive that it will interfere with the University's other responsibilities." According to Don Large, vice president for business and finance, because the change has not been approved, details of those costs are still u p in the air. "The hard thing, and I can't do it right now, is to quantify the cost," Large said. Once a decision has been made and work has begun on the transition, Large said he will be able to more accurately gauge the cost. For now though, he said he does not foresee any insurmountable costs arising during the transition period. "I don't see this as having a major impact on the budget process," Large said. However, he said there is a possibility things could become financially tight dur ing the transition. "It's not unlike current times. Many people are having to do more with less," Large said. Parks said the largest cost during the transition period may be the commitment made by the faculty to affect the change. "We may not be calculating the cost in dollars, but in time," Parks said. While the time commitment will be large, Parks said it will be offset in the end by improvements to the academic system made possible by the change to semesters. "The major change, what makes the process worthwhile, is that it requires we completely restructure the curriculum," he said. Parks said the switch to semesters will allow the Universi ty a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to make major changes to the whole curriculum at one time.
|  PARKS Normally, the process would be spread out over a long period of time. The switch will also allow the administration to look at graduation requirements, he said. "This will also give us the opportunity to look at the number of hours required to graduate," Parks said. The transition to semesters will have mostly positive effects for the administrative side of the University, Large said. "There's no major down side from the business side. The impact (of the change) will be immediate," he said. large said the change to semesters will reduce the number of times some functions, such as registration and billing, have to be performed each year. " Everything we are doing for three quarters now, we will only have to do twice," Large said. This reduction in labor should reduce operating costs in the long run, he said. However, Large said, money should not be the only reason for the change. " This should not be a financially driven decision, but an academically driven one," Large said. |
Musselwhite, Pierce face off in county commisioner's race
| LINDSAY WOODS Staff Writer The race for District One County Commissioner heated up in Broun Hall at a candidate's forum Monday Night. The candidates for District 1 County Commiss ioner are Michael Musselwhite-(D) and Incumbent Sam Pierce-(R). The candidates were asked several set questions by a panel and questions from the audience about their stance on the issues. Pierce said, "I think the Lee County Commission plays an imp ortant role in the community. We try to provide the best possible services at the lowest cost." Musselwhite said, "I agree that the commission plays an important role, but I'd like to see it do more. For example, we can start an internship program for students. This will give them practical experience and at the same time save the taxpayers money." The candidates were also asked how they would use the $14 million budget to benefit students and the community. Musslewhite said, "First of all, $14 million sounds like a lot of money, but it's not. I don't agree with raising special taxes that specifically target students, like video rentals. " I am running on the Democratic ticket, but I will not be partisan. I want to work hard to improve servi ces for students and residents alike," Musselwhite said. | Pierce said, " I will not waste the taxpayers' money on pay raises like the Democrats have tried to do. I want to improve roads, law enforcement and recreational services." When asked what they felt was the most important issue facing students, the candidates again disagreed. Pierce said, "I believe we must keep a hardworking, knowledgeable person on the commission. That person can then hit the ground running for student s. There is no time for on-the-job training." Musselwhite said, "The District One Commissioner's seat is the only representative of Auburn University, and the University is the largest employer in the county. I would like to see more interaction with t he students, so that we may address their needs and concerns. "For example, we need bike paths to and from campus. The last thing we need is for someone to get hurt or killed when we could have prevented it," he said. This election will determine w hether there is a Republican or Democrat majority on the county commission. SGA Secretary of political affairs Bill Heath, a senior in management, said, "This forum allowed students to have direct contact with the candidates so they can be better infor med to their choice for these offices. "
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Trustee's wife killed in auto accident
| SALLIE OWEN Assistant Campus Editor Jean Gladney Glover, 72, wife of University trustee Charles G. Glover, was killed in a car accident Oct. 21 in her hometown of Cullman, Ala. "She was as loyal an Auburn supporter as there is. She loved Auburn. She loved b eing in Auburn and coming to Auburn," Gerald Leischuck, secretary to the Board of Trustees, said. "This is all such a shock," he said. She is survived by her husband and their six children: Edwin C. Glover of Atlanta; Robert Glover of Germany; Carol Robertson of Macon, Ga.; Gena Heatherly of Montgomery, Ala.; Donna Schwaber of Nashville, Tenn; and Jan Glover of Atlanta. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, her brother Melvin Gladney of Cullman and several nieces and nephews. The funeral is today at 2 p.m. at Cullman First Baptist Church, where Mrs. Glover had been a member for 29 years. The body will lie in state from 1 to 2 p.m. Edwin Hayes, Elmer Nielsen and Travis Styles will conduct the service. The interment will be at Cullman C ity Cemetery. | Visitation was Oct. 23 for friends and family at the Raley-McCracken Funeral Home in Cullman. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations be sent to the Charles and Jean Glover Scholarship Fund for agricultu re students at Auburn. Donations can be sent to James Marion, Dean of Agriculture, 107 Comer Hall, Auburn, Ala., 36849. Mrs. Glover served as children's director at the Cullman First Baptist Church. She was an active member of the Cullman Lioness Club . At about 4 p.m. Monday Mrs. Glover's 1994 Cadillac collided with a 1990 Chevrolet truck at the corner of Second Avenue Northwest and Sportsman Lake Road in Cullman after she failed to yield the right-of-way, Kathy Stoner, records supervisor at the Cu llman City Police Department, said. The driver of the truck was not injured, Stoner said. Mrs. Glover was taken to Cullman Regional Medical Center. where she was pronounced dead on arrival, a hospital representative said. Charles Glover has been a trustee since 1981, representing the 7th Congressional district, Bob Lowry of University Relations said. His term expires in 2003. |
